Changes

Since 2022, Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 660 religious buildings, according to experts. Archbishop Borys Gudziak has highlighted that religious institutions in Russian-controlled territories can only operate if aligned with Kremlin policies, further underscoring the systematic suppression of religious freedom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Putin Is “Destroying the Basic Principles of Peace”|url=https://bitterwinter.org/ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-putin-and-peace/|date=24 February 2022|publisher=Bitter Winter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian drone attack damages Kyiv's Catholic cathedral|url=https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/russian-drone-attack-damages-kyivs-catholic-cathedral|date=27 November 2023|publisher=Detroit Catholic}}</ref>

Since 2022, Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 660 religious buildings, according to experts. Archbishop Borys Gudziak has highlighted that religious institutions in Russian-controlled territories can only operate if aligned with Kremlin policies, further underscoring the systematic suppression of religious freedom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Putin Is “Destroying the Basic Principles of Peace”|url=https://bitterwinter.org/ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-putin-and-peace/|date=24 February 2022|publisher=Bitter Winter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian drone attack damages Kyiv's Catholic cathedral|url=https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/russian-drone-attack-damages-kyivs-catholic-cathedral|date=27 November 2023|publisher=Detroit Catholic}}</ref>

=== Calendar reform ===

=== Gregorian Calendar adoption ===

In 1916, Bishop of Stanislav Hryhoriy (Khomyshyn) introduced the Gregorian calendar after the end of Tsarist occupation over most of Galicia. However, later, due to pressure from Orientalists and Moscow supporters and from [[Andrey (Sheptytsky)|Andrey Sheptytsky]], who had returned from captivity, he was forced to cancel the reform.

In 1916, Bishop Hryhoriy Khomyshyn of Stanislav introduced the Gregorian calendar after the end of Tsarist occupation in most of Galicia. However, due to pressure from Orientalists, Moscow supporters, and Andrey Sheptytsky, who had returned from captivity, the reform was later reversed.  

Supreme Archbishop [[Svyatoslav (Shevchuk)|Svyatoslav]] stated in December 2020 that the Greek Catholic Church would address the issue of transitioning to the "new style" "together with our Orthodox brothers<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Pursuit of the Sun: Will the Churches Transition to the "New" Calendar?|url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/entertainment/2014/01/140113_religion_calendars_ko|website=BBC News Ukraine|date=2014-01-13|accessdate=2022-12-11|language=uk}}</ref>". He also noted that this issue is not doctrinal but aims to heal church divisions, rather than cause new ones, and in his opinion, the transition to celebrating Christmas according to the "new style," i.e., December 25, should occur at the initiative of the laity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blessed Svyatoslav Foresees a Transition Period for "Gregorian" Christmas|url=https://zbruc.eu/node/102262|website=Zbruch|date=2020-12-19|accessdate=2022-12-11|language=uk}}</ref> On December 3, 2022, Patriarch [[Svyatoslav (Shevchuk)|Svyatoslav]] mentioned that the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has extensive experience transitioning to the Gregorian calendar, as most dioceses and parishes abroad have already celebrated holidays according to the "new style" for a long time. In Ukraine, however, the church is currently studying the possibilities for transition.<ref>{{Cite web|title="'Kolyada Will Become an Anthem of Ukraine's Victory': Head of UGCC on Christmas Celebrations During War|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/kolyada-peretvorytsya-na-gimn-peremogy-ukrayny-dumky-glavy-ugkts-pro-svyatkuvannya-rizdva-v-chas-viyny-1566/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2022-12-10|language=uk}}</ref>

In December 2020, Supreme Archbishop Svyatoslav stated that the Greek Catholic Church would address the calendar transition together with Orthodox counterparts, emphasizing that this is not a doctrinal issue but aims to heal church divisions. He suggested that the shift to celebrating Christmas on December 25 should be initiated by the laity. In December 2022, Svyatoslav and Metropolitan Epifaniy discussed calendar reform and established a joint working group to explore the issue, marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.  

