Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of scripture are to be read.

Distinct liturgical colours may be used in connection with different seasons of the liturgical year. The dates of the festivals vary somewhat among the different churches, although the sequence and logic is largely the same.

Liturgical cycle

thumb|The liturgical year of some Western churches, indicating the [[liturgical colours]]

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, colours of paraments and vestments for clergy, scriptural readings, themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home. 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 in a lectionary.

After the Protestant Reformation, Anglicans and Lutherans continued to follow the lectionary of the Roman Rite. Following a decision of the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church revised that lectionary in 1969, adopting a three-year cycle of readings for Sundays and a two-year cycle for weekdays.

Adaptations of the revised Roman Rite lectionary were adopted by Protestants, leading to the publication in 1994 of the Revised Common Lectionary for Sundays and major feasts, which is now used by many Protestant denominations, including also Methodists, United, some Reformed, etc. This has led to a greater awareness of the traditional Christian year among Protestants, especially among mainline denominations.

Biblical calendars

Scholars are not in agreement about whether the calendars used by the Jews before the Babylonian exile were solar (based on the return of the same relative position between the Sun and the Earth), lunisolar (based on months that corresponded to the cycle of the moon, with periodic additional months to bring the calendar back into agreement with the solar cycle) like the present-day Jewish calendar of Hillel II, or lunar, such as the Hijri calendar.

The first month of the Hebrew year was called (Aviv), meaning the month of green ears of grain. Having to occur at the appropriate time in the spring, it thus was originally part of a tropical calendar. At about the time of the Babylonian exile, when using the Babylonian civil calendar, the Jews adopted the term (Nisan) as the name for the month, based on the Babylonian name Nisanu. Thomas J Talley says that the adoption of the Babylonian term occurred even before the exile.

In the earlier calendar, most of the months were simply called by a number (such as "the fifth month"). The Babylonian-derived names of the month that are used by Jews are:

Nisan (March–April)
Iyar (April–May)
Sivan (May–June)
Tammuz (June–July)
Av (July–August)
Elul (August–September)
Tishrei (September–October)
Marcheshvan (October–November)
Kislev (November–December)
Tevet (December–January)
Shevat (January–February)
Adar 1 (February; only during leap years)
Adar (February–March)

In Biblical times, the following Jewish religious feasts were celebrated:

Pesach (Passover) – 14 Nisan (sacrifice of a lamb), 15 Nisan (Passover seder)
Chag HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread) – 15–21 Nisan
Reishit Katzir (Firstfruits) – 16 Nisan
Shavuot (Weeks) – Fiftieth day counted from Passover, normally 6–7 Sivan
Rosh Hashanah (Trumpets) – 1–2 Tishrei
Yom Kippur (Atonement) – 10 Tishrei
Sukkot (Tabernacles) – 15–21 Tishrei
Chanukah (Dedication) – 25 Kislev–2/3 Tevet (instituted in 164 BC)
Purim (Lots) – 14–15 Adar (instituted in )

Eastern Christianity

East Syriac Rite

thumb|The liturgical seasons of [[East Syriac Rite|East Syriac Catholic churches]]

The Liturgical Calendar of the East Syriac Rite is fixed according to the flow of salvation history. With a focus upon the historical life of Jesus Christ, believers are led to the eschatological fulfillment (i.e. the heavenly bliss) through this special arrangement of liturgical seasons. The liturgical year is divided into 8 seasons of approximately 7 weeks each but adjusted to fit the solar calendar. The arrangement of the Seasons in the Liturgical Year is based on seven central events on celebrations of the Salvation History. They are:

Nativity of Christ
Epiphany of Christ
Resurrection of Christ
Pentecost
Transfiguration
Glorious Cross
Parousia (the Dedication of Church after Christ's second coming)

One of the oldest available records mentioning the liturgical cycle of east-syriac rite is handwritten manuscript named 'Preface to Hudra' written by Rabban Brick-Iso in 14th century. The manuscript mentions that the liturgical year is divided into nine seasons starting from Subara and ends with Qudas Edta. Catholic churches of east-syriac rite maintains the same liturgical calendar until the current date except that many consider 7th and 8th seasons as a single one. The biblical reading and prayers during Mass and Liturgy of the Hours vary according to different seasons in the liturgical calendar.

Liturgical Calendar

The various seasons of the liturgical calendar of Syro-Malabar Church and Chaldean Catholic Church are given below.

Annunciation (Subara)

Weeks of Annunciation (Subara) is the first season of the liturgical year. The liturgical year begins with the commemoration of biblical events leading to the annunciation and birth of Jesus as expected savior in the old testament. The season begins on the Sunday just before the first of December and ends with the feast of Epiphany that is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. The faithful practice abstinence during December 1–25 in preparation for Christmas; this period is called "25 days Lent".

