Difference between revisions of "Classification of Feasts"

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In the [[Orthodox Church]], liturgical celebrations are ranked according to a hierarchy of several '''classifications'''.  Each class as its own characteristics and is expressed in the divine servcies and disciplines of the Church in a particular way.  See also [[feast day]].
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== General ==
 
[[Pascha]] is in a class of its own, ranking above all other commemorations.
 
 
 
The twelve [[Great Feasts]] are divided between '''First Class Feasts''' (feasts of our Lord) and '''Second Class Feasts''' (feasts of the [[Theotokos]]).
 
 
 
The lesser classes—'''Third Class Feasts''', '''Fourth Class Feasts''', and '''Fifth Class Feasts'''—commemorate the lives of the [[saints]], holy events, and holy objects.  Between the Third Class and Fourth Class there are two '''Intermediate Classes'''.
 
 
 
== First Class Feasts—Feasts of the Lord ==
 
:[[Elevation of the Holy Cross]], [[September 14]]
 
:[[Nativity]] of Christ (Christmas), [[December 25]]
 
:[[Theophany]], [[January 6]]
 
:[[Palm Sunday]], the Sunday before [[Pascha]]
 
:[[Ascension]], forty days after Pascha
 
:[[Pentecost]], fifty days after Pascha
 
:[[Transfiguration]], [[August 6]]
 
*Most of these feasts have both a [[forefeast]] and a [[leavetaking]] (exceptions: '''Palm Sunday''' has neither; '''Ascension''' and '''Pentecost''' have a leavetaking but no forefeast).
 
*An [[All-Night Vigil]] is appointed for the eve of the feast. 
 
*At [[Vespers|Great Vespers]]
 
**The [[Psalter#Kathismata|kathisma]] reading from the [[Psalter]] that follows the litany of peace is omitted unless the feast coincides with a [[Sunday]], in which case the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual (exceptions: the first kathisma is omitted on the eve of Pentecost and on the eves of '''Nativity''', '''Theophany''', and '''Transfiguration''' when those feasts fall on a Sunday).
 
**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.
 
*[[Festal Orthros]]
 
**The [[polyeleos]] (Psalms 134 and 135) is chanted immediately after the second poetic kathisma (on a Sunday it replaces the [[amomos]] (Psalm 118) as the third reading from the Psalter).
 
**Select Psalm verses from the [[eclogarion]] can follow the polyeleos, if desired.
 
**There is a gospel [[pericope]] for the feast (chanted from the [[Holy Doors]] and without a veneration following).
 
**The praises and the great doxology are chanted.
 
*At the [[Divine Liturgy]] for the feast, the patronal [[troparion]] of the temple is suppressed.
 
*The divine services are for the feast alone; all other commemorations are suppressed (even on a Sunday). 
 
*When the feast falls on a [[fasting|fasting day]], the fast is relaxed to permit fish, wine, and oil.
 
 
 
== Second Class Feasts—Feasts of the Theotokos ==
 
:[[Nativity of the Theotokos]], [[September 8]]
 
:[[Presentation of the Theotokos]], [[November 21]]
 
:[[Dormition]] (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos, [[August 15]]
 
:[[Presentation|''Presentation of Christ'']], [[February 2|''February 2'']]'''+'''
 
:[[Annunciation|''Annunciation'']], [[March 25|''March 25'']]'''+'''
 
 
 
:'''+ ''These are considered Feasts of the Theotokos, but they also share certain characteristics proper to First Class Feasts''.'''
 
 
 
*These feasts have both a forefeast and a leavetaking. 
 
*An All-Night Vigil is appointed for the eve of the feast. 
 
*At Great Vespers
 
**When the feast falls on any day other than Sunday, the kathisma reading appointed for the day is replaced by the first stasis of the first kathisma (Psalms 1-3) (exceptions: at the Great Vespers for the '''Presentation of Christ''' and '''Annunciation''' the kathisma reading is omitted altogether). 
 
