News alert

Archpastoral Message

Archpastoral message of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to the Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

The Feast of Feasts The Feast of Feasts

Great & Holy Pascha
Great Lent and Holy Week

The 12 Major Feasts of the Church The 12 Major Feasts of the Church

Epiphany
Nativity of Christ
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Palm Sunday
Pentecost
Ascension
Transfiguration
Presentation of Christ
Nativity of the Theotokos
Entrance of the Theotokos
Annunciation
Dormition of the Theotokos

The Calendar of the Orthodox Church

The ecclesiastical year, which according to Byzantine practice begins on the first of September, is divided between movable and immovable or fixed holy days. The movable holy days are determined by the date of Easter, the most important of all feast days, which is in a class by itself. The determination of the date of Easter was definitively regulated by the decision of the First Ecumenical Synod, held in Nicaea (325). Next in importance to Easter are the "twelve great feasts," of which three are movable. Eight of these feasts are devoted to Christ and four to the Virgin Mary. There are also a number of feast days of varying importance, most of which commemorate the more popular saints. Read More

Great Lent & Holy Week in the Orthodox Church Great Lent & Holy Week in the Orthodox Church

Articles on the Feasts of the Church Articles on the Feasts of the Church