Liturgical calendar of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Syro Malabar Church has its own seasons around the year.^[1] They are fixed according to the flow of salvation history. Concentrating themselves on 'Iso M'siha, i.e., on the historical life of Jesus Christ, the believers are led to the eschatological fulfilment, viz., the heavenly bliss, in this special arrangement of liturgical seasons.^[2]

Mar Toma Nazranis (St. Thomas Christians) begin their liturgical year on the Sunday that comes between November 27 and December 3.

Seasons and Salvation History

The arrangement of the Seasons in the Liturgical Year is based on Six Central Events on Celebrations of the Salvation History. They are:

1. Nativity of Iso
2. Resurrection of Iso
3. Pentecost
4. Transfiguration
5. Glorious Cross
6. Parousia

Fixing of Seasons

All seasons begin on Sundays. 52 weeks are divided into Nine Seasons. Usually, there are seven weeks each for every Season; the first and last are permanent exceptions; five or six for Subara and four for Qudas-Edta. Resurrection of Iso-M'siha and Finding of the Glorious Cross are the two deciding Celebrations in the Liturgical Year. Resurrection is celebrated on the Sunday that follows the full moon day after March twenty first, the Spring Equinox. Finding of the Glorious Cross is celebrated always on September fourteenth.^[3]

Liturgical Year and Gregorian Calendar 2014-2015

2015th Year after the birth of M'siha

	Seasons	Beginning	End
1	Annunciation (Subara)	November 30, 2014	January 3, 2015
2	Epiphany (Denha)	January 4, 2015	February 14, 2015
3	Great Fast (Sawma Rabba)	February 15, 2015	April 4, 2015
4	Resurrection (Qyamta)	April 5, 2015	May 23, 2015
5	Apostles (Slihe)	May 24, 2015	July 11, 2015
6	Summer (Qaita)	July 12, 2015	August 29, 2015
7	Eliyah-Cross (Eliyah-Sliba)	August 30, 2015	October 10, 2015
8	Weeks of Moses (Muse)	October 11, 2015	October 31, 2015
9	Dedication of the Church (Qudas-Edta)	November 1, 2015	November 28, 2015

The Seasons

Weeks of Annunciation (Subara)

It is a season of Good News, viz., the Season of the Annunciation of Salvation. November 30, 2014 First Sunday December 1, 2014 25-day Fast begins December 6, 2014 Shliha Mar Andreos December 7, 2014 Second Sunday December 8, 2014 Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary December 14, 2014 Third Sunday December 18, 2014 Miracle of St. Thomas Cross December 21, 2014 Fourth Sunday December 25, 2014 Nativity of Isho December 27, 2014 Shliha Mar Yohannan December 28, 2014 Fifth Sunday Holy Infants January 1, 2015 Name Iso January 2, 2015 Mary, Mother of Jesus January 3, 2015 Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Weeks of Annunciation Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I Nov 30 Dec 1 25-day Fast begins 2 3 4 5 6 Shliha Mar Andreos II 7 8 Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary 9 10 11 12 13 III 14 15 16 17 18 Mar Toma Sliba 19 20 IV 21 22 23 24 25 Nativity of Isho 26 27 Mar Yohannan V 28 29 Holy Infants 30 31 Jan 1 Name 'Isho' 2 Mary, Mother of Isho 3 Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Weeks of Epiphany (Denha)

The public life of Iso-Msiha is celebrated during the Weeks of Epiphany. January 4, 2015 First Sunday January 6, 2015 Epiphany of Iso-Msiha January 9, 2015 First Friday of Epiphany - Mar Yohannan Mamdana (St.John the Baptist) January 11, 2015 Second Sunday January 16, 2015 Second Friday of Epiphany - Apostles Peter and Paul January 18, 2015 Third Sunday January 20, 2015 Sahda Mar Sebastianos January 23, 2015 Third Friday of Epiphany - Holy Evangelists January 24, 2015 Conversion of Maar Paulos January 25, 2015 Fourth Sunday January 26, 2015 3-day fast begins (Rogation of Ninivites), Shlihe Mar Thimothy & Mar Titus January 28, 2015 3-day fast ends January 29, 2015 Thursday after Rogation January 30, 2015 Fourth Friday of EpiphanyMartyr Esthapanos February 1, 2015 Fifth Sunday,Our Lord's Entrance to the Temple February 6, 2015 Fifth Friday of Epiphany -Fathers of the Church, Patron of the Parish Church February 8, 2015 Sixth Sunday February 13, 2015 Eighth Friday of Epiphany - Departed Faithful (All Souls' Day)

