Dear brethren,

The month of January is characterized by being the month that contains most of our Lord Jesus Christ’s feasts. Herewith we mention these feasts for our benefit, so as to enjoy celebrating them each year.

The church divides our Lord’s feasts into: seven major feasts and seven minor feasts. According to the chronological order, the major feasts are:

1. The Nativity, celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ the Logos of God who was incarnate from Saint Mary: January 7 (Kiahk 29^th).
2. Epiphany, when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John in River Jordan: January 19^thor 20^th (Tubah 11^th).
3. Annunciation to St. Mary by Archangel Gabriel, for the birth of Christ from her: April 7 (Baramhat 29^th).
4. Palm Sunday celebrating the entrance of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem as a King: this year is celebrated on April 24^th, but date changes from one year to another.
5. Holy Resurrection which is our greatest feast, celebrated this year on April 24^th, but also date changes from one year to another.
6. Ascension: celebrated after forty days of celebrating Easter, this year date is June 2^nd.
7. Pentecost after fifty days of Easter, celebrated this year on June 12^th.

As for the minor feasts, these are:

1. Feast of circumcision (Luke 2: 21-39): January 14^th (Tubah 6^th).
2. The feast of the wedding of Cana of Galilee (John 2: 1-11): January 21^st (Tubah 13^th).
3. Feast of the presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ into the temple (Luke 2: 21-39): February 15^th (Amshir 8^th).
4. Covenant Thursday: celebrated this year on April 21^st (date changes every year).
5. Thomas Sunday (John 20: 19-31): celebrated this year on May 1^st (date changes yearly).
6. The Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ’s entry to Egypt (Mathew 2: 13-23): June 1^st (Bashans 24^th).
7. Transfiguration feast (Mark 9: 2-13): celebrated August 19^th (Misra 13^th).

Please remember the church, the priests, the servants and their services always in your prayers, and may the blessings of St. Mary the mother of God, and the blessing of St. Mercurius and the blessings of our Lord’s feasts be with us always, Amen.

Fr. Youssef Halim & Fr. Luke Istafanous

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