The Verkhovna Rada proposes to make the day of commemoration of Apostle St. Andrew the First-Called in the new style a day off

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has received draft law No. 14261, which proposes to make November 30, the Day of St. Andrew the Apostle, a public holiday and, accordingly, a non-working day. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the spiritual unity of society, strengthening Ukraine’s national identity and cultural independence, as well as at harmonizing the state and church calendars with the European tradition.

According to Today.ua, the bill No. 14261 «On Amendments to Article 73 of the Labor Code of Ukraine» was registered by Ukrainian MPs in parliament. If passed, the calendar of holidays and non-working days will be supplemented with a new date — November 30, providing for corresponding amendments to Article 73 of the Labor Code.

The authors of the bill emphasize that the veneration of St. Andrew the First-Called is intended to support the spiritual unity of Ukrainian society and strengthen the sense of national identity, demonstrating the historical identity of Ukrainian statehood and culture. The document is also seen as a symbolic response to the attempts of the aggressor country to rewrite and appropriate the spiritual history of Kievan Rus’.

Deputies note that the approval of the patron saint of Ukraine at the state level will be an important step in strengthening cultural independence and establishing Kyiv as a historical center of Eastern Europe. The choice of the date of November 30 is not accidental: the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have already switched to the New Julian calendar, where the Day of the Apostle Andrew falls on this day. Thus, the state recognition of this day will contribute to the harmonization of the state and church calendars, as well as strengthen the cultural unity and European choice of Ukraine.

At the moment the draft law No. 14261 has been sent to the specialized Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Social Policy and Protection of Veterans’ Rights for consideration. After the committee’s conclusion, it will be put to a vote in the session hall. If the document is adopted, Ukrainians will get a new public holiday and an additional day off — November 30.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy of the Verkhovna Rada by a majority of votes recommended the Parliament to adopt a draft resolution, according to which a new holiday is established in Ukraine — Thanksgiving Day. However, no additional day off is envisaged. It is planned to celebrate it on the last Sunday of September.