Weeks of Epiphany (Denha) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I Jan 4 5 6 Epiphany of Isho 7 8 9 Mar Yohannan Mamdana 10 II 11 12 13 14 15 16 Apostles Peter and Paul 17 III 18 19 20 21 22 23 Holy Evangelists 24 Conversion of Mar Paulos IV 25 26, Rogation of Ninivites 27, Rogation of Ninivites 28, Rogation of Ninivites 29, Thursday after Rogation 30 Martyr Esthapanos 31 V Feb 1 2 3 4 5 6 Patron of the Parish Church 7 VI 8 9 10 11 12 13 Departed Faithful (All Souls' Day) 14

Weeks of Great Fast (Sawma Rabba)

During the Weeks of Great Fast, Mar Toma Nazranis celebrate the Passion and Death of 'Iso-Msiha' February 15, 2015 First Sunday, Petratha February 16, 2015 50-day Fast begins February 22, 2015 Second Sunday March 1, 2015 Third Sunday March 8, 2015 Fourth Sunday March 11, 2015 Mid-Fasting March 15, 2015 Fifth Sunday March 18, 2015 Mar Cyril of Jerusalem March 19, 2015 Mar Yawsep March 22, 2015 Sixth Sunday March 25, 2015 Annunciation to Mary March 29, 2015 Seventh Sunday, Osana(Palm) Sunday April 2, 2015 Thursday of Pesha April 3, 2015 Friday of Passion April 4, 2015 Great Saturday

Weeks of Great Fast (Sawma Rabba) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I Feb 15 Petratha 16 50-day Fast begins 17 18 19 20 21 II 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 III March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IV 8 9 10 11 Mid-Fasting 12 13 14 V 15 16 17 18 Mar Cyril of Jerusalem 19 Mar Yawsep 20 21 VI 22 23 24 25 Annunciation to Mary 26 27 28 VII 29 Osana(Palm) Sunday 30 31 April 1 2 Thursday of Pesha 3 Friday of Passion 4 Great Saturday

Weeks of Resurrection (Qyamta)

April 5, 2015 First Sunday, Great Sunday of Resurrection April 6, 2015 Week of Weeks April 7, 2015 Week of Weeks April 8, 2015 Week of Weeks April 9, 2015 Week of Weeks April 10, 2015 First Friday of Resurrection - All Confessors'(Saints') Day April 12, 2015 New Sunday Feast of the Profession of Faith by Mar Toma Shliha April 19, 2015 Third Sunday April 24, 2015 Martyr Mar Giwargis April 25, 2015 Mar Markose Evangelist April 26, 2015 Fourth Sunday May 1, 2015 Mar Yawsep, the Worker May 2, 2015 Mar Athanasius May 3, 2015 Fifth Sunday May 4, 2015 Slihe Mar Philippose and Yakob May 10, 2015 Sixth Sunday May 13, 2015 Sliha Mar Mathias May 14, 2015 Ascension of 'Iso-Msiha' May 15, 2015 Marth Mariam, Protecress of New Growth April 17, 2015 Seventh Sunday

Weeks of Resurrection (Qyamta) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I April 5 Great Sunday of Resurrection 6 Week of Weeks 7 Week of Weeks 8 Week of Weeks 9 Week of Weeks 10 All Confessors (Saints) 11 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 III 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 IV 26 27 28 29 30 May 1 Mar Yawsep, the Worker 2 V 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 VI 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 VII 17 18, 19 20 21 22 23

Weeks of Apostles (Slihe)

The great evangelizing ministry of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus is the main theme of this season. May 24, 2015 First Sunday, Pentecost May 29, 2015 Friday of Gold May 29, 2015 Saint Justin May 31, 2015 Second Sunday, Visitation to Elizabeth June 4, 2015 Precious Body and Blood of Jesus June 7, 2015 Third Sunday June 8, 2015 Blessed Mariam Thresia June 9, 2015 Mar Aprem, Father of the Church June 11, 2015 Sliha Mar Barnabas June 12, 2015 Sacred Heart of Jesus June 14, 2015 Fourth Sunday June 21, 2015 Fifth Sunday June 26, 2015 Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha June 27, 2015 Mar Ireneus, Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha June 28, 2015 Sixth Sunday, Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha June 29, 2015 Shlihe Peter and Paul June 30, 2015 Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha July 1, 2015 Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha, July 2, 2015 Preparing for Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha July 3, 2015 Dukrana of Mar Toma Sliha July 5, 2015 Seventh Sunday July 10, 2015 70 Disciples of Iso

