Tuesday 27 November 2012

High Days and Holidays - A church calendar


Following on from the 'Christmas Busy (1)' blog entry I thought it might be helpful to have a list of the feasts, festivals and commemorations  - those 'high days and holidays' of our church calendar posted here. 

So often I find myself having to explain to people about the tenets of our faith and the things that make us distinctly Anglican. The feasts and festivals are something we generally share with the wider church (RC and others) and help us to celebrate (and focus) on important events in the Church calendar and to consider the saints whose life (and perhaps death) make our Christian living just that little bit easier.

Some dates are fixed (ie. Christmas) whilst others (Easter) are determined by the moon (Easter being the Sunday after the third full moon of the year ie. since Christmas).

So here's what I think is the full calendar:

Moveable Dates
The Baptism of Christ, the Sunday following the Epiphany (when the Epiphany is kept on 6 January)
ASH WEDNESDAY, the Wednesday 46 days before Easter Day
MAUNDY THURSDAY, the Thursday in the week before Easter Day
GOOD FRIDAY, the Friday in the week before Easter Day
EASTER DAY, the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon
ASCENSION DAY, the Thursday forty days after Easter Day
DAY OF PENTECOST, the Sunday fifty days after Easter Day
TRINITY SUNDAY, the Sunday after Pentecost
Dedication Festival, the first Sunday in October or the Last Sunday after Trinity, if date unknown
Christ the King, the Sunday next before Advent

Fixed Dates

January
Basil the Great and Gregory of NazianzusBishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389
SeraphimMonk of Sarov, Spiritual Guide, 1833
THE EPIPHANY – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January
12 Aelred of HexhamAbbot of Rievaulx, 1167
12 Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689
13 HilaryBishop of Poitiers, Teacher of the Faith, 367
13 Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde and Cumbria, 603
13 George Fox, Founder of the Society of Friends (the Quakers), 1691
17 Antony of EgyptHermit, Abbot, 356
17 Charles Gore, Bishop, Founder of the Community of the Resurrection, 1932
18 Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951
20 Richard Rolle of Hampole, Spiritual Writer, 1349
21 Agnes, Child Martyr at Rome, 304
24 Francis de SalesBishop of Geneva, Teacher of the Faith, 1622
26 Timothy and Titus, Companions of Paul
28 Thomas AquinasPriestPhilosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
30 CharlesKing and Martyr, 1649
31 John Bosco, Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888

February
Brigid of KildareAbbess of Kildare, c.525
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS) – may be celebrated on the Sunday between 28 January and 3 February
Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order, 1189
10 Scholastica, sister of BenedictAbbess of Plombariola, c.543
14 Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs, 869 and 885
14 ValentineMartyr at Rome, c.269
15 SigfridBishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045
15 Thomas BrayPriest, Founder of the SPCK and the SPG, 1730
17 Janani LuwumArchbishop of Uganda, Martyr, 1977
23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155
26 Saint Isabelle of France, Princess of France; Alexander of Alexandria, Roman Catholic, Pope
27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633
Alternative dates: Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.

March
DavidBishop of MeneviaPatron of Wales, c.601
Perpetua, Felicity and their Companions, Martyrs at Carthage, 203
Felix, Bishop, Apostle to the East Angles, 647
Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, Priest, Poet, 1929
17 Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Patron of Ireland, c.460
18 CyrilBishop of Jerusalem, Teacher of the Faith, 386
20 CuthbertBishop of Lindisfarne, Missionary, 687
24 Walter Hilton of ThurgartonAugustinian Canon, Mystic, 1396
24 Paul Couturier, Priest, Ecumenist, 1953
31 John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631
Alternative dates: Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March. Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.
[edit]April
Frederick Denison MauricePriest, Teacher of the Faith, 1872
10 William Law, Priest, Spiritual Writer, 1761
10 William of OckhamFriarPhilosopher, Teacher of the Faith, 1347
19 AlphegeArchbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1012
21 AnselmAbbot of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1109
23 George, Martyr, Patron of England, c.304
24 MellitusBishop of London, first Bishop at St Paul's, 624
24 The Seven Martyrs of the Melanesian Brotherhood, Solomon Islands, 2003
28 Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841
29 Catherine of Siena, Teacher of the Faith, 1380
30 Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922