Feasts celebrated during this season

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, mother of Jesus (December 8)
Feast of Miraculous Cross of Mylapore (Saint Thomas Christian cross) (December 18) in Syro Malabar Church
Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ or Christmas (December 25)
Feast of Holy Infants (December 28)
Feast of Name Iso (January 1)
Feast of Mary, mother of Jesus (last Friday of Season)

Epiphany (Denha)

Weeks of Epiphany begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of Epiphany and runs to the beginning of Great Fast. The word denha in Syriac means sunrise. Church considers the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan as the first historical event in which the Trinity was revealed to humankind in the person of Jesus Christ. Thus the season commemorates the manifestation or revelation of Jesus and Trinity to the world. During the season the church celebrates the feasts of Saints in connection with the manifestation of the Lord.

Feasts celebrated during the period

Feast of Epiphany or Feast of Baptism of the Lord (January 6)
Feast of Saint John the Baptist on first Friday of Epiphany
Feast of Apostles Peter (Kepha) and Paul on second Friday of Epiphany
Feast of Evangelists on third Friday of Epiphany
Feast of Saint Stephan on fourth Friday of Epiphany
Feast of Fathers of Church on fifth Friday of Epiphany
Feast of Patron Saint of Church on sixth Friday of Epiphany
Feast of all departed faithful on last Friday of Epiphany

Great Fast (Sawma Rabba)

During these weeks the faithful meditate over the 40-day fast of Jesus and the culmination of his public life in passion, death and burial. The season begins 50 days before Easter on Peturta Sunday and comprises the whole period of Great Lent and culminates on Resurrection Sunday. Word Peturta in Syriac means "looking back" or "reconciliation".

Faithful enter the weeks of Great Fast, celebrating the memory of all the Faithful Departed on the last Friday of Denha.

According to the ecclesial tradition, the weeks of Great Fast is also an occasion to keep up the memory of the beloved Departed through special prayers, renunciation, almsgiving, and so on and thus prepare oneself for a good death and resurrection in Jesus Christ. During the fast faithful of Syro Malabar Church do not use meat, fish, egg, many dairy products, and most favorite food items, and avoid sexual contacts on all days including Sundays and Feast days. Before European colonization, Indian Nasranis used to have food only once a day (after 3:00 pm) on all days during Great Fast.

Feasts in the Lenten Season

Peturta Sunday on First Sunday of Great Fast
Ash Monday or Clean Monday on the first day (Monday) of Great Fast
Lazarus Friday on the sixth Friday of Great Fast
Oshana Sunday on the seventh Sunday of Great Fast
Thursday of Pesha
Friday of Passion or Good Friday
Great Saturday or Saturday of Light

The following feasts are always in the Lenten Season:

Feast of Mar Cyril of Jerusalem (March 18)
Feast of Saint Joseph (March 19)
Feast of the Annunciation (March 25)

Resurrection (Qyamta)

The weeks of Great Resurrection begin on the Resurrection Sunday and run to the feast of Pentecost. The Church celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord during these seven weeks: Jesus' victory over death, sin, suffering and Satan. The church also commemorates various events that occurred after the resurrection of Christ, such as the visits of Jesus to the Apostles and the ascension of Jesus.

According to eastern Christianity, the Feast of Resurrection is the most important and the greatest feast in a liturgical year. Therefore, the season commemorating the resurrection of Christ is also of prime importance in the church liturgy. The first week of the season is celebrated as the 'Week of weeks' as it is the week of the resurrection of Christ.

Feasts celebrated during the period:

Feast of Resurrection of Christ
Feast of All Confessors (Saints) on the first Friday of Qyamta
New Sunday or St. Thomas Sunday on the second Sunday of Qyamta
Feast of Ascension of Jesus on the sixth Friday of Qyamta

The following feasts are always in the season of resurrection:

Feast of Saint George (April 24)
Feast of Mark the Evangelist (April 25)
Feast of Saint Joseph, the worker (May 1)
Feasts of Saint Philip and Saint James the apostles (May 3)

Apostles (Slihe)

Weeks of apostles (Slihe) starts on the feast of Pentecost, fiftieth day of the Resurrection Sunday. During these days the church commemorates the inauguration of church and the acts of apostles and church fathers through which the foundation of the church was laid. Church meditates on the virtues of the early church: fellowship, breaking of bread and sharing of wealth, and the fruits and gifts of Holy Spirit. The spread of the church all over the world as well as her growth is also remembered during this season.

Feast celebrated during the season:

Feast of Pentecost on first Sunday of Slihe
Feast of Friday of Gold: The first commemoration of the first miracle of apostles done by Saint Peter.

