The Twelve Great Feasts
The year turns on the great feasts, the Nativity and Theophany, the Meeting and the Annunciation, the Transfiguration and the Dormition, and the rest, and over them all, the Feast of Feasts.
THE TWELVE
- The Nativity of ChristGod became man, born in a cave in Bethlehem, that man might be raised to God.
- TheophanyThe Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, and the first open showing of the Holy Trinity.
- The Annunciation“Let it be to me according to thy word”, the day salvation began, in a young woman's yes.
- The Meeting of the LordThe old man Simeon takes the infant God in his arms, the Old Covenant meeting the New.
- The TransfigurationOn Mount Tabor the disciples see Christ shining with the uncreated light of the Godhead.
- The Dormition of the TheotokosThe falling-asleep of the Mother of God, death met not with fear, but with hope.
- The Nativity of the TheotokosThe birth of the Virgin, the first Great Feast of the church year, and the dawn before the Sun.
- The Exaltation of the CrossThe Cross lifted up for all to see, the weapon of death made the tree of life.
- The Entry of the TheotokosAs a small child, the Virgin is brought to the Temple, the living temple entering the house of stone.
- The Entry into JerusalemThe King enters His city, not on a war-horse, but on a colt, to go to the Cross.
- The AscensionForty days after Pascha, Christ ascends, and carries our human nature up to the throne of God.
- PentecostFifty days after Pascha, the Spirit descends in tongues of fire, and the Church is born.
A feast is kept by keeping it.
Orthros marks each feast and its fast, but the feast is celebrated at the table of the Church. See the whole liturgical year ›