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1 Syro-MalabarLiturgical Calendar2016 - 2017 Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy2 YearGreat Lent 1st SundayEasterPentecost2017 Feb 26 April 16 June 42018 Feb 11 April 1 May 202019 March 3 April 21 June 92020 Feb 23 April 12 May 312021 Feb 14 April 4 May 232022 Feb 27 April 17 June 53 PREFACE1. This Calendar is prepared in accordance with the decision of theSynod of the Syro-Malabar Bishops held in November 6 18, The readings of the Sundays and other important days are given inthe Calendar as per the direction of the Supplementum Mysteriorumand Ordo published by Rome in 1959 60.

2 The long readings havebeen reduced, while the complete version of them are given in thebrackets. Readings of ordinary days are selected as per the The division of the Liturgical Year of the Syro-Malabar Church isfollowed according to the Lectionary System of the East Syriantradition. The liturgical calendar is divided into nine seasons. Thespirit of each season is given in the The Liturgical year is centered on the divine mysteries of salvific events are: the birth of Jesus (Annunciation andChristmas), baptism (Epiphany), passion and death (Great Lent),resurrection and ascension (Resurrection), pentecost (Apostles andSummer), transfiguration and exaltation of the cross (Elia-Cross-Moses), and finally, the second coming of Jesus and the glorificationof the Church (Dedication of the Church).

3 5. The feasts are divided into three categories according to theirimportance in the Syro-Malabar Church. The readings have beenarranged In the first category, we have the feasts of Our Lord and BlessedVirgin Mary who are directly connected with the mystery ofsalvation and certain other important feasts of the Church ( , Easter, Immaculate Conception of Bl. V. Mary,Dukrana (the feast of St. Thomas). On these festal days, thereadings of the particular feasts are given In the second category, the popular feasts of the saintscommonly commemorated in our church are given ( of Paduva, St.))

4 Sebastian, St. Francis Assisi, etc). Onthese days, the readings of the feasts are given after the readingsof the In the case of the third category of feasts also( St. Dominic Savio, St. Pius X) the same system of thesecond category of feasts is followed. Special readings are not4given for a few feasts like that of Simon Barsaba and othermartyrs, 70 disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc. In Appendix-I the names and commemoration day of certain other saintsare given. If necessary, the readings may be selected fromAppendix- The feasts on the Fridays of the period of Epiphany is given inaccordance with the order of the temporal calendar.

5 But they aregiven also on the fixed dates of celebration of the feasts as per theorder of the sanctoral calendar of the Latin Church ( feast of AllSaints, St. Stephen). The second Sunday in the season ofAnnunciation can be celebrated as the Feast of The commemoration of all the departed can be celebrated either onthe last Friday of the Period of Epiphany or on 2nd The fasting and the penitential service for the preparation of the GreatLent are celebrated on the first Monday of Great Lent. If necessary, itcan be celebrated on another day of Great Lent with the permissionof the local It is highly desirable to practise abstinence during the period of GreatLent but also that of Annunciation, Three Days Lent, Eight Days Lent and Fifteen Days Four readings are given for Sundays and other important On the day of penitential service marking the beginning of Great Lentand on Passion Friday.

6 Fasting and abstinence are to be It is desirable to fast on every Friday of the season of Great All Fridays throughout the year are days of abstinence except theFridays between Christmas and the feast of Epiphany, and the firstFriday after The important feasts of Christmas (Dec. 25), Epiphany (Jan .6), Peterand Paul (June 29), the Ascension of Our Lord (the sixth Thursdayafter Easter), (July 3), Assumption of Bl. V. Mary (August15) are the days of obligation. In those places where these days arenot holidays, all those who can are requested to participate in theHoly Qurbana and other liturgical of Annunciation NativityThe liturgical year of the Syro-Malabar Church begins with the periodof Annunciation.

7 The four weeks in preparation to the feast of the Nativity ofJesus, celebrated on 25th December constitute this season. Since wepractise abstinence from 1st to 25th December in preparation for Christmas,we call this period 25 days Lent .The salvific acts which found fulfilment in Jesus Christ begin withthe birth of Jesus. This season is called subbara in Syriac language. Themeaning of this term is declaration, announcement etc. What angelGabriel announced to holy Mary was the greatest glad news to humanitythat eagerly waited for the Saviour.

8 Thus, this season is developed in thecontext of the mystery of incarnation completed in the fullness of Church recalls during these days the announcement of the birth ofJohn the Baptist, the predecessor of Jesus, and also the joyful event of thebirth of John the Baptist. As a preparation for the celebration of the mysteryof incarnation, this season also recalls creation, disobedience of our firstparents and its consequences, the miserable state of the broken humanity,the promise of salvation offered by God, God s covenant with humanity,and the prophecies about the Saviour.

9 During this season we also meditateon the role of Mary in the history of the plan of readings, prayers and hymns of the season remind us that likethe people in the Old Testament who became aware of their miserablecondition and their hope for the Saviour, the people of the New Testamentalso should become aware of their helplessness and sinful situation andwalk towards Jesus and give place in their hearts for Jesus to be of Nativity commemorates the important themes like the birth ofJesus, the visit of Magi, the escape into Egypt, presentation of Jesus inthe temple and the infancy of 2016 Seasons of Annunciation Nativity1 Thu25 days fasting 4:11-16 Be model in holinessMt 24:45-51 Be vigilant2 FriFirst FridayCol 3: 1-10 Seek the things that are 13: 12-17 The pupose of the SatSt.

10 Francis XavierDeut 26:16-19 You are a holy 45:20-24 There is no God besides Cor 6:3-10 We are God s 6:7-13 Jesus sends out His Sun Second Sunday of AnnunciationNum 22:20-35 (22:20-23:2) Balaam gets 43:25-44:5 (43:14-44:5) God s blessing on Israel. Col 4:2-6 (4:2-18) Utilize the time 1:26-38 (1:26-56) Announcement about the birth of Mon Eph 4:13-16 Grow into 14:11-14 For those who believe nothing is Tue 1 Thes 5:5-11 Sons of the dayLk 10:21-24 The persons who receive the divine revelation7 Wed Eph 1: 3-12 God chose us in Christ before the foundationof the 1: 34-38 Behold the handmaid of the AmbroseDeut 7:1-11 You are a holy 15:1-6 The man of God received God s 4:1-8 The crown of 14.