With the first day of calendar autumn, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) traditionally begins a new liturgical year, or the Church New Year. The OCU press service published a list of the most significant holidays and commemorative dates of September 2026 in its official Facebook channel, drawing the faithful's attention to the fact that the first month of autumn is rich in the Twelve Great Feasts and days of remembrance of the saints. As the Church notes, this period coincides with the start of the new church year and sets the spiritual rhythm for the entire subsequent liturgical cycle.
The New Liturgical Year and the Council of the Saints of Vinnytsia
On September 1, in addition to the Church New Year, the OCU commemorates the Council of the Saints of Vinnytsia. Thus, the first day of autumn combines two reasons for special prayerful attention: the end of one and the beginning of another church year, as well as the memory of the local saints of the Vinnytsia land. For the faithful, this is a day when the churches are especially filled with those praying, and the services take on the character of a transition into a new spiritual cycle.
The Memory of the Kyiv-Cave Venerable Fathers and the Miracle of the Archstrategos Michael
Right after the start of the month, on September 2, the Church commemorates the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Kyiv Caves — the founders of the monastic tradition in Rus and the patrons of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. On September 6, the commemoration of the Miracle of the Archstrategos Michael in Chona (Kolosa) is observed, associated with the tradition of the archangel's appearance and the protection of the faithful. Both days are among the important commemorative dates of the first decade of September and are traditionally accompanied by special prayers and the reading of akathists.
The Nativity of the Theotokos and the Prayer for the Family
A great Twelve Great Feast of the month is the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is celebrated on September 8. The OCU emphasizes that this day "honors the event that is the beginning of our salvation, a forerunner of the events of the Gospel." The following day, September 9, the faithful commemorate the righteous God-Bearing Parents Joachim and Anne — the parents of the Virgin Mary. That is why, as the Church reminded, on this day in all OCU churches a Prayer (Moleben) for the Family will be performed after the Divine Liturgy, making September 9 a particularly significant date for family prayers.
The Exaltation of the Cross and the Second Half of the Month
On September 14, the Church celebrates the Twelve Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, reminding of two key events associated with the finding and the solemn glorification of the Cross. The second half of September also includes a number of outstanding church commemorative dates, which the OCU lists in its calendar, leading the faithful to the conclusion of the autumn liturgical cycle.
Prayers for Ukraine in the Conditions of War
Concluding the overview, the OCU emphasized that in the churches the prayers for the country and its defenders are not interrupted. "We ask the Lord for mercy and blessing, for spiritual steadfastness and strength to worthily endure and pass through all the trials during this cruel war! Great God, the One, keep our Ukraine," the Church summed up, calling on the faithful to unite personal repentance and family prayer with the common care for the fate of Ukraine.