Weeks of Apostles (Slihe) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I May 24 Pentecost 25 26 27 28 29 30 II 31 June 1 2 3 4 5 6 III 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 IV 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 V 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 VI 28 29 30 July 1 2 3 4 VII 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Weeks of Summer (Qaita)

The growth of the Church as a faithful community is the main theme of this season. July 12, 2015 First Sunday '12 Apostles: Nusardeil' July 15, 2015 Mar Quriaqos and mother Yolethe July 16, 2015 Mother of Mount Carmel July 17, 2015 First Friday, Mar Yakob of Nisibis July 19, 2015 Second Sunday July 24, 2015Second Friday, Mar Addai and Mar Mari, Teachers of the East July 25, 2015 Shliha Mar Yakob July 26, 2015 Third Sunday July 27, 2015 Saints Joachim and Anna July 28, 2015 Marth Alphonsa August 1, 2015 15-day fast begins August 2, 2015 Fourth Sunday August 6, 2015 Transfiguration of 'Iso-Msiha' August 9, 2015 Fifth Sunday August 14, 2015 Fifth Friday, Saint Simoni and her 7 sons August 15, 2015 'Assumption of Mary' August 16, 2015 Sixth Sunday August 21, 2015 Sixth Friday, Mar Simon Bar Sabbai and Companions August 23, 2015 Seventh Sunday August 24, 2015 Shliha Mar Bartholomeo August 29, 2015 Marth Euprasia

Weeks of Summer (Qaita) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 II 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 III 26 27 28 29 30 31 August 1 IV 2 3 4 5 6 Transfiguration of Isho 7 8 V 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Assumption of Mary VI 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 VII 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Weeks of Eliyah-Cross (Eliyah-Sliba)

August 30, 2015 First Sunday September 1, 2015 8-day fast begins September 6, 2015 Second Sunday September 8, 2015 'Nativity of Mary' September 13, 2015 Third Sunday September 14, 2015 Finding of Mar Sliha September 20, 2015 Fourth Sunday September 21, 2015 Shliha Mar Mathai September 27, 2015 Fifth Sunday October 1, 2015 Saint Theresa of Lisieux October 3, 2015 Saint Francis of Assisi October 4, 2015 Sixth Sunday

Weeks of Eliyah-Cross (Eliyah-Sliba) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I August 30 31 Sept 1 2 3 4 5 II 6 7 8 Nativity of Mary 9 10 11 12 III 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 IV 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 V 27 28 29 30 Oct 1 2 3 VI 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Weeks of Moses (Muse)

October 18, 2015 First Sunday October 15, 2015 Saint Therese of Avila, Doctor of the Church October 16, 2015 Blessed Augustine Thevarparampil (Kunjachan) October 17, 2015 Saint Ignatius of Antioch October 19, 2015 Mar Luka, Evangelist October 25, 2015 Second Sunday October 28, 2015 Slihe Mar Simon and Yuda Thadeus

Weeks of Moses (Muse) Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 II 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 III 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Weeks of Dedication of the Church (Qudas-Edta)

November 1, 2015 First Sunday November 5, 2015 Saints Zachariah and Elizabeth November 8, 2015 Second Sunday November 15, 2015 Third Sunday November 22, 2015 Fourth Sunday November 28, 2015 Last day of the Liturgical Year

Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday I Nov 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 II 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 III 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 IV 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Days of the Commencement of the Seasons 2010-2020

Seasons		2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
1	Subara	29-Nov-09	28-Nov-10	27-Nov-11	2-Dec-12	1-Dec-13	30-Nov-14	29-Nov-15	27-Nov-16	3-Dec-17	2-Dec-18	1-Dec-19
2	Denha	3-Jan-10	9-Jan-11	8-Jan-12	6-Jan-13	5-Jan-14	4-Jan-15	3-Jan-16	8-Jan-17	7-Jan-18	6-Jan-19	5-Jan-20
3	Sawma Rabba	14-Feb	6-Mar	19-Feb	10-Feb	2-Mar	15-Feb	7-Feb	26-Feb	11-Feb	3-Mar	23-Feb
4	Qyamta	4-Apr	24-Apr	8-Apr	31-Mar	20-Apr	5-Apr	27-Mar	16-Apr	1-Apr	21-Apr	12-Apr
5	Slihe	23-May	12-Jun	27-May	19-May	8-Jun	24-May	15-May	4-Jun	20-May	9-Jun	31-May
6	Qaita	11-Jul	31-Jul	15-Jul	7-Jul	27-Jul	12-Jul	3-Jul	23-Jul	8-Jul	28-Jul	19-Jul
7	Elijah-Sliba	29-Aug	11-Sep	2-Sep	25-Aug	7-Sep	30-Aug	21-Aug	3-Sep	26-Aug	8-Sep	6-Sep
8	Muse	17-Oct	16-Oct	14-Oct	13-Oct	12-Oct	18-Oct	16-Oct	15-Oct	14-Oct	13-Oct	18-Oct
9	Qudas-Edta	31-Oct	30-Oct	4-Nov	3-Nov	2-Nov	1-Nov	30-Oct	5-Nov	4-Nov	3-Nov	1-Nov

