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For Dom Guéranger's series of books, see The Liturgical Year. This article is about Dom Guéranger's series of books for the liturgical year of the church see Liturgical year.

The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read. A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints A memorial is an object which serves as a memory of something usually a person (who has died or an event In the Tridentine Mass period of the Roman Rite, when a higher-ranked liturgical celebration impeded the celebration of a lesser that either permanently or (in a A Solemnity of the Roman Catholic Church is a principal Holy day in the Liturgical calendar, usually commemorating an event in the life of Jesus Distinct liturgical colours may appear in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year. Liturgical colours are those specific colours which are used for Vestments and hangings within the context of Christian Liturgy. The dates of the festivals vary somewhat between the Western (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Protestant) churches and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, though the sequence and logic is the same. Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

In both the East and the West, the dates of many feasts vary from year to year, though in almost all cases this is due to the variation in the date of Passover, and all other dates follow from that. Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish The extent to which the feasts and festivals are celebrated also varies between churches; in general Protestant churches observe far fewer of them than Catholic and Orthodox churches, and in particular are less likely to celebrate feasts of the Virgin Mary and the Saints. This ecumenical article is about general Christian views on and veneration of the Virgin Mary A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity See moveable feasts. In Christianity, a moveable feast or movable feast is a holy day &mdash a Feast day or a Fast day &mdash whose date is not fixed to a

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Liturgical cycle

The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons, each with their own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer, which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches, vestments for clergy, scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home. Christian Theology is discourse concerning Christian faith Christian theologians use biblical Exegesis, rational analysis and argument Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religions especially the Latin Rite and other Roman Catholics Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin In churches that follow the liturgical year, the scripture passages for each Sunday (and even each day of the year in some traditions) are specified by a list called a lectionary. A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of Scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion

Among non-Catholic Western Christians, Anglicans and Lutherans have traditionally followed the lectionary since the days of the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time Following the Roman Catholic liturgical reform of the Roman Rite instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1970, the adoption and use of lectionaries in other Protestant churches (Methodist, Reformed, United, etc. Pope Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically United and uniting churches are churches formed from the merger or other form of union of two or more different Protestant denominations. ) increased. In particular, the growing influence of the Revised Common Lectionary led to a greater awareness of the Christian year among Protestants in the later decades of the 20th century, especially among mainline denominations. The Revised Common Lectionary is a Lectionary of readings or Pericopes from the Bible for use in Christian Worship making provision for the Liturgical year for other uses see Mainline (disambiguation The mainline (also sometimes called Mainstream) or mainline Protestant denominations

Biblical calendar

Main article: Jewish Calendar

Biblical calendars are based on the cycle of the new moon. The Hebrew calendar (הלוח העברי ha'luach ha'ivri) or Jewish calendar is a Lunisolar calendar used by Jews for predominantly religious This article is about the lunar phase for other uses see New Moon (disambiguation. The year is from the first new moon on or after the spring equinox to the next new moon on or after the spring equinox, which means it has no set starting point like the modern calendar. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle The basic formula for the calendar is found early in the Bible: "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Gen. 1:14). "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Exo. 12:1-2). Exodus ( Greek: έξοδος eksodos = "departure" is the second book of the Jewish Torah and of the Christian Old Testament. "This day came ye out in the month Abib" (Exo. 13:4). A month is one new moon to the next new moon. "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another (month), and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, said the LORD" (Isa. 66:23). The Book of Isaiah ( Hebrew: Sefer Y'sha'yah ספר ישעיה is a book of the Bible traditionally attributed to the Prophet Isaiah, who lived "In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar" (Est. 3:7). The Book of Esther is a book of the Tanakh ( Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament. The Biblical Calendar is laid out as follows, Nisan or Nissan (1st month) March-April, Iyar (2nd month) April-May, Sivan (3rd month) May-June, Tammuz (4th month) June-July, Av (5 month) July-August, Elul (6 month) August-September, Tishrei (7th month) September-October, Heshvan or Cheshvan (8th month) October-November, Kislev (9th month) November-December, Tevet (10th month) December-January, Shevat (11th month) January-February, Adar (12th month) February-March.

