Church Holidays: Calendar and Meaning. Main Orthodox holidays

16.08.2019

Today we will tell you about all the main Christian and Orthodox church holidays for the entire calendar year, as well as briefly about their history, rules and traditions. After all, the traditions of Christianity have long existed working days and days of rest, as well as church and religious days designed to glorify God, or to remember the events of the Holy History of Christianity. Such days in Russian are called "holiday".

Usually, during the festive service, Christian believers offer prayers to the Lord and at the same time join in the saving meaning of this celebration. Therefore, we want to tell you about the main Christian holidays in the calendar in a little more detail. Specifically, what kind of holidays they are, what they are dedicated to, how and when they are celebrated.

History of Christian holidays

The first Christians were the Jews who adopted the new faith. As it was before, in Old Testament times, the Israelite people honored the seventh day of the week as a mandatory day of rest - saturday (ancient Heb. Shabat - relaxation).

On this day, the Jews remembered the creation of the world (God rested from His works on the 7th day of creation - cf. the Book of Genesis, ch. 1-2). And also another holiday - Passover, a symbol of the covenant or union of Israel with God - the remembrance of the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt.

For a long time, Christians - Jews will honor the Sabbath and, together with new holidays, celebrate their old Jewish celebrations. Gradually, the connection between Christianity and the Jewish cult weakened. But the general features of the Jewish consecration of time can be traced in the present Christian reckoning of time.

Mark 16: 2 says that the day corresponding to the beginning of the creation of the world was eighth day of the week or "day of the Lord"... The same day for Christians began to mean the beginning of a new creation. In Russian, the name of this day speaks of an event that happened on this day - resurrection, the first day of the week.

Therefore, now it is for Orthodox Christians that every Sunday is considered a holiday and is revered by Christians as "Little Easter".

Gradually Christians began to especially respect Sunday. And they conducted him in the reading of the word of God, prayers and the Eucharist. Gradually, the meaning of the Sabbath announcing the first creation fades into the background. AND sunday, which tells about the resurrection of Christ from the dead, becomes more and more significant for believing Christians.

Already in the 4th century in the Roman Empire, Sunday was officially declared a day off, because most of the population adopted the Christian faith.

The most important calendar Orthodox holiday

Another holiday, and it is also the most important holiday in the Christian calendar, was celebrated almost at the same time among Jews and Christians, this is Easter. The time when the sufferings of Christ and his miraculous Resurrection are remembered.

There were practically no other holidays in the ancient Church. And only since the time when the Christian religion acquired the status of a state religion has the number of holidays increased. Holidays such as Christmas and Epiphany (Epiphany), as well as Easter and Ascension are becoming traditional.

By the 6th century, the number of church holidays was replenished with the celebration of various events in the life of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and the saints, as well as the dates of significant events from the history of the church.

Hierarchy and types of Orthodox holidays

All church holidays can be divided into four large groups by type.

But a separate line is the celebration of Easter, that is, Christ's Bright Sunday and all six subsequent days, that is, Easter week.

Following Easter, all Christians honor the holidays, dedicated to special events from life on earth and glory in heaven of Jesus Christ, they are called double holidays.

Twelve feast calendar

Today there are 12 great twelve feasts in the Orthodox Church.

In turn, they are subdivided into Master's, dedicated to Jesus Christas well as on Mother of God — dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos... These are the holidays:

1) Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos;

2) Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord;

3) Introduction to the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos;

4) the Nativity of Christ;

5) Baptism (Epiphany) of the Lord;

6) Meeting of the Lord;

7) Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos;

8) Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem;

9) Ascension of the Lord;

10) Trinity (Pentecost);

11) Transfiguration of the Lord;

12) Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Great non-twelve holidays

Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos;

Circumcision of the Lord;

Nativity of John the Baptist;

Day of the holy foremost apostles Peter and Paul;

Beheading of John the Baptist.

The fourth category of holidays includes the days of especially revered saints, as well as icons... Holidays are especially honored in the Russian Orthodox Church Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and some others.

What are the mobile and "stationary" Twelve Feasts?

The Great Twelve Feasts are divided into two groups, one of which is “ movable"And the second" motionless»Holidays.

According to the lunisolar calendar, "mobile holidays" are determined... These holidays include The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the Ascension of the Lord and the Trinity (Pentecost).

Consequently, " motionless»Are those dates that fall only on the solar calendar. That is, these holidays are celebrated on specific dates and months of the year... And the dates of their celebration depend on the day of the celebration of Easter.

The main church holiday of the year

Easter this year is April 12, 2015.Easter Din is one of the most revered spring holidays among Jews and Christians. The Jews put into this holiday the idea of \u200b\u200bwaiting for the coming of the Messiah. And also Easter symbolizes the beginning of the "exodus" of Jews from Egypt. For Christians, this holiday is associated with the teaching of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The dates of the celebration of Easter among Christians fall for the period from March 22 to April 23. First Sunday following the vernal equinox and the full moon is a great day for Christians, Easter. , so we will not stop, read about the most famous and important holiday Easter, about the Easter table, and many other things separately.

Calendar of major Christian holidays ( great twelve holidays)

Nativity of Christ on January 7 is a non-rolling holiday

This holiday is celebrated in birthday of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem... The feast of the Incarnation and the coming into the world of the Son of God, born in the flesh, is one of the most significant days of the liturgical year and one of the most important holidays in most Christian concessions.

According to the new style, Christians around the world celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 7th. The only exceptions are the Christians of the Armenian Church.

The history of this holiday can only be traced back to the 4th century. And the very date of birth of Jesus Christ, according to early texts of church authors, is approximately called May 20.

But on the day of December 25 (old style) there was ancient pagan Slavic holiday "Birth of the Invincible Sun", during the heyday of Christianity in Rome, this holiday was filled with new content. And the birth of Jesus Christ began to be called as "The Birth of the Sun of Truth".

The feast of the Nativity of the Lord begins to be celebrated according to the Christian tradition from December 20 to 24 (according to the old style), and these days are called the forefeast. This is followed by 6 days of celebration, and everything ends with the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord.

Day on the eve of the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord called Christmas Eve, and it is held in strict fasting.

Epiphany (Baptism)

Orthodox Christians call this day - Epiphany... Other peoples have several names for this day, one of the names: "Feast of the Three Kings"... The meaning is put into this holiday about the first revelation of the light of the truth of God to the pagan peoples.

The Baptism of the Lord on January 19 is a non-rolling holiday

Christian holiday Baptism of the Lord (Epiphany) reminder of The baptism of Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan... This holiday is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on January 6 (19). And also everyone who wants to swim usually in cold waters under the open sky, and the water on this day has healing power and remains fresh all year round.

Another name for this holiday, as I said, is Epiphany. Since the Divine Trinity appeared to the Lord during Baptism: God the Father (speaking of the Son), God's Son (baptized by John and witnessed from God the Father) and Holy Spirit (descended upon the Son in the form of a dove).

