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Liturgical calendar of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

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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] Available records show that the east-Syriac liturgical calendar in the present form is followed from the 7th century[2]

Liturgical seasons

The 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.

Annunciation (Subara)

Weeks of Annunciation (Subara) is the first season of the liturgical year. The liturgical year begins with the commemoration of biblical events leading to the annunciation and birth of Jesus as expected savior in the old testament. The season begins on the Sunday just before the first of December and ends with the feast of Epiphany that is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. As a preparation for the celebration of Christmas, this season also recalls the biblical history of creation, disobedience of Adam and Eve, the promise of salvation offered by God ad his covenant, and the prophecies about the Saviour. During this season church also meditate on the role of Mary in the history of the plan of salvation. The faithful practice abstinence during December 1–25 in preparation for Christmas; this period is called "25 days Lent".[3] Season of Annunciation has two sets of texts for liturgical prayers that vary according to season. And the first is used before Christmas to memorialize the anticipation of christ and the second text is used from December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Epiphany (Denha)

Weeks of Epiphany begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of Epiphany and runs to the beginning of Great Fast. The word Denha in Syriac means sunrise. Church considers the baptism of Jesus in Jordan as the first historical event when the Holy Trinity is revealed to humans in the humanity of Jesus Christ. Thus the season commemorates the manifestation or revelation of Jesus and Trinity to the world. During the season the church celebrates the feasts of Saints in connection with the manifestation of the Lord.

Great Fast (Sawma Rabba)

During these weeks the faithful meditate over the 40 days fast of Jesus and the culmination of his public life in passion, death and burial. The season begins 50 days before Easter on Peturta Sunday and comprises the whole period of Great Lent and culminates on Resurrection Sunday. Word Peturta in Syriac means "looking back" or "reconciliation". Faithful enter the weeks of Great Fast, celebrating the memory of all the Faithful Departed on the last Friday of Denha. According to the ecclesial tradition, the weeks of Great Fast is also an occasion to keep up the memory of the beloved Departed through special prayers, renunciation, almsgiving, and so on and thus prepare oneself for a good death and resurrection in Jesus Christ. During the fast faithful of Syro Malabar Church do not use meat, fish, egg, many dairy products, and most favorite food items, and also avoid sexual contacts on all days including Sundays and Feast days. Before European colonization, Indian Nasranis used to have food only once a day (after 3:00 pm) on all days during Great Fast.

Resurrection (Qyamta)

The weeks of Great Resurrection begin on the Resurrection Sunday and run to the feast of Pentecost. The Church celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord during these seven weeks: Jesus’ victory over death, sin, suffering and Satan. The church also commemorates various events that occurred after the resurrection of Christ, such as the visits of Jesus to the Apostles and the ascension of Jesus. According to eastern Christianity, the Feast of Resurrection is the most important and the greatest feast in a liturgical year. Therefore, the season commemorating the resurrection of Christ is also of prime importance in the church liturgy. The first week of the season is celebrated as the 'Week of weeks' as it is the week of the resurrection of Christ. New Sunday or St. Thomas Sunday, which falls on the first Sunday after Easter is a major feast in Syro-Malabar church.

Apostles (Slihe)

Weeks of apostles (Slihe) starts on the feast of Pentecost, fiftieth day of the Resurrection Sunday. During these days the church commemorates the inauguration of the church and the acts of apostles and church fathers through which the foundation of the church was laid. Church meditates on the virtues of the early church: fellowship, breaking of bread and sharing of wealth, and the fruits and gifts of Holy Spirit. The spread of the church all over the world as well as her growth is also remembered during this season.

Qaita (Summer)

Along the weeks of Qaita maturity and fruitfulness of church are commemorated. The Syriac word Qaita means “summer”. Summer is the time when grains and fruits mature and ripen. Thus it is a time of plentiful harvest for the Church. The fruits of the Church are those of holiness and martyrdom. While the sprouting and infancy of the Church were celebrated in 'the Weeks of the Apostles,' her development in different parts of the world by reflecting the image of the heavenly Kingdom and giving birth to many saints and martyrs are proclaimed during this season. Fridays of this Season are set apart for honoring Saints and Martyrs.

Eliyah-Sliba-Moses

The name of the seasons of Eliyah-Sliba-Moses takes their origin from the feast of the transfiguration of Jesus. And the seasons revolve around the exaltation of the cross on the feast of the glorious cross on September 14. During the seasons of Eliyah and Sliba church reminds the faithful of the heavenly bliss which is promised to be inherited at the end of earthly life and the church commemorates the experience of the bliss through various sacraments. While during the season of Moses church meditates upon the end of time and the last judgment. Many at times the season of Moses is regarded as a distinct and separate season from the other two since it has a distinct theme.

