There is no doubt that the 2017 church calendar of Orthodox holidays and fasts, posted on this page, will be useful for every believer, since it contains all the most important church dates of 2017, without exception, including only important Orthodox holidays and fasts.

Twelfth fixed holidays in 2017

Christmas - January 7, 2017, non-transferable holiday. In honor of Christmas, festive feasts are arranged, it is customary for people to carol and guess.
The Baptism of the Lord - January 19, 2017 The third non-transferring Feast of the Lord. Otherwise called the Holy Theophany. On this day, all water is considered holy due to the fact that Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River on this date.
The Presentation of the Lord - February 15, 2017 The day on which the baby Jesus was first brought to the Temple.
Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God - April 7, 2017. The day on which the Blessed Virgin Mary learned the good news that she would become the mother of the Son of God.
The Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19, 2017 The last of the non-passing twelfth holidays dedicated to the life of Jesus Christ. Popularly referred to as the Apple Savior.
Dormition Holy Mother of God– August 28, 2017 The holiday is dedicated to the events that ended the earthly life of the Virgin Mary, her death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.
Nativity of the Theotokos - September 21, 2017. This holiday is non-transitory, like all Church Feasts of the Mother of God (see orthodox calendar below).
Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27, 2017 (non-transferable). The day belongs to lean, it is allowed to eat only vegetable products flavored with vegetable oil.
Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4, 2017 The day on which, according to legend, the parents of Mary gave their daughter to serve in the Temple.

Passing church holidays

The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is one of the most important church Orthodox holidays, it is celebrated on April 9, 2017. It falls on the time of fasting, but on this day a relaxation in nutrition is allowed (you can eat fish). Otherwise, this last Sunday before Orthodox Easter is called Palm Sunday.
Ascension - May 25, 2017 Falls on the fortieth day after Easter. On this holiday, it is customary for the people to bake ceremonial cookies in the form of a ladder, which personifies the stairway to heaven, along which Jesus ascended to heaven.
Pentecost or - June 4, 2017 Celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. Otherwise, this holiday is called Green Sunday because of the tradition of decorating houses and churches with birch branches.

Calendar of Church Orthodox holidays and fasts for 2017

Church Orthodox posts in 2017

Multi-day posts

– from February 27 to April 15, 2017 One of the strictest church fasts in the Christian tradition.
Petrov - from June 12 to July 11, 2017 This post is classified as non-strict.
Uspensky - from 14 to 27 August 2017. Strict post, which begins with the Honey Savior and lasts until the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Christmas - from November 28, 2017 to January 6, 2018 is considered non-strict from the very first day to January 1. The last week of fasting is a strict diet.

One day posts

Wednesday and Friday throughout 2017, excl. Christmas time and continuous weeks.
January 18, 2017 - Epiphany Christmas Eve.
September 11, 2017 - Beheading of John the Baptist.
September 27, 2017 - Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Solid weeks in 2017

Solid weeks (omnivorous weeks) - this is the name of the church week (often seven days), in which it is allowed to eat any non-lean foods, even on the days of one-day fasts.

Five continuous weeks are expected in 2017:
From January 7 to January 17 - Christmas time.
From February 6 to February 12, 2017 - Week about the publican and the Pharisee.
From February 20 to February 26 - Cheese, preparation before Lent.
From April 16 to April 22 - Bright or Easter, follows Easter.
From June 5 to June 11, 2017 - Trinity Week.

Parental Saturdays in 2017 (days of remembrance of the departed)

In 2017, the days of commemoration of the dead fall on the following dates:
February 18 - parental Saturday.
March 11, 18 and 25 are Saturdays during Great Lent.
April 25 - Radonitsa - spring Slavic holiday.
May 9 - in honor of the commemoration of the soldiers.
June 3 - Trinity Saturday.
November 4 - Demetrius Saturday.

Orthodox calendar contains two annual circles of events: , all dates of which are firmly set in , and , all events of which are set relative to the day of celebration.

Easter day is calculated according to (Alexandrian) and is celebrated simultaneously by all Orthodox Churches (except the Finnish Church, which switched to the Gregorian calendar), as well as all the events of the Easter circle associated with it.

