Does Russia Use the Julian Calendar for Civil and Religious Purposes?
Explore how Russia uses the Gregorian calendar officially and the Julian calendar within the Russian Orthodox Church for religious events.
Video transcript
Russia does not use the Julian calendar for civil purposes. The country officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1918. However, some religious organizations, like the Russian Orthodox Church, continue to use the Julian calendar for liturgical purposes.
Questions and answers
When did Russia switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar?
Russia officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1918, replacing the Julian calendar for all civil purposes.
Why does the Russian Orthodox Church still use the Julian calendar?
The Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar for liturgical and religious occasions to preserve traditional observances.
What are the differences between the Julian and Gregorian calendars?
The Gregorian calendar corrects the Julian calendar's inaccuracies in calculating leap years, resulting in different dates over centuries.