Two Christmases: How Ukrainian authorities divide people by calendar
When a celebration of faith turns into a tool of political struggle, ordinary people suffer.
On December 22, 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening address called the celebration of Christmas on this day "true Christmas" ("справжнє Різдво"). According to the Ukrainian authorities, celebrating Christmas on December 25 should synchronize the Ukrainian calendar with the European one and become part of the process of moving away from the Soviet legacy.
But Zelensky did not congratulate Ukrainians on Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Moreover, he committed an utterly cynical act by declaring January 7 “Programmer’s Day”. There is no doubt that, coming from a former comedian, this was a malicious joke and mockery of a large part of the country. Zelensky’s "joke" was also taken up by the SBU. On December 24, 2025, they published a video titled "Does everyone know when Christmas is?" The footage shows officers with a gun breaking down the door of an apartment. Over the video, the authors placed the caption: “Who comes ‘caroling’ to those who celebrate Christmas on January 7."
As they say, there is only a grain of joke in every joke; the rest is truth. The authorities are clearly signaling to Ukrainians that celebrating the “wrong” Christmas is not the best idea. And the authorities’ mood was subtly picked up by their “echoers” in the OCU and the mass media. They realized that those who, for reasons of their religious convictions, continue to celebrate Christmas on January 7 have found themselves in the position of second-class citizens, who can be harassed and mocked with impunity.
"Moscow" Christmas and other fantasies
The most striking example of how the calendar reform turned into a witch hunt is the activity of the OCU "priest" Roman Hryshchuk. His posts on social media are an example of how religious fanaticism combines with political demagoguery, giving rise to a toxic mixture of hatred and religious intolerance.
In one of his posts, Gryshchuk criticizes the Romanians of Bukovyna, residents of the villages of Terebleche and Bahrynivka: "The schools in the villages of Terebleche and Bahrynivka also took a vacation for Moscow Christmas! They have December 25 as working days! They will release the children on vacation only after Christmas! And on Christmas itself, they even held a performance at school to prevent children from going to church!"
Note the wording – "Moscow Christmas". The logic is simple to the point of primitiveness: if you celebrate on the same day as in Russia, then you are a "Muscovite", a Kremlin agent, and a traitor.
But Hryshchuk goes even further. According to him, the Romanians of Bukovyna betray not only Ukraine but also Romania if they celebrate Christmas in the old style: "Won't you be ashamed before Romania? What you are doing is not beneficial to either Ukrainians or Romanians. It only benefits the Muscovites! So who are you with? I am not surprised by the Moscow priests in your villages. Although they are ethnically Romanian, they sold themselves to the Muscovites long ago."
In another post, Hryshchuk lashes out at the schools of Chernivtsi with accusations that surpass all imaginable absurdity: "The teachers of eleven schools in Chernivtsi decided to steal Christmas from Ukrainian children! In the 12th year of the war with the Muscovites, 5 state schools and 6 private ones decided to refuse to celebrate Christmas with all of Ukraine, with the entire Orthodox world, and to celebrate with the Muscovites!"
"Stealing Christmas from Ukrainian children" is a new level of manipulation. Hryshchuk not only condemns people's choices. He accuses teachers of a crime against childhood, of stealing a holiday. At the same time, he forgets (or deliberately ignores) the elementary fact: no one is stealing anything. Schools are simply giving children the opportunity to celebrate Christmas according to their family traditions.
But Hryshchuk does not stop there. He moves on to accuse teachers of preparing children for "Moscow occupation". For what? For allowing children to celebrate Christmas the way they have celebrated it for centuries. Hryshchuk is effectively demanding that teachers violate citizens’ religious rights, ignore parents’ choices, and impose the “right” Christmas through administrative methods.
Moreover, according to Hryshchuk's logic, if Ukraine loses the war, the blame will lie with the priests and teachers who allowed children to celebrate Christmas on January 7. Neither ineffective leadership, nor corruption, nor defense miscalculations but the calendar choice of ordinary people. This is no longer just absurd. This is pathological. Hryshchuk concludes his post by listing 11 institutions, "which will not let Ukrainian children celebrate Christmas with Ukraine and the entire Orthodox world, but will go to celebrate with the Muscovites: five state and six private institutions". The purpose of this is clear. "Activists" should come to the leadership of these schools, or better yet, the SBU.
