The Church’s liturgical year may be divided into six “seasons” as follows:

Season One - Beginning the Church Year

Runs Sept. 1 - Nov. 14

Feasts (including forefeast and leavetaking):

  • Nativity of the Theotokos (Sept. 8)(Sept. 7 - 12)

  • Exaltation of the Cross (Sept. 14) (Sept. 13 - 21)

Season Two - Nativity and Theophany

Runs Nov. 15 - January 14

Feasts & Fasts

  • Nativity Fast (Nov. 15 - Dec. 24)

  • Presentation of the Theotokos (Nov. 21)(Nov. 20 - 25)

  • Nativity of Christ (Dec. 25)(Dec. 20 - 31)

  • Circumcision of Our Lord, St. Basil the Great (Jan. 1)

  • Theophany (Jan. 6)(Jan. 2 - 14)

Season Three - Preparing for Lent

Runs Jan. 15 through mid-February to mid-March depending on the moveable date of Pascha

  • Meeting of the Lord (Feb. 2)(Feb. 1 - 9)

Season Four - Great Lent and Pascha

Runs mid-Feb or Mar to Pascha (which falls Apr-May)

  • Annunciation (Mar. 25)(Mar. 24 - 26)

  • Holy Week

  • Pascha

Season Five - The Paschal Season

Runs from Pascha (Apr-May), through Ascension and Pentecost to All Saints (June)

  • Ascension (40 days after Pascha)

  • Pentecost (50 days after Pascha)

  • All Saints (Sunday after Pentecost)

Season Six - Apostles and Dormition Fast

Runs from the Monday after All Saints (June) to Aug. 31

  • Apostles Fast (Mon. after All Saints to Jun. 28)

  • St. Peter & Paul (Jun. 29)

  • Feast of the Twelve Apostles (Jun. 30)

  • Dormition Fast (Aug. 1 - 15)

  • Transfiguration (Aug. 5)(Aug. 4 - 13)

  • Dormition (Aug. 15)(Aug. 14 - 23)