The Orthodox Liturgical Year

I would like to tell you now about something very special in the Orthodox Church. It is the liturgical year. This is the way the Church arranges her seasons of prayer, fasting, and feasting to keep us close to Christ throughout the whole year. Just as families keep birthdays and anniversaries, the Church keeps holy days to remember the life of our Lord and His saints.

The year centers on the life of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). The Church helps us do this by remembering His birth at Christmas (Luke 2:11), His death and resurrection at Pascha (Easter) (Luke 24:6–7), His Ascension (Acts 1:9), and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4). Each feast draws us back to the heart of the Gospel.

We also honor the Mother of God and the saints. The Scriptures say, “All generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). On certain days we remember Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as well as the Apostles, martyrs, and holy men and women who lived faithfully. These feasts encourage us to follow their example (Hebrews 13:7).

Fasting seasons help us prepare our hearts. The Bible shows that God’s people fasted often. Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28), and Jesus Himself fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). In the Orthodox Church, we have fasting seasons like Great Lent before Easter and shorter fasts before Christmas and other feasts. These times of fasting teach us humility and help us draw closer to God.

Every week also has its rhythm. Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the day of the Resurrection (Mark 16:2). That is why the Church gathers every Sunday for the Divine Liturgy. Wednesday and Friday are fast days, because on Wednesday Jesus was betrayed, and on Friday He was crucified. These small weekly practices remind us constantly of His love.

The liturgical year keeps our focus on God. Saint Paul wrote, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). The liturgical calendar is the Church’s way of ordering time so that every season, every week, and even every day can be centered on Christ. Instead of time pulling us away from God, the Church teaches us to sanctify time by remembering His saving work.

The liturgical year is not a burden, but a gift. It gently leads us, step by step, to remember the works of God, to repent of our sins, and to grow in faith and love until the Kingdom of God is fully revealed.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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