What Calendar Does The Russian Orthodox Church Use
A Personal Experience
As a person who has always been fascinated by different cultures and religions, I was recently introduced to the Russian Orthodox Church. While attending a service, I noticed that the calendar used by the church was different from the one I was familiar with. This sparked my curiosity and led me to research more about the calendar used by the Russian Orthodox Church.
What is the Russian Orthodox Church Calendar?
The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, which is named after Julius Caesar. This calendar was introduced in 45 BC and was used throughout Europe until the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582. However, the Russian Orthodox Church continued to use the Julian calendar even after the Gregorian calendar became the standard for most of the world.
Why does the Russian Orthodox Church use the Julian calendar?
The Russian Orthodox Church continues to use the Julian calendar because it was the calendar used by the church before the Gregorian calendar was introduced. The church believes that the Julian calendar is more accurate in calculating the date of Easter, which is the most important celebration in the Orthodox Church.
What is the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars?
The main difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is the method used to calculate leap years. The Julian calendar adds a leap day every four years, while the Gregorian calendar skips leap years that are divisible by 100 but not by 400. This means that the Gregorian calendar is more accurate than the Julian calendar, but the difference is minimal.
Events and Festivals in the Russian Orthodox Church Calendar
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates many events and festivals throughout the year. Some of the most important celebrations include:
- Christmas – celebrated on January 7th according to the Julian calendar
- Epiphany – celebrated on January 19th
- Great Lent – a period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter
- Easter – celebrated on a different date than the Western Christian Easter, usually in late April or early May
- Pentecost – celebrated 50 days after Easter
- Feast of the Transfiguration – celebrated on August 19th
- Feast of the Assumption – celebrated on August 28th
- Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin – celebrated on September 21st
- Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God – celebrated on October 14th
- Feast of the Entrance of the Virgin into the Temple – celebrated on November 21st
Celebrating Events and Festivals in the Russian Orthodox Church
Each event and festival in the Russian Orthodox Church calendar is celebrated with great reverence and tradition. The celebrations usually involve attending church services, lighting candles, singing hymns, and sharing meals with family and friends.
During Great Lent, Orthodox Christians fast from meat, dairy, and other animal products for 40 days. This period of fasting is a time for reflection and spiritual growth. On Easter, the fast is broken with a feast that includes traditional foods such as kulich (a sweet bread) and paskha (a sweet cheese spread).
Question and Answer
Q: Is the Russian Orthodox Church the only church that uses the Julian calendar?
A: No, other Orthodox Churches also use the Julian calendar, including the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Georgian Orthodox Church, and the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Q: How does the Julian calendar affect the date of Easter?
A: The Julian and Gregorian calendars have a difference of 13 days. This means that the date of Easter in the Russian Orthodox Church is usually different from the date of Easter in Western Christian churches.
Q: Why did some countries switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar?
A: The switch was made to bring the calendar in line with the solar year and correct the inaccuracies in the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in order to fix the error in the Julian calendar, which caused the date of the spring equinox to gradually drift earlier in the year.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church?
A: While both churches share many similarities in terms of beliefs and practices, there are some significant differences. One of the main differences is that the Orthodox Church does not recognize the authority of the Pope, while the Catholic Church does.
Q: What is the significance of the feast days in the Orthodox Church?
A: The feast days are an important part of Orthodox Christian tradition and serve as a way to honor and remember important events and figures in the history of the church. They also provide an opportunity for Orthodox Christians to come together and celebrate their faith.
Q: How do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas?
A: Orthodox Christians usually fast in the days leading up to Christmas and attend church services on Christmas Eve. The celebration of Christmas includes lighting candles, singing hymns, and sharing a festive meal with family and friends.