Liturgical Calendar and Feast Days
The Liturgical Year is an annual cycle of seasons and feasts
that celebrates the Paschal Mystery, especially focusing on
- Christ's Death and Resurrection (Easter Cycle)
- Birth (Christmas Cycle)
"In the Liturgical Year the various aspects of the
one Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case
with the cycle of feasts surrounding the mystery of
the incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas, Epiphany).
They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and
communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal
mystery."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1171
The celebration of the Liturgical Year is meant to draw the
Catholic faithful into the Mystery of Christ, helping them
to experience His divine life more fully and deeply. This
includes remembering and celebrating the lives of the
saints, especially Mary, the Mother of God.
"By keeping the memorials of the saints - first of
all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the
martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the
Liturgical Year, the Church on earth shows that she
is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives
glory to Christ for having accomplished his
salvation in his glorified members; their example
encourages her on her way to the Father."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1195
The Western and Eastern rites of the Catholic Church hold the
major feast days and seasons in common, but differ on many of
the solemnities and feasts. Below are the most important feast
days, plus some of the feasts unique to the Eastern Catholic
Churches.
2025-2026
Liturgical and Feast Days
Pascha and the 12 Great Feasts
Includes Major Civil Holidays in the United States (USA)
Beginning of the Church Year
Sep 1:
The Beginning of the Church Year
Sep 7:
Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sep 8:
Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Sep 14:
Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross
Sep 21:
Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sep 28:
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 1:
Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God
Oct 5:
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 12:
Sunday of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Oct 19:
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 26:
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
Nov 8:
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless
Powers
Preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord
Nov 15:
Nativity Fast (Philip's Fast also known as Advent)
Nov 21:
The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple
Nov 27:
Thanksgiving Day (USA)
Dec 6:
St Nicholas the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
Dec 8:
Conception by Anne of the Most Holy Mother of God (Immaculate Conception)
Dec 12:
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Season of the Christmas cycle
Dec 25:
The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ
Holy Day of Obligation
Dec 26:
Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God
Dec 27:
Feast of St. Stephen
Jan 1:
Circumcision of Our Lord and the Memory of St. Basil the Great
Jan 4:
Sunday Before Theophany
Jan 6:
Theophany (Baptism) of Our Lord
Holy Day of Obligation
Jan 11:
Sunday After Theophany
Pre-Paschal Season
Jan 18:
Sunday of Zacchaeus
Jan 19:
Martin Luther King Day (USA)
Jan 25:
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
Jan 30:
Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
Feb 1:
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Feb 2:
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Feb 7:
First All-Souls Saturday
Feb 8:
Sunday of Meatfare
Feb 15:
Sunday of Cheesefare
The Great Fast
Feb 16:
First Day of the Great Fast
Feb 22:
First Sunday of the Great Fast (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Feb 28:
Second All-Souls Saturday
Mar 1:
Second Sunday of the Great Fast
Mar 7:
Third All-Souls Saturday
Mar 8:
Third Sunday of the Great Fast (Veneration of the Holy
Cross)
Mar 14:
Fourth All-Souls Saturday
Mar 15:
Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast (St. John Climacus Venerable)
Mar 21:
Akathistos Saturday
Mar 22:
Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast (St. Mary of Egypt Venerable)
Mar 25:
Annunciation to the Mother of God
Holy Week
Mar 28:
Saturday of Lazarus
Mar 29:
Palm (Flowery) Sunday
Mar 30:
Great and Holy Monday
Mar 31:
Great and Holy Tuesday
April 1:
Great and Holy Wednesday
April 2:
Great and Holy Thursday
April 3:
Great and Holy Friday
April 4:
Great and Holy Saturday
April 5:
Pascha (Easter Sunday)
Paschal Season
Apr 6-Apr 11:
Bright Week
April 12:
Second Sunday of Pascha (Thomas Sunday)
April 19:
Third Sunday of Pascha (Ointment-Bearing Women)
April 26:
Fourth Sunday of Pascha (Healing of the Paralytic)
May 3:
Fifth Sunday of Pascha (Samaritan Woman)
May 10:
Sixth Sunday Sunday of Pascha (Man Born Blind)
May 11:
Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius
May 14:
The Ascension of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
(40 days after Easter)
Holy Day of Obligation
May 17:
Seventh Sunday of Pascha (Fathers of the First Council)
May 23:
Fifth All-Souls Saturday
Season of Pentecost
May 24:
Feast of Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter)
May 31:
Sunday of All Saints
May 31 to June 29: The Apostles' Fast
June 24:
The Birth of John the Baptist
June 29:
Feast of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles
Holy Day of Obligation
Jul 4:
Independence Day (USA)
Jul 19:
Sunday of the Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
Jul 20:
Elijah Great Prophet (the Holy Prophet Elias)
Aug 1 to 14: The Dormition Fast
Aug 6:
Transfiguration of Our Lord
Aug 15:
Dormition of the Mother of God
Holy Day of Obligation
Aug 29:
Beheading of John the Baptist