The desire of the Lord on February 15 is not a rolling holiday

On this day, all Christians remember the events that happened to Christ on the fortieth day of his earthly life. Luke 2: 22-39 says that Jesus met with two Old Testament righteous men - Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess.

This meeting took place in the Jerusalem Temple on February 2 (15). This holiday, according to the canons of the Orthodox Church, is the Lord's and the Theotokos at the same time, as well as the twelveth holiday.

History of the holiday. The Virgin Mary came to the temple, as it should be according to the law of Moses, on the fortieth day after the birth of a male baby. With the firstborn, the mother in the temple should make sacrifices for her cleansing, as well as present the baby to God and make a ransom.

A certain fee was established by law, five shekels. Due to her poverty, Mary could sacrifice only two turtle doves. The righteous Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess met the baby in the church. This the holiday ends the cycle of all the holidays.

Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos on April 7, a non-passing feast

This is one of the most ancient Christian holidays, it is mentioned in the teachings of the Church Fathers: John Chrysostom, Augustine and others in 3-4 centuries.

The celebration of the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos takes place on March 25 ( April 7, new style). This holiday is the twelveth anniversary of the Mother of God of the Orthodox Church.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem April 5, 2015 rolling holiday

This Lord's twelveth feast day Christians celebrated a week before Easter... They remember entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalemwhen the people greeted Him as King.

Ascension of the Lord May 21, 2015 rolling holiday

This is the day memories of the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven on the fortieth day after Easter. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the Lord's twelve feasts of the Orthodox Church.

As follows from history, in the 4th century Saint Helena built a basilica in honor of the Ascension. And this holiday was called "40th day after Easter". Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Augustine attributed the establishment of the Feast of the Ascension to the Apostles. The feast of the Ascension of the Lord lasts seven days.

Trinity (Pentecost) May 31, 2015 rolling holiday

Great twelve feast of Trinity celebrated on the 50th day of Easter... On this day, Christians glorify the Holy Trinity and remember the Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles.

On the 50th day after Easter, all Jews celebrated the Old Testament feast of Pentecost. This holiday marked the end of the harvest and the gathering of fruits. Jews came to temples and brought fruits with them as a sacrifice. It was on this fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that his disciples the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages \u200b\u200b(Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-47).

The Transfiguration of the Lord on August 19 is a non-rolling holiday

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ in the Orthodox Church is celebrated on August 6 (19). This Lord's twelveth feast can be found in the writings of Matthew 17: 1; Mark 9: 2 Luke 9:28. After Jesus revealed to his disciples “that He must suffer, be killed and rise again on the third day” he ascended the stirrup by the apostles Peter, James and John to Mount Tabor and was transformed before them.

“His face shone like the sun, his clothes became white like snow” - during the Transfiguration of Christ, the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appeared to them. They informed Jesus of His imminent departure.

The Orthodox Church during this holiday (transfiguration) professes "The union in Christ of two natures - human and Divine".

The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 28 is a non-rolling holiday

The end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos celebrated on August 15 (28). This twelve-year holiday of the Theotokos has been known to us since the 4th century. Although the data is the most contradictory about how and where the Virgin Mary lived after the death of the Savior, the texts clearly state that

"The Blessed Virgin Mary was bodily raptured (taken) from earth to heaven".

The Most Holy Virgin, according to the command of her Son, was left in the care of the holy Apostle John the Theologian (John 19: 25-27). She was in the exploits of fasting and prayer, before her death Mary lived in Jerusalem.

On the day of the end of her earthly life, the apostles from different countries witnessed Her peaceful presentation. And three days after the burial, the Apostle Thomas wished to open the grave of Mary. But only the shroud lay in the coffin as an irrefutable evidence of Her repose. Resurrected on the third day, the Lord, raised the Ever-Virgin Mary on the third day.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 21 is a non-rolling holiday

The annual cycle of Christian church holidays begins on September 8 (21) with the Theotokos twelveth feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

According to the Proto Gospel of Jacob, Mary's birthplace is the small city of Nazareth. Her parents were childless. Righteous mother Anna and father Joachim spent many years in prayers for the granting of a child to them. They had to endure a lot of humiliation and ridicule due to their childlessness.

In deep old age God, in gratitude for their humility, gave them a daughter, Mary... The name Mary translated from Hebrew means "high", "superior".

The first mentions of this holiday are found in documents dated to the 5th century. It is difficult to call this information reliable. Because in different churches this holiday arose at different times.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 27 is a non-rolling holiday

This holiday in Christianity is the only one that began to celebrate from the moment of the event - the acquisition by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Helena of the authentic cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and its erection for common celebration and worship.

Orthodox Christians celebrate this day - September 14 (27). As the legend says, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great Helen went to Jerusalem in order to find the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

Three crosses were found at the site of the Temple of Venus during excavations. And in order to recognize the cross on which the Savior was crucified, crosses were applied to the body of a dead person. When the cross was laid on the body, on which Christ was crucified, the dead man came to life.

People began to flock to the life-giving Cross, there were so many of them that not everyone could kiss and kiss it. Therefore, Patriarch Macarius of Jerusalem ascended to an elevated place and erected the Cross so that the people could see him.

It was this event that served as the beginning of the liturgical order of the Exaltation of the Cross. During this holiday, it is customary to decorate churches in the same way as on Easter and Epiphany.

This Christian holiday is based on an event from the early childhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In gratitude for giving them a daughter in old age, Mary's parents - Joachim and Anna made a vow to dedicate their daughter to the Lord. Therefore, when the girl was three years old, they sent her to be raised and served in the temple.

In Orthodoxy, this twelveth feast of the Theotokos is celebrated on November 21 (December 4). The mention of the holiday appears in the 8-9 centuries. Holidays in the Orthodox Church traditionally last 6 days.

The most important of these is, of course, Bright Easter, Resurrection of Christ... On this day, the Church recalls how the crucified Savior rose from the dead, breaking the shackles of hell and thereby giving hope for future immortality to every person.

This is followed by twelve holidays, called great or twelve. Twelve holidays are divided into non-passing and rolling. The first of them are celebrated on the same day every year. The dates of the second are associated with the movement of the date of Easter.

Also read: Orthodox Calendar for 2018

Non-passing twelve holidays

Nativity of Christ January 7 in a new style - this is the most famous Christian holiday dedicated to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the beginning of a new era in the life of mankind.

Ascension of the Lord - on the 40th day after Easter, the ascension of the risen Lord Jesus Christ to the Kingdom of His Heavenly Father is celebrated, which took place on Mount Olivet, in the presence of the Apostles and the Mother of God.

Holy Trinity Day, Pentecost - on Sunday, on the 50th day after Easter, the descent of the Holy Apostles and the Mother of God of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire is recalled. This holiday is considered the birthday of the Christian Church.

