The Calendar of the Church Year
The Feast Days project aims to cover all 275 Feast and Fast Days as celebrated in the 2022 edition of Lesser Feasts and Fasts, a publication of the Episcopal Church. It will take at least the full year of 2023 to create icons, NFTs, and webpages for all 275, so in the meantime, this page provides the entirety of the church year’s schedule.
This page starts with an explanation of the church year (as celebrated in many Christian traditions) and then is followed by lists of the Feasts and Fasts featured on each day of each month. Each section will also link to a separate page for the month as NFTs and their galleries are created and as biographies and prayers are filled in.
We hope you find this resource useful in your celebration of the saints and in your understanding of the Feast Days.
The entirety of the following is excerpted directly from “Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022,” pp. 3-21.
The Church Year consists of two cycles of feasts and holy days: one is dependent upon the movable date of the Sunday of the Resurrection or Easter Day; the other, upon the fixed date of December 25, the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity or Christmas Day.
Easter Day is always the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after March 21. It cannot occur before March 22 or after April 25.
The sequence of all Sundays of the Church Year depends upon the date of Easter Day. But the Sundays of Advent are always the four Sundays before Christmas Day, whether it occurs on a Sunday or a weekday. The date of Easter also determines the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, and the feast of the Ascension on a Thursday forty days after Easter Day.
Principal FeastS
The Principal Feasts observed in the Episcopal Church are the following:
Easter Day
Ascension Day
The Day of Pentecost
Trinity Sunday
All Saints’ Day, November 1
Christmas Day, December 25
The Epiphany, January 6
These feasts take precedence of any other day or observance. All Saints’ Day may always be observed on the Sunday following November 1, in addition to its observance on the fixed date.
Sundays
All Sundays of the year are feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to the dated days listed above, only the following feasts, appointed on fixed days, take precedence of a Sunday:
The Holy Name
The Presentation
The Transfiguration
The feast of the Dedication of a Church, and the feast of its patron or title, may be observed on, or be transferred to, a Sunday, except in the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter.
All other Feasts of our Lord, and all other Major Feasts appointed on fixed days in the Calendar, when they occur on a Sunday, are normally transferred to the first convenient open day within the week. When desired, however, the Collect, Preface, and one or more of the Lessons appointed for the Feast may be substituted for those of the Sunday, but not from the Last Sunday after Pentecost through the First Sunday after the Epiphany, or from the Last Sunday after the Epiphany through Trinity Sunday.
With the express permission of the bishop, and for urgent and sufficient reason, some other special occasion may be observed on a Sunday.
Holy Days
The following Holy Days are regularly observed throughout the year. Unless otherwise ordered in the preceding rules concerning Sundays, they have precedence over all other days of commemoration or of special observance:
Other Feasts of our Lord:
The Holy Name
The Presentation
The Annunciation
The Visitation
Saint John the Baptist
The Transfiguration
Holy Cross Day
Other Major Feasts:
All feasts of Apostles
All feasts of Evangelists
Saint Stephen
The Holy Innocents
Saint Joseph
Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary the Virgin
Saint Michael and All Angels
Saint James of Jerusalem
Independence Day
Thanksgiving Day
Fasts:
Ash Wednesday
Good Friday
Feasts appointed on fixed days in the Calendar are not observed on the days of Holy Week or of Easter Week. Major Feasts falling in these weeks are transferred to the week following the Second Sunday of Easter, in the order of their occurrence.
Feasts appointed on fixed days in the Calendar do not take precedence over Ash Wednesday.
Feasts of our Lord and other Major Feasts appointed on fixed days, which fall upon or are transferred to a weekday, may be observed on any open day within the week. This provision does not apply to Christmas Day, the Epiphany, and All Saints’ Day.
Days of Special Devotion
The following days are observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial:
Ash Wednesday and the other weekdays of Lent and of Holy Week, except the feast of the Annunciation.
Good Friday and all other Fridays of the year, in commemoration of the Lord’s crucifixion, except for Fridays in the Christmas and Easter seasons, and any Feasts of our Lord which occur on a Friday.
