On September 8, 2026, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) celebrated one of the twelve great feasts — the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to a statement by the OCU press service, published on Facebook and verified by RBC-Ukraine, this day is dedicated to commemorating the birth of the Virgin Mary from her previously barren parents, Joachim and Anna. The feast carries, in the words of church representatives, a message about the power of faith, hope, and the impossibility of falling into despair, even when circumstances seem hopeless.

The Meaning of the Feast: Birth in Defiance of Despair

The OCU emphasized that the birth of Mary is "for everyone a witness that one should never fall into despair and dejection." The parents of the Virgin, according to church tradition, long endured unjust humiliation from those around them, who considered them sinners punished by God with childlessness in marriage. However, Joachim and Anna "did not despair of God's mercy and humbly endured the unjust humiliation in the hope that the Lord knew better than they how to direct the path of their lives." It was in old age, when by human reckoning and natural law the couple could no longer have children, that they were granted a daughter, Mary, who became, in the words of the OCU, "a blessing for the entire human race."

A Name That Means "Exalted"

The newborn daughter of Joachim and Anna was named Mary (or Miriam). According to the OCU's explanation, this name from ancient Hebrew means "exalted, majestic." To the righteous Anna it was announced that her prayers had been heard and that she would bear "a Most Blessed Daughter, through whom all the tribes of the earth would receive a blessing and salvation would be granted to the whole world." Thus, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the words of OCU representatives, is not only a commemoration of a specific event but also an affirmation that Mary was called by God to become the Mother of the Son of God, the Savior of humanity, and is "the Mother of all the faithful."

Online Broadcast from Kyiv: How to Join the Liturgy

For believers who cannot physically attend the Divine Liturgy in a church, the OCU organized an online broadcast of the service. The event takes place in the Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery Cathedral on the grounds of the eponymous monastery in Kyiv. The service shown in the frame demonstrates a festive atmosphere: a clergyman in blue vestments reads prayers before the gilded iconostasis, parishioners pray at the analogion, and a film crew records the course of the liturgy for a wide audience. The OCU concluded its congratulation with the words of a prayer: "Most Holy Theotokos, help us! Most Holy Theotokos, save us! Most Holy Theotokos, enlighten us with the light of Your Son and cover us with Your honorable Omophorion from all evil."

Context: Other OCU Explanations for Believers

It is worth recalling that the OCU had previously published explanations on how to properly venerate icons in churches and whether an online broadcast can replace a personal visit to church. Believers were also told whether it is permissible to start new endeavors on the days of major church feasts. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is among the principal feasts of September in the OCU calendar and is traditionally accompanied by special prayers, the texts of which are published by church publications for the convenience of parishioners.