Dates of rolling twelve holidays by year

Palm Sunday - date by year

Palm Sunday 2015 - April 5
Palm Sunday in 2016 - April 24
Palm Sunday in 2017 - April 9
Palm Sunday in 2018 - April 1

Easter dates by year

Easter, Resurrection of the Lord in 2015 - April 12.
Easter, Resurrection of the Lord in 2016 - May 1.
Easter, Resurrection of the Lord in 2017 - April 16.
Easter, Resurrection of the Lord in 2018 - April 8.

Ascension of the Lord - dates by year

Ascension of the Lord in 2015 - May 21.
Ascension of the Lord in 2016 - June 9.
Ascension of the Lord in 2017 - May 25.
Ascension of the Lord in 2018 - May 17.

Holy Trinity Day (Pentecost) dates by year

Trinity in 2015 - May 31.
Trinity in 2016 - June 19.
Trinity in 2017 - June 4.
Trinity in 2018 - May 27.

In the divine service of the Orthodox Church there are twelve great feasts of the annual liturgical cycle (except for the feast of Easter). They are divided into Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. To the great ... ... Political science. Dictionary.

12 most important Orthodox church holidays: December 25 (January 7) Nativity of Christ, January 6 (19) Epiphany (Epiphany), February 2 (15) Meeting, March 25 (April 7) Annunciation, a week before Easter, entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday ), 40 ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

TWO, \u200b\u200band, numbered. quantity (old). The same as twelve. The invasion of twelve languages \u200b\u200b(about Napoleon's army during the Patriotic War of 1812). Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

- (also the twentieth holidays) the twelve most important holidays after Easter in Orthodoxy. Dedicated to the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, are among the great holidays, in the Typicon are marked with a red cross in a full circle ... Wikipedia

TWO HOLIDAYS - The most important Orthodox church holidays (see church *, Orthodoxy *). Twelve holidays are celebrated in honor of the most important events in the earthly life of Jesus Christ and his mother, the Theotokos. There are twelve of these special holidays, so they are called ... ... Linguistic and Cultural Dictionary

TWO HOLIDAYS - Salary of the Gospel with the image of the holidays. Serbia. Beginning XVI century (MRSC) Salary of the Gospel with the image of the holidays. Serbia. Beginning XVI century (MRSC) [twenties] [Greek. Ϫωδεκάορτον], 12 holidays, in Orthodoxy. traditions considered most important after ... ... Orthodox encyclopedia

12 most important Orthodox church holidays: December 25 (January 7) Nativity of Christ, January 6 (19) Epiphany (Epiphany), February 2 (15) Meeting, March 25 (April 7) Annunciation, a week before Easter The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

twenties - a stable combination of the Twelve most important Orthodox holidays: Christmas / Christ / on January 7 (December 25), Baptism of the Lord / day on January 19 (6), Wed / February 15 (2), Annunciation / April 7 (March 25) , Entry of the Lord / day to Jerusalem / m (Palm ... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

Twelve holidays - the twelve most important church holidays after Easter. Some of them have dates fixed once and for all: Christmas on December 25 / January 7, Epiphany (Baptism of the Lord) January 6/19, Meeting of the Lord on February 2/15, Annunciation ... ... Orthodox encyclopedic dictionary

Great Holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church. These include: The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (a week before Easter) Ascension of the Lord (on the 40th day after Easter) Trinity (Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles) (on the 50th day after Easter) Baptism ... Religious terms

Books

, Matveevsky P. .. Twelve feasts dedicated to the most important events of the earthly life of the Lord and the Mother of God are the center of the liturgical life of our Church. The texts of the services of these days are filled with reflections on ...
Twelve Feasts and Holy Pascha, Archpriest Matveyevsky Pavel. The twelve feasts, dedicated to the most important events of the earthly life of the Lord and the Mother of God, are the center of the liturgical life of our Church. The texts of the services of these days are filled with reflections on ...

Orthodox worship and holidays

The soul is like a traveler crossing a wobbly bridge. A helping hand is stretched out to her from the other side, but in order to receive this help, the traveler must extend his hand himself. Such a hand, stretched out towards the forces of Light, is every good choice, every right deed and every bright movement of the soul, including prayer. This is the kernel of the answer to the question: why prayer? And why worship? "Prayer" (see) is a solitary conversation of the soul with God or with the forces of Light that have created Him; it is also a state of affection, reverence and spiritual delight that envelops the heart when contemplating the Beautiful, the High or the Great; this is also the catharsis through which inspiring works of art lift the soul of a person; this is her participation in the purifying and uplifting actions of the temple.
What is a rite?
This is a sacred action, established on the basis of a person's inner experience, for the sake of gaining help from supersensible light forces or for the sake of preventing hostile influences on him from the supersensible dark forces.
What is a sacrament?
This is such a sacred act, during the performance of which the superconscious roots of human will receive divine grace, that is, they are filled with strength to move towards harmony between the individual and the universe, spirit and flesh, man and the Divine.
Therefore, the indifference of consciousness or the lack of faith on the part of the one over whom the sacrament is performed do not deprive the sacrament of its effectiveness. Hence - the possibility of performing the sacraments over unbelievers, seriously ill and children. But the participation of reason and personal faith facilitates and accelerates the flow of currents of grace from the superconscious roots of the will into the realm of daytime consciousness.

The sacraments of the Christian church:
; ; ; ; - the sacrament of endowing a clergyman with divine grace through episcopal ordination - the blessing of the Lord; (wedding) - blessing by the church before God, consecration of marital ties; ...

Historically established worship includes:
1.Daily circle;
2. the sevenfold circle;
3. a fixed annual circle;
4. a movable annual circle formed around the Easter holiday.

The most important public service in Orthodoxy is the Divine Liturgy (in Russia also called "Mass"), during which the sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated - the most important sacrament of the Church according to Baptism, which constitutes its essence and without which it is inconceivable.

The liturgical year begins with Easter Week, which occupies a very special and exclusive position among the holidays.
(Easter) - April 28, 2019.

Twelve holidays... In the divine service of the Orthodox Church there are twelve great feasts of the annual liturgical cycle (except for the feast of Easter). They are divided into Lord's, dedicated to Jesus Christ, and Theotokos, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. By the time of the celebration, the twelve holidays are divided into fixed (non-passing) and mobile (rolling). The former are constantly celebrated on the same days of the month, the latter fall on different dates every year, depending on the date of the celebration of Easter.

Orthodox holidays

Twelve non-rolling holidays 2019
STATE holidays:
Jan. 7 - .
January 19 -
February, 15 -
August 19 -
September 27 -

MOTHER HOLIDAYS:
April 7 -
August 28 -
September 21st -
December 4 -

Twelve rolling holidays 2019:
The 21st of April -
June 6 -
June 16 -

GREAT HOLIDAYS:
January 14 - Circumcision of the Lord;
July 7 -;
July 12 - the Holy Primate Apostles and;

October 14 -

Church one-day fasts:
Wednesday and Friday of the whole year, with the exception of continuous weeks and Christmastide;
January 18 - Epiphany Eve (Eve of the Epiphany);
September 11 - Beheading of John the Baptist;
September 27 - Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord.