Days of Optional Observance
Subject to the rules of precedence governing Principal Feasts, Sundays, and Holy Days, the following may be observed with the Collects, Psalms, and Lessons duly authorized by the Episcopal Church:
Commemorations listed in the Calendar
Other Commemorations, using the Common of Saints
The Ember Days, traditionally observed on the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after the First Sunday in Lent, the Day of Pentecost, Holy Cross Day, and December 13
The Rogation Days, traditionally observed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day
Various Occasions
Provided that there is no celebration of the Eucharist for any such occasion on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday; and provided further, that none of the Propers appointed for Various Occasions is used as a substitute for, or as an addition to, the Proper appointed for the Principal Feasts.
Pictured above: Florence Li Tim-Oi, January 24
1. THE HOLY NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
2.
3.
4. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Vowed Religious and Educator, 1821
5. Sarah, Theodora, and Syncletica of Egypt, Desert Mothers, 4th-5th century
6. THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
7.
8. Harriet Bedell, Deaconess and Missionary, 1969
9. Julia Chester Emery, Lay Leader and Missionary, 1922
10. William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1645
11.
12. Aelred of Rievaulx, Monastic and Theologian, 1167
13. Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop, 367
14. Richard Meux Benson, Priest, and Charles Gore, Bishop, 1915 and 1932
15.
16.
17. Antony of Egypt, Monastic, 356
18. THE CONFESSION OF SAINT PETER THE APOSTLE
19. Wulfstan of Worcester, Bishop, 1095
20. Fabian, Bishop and Martyr, 250
21. Agnes and Cecilia of Rome, Martyrs, 304 and c. 230
22. Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon and Martyr, 304
23. Phillips Brooks, Bishop, 1893
24. Florence Li Tim-Oi, Priest, 1992
25. THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE
26. Timothy and Titus, Companions of Saint Paul
27. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Theologian, 407
28. Thomas Aquinas, Friar and Theologian, 1274
29.
30.
Pictured above: Martin Luther, February 18
1. Brigid of Kildare, Monastic, 523
2. THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE
3. Anskar, Bishop and Missionary, 865
4. Cornelius the Centurion
4. Manche Masemola, Martyr, 1928
5. The Martyrs of Japan, 1597
5. Agatha of Sicily, Martyr, 251
6.
7.
8. Bakhita (Josephine Margaret Bakhita), Monastic, 1947
9.
10. Scholastica, Monastic, 543
11. Theodora, Empress, 867
11. The Consecration of Barbara Clementine Harris, First Woman Bishop in the Anglican Communion, 1989
12.
13. Absalom Jones, Priest, 1818
14. Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries, 869 and 885
15. Thomas Bray, Priest and Missionary, 1730
16.
17. Janani Luwum, Archbishop and Martyr, 1977
18. Martin Luther, Pastor and Reformer, 1546
20. Frederick Douglass, Social Reformer, 1895
21.
22. Margaret of Cortona, Monastic, 1297
23. Polycarp of Smyrna, Bishop and Martyr, 156
24. SAINT MATTHIAS THE APOSTLE
25. Emily Malbone Morgan, Lay Leader and Contemplative, 1937
26. Photini, The Samaritan Woman, 67
27. George Herbert, Priest and Poet, 1633
28. Anna Julia Haywood Cooper, Educator, 1964
29.
Pictured above: Oscar Romero, March 24
1. David of Wales, Bishop, 544
2. Chad of Lichfield, Bishop, 672
3. John and Charles Wesley, Priests, 1791, 1988
4.
5.
6.
7. Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs, 203
8.
9. Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop and Theologian, 394
10. Harriet Ross Tubman, Social Reformer, 1913
11.
12. Gregory the Great, Bishop and Theologian, 604
13. James Theodore Holly, Bishop, 1911
14.
15. Vincent de Paul, Priest, and Louise de Marillac, Vowed Religious, Workers of Charity, 1660
16.
