Theology  -  Hierarchy  -  Locations  -   Education  -   Stewardship  -   Other Information  -  Index  -  Thesaurus  -  Sitemap  -  Arabic fonts  -  Home

Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Preparation Feast Celebration Cycle

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church has a Preparation period and Celebration period liturgical cycle. Both time periods are equally important because the reason for both time periods is equally important. Every time period of Preparation (fasting) is followed by an equal time period of Celebration (feasting).

Preparation Period

The Preparation period is before the feast.
The Preparation period begins on a set day determined by the length of the preparation period.
The Preparation period ends just before the Vespers of the feast.
Preparation includes prayer, fasting (not eating certain foods and not eating at certain times), and alms / charity / help others.

Celebration Period

The Celebration period is during the feast and its celebration.
The Celebration period immediately follows the The Preparation period.
The Celebration period begins at the beginning of Vespers of the feast.
The Celebration period ends after the celebration of the feast.
The Celebration period includes feasting (eating certain foods and eating at certain times)and partying.

For both Holy and Glorious Pascha and Nativity According to the Flesh of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we prepare Forty Days, then we celebrate for Forty Days.

Four great Preparation Celebration Cycles

The table below has the four great Preparation Celebration cycles.

• Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha
  • We prepare by fasting for Forty Days (Great Lent) and for Great and Holy Week.
  • We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Glorious Pascha.
  • We celebrate by feasting for Forty Days (until the Great Feast of the Ascension into Heaven of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ).
• Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
  • We prepare by fasting for Forty Days (tradition) or for fifthteen days (modern).
  • We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity.
  • We celebrate by feasting for Forty Days (until the Great Feast of the Holy Hypapanty of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Purification of The Theotokos.).
• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos
  • We prepare by fasting for fourteen days (Our Lady's Fast).
  • We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Dormition of The Theotokos.
  • We celebrate by feasting.
• Feast of the Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul
  • We prepare by fasting from the Monday after the First Sunday after Pentecost until June 28 Apostles Fast.
  • We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
  • We celebrate by feasting.

Another PreparationCelebration Cycles

• Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
  • We prepare by fasting (the Paramony).
  • We celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Holy Theophany.
  • We celebrate by feasting.

Feast Days

• Feast of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha - Fesakh - Hajmeh - (Date Occurs)
• Eleven of the Great Feast Days
  • Great Feast of the Holy Hypapanty of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Purification of The Theotokos - 2 February
  • Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ - 6 January
  • Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ - 6 August
  • Great Feast of Holy and Glorious Palm Sunday - Shaneeneh - Sunday before Pascha
  • Great Feast of the Ascension into Heaven of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ - 40th day of Pascha
  • Great Feast of Pentecost - 50th day of Pascha
  • Great Feast of the Nativity of The Theotokos - 8 September
  • Great Feast of the Entrance of The Theotokos into the Temple - 21 November
  • Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - 25 March
  • Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos - 15 August

Great Feast of the The Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

Because this feast is so important, the regulations for feasting on the Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary supersedes the regulations for fasting during Great Lent. This Great Feast Day is a day of feasting.

Fast Day

Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Lifegiving Holy Cross - 14 September is a day of fasting (fast and abstience).

More Information