| An introduction to Saints' days Saints' days and festivals
The Church Year
In the Church in Wales, the Church’s year is divided into seasons. Each season is given liturgical colour and the priest wears the appropriate coloured vestments, likewise the Altar frontals and pulpit fall are changed to correspond.
Advent is the beginning of the Church’s year and includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas. The word “Advent” means “Coming”. During this Season we don’t so much look back to Jesus’ coming into the world as a baby; instead we look with confident hope for His glorious return in the future. The liturgical colour is Violet.
Christmas is the commemoration of Christ’s nativity, the first two Sundays are within the octave of Christmas and the Season ends on January 5th. The liturgical colour is white. Epiphany falls on January 6th. Depending on the date of Easter, the
Season of Epiphany can last six Sundays after January 6th. Until the Monday after the first Sunday
of the season the liturgical colour is white, thereafter, until Septuagesima the colour is green.
Septuagesima Sunday is the third Sunday before Lent, hence the ninth Sunday before Easter. Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays follow and it is the season of preparation for Lent.
The liturgical colour is green, but violet may be preferred.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, follows Quinquagesima Sunday. Lent is the forty day fast before
Easter, a penitential season. During the early centuries the observance of the fast was rigid. In recent centuries, the fast has gradually been relaxed but is, or should be observed as a period of penance by abstention from festivities, by almsgiving and by devoting more time than usual to religious activities. The liturgical colour is violet.
Easter is the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the greatest and oldest feast of the Christian Church. Easter Sunday is determined as the first Sunday following the next full moon after March 21st. Easter Day can therefore be between March 22nd and April 25th. The season of Easter lasts for six Sundays after Easter Day. The liturgical colour is `White.
Pentecost (Whitsunday) is the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles on the 50th Day of Easter. After Easter, it ranks as the second festival of the Church.
The liturgical colour is red.
The Sunday after Pentecost is Trinity Sunday. It is the beginning of the longest season in the Church’s year. It lasts until the Sunday before the season of The Kingdom and can, depending again on the date of Easter day, mean a season of twenty one Sundays.
the liturgical colour is green.
The Church’s year concludes with the season of The Kingdom. This begins with All Saints Day (1st November). The Season’s fourth and final Sunday (the Sunday between the 20th and 26th November) is the Feast of Christ the King. And so the Church’s year ends, as it begins, at Advent, with the focus on Christ and His glorious reign. The one who will come “in His Glorious Majesty” (Collect for Advent) is Christ who rules “over all things as Lord and King”. (Collect for Kingdom 4). The liturgical colour is red.
In addition to the fixed seasons of the year, Saints Days and Festivals are commemorated by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. For Saints who were Martyrs, the liturgical colour is
red. For other Saints and for Festivals such as harvest, the liturgical colour is white.
Saints' Days
All Saints' Day
Feast Day, November 1st.
Liturgical colour, white.
The purpose of this Feast Day is to focus our attention on the Communion of Saints and on the many Saints whose names are not known. The emphasis is particularly on Saints in heaven. This Feast emerged in the Eastern Church. It was celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Its popularity in the west dates from the early ninth century. It is one of the principal Feast Days of the Church, sometimes known as All Hallowes.
St Andrew
Apostle and Patron Saint of Scotland.
Feast Day, November 30th.
Liturgical colour, red.
He was St Peter’s brother, and indeed brought St. Peter to Christ. His home was at Capernaum. He was a fisherman and is mentioned in each of the Gospels and was martyred. He is particularly important in the Greek Church.
St Thomas
Apostle.
Feast Day is December 21st in the Book of Common Prayer.
Liturgical colour, red.
He was also known as Didimus (the twin). He only believed in the Resurrection of Jesus on actually touching the wounds of the Risen Christ, and in spite of his initial doubts, he confessed Jesus to be his Lord and God. His liturgical colour is red as he was martyred near Madras in India, whilst establishing the Christian Church there.
St Stephen
Apostle.
Feast day, December 26th
Liturgical colour is red.
St Stephen was the first Martyr. He was put to death for his faith in Christ; St Paul, who was then Saul, being one of his persecutors. He was a Deacon in the Church and was probably a Greek speaking Jew. We read of him in Acts, chapters 6 and 7.
