Calendar Reform Research Articles

Социально-экономическая и религиозная проблематика в обращениях российских эмигрантов в Архиерейский Синод Русской зарубежной церкви в 1930-х гг. (по материалам Государственного архива Российской Федерации)

This article examines the correspondence of representatives of the Russian Orthodox emigration with the Synod of Bishops and personally with Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) during the 1930s, preserved in the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF). The range of issues reflected in the materials is quite diverse. Primarily, this includes a complex of socio-economic difficulties related to obtaining refugee status or new citizenship, employment, and social assistance. The second most important topic of appeals concerns family issues, particularly the high incidence of divorces, new marriages, and cohabitation deemed unacceptable from a Christian point of view. The actual religious issues are represented by questions about the calendar reform, which gave rise to difficulties in synchronizing the secular and ecclesiastical rhythm of life. In this situation, the Russian Church Abroad represented a unifying center in the lives of emigrants, helping to maintain ties with the motherland, striving to ensure ideological stability, maintaining cultural traditions, giving hope for the future, as well as providing all possible financial assistance.

Juedi Tiantong: The Religious Basis of the Relationship between Tian and Man in Ancient China

Juedi Tiantong occurred in ancient China and was the critical foundation for understanding the relationship between Tian and man in China. From the perspective of conceptual history, Juedi Tiantong not only shaped the metaphysical dimension of the concept of Tian, but also transformed the original religious form of communication between man and natural gods into the unity of human nature and Tiandao, which liberated the relationship between Tian and man from the religious field. Therefore, Juedi Tiantong should be regarded as the critical basis of the unity of heaven and man in Chinese philosophy. Furthermore, as an important religious revolution, Juedi Tiantong also affected people’s understanding of nature, which was mainly reflected in the recognition of astronomy and calendar reform. In ancient China, it was difficult to distinguish between humanity and astronomy, science and religion, and rationality and divinity. In this case, Juedi Tiantong also abstracted Tian, originally representing the physical sky, into a metaphysical concept. Accordingly, the concept of Tian in Chinese philosophy has not developed the same meaning of nature as Western civilization.

Chongzhen Calendar Reform from the Perspective of Philosophy of Engineering

Chongzhen Calendar Reform from the Perspective of Philosophy of Engineering

The Calendar, Religion and Politics. Discussion on Calendar Reform in the Sikh Community

In the article the introduction of the Nanakshahi calendar in 1998 (accepted in 2003, amended in 2010) is considered as an attempt of unification of the Sikh community, and formation of single-form Sikh identity. The evolution of a Sikh community is a long process and the result of the combination of different trends. The community of Sikhs started as the sect in Hinduism in time of Guru Nanak (1469–1539) but developed as a new religion under the leadership of his successors, all of whom are known as the Gurus. Dates of main historical events of the Sikhs together with agricultural and New Year celebrations (Diwali, Holi) became main festivals of the Sikh year. The matter is complicated by the emergence of significant Sikh diaspora. Recently Sikh religious authorities have introduced moral code of the Sikh and the Sikh calendar Nanakshahi to strengthen differences and to create religious boundaries between the Sikhs and the Hindus. In 2003 this calendar was put in force. However, some Sikh festivals are still celebrated in old manner according to the old Vikram (Bikrami) North Indian calendar and the new version (2010) of the Nanakshahi Calendar. The calendar reform aiming at the unification of the Sikhs resulted in rise of differences between them.

Calendar Reforms in Ukrainian Orthodoxy

Calendar Reforms in Ukrainian Orthodoxy

Ukrainian Orthodox community - between Russia's war and European integration

The aim of this article is to examine the transformations that have occurred within the Ukrainian Orthodox community in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, within the broader context of Ukraine's aspirations for European integration. Specifically, it focuses on the changes and diversification of the overall perception of Europe as a political community and Ukraine's position within it, the conflicts arising from the implementation of this vision, and the adaptation of it within the church (using the example of the calendar reform introduced in 2023). The study primarily relies on contextual and discourse analyses of texts from the two largest Ukrainian Orthodox churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, as well as the inter-religious All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations.

