Liturgical year

Liturgical_year

East_syrian_Liturgical_calender

BritLibCottonCleoBIXLiturgicalCalOct

ChurchYear_white_background

Rok_liturgiczny_-_Liturgical_year

Advent_Wreath_on_Christmas_Eve_(Broadway_United_Methodist_Church)

Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read. Distinct liturgical calendars are used by different Christian denominations, but the major seasons and their timing are broadly similar.

Structure of the Liturgical Year

The liturgical year is divided into several seasons:

Advent

Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts until Christmas Eve.

Christmas

Christmas is the season celebrating the birth of Jesus. It begins on December 25 and lasts for twelve days, ending with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.

Epiphany

The Epiphany season celebrates the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the visit of the Magi. It begins on January 6 and lasts until the beginning of Lent.

Lent

Lent is a season of penance, fasting, and prayer, lasting for 40 days (excluding Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. It commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert.

Holy Week

Holy Week is the final week of Lent, commemorating the events of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, leading up to Easter.

Easter

Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. It begins on Easter Sunday and lasts for 50 days, ending with Pentecost.

Pentecost

Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. It occurs 50 days after Easter and marks the end of the Easter season.

Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time is the period outside of the aforementioned liturgical seasons. It is divided into two sections: the first part runs from the end of the Christmas season to the beginning of Lent, and the second part runs from the end of the Easter season to the beginning of Advent.

Related Pages

• Advent
• Christmas
• Epiphany
• Lent
• Holy Week
• Easter
• Pentecost
• Ordinary Time
• Feast day
• Saints
• Scripture
• Second Coming
• Ash Wednesday
• Palm Sunday
• Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Holy Saturday
• Resurrection of Jesus
• Holy Spirit
• Apostles

See Also

• Christianity
• Church calendar
• Liturgical colours
• Lectionary

   This article is a Christianity-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!