A Joyous Church – Church Seasons
A key characteristic of the Orthodox Church is its joyfulness. The Orthodox Church has many different seasons commemorating important events in history. Most of them occur in our Lord Jesus Christ’s life. Most notably, we celebrate 14 feasts relating to our Lord Jesus Christ every year. Seven of these feasts are known as “Major Feasts of the Lord” and directly relate to our salvation as Orthodox Christians. The other seven are known as “Minor Feasts of the Lord.” Although these Minor feasts don’t directly contribute to our salvation, they remind us of important events in our Lord Jesus Christ’s life. Periods of fasting occur before many of these feasts to prepare us to worthily celebrate these events with our Lord. One of the best examples of this is Great Lent and Holy Week, which prepare us for our Lord’s Resurrection. Many of the major feasts and fasts shift yearly. The charts in each of the following sections will help to indicate these shifts. In addition, the congregation observes several other yearly fasts and feasts. These will be discussed towards the end of this section.
You may find a full calendar for the church seasons for any year between 2000 and 2100 here.
The Major Feasts of the Lord
The major feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorate important events in our Lord’s life that directly relate to our salvation. The Nativity Feast, Theophany Feast, and Annunciation Feast do not change yearly. However, the feasts of Hosanna Sunday, the Resurrection, the Ascension, and Pentecost do shift yearly.
Annunciation Feast
The Annunciation Feast commemorates Archangel Gabriel announcing the news of Christ’s incarnation to St. Mary. This feast is celebrated on April 7 every year. Depending on the date of Holy Week, we may not celebrate the feast of the Annunciation every year.
Nativity Feast
The Nativity Feast commemorates the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate this feast after forty-three days of fasting. Three of the days of this fast commemorate the splitting of the Mokattam mountain. The remaining forty days are very symbolic. For example, they symbolize the fasts of Moses and Elijah. Moses fasted for forty days before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34), just as we fast forty days before commemorating the incarnation of the Logos (the “Word”). Similarly, Elijah fasted forty days before the Lord’s revelation to Elijah (1st Kings 19). The Nativity Feast is one of the three feasts where we pray the liturgy at night on the eve of the feast Additionally, the day(s) preceding the feast are observed with a Paramoun or “preparation” fast.
Theophany Feast
The Theophany Feast, also known as the Epiphany Feast, commemorates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is one of the three feasts where we pray the liturgy at night on the eve of the feast. The Theophany Feast is also one of the three times in the year where we pray the “Liturgy of the Waters” (or Laqqan). The days preceding this feast, we prepare ourselves with a Paramoun or “preparation” fast.
Hosanna Sunday
On the feast of Palm Sunday, also known as Hosanna Sunday, we commemorate the entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This day marks the beginning of Holy Week and of our Lord’s passions. We celebrate our Lord Christ’s entry into Jerusalem as a king. At the end of Hosanna Sunday we pray a general funeral prayer on the entire congregation, since there are no dedicated funeral prayers during Holy Week. During Holy Week, our focus should be on the Lord alone.
Resurrection Feast
On the Feast of the Resurrection, often referred to as Easter, we commemorate our Lord’s resurrection from death on the third day. This feast marks the beginning of the Holy Fifty Days where we celebrate our Lord’s resurrection and His presence among the apostles and disciples. Jesus says, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?” (Mark 2:19). As such, during the Holy Fifty Days we do not fast at at all–even the standard Wednesday and Friday fasts.
Ascension Feast
We celebrate the Feast of the Ascension on the fortieth day of the Holy Fifty Days. This feast commemorates our Lord Christ’s ascension at the Mount of Olives. Between this feast and the Feast of the Pentecost we often mention our Lord’s promise of the Paraclete, or the Holy Spirit, in seasonal hymns.
Pentecost Feast
We celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost at the end of the Holy Fifty Days. This feast commemorates the descent of the Paraclete on the apostles on the day of Pentecost. This also marks the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast which continues until the Apostles’ Feast on July 12.
The Minor Feasts of the Lord
The minor feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorate important events in our Lord’s life that don’t directly relate to our salvation. Covenant Thursday and Thomas Sunday are the only minor feasts whose dates shift yearly.
Circumcision Feast
We celebrate the Circumcision Feast eight days after the Nativity Feast. This originates from the Jewish custom of circumcising a male baby eight days after its birth.
Feast of the Miracle at the Wedding at Cana of Galilee
The Feast of the Miracle at the Wedding at Cana of Galilee celebrates our Lord’s first publicly known miracle and His blessing of the institution of marriage.
