288 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10009
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
P: (212)254-6685 E: info@stnicholaschurchnyc.org
Rev. Fr. William Bennett
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 10am
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the
day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years
(Genesis 1:14)
day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years
(Genesis 1:14)
Liturgical CalendarThe ecclesiastical calendar begins on September 14th for those that follow the Julian Calendar, or commonly known as the "Old Calendar". St. Nicholas Church follows the Old Calendar, which people often equate to celebrating Christmas on January 7th (versus December 25th for those that follow the Gregorian, or New Calendar). The Orthodox liturgical year is expressed as a calendar, much like the secular calendar. It contains the same 365 days, only from September to September. From ancient times, man has been deeply tied to the seasonal cycles of the year. September represents the end of the summer harvest, the gathering of the crops into barns, the crown of the year, as people prepared for a new agricultural cycle. THE FEASTS Pascha is the Feast of Feasts. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead is the center of the Christian faith. Twelve weeks of preparation precede the "feast of feasts." It is a long journey of fasting which includes five pre-lenten Sundays, six weeks of Great Lent and finally Holy Week. Next in importance come the Twelve Great Feasts. To learn more about the Twelve Feasts, scroll to the bottom of this page to view a more thorough explanation of each. The following nine Holy Days are known as unmovable Feasts. They are established by their date: ~The Nativity of the Theotokos (September 21st) ~The Elevation of the Cross (September 27th ) ~The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple (December 4) ~The Nativity of Christ (Christmas) (January 7th) ~The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan (Theophany or Epiphany) (January 19th) ~The Meeting of Our Lord (Presentation of Christ in the Temple) (February 15th) ~The Annunciation of the Theotokos (April 7th) ~The Transfiguration of Christ (August 19th) ~The Falling Asleep of the Theotokos (the Dormition) (August 28th) These three Feasts are known as movable because they depend on the date of Pascha, which is also a movable date: ~The Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) (one week before Pascha) ~The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (40 days after Pascha) ~Pentecost (Trinity Sunday) (50 days after Pascha) THE FASTS Four main fast periods are included in the ecclesiastical year. They are: The Great Fast (Lent)--beginning on a Monday 7 weeks before Easter. Fast of the Apostles--varying in length from 1 to 6 weeks; it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends onthe eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Fast of the Repose of the Virgin Mary--August 13 to 28. Christmas Fast--lasting 40 days, from November 28 to January 6. Individual fast days include the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 27), the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (September 11), and the eve of Epiphany (January 5), as well as all Wednesdays and Fridays. There are also a large number of other important dates in the Orthodox Liturgical Calendar. Among the more prominent are: ~The Circumcision of Christ ~The Three Great Hierarchs ~The Nativity of St. John the Baptist ~Sts. Peter and St. Paul ~The Beheading of St. John the Baptist ~The Protecting Veil of the Mother of God ~St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ~All Saints (First Sunday after Pentecost) |