Orthodox Calendar 2026
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The Orthodox Calendar: A Guide to the Whole Liturgical Year
The Orthodox calendar shapes the spiritual life of the faithful throughout the year: great feasts, fasting seasons, the feast day of every saint, and of course the date of Orthodox Easter, from which everything else follows. Unlike the civil calendar, it is not made up of fixed days alone: some of its markers shift every year, while others stay the same. This tool brings both systems together in one place, so the dates that matter can be checked at a glance.
Julian and Gregorian Calendar: Two Systems, One Faith
Most Orthodox Churches now follow the revised Julian calendar for fixed feasts, which is identical to the civil Gregorian calendar. Others, including the Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Churches, keep the old Julian calendar, now thirteen days behind the Gregorian. The date of Orthodox Easter, however, is calculated separately, following an ancient computation shared by nearly every Orthodox Church, which is why it rarely falls on the same day as Western Easter.
The Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Liturgical Calendar
The Orthodox liturgical year is built around Pascha, the feast of feasts, and the twelve great feasts:
- Nativity of the Theotokos
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- Presentation of the Theotokos in the Temple
- Nativity of Christ (Orthodox Christmas)
- Theophany (Baptism of Christ)
- Meeting of the Lord in the Temple
- Annunciation
- Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)
- Ascension
- Pentecost
- Transfiguration
- Dormition of the Theotokos
Great Lent and the Orthodox Fasting Seasons
The Orthodox calendar includes four great fasting seasons, alongside the weekly fast kept on Wednesdays and Fridays:
- Great Lent, before Pascha
- the Apostles' Fast, of variable length after Pentecost
- the Dormition Fast, before the feast on August 15
- the Nativity Fast, before Orthodox Christmas
Each fasting season follows its own dietary rules and includes days of relaxation, particularly on weekends.
How the Date of Orthodox Easter Is Calculated
The date of Orthodox Easter depends on an ancient computation based on the Julian calendar and the lunar cycle, distinct from the calculation used by Western Churches. Because Pentecost, the Ascension, and the start of the Apostles' Fast are all calculated from it, the entire liturgical year rearranges itself around this movable date each year.
How to Use the Orthodox Calendar Every Day
- Check the tool above for today's date in both calendars
- Spot upcoming fasting seasons early to plan your meals
- Find the feast day of your patron saint and those of your loved ones
- Prepare ahead for the great feasts and your prayer corner
Why is Orthodox Christmas celebrated on January 7?
This date corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar, still followed by the Russian, Serbian, and Georgian Churches, now thirteen days behind the civil calendar.
How many fasting days does the Orthodox calendar have in a year?
Between the four great fasting seasons and the weekly fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, a practicing believer keeps dietary restrictions for a large part of the year.
Does the Orthodox calendar change every year?
Fixed feasts stay the same from year to year, but every feast and fasting season tied to Pascha shifts, since the date of Orthodox Easter itself changes each year.