Calendar of Orthodox church holidays for 2021: by month, in Russia

Faith is an important component in the life of every person. It gives us the strength to move on in the most difficult moments. Faith gives us the knowledge that there is a higher good that will always help in our affairs. Our soul becomes purer and stronger if we believe sincerely, with all our hearts - it helps us to be better.

Hand in hand with Orthodoxy go righteous rituals that are designed to strengthen our faith. Following church traditions, we show our gratitude to God, the saints, and the higher powers to whom we offer prayers. The most important annual rituals are, of course, Orthodox holidays - good and pure days, when our connection with the Almighty and the saints is strengthened.

2019 is a generous year for special occasions. It’s not easy to remember every bright day, but it’s so important not to miss any of them! The calendar of Orthodox holidays for 2021 by month clearly describes holidays, memorial dates, name days, days of veneration of icons and martyrs.

In January

Already on the second day of the year - January 2 - the day of John of Kronstadt is celebrated.
January 7 is the Nativity of Christ, the greatest Orthodox holiday of the year. It is preceded by a long fast, which began last year. The Nativity fast stretches from November 28 to the evening of January 6. Also, from January 7 to 18, there is Continuous Week - a week when it is allowed not to fast, even on Wednesdays and Fridays.
On January 8, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the day of the Ostrobramskaya Icon of the Mother of God are celebrated. January 14 is the great feast of the Circumcision of the Lord. On this date St. Basil the Great is venerated.
On the 15th the day of St. Seraphim of Sarov is celebrated. Today it is worth going on a pilgrimage to the holy land in the Nizhny Novgorod region, to the village of Diveevo, where the monastery was founded by Saraphim of Sarov.
January 19 – Epiphany and Epiphany. Today it is customary to bless water. It is believed that the water in all natural springs on this day is holy and miraculous. It is customary to plunge into the ice hole three times, or at least perform ablution in familiar home conditions.
January 20 – Cathedral of the Baptist and Baptist John.
January 21 – George Khozevit and Gregory the Wonderworker.
January 25 is the martyr of Tatiana, also known as Tatiana’s Day, which is also known to everyone as Student’s Day.

Wednesday and Friday

On Wednesday, the council of Jews betrayed the Lord. On Friday - He died to save humanity.

As for fasting, the 69th Canon of the Holy Apostles states: “any bishop or priest, deacon or subdeacon, preacher or psalm-reader who does not hold fast will be overthrown. If a layman does not fast at this time (except for illness, pregnancy, weakness), he will be excommunicated.”

Dry eating without oil and wine once a day, until nine in the evening. The pleasures of the flesh are prohibited these days.

In February

February 3 is the day of the icon of the Mother of God “Consolation”.
On February 6, Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg is venerated. It is believed that by the weather of this day one can predict what spring will be like.
The 7th is the day of the icon of the Mother of God “Quench my sorrows.” They pray to her for liberation from sadness, melancholy, and devouring grief, asking for consolation.
On February 12, the Three Saints are venerated - Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
February 15 – Presentation of the Lord. Today it is worth consecrating the candles and walking with the icon of the Presentation through all the rooms in the house and apartment.
February 25 – The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is venerated. They pray to her for the safety of the home from domestic troubles: theft, fires, breakdowns and flooding.

In March

March 2 is a memorial day when deceased relatives, ancestors, and parents are honored. The day is called the Ecumenical Parental Saturday; Today funeral meals are held, at which meat can be eaten, but alcohol is prohibited.
From March 4 to 10, Maslenitsa Week will be celebrated - a time to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring with hot, delicious pancakes and festivities.
March 9 – 1st and 2nd Finding of the Head of John the Baptist.
Lent begins on March 11 and will last until April 27.
March 17 – Triumph of Orthodoxy.
March 20 is the day of the icon of the Mother of God “Helper of Sinners.” They ask her for atonement for sins, for forgiveness of evil deeds.
March 22 is the day of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste.
March 23 – 2nd Saturday of Lent is celebrated. This is a time to remember dear people who have left the earthly world.
March 30 is the 3rd Saturday of Great Lent, on which the departed are also commemorated.

Easter. How is Easter day determined?

Easter is one of the important Orthodox holidays. It is transitional, i.e., the date of this event changes every year. This is due to the fact that it is calculated according to the lunisolar calendar.

The rule for calculating Easter is formulated as follows:

"Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon." The spring full moon is the full moon that occurs after the vernal equinox.

To calculate Easter, factors such as the revolution of the Earth around the Sun (according to the solar calendar) and the revolution of the Moon around the Earth (according to the lunar calendar) are taken into account.

To determine the date of Easter, you can use special tables compiled by the church. These tables are called Easter tables.

Easter is calculated based on the Alexandrian Paschal. There are many calculations, one of the most common is the one proposed by the famous mathematician Carl Gauss in the 19th century.

