FEASTS FASTS LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES

FEASTS & FASTS LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE BYZANTINE CHURCHES

Feasts • Pascha • The 12 Great Feasts • Lesser Feasts

Ranks of Feasts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Feasts of the Lord Feasts of the Theotokos Vigil Rank Feasts for a Saint Polyeleos Rank Saint Feasts Doxology Saint Feasts Feast of Saint with 6 Stikhera Commemorations 7. Simple Commemorations of Saint

The 12 Great Feasts • 1. Nativity of the Theotokos: September 8 • 2. Exaltation of the Cross: September 14 • 3. Presentation of the Theotokos: November 21 • 4. the Nativity of Christ: December 25 (aka: Christmas) • 5. Theophany: January 6 (the Baptism of Christ ) • 6. Meeting of the Lord: February 2 (aka the Presentation) • 7. Annunciation: March 25 • 8. the Entry into Jerusalem ( • (aka: Flower/Willow/Palm Sunday) • 9. Ascension of the Lord - (40 Days after Pascha) • 10. Trinity Sunday (50 Days after Pascha) – aka Pentecost • 11. Transfiguration: August 6 • 12. Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos: Aug 15

Fasts: 4 1. St. Philip’s Fast: – – 40 days before Christmas long but relatively easy 2. The Great Fast 3. The Apostle’s Fast: – – Easy & can be short After All Saints Sunday to Ss. Peter/Paul) 4. Dormition Fast: August 1 -14 – short but strict

The Great Fast: 3 parts • the Great Week Feast – (week before Pascha) – oldest part & the shortest • the 40 Days Fast – Clean Monday to before Lazarus Saturday – 40 days including Sundays – Origin: Catechumens preparing for Baptism • “Prophonisimon”, Herald of the Fast: – Fasting to prepare for Fasting: – Psychologically and Physically: (warm up)

Penitential Practice 1. Prayer 2. Fasting 3. Helping the Poor