Western liturgical calendar

The month of October from a liturgical calendar for Abbotsbury Abbey. 13th c. manuscript (British Library, Cotton MS Cleopatra B IX, folio 59r).
The month of October from a liturgical calendar for Abbotsbury Abbey. The Abbey of St Peter was a Benedictine Monastery in the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, England. 13th c. manuscript (British Library, Cotton MS Cleopatra B IX, folio 59r). The British Library ( BL) is the National library of the United Kingdom.

Western Christian liturgical calendars are based on the cycle of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, including Lutheran, Anglican, and other Protestant calendars since this cycle pre-dates the Reformation. Generally, the liturgical seasons in western Christianity are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost or after Trinity). Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern

Advent

Main articles: Advent and Christmastide

From the Latin adventus, "arrival" or "coming", the first season of the liturgical year begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the Liturgical year of most Christian churches Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Historically observed as a "fast", its purpose focuses on preparation for the coming Christ. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " Although often conceived as awaiting the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas, the modern Lectionary points the season more toward eschatological themes--awaiting the final coming of Christ, when "the wolf shall live with the lamb" (Isaiah 11:6) and when God will have "brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly" (The Magnificat, Luke 1:52)--particularly in the earlier half of the season. Eschatology (from the Greek, Eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of" is a part of Theology The Magnificat (also known as the Song of Mary) is a Canticle frequently sung (or spoken liturgically in Christian church services The Gospel of Luke (Gk Κατά Λουκάν Ευαγγέλιον) is a synoptic Gospel, and is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the This period of waiting is often marked by the Advent Wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles. Advent wreaths are a tradition used by Christians to mark the passage of the 4 weeks of Advent. Although the main symbolism of the advent wreath is simply marking the progression of time, many churches attach themes to each candle, most often 'hope', 'faith', 'joy', and 'love'.

Color: Violet, or in some traditions Blue. On the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, Rose/Pink is used in some places. Gaudete Sunday (ɡaʊˈdɛteɪ is the third Sunday of Advent in the Christian calendar.

Although the Roman Catholic rite omits the "Gloria in Excelsis" during Masses of the season (as opposed to Mass of a feast), "Alleluia" remains (although the traditional Catholic rite has only the Gradual without an "Alleluia", except on Sunday). The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Gradual ( Latin: graduale, sometimes called the Grail) is a chant in the extraordinary form of the Roman Catholic Mass

Epiphany

Main article: Epiphany

Whereas in the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ordinary Time begins after the Epiphany, in some Anglican traditions (including the Church of England) the Christmas season is followed by an Epiphany season, which begins on the Eve of the Epiphany (on 6 January or the nearest Sunday) and ends on the Feast of the Presentation (on 2 February or the nearest Sunday). The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus, and falls on or around 2 February. Ordinary Time then begins after this.

Ordinal or Ordinary Time ("Time after Epiphany" and "Septuagesima")

Main articles: Ordinary Time and Septuagesima

"Ordinary" comes from the same root as our word "ordinal", and in this sense means "the counted weeks". Ordinary Time is a season of the Christian (especially the Catholic) Liturgical calendar Septuagesima (in full Septuagesima Sunday) an observance dropped from the calendar as revised by the Second Vatican Council but still in use in the traditional calendars In the Roman Catholic Church and in some Protestant traditions, these are the common weeks which belong to the seasons known as the season after Epiphany (and the same for the season after Pentecost). It consists of either 33 or 34 Sundays, depending on the year. In the modern Roman rite, the first portion of Ordinal/Ordinary Time extends from the day following the Feast of the Baptism of Christ until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent). This article is about the post-Vatican-II changes to the Mass for an explanation of the current structure of the Mass see Mass (Catholic Church. The liturgical rite of the Church of Rome is called the Roman Rite. In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. In the Western Christian Calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays This first installment has anywhere from three to eight Sundays, depending on how early or late Easter falls in a given year. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. In other rites, including Protestant ones, Ordinal/Ordinary Time may start as early as the day after Epiphany or as late as the day after Candlemas.

The terminology of "Ordinary Time" replaces the older language of the Seasons of "Time After Epiphany" and "Septuagesima" (pre-Lenten season), which are still in use by Catholilcs who attend the ancient (Tridentine) form of the Roman Rite (also see Traditionalists). The Tridentine Mass (Missa Tridentina is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics, or people who identify as Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical Some Protestant rites also use the older terminology.