Feast of our Lord’s Entry into the Temple
The Feast of our Lord’s Entry into the Temple marks the time when St. Mary and St. Joseph came to the temple with our Lord Jesus Christ. This occurred after St. Mary’s days of purification to offer a burnt sacrifice and thanksgiving, according to Jewish law.
Covenant Thursday
Covenant Thursday celebrates the institution of the Eucharist by our Lord Jesus Christ. This happens in the middle of Holy Week, and thus is on a different day each year.
Thomas Sunday
Thomas Sunday celebrates Christ’s appearance to St. Thomas a week after His resurrection.
Entry of our Lord into Egypt
The feast of our Lord’s entry into Egypt marks when St. Mary and St. Joseph entered Egypt to escape from Herod, who murdered all infants under two years old.
Transfiguration Feast
The Feast of the Transfiguration celebrates Christ’s transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ and spoke with Him before three of Christ’s apostles.
Other Feasts
In addition to the feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate other feasts. Some of these are celebrated multiple times a year.
Nayrouz Feast
The Nayrouz Feast celebrates the Coptic New Year. This occurs on September 11 on regular years and September 12 on leap years.
Feast of the Cross
The Feast of the Cross occurs twice a year and commemorates events relating to the Cross. In both of these feasts we remember and take pride in the Cross, for through His crucifixion Christ granted us salvation. The first of these feasts is on March 19 and marks the day when Queen Helen found the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The second feast is on September 27 and marks the consecration of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem.
Apostles’ Feast
On July 12 of every year we celebrate the Feast of the Apostles immediately after the Apostles’ Fast which starts the day after Pentecost. The Apostles’ Feast is fixed on this date, because this day commemorates the martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul.
St. Mary’s Feast
We celebrate the assumption of St. Mary’s body on August 22 each year. This feast marks the end of St. Mary’s Fast, in which we contemplate the life of St. Mary. St. Mary’s Fast is often referred to as “the Revival.”
Saint’s Feasts (Veneration)
Almost daily in the Coptic Church, there are feasts of saints that are read in the Synaxarium and may be celebrated by additional hymns during the liturgical services. For certain saints, such as St. Mary or the saint of a church, that church may hold a Veneration service during Vespers as a celebration of that saint’s life.
Church Fasts
In addition to the numerous feasts of the Church, there are many fasts. The Orthodox Church fasts over 200 days of the year. It is important to mention that the term “fast” doesn’t mean strict abstinence from sunrise to sunset. Fasting differs for each individual with the guidance of their spiritual father.
Wednesdays & Fridays
Every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year is a fast (except during the Holy Fifty Days after the Feast of the Resurrection) in which we remember Christ’s betrayal crucifixion. These days often include abstinence for a set period of time (again, according to the guidance of a spiritual father) and a vegan diet.
Nativity Fast & Kiahk
The Nativity Fast takes place in the 43 days before the Nativity Feast. Forty of these days symbolize the forty days that Moses and Elijah fasted. The other three days commemorate the fast before the Miracle of the Mokattam Mountain (literally, the Split Mountain).
Jonah’s Fast
Jonah’s Fast lasts three days and occurs two weeks before Lent. Many people suggest reading the book of Jonah during this fast.
Great Lent
Lent is the longest fasting season of the Church and also one of the most well-known and observed fasts. Lent is fifty-five days long and ends immediately before Holy Week. This period of fasting is a time where the Church urges believers to seriously reflect on their lives and repent. This season is viewed as a season of penance to prepare the congregation for Holy Week and the Feast of the Resurrection.
Holy Week
Holy Week directly precedes the Resurrection and starts the night of Palm Sunday. This time of fasting is the most sacred time of year. During Holy Week, there are special prayers for each part of the day. There are also multiple services each day that follow all of the events in our Lord Jesus Christ’s life in the week leading up to His crucifixion.
Apostles’ Fast
The Apostles’ Fast starts the day after the Feast of the Pentecost and ends on July 12 each year. This is a season that is often dedicated to serving others and following the example of the apostles.
St. Mary’s Fast
St. Mary’s Fast begins on August 7 each year and ends August 22, which is the Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary’s body.These two weeks are a time to reflect on the life of St. Mary and other saints. This fast is known as “the Revival.”
Paramoun Fasts
Paramoun fasts are dedicated days of fasting that directly precede three major feasts: the Nativity, Theophany, and Resurrection Feasts. The Paramoun may last multiple days depending on the day of the week the feast occurs. Since the Paramoun should be observed with abstinence, the Paramoun includes all of the days up to the feast starting from the closest day where abstinence is allowed. Since abstinence-fasting is not allowed on Saturday or Sunday, if one of these feasts fall on Monday, then Friday through Sunday becomes the Paramoun fast. These days of fasting prepare the believer to partake of communion and celebrate the present feast.
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