The following feasts are commemorated in the season of Slihe

Feast of Mar Aphrem (June 10)
Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29)
Feast of Mar Thoma, founding father of east Syriac churches (July 3)
Feast of Mar Quriaqos and Yolitha (July 15)

Qaita (Summer)

Along the weeks of Qaita maturity and fruitfulness of church are commemorated. The Syriac word Qaita means "summer" and it is a time of harvest for the Church. The fruits of the Church are those of holiness and martyrdom. While the sprouting and infancy of the Church were celebrated in 'the Weeks of the Apostles,' her development in different parts of the world by reflecting the image of the heavenly Kingdom and giving birth to many saints and martyrs are proclaimed during this season. Fridays of this Season are set apart for honoring saints and martyrs.

Feast celebrated during the season:

Feast of the twelve apostles and Nusardeil on the first Sunday of Qaita (Nusardeil is a Persian word which means "God-given New Year Day").
Feast of Mar Jacob of Nisibis on the first Friday of Qaita.
Feast of Mar Mari on the second Friday of Qaita.
Feast of Marta Simoni and her Seven Children on the fifth Friday of Qaita.
Feast of Mar Shimun Bar Sabbai and Companions on the sixth Friday of Qaita.
Feast of martyr Mar Quardag on the seventh Friday of Qaita.

The following feasts are commemorated in the season of Qaita

Feast of seventy disciples of Jesus (July 27)
Feast of Saint Alphonsa in Syro Malabar Catholic Church (July 28)
Feast of Transfiguration of Jesus (August 6)
Feast of Assumption of Mary (August 15)

Eliyah-Sliba-Moses

The name of the seasons of Eliyah-Sliba-Moses takes their origin from the feast of the transfiguration of Jesus. And the seasons revolve around the exaltation of the cross on the feast of the glorious cross on September 14. During the seasons of Eliyah and Sliba church reminds the faithful of the heavenly bliss which is promised to be inherited at the end of earthly life and the church commemorates the exaltic experience of the bliss through various sacraments. While during the season of Moses church meditates upon the end of time and the last judgment. Many at times the season of Moses is regarded as a distinct and separate season from the other two since it has a distinct theme.

The season of Eliyah has a length of one to three Sundays. Season of Sliba starts on Sunday on or after the feast of the glorious cross and has a length of three to four weeks. The first Sunday of Sliba is always considered as the fourth Sunday of the combined season. The season of Moses always has four weeks.

Feast celebrated during the seasons:

Feast of the glorious Cross

The following feasts are commemorated in the seasons of Eliyah-Sliba-Moses

Feast of Nativity of Mary on September 8 and the eight-day fast in preparation for the feast

Dedication of the church (Qudas Edta)

The weeks of the dedication of the church is the last liturgical season in the East Syriac rite. It consists of four weeks and ends on the Saturday before Sunday between November 27 and December 3. The theme of the season is that the church is presented by Christ as his eternal bride before his father at the heavenly bride chamber. The period has its origin in the feast of the dedication of the church of Sephelcure or the Jewish feast of Hanukkah. However, the season was officially instituted by Patriarch Isho-Yahb III of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (647–657) by separating it from the season of Moses.

Feasts celebrated during the season:

Feast of dedication of the church on 1st Sunday of Qudas Edta
Feast of Christ the King on last Sunday of Qudas Edta (Celebrated only in eastern catholic churches of the rite since pope Pius XI instituted it in Roman-rite).

Eastern Orthodox Church

The liturgical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church is characterized by alternating fasts and feasts, and is in many ways similar to the Catholic year. However, Church New Year (Indiction) traditionally begins on September 1 (Old Style or New Style), rather than the first Sunday of Advent. It includes both feasts on the Fixed Cycle and the Paschal Cycle (or Moveable Cycle). The most important feast day by far is the Feast of Pascha (Easter) – the Feast of Feasts. Then the Twelve Great Feasts, which commemorate various significant events in the lives of Jesus Christ and of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary).

The majority of Orthodox Christians (Russians, in particular) follow the Julian Calendar in calculating their ecclesiastical feasts, but many (including the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece), while preserving the Julian calculation for feasts on the Paschal Cycle, have adopted the Revised Julian Calendar (at present coinciding with the Gregorian Calendar) to calculate those feasts which are fixed according to the calendar date.

Between 1900 and 2100, there is a thirteen-day difference between the dates of the Julian and the Revised Julian and Gregorian calendars. Thus, for example, where Christmas is celebrated on December 25 O.S. (Old Style), the celebration coincides with January 7 in the Revised Calendar. The computation of the day of Pascha (Easter) is, however, always computed according to a lunar calendar based on the Julian Calendar, even by those churches which observe the Revised Calendar.

