Cultural aspects in Christian and Islamic religions - unesdoc - Unesco

36
The Liturgical Cycle
and Holidays in the
Christian Religion
Just like the calendar year (or civil year) is based on
the earth revolving around the sun – so that we have
days, seasons, and years – the liturgical year is based
on the Church revolving around Christ, the Sun of
Righteousness, so that we have salvation stages based
on the thirty-three years in the life of Jesus-Christ, all in
one year.
This great structure that we call ‘the liturgical year’ was
not built all at once, in one step, or in one place. From
a nucleus – a real tiny point – it evolved and grew to
become a great tree with lofty branches.
The Church first gathered under the same liturgical
Season of Resurrection all of Resurrection, Ascension,
and Pentecost, as is witnessed by many texts that
we have today. Then, with time, these Holidays were
distributed as we know them today.
The yearly liturgical cycle in Byzantine Churches starts
on the first of September and lasts twelve months
starting with the Christmas season, then the Easter
season, and finally Pentecost.
The liturgical cycle in Syriac Churches (Eastern and
Western) start in November whereas the cycle of Saints
starts early October.