www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Old Calendarist Catholics?

I thought that every church in communion with Rome (along with some Orthodox) used the Gregorian Calendar. But after closely looking at the most referenced Byzantine church website on this forum, I was confused.

Saint Elias Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of Brampton, Ontario seems to use the Julian calendar. The website is very good and full of resources on pure Byzantine worship and spirituality, as many people on this forum have suggested.

I mean no disrespect whatsoever to this parish, but can someone explain why this parish has kept the old calendar? Do any other Ukrainian Catholic churches do this?

I recommend visiting the website anyways www.saintelias.com

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in entire Poland uses the Julian Calendar.

The calendar is only a matter of discipline, not of faith.

St. George Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on 7th Street in New York City's Lower East Side.

http://www.brama.com/stgeorge/

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/LES/LES018.htm

The Australian and New Zealand UGCC Eparchy and the Russian Catholics in Melbourne use the Julian Calendar.

In Ukraine the U.G.C.C. is on the Julian calendar. If you look at the website of the national shrine in Ottawa, (St. John the Baptist) you will see that for Ukrainian speakers the parish is on the Julian, for English speakers it is on the Gregorian. This is not unusual.

In the Chicago eparchy, the chancery is on the Julian while most parishes (I think) are on the Gregorian.

I totally back up what Peter says - the calendar is a matter of discipline, not of faith.

To me, I found that quite peculiar, seeing as most Ruthenian and Ukrainian parishes in the USA used the Gregorian calendar.

Thank you for clarifying my confusion. :)

God Bless

Happy Transfiguration, everyone!

Fr. Serge

Old Calendarist Orthodox communities seems to have missed the memo on this point.

And who exactly is this memo that we are supposed to have missed from?

I feel that this statement is a cheap shot against the Orthodox, all of whom (except for the Finish Orthodox Church) are using the Old Calendar in one form or another. Need I remind people yet again that we have simply kept using the calendar used by the entire undivided Church? The innovators are the ones who broke the unity of calendar. Sielos, I think you offend against Christian charity by your remark.

Fr David Straut

Happy Transiguration to you, Father. Our services here in Princeton were wonderful and quite well attended. It was gratifying to have so many receive the Mysteries of Confession and Holy Communion for the Feast.

Fr David Straut

Father David Straut, with all due respect, I think sielos ilgesys meant the Old Calendarist or Old Believer Orthodox communities that separated with canonical Orthodox churches.

Personally I don't think there is anything wrong with using the Old Calendar, but I pray for all churches to soon celebrate the same feasts on the same days, especially Pascha.

God Bless.

Blessed Feast of the Transfiguration to all!

Thank you Fr. David for your comment (I can't work out how to use the quote box as you do). Understanding and love at the grassroots level is vital for Christian unity. Judgement and Academic argument creates hostility and mistrust. Not everybody worships in exactly the same way. Just as every parish sings differenty and has is own unique customs, so the Church of God is Diverse in the true sense.

Heiromonk Luke

Father David,if what I said was taken as a "cheap shot" against the Orthodox, then I apologize for it and assure everyone I meant no insult. I hold the Orthodox Church in high esteem while disagreeing with her on several points; emphasis on the calendar being one of them.
Peace be with us all.

Old Calendar Catholics also hold a similar position regarding the calendar. It's not a problem for the Latin wing of the Catholic Church. The Pope often expresses his good wishes and assurance of his prayers to those on the old calendar (both Orthodox and Catholics) at key points of the old calendar.

Could you explaine your position on this more clearly please. I am kind of fuzzy about your stance. I have read something that was right along those lines but NOT from a ROCOR source. Just wondering. Chad