Liturgical year
Western
Eastern

In the older form of the roman rite, the Time after Epiphany can have anywhere from one to six Sundays, with Septuagesima as a 17-day season beginning nine Sundays before Easter and ending on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the Liturgical year of most Christian churches Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum is a term used by some Christian churches particularly the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastertide, or the Easter Season, or Paschal Time, is the period of fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday The general and most common understanding of the Christian Doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Ordinary Time is a season of the Christian (especially the Catholic) Liturgical calendar In the Christian Liturgical calendar, there are several different feasts known as Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter is the greatest of the feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported by the Synoptic Gospels in which Jesus is transfigured upon a mountain (,) The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Any omitted Sundays after Epiphany are transferred to the Time after Pentecost and celebrated between the Twenty-Third Sunday and the Last Sunday. If, however, there are not enough Sundays in the year to accommodate all such Sundays, then the one which would otherwise occur on Septuagesima Sunday is celebrated on the previous day (Saturday); in the case of Easter falling so late that there are only 23 Sundays After Pentecost, the Mass for 23rd Sunday is celebrated on the day before the Last Sunday after Pentecost. The 1962 reform of Pope John XXIII changed this, instead dropping the displaced Sunday Mass for that year. Pope John (numberingBlessed During Septuagesima, certain customs of Lent are adopted, including the suppression of the "Alleluja" and, on Sundays, the Gloria, and the vestments are violet.

Color: Green. (Violet in the older Roman rite's pre-Lenten season. )

Lent and Passiontide

Main articles: Lent, Passiontide, and Easter Triduum

Lent is a major fast taken by the Church to prepare for Easter. Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. Passiontide (in the Christian Liturgical year) is a name for the last two weeks of Lent, beginning on Passion Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum is a term used by some Christian churches particularly the Roman Catholic Church, the Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, at the end of Holy Week. In the Western Christian Calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays Holy Saturday ( Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday. Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter. There are forty days of Lent, as the six Sundays in Lent are not counted. During Lent, the Glory to God and the Alleluia are not used at Mass. " Glory to God " is a Christmas carol popular among American and Canadian Reformed churches that have Dutch roots The Alleluia is chanted before the Gospel lesson in the Eucharistic Liturgies of the various Christian liturgical rites. "Glory and Praise" is generally used in place of the Alleluia where as the Glory to God is just omitted.

Before the 1970 reforms, the last two weeks of Lent in the Catholic Church were known as Passiontide. This article is about the post-Vatican-II changes to the Mass for an explanation of the current structure of the Mass see Mass (Catholic Church. During this season, the Gloria Patri is suppressed except after the Psalms in the Divine Office, the readings begin to focus even more on the Passion of Christ, and, most noticeably, the crucifixes and images of the saints are covered with violet cloth. Glory Be to the Father, also known as Gloria Patri, is a Doxology, a short Hymn of praise to God in various Christian liturgies On the Friday before Good Friday is the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Should the Feasts of St. Joseph or the Annunciation fall during Holy Week, they are transferred to the week following Easter. Joseph "of the House of David " ( Hebrew יוֹסֵף also known as Saint Joseph, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth In Christianity the Annunciation ( grc Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, Evangelismós tēs Theotókou in Greek) is the revelation

Color: Violet. In some traditions, Rose may be used on the 4th Sunday of Lent, called Laetare Sunday. See also Gaudete Sunday

The Easter Triduum consists of:

Main article: Maundy Thursday

Easter

Main article: Easter

Easter is the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. The date of Easter varies from year to year, according to a lunar-calendar based dating system (see computus for details). Computus ( Latin for Computation) is the Calculation of the date of Easter in the Christian calendar. The Easter season extends from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday on the Catholic and Protestant calendars. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the On the calendar used by traditionalist Catholics, Eastertide lasts until the end of the Octave of Pentecost, at None of the following Ember Saturday. Traditionalist Catholics are Roman Catholics, or people who identify as Roman Catholics who believe that there should be a restoration of many or all of the liturgical " Octave " has two senses in Christian liturgical usage None, or the Ninth Hour, is a fixed time of prayer of the Divine Office of almost all the traditional Christian liturgies

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Easter octave allows for no other feasts to be celebrated or commemorated during it, although if Easter falls on April 25, the Greater Litanies (normally on that date) are said on the following Tuesday. The Octave Day of Easter, sometimes known as Low Sunday (and also known historically as White Sunday Whitsunday St Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. During the fifty days of Eastertide, the Gloria and Te Deum are said every day, even on ferias.

