The Apostolic Exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia switches to the Gregorian calendar
The Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainians of the Byzantine Rite in Germany and Scandinavia will switch to the Gregorian calendar on September 1, 2023 (the beginning of the Indictus, i.e., the New Liturgical Year), is stated in the decree of the Apostolic Exarch Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh.
“Considering the spiritual well-being of the people of God entrusted to our pastoral care, realizing the needs of the faithful to live entirely the liturgical, and above all the Eucharistic life, caring for the spiritual development of the Apostolic Exarchate, having heard the opinion of the clergy, consecrated persons and laity of our Exarchate, to reinforce church unity with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, which proclaimed the transition from September 1, 2023, according to the new style (the beginning of the Indictus), to the new style for fixed holidays,” the bishop explains this decision and, taking into account these circumstances and attributes, and therefore the needs of pastoral ministry in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, declares the transition to the Gregorian calendar without exceptions for movable and fixed holidays.
Bishop Bohdan calls on the clergy in the parish communities where this transition has not yet occurred to inform and adequately prepare the faithful for this important event in the life of the exarchate.
The apostolic exarch also asks pastors to be tactful and attentive to the needs of those lay people who, unaware of these changes, will ask for spiritual services (consecration, blessing, etc.), particularly on significant church holidays according to the Julian calendar.
The UGCC Department for Informationbased on materials of the press service of the Apostolic exarchate in Germany and Scandinavia