Note: even private schools, according to Hryshchuk, do not have the right to their own choice. Everyone must march in step. Everyone must comply. And those who do not comply are, of course, enemies of the people.
Who really celebrates Christmas on January 7?
Let's recall the inconvenient truth for Hryshchuk and his like-minded associates. The Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar (January 7 in the Gregorian calendar) is celebrated by: the Jerusalem Patriarchate (the oldest Christian Church, guardian of the holy places); the Russian Church; the Serbian Church; the Georgian Church; the Polish Church; the Macedonian Church; Mount Athos – the spiritual center of Orthodoxy, home to monks from various countries; Old Calendar communities in Greece; the Coptic Church – the oldest church in Egypt (although the Copts use the Alexandrian calendar, their Christmas also falls on January 7).
In Ukraine, the Filaret's UOC-KP celebrates the Nativity of Christ according to the Julian calendar. Are there "FSB agents" there too? Moreover, even within the OCU – the very church that the authorities position as "right" and "Ukrainian" – there are parishes that celebrate Christmas on January 7. It is officially confirmed that three OCU parishes in the Ivano-Frankivsk region decided to celebrate th Nativity of Christ in the old style.
Are these also traitors who "prepare children for Moscow occupation"? Or maybe they are just people who want to preserve the tradition of their ancestors?
Kosmach: when inconvenient truth destroys a beautiful theory
The situation in the village of Kosmach in the Ivano-Frankivsk region is particularly indicative. This place is not just a village somewhere on the periphery. It is a village with a special history, with special significance for the Ukrainian national movement. The fact is that the village of Kosmach gave Ukraine many fighters for independence, participants in the national liberation movement. Here they honor the memory of those who fought against all occupiers – Polish, Soviet, and German.
It is enough to say that at Sts Peter and Paul's Church in the village of Kosmach, Father Vasyl Romaniuk (1925–1995) once served – a figure who, in a certain sense, is legendary not only for the Ukrainian national movement but also for the OCU itself. Romaniuk endured Soviet labor camps, was a participant in the dissident movement, and from 1993 to 1995 held the position of “Patriarch” of the UOC of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the predecessor of the modern OCU.
In the same church, Vyacheslav Chornovil (1937–1999), the founder of Ukraine’s “People’s Movement” (Rukh), the first mass nationalist movement in the Ukrainian SSR, was baptized. Chornovil was a dissident, political prisoner, journalist, and politician – a man who proved his dedication to the idea of Ukrainian independence through his life.
What happened in this church in the winter of 2025–2026? On December 25, the OCU parishioners who remain faithful to the Old Calendar did not allow other parishioners, who wanted to celebrate the Christmas Liturgy according to the New Calendar, to enter the church. And on January 7, 2026, the faithful came to the church expecting the traditional Christmas service.
However, on January 7, the “head of the parish” of the OCU, Vasyl Kyfor, was absent from the church, and no service was held. The head of the local village council, Dmytro Mokhnachuk, explained that the priest couldn't come due to health reasons. According to Mokhnachuk, “the deacon read the Akathist, the choir sang Christmas carols. There were no confrontations between parishioners. The priest was not there, and there was no Christmas service.”
Here is the inconvenient truth that Hryshchuk and his like-minded associates so dislike: the people of Kosmach, who cannot be accused of sympathizing with Moscow, who grew up in the traditions of Ukrainian nationalism, who honor the memory of Romaniuk and Chornovil, continue to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 7. And this is their personal choice, based on faith and tradition, not political sympathies.
When democracy turns into harassment
Further more: on January 7, 2025, the host of the municipal TV channel Kyiv, Anastasiya Krasnytska, threw a full-blown on-air tantrum. Making faces, she read a viewer’s request, which simply asked to congratulate Orthodox Christians on Christmas, and then declared: “So here’s the thing: anyone who congratulates on Christmas today or sends similar messages will be blocked in our messengers. I warned you about this.”
