Orthodox saints feast days are not the same as those celebrated by Catholics. Orthodox Christians follow the Julian Calendar and the Revised Julian Calendar. They also have movable feasts, including Pascha. The following list provides a general idea of when they are celebrated. Once you know when these events fall, you can plan your celebrations accordingly.
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Fasting seasons
The Orthodox calendar includes fasting seasons for various saints’ feast days. The first fourteen days of August are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the fast period begins on August 1 and ends on August 15th. This fast period is called the Dormition Fast. On August 15th, the Orthodox Church will hold a Divine Liturgy.
Namedays
The orthodox Christian calendar celebrates the namedays of some of its saints. Saint Anastasios is one such saint. This Greek priest was imprisoned in the town of Lithi but rose to fame as a wise man who instilled the Word of God into his flock. In Greek tradition, Saint Anastasios has two feast days: the first is the day of the resurrection of Christ, and the second is the day of Saint Anastasia, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Wine and oil allowed
Wine and oil are allowed on the feast days of certain orthodox saints. The allowances vary from local to local. Wine and oil are allowed on the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), Palm Sunday (a week before Pascha), and the feasts of the holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. Fish is also permitted on certain feast days.
Date of feasts
The Orthodox Church uses a calendar to mark the dates of various feasts and memorials. The calendar contains both fixed and moveable feasts. While the fixed feasts occur at a fixed date in the Orthodox calendar, the moveable feasts vary year-to-year. Generally, the date of the movable feasts is related to the Paschal cycle.
Angels
The Day of Angel is a celebration of the heavenly messengers, the angels. It occurs on the first Sunday after Pentecost, which is the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel. The day is a day of unity between humans and angels. The celebration begins here on earth, where angels help direct the struggling sons of God. They are glad when sinners return to God, and they convey our prayers to God’s throne. In addition, they offer continuous mental worship with humans, offering constant doxologies to God.
Martyrs
Martyrs of orthodox saints were martyrs who died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Their martyrdom was the highest form of love in ancient times. However, there were non-martyr saints as well. One of these was Saint Martin of Tours, who was also a confessor.
Apostles
The Apostles of the Orthodox Church are celebrated on their feast days. Peter and Paul are the two apostles mentioned in Holy Scripture and the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Twelve Apostles follows. The Divine Liturgy is conducted on the Monday following their feast day. The readings are taken from the Holy Scriptures and include 1 Peter 1:13-19, 2 Corinthians 11:21-23, and Matthew 16:13-19.
Prophets
Orthodox saints and prophets are remembered on their feast days in the liturgical calendar. In general, the feasts of Jesus, Mary and the apostles are celebrated. However, some saints of the Old Testament also have feast days. These holy people are remembered in the liturgical calendar through Roman Martyrology and the Byzantine Menaion rite.
Virgins
The celebration of Virgins on orthodox saints feast days is part of the liturgical calendar. The Roman Missal features virgins as part of its Mass, as does the Book of Hours. Some early virgin martyrs are even mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. The tradition of consecration of virgins can be traced to the fourth century. The earliest known formal consecration was that of Saint Marcellina, who was consecrated in 353 AD. The next two most important virgins were Saint Genevieve and Saint Agnes, who were both formally consecrated in the fourth century.
Ascetics
The Orthodox saints feast days for ascetic practice are a wonderful way to show your devotion to God and to the Orthodox Church. Ascetic life was popular among the first Christians, and was followed by many early Christians. The early Church put a strong emphasis on fasting and prayer, and many members of the Church chose to spend their lives in the desert. Today, the tradition of asceticism lives on in the Orthodox Church.
