Kyprian Lozinsky, “abbot” of the St. John Chrysostom Monastery in Lviv, dean of the theological faculty of the Lviv Orthodox Theological Academy, gave an interview to RISU, in which, in particular, he answered the question why some representatives of the OCU do not want to switch to a new calendar.

“Now I’ll say unpleasant words, because of which more than one person will condemn me: because of the total lack of education among some and because of sick stubbornness, which is backed up not by an understanding of the reform, but by an unwillingness to change and change in others,” Lozinsky said.

He added that “when some liturgical changes were adopted in our Church, original mini-reforms, which were in fact absolutely historically and theologically justified and necessary, then some priests, by the way, with higher educations, said: we didn’t introduce this and it’s not for us to cancel it, and they didn’t give any arguments in their favor.”

“In general, pay attention: the opponents of the calendar reform do not have an objective, healthy and most importantly scientific argumentation. The main argument is: no, because our ancestors lived this way, no, because it was like that from time immemorial, no, because these young bishops are something to themselves no, because how are we not going to celebrate on January 7, no, because this is a new union … and so on. Only emotions and pride. All the arguments of the level of conversations between women in the market. And why is that? Because we we live in a society that is afraid of books.If a person did not read Facebook contraversion posts and provocative comments, but picked up a book and researched this issue, then no problems (calendar / liturgical) would arise. When I say “man”, then First of all, I mean priests,” Kyprian Lozinsky stressed.

According to him, “the calendar does not bring us closer to God – this is a fact. It is possible to live and be saved without a calendar at all – it is also a fact. But if we already live according to the calendar, we worship according to the calendar, and this calendar requires changes, then why are we afraid of these changes? Will we betray Christ, or will we renounce the faith?”