In an aggressive and insulting manner, Krasnytska demanded that viewers “not forget what country we live in, what time we live in,” calling Christmas greetings “nonsense”. She also said that such greetings are unacceptable “on a municipal TV channel that broadcasts to all of Ukraine, and which is watched in Europe and across the ocean.” The final note of this performance: “If you have nothing to write except such greetings – don’t write anything rather than write this nonsense.”
Let’s think about these words. The host of a state (more precisely, municipal, i.e., city budget–funded) TV channel publicly threatens citizens with blocking for religious greetings. She is actually stating that there is the “right” state-backed church (the OCU) and the “right” Christmas (December 25). Everything else is “nonsense” that must be eradicated. And this is happening in a country where, according to the Constitution, the Church is separated from the state.
Krasnytska is not simply expressing a personal opinion. She speaks on behalf of a state channel that “broadcasts to all of Ukraine” and is effectively setting the rules: there are “right” citizens, who celebrate Christmas on December 25, and “wrong” ones, who dared to celebrate on January 7. The former get airtime; the latter get blocked.
This is not democracy. This is a violation of human religious rights, a violation of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. It is a direct breach of Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which guarantees everyone the right to freedom of religion.
How it should be done: lessons from Poland and the USA
Now let’s look at how this issue is handled in truly democratic countries, which not only declare democratic values but actually put them into practice.
On January 6, 2026, the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, together with his wife Marta, addressed the Orthodox believers of their country with a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ. He wrote: “At this special time, we extend our heartfelt thoughts and best wishes to all members of the Orthodox Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches in Poland. May your hearts be filled with joy, peace, and love during this Christmas Eve meal, which begins with the beautiful custom of sharing prosphora.”
Karol and Marta Nawrocki emphasized the spiritual significance of the Nativity of Christ for the entire Christian world: “We wish that the miracle of the Savior's birth, which forever changed the fate of the world, illuminate your lives and bestow goodness upon your homes, families, parishes, and religious congregations.”
Notice a few key points:
First, Karol Nawrocki cannot be accused of “pro-Moscow views.” He is a conservative Polish politician, a member of the Law and Justice party, and a person with a clearly defined anti-Russian stance. His election as president occurred with the active support of forces that consistently advocate a tough policy toward Russia.
Second, Poland is one of Ukraine’s main allies in the war against Russia. It has taken in millions of Ukrainian refugees. Poland provides military aid to Ukraine. Poland consistently advocates a firm stance on Russia within the EU and NATO. Poland is a country that actually helps Ukraine, not just pays lip service.
Third, Poland is a Catholic country, where Orthodox Christians make up about 1% of the population. Nevertheless, the President of Poland considers it his duty to congratulate this religious minority on the holiday – warmly, sincerely, and with respect for their traditions.
And for some reason, Nawrocki does not call Orthodox Christians “Muscovites” or “Kremlin agents”. He does not demand that they celebrate Christmas “correctly”, does not declare it some kind of “Accountant’s Day”, does not set up a “calendar police” but he simply respects his citizens’ right to faith and tradition.
Moreover, this is not a one-time gesture. In Poland, Christmas greetings from the head of state to Orthodox believers have become a tradition. During his presidency, former President Andrzej Duda also sent annual Christmas greetings to the country’s Orthodox believers. This is a genuine European approach and real democracy not just in words, but in action.
The same approach was taken by U.S. military chaplains. On January 7, 2026, they issued a greeting to Orthodox Christians on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ. In their message to believers celebrating Christmas according to the Julian calendar, the American military chaplains stated: “Today we celebrate Orthodox Christmas, a sacred day honoring the birth of Christ and the light He brings into the world.”
Let us recognize the significance of this message. The U.S. is a country that is Ukraine’s main military and financial ally. American military aid is measured in hundreds of billions of dollars. American weapons protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missiles, and American instructors train Ukrainian soldiers. And yet, the military chaplains – official representatives of the U.S. Army – do not see the need to impose the “right” or “non-Muscovite” date for Christmas on anyone. They simply understand that people of different faiths serve in the American military, and everyone has the right to their own religion.
