Liturgical calendar of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church


The Syro Malabar Church has its own seasons around the year. 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.
Mar Toma Nasranis 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.

Liturgical Year and Gregorian Calendar 2014-2015

SeasonsBeginningEnd
1Annunciation November 30, 2014January 3, 2015
2Epiphany January 4, 2015February 14, 2015
3Great Fast February 15, 2015April 4, 2015
4Resurrection April 5, 2015May 23, 2015
5Apostles May 24, 2015July 11, 2015
6Summer July 12, 2015August 29, 2015
7Eliyah-Cross August 30, 2015October 10, 2015
8Weeks of Moses October 11, 2015October 31, 2015
9Dedication of the Church November 1, 2015November 28, 2015

The Seasons

Weeks of Annunciation (''Subara'')

It is a season of Good News, viz., the Season of the Annunciation of Salvation.

Weeks of Epiphany (''Denha'')

The public life of Iso-Msiha is celebrated during the Weeks of Epiphany.

Weeks of Great Fast (''Sawma Rabba'')

During the Weeks of Great Fast, Mar Toma Nazranis celebrate the Passion and Death of 'Iso-Msiha'

Weeks of Resurrection (''Qyamta'')

Weeks of Apostles (''Slihe'')

The great evangelizing ministry of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus is the main theme of this season.

Weeks of Summer (''Qaita'')

The growth of the Church as a faithful community is the main theme of this season.

Weeks of Eliyah-Cross (''Eliyah-Sliba'')

Weeks of Moses (''Muse'')

Weeks of Dedication of the Church (''Qudas-Edta'')

Days of the Commencement of the Seasons 2010-2020

Great Sunday of Resurrection (2000-2099)http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/eastcalc.htm

In the Syro-Malabar Church, Great Sunday of Resurrection is always celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 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
M22M23M24M25M26M27M28M29M30M31
2008 2005 2002
2016 2013
2027 2024
2035 20322043
2046 2054
2059
2062 20652070
2073
2084 20812086
20922097

April
A1A2A3A4A5A6A7A8A9A10A11A12A13A14A15A16A17A18A19A20A21A22A23A24A25
2010 2007 20042009 20012006 2003 20002011
2018 20212015 20122023 2020 20172022 20142019
2029 2026 2031 2028 20252030
2040 20372042 20342039 2036 2033 2041 2038
2051 20482053 20452050 2047 20442049 2052
2056 2058 2055 2057
2067 2064 20612066 20692063 20602071 2068
2078 2075 20722077 2074 2076 2079
20892083 20802091 2088 20852090 20822087
2094 2093 2096 2098 2095
2099

Nasrani Calendar: An Online Dynamic Liturgical Calendar http://www.nasranifoundation.org/calendar/

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 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.