17. Patrick of Ireland, Bishop and Missionary, 461
18. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Theologian, 386
19. SAINT JOSEPH
22. James De Koven, Priest, 1879
23. Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary, 332
24. Oscar Romero, Archbishop and Martyr, 1980 and the Martyrs of El Salvador
25. THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
26. Harriet Monsell, Monastic, 1883
27. Charles Henry Brent, Bishop, 1929
28. James Solomon Russell, Priest, 1935
29. John Keble, Priest and Poet, 1866
30.
Pictured above: Anselm, April 21
1. Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, 1872
2. James Lloyd Breck, Priest, 1876
3. Richard of Chichester, Bishop, 1253
3. Mary of Egypt, Monastic, c. 421
4. Martin Luther King, Jr., Pastor and Martyr, 1968
5. Harriet Starr Cannon, Monastic, 1896
6.
7. Tikhon, Bishop and Ecumenist, 1925
8. William Augustus Muhlenberg, Priest, 1877
9. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Pastor and Theologian, 1945
11. George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop, 1878
12.
13.
14. Zenaida, Philonella, and Hermione, Unmercenary Physicians, c. 100, c. 117
15. Damien, Priest, 1889, and Marianne Cope, Monastic, 1918, of Hawaii
16. Peter Williams Cassey, Deacon, 1917, and Anna Besant Cassey, 1875
17. Kateri Tekakwitha, Lay Contemplative, 1680
18. Juana Inés de la Cruz, Monastic and Theologian, 1695
19. Alphege, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr, 1012
20.
21. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury and Theologian, 1109
22. Hadewijch of Brabant, Poet and Mystic, 1260
23. Toyohiko Kagawa, Social Reformer, 1960
24.
26.
27. Zita of Tuscany, Worker of Charity, 1271
28.
29. Catherine of Siena, Mystic and Prophetic Witness, 1380
30.
Pictured above: Lydia of Thyatira, May 21
1. THE APOSTLES SAINT PHILIP AND SAINT JAMES
2. Athanasius of Alexandria, Bishop and Theologian, 373
3. Elisabeth Cruciger, Poet and Hymnographer, 1535
4. Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387
5. Martyrs of the Reformation Era
6.
7.
8. Julian of Norwich, Mystic and Theologian, 1417
9. Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop and Theologian, 389
10.
11. Johann Arndt and Jacob Boehme, Mystics, 1621 and 1624
12.
13. Frances Perkins, Social Reformer, 1965
14.
15. Pachomius of Tabenissi, Monastic, 348
16.
17. Thurgood Marshall, Public Servant, 1993
18.
19. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, 988
20. Alcuin of York, Deacon, 804
21. Lydia of Thyatira, Coworker of the Apostle Paul
22. Helena of Constantinople, Protector of the Holy Places, 330
23.
24. Jackson Kemper, Bishop and Missionary, 1870
25. Bede, Priest and Historian, 735
26. Augustine, First Archbishop of Canterbury, 605
27.
28. Mechthild of Magdeburg, Mystic, c. 1282
29.
30.
1. Justin, Martyr, 167
2. Blandina and Her Companions, the Martyrs of Lyons, 177
3. The Martyrs of Uganda, 1886
4. John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli), Bishop, 1963
5. Boniface, Bishop and Missionary, 754
6.
7.
8. Melania the Elder, Monastic, 410
9. Columba of Iona, Monastic, 597
10. Ephrem of Nisibis, Deacon and Poet, 373
11. SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE
12. Enmegahbowh, Priest and Missionary, 1902
13.
14. Basil of Caesarea, Bishop and Theologian, 379
15. Evelyn Underhill, Mystic and Writer, 1941
16. Joseph Butler, Bishop and Theologian, 1752
17. Marina the Monk, Monastic, fifth century
18. Bernard Mizeki, Martyr, 1896
19. Adelaide Teague Case, Educator, 1948
20.
21.
22. Alban, Martyr, 304
23,
24, THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
25.
