Movable Feasts-Paschal Cycle
The Feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter), is the greatest of all holy days and as such it is called the “feast of feasts”. During the Liturgical Year there are eight additional great feasts in honour of our Lord and four great feasts in honour of His Mother. While Church tradition emphasizes the importance of these feast days, there are 6 obligatory holy days in addition to Sundays. These are:
Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Day - December 25
Theophany of Our Lord - January 6
Annunciation - March 25
Ascension of Our Lord - 40 days after Pascha (Easter)
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul - June 29
Dormition of the Mother of God - August 15
* Signifies a Holy Day of Obligation beyond Sundays
The Great Feasts are designated in bold.
Pre Lent Sundays
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Sundays of the Great Fast
The First Sunday – Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Second Sunday – Gregory Palamas
The Third Sunday – Veneration of the Holy Cross
The Fourth Sunday – St. John Climacus
The Fifth Sunday – St. Mary of Egypt
Holy Week
Entry into Jerusalem – Palm “Willow” Sunday
Pascha (Easter) Season
Resurrection of Our Lord – The Great Day
NOTE: After All Saints Sunday (Sunday after Pentecost), the Sundays are numbered as “after Pentecost”.