Voices of common sense
Fortunately, there are people in Ukraine who understand the absurdity of the situation and call for reason. On January 7, 2025, the legendary boxer Vasyl Lomachenko congratulated everyone on the Nativity of Christ: “Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Happy Nativity of Christ! May we, on this BRIGHT feast, become at least a little kinder and more humane toward one another!” He urged people “to learn to understand, forgive, appreciate, love, and respect one another. And then the world around us will become a little BRIGHTER!”
On the same day, another legendary athlete, Oleksandr Usyk, recorded a video greeting for Christmas. Standing in front of an Orthodox church, he said: “Christ is born! Glorify Him! Happy feast, dear friends. Spiritual strength to everyone, love and happiness!”
After a wave of hateful comments from supporters of the “state” Christmas, Usyk recorded a second video in his car, calling on Ukrainians to respect one another: “We are all different – we have different characters, different parents. We were born in different cities, but we all live in Ukraine, and we are Ukrainians.”
The words of Usyk and Lomachenko are the words of people who understand a simple truth: you cannot build a unified nation on hatred and contempt for those who think differently. Unity is built on respect, on recognizing everyone’s right to make their own choices, and on understanding that we are all Ukrainians, despite our differences.
Dangerous games with the calendar
On December 22, Zelensky stated that “just as the true Christmas was accepted easily – on December 25 – so other dates must also be fair and correct.” But was it really “accepted easily”? The events in Kosmach, where the parish split and could not hold a service on either December 25 or January 7; the scandal with the host of the Kyiv TV channel, who publicly threatened citizens with blocking over religious greetings; Hryshchuk’s hysterics, accusing entire villages and schools of betrayal; the need for Usyk and Lomachenko to publicly call for tolerance and mutual respect and, most importantly, the millions of people who filled the UOC churches on January 7 – all of this points to the opposite.
The “transition” does not look “easy” because it is being carried out in a violent and conflictual way for millions of people. And the more the authorities and their propagandists pressure those who remain faithful to the traditions of many generations of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, the deeper the split becomes. And these are not mere words.
In 2018, after Ukraine introduced the state-level celebration of Christmas on December 25 for the first time, the UOJ released a video titled: “Christmas with Europe: Will the celebration on January 7 disappear in Ukraine?” The current authorities give the answer posed by that program: the state is doing everything it can to make the celebration disappear.
On December 22, Zelensky announced that the Russians are planning shelling “on our Christmas”. From this statement, it follows that for those who celebrate on January 7, Christmas is no longer “ours”. And if we take one more logical step, the outcome is even sadder: those who have not switched to the New Calendar are “not ours” – in other words, enemies.
Have you noticed that this year the carolers have disappeared? Children are no longer going from house to house or apartment to apartment. Has anyone wondered why? The answer is simple: they are not allowed by their parents. Parents fear aggression from others and are afraid that their children will be labeled “Muscovite”. Isn’t this an indication that the calendar reform has led to an even greater division of society?
Quite recently, the Kyiv TRC has stated that draft dodgers are “miserable creatures”, “traitors, enemies, and murderers”. In other words, those who do not rush to the front have been declared outcasts.
It is hard not to see a parallel with those who celebrate the “wrong Christmas”. Yes, they are not yet being called “creatures” or “murderers”, but it is difficult not to notice that they are positioned in the same way as second- or even third-class people. They can be insulted with impunity, their constitutional religious rights ignored, and they can even be considered not quite Ukrainian.
History shows that attempts to forcibly unify people by imposing the “right” views and traditions have never strengthened a state. In fact, they have always weakened it. True unity is built not on coercion and fear, but on mutual respect and recognition of every person’s right to freedom of conscience. Unless the Ukrainian authorities understand this simple truth, the calendar reform will remain not a step toward European integration but another painful wound on the body of Ukrainian society, which is already bleeding at the front.