**When the feast falls on a Sunday the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual.
 
**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.
 
*At Festal Orthros
 
**The polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135, or Psalm 44 with its poetic refrains) is chanted immediately after the second poetic kathisma (on a Sunday it replaces the amomos (Psalm 118) as the third reading from the Psalter).
 
**Select Psalm verses from the eclogarion can follow the polyeleos, if desired.
 
**There is a gospel pericope for the feast (chanted from the holy doors and without a veneration following).
 
**The praises and the great doxology are chanted.
 
*At the Divine Liturgy for the feast, the patronal troparion of the temple is suppressed.
 
*When the feast falls on a Sunday the services for the feast are combined with those of the Resurrection from the [[Octoechos]]. 
 
*When the feast falls on a fasting day, the fast is relaxed to permit fish, wine, and oil (exception: when '''Annunciation''' falls during [[Holy Week]], wine and oil (but not fish) are permitted; when '''Annunciation''' falls on [[Holy_Week|Holy Friday]] or [[Holy Saturday]], wine (but not oil or fish) are permitted).
 
 
 
== Third Class Feasts—Vigil and Polyeleos Commemorations ==
 
'''Third Class Feasts''' are commemorations for which the [[Menaion]] includes a complete akolouthia.
 
 
 
*These feasts generally do not have a forefeast or a leavetaking (exceptions: the commemorations of St. [[Demetrios]] ([[October 26]]), the [[Nativity of the Forerunner]] ([[June 24]]), Ss. [[Peter and Paul]] ([[June 29]]), and the [[Beheading of the Forerunner]] ([[August 29]]) each has a leavetaking). 
 
*An All-Night Vigil may be appointed if there is a text for [[Little Vespers]] in the Menaion, in which case the commemoration is designated '''Vigil'''.  Otherwise, an All-Night Vigil is not appointed and the commemoration is designated '''Polyeleos'''.
 
*At Great Vespers
 
**When the feast falls on any day other than Sunday, the kathisma reading appointed for the day is replaced by the first stasis of the first kathisma (Psalms 1-3). 
 
**When the feast falls on a Sunday the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual.
 
**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.
 
*At Festal Orthros
 
**The polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135, or Psalm 44 with its poetic refrains) is chanted immediately after the second poetic kathisma (on a Sunday it replaces the amomos (Psalm 118) as the third reading from the Psalter).
 
**Select Psalm verses from the eclogarion can follow the polyeleos, if desired.
 
**There is a gospel pericope for the feast (chanted from the holy doors and without a veneration following).
 
**The praises and the great doxology are chanted.
 
* When the feast falls on a Sunday the services for the feast are combined with those of the Resurrection from the [[Octoechos]].
 
*When the feast falls on a fasting day, the fast is relaxed to permit wine and oil (exception: the '''Beheading of the Forerunner''' (August 29) is always observed as a strict fast day when it falls on a weekday; when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday wine and oil are permitted).  If it is the patronal feastday, fish may be permitted, as well.
 
 
 
== Intermediate Classes ==
 
 
 
=== ''Katholicon'' ===
 
 
 
=== ''Small Bells'' ===
 
 
 
== Fourth Class Feasts ==
 
 
 
== Fifth Class Feasts ==
 
 
 
== Sources ==
 
* ''The Liturgikon: The Book of Divine Services for the Priest and Deacon'', Bishop [[Basil (Essey) of Wichita]] (ISBN 0962419001)
 
* [http://www.networks-now.net/litresswraoc/Typicon_Charts.htm Website of the St. Raphael Clergy Brotherhood of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America]
 
* ''The Festal Menaion'', tr. by Mother Mary and Archimandrite (now Bishop) Kallistos (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press) (ISBN 1878997009)
 
* ''The Pentecostarion'', tr. Holy Transfiguration Monastery (ISBN 0943405025)
 
 
 
{{stub}}
 
[[Category:Feasts]]
 
[[Category:Liturgics]]
 

Revision as of 11:32, June 10, 2008

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