Ascension Thursday, which celebrates the return of Jesus to heaven following his resurrection, is the fortieth day of Easter, although some places transfer it to the following Sunday. The general and most common understanding of the Christian Doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence Pentecost is the fiftieth day, and celebrates the sending of the Holy Ghost to the Apostles. Pentecost is commonly seen as the birth of the Church.

Color: White or Gold, except on Pentecost, on which the color is Red.

Oridnal or Ordinary Time ("Time after Pentecost" and "Kingdomtide")

Main articles: Ordinal (often called "Ordinary") Time and Kingdomtide

Ordinal (ordinal for "counting" as these are "counting weeks" after Pentecost) Time resumes after the Easter Season, on Pentecost Monday, and ends on the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent. Kingdomtide was a Liturgical season observed in the autumn by the United Methodist Church, particularly in the United States, and certain other Protestant Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday (also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit) is the Holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a Movable feast In the ancient, Tridentine form of the Roman Rite, the Sundays in this part of the year are listed as "Sundays after Pentecost" by Roman Catholics; the Eastern Orthodox and some Protestants still adhere to this terminology. The Tridentine Mass (Missa Tridentina is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The first Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday and in many traditions the last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Feast of Christ the King. Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern This article discusses the title of Jesus Christ Christ the King.

Variations during this season include:

Color: Green

Assumption of Mary

Main article: Assumption of Mary

Observed by Roman Catholics and some Anglicans on August 15. This article is about the theological concept For the works of art with this title see Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Art and Roman Catholic Marian art. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed On this date, which is the same as the Eastern tradition of the Dormition, the bodily Assumption of Mary into heaven is celebrated. The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and This feast day is perhaps the oldest feast day in the Christian Church, being celebrated in both the East and the West. The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints The Roman Catholic teaching on this feast was defined as dogma on November 1, 1950 by Pope Pius XII in the Papal Bull, Munificentissimus Deus. Dogma (the plural is either dogmata or dogmas, Greek, plural) is the established Belief or Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Pope A Papal bull is a particular type of Letters patent or charter issued by a Pope. Munificentissimus Deus ( Latin for "The most bountiful God " is the name of an Apostolic constitution written by Pope Pius XII

In the Anglican and Lutheran traditions, as well as a few others, August 15th is celebrated as St. Mary, Mother of the Lord.

Color: white

Anglican Church

Further information: List of Anglican Church Calendars

The Church of England uses a liturgical year that is in most respects identical to that of the Roman Church. Calendars of saints' days in churches throughout the Anglican communion: Calendar of saints (Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican While this is less true of the calendars contained within the Book of Common Prayer and the Alternative Service Book (1980), it is particularly true since the Anglican Church adopted its new pattern of services and liturgies contained within Common Worship, in 2000. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. The Alternative Service Book 1980 (ASB was the first complete prayer book produced by the Church of England since 1662 Common Worship is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent Certainly, the broad division of the year into the Christmas and Easter seasons, interspersed with periods of Ordinary Time, is identical, and the majority of the Festivals and Commemorations are also celebrated, with some obvious exceptions, chiefly that of the Assumption. This article is about the theological concept For the works of art with this title see Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Art and Roman Catholic Marian art.

The Book of Common Prayer contains within it the traditional Western Eucharistic lectionary which traces its roots to the Comes of St. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. Jerome in the 5th century. Its similarity to the ancient lectionary is particularly obvious during Trinity season (Sundays after the Sunday after Pentecost), reflecting that understanding of sanctification (see a proposed rationale for Trinity season).