26. Isabel Florence Hapgood, Ecumenist, 1928
27.
28. Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop and Theologian, 202
29. THE APOSTLES SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL
30.
1. Pauli Murray, Priest, 1985
2. Moses the Black, Monastic and Martyr, 400
3.
4. INDEPENDENCE DAY (United States)
5.
6. Eva Lee Matthews, Monastic, 1928
7.
8. Priscilla and Aquila, Coworkers of the Apostle Paul
9.
10.
11. Benedict of Nursia, Monastic, 543
12.
13.
14. Argula von Grumbach, Scholar and Church Reformer, 1554
15.
16.
17. William White, Bishop, 1836
18.
19. Macrina of Caesarea, Monastic and Teacher, 379
20. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, and Sojourner Truth, Social Reformers, 1902, 1894, and 1883
21. Maria Skobtsova, Monastic and Martyr, 1945
22. SAINT MARY MAGDALENE
23. John Cassian, Monastic and Theologian, 435
24. Thomas à Kempis, Priest and Mystic, 1471
25. SAINT JAMES THE APOSTLE
26. The Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
27. William Reed Huntington, Priest, 1909
28. Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer, 1750
29. Mary and Martha of Bethany
30. William Wilberforce, Social Reformer, 1833
31. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Spiritual Writer, 1556
Pictured above: Simeon Bachos, August 27
2.
3. Joanna, Mary, and Salome, Myrrh-Bearing Women
4.
5.
6. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
7. John Mason Neale, Priest and Hymnographer, 1866
8. Dominic, Priest and Friar, 1221
9. Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), Philosopher, Monastic, and Martyr, 1942
10. Laurence of Rome, Deacon and Martyr, 258
11. Clare of Assisi, Monastic, 1253
12. Florence Nightingale, Nurse, 1910
13. Jeremy Taylor, Bishop and Theologian, 1667
14. Jonathan Myrick Daniels, Martyr, 1965
15. SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN, MOTHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
16.
17.
18.
19.
20. Bernard of Clairvaux, Monastic and Theologian, 1153
21.
22.
23.
24. SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE
26.
27. Simeon Bachos the Ethiopian Eunuch
27. Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle, Priests, 1902 and 1890
28. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Theologian, 430
29. The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
30. Margaret Ward, Margaret Clitherow, and Anne Line, Martyrs, 1588, 1586, and 1601
Pictured above: Euphrosyne/Smaragdus, September 27
1. David Pendleton Oakerhater, Deacon, 1931
2. The Martyrs of New Guinea, 1942
5. Katharina Zell, Church Reformer and Writer, 1562
6. Hannah More, Religious Writer and Philanthropist, 1833
7. Kassiani, Poet and Hymnographer, 865
8. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9. Constance, Thecla, Ruth, Frances, Charles Parsons, and Louis Schuyler, Martyrs, 1878
10. Alexander Crummell, Priest, 1898
11.
12. John Henry Hobart, Bishop, 1830
13. Cyprian of Carthage, Bishop and Martyr, 258
14. HOLY CROSS DAY
15. Catherine of Genoa, Mystic and Nurse, 1510
17. Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic and Scholar, 1179
18. Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882
19. Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690
20. John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1871
21. SAINT MATTHEW, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
22. Philander Chase, Bishop, 1852
22. Episcopal Deaconesses
23. Thecla of Iconium, Proto-Martyr Among Women, 70
24. Anna Ellison Butler Alexander, Deaconess and Teacher, 1947
25. Sergius of Radonezh, Monastic, 1392
26. Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop, 1626
27. Euphrosyne/Smaragdus of Alexandria, Monastic, fifth century
28. Paula and Eustochium of Rome, Monastics and Scholars, 404 and 419
1. Remigius of Rheims, Bishop, 530
1. Thérèse of Lisieux, Monastic, 1897
2.
3. John Raleigh Mott, Ecumenist and Missionary, 1955
4. Francis of Assisi, Friar and Deacon, 1226
5.
6. William Tyndale, Priest, 1536
7. Birgitta of Sweden, Mystic, 1373
8.
