St Vladimir's Day

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Eastern Orthodox

Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kyiv, was baptised at Chersonesus in about 988, and on his return had the people of Kyiv baptised en masse in the river; the church venerates him as Equal to the Apostles. His feast, 15 July Julian, is 28 July until 2100. Since 2010 the day has also been Russia's state day for the Baptism of Rus', a working day, under a law signed by Dmitry Medvedev on 1 June 2010. In Ukraine, a decree by Viktor Yushchenko made 28 July the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus' in 2008; Ukraine's Statehood Day, a public holiday first held on 28 July 2022, moved to 15 July from 2024, when the Orthodox Church of Ukraine moved to the new calendar.