May
AthanasiusBishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373
English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era
Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer, c.1417
12 Gregory Dix, Priest, Monk, Scholar, 1952
16 Caroline Chisholm, Social Reformer, 1877
19 DunstanArchbishop of Canterbury, Restorer of Monastic Life, 988
20 Alcuin of YorkDeaconAbbot of Tours, 804
21 Helena, Protector of the Holy Places, 330
24 John and Charles WesleyEvangelistsHymn Writers, 1791 and 1788
25 The Venerable BedeMonk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian, 735
26 Augustine, first Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
26 John Calvin, Reformer, 1564
26 Philip Neri, Founder of the Oratorians, Spiritual Guide, 1595
28 Lanfranc, Prior of Le Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, Scholar, 1089
30 Josephine Butler, Social Reformer, 1906
30 Joan of Arc, Visionary, 1431
30 Apolo KivebulayaPriest, Evangelist in Central Africa, 1933
Alternative dates: Matthias may be celebrated on 24 February instead of 14 May.
The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May.

June
JustinMartyr at Rome, c.165
The Martyrs of Uganda, 1885–7 and 1977
PetrocAbbot of Padstow, 6th century
Boniface (Wynfrith) of CreditonBishop, Apostle of Germany, Martyr, 754
Ini Kopuria, Founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, 1945
Ephrem of SyriaDeacon, Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith, 373
14 Richard BaxterPuritan Divine, 1691
15 Evelyn Underhill, Spiritual Writer, 1941
16 Joseph ButlerBishop of Durham, Philosopher, 1752
17 Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, Social Reformers, 1913 and 1936
18 Bernard Mizeki, Apostle of the MaShona, Martyr, 1896
19 Sundar Singh of IndiaSadhu (holy man), Evangelist, Teacher of the Faith, 1929
22 Albanfirst Martyr of Britain, c.250
23 EtheldredaAbbess of Ely, c.678
27 CyrilBishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 444
28 IrenæusBishop of Lyon, Teacher of the Faith, c.200
29 Peter and PaulApostles
Alternative dates: Peter the Apostle may be celebrated alone, without Paul, on 29 June.

July
Henry, John, and Henry Venn the youngerPriests, Evangelical Divines, 1797, 1813 and 1873
11 Benedict of NursiaAbbot of Monte Cassino, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550
14 John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866
15 Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274
18 Elizabeth Ferard, first Deaconess of the Church of England, Founder of the Community of St Andrew, 1883
19 Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, Teachers of the Faith, c.394 and c.379
20 Margaret of Antioch, Martyr, 4th century
20 Bartolomé de las Casas, Apostle to the Indies, 1566
26 Anne and Joachim, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
27 Brooke Foss WestcottBishop of Durham, Teacher of the Faith, 1901
29 MaryMartha and Lazarus, Companions of our Lord
30 William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, Anti-Slavery Campaigners, 1833, 1797 and 1846
31 Ignatius of Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556
Alternative dates: The Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth may be celebrated on 2 July instead of 31 May.  Thomas the Apostle may be celebrated on 21 December instead of 3 July. Thomas Becket may be celebrated on 7 July instead of 29 December.

August
Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé d'Ars, Spiritual Guide, 1859
Oswald, King of NorthumbriaMartyr, 642
John Mason NealePriestHymn Writer, 1866
DominicPriest, Founder of the Order of Preachers, 1221
Mary Sumner, Founder of the Mothers' Union, 1921
10 LaurenceDeacon at Rome, Martyr, 258
11 Clare of Assisi, Founder of the Minoresses (Poor Clares), 1253
11 John Henry Newman, Priest, Tractarian, 1890
13 Jeremy TaylorBishop of Down and Connor, Teacher of the Faith, 1667
13 Florence NightingaleNurse, Social Reformer, 1910
13 Octavia Hill, Social Reformer, 1912
14 Maximilian KolbeFriar, Martyr, 1941
20 BernardAbbot of Clairvaux, Teacher of the Faith, 1153
20 William and Catherine Booth, Founders of the Salvation Army, 1912 and 1890
27 Monica, mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430
29 The Beheading of John the Baptist
30 John Bunyan, Spiritual Writer, 1688
31 Aidan, Bishop of LindisfarneMissionary, 651
Alternative dates: The Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated on 8 September instead of 15 August.

