Presentation

This calendar begins on the first Sunday of November according to the Syrian tradition, a custom close to the Western tradition. It includes the whole of the feasts and biblical readings of the liturgical cycle. It also presents the saints of the universal Church as well as the principal saints who have illuminated the history of the Celtic Orthodox Church. It allows for the free choice of each parish to celebrate its local saints.

This calendar does not propose to serve as an exhaustive list of all our saints, as they are too numerous to all appear here.

The Sunday and Feast-day readings are based upon the non- Roman Western type of Lectionaries-that is, for the most part upon the Mozarabic Lectionary and certain contributions from the Luxeuil or Bobbio Lectionary. While studying these different Lectionaries we noticed that many of the readings were identical.

The ancient Lectionaries did not include readings for the days of the week, since no Eucharistic celebrations were held other than on Sunday, with the exception of the period of Lent in the Mozarabic Lectionary. They included a fixed cycle for the period extending from Advent to Christmas, and for the Sundays after the Theophany until the first Sunday of Lent. For all the Sundays outside of Lent and the Paschal season, the cycle resumed after Pentecost until the first Sunday of Advent.

The ancient Western tradition of the Eucharistic Liturgy comprised three readings: from the Old Testament, the Pauling or Catholic Epistles, and the Gospel. For the weekday readings we have drawn from the biblical books of the Western and Eastern tradition.

As the specialist of the Mozarabic Calendar, Dom Jordi Pinel, explains: “There is no structure in the readings from what is called the daily time: For the Sundays outside of Advent, Lent, and the Eastertide, the offices and Sunday masses composed what is called the de quotidiano. For the most part they were considered as independent celebrations and did not form a cycle properly speaking.” We noticed that there were great similarities in the cycle of the periscopes of the Gospels and Epistles of the so-called quotidiano Sundays in the in the Mozarabic and ancient Milanese tradition. We therefore chosen from the Sundays after Pentecost in these two cycles, though they had no logical sequence between them.

We follow the western tradition regarding liturgical colors:

Violet: From the first day of Advent to Christmas Eve. From the Sunday before Ash Wednesday to the eve of Pascha (Easter). For the Liturgies of the deceased and of the sick. White: From Christmas to the Sunday of the Wedding of Cana included. From Pascha (Easter) to the eve of Pentecost. On the feasts of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Mother of God, and non-martyr saints. Red: Pentecost Sunday. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. All Saints’ Day. At the Liturgies of the Holy Spirit. At the Liturgies of the Holy Martyrs. Green: From the first Sunday to the last Sunday after Pentecost. From the Monday after the Sunday of the Wedding of Cana to the Saturday before the Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday. Principal solemn feasts

The Epiphany of the Lord – January 6 The Theophany or Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan – First Sunday after Epiphany The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple – February 2 Ash Wednesday – March 1er Annunciation to the Most Holy Mother of God – March 25 Palm Sunday – April 9 Pascha, also called Easter – April 16 The Ascension of Jesus Christ – May 25 Pentecost – June 4 Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ – August 6 Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God – August 15 Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God – September 8 Exaltation of the Most Holy Cross – September 14 Entrance into the Temple of the Most Holy Mother of God – November 21 Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – December 25 Other important feasts: Chair of Saint Peter at Antioch – February 22 Symeon the New Theologian – March 12 Aristobulus – March 15 Patrick – March 17 Columba – June 9 Restoration and feast of all the Saints and Righteous of the C.O.C. – June 15

This is the date of the consecration of Bishop Jules Ferrette by Metropolitan Boutros of the Syriac Orthodox Church; took place in Damascus on June 2, 1866, according to the Julian calendar. Nativity of John the Baptist – June 24 Peter and Paul – June 29 Dormition of Saint Anne – July 26 Joseph of Arimathea – July 31 Tugdual of Saint-Dolay – August 11 Clare of Assisi – August 11 (feasted on the 12th) Feast of Creation on the eve of the solemnity of Saint Francis of Assisi Francis of Assisi – October 4 Clothilde of California – October 25 Gregory of Parumala – November 3 Columban – November 23 Nicholas of Feltham – December 31 Opening of the Saint Symeon and Saint Tugdual Theological School: (Variable date beginning of October) Readings for the Liturgy: Eph 1:16-19; 3:19-21 Hb 13:7-9 Eph 3: 20-21 Mt 5:13-20 In the Parishes Notre-Dame-du-Signe Parish (Saint-Dolay – 56) Saint Francis of Assisi – October 4 Our Lady of the Sign, dedication of the cathedral at Holy Presence Monastery – November 27 A community meal where we share what each one has brought will follow the Eucharistic Liturgy of Pascha (Easter), Pentecost, and the feasts of Saint Tugdual, Saint Francis, Our Lady of the Sign, and Christmas Eve. Sainte-Aure Parish (Paris – 75) Saint Aurea – October 4 Saint-Maximin-et-Saint-Vérédème Parish (Saint-Maximin – 30) Saint Maximinus of Aix – June 8 Saint Veredemus – June 17 Saint-Théodore et St François Parish (Sion – Switzerland) Saint Nicholas of Flüe – March 31 Saint Beatus of Lungern – May 9 Saint Theodore du Valais – August 16 Saint Amatus – September 13 Saint Maurice of Agaunum – September 22 Saint-Gwenolé Parish (Beuzec-cap-Sizun – 29) Saint Gwenolé – March 3

