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Catholic Liturgical Calendar

Major Holidays of Roman Catholic and other Christian Churches 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015

 

Christian calendar for 2012

Jan Sun 1

Circumcision

Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.

Festival of St Basil the Great

St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.


Jan Fri 6

Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)

Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.

Theophany (Orthodox)

Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.

Epiphany

Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).


Jan Sat 7

Christmas Day (Orthodox)

Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches.


Jan Sun 8

Baptism of the Lord

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.

First Sunday after Epiphany

Epiphany takes place on the 6th of January, but most Christians celebrate it on the first Sunday after that date.


Jan Fri 13

St Hilary's Day

According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.


Jan Wed 18

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)

First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches and regions use a different week.


Jan Sat 21

St Agnes

Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.


Jan Wed 25

St Paul's Day

Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.


Jan Sat 28

St Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.


Feb Thu 2

Candlemas

This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)


Feb Sat 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Feb Tue 14

St Valentine's Day

Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.


Feb Tue 21

Shrove Tuesday

Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food that could not be eaten during Lent.


Feb Wed 22

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.


Feb Mon 27

Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)

The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter


Mar Thu 1

St David's Day

Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.


Mar Mon 5

St Piran's Day

Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross of pure metal.


Mar Sat 17

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.


Mar Sun 18

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.


Mar Mon 19

St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Mar Sun 25

Annunciation

Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.


Apr Sun 1

Palm Sunday

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.


Apr Thu 5

Maundy Thursday

Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.


Apr Fri 6

Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.


Apr Sat 7

Holy Saturday (Western)

The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.


Apr Sun 8

Easter Sunday (Western)

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.


Apr Sun 15

Easter (Orthodox)

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival


Apr Mon 23

St George's Day

Saint George is the patron saint of England.


May Thu 17

Ascension Day

Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter.


May Sun 20

Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


May Fri 25

St Bede the Venerable

The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.


May Sun 27

Pentecost - Whitsun

The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.


Jun Sun 3

Trinity Sunday

The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".


Jun Thu 7

Corpus Christi

Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.


Jun Sun 10

Corpus Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.

All Saints' Day (Orthodox)

This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.


Jun Fri 29

St Peter and St Paul's Day

The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.


Jul Sun 15

St Swithin's Day

Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.


Jul Sun 22

St Mary Magdalene

Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.


Aug Mon 6

Transfiguration

Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.


Aug Wed 15

Dormition of the Theotokos

An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling asleep".

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.


Sep Sat 8

Nativity of the Theotokos

Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.


Sep Fri 14

The Triumph of the Cross

Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.


Sep Sun 23

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.


Sep Sat 29

Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day

A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)


Oct Tue 2

Feast of the Guardian Angels

A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.


Oct Sat 13

St Edward's Day

Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.


Oct Wed 31

Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)

The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.


Nov Thu 1

All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.


Nov Fri 2

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3 November if the 2nd is a Sunday.


Nov Sat 17

St Hilda

The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.


Nov Fri 30

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.


Dec Sun 2

Advent Sunday

The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November


Dec Sat 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.


Dec Wed 12

Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.


Dec Thu 13

St Lucy's Day

Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.


Dec Mon 24

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas Day


Dec Tue 25

Christmas Day

The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.


Dec Wed 26

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.


Christian calendar for 2013

Jan Tue 1

Circumcision

Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.

Festival of St Basil the Great

St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.


Jan Sun 6

Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)

Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.

Theophany (Orthodox)

Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.

Epiphany

Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).


Jan Mon 7

Christmas Day (Orthodox)

Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches.


Jan Sun 13

St Hilary's Day

According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.

Baptism of the Lord

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.


Jan Fri 18

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)

First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches and regions use a different week.


Jan Mon 21

St Agnes

Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.


Jan Fri 25

St Paul's Day

Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.


Jan Mon 28

St Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.


Feb Sat 2

Candlemas

This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)


Feb Mon 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Feb Tue 12

Shrove Tuesday

Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food that could not be eaten during Lent.


Feb Wed 13

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.


Feb Thu 14

St Valentine's Day

Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.


Mar Fri 1

St David's Day

Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.


Mar Tue 5

St Piran's Day

Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross of pure metal.


Mar Sun 10

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.


Mar Sun 17

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.


Mar Mon 18

Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)

The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter


Mar Tue 19

St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Mar Sun 24

Palm Sunday

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.


Mar Mon 25

Annunciation

Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.


Mar Thu 28

Maundy Thursday

Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.


Mar Fri 29

Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.


Mar Sat 30

Holy Saturday (Western)

The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.


Mar Sun 31

Easter Sunday (Western)

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.


Apr Tue 23

St George's Day

Saint George is the patron saint of England.


May Sun 5

Easter (Orthodox)

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival


May Thu 9

Ascension Day

Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter.


May Sun 12

Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


May Sun 19

Pentecost - Whitsun

The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.


May Sat 25

St Bede the Venerable

The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.


May Sun 26

Trinity Sunday

The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".


May Thu 30

Corpus Christi

Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.


Jun Sun 2

Corpus Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


Jun Sat 29

St Peter and St Paul's Day

The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.


Jun Sun 30

All Saints' Day (Orthodox)

This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.


Jul Mon 15

St Swithin's Day

Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.


Jul Mon 22

St Mary Magdalene

Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.


Aug Tue 6

Transfiguration

Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.


Aug Thu 15

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.

Dormition of the Theotokos

An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling asleep".


Sep Sun 8

Nativity of the Theotokos

Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.


Sep Sat 14

The Triumph of the Cross

Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.


Sep Mon 23

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.


Sep Sun 29

Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day

A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)


Oct Wed 2

Feast of the Guardian Angels

A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.


Oct Sun 13

St Edward's Day

Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.


Oct Thu 31

Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)

The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.


Nov Fri 1

All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.


Nov Sat 2

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3 November if the 2nd is a Sunday.


Nov Sun 17

St Hilda

The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.


Nov Sat 30

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.


Dec Sun 1

Advent Sunday

The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November


Dec Sun 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.


Dec Thu 12

Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.


Dec Fri 13

St Lucy's Day

Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.


Dec Tue 24

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas Day


Dec Wed 25

Christmas Day

The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.


Dec Thu 26

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.


Christian calendar for 2014

Jan Wed 1

Circumcision

Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.

Festival of St Basil the Great

St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.


Jan Mon 6

Epiphany

Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).

Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)

Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.

Theophany (Orthodox)

Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.


Jan Tue 7

Christmas Day (Orthodox)

Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches.


Jan Sun 12

Baptism of the Lord

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.


Jan Mon 13

St Hilary's Day

According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.


Jan Sat 18

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)

First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches and regions use a different week.


Jan Tue 21

St Agnes

Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.


Jan Sat 25

St Paul's Day

Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.


Jan Tue 28

St Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.


Feb Sun 2

Candlemas

This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)


Feb Tue 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Feb Fri 14

St Valentine's Day

Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.


Mar Sat 1

St David's Day

Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.


Mar Mon 3

Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)

The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter


Mar Tue 4

Shrove Tuesday

Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food that could not be eaten during Lent.


Mar Wed 5

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.

St Piran's Day

Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross of pure metal.


Mar Mon 17

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.


Mar Wed 19

St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Mar Tue 25

Annunciation

Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.


Mar Sun 30

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.


Apr Sun 13

Palm Sunday

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.


Apr Thu 17

Maundy Thursday

Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.


Apr Fri 18

Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.


Apr Sat 19

Holy Saturday (Western)

The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.


Apr Sun 20

Easter Sunday (Western)

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.

Easter (Orthodox)

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival


Apr Wed 23

St George's Day

Saint George is the patron saint of England.


May Sun 25

St Bede the Venerable

The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.


May Thu 29

Ascension Day

Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter.


Jun Sun 1

Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


Jun Sun 8

Pentecost - Whitsun

The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.


Jun Sun 15

All Saints' Day (Orthodox)

This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.

Trinity Sunday

The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".


Jun Thu 19

Corpus Christi

Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.


Jun Sun 22

Corpus Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


Jun Sun 29

St Peter and St Paul's Day

The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.


Jul Tue 15

St Swithin's Day

Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.


Jul Tue 22

St Mary Magdalene

Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.


Aug Wed 6

Transfiguration

Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.


Aug Fri 15

Dormition of the Theotokos

An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling asleep".

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.


Sep Mon 8

Nativity of the Theotokos

Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.


Sep Sun 14

The Triumph of the Cross

Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.


Sep Tue 23

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.


Sep Mon 29

Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day

A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)


Oct Thu 2

Feast of the Guardian Angels

A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.


Oct Mon 13

St Edward's Day

Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.


Oct Fri 31

Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)

The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.


Nov Sat 1

All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.