September
Gregory the GreatBishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 604
13 John ChrysostomBishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407
16 NinianBishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, c.432
16 Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, Tractarian, 1882
17 HildegardAbbess of Bingen, Visionary, 1179
20 John Coleridge Patteson, First Bishop of Melanesia, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
25 Lancelot AndrewesBishop of Winchester, Spiritual Writer, 1626
25 Sergei of RadonezhRussian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith, 1392
26 Wilson Carlile, Founder of the Church Army, 1942
27 Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Congregation of the Mission (Lazarists), 1660
30 Jerome, Translator of the Scriptures, Teacher of the Faith, 420
Alternative dates: Cuthbert may be celebrated on 4 September instead of 20 March.

October
RemigiusBishop of Rheims, Apostle of the Franks, 533
Anthony Ashley CooperEarl of Shaftesbury, Social Reformer, 1885
George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958
Francis of AssisiFriarDeacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536
DenysBishop of Paris, and his Companions, Martyrs, c.250
10 Thomas TrahernePoet, Spiritual Writer, 1674
11 EthelburgaAbbess of Barking, 675
11 James the Deacon, companion of Paulinus, 7th century
12 Elizabeth Fry, Prison Reformer, 1845
12 Edith CavellNurse, 1915
15 Our Lady of WalsinghamTeresa of Avila, Teacher of the Faith, 1582
16 Nicholas RidleyBishop of London, and Hugh LatimerBishop of Worcester, Reformation Martyrs, 1555
17 IgnatiusBishop of Antioch, Martyr, c.107
19 Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and Persia, 1812
25 Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c.287
26 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, Scholar, 899
26 Cedd, Abbot of Lastingham, Bishop of the East Saxons, 664
28 Simon and Jude, Apostles
31 Martin Luther, Reformer, 1546
Alternative dates: Chad may be celebrated with Cedd on 26 October instead of 2 March.

November
Richard HookerPriest, Anglican Apologist, Teacher of the Faith, 1600
LeonardHermit, 6th century
William TempleArchbishop of Canterbury, Teacher of the Faith, 1944
Willibrord of YorkBishop, Apostle of Frisia, 739
8 The Saints and Martyrs of England
Margery KempeMystic, c.1440
10 Leo the GreatBishop of Rome, Teacher of the Faith, 461
11 MartinBishop of Tours, c.397
13 Charles Simeon, Priest, Evangelical Divine, 1836
14 Samuel Seabury, first Anglican Bishop in North America, 1796
16 Margaret, Queen of Scotland, Philanthropist, Reformer of the Church, 1093
17 HughBishop of Lincoln, 1200
18 Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231
19 HildaAbbess of Whitby, 680
19 MechthildBéguine of Magdeburg, Mystic, 1280
20 Edmund, King of the East Angles, Martyr, 870
20 Priscilla Lydia Sellon, a Restorer of the Religious Life in the Church of England, 1876
22 Cecilia, Martyr at Rome, c.230
23 Clement, Bishop of Rome, Martyr, c.100
25 Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century
25 Isaac WattsHymn Writer, 1748

December
Charles de FoucauldHermit in the Sahara, 1916
Francis XavierJesuit Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552
John of DamascusMonk, Teacher of the Faith, c.749
Nicholas FerrarDeacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326
AmbroseBishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397
13 LucyMartyr at Syracuse, 304
13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784
14 John of the CrossPoet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591
17 Eglantine Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of 'Save The Children', 1928
26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
31 John Wyclif, Reformer, 1384


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