Days of special commemoration of the departed:
March 2, 2019 - Saturday meat-passing (;
March 23, 2019 - Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent;
March 30, 2019 - Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent;
April 6, 2019 - Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent;
May 7, 2019 -;
May 9 - Commemoration of the deceased soldiers;
June 15, 2019 - Saturday Troitskaya;
November 2, 2019 - Saturday Dimitrievskaya.

Continuous weeks:
A continuous week or Omnivorous is a week (that is, a week in the church calendar) in which there are no fasts, that is, the church allows the use of meager food throughout the week, even on Wednesday and Friday - traditionally fast days.
January 7 - 17 - Christmastide;
February 17-23, 2019 - Publican and Pharisee;
March 4-10, 2019 - Cheese ();
April 29 - May 4, 2019 - Easter (Light);
June 16-22, 2019 - Troitskaya.

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in January 2019:
1st of January -
January 2 -
January 2 -
January 2 - Hieromartyr Ignatius the Theologian
January 2 - Saint Ignatius, Archimandrite of Pechersk
January 3 - Nativity Fast. Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.
January 3 - Martyrs Juliana and with her 500 husbands and 130 wives, victims of Nicomedia
January 4 - Nativity Fast. Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.
January 4 - Great Martyr Anastasia the Patterner
January 5 - Nativity Fast. Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ.
January 5 - Schmch. Basil the presbyter and prmchch. Macarius and John
January 6 - Fast. The Eve of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve)
Jan. 7 -
January 7 - Adoration of Sts. Magi: Melchior, Gaspar and Belshazzar
January 8 - (no post)
January 8 - Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos
January 9 - Apostle
January 10 - Mtch. 20,000, in Nicomedia in the church of the burned and in the same place outside the church of the victims
January 11 - 14,000 babies, slaughtered by Herod in Bethlehem
January 12 - St. Macarius, Met. Moscow
January 13 - Celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
January 14 - Circumcision of the Lord (Great Feast)
January 14 - Saint Basil the Great
January 14 - St. Emilia, mother of St. Basil the Great
January 15 - Forefeast of the Epiphany.
January 15 - Repose and the second finding of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov
January 16 - Prophet. Malachi
January 17 - Council of 70 Apostles
January 18 - Epiphany Eve (Epiphany Christmas Eve)
January 18 - Schmch. Theopempta, bishop Nicomedian, and mch. Theons of the sorcerer
January 19 - (Epiphany)
January 20 - Epiphany
January 20 - Cathedral of the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John
January 21 - Venerable Gregory, the wonderworker of Pechersk, in the Near Caves
January 22 - St. Philip, Met. Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker
January 23 -
January 24 - Venerable Theodosius the Great, General Lives of the Chief
January 24 -
January 25 - Martyrs of Tatiana
January 25 - Icons of the Mother of God, called "Akathist" and "Mammal"
January 26 - Mtch. Ermila and Stratonika
January 27 - Leaving the feast of the Epiphany
January 27 -, educators of Georgia
January 28 - St. Paul of Thebes and John Kuschnik
January 29 - Adoration of the honest chains of the Apostle Peter
January 29 - Blaz. Maxima, priest of Totemsky
January 30 - Venerable Anthony the Great
January 31 - St. Cyril and Mary, parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Orthodox holidays in February 2019:
1st of February -
February 2 - Venerable Efimia the Great
February 3 - Venerable Maxim the Greek
February 4 - Ap. Timothy
February 4 - Commemoration of all the dead who suffered in the time of persecution for the faith of Christ
February 4 - Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
February 5 - Cathedral of Kostroma Saints
February 5 -, and mch. Agafangela
February 6 -
February 6 - Venerable Xenia of the Romans
February 7 - St. Gregory the Theologian
February 7 - Venerable Anatoly (senior) Optinsky
February 7 -
February 8 - Prpp. Xenophon, his wife Mary and their sons Arcadius and John
February 8 - Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
February 9 - Transfer of the relics of St. John Chrysostom
February 10 -
February 11 - Transfer of the relics of the schmch. Ignatius the God-bearer
February 11 - St. Lawrence, the hermit of Pechersky, bishop. Turovsky
February 12 - Council of Ecumenical Teachers and Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
February 13 - St. Nikita, the hermit of Pechersky, bishop. Novgorod
February 14 - Forefeast of the Presentation of the Lord
February, 15 -
February 15 - Schmch. Basil presbyter, mch. Michael
February 16 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 16 - Right. Simeon the God-Receiver and Anna the Prophetess
February 17 - Week of the Publican and the Pharisee
February 17 - Venerable Isidore of Pelusio
February 17 - Right. Kirill Novoyezersky
February 18 - Icons of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost"
February 18 - Mt. Agathia
February 19 - St. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet
February 20 - Mtch. 1003 Nicomedian
February 21 - Prophet Zechariah the Sickle-Seer of the 12 Minor Prophets
February 21 - Vmch. Theodora Stratilates
February 22 - Mt. Nicephorus, from Syrian Antioch
February 22 - Uncovering of the relics of St. Innocent, bishop Irkutsk
February 23 - Cathedral of Novgorod saints
February 23 - Icons of the Mother of God "Fiery"
February 24 - Week
February 24 - Schmch. Blasia, bishop Sevastiysk (about 316)
February 24 - Venerable Dmitry Prilutsky
February 25 - Met. Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker
25 February -
25 February -
February 26 - Sshmchch. Basil and Gabriel Presbyters
February 27 - Venerable Auxentia
February 27 - Ravnoap. Cyril, teacher of Slovenian
February 28 - Ap. from 70 Onisim

