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The Holy Pascha
 On
Saturday, the day after the crucifixion of the Lord, His disciples and
followers were filled with gloom, for they had seen their Lord and Master
die, crucified on a cross. As Holy Scripture tells us, there was a
man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of
the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their
purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God (Luke
23:50-52). |
 The
Nativity of the Theotokos
The first Great Feast to fall in
the Church Year is the Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos. It is entirely
fitting that at the beginning of the new religious year all Orthodox Christians
should come before the highest example of human holiness that the Orthodox
Church holds precious and venerates - that of Mary, the Theotokos and
Mother of God. This day is seen as one of universal joy. |
The Exaltation of the Cross
Not long after the Nativity of
the Most-Holy Theotokos, the Church celebrates the Exaltation of the Most-Precious
Cross of the Lord. The Savior Himself had spoken of His death on the Cross,
saying: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal
life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-16). |
 The
Entrance into the Temple
Soon after the beginning of the
Nativity Fast (Advent), the Holy Church celebrates the Feast of the Entrance
of the Most-Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Here we encounter the holiness
of Mary - a small child separated from the world, brought to live in the
Temple - a life set apart, consecrated, and in a state of intimacy with
God - something that all of us are called to be. |
The Nativity of Jesus Christ
In the earliest days of Christianity,
the Feast of the Nativity of Christ was not generally celebrated in the
Church. First mention of the Feast is made by Clement of Alexandria, who
mentions that certain Egyptians commemorated the birth of Christ on May
20. The Apostolic Constitutions of the first half of the 4th Century set
forth that January 6 should be celebrated as both the Feast of the Nativity
and Epiphany. |
 The
Theophany
The Feast of the Theophany (or
Epiphany) of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is celebrated on January 6. After
Pascha and Pentecost, this is the greatest Feast of the Orthodox Church,
predating even the Nativity of Christ in importance. Here Our Lord Jesus
Christ is baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan, this being the
first public manifestation of God the Word Incarnate to the world. |
The Meeting of Jesus Christ in the Temple
 The
Creator of the Law, in fulfillment of the Law, was brought to the Temple
and presented to the Lord, for the external aspect of this great event
in the Gospel narrative was in conformity with the rules laid down in
the Old Testament. The Lord said to Moses, "Consecrate to Me all
the first born; whatever is the first to open the womb among the people
of Israel, both of man and of beast is Mine.... And when in time to come
your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By strength
of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. |
The Annunciation
The role that the Most-Holy Theotokos
plays in the redemption of the human race cannot be emphasized strongly
enough. As the Feast of her Nativity shows, she was the ladder bridging
earth and heaven. The Troparion of the Feast of the Annunciation proclaims
in part, "Today is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation
of the eternal mystery! The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as
Gabriel announces the coming of Grace." |
The Transfiguration
At one point in His earthly ministry.
Our Lord asked His disciples. Who do men say that the Son of man is (Matt.
16:13)? The disciples gave various answers: John the Baptist, Elijah,
Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then He said to them. But who
do you say that I am (Matt. 16:15)? Simon Peter replied, "You are
the Christ, the Son of the living Cod" (Matt. 16:16). |
 The
Dormition
Liturgically, the most important
Feast of the Theotokos is that of her Dormition or Falling-Asleep. Prior
to this Feast there is a strict two-week fast, beginning on August 1,
which is broken only by the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6.
This Feast possesses two distinct aspects inseparably linked in the mind
of the believer. On the one hand, there is death and burial and, on the
other, resurrection and the assumption of the Mother of God. |
The Entrance into Jerusalem
 On
the Sunday before Pascha, the Holy Church celebrates the Entrance of the
Lord into Jerusalem. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead (John 12:1). While
tarrying there, in the house of Lazarus, many of those who had accompanied
Him on the way from Jericho managed to reach Jerusalem and spread the
tidings that Christ the Savior was coming there for the Feast of the Passover,
and had stopped for a while in Bethany. |
 The
Ascension
On the 39th day after Pascha we
celebrate the Leavetaking of the Feast of Feasts, commemorating the last
day of the Risen Christ's earthly sojourn. The day following is celebrated
as His Leavetaking - His Glorious Ascension into Heaven. As Holy Scripture
tells us, after Jesus had spoken with His disciples on the Mount of Olives,
concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit, as they were looking on. |
 The
Holy Pentecost
On the 50th Day after Pascha,
the Holy Church celebrates the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
(Holy Pentecost). When the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together
in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And
there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on
each one of them. |