On the History of the Monastic Movement for the Paternal Calendar on Mount Athos

The article analyzes events from the history of the Orthodox Church of the last century, which were caused by calendar transformations in the Patriarchate of Constantinople, which led to active apologetic activity in defense of the Julian (“Old”, “Paternal”) calendar by representatives of one of the most important centers of world Orthodoxy - Holy Mount Athos. This movement found wide support among the laity and clergy of the Greek Church, and subsequently caused a wide public outcry throughout the Orthodox world. However, there were many who reacted indifferently to the event, or even supported it at all. The attitude to the calendar reform was also ambiguous within the monastic circles of Mount Athos, one part of which reacted sharply negatively to this innovation, the other took a moderate position. This publication is dedicated to this little-covered episode in the history of the Church. The article shows the significant influence that Athos monasticism had on the course of events caused by the calendar reform. The history of the Orthodox Church in the XX century is filled with many dramatic events, one of which is the church calendar reform, which began in 1924 and led to a split within the Church. The confrontation between reformers and traditionalists within the Orthodox Church first manifested itself acutely in the first half of the XX century. The prerequisites for this were indicated even earlier. Eventually after all the events. Two trends have emerged in connection with innovations in world Orthodoxy, one of which expresses itself in an effort to defend traditional spiritual values, on which Orthodox Teaching is actually based, the second is to introduce novelty, to go for reforms, to harmonize the Teaching of the Church with the spirit of the times.

Time Out of Joint: Negotiating the Gregorian Calendar Reform on the Borderland of the Hungarian Kingdom

Time Out of Joint: Negotiating the Gregorian Calendar Reform on the Borderland of the Hungarian Kingdom

ДІТИ В РАДЯНСЬКИХ МАСОВИХ СВЯТКУВАННЯХ 1920-х РОКІВ В УСРР (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ВІДЗНАЧЕННЯ РІЧНИЦЬ «ЖОВТНЯ»)

After coming to power, thanks to the October Revolution in 1917, the Bolsheviks began to implement their own policy, trying to bring all areas of life under their own control, in particular, after the establishment of Soviet power in Ukraine and the formation of the Ukrainian SSR. And a fairly significant share in this process was occupied by festive culture, the development and implementation of which the Bolsheviks began immediately after coming to power. In particular, one of the first reforms carried out by the Bolsheviks was the calendar reform in 1918, during which the transition to the Gregorian calendar was made. And with the transition to the new calendar, the Bolsheviks began to actively introduce their own holiday culture, which was aimed at supplanting and replacing the holiday culture of the period of the Russian Empire. This made it possible to fully control the sphere of festive culture, using it for one’s own purposes. Thus, festive culture was used as one of the tools of influence on the population, during which they tried to inculcate ideological and cultural standards, solutions to political or economic problems. A particularly significant role was given to public holidays, which were days off and the celebration of which was carried out in a fairly unified, centralized manner throughout the territory of the USSR and the Ukrainian SSR in particular. Among such holidays, the most important place was the commemoration of the “October” anniversaries, which symbolized and was positioned as the beginning of the Soviet state. The Bolsheviks played a particularly significant role in the preparation and holding of «October» for children, which for them had a peculiar educational role in terms of inculcating Soviet norms, stereotypes, worldview, values, and models of behavior. After all, the Bolsheviks needed support for the future of their power, and therefore they actively prepared the young generation for this role, who did not know the past and their ideas about it were formed only from Bolshevik myths and worldviews, which were actively planted with the help of festive culture. The article examines the role and importance of children, which was attributed to them by the Bolsheviks in the celebration of the «October» anniversaries in the 1920s; the forms of involvement in the holiday and the ideological content that they tried to impress and instill in children during the celebration are highlighted.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯ ПІДГОТОВКИ ДО ВІДЗНАЧЕННЯ РАДЯНСЬКИХ МАСОВИХ СВЯТКУВАНЬ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ ВІДЗНАЧЕННЯ 10-ї РІЧНИЦІ «ЖОВТНЯ» У ПЕРВОМАЙСЬКОМУ ОКРУЗІ)

With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, in particular on the territory of Ukraine, considerable attention was paid to the creation of new cultural and ideological standards and their spread among the population. For this, they tried to attract and apply various means and tools, one of which was the creation of a new festive culture. One of the first reforms implemented by the Bolsheviks was the calendar reform of 1918, the transition to the Gregorian calendar and the creation of their own holiday culture. Thus, a number of holidays were created, which were designed to supplant and replace the festive culture of the Russian Empire, as well as to establish Bolshevik control over this sphere. Festive culture was one of the most important tools with which the Bolsheviks tried to convey, spread and consolidate ideological and cultural standards, solutions to political or economic problems among the population. Therefore, Soviet holidays were characterized by centralization and uniformity, and were held according to a single model. For this, appropriate preparation was created and carried out, which was especially important during the preparation for public holidays, for example, the commemoration of the «October» anniversaries, in particular at the local level. The article examines the personalities of the organization of preparation for soviet mass holidays at the local level in the USSR, using the example of preparation for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of «October» in the Pervomaisk district in 1927; the organization and activities of the commissions that prepared for the holiday in the Pervomaisk district are analyzed and covered, the peculiarities of the course of preparation for the holiday are revealed. Keywords: soviet mass holidays, 10th anniversary of «October», Commission for the preparation of the 10th anniversary celebration «October», organization of preparation, unification, centralization.