Orthodox holidays in March 2019:
March 1 - St. Macarius Met. Moscow and Kolomenskoye
March 2 - Schmch. Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker
March 2 - Saturday meat-passing (.
March 3 - Meat Week. .
March 3 - St. Leo, Pope
March, 3rd -
March 4 - Cheese Serdmitsa (), Continuous week, no meat
March 4 - App. from 70 Archippus and Philemon and mts. equalap. Apphii (I)
the 5th of March -
March 5 - Blgv. book
March, 6 -
March 7 -
March 8 - Schmch. Polycarp, bishop Smirnsky
March 8 - Venerable Polycarp of Bryansk
March 9 - All the reverend fathers who shone forth in exploit (rolling celebration)
March 9 - First (IY) and Second (452)
March 10 - Cheeseweed Week. Remembrance of Adam's exile
10th of March - . Conception for Great Lent.
March 10 - Sv. Tarasia, Archbishop. Constantinople
March 10 - Schmch. Alexander Presbyter, prmts. Mstislav
March 11 - Beginning of Great Lent. Clean Monday
March 11 - Sv. Porfiry, Archbishop. Gazsky
March 11 - Venerable Sevastian Poshekhonsky
March 12 - Venerable Procopius Decapolitus, isp.
March 13 - Venerable Basil isp.
March 14th -
March 14 - Mtch. Nestor and Trivimia
March 15th -
March 15th -
March 16 - (rolling celebration on Saturday of the 1st week of Great Lent)
March 16 -
March 17 - 1st Week of Great Lent. Triumph of Orthodoxy
March 17 - Parent's Saturday. Commemoration of the departed
March 1 - Icons of the Mother of God of Cyprus (rolling celebration on the 1st Week of Great Lent)
March 17 - Blessed
March 18 - 2nd week of Great Lent
March 18 -
March 19 - Queen Helena in Jerusalem
March 19 - Icons of the Mother of God "Czestochowa" and "Blessed Sky"
March 20 - Icons of the Mother of God "The Assistant of Sinners"
March 21 - Venerable Theophilact isp., Bishop Nicomedian
March 22 - Saints
March 23 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent. March 23 - Mtch. Quadratus of Nicomedia, Satorinus, Rufinus and others (III).
March 24 - 2nd week of Great Lent
March 4 - St. Eugene and Macarius Confessors, Presbyters of Antioch
March 24 - St. Euphemia, Archbishop. Novgorod, wonderworker
March 25 - 3rd week of Great Lent
March 25 - Lidda, miraculous (on a pillar) icons of the Mother of God
March 26 - Transfer of the relics of St. Nikifor, patr. Constantinople
March 27 -
March 28 - Schmch. Alexia Presbyter
March 29 - Venerable Christodoulus the miracle worker of Patmos.
March 30 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
March 30 - Venerable Alexis, the man of God
March 31 - St. Cyril, archbishop. Jerusalem
March 31 - 3rd week of Great Lent. Cross-worship

Orthodox holidays in April 2019:
April 1 - 4th week of Great Lent, Holy Cross
April 1 - Right. Sofia, book. Slutskaya
April 1 - Icons of the Mother of God
April 2 - Venerable Euphrosynus of Sinozersky, Novgorodsky
April 3 - St. Thomas, patr. Constantinople
April 4 - Izborsk Icon of the Mother of God
April 5 - Prmch. Nikon bishop and his 199 students
April 6 - Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos
April 6 - Ecumenical parental Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
April 7 - 4th week of Great Lent. Venerable John Climacus
April 7 -
April 7 - Icons of the Annunciation of the Mother of God - Moscow (XVI) and Kiev.
April 8 - 5th week of Great Lent
April 8 - Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel
April 9 - Mc. Matrona of Thessaloniki
April 10 - Venerable Stephen the Wonderworker, isp., Abbot of Triglisky
April 11 - St. Eustathia isp., Bishop Bithinian
April 12 - Venerable John Climacus, Abbot of Sinai
April 13 - (rolling celebration)
April 13 -
14th of April - 5th week of Great Lent
April 14 - Venerable Mary of Egypt
April 15 - 6th week of Great Lent (wai)
April 15 - Venerable Titus the wonderworker
April 16 -
April 17 - Icons of the Mother of God called
April 17 - Icons of the Mother of God called.
April 18 - Transfer of the relics of St. Job, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
April 19 - St. Equal to the Apostles Methodius, Archbishop. Moravian, the first teacher of the Slavs
April 20 - Byzantine Icon of the Mother of God.
20 April -
April 21 - The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Week of Vai, 6th Great Lent. ...
April 22 - Holy Week.
April 22 - Mt. Eupsychia
April 23 - Mtch. Terenty, Pompius, African, Maxima, Zinona, Alexandra, Theodora
April 23 - Holy Week.
April 24 - Schmch. Antipas, Bp. Pergamon of Asia
April 24 - Holy Week.
25th of April -
25th of April -
April 25 - Transfer of the venerable belt of the Mother of God to Constantinople
April 25 - Holy Week. ... Remembrance of the Last Supper.
April 26 - Schmch. Artemon, presbyter of Laodicea
April 26 - Holy Week. Remembrance of the Passion of the Lord.
April 27 -
April 27 -
April 27 -. Descent into hell.
April 28 - App. from 70 Aristarchus, Puda and Trofim
April 28 - Schmch. Sergius Presbyter
April 28 - EASTER. END OF THE GREAT LENT.
April 29 - May 4 - Fasting is canceled.
April 29 -.
April 29 -

April 30 - (rolling Tuesday celebration of Bright Week)
April 30 - Uncovering of the relics of St. Alexander Svirsky (1641)

Orthodox holidays in May 2019:
1st of May -
May 1 - (rolling celebration on Wednesday of Bright Week)
May 2 -
May 2 - Venerable John the Old Cave
May 3 - Mt. baby Gabriel Slutsky (Belostoksky)
May 3 - Icons of the Mother of God "Pochaevskaya" (rolling celebration on Friday of Bright Week)
May 3 - Easter consecration of water in churches. Commemoration of the renewal (consecration) of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Life-Giving Spring in Constantinople.
May 4 - Schmch. John Presbyter
May 5 - Venerable Theodora Sikeot, bishop Anastasiopolsky
5 May - Week 2 after Easter, Antipascha or ap. Thomas.
May 5 - Icons of the Mother of God called "Sweet kiss" (celebration on the Week of Anti-Easter)
the 6th of May -
May 7 -
May 7 -
May 8 -
May 9 - St. Stephen, Bishop Velikopermsky
May 9 - Commemoration of the departed warriors
May 10 - Ap. and sshmch. Simeon, bishop Jerusalem, a relative of the Lord
May 11 - St. Cyril, Bishop of Turov
May 12 - Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker
May 12 - Blgv. Tamara, Queen of Georgia (rolling celebration in the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women)
12 May - Week 3 after Easter,
May 12 - St. myrrh-bearing wives, right. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
May 13 -, brother
may 13 -
May 14 -
May 15 - St. Athanasius the Great, archbishop. Alexandria
May 15 - Transfer of the relics of the Blgvv. book and
May 15 -
May 16 - Mt. Paul Vilnius
May 17 - Old Russian Icon of the Mother of God
May 18 -
May 19 - Right. Job the Long-Suffering
May 19 - Week 4 after Easter, about the relaxed
May 20 - Remembrance of the appearance in heaven of the Cross of the Lord in Jerusalem
May 20 -
May 21st -
May 22 - Transfer of relics from Lycian World to Bar
May, 23rd -
May 24 - Equal Methodius and Cyril, Slovenian teachers
May 25 - Schmch. Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker
May 26 - Week 5 after Easter, about the Samaritans
May 26 - Mc. Glyceria of the virgin and martyr with her Laodicea, guardian of the dungeon
May 27 - Mt. Isidora
May 28 - Venerable Pachomy the Great
May 29 - Transfer of the relics of St. Ephraim of Perekomsky, Novgorod miracle worker
May 29 - Venerable Theodore the Sanctified
May 30 - Venerable Euphrosyne, in the world of Evdokia, led. book Moscow
May 31 - Commemoration of the holy fathers of the seven Ecumenical Councils.

