Today, Ukraine celebrates four major holidays at once: traditions and prohibitions
15 July 2025 07:09
Today, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Statehood, the Day of Ukrainian Peacekeepers, the Baptism of Ukraine-Rus and the Day of Remembrance of St. Prince Volodymyr, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The Day of Remembrance of St. Prince Volodymyr the Equal-to-the-Apostles
On July 15, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine honors the memory of St. Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv, who baptized Kyivan Rus.
Previously, this holiday was celebrated on July 28, but after the OCU switched to the new calendar, the date of the holiday changed.
This holiday is of particular importance to Ukrainians, as Prince Volodymyr baptized Kyivan Rus in 988, which was a turning point in the history of Ukraine. Volodymyr the Great was an outstanding statesman, reformer, and military leader. He united the East Slavic tribes under his rule, strengthened the international authority of Kievan Rus, and carried out a number of important reforms aimed at developing the economy, culture, and education.
The baptism of Kyivan Rus was one of the most important decisions of Prince Volodymyr.
This holiday is a great one for Christians, so on this day you cannot do physical labor. One should not swear, quarrel, curse, or wish evil on others. You should also not overeat or drink alcohol.
Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus in honor of the founding of Christianity in the country by Prince Vladimir the Great.
The Day of the Baptism of Rus is celebrated annually on July 28 according to the old Julian calendar or July 15 according to the new style. It is on this day that the Orthodox world honors the memory of Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavovych of Kyiv, Equal-to-the-Apostles. He is known to have not only converted to Christianity himself, but also contributed to its becoming the state religion of Kievan Rus.
In 988, Volodymyr was baptized in Chersonesos, where he built the Church of St. Basil, the name Volodymyr was given at his baptism. Returning to Kyiv, the prince also baptized his sons and subjects, and then destroyed all pagan idols and altars.
Historical records show that Kyivans went down to the Dnipro River to be baptized on the site of the modern Poshtova Square in Kyiv.
The holiday was established in 2008 by a decree of President Viktor Yushchenko.
On this day, the churches of the OCU and the UGCC hold solemn services dedicated to St. Prince Volodymyr, the Equal-to-the-Apostles. Believers pray to him, asking for protection, healing, and spiritual blessing.
In peacetime, the celebration was accompanied by a religious procession and a prayer service at the monument to Volodymyr the Great on Volodymyrska Hill in Kyiv.
On the Day of the Baptism of Kievan Rus-Ukraine, the church calls on believers to refrain from foul language, quarrels, insults, and evil wishes. It is recommended to dedicate this day to prayer, good deeds, and reflections on spiritual values.
Day of Ukrainian Statehood
On February 5, 2018, an initiative group consisting of Hero of Ukraine Levko Lukyanenko, Presidents of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko, and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy proposed to celebrate the Day of Ukrainian Statehood at the state level for the first time, First Vice Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, editor-in-chief of the Verkhovna Rada newspaper Holos Ukrainy Anatoliy Horlov, academics Ruslan Stefanchuk and Oleksandr Sviatotskyi, professor Volodymyr Serhiichuk, and public figures Bohdan Morklianyk and Yuriy Balaniuk.
The Statehood Day was established by a decree of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 24, 2021, signed during the celebrations of the thirtieth anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
This holiday is intended to emphasize the connection between the baptism of Rus-Ukraine and the formation of Ukrainian statehood. Prince Volodymyr the Great, having converted to Christianity, not only strengthened the international authority of Rus’, but also laid the foundations of the legal system and state system that became the basis for the development of Ukrainian statehood.
Day of Ukrainian Peacekeepers
In 1992, the UN Secretary-General appealed to the leadership of Ukraine to send a military contingent to the UN forces in the conflict zones in the former Yugoslavia.
on July 3, 1992, the Verkhovna Rada signed a law stating that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would participate in peacekeeping missions.
The first place where peacekeepers from Ukraine were sent was the former Yugoslavia. Back in 1992, a Ukrainian battalion was formed in just three weeks.
Ukrainian peacekeepers have performed combat missions in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eastern Slavonia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia), on the African continent (Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, South Sudan, Darfur), in the Middle East and the Caucasus (South Lebanon, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Georgia) and many other regions of the world. 58 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gave their lives while performing tasks to maintain peace and security.
After the outbreak of full-scale war, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the return of all peacekeepers. At that time, 308 Ukrainian citizens, including 250 military personnel and 22 police officers, were involved in UN operations outside the country.
What not to do on July 15
This day has long been associated with many prohibitions. On St. Volodymyr’s Day, one is not supposed to reap bread, as it was considered a sin. It is also believed that one should not go to the field, as one can meet a ghost.
One should not swear, quarrel, swear, or wish evil on others.
You should not do any physical work or housework on the holiday. The holiday is considered great and important, but despite this, one should refrain from overeating and drinking alcohol.
Folk signs and traditions for July 15
Our ancestors had many interesting signs for this day. For example, they used to look at what day it was: a yellowed linden tree means early autumn; it rains in the morning – expect good weather in the afternoon; fog falls in the evening – it will rain the next day.
In the morning, light a candle and pray to St. Volodymyr, asking for peace and God’s help. Then drink some holy water on an empty stomach and sprinkle it on all the rooms in the house. This way you can protect yourself from all evil.