9. Robert Grosseteste, Bishop, 1253
10. Vida Dutton Scudder, Educator, 1954
11. Philip, Deacon and Evangelist
12. Edith Cavell, Nurse, 1915
13.
14. Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky, Bishop and Missionary, 1906
15. Teresa of Avila, Mystic and Monastic Reformer, 1582
16. Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Bishops and Martyrs, 1555, and Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1556
17. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, 115
18. SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST
19. Henry Martyn, Priest and Missionary, 1812
20.
21.
22.
23. SAINT JAMES OF JERUSALEM, BROTHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND MARTYR, 62
24.
25. Tabitha (Dorcas) of Joppa
26. Alfred, King, 899
27.
28. SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE, Apostles
29. James Hannington, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1885
30. Maryam of Qidun, Monastic, fourth century
31.
1. ALL SAINTS
2. All Souls/All the Faithful Departed
3. Richard Hooker, Priest and Theologian, 1600
4.
5.
6. William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1944
7. Willibrord, Bishop and Missionary, 739
8. Ammonius, Hermit, c. 403
9. Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton, and Margery Kempe, Mystics, 1349, 1396,, and c. 1440
10. Leo of Rome, Bishop, 461
11. Martin of Tours, Bishop, 397
12. Charles Simeon, Priest, 1836
13.
14. The Consecration of Samuel Seabury, 1784
15. Herman of Alaska, Missionary, 1837
16. Margaret of Scotland, Queen, 1093
17. Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop, 1200
18. Hilda of Whitby, Abbess, 680
19. Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess, 1231
20. Edmund, King, 870
21. Mechthilde of Hackeborn and Gertrude the Great, Mystics, 1298 and 1302
22. Clive Staples Lewis, Apologist and Spiritual Writer, 1963
23. Clement of Rome, Bishop, c. 100
24. Catherine of Alexandria, Barbara of Nicomedia, and Margaret of Antioch, Martyrs, c. 305
25. James Otis Sargent Huntington, Monastic and Priest, 1935
26.
27.
28. Kamehameha and Emma of Hawaii, King and Queen, 1863 and 1885
29.
30. SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE
1. Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637
1. Charles de Foucauld, Monastic and Martyr, 1916
2. Channing Moore Williams, Bishop and Missionary, 1910
3. Francis Xavier, Priest and Missionary, 1552
4. John of Damascus, Priest and Theologian, 760
5. Clement of Alexandria, Priest and Theologian, 210
6. Nicholas of Myra, Bishop, 342
7. Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Theologian, 397
8.
9.
10.
11. Frederick Howden, Jr., Priest and Chaplain of the Armed Forces, 1941
12. Francis de Sales, Bishop, and Jane de Chantal, Vowed Religious, 1622 and 1641
13. Lucy of Syracuse, Martyr, 304
14. John of the Cross, Mystic and Monastic Reformer, 1591
15. Nino of Georgia, Missionary, c. 332
16.
17. Dorothy L. Sayers, Apologist and Spiritual Writer, 1957
18.
19.
20. Katharina von Bora, Church Reformer, 1552
21. SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE
22.
23.
24.
25. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
26. SAINT STEPHEN, DEACON AND MARTYR
27. SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST
28. HOLY INNOCENTS
29. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr, 1170
30.
31. Frances Joseph Gaudet, Educator and Social Reformer, 1934
Movable Feasts and Fasts (Excluding Sundays)
Ember Days: Book of Common Prayer pp. 205-206 and 256-257
Ash Wednesday: Book of Common Prayer pp. 264-269
Maundy Thursday: Book of Common Prayer pp. 274-275 and Book of Occasional Services pp.xx-xx
Good Friday: Book of Common Prayer pp. 276-282
Holy Saturday: Book of Common Prayer p. 283
Rogation Days: Book of Occasional Services pp. xx-xx
Ascension Day: Book of Common Prayer p.174 and p. 226
Thanksgiving Day: Book of Common Prayer p.194 and p. 246