Calendar of saints

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Calendar of saints

Calendar of Saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does not mean "a large meal, typically a celebratory one", but instead "an annual religious celebration, a day dedicated to a particular saint".

The system of the Calendar of Saints has been used in the liturgical calendar, the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church, and Anglican Communion. Other Christian denominations, including the Reformed Church and Methodist Church, also have their own versions of the Calendar of Saints.

History

The Calendar of Saints originated in the early Christian Church as a way to honor martyrs. Over time, the Church began to recognize other saints in addition to martyrs, and the number of saints and feast days increased. The practice of celebrating saints' days became widespread in the Christian world by the 4th century.

Structure

The Calendar of Saints is structured around the liturgical year. The calendar starts on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The liturgical year is divided into seasons, each with its own focus, color, and themes. The seasons include Advent, Christmas Season, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter Season, and Ordinary Time again.

Each day of the year is associated with one or more saints. These saints are honored on their respective feast days. Some days are also dedicated to particular events in the life of Jesus, Mary, and the saints.

Usage

The Calendar of Saints is used to determine the liturgical year in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion. It is also used in some other Christian denominations.

The Calendar of Saints is used to determine which scriptures are to be read on a given day. The scriptures are usually related to the saint or event being commemorated.

See also

• Liturgical year
• Saints in Christianity
• Feast day
• Christianity