Eastern Orthodox Church

See also: Eastern Orthodox Church calendar

The Liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church is characterized by alternating fasts and feasts, and is in many ways similar to the Roman Catholic year described above. The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all Food, Drink, or both for a period of time The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints However, Church New Year (Indiction) traditionally begins on September 1, rather than the first Sunday of Advent. An indiction is any of the years in a 15-year cycle used to date medieval documents throughout Europe, both East and West Aug 31 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Sep 2 All fixed commemorations below celebrated on Sep It includes both feasts on the Fixed Cycle and the Paschal Cycle (or Moveable Cycle). The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Paschal cycle in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches is the cycle of the Moveable feasts built around Pascha (Easter The most important feast day by far is the Feast of Pascha (Easter)—the Feast of Feasts. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Then the Twelve Great Feasts, which commemorate various significant events in the lives of Jesus Christ and of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter is the greatest of the feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox,

The majority of Orthodox Christians follow the Julian Calendar in calculating their ecclesiastical feasts, though many have adopted a Revised Julian Calendar, preserving the Julian calculation for feasts on the Paschal Cycle, but using the modern Gregorian Calendar to calculate those feasts which are fixed according to the calendar date. The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita The Revised Julian calendar or less formally New Calendar, is a Calendar scheme originated in 1923 which effectively discontinued the 340 years of divergence between The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today From 1900 until 2100, there has been a thirteen-day difference between the Julian and the Gregorian calendars. In some Eastern Orthodox countries certain civil holidays are calculated according to the Julian Calendar. Thus, for example, Christmas is celebrated on January 7 in these countries. Dec 24 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Dec 26 Fixed commemorations All fixed commemorations below are observed on January 7 by The computation of the day of Pascha (Easter) is, however, computed according to the Julian Calendar, even by those churches which observe the Revised Julian Calendar. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year.

There are four fasting seasons during the year: The most important fast is Great Lent which is an intense time of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, extending for forty days prior to Palm Sunday and Holy Week, as a preparation for Pascha. Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians Alms or almsgiving exists in a number of religions In general it involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue Palm Sunday is a Christian Moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. The Nativity Fast (Winter Lent) is a time of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas), but whereas Advent in the West lasts only four weeks, Nativity Fast lasts a full forty days. The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. The Apostles' Fast is variable in length, lasting anywhere from eight days to six weeks, in preparation for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, or properly the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a feast commemorating the Martyrdom at Rome of the Apostles June 28 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - June 30 All fixed commemorations below celebrated on July 12 by Old Calendarists Saints The Dormition Fast lasts for two weeks from August 1 to August 14 in preparation for the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15). The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and July 31 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Aug 2 2005 New Calendarists only Fasting day (beginning of Dormition Aug 13 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Aug 15 Fixed commemorations All fixed commemorations below are observed on August 27 by Old calendarists The Dormition of the Theotokos ( Greek: Koimesis) is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Aug 14 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Aug 16 Fixed commemorations All fixed commemorations below are observed on August 28 by Old calendarists The liturgical year is so constructed that during each of these fasting seasons, one of the Great Feasts occurs, so that fasting may be tempered with joy.

In addition to these fasting seasons, Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year (and some Orthodox monasteries also observe Monday as a fast day). This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. Certain fixed days are always fast days, even if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday (in which case the fast is lessened somewhat, but not abrogated altogether); these are: The Decollation of St. Decapitation (from Latin, caput, capitis, meaning head or beheading, is the cutting off of the head of a person or animal John the Baptist, and the Exaltation of the Cross. Saint John the Baptist ( heb. Jochanan ben Sacharja, arab. يحيى Yaḥyā or يوحنا Yūḥanna, aram. In the Christian Liturgical calendar, there are several different feasts known as Feasts of the Cross, all of which commemorate the cross used in the There are several fast-free periods, when it is forbidden to fast, even on Wednesday and Friday. These are: the week following Pascha, the week following Pentecost, and the period from the Nativity of Christ until the eve of Theophany (Epiphany). Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Theophany, from the Greek, theophaneia (meaning "appearance/showing of God" refers to the appearance of a Deity to a human or to a divine disclosure

Pascha

Main article: Pascha

The greatest feast is Pascha, which for the Orthodox is calculated differently than in the West. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Easter for both East and West is calculated as the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after March 21 (nominally the day of the vernal equinox). Full moon is a Lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle However, whereas Western Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar in their calculations, the Orthodox calculate the fixed date of 21 March according to the Julian Calendar, and observe the additional rule that Easter may not precede or coincide with the first day of the Jewish Passover (see computus for further details). The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish Computus ( Latin for Computation) is the Calculation of the date of Easter in the Christian calendar.