Great Sunday of Resurrection (2000-2099)^[4]

In the Syro-Malabar Church, Great Sunday of Resurrection is always celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 (M22) and April 25 (A25) as per the calculations based on the Catholic Tradition. It is the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first moon whose 14th day is on or after the "vernal equinox". Here are the dates of the Great Sunday of Resurrection from 2000 to 2099. Years are arranged row-wise in an ascending manner. For better alignment, March and April are bifurcated. Identify the year and look at the column header to find the exact date.

March

M22	M23	M24	M25	M26	M27	M28	M29	M30	M31
	2008				2005				2002
					2016				2013
						2027			2024
			2035			2032	2043
			2046				2054
								2059
				2062			2065	2070
				2073
				2084				2081	2086
								2092	2097

April

A1	A2	A3	A4	A5	A6	A7	A8	A9	A10	A11	A12	A13	A14	A15	A16	A17	A18	A19	A20	A21	A22	A23	A24	A25
			2010				2007			2004	2009			2001	2006				2003			2000	2011
2018			2021	2015			2012	2023			2020				2017	2022			2014	2019
2029				2026								2031			2028				2025	2030
2040				2037	2042			2034	2039			2036				2033				2041				2038
	2051			2048	2053			2045	2050				2047			2044	2049			2052
	2056												2058				2055				2057
		2067			2064				2061	2066			2069	2063			2060	2071			2068
		2078				2075			2072	2077				2074				2076				2079
		2089	2083			2080	2091			2088				2085	2090			2082	2087
			2094								2093			2096					2098				2095
											2099

Nasrani Calendar: An Online Dynamic Liturgical Calendar ^[5]

Nasrani Foundation, an organisation of Mar Thoma Nasranis has developed a dynamic Calendar based on the liturgical seasons of Syro-Malabar Church. The calendar is a handy tool for those who want to organize their life according to the liturgical seasons of the Church. The calendar contains almost all the information on the liturgical year of the Syro-Malabar Church. The calendar also provides instant access to daily Bible verses and short articles on important feasts of the Syro-Malabar Church. Pre-recorded Bible verses (from Peshitta Bible) and biblical reflections written by well-known theologians on Sundays and feast days are of most help to the faithful. Moreover, one can opt for receiving email alerts based on the calendar. Using this calendar, Syro-Malabar faithful can keep themselves updated with the liturgical life cycle of the Church.

See also

• East Syrian Rite
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Knanaya Christians
• Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
• Saint Alphonsa
• Kuriakose Elias Chavara
• Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
• Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
• Christianity in India
• Syrian Malabar Nasrani
• Goa Inquisition
• Thomas (Apostle)
• Rock crosses of Kerala

References

1. http://pathikulangara.in/Calendar.htm
2. Pathikulangara, Varghese. Mar Toma Margam, (A New Catechism for the St. Thomas Christians of India), Kottayam: Denha Services, 2004
3. http://www.pathikulangara.in/Archive.htm
4. http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/eastcalc.htm
5. http://www.nasranifoundation.org/calendar/

External links

Websites	Websites
Syro-Malabar Church Official website	Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly See of Syro-Malabar Church
The website for Synod of Diamper	Archdiocese of Changanacherry
Archdiocese of Trichur	Archdiocese of Tellicherry
Archdiocese of Kottayam	St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church of San Francisco
Diocese of Palai	St. Raphael Syro Malabar Catholic Mission of Cleveland
St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church of Philadelphia	Syro-Malabar Mission of Los Angeles
St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Church Dallas	Syro-Malabar Mission of Los Angeles
Syro-Malabar Mission of New Jersey	Welcome to Indian Christianity
Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: CST Brothers	Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Homepage
Syro-Malabar / Discalced Carmelite Nuns	Syro-Malabar prayer texts in Malayalam