Saint-Tugdual Parish (Saint-Hilaire – 44) Saint Tugdual – August 11 Saint Gwenn’s Parish (Bridport – England) Saint Gwenn – October 18 Saint Francis of Assisi Parish (Toms Brook – United States) Saint Francis of Assisi – October 4 Saint Clotilde of California – October 25 Other Feast Days for Great Britain Saint David – March 1st Saint George – April 23 Rules for fasting: ♦ Bread and water every ordinary Friday. ♦ Advent begins on November 13. The fast is partially lifted on Sunday. Everyone, except monks who observe a strict fast until the Feast of the Nativity, is allowed to eat animal sub-products (eggs or milk products). ♦ Great Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – strict fast (no animal products). ♦ Eucharistic: Morning Liturgy – begins at midnight. Liturgy during Lent (5:30 P.M.) – begins at noon. No fasting: From Christmas to the closing of the Theophany. From Pascha (Easter) to Pentecost. Lenten Services: The Eucharistic Liturgy replaces Vespers every Wednesday and Friday from Ash Wednesday to Pascha (Easter). The Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian is recited at the end of every office during Lent from Ash Wednesday to Palm Saturday. They are omitted on Fridays after Vespers and Sundays until None inclusively. No Angelus is recited during Holy Week.

The Prayer of Saint Ephrem (recited kneeling down)

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth,

faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity,

humility, patience and love to Your servant.

Yes, O Lord and King, grant that I may see my own errors

and not to judge my brother, O You who are blessed unto the Age of ages,

Amen.

(Performing a Metany each time we repeat 3 times:) O God, purify me a sinner!

How to use this calendar: Reading of Biblical References: For example: 2Co 3:4-15, 18; 4:1; 6:13-15a 2Co: refer to the Biblical abbreviations on page 11; The first number: the chapter; The following numbers: the verses; A dash between 2 Arabic numerals (4-15) means that verse 4 is read to verse 15 inclusively; A comma (15,18) means that we read verse 15 and then skip to verse 18; A semicolon means a change of chapter; [a] means the first part of the verse; [b] the second. For the example above we read: 2nd Epistle to Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 4 to verse 15 inclusively; then verse 18 to Chapter 4, verse 1; then to chapter 6, verse 13 until the first part of verse 15 inclusively. Psalms: We remind you that the Psalms in this calendar are numbered according to the Septuagint—that is, the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

Alphabetical Abbreviations of Biblical Books Ac Acts of the Apostles Am Amos Ap Apocalypse or Revelation Ba Baruch Cant Canticle of Canticles or Song of Songs 1Ch 1 Chronicles 2Ch 2 Chronicles 1Co 1 Corinthians 2Co 2 Corinthians Col Colossians Dn Daniel Dn Daniel Dt Deuteronomy Eccles Ecclesiastes or Qoheleth Eph Ephesians Es Esther Ex Exodus Ezk Ezekiel Ezr Ezra Gal Galatians Gn Genesis Hab Habakkuk Hb Hebrews Hg Haggai Ho Hosea Is Isaiah Jas James Jb Job Jdg Judges Jdt Judith Jer Jeremiah Jl Joel Jn John 1Jn 1 John 2Jn 2 John 3Jn 3 John Jon Jonah Jos Joshua Jude Jude 1Kg 1 Kings 2Kg 2 Kings La Lamentations Lk Luke Lv Leviticus

