Lviv authorities, OCU and UGCC discuss 'new style' Christmas celebrations

A round table with the UGCC and OCU in the Lviv District Administration. Photo: Khrystyna Zamula's Facebook page

The round table with representatives of the OCU and the UGCC under the motto "State. Spirituality. Christmas" was held in the Lviv District State Administration, reports the head of the District Council, Khrystyna Zamula, on her Facebook page.

The main issue that the authorities discussed with the OCU and Uniates was the date of the celebration of Christmas.

"This year even more believers are thinking of celebrating it with the entire civilized world – on December 25. Recently, it has also been a public holiday. For example, the OCU has authorized celebrations of Christmas according to the New Style and is waiting to see how the parish communities will decide and whether they will be ready. The UGCC, too, is studying the believers’ opinion," Zamula writes.

The official also notes that the difficulty of celebrating Christmas on December 25 is that it will change "the entire calendar, all the fixed holidays" and adds that all these steps are a matter of time and "joint steps of the Churches".

Earlier, the OCU "synod" allowed rectors to decide on their own the date of the Christmas celebration.

As reported, the Uniates approached Shevchuk with a proposal to switch to a new calendar style.

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