The dates of the fixed circle are marked in different ways: according to Julian calendar (the so-called "old style") and according to Gregorian calendar (modern civil calendar, or "new style").

In the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as in the Jerusalem, Georgian, Serbian Churches and in the monasteries of Athos, the events of the fixed circle are celebrated, which in the XX-XXI centuries differs by 13 days. So, the beginning of the church year (), set for September 1, is celebrated according to the civil calendar on September 14.

In the other eleven Local Orthodox Churches, the dates of the fixed circle are celebrated. So, it is celebrated before the civil new year, December 25th.

The presented Orthodox calendar allows you to determine the dates of fasts and holidays from 100 to 20000. When you hover over a calendar number, information about the features of this day appears. When you click on any day of the month, the link will lead to the corresponding date of the detailed daily calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. Links to the daily calendar work plus/minus 10 years from the current date.

Calendar on your website

Enter the desired width and height of the embeddable frame (the default sizes are 950px and 700px, which will allow you to place the calendar without horizontal and vertical scrollbars):

The Orthodox calendar for 2017 contains the most significant and important dates of the main Orthodox events and holidays, which are dedicated to the remembrance of historical events related to the life of Jesus Christ and other saints.

It is the Orthodox calendar that gives a complete picture of the dates of the beginning and end of fasting, Easter and other great holidays that Christians have been celebrating for a long time.

Great holidays and their dates.

If you carefully study the Christian calendar, we can distinguish the following holidays in importance.

1. Easter - April 16.

2. Christmas - January 7th.

3. Baptism of the Lord - January 19.

4. Meeting of the Lord - February 15.

5. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin - April 7.

6. Palm Sunday or the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem - April 9.

7. Ascension of the Lord - May 25.

8. Day of the Holy Trinity - June 4.

9. Transfiguration of the Lord - August 19.

10. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin - September 21.

11. Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27.

12. Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos - December 4.

13. Circumcision of the Lord - January 14.

14. Nativity of John the Baptist - July 7th.

15. Holy Apostles Peter and Paul - July 12.

16. Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11.

17. Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos - October 14.

You should know that the most important significant holidays distinguished by a special solemn service. Easter is rightfully considered the largest and brightest, as it has the status of a special solemn service. But all other holidays can be divided into two large groups with their own characteristics and traditions. These are the twelfth and non-twelfth. What is their difference?

• First, the twelfth are 12 major holidays Orthodox calendar which are dedicated and inextricably linked with the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. Moreover, these holidays can be both transitional, that is, when the date is constantly changing and depends on the celebration of Easter, and enduring with the date unchanged in all ages and times.
• Secondly, non-twelfth. Basically, these are 5 great holidays that are dedicated to and symbolize the birth and death of John the Baptist - the baptist of Jesus Christ, the apostles Peter and Paul, the appearance of the Virgin, the circumcision of the Lord and the memory of St. Basil.

Orthodox posts.

Also in the church calendar, one can single out such most important points like post. What is it? Fasting is essentially a period of restriction in food, that is, it is abstinence from eating food of animal origin. According to the church calendar, 4 important and multi-day fasts are distinguished. This:

1. Great Lent - from February 27 to April 15.

2. Petrov fast or Apostolic - from June 12 to July 11.

3. Assumption fast - from August 14 to 27.

4. Christmas fast - from November 28 to January 6.

Also in the Christian calendar, one-day fasts can be found, which are not distinguished by their severity and great restrictions. This list may include the following dates.

1. Epiphany Christmas Eve - January 18.

2. The beheading of John the Baptist - September 11.

3. Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord - September 27.

4.Days every Wednesday and Friday.

Days of special commemoration of the dead.

It is on these days that all Orthodox and believers remember their loved ones and relatives of the departed Christians. According to tradition, on such special days it is customary to go to the cemetery to the graves and pray for them. According to the calendar, you can select and name the following days. This:

1. Meat-empty Saturday or the Parental Universe - February 18.

2. Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent - March 11.

3. Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent - March 18.

4. Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent - March 25.

