As long as anyone can remember, we have celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the United States on December 8 as a Holy Day of Obligation. This was done so we may be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Latin Church as this title of the Mother of God is the patron of this great country.

In accordance with the decree (1.4) of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church during the Synod of 1997 (14-20 September), the holy days of obligation were promulgated and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was not included as a day of obligation.

As the Feast of the Conception of St. Ann is celebrated on December 9 in all of the Eastern Churches (Gregorian Calendar) and specifically in the Ukrainian Church, we, the undersigned, promulgate that the Feast of the Conception of St. Ann to be celebrated on December 9 in the United States of America. This will enable our Church sui iuris to be of one accord in the celebration of the Liturgical life of our Church.

This is to take effect immediately. Given this day, the Feast of St. Andrew.

+Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan-Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians
+Robert M. Moskal
Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma
+Richard S. Seminack
Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago
+Paul Chomnycky, O.S.B.M.
Eparch of Stamford