Liturgical Seasons

Time in the Orthodox Church moves differently. Each season, each feast, each fast invites the soul into a rhythm that is not rushed or random, but rooted in the life of Christ. The Church calendar isn’t about adding religious dates to a schedule. It’s about learning to live time with meaning.

The Liturgical Year

The Church year begins not in January, but in September—quietly, with a blessing of the new season. Over the months that follow, it tells the full story of salvation:

• The Birth of the Virgin Mary in September
• The Birth of Christ at Christmas
• His Baptism in the Jordan
• His Suffering and Crucifixion during Holy Week
• His Resurrection on Pascha (Easter)
• The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
• The Dormition of the Virgin Mary in August

These feasts are not just memories. They are invitations to enter the story—through the voice, the body, and the heart. The feasts of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos (a Greek word meaning God bearer)—the one who gave her “yes” to God and bore Christ into the world - mark moments of trust and the quiet strength of surrender. 

The Divine Liturgy

At the center of this rhythm is the Divine Liturgy, celebrated every Sunday and on major feast days. It is the heartbeat of the Church. In the Liturgy, Scripture is read, prayers are offered, and bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.

The Liturgy is not a performance. It is communion—God offering His life to the world, and the world being gathered into His life. Some come with deep faith. Others come with questions. All are welcome to stand, to listen, to rest in the prayers.

Feasting and Fasting

The calendar moves in cycles of celebration and preparation. There are fasts – not as punishment, but as time for prayer, simplicity, and reflection that we may continue to cultivate the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

• Great Lent before Pascha
• Advent before Christmas
• Other brief fasts throughout the year

And there are feasts—times of joy, music, and community—celebrating Christ, His mother, and the saints who reflect His light.

Daily and Weekly Rhythms

Beyond the major seasons, time is marked more intimately:

• Each day begins at sundown, echoing Genesis: “And there was evening, and there was morning.”
• Each week centers on Sunday—the day of resurrection and Liturgy.
• Each hour is touched by prayer, even if only quietly or alone.

These rhythms offer anchoring in a world that often feels rushed and fragmented. You don’t need to understand it all to begin. Simply come. Stand in the rhythm. Over time, the calendar of the Church becomes the calendar of the soul.