In February 2023, the Synod of the UGCC decided that, starting September 1, 2023, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine would adopt the Gregorian calendar for fixed holidays, while maintaining the Julian calendar for Easter. Similar transitions followed in Poland, Australia, Germany, the UK, and North America during 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-02/ukrainian-greek-catholics-to-celebrate-christmas-on-december-25.html|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholics to celebrate Christmas on December 25|publisher=Vatican News|date=February 2023}}

 

On February 1–2, 2023, in [[Lviv|Lviv]]-[[Bryukhovychi|Bryukhovychi]], the [[Synod of the UGCC|Synod of the UGCC]] decided that from September 1, 2023, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in [[Ukraine]] would adopt the new style ([[Gregorian calendar]]) for fixed holidays, while maintaining the Julian Paschalion. This was announced by [[Supreme Archbishop]] Svyatoslav on February 6, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historic Decision: UGCC in Ukraine Switches to the New Calendar|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/istorychne-rishennya-ugkts-v-ukrayni-perehodyt-na-novyy-kalendar-2056/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2023-02-06|language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Adopts New Calendar: Details of the Historic Decision|url=https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/ukrayinska-greko-katolicka-cerkva-perehodit-na-noviy-kalendar-podrobici-istorichnogo-rishennya-2259325.html|website=TSN.ua|date=2023-02-06|accessdate=2023-02-06|language=uk}}</ref> Following the UGCC in Ukraine, the decision to switch to the new style was made by the [[Przemyśl–Warsaw Metropolitan Archdiocese|UGCC in Poland]] on February 6<ref>{{Cite web|title=UGCC in Poland Also Adopts the New Calendar|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/ugkts-u-polshchi-takozh-perehodyt-na-novyy-kalendar-2068/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2023-03-22|language=uk}}</ref>, [[Melbourne Eparchy of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul UGCC|UGCC in Australia and Oceania]] on March 22<ref name=":92">{{Cite web|title=UGCC in Australia and Oceania Switches to Gregorian Calendar|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/ugkts-v-avstraliy-ta-okeaniy-perehodyt-na-grygorianskyy-kalendar-2387/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2023-03-22|language=uk}}</ref>, [[Apostolic Exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia|UGCC in Germany and Scandinavia]] on April 22<ref name=":122">{{Cite web|title=Apostolic Exarchate Switches to Gregorian Calendar|url=https://ukrainische-kirche.eu/news/apostolskyy-ekzarhat-perehodyt-na-grygorianskyy-kalendar-294/|website=Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians of Byzantine Rite in Germany and Scandinavia|accessdate=2023-04-23|language=uk}}</ref>, [[London Eparchy of the Holy Family|UGCC in the United Kingdom]] on June 9<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|title=Holy Family Eparchy in London Switches to Gregorian Calendar|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/eparhiya-presvyatoy-rodyny-v-londoni-perehodyt-na-novyy-kalendar-2899/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2023-06-09|language=uk}}</ref>, and [[North America UGCC]] on December 25, 2023.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web|title=UGCC in North America Adopts Gregorian Calendar|url=https://ugcc.ua/data/ugkts-v-severniy-americi-perehodyt-na-novyy-kalendar-3365/|website=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|accessdate=2023-12-23|language=uk}}</ref>

Christmass of 2023 and onwards is celebrated on the 25th of December, following the [[Gregorian Calendar]].<ref name=calendar25thDecember>{{cite web|url=https://www.breitbart.com/news/ukrainians-defy-moscow-with-first-dec-25-christmas/|title=Ukrainians defy Moscow with first Dec. 25 Christmas|date=23 December 2023|publisher=[[Breitbart]]}}</ref>

Christmass of 2023 and onwards is celebrated on the 25th of December, following the [[Gregorian Calendar]].<ref name=calendar25thDecember>{{cite web|url=https://www.breitbart.com/news/ukrainians-defy-moscow-with-first-dec-25-christmas/|title=Ukrainians defy Moscow with first Dec. 25 Christmas|date=23 December 2023|publisher=[[Breitbart]]}}</ref>