The date of Pascha is central to the entire ecclesiastical year,determining not only the date for the beginning of Great Lent and Pentecost, but affecting the cycle of moveable feasts, of scriptural readings and the Octoechos (texts chanted according to the eight ecclesiastical modes) throughout the year. The Octoechos ( Greek:; Slavonic: Октонхъ Oktoikh, or Осмогласникъ Osmoglasnik)&mdashliterally the book There are also a number of lesser feasts throughout the year that are based upon the date of Pascha. The moveable cycle begins on the Zacchaeus Sunday (the first Sunday in preparation for Great Lent), though the cycle of the Octoechos continues until Palm Sunday. Zacchaeus (Greek Ζακχαῖος Hebrew זכי which means pure) was a superintendent of customs a chief tax-gatherer (publicanus at Jericho (

The date of Pascha affects the following liturgical seasons:

The twelve Great Feasts

Main article: Great Feasts

Some of these feasts follow the Fixed Cycle, and some follow the Moveable (Paschal) Cycle. The Triodion (Τριῴδιον Triōdion; Slavonic: Постнаѧ Трїωдь Postnaya Triod; Triodul also called the Lenten Maslenitsa (Ма́сленица also known as Butter Week, Pancake week, or Cheesefare Week, is a Russian religious and folk holiday The Pentecostarion ( Greek: Πεντηκοστάριον Pentekostárion; Slavonic: Цвѣтнаѧ Трїωдь Tsvyetnaya Triod' The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter is the greatest of the feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Most of those on the Fixed Cycle have a period of preparation called a Forefeast, and a period of celebration afterward, similar to the Western Octave, called an Afterfeast. An Afterfeast is a period of celebration attached to one of the Great Feasts celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches (roughly equivalent to In Music, an octave ( is the the use of which is "common in most musical systems Great Feasts on the Paschal Cycle do not have Forefeasts. The lengths of Forefeasts and Afterfeasts vary, according to the feast.

NOTE: In Eastern practice, should this feast fall during Holy Week or on Pascha itself, the feast of the Annunciation is not transferred to another day. In Christianity the Annunciation ( grc Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, Evangelismós tēs Theotókou in Greek) is the revelation Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Mar 24 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - Mar 26 Fixed commemorations All commemorations below are observed on April 7 by Old Calendarists Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, In fact, the conjunction of the feasts of the Annunciation and Pascha, known as "Kyriou-Pascha," is considered an extremely wondrous event.

Other Feasts

Some additional feasts are observed with as though they were Great Fests:

Every day throughout the year commemorates some saint or some event in the lives of Christ or the Theotokos. The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members When a feast on the moveable cycle occurs, the feast on the fixed cycle that was set for that calendar day is transferred, with the propers of the feast often being chanted at Compline on the nearest convenient day. The Proper (Latin proprium) is a part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date either representing an observance within the Liturgical Year Compline (ˈkɒmplɪn also Complin, Night Prayer, Prayers at the End of the Day) is the final church service (or Office) of the day in the

Cycles

See also: Paschal Cycle

In addition to the Fixed and Moveable Cycles, there are a number of other liturgical cycles in the ecclesiastical year that affect the celebration of the divine services. The Paschal cycle in the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches is the cycle of the Moveable feasts built around Pascha (Easter Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round These include, the Daily Cycle, the Weekly Cycle, the Cycle of Matins Gospels, and the Octoechos. Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round The Matins Gospel is the solemn chanting of a Lection from one of the Four Gospels during Matins in the Orthodox Church and those Eastern The Octoechos ( Greek:; Slavonic: Октонхъ Oktoikh, or Осмогласникъ Osmoglasnik)&mdashliterally the book

Secular observance

Because of the dominance of Christianity in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, many features of the Christian year became incorporated into the secular calendar. Many of its feasts (i. e. , Mardi Gras, Saint Patrick's Day) remain holidays, and are now celebrated by people of all faiths and none — in some cases worldwide. " Mardi Gras " ( French for Fat Tuesday) is the day before Ash Wednesday. Saint Patrick's Day (Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig) colloquially St The secular celebrations bear varying degrees of likeness to the religious feasts from which they derived, often also including elements of ritual from pagan festivals of similar date. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world

Resources

See also

External links


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