Defending the State: From the Ukrainian Cossacks to the Modern Armed Forces of Ukraine

On 1 October, Ukraine celebrates the state holiday – the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, which coincides with another, religious, holiday – the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This state holiday was established in 2014 and was initially celebrated on 14 October, but due to a reform of the church calendar in 2023, the celebration now takes place at the beginning of October. How these military and Christian holidays are interconnected is explored in this article by The Gaze.

For many decades, while Ukraine was under Soviet occupation and later within the sphere of influence of the Russian Federation, sharing a political-cultural space and a corresponding holiday calendar, the main military holiday (besides Victory Day, which in Russia has been elevated to a separate religious cult) was 23 February – the so-called Defender of the Fatherland Day. This "festive" date (predominantly for Russia) was relegated to the past with the start of the decommunisation process, the abandonment of Soviet symbols and holidays, and the hybrid war against Ukraine initiated by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in 2014. Moreover, considering that the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 was cynically and "symbolically" launched on 24 February, the day after Russia's second most significant military holiday, the matter of shared festive dates between Ukraine and Russia, even unofficial ones, was finally and permanently taken off the agenda.

Amid the ongoing war, there emerged the need for a nationwide Ukrainian holiday to honour the defenders of the state. The head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, Volodymyr Viatrovych, saw the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 14 October (and later 1 October) as the basis for choosing the date of the country’s main military holiday. This holiday was traditionally celebrated not only as a church holiday but also as the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks and the formation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.

Overall, the tradition of associating the Feast of the Intercession with the Ukrainian military has deep historical roots and is closely linked to the history of the Cossacks and Byzantium. The veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Christianity emerged in the early Middle Ages and quickly spread throughout the Orthodox world, including Kyivan Rus. In Ukrainian religious tradition, the Virgin Mary was perceived as an intercessor and protector of the people before God, symbolising not only mercy but also help in dark times of wars and other calamities. There are two versions of the origins of this holiday: the Slavic and the Saracen versions. According to the first version, the miracle occurred during the siege of Constantinople by the ancient Rus' army led by Askold. The residents of the Byzantine capital prayed to the Virgin Mary, who supposedly appeared before Askold’s army and covered the city with her veil (omophorion). The army retreated, and the awestruck Askold accepted baptism. According to the second version, the holiday was inspired by a vision of Andrew the Fool-for-Christ during the siege of Constantinople by Saracen troops. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the residents of Constantinople in a church and took them under her protective veil. After this, the enemy forces withdrew, and the city was saved.

Later, when Cossacks emerged in the Ukrainian lands in the 15th century, the Feast of the Intercession acquired new meanings. The Zaporozhian Cossacks, who were constantly waging wars against external enemies – the Crimean Tatars, the Ottoman Empire, and others – turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the main protector of their army and their patroness. Icons with her image were used on Cossack banners during military campaigns, and a large church dedicated to the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the Zaporozhian Sich. During this holiday, Cossack councils and elections of atamans could also be held.

Source: president.gov.ua

In August 2021, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law to establish gender equality, changing the holiday’s name from "Defender of Ukraine Day" to the "Day of Defenders of Ukraine," since many brave Ukrainian women participate alongside men in combat and in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Today, on the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, a moment of silence is observed across the country to honour fallen soldiers. A joint prayer for Ukraine and the fallen defenders is also planned.