The season of Eliyah has a length of one to three Sundays. Season of Sliba starts on Sunday on or after the feast of the glorious cross and has a length of three to four weeks. The first Sunday of Sliba is always considered as the fourth Sunday of the combined season. The season of Moses always has four weeks.

Dedication of the church (Qudas Edta)

The weeks of the dedication of the church is the last liturgical season in the East Syriac rite.[4][5] It consists of four weeks and ends on the Saturday before Sunday between November 27 and December 3. The theme of the season is that the church is presented by Christ as his eternal bride before his father at the heavenly bride chamber. The period has its origin in the feast of the dedication of the church of Sephelcure or the Jewish feast of Hanukkah. However, the season was officially instituted by Patriarch Isho-Yahb III of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (647-657) by separating it from the season of Moses.[6]

Variable feast days

The following feast days are fixed to a particular weekday, rather than a particular calendar day.

Feast Date
The Divine Motherhood of Mary The Friday between December 30 and January 5
St. John the Baptist The first Friday of Epiphany (the Friday between January 7 and 13)
Sts. Peter and Paul The second Friday of Epiphany (the Friday between January 14 and 20)
The Evangelists The third Friday of Epiphany (the Friday between January 21 and 27)
St. Stephen The fourth Friday of Epiphany (the Friday between January 28 and February 3)
The Greek Fathers The fifth Friday of Epiphany (the Friday between February 4 and February 10)
The Syriac Fathers The third Friday before Lent[note 1]
The Patron of the Church The second Friday before Lent[note 2]
Commemoration of the Dead The Friday before Lent
Palm Sunday The Sunday before Easter
Pesaha Thursday The Thursday before Easter
Passion Friday The Friday before Easter
Great Saturday The Saturday before Easter
Easter Sunday
Feast of Martyrs (All Saints) The Friday after Easter
Saint Addai The Fifth Sunday of Resurrection (the fourth Sunday after Easter)
Ascension of Our Lord The sixth Thursday after Easter
Pentecost The First Sunday of Apostles (the seventh Sunday after Easter)
Friday of Gold Friday after the First Sunday of Apostles
The Holy Trinity The Second Sunday of Apostles
The Body and Blood of Christ Thursday after the Second Sunday of Apostles
Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday after the Third Sunday of Apostles
Immaculate Heart of Mary Saturday after the Third Sunday of Apostles
Seventy disciples of Jesus Friday after the Seventh Sunday of Apostles
Twelve Apostles First Sunday of Summer
St. James of Nisibis Friday after the First Sunday of Summer
St. Mari Friday after the Second Sunday of Summer
St. Simoni and seven sons Friday after the Fifth Sunday of Summer
St. Simon Barsaba and co-martyrs Friday after the Sixth Sunday of Summer
Mission Sunday Seventh Sunday of Elijah–Cross–Moses
The Dedication of the Church First Sunday of the Dedication of the Church
Christ the King Fourth Sunday of the Dedication of the Church
The Holy Family The Sunday between December 25 and 31

Fixed feast days

The 19 feast days marked with an asterisk (*) are commemorations found in the Appendix of the Syro-Malabar liturgical calendar.[7]

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Holy days of obligation

In the Syro-Malabar Church, there are 6 holy days of obligation:[8]

  1. Epiphany (January 6)
  2. Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29)
  3. The Ascension of Our Lord (sixth Thursday after Easter)
  4. St. Thomas (July 3)
  5. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
  6. Christmas (December 25)

Periods of fasting

The Syro-Malabar Church proposes the following days of fasting to the faithful.[9]

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

During the fasting of Great Lent, married couples abstain from intercourse.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 3.
  2. ^ Rabban Brik-lso, Preface to Hudra in Cambridge Add. 1981, 4v; J.Mateos, Lelya-Sapra, 463-464.
  3. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 3.
  4. ^ http://marthommamargam.blogspot.com/2013/04/17-weeks-of-dedication-of-church-qudas.html?m=1
  5. ^ https://dukhrana.in/period-of-the-dedication-of-the-church-qudas-edta/
  6. ^ Rabban Brik-lso, Preface to Hudra in Cambridge Add. 1981, 4v; J.Mateos, Lelya-Sapra, 463-464.
  7. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 68.
  8. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 5.
  9. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 4.
  10. ^ Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 19.

Notes

  1. ^ In years in which the First Sunday of Lent falls on February 26 or earlier, this feast is transferred to a later Friday.
  2. ^ In years in which the First Sunday of Lent falls on February 19 or earlier, this feast is transferred to a later Friday.
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