“I still can't get used to it”: OCU hierarch Drabinko on the transition to the “new style”

Former bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who joined the OCU in 2018, Oleksandr Drabinko commented on the calendar reform that the organization carried out two years ago. Although Drabinko claims that he considers the reform to be expedient, he himself still cannot get used to it, celebrating certain holidays according to the “old style.” He spoke about this in a comment to the Espreso channel.

«I would rate the calendar reform as appropriate. Personally, I was not asked when this reform was adopted how appropriate it was. But I supported the decision that was made by the Synod. You know, I still can’t get used to the new dates of the holidays, the old ones remain in my memory. This new calendar reform must sink into people’s minds,» — Drabinko commented.

The OCU hierarch added that he is not optimistic about unifying the date of Easter with Roman Catholics, which has been the subject of much discussion in the media recently. He believes that such issues should be considered at the level of the Vatican and Constantinople.

“This should be decided in Constantinople and Rome. Those who want unity will accept a joint celebration, and those who do not want it, accordingly, will not,” — he explained.

Earlier, we reported that on the day of remembrance of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr according to the old calendar, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople visited the Russian-speaking St. Panteleimon community in Istanbul. The head of the Phanar noted that the Patriarchate of Constantinople is the Mother Church for all peoples and “embraces all its children.”