On the threshold of May 2026 is one of the most beautiful and brightest months in the church year. After Easter, it is filled with the joy of the Resurrection of Christ, as well as important holidays that complete the Easter cycle. In 2026, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the UGCC finally live according to the new (reformed) calendar, May has a special meaning.
In this article, which our editorial team and I have prepared based on data on church holidays, fasting, and traditions, you will find a complete church calendar for May 2026, the dates of the main holidays, the days of remembrance of saints, fasting days, and folk signs associated with this month.
How the date of Easter in 2026 affects the entire schedule of holidays in May
Easter 2026 according to the new calendar fell on April 12. Therefore, all of May 2026 falls in the post-Easter period of the Ascension of Christ and the Trinity.
Read also: When is Ascension Day in 2026: the exact date, main traditions and what you absolutely cannot do
Church calendar for May 2026 (new style)
| Date and day of the week | Religious holiday (event) |
| May 1, Friday | Prophet Jeremiah |
| May 2, Saturday | Saint Athanasius the Great; Blessed Princes Boris and Gleb |
| May 3, Sunday | 4th Sunday after Easter (about the paralytic) ; St. Theodosius of Pechersk |
| May 4, Monday | Martyrs Pelagia |
| Tuesday, May 5 | Martyrs Irene |
| Wednesday, May 6 | The halving of Pentecost ; the law of Job the Long-Suffering |
| Thursday, May 7 | Commemoration of the appearance of the Lord’s Cross in heaven in Jerusalem; Martyr Acakias |
| May 8, Friday | Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian |
| May 9, Saturday | Transfer of the relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Nikolai Tepliy) |
| May 10, Sunday | 5th Sunday after Easter (about the Samaritan woman) ; Apostle Simon the Zealot |
| May 11, Monday | Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, teachers of the Slavic |
| Tuesday, May 12 | Saints Epiphanius and Herman |
| Wednesday, May 13 | Devotion to the Feast of the Half-Day Pentecost |
| May 14, Thursday | Martyr Isidore |
| May 15, Friday | Venerable Pachomius the Great |
| May 16, Saturday | Venerable Theodore the Sanctified |
| May 17, Sunday | 6th Sunday after Easter (of the blind man) ; Apostle Andronicus |
| May 18, Monday | Martyrs Theodotus of Ancyra and the Seven Virgins |
| Tuesday, May 19 | Hieromartyr Patrick |
| May 20, Wednesday | Devotion to the holiday of Pascha (Easter) |
| May 21, Thursday | THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD ; Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena |
| May 22, Friday | Martyr Basilisk |
| May 23, Saturday | Venerable Michael the Confessor |
| May 24, Sunday | 7th Sunday after Easter (Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council) |
| May 25, Monday | The third discovery of the head of the prophet John the Baptist |
| Tuesday, May 26 | Apostles from the 70 Carpus and Alphaeus |
| Wednesday, May 27 | Hieromartyr Ferapont |
| May 28, Thursday | Venerable Nikita the Confessor |
| May 29, Friday | Devotional of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord |
| May 30, Saturday | Trinity Memorial Saturday (Ecumenical Parental) |
| May 31, Sunday | HOLY TRINITY DAY (PENTECOST) |
Below is a photo of the church calendar in the new style
Read also: New law on mobilization that may be adopted as early as April-May 2026: who should prepare?
Note: After Trinity (May 31), the Peter’s Fast begins (in 2026 – from June 1).
Main holidays in May 2026 according to the new calendar
- May 6 – Job Boguslov (the Long-Suffering)
- May 21 — Ascension of the Lord
- May 31 — Holy Trinity (Green Holiday)
Traditions and customs of May in Ukraine
- St. George’s Day (May 6) was traditionally considered the day of shepherds and the beginning of grazing livestock.
- Ascension Day is the day when the Easter greetings “Christ is Risen!” end.
- Trinity is one of the greatest holidays. On this day, churches are decorated with greenery, and people consecrate herbs and flowers, decorating their yards with medicinal trees (linden or birch).
What you can and cannot do in May according to church traditions
You can:
- Consecrate willow, flowers and greenery on Trinity
- Pray for the harvest and well-being of the family
- To receive communion and confess
- Honoring the memory of saints and deceased relatives at the cemetery
Not recommended:
- On major holidays, organize noisy celebrations and weddings
- Working or doing heavy physical labor on holidays or Sundays
- Arguing, smoking, and abusing alcohol
Conclusion
May 2026 according to the new calendar is full of bright holidays and spiritual joy. This is a time when the Church reminds us of the Resurrection of Christ, the Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Use this month for prayer, family unity, and spiritual growth.
Wishes from the editorial staff of Ukrainian Information – May May 2026 be a month of peace, joy, and spiritual renewal for you.
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