The Church Calendar
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The Church Calendar
Elevation of the Holy Cross, September 14
On September 14 the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Universal Elevation of the Honored and Life-giving Cross.
The Church Calendar
10 Tips for Holy Week and Pascha
Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Church year. Here are ten ways to enter into it more fully. 1. Make participation at…
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What is the Orthodox Church calendar?
The Orthodox Church calendar is how we structure our year around Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It’s not just dates on a wall. It’s a…
The Church Calendar
Why do some Orthodox churches use a different calendar?
Some Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Others celebrate it on January 7th. It’s the same feast, but they’re using different calendars. In 1923,…
The Church Calendar
What is the Julian calendar vs. the Gregorian calendar?
The Antiochian Orthodox Church uses the Revised Julian calendar, which matches the Gregorian, for fixed feasts like Christmas and Theophany. We celebrate Christmas on December…
The Church Calendar
Which calendar does the Antiochian Archdiocese use?
The Antiochian Archdiocese uses the New Calendar (also called the Revised Julian Calendar) for most feasts, but calculates Pascha according to the Old Calendar. This…
The Church Calendar
Why is Orthodox Easter sometimes different from Western Easter?
Orthodox Pascha falls on a different Sunday than Western Easter because we use a different calendar and follow different rules for calculating the date. Sometimes…
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How is the date of Pascha calculated?
Pascha falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. But there’s more to it than that. The First Ecumenical…
The Church Calendar
What is the Paschal cycle?
The Paschal cycle is how the Church organizes the year around Pascha, the Resurrection of Christ. It’s not just Easter Sunday. It’s the whole rhythm…
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What is the Sanctoral cycle?
The Sanctoral cycle is the Church’s fixed calendar of saints’ commemorations. Every day of the year, the Church remembers specific saints, martyrs, and holy men…
The Church Calendar
What are the Twelve Great Feasts?
The Twelve Great Feasts are the major celebrations of the Church year that mark the central events in the life of Christ and the Theotokos.…
The Church Calendar
What is the Nativity of the Theotokos?
The Nativity of the Theotokos is the feast celebrating the birth of the Virgin Mary. We celebrate it every year on September 8th, and it’s…