Проблемы русского церковного рассеяния в Финляндии на примере истории Валаамского монастыря межвоенного периода

The article examines the period of the history of the Transfiguration of the Valaam Monastery of 1918 - 1939, before the evacuation to Heyniavesi. The famous Russian monastery, which belonged to the Diocese of Finland and Vyborg of the Orthodox Russian Church, had to adapt to life in independent Finland. The conditions of the monastery existence had changed significantly after the declaration of independence of this country and the change of the state system in Russia. In 1918, the Finnish government awarded the diocese the status of the second state church of the national minority. Despite the difficulties of socio-political, economic and jurisdictional nature, active finnization, which included the imposed calendar reform, the monastery became a symbol of steadfastness, evidence of the greatness of Russian culture and loyalty to Orthodoxy for Russian emigration around the world. The monastery leadership managed to find a common language with the church and secular authorities of Finland, the monastery won the respect and love of ordinary Finlanders. It can be said that the monastery has found its place in a new Western society. However, the author believes that it is possible to assert about the "prosperity" or "flourishing" of the Valaam Monastery at that time only conditionally, in comparison with the sad fate of monasteries in the USSR. She recalls the contradictory events in the story of the Valaam Monastery in the period, which influenced the fate of its inhabitants and the monastery itself, contributed to the reduction in the number of the brotherhood and the appearance of a "split" in it, and proves that visible well-being was the attribute of an artificially created image, although it had a positive meaning.

The Lord of Time: Temporal Discourses of the Enlightenment in Russia

The article deals with the perception of temporal processes in Russia during the Enlightenment and their regulation by the power structures. Several levels and forms of this perception are investigated, from individual experience to reflect on the dimensions of the historical process, from philosophical comprehension to ways of measuring and symbolic representation of time constants. Particular attention is paid to the system of conventions in the perception of time and ways of expressing the sequence and logic of historical processes. Examples of calendar and clock reforms and experiments in cultural history show that temporal rhythms were set by power structures and were perceived by society not only as natural but also as social realities. Turbulent events in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century made the problem of time urgent. The perception of changing and qualitatively defined time was associated with the reforms of Peter the Great, including the calendar reform and the reform of “timekeeping”. The calendar reform moved the starting point 5,508 years from the beginning of the world to the Nativity of Christ. The introduction of New Year’s Day on January 1 instead of September 1 fixed the annual cycles and linked the country to the European calendar. The time reform changed not only the number of divisions on the dial (12 instead of 17) but also the quality of time, giving equal rights to “day” and “night” time. These reforms created a feeling of change, of transition from one time to another, of the “novelty” of time and its dependence on the sovereign’s will. The ruling circles commanded not only the change in the way time was measured, but also the time of their subjects. This is analyzed in the article with examples of corvée as the alienation of the time of serfs, recruitment military service, and compulsory nobility service.

The Assyrian King of the Broken Obelisk, the Date of the Archive from Giricano, and the Timing of the Assyrian Calendar Reform

The Assyrian King of the Broken Obelisk, the Date of the Archive from Giricano, and the Timing of the Assyrian Calendar Reform

RAGOONATHA CHARRY AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 1868 FROM VANPURTHY (WANPARTHY), INDIA

The eclipse of 18 August 1868, often called as the 'The Great Indian Eclipse', and described as a 'watershed event', took place at a time when what can be called as 'old eclipse studies' was fading and the era of solar physics, using spectroscopy, photography, polarimeter and so on, was starting to bloom. It was also a notable event in the history of the emergence of modern astronomy and astrophysics in India. Although observations of eclipses were conducted earlier, it was in 1868 that the Madras Observatory organised an eclipse expedition, and for the first time an Indian astronomer led a modern astronomical eclipse expedition. Ragoonatha Charry, the First (head) Assistant at the Observatory led a team of astronomy enthusiasts to observe the eclipse from Vanpurthy (Wanparthy) situated near the central line of the path of totality. While the significant scientific breakthroughs, such as the discovery of helium and the spectral characteristics of prominences and the corona, were made during the 1868 eclipse mainly by the British and French expeditions at Guntur and Masulipatnam, this expedition led by an Indian astronomer, had an impact on the public imagination and subsequently on calendar reform in southern India. In this paper, we focus mainly on Ragoonatha Charry's expedition to Vanpurthy, a principality under the dominion of the Nizam of Hyderabad state. We examine the preparatory scientific work done by Ragoonatha Charry, associated personnel on the expedition, the selection and establishment of their observing station, the scientific instruments that they used, the observations that they made, and the impact that this particular eclipse had on the public imagination.

