The Church Year

As in secular life the Church follows a yearly calendar. Unlike the civil calendar the Church's year doesn't begin on January the 1^st but on September the 1^st.

Some of the Church's special days fall on the same day every year (fixed feasts) whilst others vary according to the date of Pascha (moveable feasts).

The cycle for moveable Feasts

Triodian

This cycle begins with Triodion a period of four weeks before the start of Great Lent.

The four Sundays of Triodian are

1. Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14)
2. Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
3. Sunday of the Last Judgment (Matt 25:31-46)
4. Sunday of Forgiveness

Great Lent begins on the Monday immediately following the last Sunday of Triodion and lasts until Holy Week

Holy Week One week before Easter

• Palm Sunday or Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem begins Holy Week. This is one of the twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox church
   
• On Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday the Church celebrates the Bridegroom Services recalling Christ as the Divine Bridegroom of the Church. See the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13) where Christ is the central figure and Isaiah (chapter 54)
   
• Holy Wednesday recalls Judas Escariots' betrayal of Christ - this has led to the Orthodox Tradition of Wednesday being a fast day throughout the year
   
• Holy Thursday is marked with the service of the Twelve Gospels. These readings concern Christ's last instructions to his disciples, prophecies of his crucifiction, the Lords Prayer and his new Commandment
   
• Great and Holy Friday - is a solemn day where we focus on Christ's death on the cross
   
• On Holy Saturday we focus on Christ's descent into Hades and anticipate his resurrection and conquest of death

Pascha or Easter

This is the greatest of all the feasts in the Church Calendar and an occaision of great joy as we celebrate Christ's resurrection. For the next week the Royal doors of the church remain open and we joyously sing the Paschal Troparian

Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling down death by death,
and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

The Ascension of Jesus Christ

Celebrated forty days after Pascha

Pentecost

Celebrated fifty days after Pascha

The fixed Feasts

The dates marked (OS) are the dates these feasts are celebrated as reckoned by the Gregorian Calendar

Nativity of the Theotokos

Celebrated on September the 8^th (September the 21^st(OS))

Elevation of the Holy Cross

Celebrated on September the 14^th (September the 27^th(OS))

Presentation of the Theotokos

Celebrated on 21^st of November (December the 4^th(OS))

The Feast of the Nativity or Christmas

Celebrated on December 25^th (January the 7^th(OS))

Theophany

Celebrated on January the 6^th (January the 19^th(OS))

Presentation of Christ at the Temple

Celebrated on February the 2^nd (February the 15^th(OS))

The Annunciation

Celebrated on 25^th of March (7^th of April(OS))

The Transfiguration of Christ

Celebrated on 6^th of August (19^th of August(OS))

The Dormition of the Theotokos

Celebrated on 15^th of August (28^th of August(OS))