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. 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 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 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 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). 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. John the Baptist, the Exaltation of the Cross and the day before the Epiphany (January 5). 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, the period from the Nativity of Christ until January the 5th and the first week of the Triodion (the week following the 17th Sunday before Pentecost).

Pascha

The greatest feast is Pascha. 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), but the Orthodox calculations are based on the Julian calendar, whose March 21 corresponds at present with April 3 of the Gregorian calendar, and on calculations of the date of full moon different from those used in the West (see computus for further details).

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. 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 or the 33rd Sunday after Pentecost as it is known), though the cycle of the Octoechos continues until Palm Sunday.

The date of Pascha affects the following liturgical seasons:

The period of the Triodion (the Sundays before Great Lent, Cheesefare Week, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week)
The period of the Pentecostarion (Sunday of Pascha through the Sunday After Pentecost which is also called the Sunday of all saints)

The twelve Great Feasts

Some of these feasts follow the Fixed Cycle, and some follow the Moveable (Paschal) Cycle. 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. Great Feasts on the Paschal Cycle do not have Forefeasts. The lengths of Forefeasts and Afterfeasts vary, according to the feast.

Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8)
birth of the Theotokos to Joachim and Anna
Elevation of the Cross (September 14)
the rediscovery of the original Cross on which Christ was crucified
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple (November 21)
the entry of the Theotokos into the Temple around the age of 3
Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (December 25)
the birth of Jesus, or Christmas
Theophany (January 6)
the baptism of Jesus Christ, Christ's blessing of the water, and the revealing of Christ as God
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple (February 2)
Christ's presentation as an infant in the Temple by the Theotokos and Joseph.
Annunciation of the Theotokos (March 25)
Gabriel's announcement to the Theotokos that she will conceive the Christ, and her wilful agreement thereto

<blockquote>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 fact, the conjunction of the feasts of the Annunciation and Pascha (dipli Paschalia, ) is considered an extremely festive event.</blockquote>

Entry into Jerusalem (Sunday before Pascha)
known in the West as Palm Sunday.
Ascension (40 days after Pascha)
Christ's ascension into Heaven following his resurrection.
Pentecost (50 days after Pascha)
The Holy Spirit comes and indwells the apostles and other Christian believers.
Transfiguration of Our Lord (August 6)
Christ's Transfiguration as witnessed by Peter, James and John.
Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15)
The falling asleep of the Theotokos (cf. the Assumption of Mary in Western Christianity)

Other feasts

Some additional feasts are observed as though they were Great Feasts:

The Protection of the Mother of God (October 1), especially among the Russian Orthodox
The Feast of Saint James the Just (October 23)
The Feast of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki (October 26)
The Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (November 8)
The Feast of Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Lycia (December 6)
The Feast of the Conception of Mary by Saints Joachim and Anne (December 9)
The Feast of Saint Spiridon (December 12)
The Feast of Saint Stephen the Deacon (December 27)
The Feast of Saint Basil the Great and the Circumcision of Christ (January 1)
The Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (January 30)
The Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (March 9)
The Feast of Saint Patrick (March 17)
The Feast of Saint George (April 23)
The Feast of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen (May 21)
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (June 24)
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29)
The Feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet (July 20)
The Feast of Saint Christina of Bolsena the Great Martyr (July 24)
The Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29)
Beginning of the Indiction-Ecclesiastical Year (September 1)
The Patronal Feast of a church or monastery

Every day throughout the year commemorates some saint or some event in the lives of Christ or the Theotokos. 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.

Cycles

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. These include, the Daily Cycle, the Weekly Cycle, the Cycle of Matins Gospels, and the Octoechos.

Oriental Orthodox and P'ent'ay Evangelical Churches

==Western Christianity==

thumb|The month of October from a liturgical calendar for [[Abbotsbury Abbey. 13th-century manuscript (British Library, Cotton MS Cleopatra B IX, folio 59r).]]

Western Christian liturgical calendars are based on the cycle of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, and are also followed in many Protestant churches, including the Lutheran, Anglican, and other traditions. Generally, the seasons in liturgical western Christianity are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost). Some Protestant traditions do not include Ordinary Time: every day falls into a denominated season. Other Protestant churches, such as a minority in the Reformed tradition, reject the liturgical year entirely on the grounds that its observance is not directed in scripture.

For those that follow the Western liturgical year, the Revised Common Lectionary provides scriptural structure for the patterns of the seasons. Protestant denominations that follow this lectionary include Methodists, Anglicans/Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, some Baptists and Anabaptists, among others. With regard to the calendars of the Western Christian Churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary,