Eastern Orthodox Liturgical Calendar - Great Feasts

Great Feasts

There are Twelve Great Feasts throughout the church year—not counting Pascha, which is above and beyond all other feast days. These are feasts which celebrate major historical events in the lives of Jesus Christ or the Theotokos (Virgin Mary). Of these, three are on the Paschal Cycle:

• Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Pascha)
• Ascension (forty days after Pascha)
• Pentecost (fifty days after Pascha)

The other Great Feasts are on the Fixed Cycle:

• The Nativity of the Theotokos (8 September)
• The Elevation of the Holy Cross (14 September)
• The Presentation of the Theotokos (21 November)
• The Nativity of the Lord (25 December)
• The Theophany (Epiphany) of the Lord (6 January)
• The Presentation of the Lord (2 February)
• The Annunciation (25 March)
• The Transfiguration (6 August)
• The Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos (15 August)

In addition, the feast day of the patron saint of a parish church or monastery is counted as a Great Feast, and is celebrated with great solemnity.