Orthodox holidays in June 2019:
June 1st - .
June 2 - Mtch. Falalea, Alexandra and Asteria
may 13 -
June 3 - Celebration
June 3 - Equal. Tsar Constantine and his mother Queen Helena
June 4 - Commemoration of the II Ecumenical Council
June 4 - the Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God, called the "Guarantor of Sinners"
June 5 - Venerable Euphrosyne, princess and abbess of Polotsk
June 6 - Saint Simeon the Stylite
June 6 -
June 6 -
June 7 -
June 8 - Mtch. Averky and Elena
June 9 - Righteous John of Russia
May 20 - Week 7 after Easter, Fathers I Sun. Cathedral
June 10 - Venerable Elena Diveevskaya
June 11 -
June 12 - Mt. Natalia
June 13 - Mt. Hermia Komansky
June 14 -
June 15 - Kiev-Bratsk Icon of the Mother of God
June 15 - Trinity parental Saturday
June 16 -. Pentecost.
June 16 - Transfer of the relics of the Blgv. Tsarevich Dimitri from Uglich to Moscow
June 17 - St. Mitrofan, 1st Patriarch of Constantinople
June 17 - Day of the Holy Spirit. Continuous week. The post is canceled.
June 18 - Blgv. book Theodore Yaroslavich (brother of St. Alexander Nevsky), Novgorod
June 19 - Pimenovskaya Icon of the Mother of God
June 20 - Schmch. Theodotus of Ankir
June 20 -
June 21 - Vmch. Theodora Stratilates
June 22 - Venerable Cyril, abbot of Beloezersky
June 23 - Cathedral of the Ryazan Saints. Cathedral of Siberian Saints
June 23 - 1st week after Pentecost. All saints. Zagovanie on Petrov post (meat-plant)
June 24 - The beginning of the Petrov Lent
June 24 - Icons of the Mother of God "It is worthy" ("Merciful")
June 25 - Venerable Onuphrius the Great
June 26 - Mc. Akilins
June 27 - Cathedral of the Diveyevo Saints
June 28 - Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker
June 29 - Venerable Tikhon Lukhovsky, Kostroma wonderworker
June 29 - St. Tikhon, bishop Amafuntsky
June 30 - Mtch. Manuel, Savel and Ismail Persian

Orthodox holidays in July 2019:
July 1 -
July 2 - Apostle Jude, brother of the Lord
July 2 - St. Job, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
July 3 - Saint Mina, Bishop of Polotsk
July 3 - Schmch. Methodius, bishop Patarsky
July 4 - Mt. Julian of Tarsus
July 5 - Schmch. Eusebius, bishop Samosatsky
July 6 -. ...
July 7 - Week 3 after Pentecost. Cathedral of Belarusian Saints
July 7 -
July 8 - Blgvv.
July 8 -
July 9 - Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God
July 10 - Venerable Martin Turovsky
July 10 -
July 11 - Prpp. Sergius and Herman, the Wonderworkers of Valaam
July 12 - End of Petrov Lent
July 12 - Glorious and all-praised first supreme apostles and
July, 12 -
July 13 -
July 14 - 4th week after Pentecost... Cathedral of the Venerable Fathers of Pskov-Pechersk
July 14 - Unmercenaries of Cosmas and Damian, victims in Rome
July 15 - Position of the venerable robe of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Blachernae
July 16 - Transfer of the relics of St. Philip, Met. Moscow and All Russia wonderworker
July 17 - Commemoration of Sts. Royal Martyrs: Tsar - Martyr Nicholas II
July 18 - Finding of relics
July 19 -
July 19 - Finding the relics of rights. virgins of Juliana, book. Olshanskaya
July 20 - Venerable Thomas, Maleina
July 21 - Apparition
21 July -
July 22 - Schmch. Pankratia, bishop Tavromeni
July 23 - Position of the venerable robe of the Lord Jesus Christ in Moscow
July 24 - Ravnoap. Olga, Grand. book Russian, in the holy Baptism of Helena
July 24 - Rudny Icon of the Mother of God.
July 25 -
July 26 - Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel
July 27 -
July 28 - Ravnoap. ... ...
July 29 - Cathedral of Russian Wonderworkers
July 29 - Blzh. isp. Matrona (Belyakova), Anemnyasevskaya, isp.
June 10 - 2nd Week after Pentecost. All Russian saints
July 30 - Vmts. Marina (Margaritas)
July 31 -.

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in August 2019:
August 1 - Uncovering of the relics of St. miracle worker.
August 2 - .
August 2 - Uncovering of the relics of the prmch. Afanasy of Brest
August 3 - Schmch. Peter Presbyter
August 4 -
5th of August -
August 6 - Mc. Christina. Mchch. blgvv. book and
August 7 - Dormition, mother of the Most Holy Theotokos
August 8 - Sshmchch. Ermolai, Ermippus and Ermokrat, priests of Nicomedia
August 9 - Vmch. and the healer Panteleimon
August 10 - Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called "Hodegetria" (Guide)
August 11 - Mt. Kallinika
August 12 - Venerable Anatoly Otptinsky
August 13 - Right. Evdokim the Cappadocian
August 14 - The beginning of the Assumption Lent
August 14 -
August 14 - Feast of the All-Merciful Savior. ...
August 15 - .
August 16 - St. Isaac, Dalmata and Fausta
August 17 - Seven Youths of Ephesus
August 18 - Pre-Transfiguration of the Lord
August 19 -
August 20 - Celebration of the Transfiguration
August 20 - Finding of relics
August 21 - St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop Kizichesky
August 22 - Apostle Matthias. Cathedral of the Solovetsky Saints.
August 23 - Blzh. Lawrence, Christ for the sake of the holy fool, Kaluga
August 24 - Mt. Archdeacon Euplus
August 25 - Mtch. Photius and Anikita and many with them
August 26 - Celebration of the feast of the Transfiguration.
August 26 - Repose, the second uncovering of the relics of St. Tikhon, bishop Voronezh, Zadonsk miracle worker.
August 26 - Icons of the Mother of God Minsk, Seven-shot, Passionate.
August 27 - Forefeast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos.
August 27 - Transfer of the relics of St. Theodosius of Pechersky.
August 28 - End of the Dormition Fast.
August 28 -
August 29 - Afterfeast of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos
August 29 -
August 29 - Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Image of Jesus Christ Not Made by Hands.
August 30 - Mt. Myron the presbyter
August 31 -

