What is the occasion on 14 March: who is being commemorated today in Ukraine and around the world?
14 March marks Ukrainian Volunteer Day in Ukraine, whilst believers commemorate Saint Benedict. There are 293 days remaining until the end of 2026. This year, the date falls on a Saturday and also marks the 1,479th day of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
What is the church holiday on 14 March
On this day, Christians commemorate Saint Benedict of Nursia — one of the most famous founders of Western monasticism.
He was born in the town of Nursia in Italy. In his youth, he studied in Rome, but decided to leave secular life and chose the path of spiritual seclusion. For some time, he lived as a hermit in a cave near Subiaco, where he gained a reputation as a wise mentor.
Later, Benedict founded several monasteries. The most famous of these was the monastery of Monte Cassino, where he drew up the ‘Rule of Saint Benedict’ — a charter that became the foundation of life in many monasteries across Europe.
The main principle of his spiritual teaching is the combination of prayer and work, known by the Latin phrase ‘Ora et labora’ (‘pray and work’). Saint Benedict is considered the patron saint of Europe.
Ukrainian Volunteer Day
14 March is celebrated in Ukraine as Ukrainian Volunteer Day. The holiday is dedicated to those who voluntarily stood up to defend the state.
It was established by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2017. The date was chosen to commemorate the events of 14 March 2014, when the first volunteers of the Maidan Self-Defence arrived at the training ground in Novi Petrivtsi to form the first volunteer battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine. This moment marked one of the beginnings of the organised volunteer movement during the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Other holidays on this day
Land Surveyor’s Day in Ukraine
It is celebrated on the second Saturday in March. The holiday was established in 1999 by a decree of President Leonid Kuchma and is dedicated to specialists working in the field of land surveying and land resource management.
International Pi Day The
date is dedicated to the mathematical constant π, which defines the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. The holiday was launched in 1988 at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco, with physicist Larry Shaw as the initiator.
International Mathematics Day
It was officially proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2019. The date was chosen symbolically — it coincides with Pi Day.
International Belt Bag Day
An unofficial event dedicated to the popular accessory — a compact bag worn on a belt or over the shoulder.
International Day of Questions
The aim of this day is to encourage people to ask more questions, develop critical thinking and a thirst for knowledge.
International Rivers Day
Also known as International Day Against Dams. It is dedicated to raising awareness of the impact of large dams on river ecosystems and local communities.