5. Radonitsa - April 25.

6. Commemoration of the deceased soldiers - May 9.

7. Saturday Trinity - June 3.

According to church rules and it is on these allotted days that it is best for the canons to go to the cemetery and remember their relatives, because it is on these days that their souls await their relatives with great impatience and expectation. As a rule, on other days it is not advisable to go to the graves and disturb the peaceful sleep and peace of the dead.

Solid weeks.

What are these holidays and days in the Orthodox church calendar. Indeed, for many, this is a completely new and unknown name. At its core, the continuous week is the weeks during which fasting is canceled. According to the church calendar, there are five such weeks, and each has its own specific date for celebration.

.Svyatki - from January 7 to 17.

2. Publican and Pharisee - from February 6 to 11.

3. Maslenitsa - from February 20 to 26.

4. Easter week - from 17 to 22 April.

5. Trinity week - from June 5 to 11.

It is these dates and holidays that are included in the Orthodox calendar for 2017, which will help many believers and tell you what day the most important church holiday is celebrated and celebrated. That is why every family has a church calendar, because every year Orthodox and Christian traditions are gaining more and more strength and significance for everyone.

Among the important holidays celebrated in 2017, the Orthodox calendar will be a convenient guide for believers. Everyone chooses for himself - to believe him or not, and if you believe, then in what. According to statistics, Orthodoxy is the most widespread religion in Russia, and the majority of believers, according to polls, celebrate not only the most recognizable holidays from the Orthodox calendar, but also those that many simply do not remember. We decided to write this article with explanations about each Orthodox holiday that is celebrated in 2017.

The "richest" months for Orthodox holidays, as always, are January, February and April. In total, 27 Orthodox holidays are celebrated during these months, 9 for each month. In total, the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate 65 anniversaries, some of which last more than 1 day. We will analyze each of them monthly with explanations relating to each specific holiday.

List of all Orthodox holidays 2017 with explanations by month

January

December 28 - January 6- Christmas post
The Christian fast, which was established in honor of the Nativity of Christ and included by Orthodox figures in the list of the main Orthodox fasts, should be celebrated, remembering that this is not only a fast concerning food restrictions, but as John Chrysostom said - "fasting is a removal from evil, curbing language, the laying off of anger, the taming of lusts, the cessation of slander, lies and perjury." On all days of fasting, meat, dairy products and eggs should be excluded from food. Wine should be consumed in moderation these days, hot drinks are good. fish dishes and plant foods. The Old Believers are especially reverent in observing the Christmas fast.

6th January- Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve)
On this day, the Orthodox are intensively preparing for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. According to the traditions of Orthodoxy, on Christmas Eve one should refuse food until the end of the fast and start eating it with sochi (kutya) - soaked grains of wheat, which are usually served with honey and fruits (can be dried). The end of the fast is considered to be the moment when a candle is brought into the center of the temple, which is accompanied by a troparion about the Nativity.

Jan. 7- Nativity
One of the most revered Orthodox holidays. This day marks the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary. The main Christmas symbol is a decorated fir tree. You can hang on it both garlands and balls, as well as sweets, gifts. On this day, believers go to visit each other with their families, give gifts, close past grievances and quarrels.

7 to 17 January– Christmas time
Christmas time is a whole complex of Orthodox holidays, the main part of which is inextricably linked with Christmas festivities. Christmas time lasts 12 days "from the star to the water", which means from the appearance of the first star on Kolyada to the Epiphany illumination of the water. At Christmas time, it is customary to have fun, carol, dress up for performances and entertain the owners of houses who are ready for visits by carolers. Usually a sign of such readiness is a lit candle on the window.

January 14- Circumcision of the Lord
This Orthodox holiday is connected with the feast of the memory of St. Basil the Great. Believers read the Jesus Prayer. In worship, an all-night vigil is performed.

January 18- Epiphany Christmas Eve (the second name is the Eve of the Epiphany of the Lord)
The last evening is the preparation before Epiphany. On this day, a great water illumination takes place, believers in large groups stand in line for holy water. Illuminated water is tasted on an empty stomach, one small sip, one spoonful.