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in September 2019:
September 1 - and with him 2593 martyrs
September 1 - Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God
September 2 - Prophet Samuel
September 3 - Venerable Abramiah, miracle. Smolensk
September 4 - Day of Remembrance of the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God
September 5 - Leaving the feast of the Assumption
September 6 - Schmch. Eutychius, disciple of St. John the Evangelist
September 7 - Transfer of the relics of ap. Bartholomew
8 September -
September 9 - Venerable Pimen the Great
September 10 - Venerable Moses Murin
11 September - .
12-th of September - .
September 13 - Position of the venerable belt of the Most Holy Theotokos.
September 14 - The beginning of the indictment - the Church New Year. Venerable Simeon the Stylite and his mother Martha
September 15th -
September 16 - John Vlasaty, the wonderworker of Rostov
September 17 -
September 18 - Prophet. Zechariah and rights. Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Baptist
September 18 - Prmch. Athanasius of Brest
September 19 - Remembrance of the miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khonekh
September 20 - Forefeast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 21st -
September 21 - Icons of Sophia, the Wisdom of God (Kiev)
September 22nd -
September 23 - McC. Minodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora
September 24 - Kaplunovskaya Icon of the Mother of God.
September 26 - Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
September 26 - Commemoration of the renewal (consecration) of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem (Word of the Resurrection)
September 27 - .
September 27 - Lesninskaya Icon of the Mother of God
September 28 - Novonikitskaya Icon of the Mother of God
September 29 -
September 30 - Mtsts. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in October 2019:
October 1 - Icon of the Mother of God Molchenskaya ("Healer"), Old Russian
October 2 - Mtch. Trofim, Savvaty and Dorimedont
October 3 - Vmch. Eustathius Placis, his wife Theopistia and their children
October 4 - Uncovering of the relics of St. Dimitry Rostovsky
October 5 - Cathedral of Tula Saints
October 6 - Conception of the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John
October 7 - Pervomts. equalap. Thekla
October 8 - Repose of St. Sergius, abbot of Radonezh
October 9 - The repose of ap. and the evangelist John the Theologian
October 10 - Venerable Savvaty Solovetsky
October 11 - Venerable Khariton the Confessor
October 12 - Venerable Cyriacus the hermit
October 13 - Schmch. Gregory Bishop, Enlightener of Great Armenia
October 14 -
October 14 - Venerable Roman the Sweet Songwriter
October 15 - Sshmch. Cyprian and mts. Justin
October 16 - Sshmchch. Dionysius the Areopagite, bishop Athenian, Rustic presbyter and Eleutherius the deacon
October 17 - Schmch. Hierothea, bishop Athenian
October 18 - Mc. Haritins
October 19 - Apostle Thomas
October 20 - Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness"
October 21 - Day of Remembrance of the Monk Pelagia
October 22 - Ap. Jacob Alfeev. Korsun Icon of the Mother of God
October 23 - Venerable Ambrose Optinsky. Cathedral of Volyn saints
October 24 - Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council. Cathedral of the Optina Elders.
October 25 - Transfer from Malta to Gatchina of a part of the Tree of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, the Filerma Icon of the Mother of God and the right hand of John the Baptist.
October 26 - Iberian Icon of the Mother of God.
October 27 - Mtch. Nazaria, Gervasia, Protasia, Kelsia
October 28 - Cathedral of 23 Belarusian New Martyrs
28 of October -
October 29 - Mt. Longinus centurion, like at the Cross of the Lord
October 30 - Mtch. unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Arabia. Icons of the Mother of God "Before Christmas and after Christmas the Virgin" and "The Deliverer"
October 31 -

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in November 2019:
Nov. 1 -
November 2 - Vmch. Artemia
November 3 - Sshmch. Pavlina, Archbishop. Mogilev
November 4 -
November 5 - brother of the Lord. Venerable Elisei Lavrishevsky.
November 6 - Icons of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow"
November 7 - Dimitrievskaya parental Saturday. Commemoration of the departed.
November 7 - Right. Tabitha
November 8 -
November 9 - Venerable Nestor the Chronicler
November 10 - Venerable Job, Abbot of Pochaevsky. St. Demetrius, Met. Rostovsky.
November 11 - Prmts. Anastasia Roman
November 12 -
November 13 - Mt. Epimachus of Alexandria
November 14 - The unmercenaries and wonderworkers of Cosmas and Damian of Asia and their mothers
15th of November -
November 16 - Memorial Day of Saint Princess Anna Vsevolodovna
November 17 - Venerable John the Great
November 18 - Memorial Day of St. Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod
November 19 - St. Paul, Archbishop of Constantinople
November 20 - Icons of the Mother of God "Vygranie"
November 21 - Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other Ethereal Heavenly Forces
November 22 -
November 22 - the birthday of Matrona of Moscow
November 23 - Prmch. Nifont and martyr. Alexandra
November 24 - Vmch. Mines. Venerable Theodore the Studite.
November 25 - Icons of the Mother of God "Merciful"
November 26 - Memorial Day of St. John Chrysostom
November 27 -. Conception for the Christmas (Filippov) post
November 28 - Martyrs and Confessors Guria, Samon and Aviv
November 28 - The beginning of the Nativity Fast
29th of November -
November 30 - St. Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop Neo-Caesarean

Orthodox holidays and days of remembrance in December 2019:
December 1 - Memorial Day of the Holy Martyr Plato
December 2 - Icons of the Mother of God "Consolation in Sorrows and Sorrows"
December 3 - Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos
December 4 -
December 5 - Day of Remembrance of the Holy Blessed Prince Mikhail of Tverskoy
December 6 - Memorial Day Blgv. led. book Alexander Nevsky
December 7 - Vmts. Catherine
December 8 - Celebration of the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos.
December 9 - St. Innocent, bishop Irkutsk
December 10 - Icons of the Mother of God "The Sign"
December 11 - Holy Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New
December 12 - Mt. Paramona and 370 martyrs with him
December 13 - Apostle Andrew the First-Called
December 14 - Right. Philaret the Merciful
December 15 - Prophet. Habakkuk
December 16 - Venerable Savva Storozhevsky
December 17 - Vmts. Barbarians. Venerable John Damascene
December 18 - Venerable Sava the Sanctified
December 19 - Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, miracle worker
December 20 - Venerable Nil Stolobensky
December 21 - Venerable Patapia
December 22 - Conception of Rights. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
December 23 - St. Joasaph, bishop Belgorodsky
December 24 - Venerable Daniel the Stylite
December 25 - St. Spiridon, bishop Trimifuntsky, miracle worker
December 26 - Mtch. Eustratia, Auxentia, Eugene, Mardaria and Orest
December 27 - Mtch. Firsa, Leukia and Kallinikos
December 28 - Day of Remembrance of the Monk Paul of Latria
December 29 - Day of Remembrance of the Prophet Haggai
December 30 - Prophet. Daniel and the three youths: Ananias, Azariah and Misail.
December 31 - Praise of Rights. Simeon Verkhotursky.

The Orthodox Church has its own calendar. It differs from ours - for example, the year starts in September, not January. The Church calendar has its own - Church - holidays. What are the main holidays in Orthodoxy? How many holidays are there in Christianity? What are Twelve Feasts? We will tell you the most important thing to know.

Orthodox calendar: what is it?

The Church lives according to the so-called Julian calendar: a yearly cycle in which there are as many days as there are in our "usual" calendar, and in general everything is exactly the same, with the only difference that the beginning of the year (and the Church beginning of the year) is September 1, and not in January.

