Easter 2024: When the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Catholics Celebrate

This year, believers of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) will celebrate Easter on April 12. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has already marked the Resurrection of Jesus Christ a week earlier, on April 5. This difference in dates is caused by the various calendar systems used by different Christian denominations.

In its infographic, NV reminds us why the date of the most significant Christian holiday changes from year to year and can either coincide or differ for believers of the Orthodox and Catholic churches. It is important to note that the unified calculation for the celebration of Easter, known as the computus, was established in 325 AD at the First Council of Nicaea, where general assemblies of the Christian church took place.

According to the basic rule, Easter is celebrated after the spring equinox, on the first Sunday following the full moon. However, the date of the equinox varies according to different calendars, which is the reason for the discrepancies in celebration dates.

Roman Catholics use the Gregorian calendar, while the OCU and UGCC adhere to the New Julian calendar. In the New Julian calendar, all fixed holidays correspond to the Gregorian calendar, while movable holidays, such as the Easter cycle, follow the Julian calendar. For example, Christmas, as a fixed holiday, is celebrated by the OCU and UGCC together with the Catholic world on December 25, while the dates of Easter and other holidays dependent on it, such as Pentecost and the Ascension of the Lord, differ.

Orthodox Christians must celebrate Easter after the Jewish Passover, as according to the Gospel, Jesus rose on the third day after the Jewish holiday. Catholics sometimes overlook this principle, which also affects the differences in celebration.

As a result, Easter according to the Gregorian calendar may be celebrated earlier or on the same day as Easter according to the Julian calendar. Typically, the dates for 'Catholic' and 'Orthodox' Easter vary. For instance, last year in 2025, the dates coincided, and all Christians celebrated Easter on April 20.

This year, however, the difference is one week: Catholics celebrated Easter on April 5, while believers of the OCU and UGCC will celebrate it on April 12. This situation underscores the importance of understanding calendar traditions and their impact on the celebration of major Christian holidays.

Thus, the difference in the dates of Easter celebration between Catholics and Orthodox Christians in Ukraine is not only a matter of tradition but also of deep historical roots that shape modern religious practices. This difference also serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and mutual respect among various Christian denominations.

Editor: Inna Semenova

Tags: Easter, Pascha 2026, NV Infographic, OCU, Catholics