January 19- Baptism of the Lord (Holy Epiphany)
A major Orthodox holiday celebrated in honor of the baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. On this holiday, ice-holes are cut in rivers and lakes and water is blessed. Water consecrated in Baptism is considered healing. Swimming in the ice-hole on Epiphany is a recent Russian tradition, it is celebrated only a few dozen.

The 25th of January- Memorial Day of the Great Martyr Tatyana (Tatiana's Day)
Tatyana's day in Russia is usually associated with students, but its roots go back to Orthodoxy. On this holiday, it is customary to light candles for academic success, pray to the martyr Tatyana, ask for help in understanding the sciences.

January 20 to February 26- Winter Meat Eater
This holiday in Orthodoxy abolishes the restrictions of the Orthodox on food. It is customary for a winter meat-eater to meet the beginning of Lent. In the Meat-Eater, Wednesday and Friday of the week remain fast, but fish can also be eaten.

February

February, 15- Desire of the Lord
The Presentation of the Lord completes the full cycle of the Christmas holidays and therefore has been celebrated without fail by Orthodox throughout the world since the 5th century AD. e. The Church and believers commemorate the meeting of the elder Simeon with the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem temple on the fortieth day after Christmas. Candlemas is the meeting of winter with spring.

5 to 26 February– Lean triodes
Triodi - three weeks (weeks) of preparation for Great Lent. The five subsequent holidays are directly related to Lenten triodes.

- 6 to 12 February– Sunday of the publican and the Pharisee
- 12th of February- Prodigal Son Week
- 13 to 19 February- Meat Week
- 18th of Febuary– Universal meat-and-fat Parental Saturday
- 20 to 26 February– Maslenitsa (Cheese Week)
On Maslenitsa, it is customary to treat yourself to tea and pancakes. The fun is accompanied by folk festivals and outdoor entertainment. The end of Shrove Tuesday is celebrated by burning a straw effigy. People help spring beat winter.

February 26- Forgiveness Sunday
On this day, they ask for forgiveness from all loved ones and people with whom you were in a quarrel. If you have been asked to forgive, you must do so without delay. It is also the last day before the start of Lent.

February 27 to April 15– Great Lent
Lent is the main post in all historical churches, including the Orthodox, its purpose is to prepare a Christian for the celebration of Easter. It is also the longest of all posts.

March

9th of March– Finding the Head of John the Baptist
A holiday in honor of one of the main relics of the modern Orthodox Church - the head of John the Baptist - the closest predecessor of Jesus Christ, who was executed by Herod Antipas at the request of his wife Solomei.

March 22– Forty Martyrs of Sebaiste (Larks)
Sevastian martyrs - Christian soldiers who were martyred for their faith in Christ Jesus in Sebastia (the territory of modern Turkey). Refers to Orthodox holidays.

April

April 7- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The feast of the announcement by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary about the future birth in the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

April 8– Lazarus Saturday
On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the miracle of the resurrection by Jesus Christ of his dead friend, the righteous Lazarus, which was performed as proof of the coming resurrection of all the dead.

April 9- Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)
Or Palm Sunday. It was willows in Russia that were used as palm leaves, which were thrown at the feet of Jesus, who entered Jerusalem, since palm trees never grew in Russia.

April 16- Holy Resurrection of Christ (Easter)
Easter is the oldest and most important holiday in Orthodoxy. It was established in honor of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - the main character of the whole, who is the son of God.

16 to 22 April- Continuous Bright Easter Week
A period of seven days, including Easter Sunday and the six following days until the Week of St. Thomas.

May

9th May- Memorial Day

June

June 1st– Semik (seventh Thursday after Easter)

July

6 to 7 July- Feast of Ivan Kupala

July, 12- Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
The day when Jesus called his first disciples.

August

August 2- Ilyin's day

September

11 September- Beheading of John the Baptist

September 21- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Birth of the Virgin Mary in the family of the righteous Joachim and Anna.

October

October 8- Memorial Day of St. Sergius

October 14- Holy Mother of God
It has been celebrated for more than 1200 years in honor of the vision that appeared to Andrew the Fool in Blachernae Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Constantinople.