Every day in the Church is the memory of some event or saint. For example, on January 7th, the Nativity of Christ is remembered (more correctly, it is celebrated). And in this way the Church "lives" in a year all the main events of its history, the earthly life of Christ, the Mother of God, the Apostles, and also remembers all its saints - not only the most revered (for example), but all in general. Each saint has his own day of remembrance and every day of the year is a memory - a holiday - of this or that saint, and most often, not one, but several saints are remembered per day.

(For example, take March 13 - this is the day of commemoration of ten saints: the Monk John Cassian the Roman, the Monk Basil the Confessor, the Hieromartyr Arseny Metropolitan of Rostov, the Hieromartyr Nestor Bishop of Magiddia, the reverend wives Marina and Cyrus, the Hieromartyr Proterius the Patriarch of Alexandria St. The Damascus hermit of Nitria, the Monk Martyr Theoktyrist, Abbot of Pelikitsky, Blessed Nicholas Sallos Christ for the sake of the holy fool of Pskov)

It turns out that if the secular calendar is divided into holidays and non-holidays (and there are very few holidays in it), then the Church calendar consists entirely of holidays, since every day one or another event is remembered and the memory of this or that saint is celebrated.

This is a reflection of the whole essence of Christian life, when rejoicing in the Lord and His saints occurs not on some separate days of the week or year, but constantly. As a joke or not, a proverb was even born among the people: "The Orthodox have a holiday every day." Actually, this is exactly the case. Although, there are exceptions: some days of Great Lent, which require special concentration.

Icon "for every day of the year" - the image, if possible, of all saints and the main Church Feasts

What holidays are there in Christianity

In very general terms, the Holidays in the Orthodox Church can be divided into the following "categories":

Easter (Resurrection of Christ) is the main holiday.
Twelve holidays - 12 holidays that remind of the main events in the life of the Most Holy Theotokos and Jesus Christ. Some of them are reflected in the texts of the New Testament (the Gospel or the Acts of the Apostles), and some (Nativity of the Mother of God, Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord) are taken from Church Tradition. Most of them have a specific date of celebration, but some depend on the date of the celebration of Easter. We will tell you more about each Twelveth holiday below.
Five great non-twelve holidays... Circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St. Basil the Great; Christmas of st. John the Baptist; Commemoration of the apostles Peter and Paul, Beheading of the head of John the Baptist and the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Any Sunday of the year - as a direct reminder of the Resurrection of Christ.
Middle Holidays: Memorial days for each of the Twelve Apostles; Finding the honest head of John the Baptist; Days of commemoration of Saints John Chrysostom and Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia. Memory of the Vladimir and Kazan icons of the Mother of God. In addition, the average feast for each church is its Feast of the Holy See. That is, the memory of the saints in whose honor the altar or altars are consecrated, if there are several of them in the temple.
Small Holidays: all other days.

The main holidays in Orthodox Christianity

Easter, Resurrection of Christ

When Easter is celebrated: on the first Sunday after the full moon, not earlier than the day of the vernal equinox on March 21

The main holiday is the holidays. The memory of the Resurrection of Christ, which is the center of the entire Christian teaching.

In all Orthodox churches, Easter is celebrated with night services and a solemn procession of the cross.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

The year circle in Orthodoxy does not begin on January 1, as in the "secular" world, but on September 1, so the Nativity of the Virgin is the first Twelveth feast in the Church year. During it, as in all the Mother of God feasts, the clergy wear blue.

Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord

The Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord is the only twelve-eighth holiday that is not directly related to the years of the life of the Savior or the Mother of God. Rather, it is also connected, but not directly: on this day, the Church remembers and celebrates the uncovering of the Cross of the Lord, which took place in 326 near Calvary - the mountain where Jesus Christ was crucified.

Introduction to the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos

Another feast of the Theotokos from among the twelve in Orthodoxy. Installed in memory of the day when the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos - the holy righteous Joachim and Anna - brought her to the Jerusalem temple, in the holy of holies of which she lived until her betrothal to Joseph. All these years she was fed with food from heaven, which was brought to her by the archangel Gabriel.

Icon of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos

Nativity

Christmas in the flesh of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is the second, along with Easter, a Feast, which is preceded by a long (40 days) fast. Like Easter, the Church celebrates Christmas with a solemn night worship.

This is the most important holiday in Orthodoxy after the Resurrection of Christ.

Epiphany

On this day, the Church remembers and celebrates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River by the Forerunner John the Baptist.

Icon of the Baptism of the Lord

Presentation of the Lord

This Feast is established in memory of the day when the Mother of God and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the temple for the first time - on the 40th day after His birth. (This was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, according to which parents brought their first sons to the temple - for dedication to God).

The word "Meeting" means "meeting". This was the day not only of bringing Jesus to the temple, but also of the meeting - there, in the temple - of Elder Simeon with the Lord. By that time, the pious old man lived to be almost 300 years old. More than 200 years before that, he had been working on the translation of the Bible and doubted the correctness of the text in the book of the prophet Isaiah - in the place where it was said that the Savior would be born of a Virgin. Simeon thought then that this was a slip of the tongue and in fact meant the word "young woman", and in his translation he wanted to take this into account, but the angel of the Lord stopped the elder and assured that he would not die until he saw with his own eyes the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah that had come true ...

And so it became.

Icon of the Presentation of the Lord

Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos

On this day, the Church remembers and celebrates the day when the archangel Gabriel brought the news to the Virgin Mary that she would become a mother in the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, Palm Sunday

When celebrated: next Sunday before Easter

The holiday is established in memory of the solemn entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people greeted Him with enthusiasm. Many believed that the Savior would deliver them from the yoke of the Roman Empire, and in the first place they expected this from Him. He did not come for this, and a few days later Christ was condemned and crucified ...

Ascension of the Lord

When celebrated: 40th day after Easter

On this day, the Church remembers and celebrates the Ascension of the Savior to heaven. This happened on the 40th day after His resurrection - and after He had appeared to His apostles during these forty days.

Day of the Holy Trinity

When celebrated: 50th day after Easter

This is the memory of the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire and “all were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” From the moment of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles could speak in any languages \u200b\u200bwith any nations - to carry the Word of God to all ends of the world.

And very soon - and despite all the persecution - Christianity became the most widespread religion in the world.

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Moscow Compound of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in Moscow. The Day of the Holy Trinity is a patronal holiday for this church.

Transfiguration

Transfiguration of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ. On this day, the Church celebrates the moment that, like most other Twelve Feasts, is described in the Gospel. The manifestation of the Divine greatness of the Savior in front of the three closest disciples during prayer on the mountain. "His face shone like the sun, but His garments became white like light."

Icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Dormition of the Virgin

For Christians, mortal death is not a tragedy, but a gateway to eternal life. And in the case of the saints - a holiday. And the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos - the twelveth Feast - is one of the most revered by the Church. This is the last twelveth holiday in the annual cycle of the Orthodox Church.

Icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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