Views on the (Serbian Orthodox) Church Calendar as an Element of Cultural Heritage in Serbia

The Serbian Orthodox Church is considered by a number of Serbian citizens to be the “guardian” of tradition and cultural heritage. Issues related to church reforms are thus often particularly sensitive, and are perceived by some of the public as a danger to the preservation of cultur­al and religious identity. On the other hand, there are opinions in favor of reforms. In this context, the issue of church calendar reform is of special interest. Although it has been raised for more than a century, it is still as relevant as in the first attempts at the reform thereof. This paper explores the attitudes on online platforms in Serbia on this issue. Is the church calendar perceived as an integral part of the cultural heritage? What are the pros and cons of calendar reform? What would be the consequences of its potential change?

Проблема календаря и коперниканская революция

The desire to compromise between the natural course of natural processes and the desire of man to find order in them and organize his life led to the creation of the calendar. The authors of the article are faced with the task of showing that a person faced the problem of the calendar in ancient times, over time, the calendar changed, reflecting the cultural history of mankind. The calendar reform has always been accompanied by scientific discoveries, contributing to the increment of scientific knowledge. An example for the authors is the Gregorian calendar, the appearance of which was promoted by the Copernican revolution, which changed the idea of man about the universe.

Calendar Reform under Peter the Great: Absolutist Prerogatives, Plural Temporalities, and Christian Exceptionalism

The calendar reforms of Peter the Great introduced on January 1, 1700 have produced a surprising amount of confusion and misunderstanding. This articles proposes firstly to clarify the aims and outcomes of these reforms, so far as the available sources allow. Secondly, through an examination of the New Year celebrations mandated by Peter's edicts, the article examines the legitimating arguments that have been deployed, including ideas about Russia's relation to western countries, about the position of the Orthodox Church in the polity, and about the prerogatives of the ruler in these matters. As a result of the changing arguments invoked by Peter and his entourage, the reforms introduced a regime of plural temporalities that has affected the course of Russia's development and the elaboration of its identities to this day. The reforms had little to do with heralding a secular, modern society. If initially they represented a failed pragmatic attempt to create a civil calendar aligned with Protestant countries, their justification, once it finally settled, harked back to long-standing theological ideas about the time of the Incarnation.

On an Enigmatic Poem by Daniił Charms

The article offers a reading of a singular nonsensical poem by Danił Charms in its historical context. The poem describes a mysterious destruction of the week, and in this way alludes to the calendar reform in Soviet Russia in the 1920s and 30s. It also exemplifi es a key literary strategy of one of a leading member of the OBERIU group.

The Attitude of Uniate Bishops towards Calendar Reforms in the Latter Half of the 18th Century

The Polish version of the article was published in “Roczniki Humanistyczne,” vol. 59 (2011), issue 2.
 The provisions of the Union of Brest guaranteed the use of the Julian calendar in the Uniate Church. In the second half of the 18th century, as a result of the socio-political changes and the so-called reduction in holidays in the Latin Church the question of a reformed calendar was brought up among the hierarchs of the Uniate Church. Its elaboration and corresponding debates showed that the calendar was clearly considered to be an element of identification for all the faithful and an important factor creating a sense of separateness and identity in the multidenominational and multinational Polish Republic. The issue of reforming the calendar used by the Uniate Church was raised at the Great Sejm, but a new list of feasts was compiled by Uniate bishops during the congress of 17th September 1790 held in Warsaw. The hierarchy of the Uniate Church was also obliged to take a stance on the changes in the calendar introduced by the invading countries. The actions taken by Uniate hierarchs in the 18th century reflect an attempt to combine economic reasons with religious ones as well as social influences dictated by the ideas of the Enlightenment.

Calendar Reform and World Chronology: Pierre De Lille’sTria Calendaria Parva(1529)

AbstractThis essay explores the astronomical works of Pierre de Lille, a little-known French participant in the debates on calendar reform during the Fifth Lateran Council (1512–1517). It argues th...