November

November 4– Dimitrovskaya Parental Saturday

December

December 4– Introduction to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary

church calendar- a time counting system used by the Orthodox Church to determine the sequence of church holidays and fasts of the annual cycle, as well as their corresponding services. Also title of publications different type containing (in addition to the general calendar functionality) elements of the month-word adapted to a particular year and other materials of a liturgical-menological nature.

The Church calendar contains two annual circles of events: a fixed circle, all dates of which are firmly established in liturgical books, and the Paschal circle, all events of which are established relative to the day of the celebration of Easter. The most important and brightest holiday in the church calendar is Easter, after Easter in importance are the great twelfth holidays, which in turn are divided into fixed (non-transitory) and mobile (transient). The Orthodox Church lives according to the Julian calendar "old style", and the dates of the holidays, for convenience, are indicated according to the generally accepted secular Gregorian "new style".

The church calendar is an alternation of weekdays and holidays. On weekdays, a person is called to work "by the sweat of his brow to get his bread." Orthodox holidays are given in order to feel liberation, to rise above the vanity and everyday life of the world, to feel involved in the highest of the worlds, "where there are no diseases, sorrows and sighing, but life is endless."

Each Orthodox Church holiday is dedicated to the memory of the most important events in the life of Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, as well as the memory of saints. According to the importance of the events commemorated by the Church, the holidays are divided into great holidays, medium and small.

The holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church are dedicated to one or another church event that is important for Orthodox people. Church Orthodox holidays include such important holidays as the Baptism of the Lord, the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and others. Some Orthodox holidays are known even to those who are far from religion. All of us know the glorious tradition of dyeing chicken eggs and baking Easter cake - the main symbols of Easter, as well as the custom of dipping into the hole at the Epiphany. It is impossible not to mention one of the most colorful Orthodox holidays - Maslenitsa, a whole festive week, with its tradition of baking pancakes symbolizing the sun giving light and warmth, as well as the tradition of burning an effigy of Maslenitsa, symbolizing the evil winter that does not want to give in to spring.
And of course, one cannot help but recall the beloved and well-known Orthodox holiday - the Nativity of Christ, which, among other things, is included in the list of non-working holidays.

Church calendar with holidays and fasts for 2020

Designations in the calendar: X - EASTER; X - fasting days; X - Twelfth holidays; X - Great holidays; X - solid weeks; X - days of special commemoration of the dead;

Orthodox and church holidays and fasts in 2020

The most important Orthodox church holidays are distinguished by especially solemn divine services. The most important and bright holiday in the church calendar is Easter, which will be celebrated in 2020 - April 19. Further, following Pascha in importance are the great twelfth feasts, which in turn are divided into fixed (non-transitory) and mobile (transitory). The fixed (non-transitory) ones are constantly celebrated on the same dates of the month, the mobile (transient) ones - the date of their holding changes every year and depends on the day of the celebration of Easter.

X- The Twelfth Passing Holidays:

X- Twelfth non-passing holidays:

X- Great church holidays:

Other church holidays celebrated in 2020:

X- Church Orthodox posts. Fast days.

Fast- a period of restriction in food, in which one should refrain from eating food of animal origin.

Multi-day posts in 2020:

About the meal on holidays:

According to the Church Charter, there is no fasting on the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and Theophany, which happened on Wednesday and Friday. On Christmas Eve and Epiphany Eve and on the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Beheading of John the Baptist, food with vegetable oil is allowed. On the feasts of the Presentation, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption, the Nativity and Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Her Entry into the Temple, the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, John the Theologian, which occurred on Wednesday and Friday, and also in the period from Easter to Trinity on Wednesday and Friday fish are allowed.

Marriage does not take place:

On the eve of Wednesday and Friday of the whole year (Tuesday and Thursday), Sundays (Saturday), Twelve, temple and great holidays; in continuation of the fasts of the Great, Petrov, Uspensky and Rozhdestvensky; in continuation of Christmas time, from January 7 (December 25) to January 19 (06); on Meat Week, during Cheese Week (Shrovetide) and on Cheese Fare Week; during the Easter (Bright) week; on the days (and the day before) of the Beheading of John the Baptist - September 11 (August 29) and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 27 (14).