The meaning of the calculation comes down to the following. The year for which we define Easter is divided by 19 and designated as “a”. The letter “b” denotes the remainder when dividing the number of the year by 4. And, finally, the letter “c” denotes the remainder when dividing the number of the year by 7.

Now we multiply 19 by “a”, add 15 and divide by 30. We denote the resulting value as “d”. Let's decide further. 2 x b + 4 x c + 6 x d + 6 and divide by 7 - denoted by the letter “e”.

At the end, we calculate the date itself: 22 + d + e will be Easter day for March, and using the formula d + e – 9 we calculate the date for April.

This method is somewhat complicated for calculations, but there is a simpler option. It is known that Easter cannot be celebrated until March 21st. This is the day of the spring full moon. It is necessary to count 39 days from the start of Maslenitsa, and 40-1 days will be Easter.

Easter marks the end of Lent. On Easter holidays, the main treat is Easter cake, colored eggs and Easter cottage cheese.

In April

April 6 – 4th Saturday of Great Lent – Day of Remembrance of the Dead.
April 7 – Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
April 8 – Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. It was Archangel Gabriel who told the Virgin Mary the wonderful news that she was destined to become the mother of Christ.
April 16 – veneration of the “Unfading Color” icon. Girls pray to her for a worthy lover, for a fateful meeting. Married women ask the icon for harmony in the family, for a long and happy marriage.
April 21 – Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Many people are more familiar with this day as Palm Sunday.
April 28 – Holy Resurrection of Christ, Easter holiday. A great holiday of miracle and hope for the entire Christian world. Today food is blessed, eggs (as a symbol of birth) and Easter cakes are especially valued. This tribute marks the end of Lent.

In May

May 2 is the day of the Blessed Matrona of Moscow.
May 6 marks the day of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, who was tortured and beheaded for a long time for his faith. According to tradition, on May 6, plots of land, vegetable gardens, fields, and domestic animals (livestock) are consecrated to begin cultivating the land for spring sowing.
May 7 - Radonitsa, the day of remembrance of the dead, when you cannot grieve for the departed. Today they rejoice and thank the Almighty for the fact that loved ones who have passed away are in a better world. On this May day, Easter food is taken to the graves and the dead and their good deeds are remembered.
On May 9, Victory Day, fallen soldiers are honored.
May 12 is the day of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women.
On May 18, the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” is venerated. She is asked to get rid of any addictions - from alcoholism and drug addiction, to gambling and gambling addiction.
May 24 is the day of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius.

In June

June 6 is a major church holiday, the day of the Ascension of the Lord. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter. Today special funeral pancakes are being baked.
June 7 – 3rd discovery of the head of John the Baptist.
June 15 - Trinity Parents' Saturday - a day of remembrance of deceased parents and ancestors.
June 16 is Holy Trinity Day.
On June 17, the Holy Spirit is venerated.
June 23 is All Saints' Day.
June 24 is the day of the “It is Worthy to Eat” icon.

In July

July 6 is the day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
July 7 – Nativity of John the Baptist, baptizer of Jesus Christ.
July 8 is the day of Saints Peter and Fevronia, considered the guardians of family affairs and love ties. They are asked about the fidelity of spouses, about love in marriage and a close-knit family.
July 12 is the day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This date is popularly dedicated to fishermen, who today can pray for a good catch.
July 18 is the day of Sergius of Radonezh.
July 21 is the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
On July 24, Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga is venerated and asked for intercession. Today it’s worth congratulating all the women you know with that name on their name day.
July 28 is the day of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir - the name day of all Vladimirs.

Gospel readings

The calendar year is accompanied by daily reading of Holy Scripture - the Gospel. A book that has an honorable place in the works of early Christians, church fathers and the present time. This is the pearl of great price, the treasure hidden in the field. Like the Holy See, the center of the sanctuary among frescoes and icons, so the Bible has a supreme Mystery - the Holy Gospel, surrounded by other books flowing from it.

Readings are a good incentive to practice the Orthodox way of life, an opportunity to reflect on the depth of what is read and to internalize the messages.

An Orthodox Christian is baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and follows the ideals and beliefs of Scripture and Holy Tradition. In him lives faith in a loving God, whose grace protects and guides him on the path of redemption.

God revealed Himself in the Bible through the prophets and the Person of Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, the Savior of man.

The Orthodox believe in the Incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection, His Gospel and commandments.

In August

August 2 is the day of the prophet Elijah. People believe that after this day it is forbidden to swim in natural lakes, rivers, and ponds.
August 9 is the day of the Great Martyr and Healer Saint Panteleimon. Today you can pray for the health of yourself and your loved ones.
On August 19, the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated, the Savior of the Apple. Today, apples and fruits are blessed, especially those that are prepared for the winter.
August 28 is the great twelfth holiday, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, is venerated.
August 29 – transfer of the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands.

