Liturgical Calendar

Sukkot The Feast of Tabernacles Begins tonight

September 26 – October 3 · begins at sundown on Friday, September 25

Seven days in booths remembering the wilderness, and a solemn assembly on the eighth day. Jesus taught in the temple at this feast.

Leviticus 23:33–43 John 7:37–39

Reformation Day

Kept by Lutheran and other Protestant churches, remembering Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, posted on this day in 1517.

Romans 1:17

All Saints’ Day

The faithful of every age who have died in Christ.

Hebrews 12:1 Revelation 7:9

Advent The first Sunday of Advent

November 29 – December 24

Four Sundays of preparation for Christmas, remembering the coming of Christ and watching for his return.

Isaiah 9:6–7 Matthew 24:42

Hanukkah The Feast of Dedication

December 5 – December 12 · begins at sundown on Friday, December 4

Eight days remembering the cleansing and rededication of the temple. Jesus walked in the temple at this feast.

John 10:22–23

Christmas Eve

The night of the Savior’s birth, when the angels appeared to the shepherds.

Luke 2:8–14

Christmas

December 25 – January 5, 2027

The birth of Jesus Christ, kept for twelve days. Orthodox churches that keep the Julian calendar celebrate it on January 7.

Luke 2:1–20 John 1:14

Epiphany

Christ made known to the Gentiles, remembered in the visit of the wise men.

Matthew 2:1–12

Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent

Lent is forty days of repentance and prayer before Easter, not counting its Sundays.

Joel 2:12–13 Psalms 51:10

Palm Sunday

Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, which begins Holy Week.

Matthew 21:1–11 Zechariah 9:9

Purim

Begins at sundown on Monday, March 22

Israel’s deliverance in the days of Esther, kept with feasting and gifts to the poor.

Esther 9:20–22

Maundy Thursday

The Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and the new commandment.

John 13:34 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Good Friday

The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

John 19:17–30 Isaiah 53:5

Easter

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, which begins the fifty days of the Easter season.

Matthew 28:1–7 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Passover The Feast of Unleavened Bread

April 22 – April 28 · begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 21

Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and seven days of unleavened bread. Christ our passover was sacrificed at this feast.

Exodus 12:1–14 Leviticus 23:4–8 1 Corinthians 5:7

Pascha Orthodox Easter

Easter as most Orthodox churches keep it, reckoned by the Julian calendar.

1 Corinthians 15:20

Ascension Day

Christ’s ascension into heaven, forty days after the resurrection.

Acts 1:9–11

Pentecost

The Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples in Jerusalem at the Feast of Weeks.

Acts 2:1–4 Joel 2:28

Shavuot The Feast of Weeks

Begins at sundown on Thursday, June 10

The wheat harvest, seven weeks after Passover. On this day the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem.

Leviticus 23:15–21 Acts 2:1

Rosh Hashanah The Feast of Trumpets

Begins at sundown on Friday, October 1

A memorial of blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:23–25 Numbers 29:1

Yom Kippur The Day of Atonement

Begins at sundown on Sunday, October 10

The yearly day of atonement, when the high priest entered the most holy place. Hebrews sets it beside Christ’s entrance into heaven itself.

Leviticus 16:29–34 Hebrews 9:11–12

Sukkot The Feast of Tabernacles

October 16 – October 23 · begins at sundown on Friday, October 15

Seven days in booths remembering the wilderness, and a solemn assembly on the eighth day. Jesus taught in the temple at this feast.

Leviticus 23:33–43 John 7:37–39

Reformation Day

Kept by Lutheran and other Protestant churches, remembering Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, posted on this day in 1517.

Romans 1:17

All Saints’ Day

The faithful of every age who have died in Christ.

Hebrews 12:1 Revelation 7:9

Advent The first Sunday of Advent

November 28 – December 24

Four Sundays of preparation for Christmas, remembering the coming of Christ and watching for his return.

Isaiah 9:6–7 Matthew 24:42

Christmas Eve

The night of the Savior’s birth, when the angels appeared to the shepherds.

Luke 2:8–14

Christmas

December 25 – January 5, 2028

The birth of Jesus Christ, kept for twelve days. Orthodox churches that keep the Julian calendar celebrate it on January 7.

Luke 2:1–20 John 1:14

Hanukkah The Feast of Dedication

December 25 – January 1, 2028 · begins at sundown on Friday, December 24

Eight days remembering the cleansing and rededication of the temple. Jesus walked in the temple at this feast.

John 10:22–23

Epiphany

Christ made known to the Gentiles, remembered in the visit of the wise men.

Matthew 2:1–12

Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent

Lent is forty days of repentance and prayer before Easter, not counting its Sundays.

Joel 2:12–13 Psalms 51:10

Purim

Begins at sundown on Saturday, March 11

Israel’s deliverance in the days of Esther, kept with feasting and gifts to the poor.

Esther 9:20–22

Palm Sunday

Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, which begins Holy Week.

Matthew 21:1–11 Zechariah 9:9

Passover The Feast of Unleavened Bread

April 11 – April 17 · begins at sundown on Monday, April 10

Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and seven days of unleavened bread. Christ our passover was sacrificed at this feast.

Exodus 12:1–14 Leviticus 23:4–8 1 Corinthians 5:7

Maundy Thursday

The Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and the new commandment.

John 13:34 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

Good Friday

The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

John 19:17–30 Isaiah 53:5

Easter

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, which begins the fifty days of the Easter season. Orthodox churches keep Easter on the same day this year.

Matthew 28:1–7 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Ascension Day

Christ’s ascension into heaven, forty days after the resurrection.

Acts 1:9–11

Shavuot The Feast of Weeks

Begins at sundown on Tuesday, May 30

The wheat harvest, seven weeks after Passover. On this day the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem.

Leviticus 23:15–21 Acts 2:1

Pentecost

The Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples in Jerusalem at the Feast of Weeks.

Acts 2:1–4 Joel 2:28

Rosh Hashanah The Feast of Trumpets

Begins at sundown on Wednesday, September 20

A memorial of blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:23–25 Numbers 29:1

Yom Kippur The Day of Atonement

Begins at sundown on Friday, September 29

The yearly day of atonement, when the high priest entered the most holy place. Hebrews sets it beside Christ’s entrance into heaven itself.

Leviticus 16:29–34 Hebrews 9:11–12