1Mc 1 Maccabees 2Mc 2 Maccabees Mi Micah Mk Mark Ml Malachi Mt Matthew Na Nahum Ne Nehemiah Nm Numbers Ob Obadiah 1P 1 Peter 2P 2 Peter Phil Philippians Phm Philemon Prov Proverbs Ps Psalms Rm Romans Ru Ruth Si Ecclesiasticus or Sirach 1Sm 1 Samuel 2Sm 2 Samuel Tb Tobit 1Th 1 Thessalonians 2Th 2 Thessalonians Ti Titus 1Tm 1 Timothy 2Tm 2 Timothy Wis Wisdom (of Solomon) Zec Zechariah Zep Zephaniah, Sophronias

Beginning of the Liturgical Year 2016-2017 (Beginning of the Advent Fast) Saturday, 12 November 2016 Renatus, Bishop of Angers (422) Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne (663) Cadwallader, King of Wales, founder of Kilcummin Monastery (689) Cummian the Fada, abbot of Kilcummin Monastery (662) Machar, of Iona, came there with St Columba (6th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 12:1-6 Hb 1:1-14 Mk 13:1-8

1st Sunday of Advent Sunday, 13 November 2016 John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, Father of the Church (407) Chillien, monk in Ireland, hermit at Aubigny-en-Artois (7th c.) Caillin of Ferns, Bishop (7th c.) Gredifael, Abbot of Whitland of Dyfed, in Wales (7th c.) ♦ Matins: Mt 28:1-15 ♦ Liturgy: Is 2:1-5; 4:2-3 Rm 11:25-31 Mt 3:1-10

Monday, 14 November 2016 Gregory Palamas, Bishop of Thessalonica, Father of the Church, defender of hesychasm and theosis (1360) Dyfrig, 1st Bishop-Abbot of Llandaff, hermit (c.550) Sidonius of Ireland, Abbot-Founder of Saint-Saëns-en-Bray (c.690) Modan of Scotland (possibly 8th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 10:3-5 Hb 2:5-9 Mk 13:14-18

Tuesday, 15 November 2016 Malo, Bishop-Abbot of Llancarfan, 1st Bishop of Aleth (630) Desiderius, Bishop of Cahors (655) Paisius Velichkovsky, monk in Moldavia (1794) Machell [Machudd] of Llanfechell, Anglesey (7th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 18:3-5 Hb 2:5-9 Mk 13:19-23

Wednesday, 16 November 2016 Emilianus, monk at Saujon, hermit at Saint-Émilion (767) Afan, Bishop-Abbot at Llanafan (6th c.) Othmar, Abbot of Saint Gall (759) ♦ Liturgy: Is 24:7-16a Hb 2:10-18 Mk 13:19-23

Thursday, 17 November 2016 Hilda, nun at Chelles Monastery, Abbess-Foundress of Whitby (680) Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea (270) Gregory, Bishop of Tours (595) ♦ Liturgy: Is 14:1-8 Hb 3:1-6 Mk 13:24-31

Friday, 18 November 2016 Maudez, Prince of Ulster, Abbot of the Isle of Lavret (5th or 6th c.) Mummolus [Momble] of Ireland, 3rd Abbot of Lagny (690) Mawes, Welsh hermit and abbot, founded churches in Cornwall and Brittany (6th c.) Keverne of Cornwall (6th c.) Mabyn of Cornwall (6th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 16:1-10 Hb 3:7-19 Mk 13:32-37

Saturday, 19 November 2016 James, hermit at Sasseau (865) Obadiah, Prophet in Samaria (9th c. BC) Ermenburga, foundress of convent of Minster, on Thanet Island (700) Ronan, 1st Abbot of Drumshallon (665) Medana, virgin of Galloway (8th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 24:16b-23 Hb 4:1-13 Lk 17:20-24

2nd Sunday of Advent Sunday, 20 November 2016 (Forefeast of the Entry into the Temple) Autbodus of Ireland, hermit near Laon (690) Maxentia, princess of Ireland, virgin and martyr (death unknown) Gregory the Decapolite, monk at Constantinople (8th – 9th c.) Colman, born at Dalriada, Argyllshire, Wales (death unknown) Edmund, King of Norfolk, martyr (870) Humbert of East Anglia, martyr (870) Eval, Bishop of Cornwall (6th c.) ♦ Matins: Mk 16:1-8 ♦ Liturgy: Is 28:16-17; 29:17-24 2Co 4:1-6

