Church calendar for January 2026: when the OCU and UGCC celebrate the Epiphany
According to glavcom.ua: Church calendar for January 2026
January 2026 is a special month in the Orthodox calendar, as it marks the start of the calendar year and includes one of the main Christian holidays - the Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany. In addition, believers celebrate the Baptismal Holy Evening and honor the memory of many important saints.
Starting from September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) switched to the New Julian church calendar. This means that all non-movable holidays with fixed dates are celebrated 13 days earlier than under the Old Julian style.
The 'Glavkom' publishes the current church calendar and a list of major holidays in January 2026 according to the new calendar.
Main church holidays in January 2026
- January 1 - Circumcision of the Lord; Saint Basil the Great;
- January 5 - Baptismal Holy Evening;
- January 6 - Baptism of the Lord, or Epiphany;
- January 7 - Feast of the Nativity of the Lord John the Baptist;
- January 12 - Feast of Saint Tatiana, Martyr;
- January 24 - Feast of Saint Xenia of Rome;
- January 27 - Transfer of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom;
- January 30 - Three Saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom.
List of holidays in the church calendar for January 2026:
Date | Orthodox Holiday |
January 1 | Circumcision of the Lord,Saint Basil the Great |
January 30 | Three Saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom |
In January 2026, numerous important holidays will be celebrated in the Orthodox calendar, which have great significance for believers. The transition to the New Julian calendar has caused changes in the dating of holidays, making them more relevant to the modern life of the church. Be ready to celebrate these holidays in January, paying due tribute to the traditions and rituals of your church.
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