Nov Sun 2

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3 November if the 2nd is a Sunday.

All Saints' Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.


Nov Mon 17

St Hilda

The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.


Nov Sun 30

Advent Sunday

The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.


Dec Mon 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.


Dec Fri 12

Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.


Dec Sat 13

St Lucy's Day

Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.


Dec Wed 24

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas Day


Dec Thu 25

Christmas Day

The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.


Dec Fri 26

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.


Christian calendar for 2015

Jan Thu 1

Circumcision

Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.

Festival of St Basil the Great

St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.


Jan Tue 6

Epiphany

Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).

Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)

Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.

Theophany (Orthodox)

Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.


Jan Wed 7

Christmas Day (Orthodox)

Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches.


Jan Sun 11

Baptism of the Lord

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.


Jan Tue 13

St Hilary's Day

According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.


Jan Sun 18

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)

First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches and regions use a different week.


Jan Wed 21

St Agnes

Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.


Jan Sun 25

St Paul's Day

Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.


Jan Wed 28

St Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.


Feb Mon 2

Candlemas

This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)


Feb Wed 11

Our Lady of Lourdes

Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Feb Sat 14

St Valentine's Day

Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.


Feb Tue 17

Shrove Tuesday

Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food that could not be eaten during Lent.


Feb Wed 18

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.


Feb Mon 23

Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)

The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter


Mar Sun 1

St David's Day

Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.


Mar Thu 5

St Piran's Day

Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross of pure metal.


Mar Sun 15

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.


Mar Tue 17

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.


Mar Thu 19

St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary


Mar Wed 25

Annunciation

Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.


Mar Sun 29

Palm Sunday

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.


Apr Thu 2

Maundy Thursday

Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.


Apr Fri 3

Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.


Apr Sat 4

Holy Saturday (Western)

The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.


Apr Sun 5

Easter Sunday (Western)

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.


Apr Sun 12

Easter (Orthodox)

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival


Apr Thu 23

St George's Day

Saint George is the patron saint of England.


May Thu 14

Ascension Day

Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter.


May Sun 17

Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


May Sun 24

Pentecost - Whitsun

The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.


May Mon 25

St Bede the Venerable

The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.


May Sun 31

Trinity Sunday

The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".


Jun Thu 4

Corpus Christi

Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.


Jun Sun 7

Corpus Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.

All Saints' Day (Orthodox)

This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.


Jun Mon 29

St Peter and St Paul's Day

The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.


Jul Wed 15

St Swithin's Day

Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.


Jul Wed 22

St Mary Magdalene

Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.


Aug Thu 6

Transfiguration

Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.


Aug Sat 15

Dormition of the Theotokos

An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling asleep".

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.


Sep Tue 8

Nativity of the Theotokos

Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.


Sep Mon 14

The Triumph of the Cross

Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.


Sep Wed 23

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.


Sep Tue 29

Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day

A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)


Oct Fri 2

Feast of the Guardian Angels

A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.


Oct Tue 13

St Edward's Day

Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.


Oct Sat 31

Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)

The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.


Nov Sun 1

All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.


Nov Mon 2

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3 November if the 2nd is a Sunday.


Nov Sun 29

Advent Sunday

The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November


Nov Tue 17

St Hilda

The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.


Nov Mon 30

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.


Dec Tue 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.


Dec Sat 12

Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.


Dec Sun 13

St Lucy's Day

Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.


Dec Thu 24

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas Day


Dec Fri 25

Christmas Day

The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.


Dec Sat 26

St Stephen's Day

St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.


Christian calendar for 2016

Jan Sun 10

Baptism of the Lord

Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.


Jan Thu 28

St Thomas Aquinas

Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.


Feb Tue 9

Shrove Tuesday

Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food that could not be eaten during Lent.


Feb Wed 10

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.


Mar Fri 4

Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)

The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter


Mar Sun 6

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.


Mar Sun 20

Palm Sunday

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.


Mar Thu 24

Maundy Thursday

Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.


Mar Fri 25

Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.


Mar Sat 26

Holy Saturday (Western)

The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.


Mar Sun 27

Easter Sunday (Western)

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.


May Sun 1

Easter (Orthodox)

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival


May Thu 5

Ascension Day

Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter.


May Sun 8

Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)

Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.


 

 

Charles Henderson

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The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).  
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here.
God and Science (Hypertext Edition, 2015).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion:
Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2017).

Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.  

For more information about Charles Henderson.
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