Ukraine celebrates Day of Defender and two more holidays

We celebrate the Day of Defender of Ukraine and Holy Protection of Mother of God on 14 October.

Since 2014, President’s decree set the Day of the Defender of Ukraine. A year later, on 21 February 2015, Poroshenko made the Day of Defender of Ukraine a state holiday. It replaced the Soviet celebration on 23 February (the Defender of the Fatherland Day). The holiday was introduced to honor the courage and heroism of the defenders of independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, military traditions and victories of the Ukrainian people.

The Christians of the byzantine rite celebrate the Feast of the Holy Protection or the Holy Protection of Mother of God on 14 October. According to the legend, during the siege of Constantinople by the Hagarenes’ army, the Holy Mother appeared before people in the shrine and took them under her protection – the veil. After that, the enemies retreated.

Since 1999, the Day of Ukrainian Cossacks is also marked on this day.