In September

September 11 is the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist. On this day the Baptist of Christ was killed. Today you should observe a strict fast, do not eat food of animal origin or round, spherical food, you cannot cut or chop anything. It is recommended to pray for relief from headaches and diseases associated with the head.
September 12 is the day of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
On September 17, the icon of the Mother of God “Burning Bush” is venerated. They ask her for protection from fires, natural disasters, and also pray for protection from ill-wishers.
September 21 – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
September 27 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Orthodox calendar

Orthodox calendar 2021 with holidays and fasts

The most important dates to watch

Video: fasting rules

Orthodox calendar

contains two annual circles of events: the fixed circle, all dates of which are firmly established in the liturgical books, and the Easter circle, all of the events of which are established relative to the day of Easter celebration.

Easter Day is calculated according to the solar-lunar calendar (Alexandrian Paschal) and is celebrated simultaneously by all autocephalous Orthodox Churches (except for the Finnish Church, which switched to the Gregorian calendar), as well as all related events of the Easter circle.

The dates of the fixed circle are marked in different ways: according to the Julian

calendar (the so-called “old style”) and the
Gregorian
calendar (the 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 according to the Julian calendar, which in the 20th–21st centuries differs by 13 days from the civil calendar. Thus, the beginning of the church year (New Year), set on September 1, is celebrated according to the civil calendar on September 14.

In October

October 9 is the day of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.
14 – Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Great Twelfth Feast. On this date, they ask the Mother of God for protection, pray for healing, relief of ailments and illnesses, for her blessing and protection. Pancakes are baked as a festive meal.
October 15 is the day of the Holy Martyr Cyprian and the Martyr Ustinya. Today they pray for protection from demons, the evil eye, witches' spells, evil spirits and evil intentions on the part of ill-wishers.

In November

On November 2, Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday takes place - a memorial time dedicated to relatives.
On November 6, the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” is honored, which is asked for deliverance from sorrow, for help in illness, poverty, and hunger.
November 8 is the day of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica.
November 21 – Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
November 22 is the day of the Reverend Matrona. Today it is traditional to brew herbal infusions and teas; they are endowed with special healing powers.
November 28 – the beginning of the Great Nativity Fast.

Weeks

Weeks is the church name for the week. There are five weeks when believers should limit themselves in food and other matters. If it is difficult for you to remember the weeks, then it is better to download the Orthodox calendar for every day with fasts. He will tell you when to refrain from what you are doing and devote yourself to prayers and serving God.

There are such weeks:

from the seventh to the eighteenth of January - Christmastide;
the week of the Publican and the Pharisee begins on February 18 and lasts until the 23rd;
Maslenitsa begins on the fourth of March and lasts until the 10th. During this period, you should only give up meat dishes;
the next week is Easter and it has a floating date;
the last such seven-day period is called Trinity and begins on June 17 and ends on June 23.

Dates to remember the dead

We must not forget those who used to be there and passed away. It is customary to remember the dead and the church calendar contains several dates when it is worth visiting the graves of relatives and friends, praying for them and lighting a candle. Such dates are also called parenting days, and in 2021 they fall on:

March 4, 23 and 30;
in April, parent's day falls on the 6th;
On May 9 it is customary to honor the memory of deceased soldiers, and on May seventh Radonitsa falls;
in June, Parents' Saturday falls on the 15th;
and the last day of remembrance is Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday, which falls on the second of November.

That's all the important dates that the Orthodox calendar for 2021 contains. In order not to forget about them, buy yourself or download a calendar that will always be at hand and will remind you of all important church events, celebrations and fasts.

Days of the waning moon in July 2021

Vacations 2018-2019 for the academic year in Moscow

December

December 4 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple.
December 6 is the day of veneration of St. Mitrophan of Voronezh.
On December 7, the Great Martyr Catherine is venerated. Today it is worth congratulating all of Catherine’s friends and praying for their health and well-being.
December 10 is the day of the “Sign” icon. They pray to her in case of unfair accusations, for protection from unclean motives in our direction, as well as for peace, so that there is no war.
December 19 is St. Nicholas Day. On St. Nicholas Day, it is common for people to leave gifts under children’s pillows, thus blessing the little ones.

The most important dates to watch

The Great category includes those holidays during which priests conduct special services. In 2021, Easter is celebrated on April 28, and other twelfth holidays, the date of which should be clarified:

Transient – Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, Ascension of the Lord, Trinity.
Non-transitional - the birth of John the Baptist, the Nativity of Christ, the Epiphany, the Presentation of the Lord, the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Exaltation of the Cross. Believers should also know what date Christmas, the Assumption and the introduction of the Virgin Mary into the temple fall on.