The Syro-Malabar Church is a Catholic Church sui iuris of the East Syriac Rite that adheres to the following calendar for the church's liturgical year. Like other liturgical calendars, the Syro-Malabar calendar loosely follows the sequence of pivotal events in the life of Jesus.[1]
Liturgical seasons
editThe Syro-Malabar liturgical year opens with the season of Annunciation, which begins on the Sunday between November 27 and December 3. This day corresponds to the First Sunday of Advent in the Western Roman Rite tradition.
The liturgical year is divided into the following nine seasons.[1]
| Season | Start Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annunciation (Subara) | The Sunday between November 27 and December 3 | 3–4 weeks |
| 2 | Nativity | December 25 | 1–2 weeks |
| 3 | Epiphany (Denha) | The Sunday between January 2 and 6; otherwise January 6, if no such Sunday exists | 4–9 weeks |
| 4 | Great Fast (Sawma Rabba) | The 7th Sunday before Easter[note 1] | 7 weeks |
| 5 | Resurrection (Qyamta) | Easter Sunday | 7 weeks |
| 6 | Apostles (Slihe) | Pentecost Sunday (the 7th Sunday after Easter) | 7 weeks |
| 7 | Summer (Qaita) | The 7th Sunday after Pentecost | 7 weeks |
| 8 | Elijah– Holy Cross–Moses (Elijah–Sliva–Moosha) | The 14th Sunday after Pentecost | 6–11 weeks |
| 9 | Dedication of the Church (Qudas–Edta) | The Sunday between October 30 and November 5 | 4 weeks |
Although the eighth season (Elijah–Cross–Moses) is considered one of the nine, it is also regarded as a combination of the three distinct seasons that are named (Elijah, Cross, and Moses).[2]
Holy days of obligation
editIn the Syro-Malabar Church, there are 6 holy days of obligation:[3]
- Epiphany (January 6)
- Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29)
- The Ascension of Our Lord (sixth Thursday after Easter)
- St. Thomas (July 3)
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
- Christmas (December 25)
Periods of fasting
editThe Syro-Malabar Church proposes the following days of fasting to the faithful:[4][5]
| Name | Dates |
|---|---|
| 25 Days' Lent | December 1–24 |
| Three Days' Lent | The third Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the beginning of Lent |
| Great Lent | The first Monday of Lent through Holy Saturday |
| Fifteen Days' Lent | August 1–14 |
| Eight Days' Lent | September 1–7 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 3.
- ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). pp. 50–58.
- ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 5.
- ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 4.
- ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 19.
Notes
edit- ^ In the Syro-Malabar calendar, Lent starts one week earlier than it does in the Roman Rite tradition.
External links
edit- Syro-Malabar Commission for Liturgy
- www.christianhomily.com Sunday and Feast Homily Resources in English and Homily Videos in Malayalam by Fr. Abraham Mutholath according to the Syro-Malabar Calendar Set one and two.
- Homily Videos in Malayalam by Fr. Abraham Mutholath
- www.bibleinterpretation.org Bible Interpretation by Rev. Abraham Mutholath in English.
- www.biblereflection.org Bible Interpretation with reflection by Rev. Abraham Mutholath in English.