Mt 11:2-15 ♦ Vespers: Ps 44 and 45 ♦ 1st Nocturn: Ex 40:1-5, 9-16, 34-35

Monday, 21 November 2016 Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Mother of God (1st c.) Columbanus the Younger, monk of Bangor-on-Dee (615) Wendelin, monk of Luxeuil, 1st Abbot of Lèse (650) Digain, Prince of Cornwall, confessor (5th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 27:1-3, 12-13 Hb 4:14-16 Mt 8:5-11 Entry into the Temple: ♦ 3rd Nocturn: 1K 7:51 – 8:1, 3-7, 9-11 ♦ Matins: Lk 1:39-49, 56 ♦ Liturgy: Ez 43:27-44, 4 Hb 9:1-7 Lk 10:38-42; 11:27-28

Tuesday, 22 November 2016 Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and Onesimus, disciples (1st c.) Cecilia, Valerian and Tiburtius, martyrs at Rome (230) ♦ Liturgy: Is 25:1-9 Hb 5:1-6 Lk 10:21-24

Wednesday, 23 November 2016 Columban of Ireland, Abbot-Founder of Luxeuil and Bobbio (615) Clement I, Bishop of Rome, martyr, Father of the Church (101) Trudo (or Trond), monk at Stavelot-Malmedy Abbot-Founder de Saint-Trond (695) Deiniol the Younger, Abbot of Bangor, in Wales (621)

♦ Liturgy: Is 40:21-31 Hb 5:7-10 Mt 15:29-37 Columban: ♦ Vespers: Ps 15 and 18 ♦ Liturgy: Wis 18:1a, 3-4 Col 3:12-17 Jn 15:12-17

Thursday, 24 November 2016 Leopardinus, Abbot of Saint Symphorian de Vivaris Pourçain, Abbot de Miranda (527) Walata Petros of Ethiopia (1643-1694) Colman, 1st Bishop of Cloyne (600) Eanfleda, wife of King Oswy of Northumbria (700) ♦ Liturgy: Is 29:9-24 Hb 5:11-14 Mt 7:21, 24-27

Friday, 25 November 2016 Catherine, martyr at Alexandria (310) Mercurius, martyr at Caesarea of Cappadocia (250) Alnoth, hermit and martyr at Stowe (700) Teilo, Abbot-Bishop of Llandaff (560) ♦ Liturgy: Is 5:1-7 Hb 6:1-8 Mt 9:27-31

(Forefeast of Our Lady of the Sign) Saturday, 26 November 2016 Romphaire, of Northumbria, Bishop of Coutances (728) Basolus (also called Basle), Founder of Verzy (620) Egelwine, Prince of Wessex, hermit at Athelney, Somersetshire, England (7th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 33:15-22 Hb 6:9-15 Lk 5:17-26 ♦ Vespers: Ps 44 and 121 ♦ 1st Nocturn: Akathist Hymn

3rd Sunday of Advent Sunday, 27 November 2016 Our Lady of the Sign Gregory the Sinaite, monk of Mount Sinai (1260-1346) Acharius, monk of Luxeuil, Bishop of Tournai and Noyon (640)

♦ Matins: Lk 24:1-12 ♦ Liturgy: Is 62:10-12; 45:8 Rm 8:3-6 Jn 1:15-28 Our Lady of the Sign: ♦ 3rd Nocturn: 1K 8:22-23, 27-30 Si 24:22-31 ♦ Liturgy: Is 7:10-14 Ap 12:1-6 Lk 1:39-49

Monday, 28 November 2016 Fionnchu, 2nd Abbot of Bangor (6th c.) Juthwara, martyr at Lanteglos-by-Camelford (6th c.) Herman, apostle of Alaska (1836)

♦ Liturgy: Is 38:10-20 Hb 6:15-20 Mt 9:35, 10:1, 5b-8

Tuesday, 29 November 2016 Jacob of Sarugh, Bishop of Batnan, in Syria (521) Saturninus, 1st Bishop of Toulouse, martyr (257) Brendan the Younger, Abbot of Birr (573) Sadwen, confessor in Wales (6th c.) Ethewin [Egelwine] of Athelney, Somersetshire, England (7th c.) ♦ Liturgy: Is 63:7-16 Hb 7:1-3 Jn 1:35-42

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 Andrew the First Called, Apostle at Patras, martyr (62) Tugdual, Wales and Brittany, 1st Bishop of Treher (Treguier) (564) Frumentius, 1st Bishop of Aksum (380)

♦ Liturgy: Is 51:1-3 Hb 7:4-10 Mt 4:12-22 Andrew: ♦ Vespers: Ps 18 ♦ Liturgy: Wis 9:17; 10:4-6; 14:5-7; 16:8 Gal 2:19-20; 6:14, 17-18 Mt 16:24-25