What Calendar Do Serbian Orthodox Follow
As a Serbian Orthodox Christian, I have always been fascinated by the intricacies of our calendar system. While the rest of the world follows the Gregorian calendar, our church still adheres to the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE.
Why Does the Serbian Orthodox Church Use the Julian Calendar?
The Julian calendar was the first solar calendar, and it was used throughout the Roman Empire until it was replaced by the Gregorian calendar in 1582. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church, including the Serbian Orthodox Church, continued to use the Julian calendar because it adheres to the original date of Easter according to the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
How Does the Julian Calendar Differ from the Gregorian Calendar?
The Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, which means that Christmas and other holidays are celebrated on different dates. For example, while December 25th is celebrated as Christmas day in the Gregorian calendar, the Julian calendar celebrates Christmas on January 7th.
Other differences include the fact that leap years are calculated differently in the Julian calendar, which means that Easter falls on different dates in the two calendars.
List of Events and Festivals in the Serbian Orthodox Calendar
The Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates a number of events and festivals throughout the year, including:
- Christmas (January 7th)
- Theophany (January 19th)
- Lazarus Saturday (the Saturday before Palm Sunday)
- Palm Sunday
- Good Friday
- Great and Holy Saturday
- Easter (calculated according to the Julian calendar)
- Pentecost
- Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 28th)
- Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8th)
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14th)
- St. Nicholas Day (December 19th)
Celebrating Events and Festivals in the Serbian Orthodox Calendar
Each event and festival in the Serbian Orthodox calendar has its own unique traditions and customs. For example, on Christmas Eve, it is traditional to fast until the first evening star appears in the sky. On Christmas Day, families attend church services and then gather together for a festive meal.
On Lazarus Saturday, the church celebrates the resurrection of Lazarus, and it is customary to make and exchange Lazarus bread, which is decorated with flowers and herbs.
During Holy Week, the church commemorates the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Palm Sunday, the faithful carry palms and branches in a procession to commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. On Good Friday, there is a service of the burial of Christ, and on Great and Holy Saturday, the faithful attend the Resurrection service, which culminates in the lighting of candles and the singing of hymns.
Question and Answer / FAQs
Q: Why does the Serbian Orthodox Church use the Julian calendar?
A: The Serbian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar because it adheres to the original date of Easter according to the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.
Q: How does the Julian calendar differ from the Gregorian calendar?
A: The Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, which means that Christmas and other holidays are celebrated on different dates. Other differences include the calculation of leap years.
Q: What are some of the major events and festivals celebrated in the Serbian Orthodox calendar?
A: Some of the major events and festivals in the Serbian Orthodox calendar include Christmas, Theophany, Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Great and Holy Saturday, Easter (calculated according to the Julian calendar), Pentecost, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and St. Nicholas Day.
Q: What are some of the customs and traditions associated with these events and festivals?
A: Each event and festival in the Serbian Orthodox calendar has its own unique customs and traditions. For example, on Christmas Eve, it is traditional to fast until the first evening star appears in the sky. On Christmas Day, families attend church services and then gather together for a festive meal. On Lazarus Saturday, it is customary to make and exchange Lazarus bread, which is decorated with flowers and herbs.
Overall, the Serbian Orthodox calendar is rich in tradition and history, and it continues to be an important part of the lives of Orthodox Christians around the world.