St John the Evangelist
Apostle and Evangelist.
Feast Day, December 27th.
Liturgical colour, white
He is the writer of the Fourth Gospel and Letters in the New Testament. He is one of the few Saints to have died a natural death and therefore his liturgical colour is white. His father was Zebedee and his brother was James. He died at Ephesus. In St John’s Gospel we read of his closeness to the Blessed Virgin Mary and in fact at the Crucifixion he adopted Mary, at Jesus’ request, as his adoptive mother.
The Holy Innocents
Feast Day, December 28th.
Liturgical colour, white.
These were the children of Bethlehem who were killed by King Herod following the visit of the Wise Men about the birth of the King of the Jews. We read about them in the Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 2.
The Naming of Jesus
Feast Day January 1st.
Liturgical colour, white.
The name of Jesus means Saviour and we read in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 2, that when He was eight days old, Jesus was circumcised and given the name Jesus. This was the Name given by the angel before Jesus was conceived. The Collect reminds us that there is no other name “whereby we may be saved”. We are also reminded that “At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow”.
Conversion of St Paul
Feast Day, January 25th.
Liturgical colour, white..
Acts, chapter 9, tells us of the journey of Saul to Damascus and his conversion. After he met the Risen Christ, he became the Apostle and took the Gospel to the Gentiles and established and encouraged the newly formed Christian Churches. He is also the
writer of the epistles in the New Testament from Romans to
Philemon.
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Feast Day, February 2nd.
Liturgical colour, white.
With this Feast our attention turns from Christmas to Easter. St Luke, chapter 2, tells us about Jesus presented at the Temple in line with the Law of Moses. A man called Simeon met them at the Temple, and Simeon’s song of praise, known as the Nunc Dimittus, is part of the office of Evensong. This song of praise was fulfilling Simeon’s longing for the coming of the Messiah. He recognised that Jesus would bring glory to Israel and light to the Gentiles.
St Matthias
Feast Day, February 24th.
Liturgical colour, red.
He was the Apostle who replaced Judas Iscariot and had been a follower of Jesus. He was also a witness at The Resurrection. He is said to have preached in Judea. One tradition tells us that he also worked in Cappadocia. Tradition tells us that he was a martyr and was beheaded.
St David
Feast Day, March 1st.
The Patron Saint of Wales.
Liturgical colour, white.
He lived in the 6th Century and was a monk and bishop. His monastery was located at Menevia, namely St David’s, and his fame spread throughout South Wales, Herefordshire, Cornwall and Northern France.. He lived a hard life and practised works of charity. He is the only Welsh Saint canonised throughout the whole of the Western Church.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast Day, March 25th.
Liturgical colour, white.
This Feast Day on March 25th celebrates the time when the Angel Gabriel appeared to St Mary. In St Luke’s Gospel, chapter 1, the usual Gospel Reading for the Feast, we are told how important the Blessed Virgin is in the story of salvation. This is underlined in the words of our Lady to Gabriel… ”Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to Thy word..” We are told in the Gospel that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and her Holy Child would be the Son of God.
St Mark the Evangelist
Feast Day, 25th April.
Liturgical colour, white.
St Mark is taken to be the John Mark who was a companion of St Paul and St Peter. Tradition tells us that the Gospel which he wrote contains much of St Peter’s preaching. Like all early preaching it began with St John the Baptist and ended with the Resurrection. St Matthew and St Luke made use of Mark’s Gospel when writing their own Gospels. Eusebius tells us that Mark went on to visit Alexandria. Mark also was a companion of St Paul on his missionary journeys.
St Philip and St James
Apostles.
Feast Day, May 1st.
Liturgical colour, red.
Nothing is known of St Philip outside the New Testament. He was probably a disciple of St John the Baptist and he persuaded Nathaniel to follow Jesus. St James is often called ‘James the Less’ and not to be confused with St John’s brother James. He was the son of Alpheus. He was martyred in AD 62, having been sentenced by the Sanhedrin.
St Barnabas
Apostle.
Feast Day, June 11th.
Liturgical colour red.
His name means ‘son of encouragement’ and he came from the Jewish Community in Cyprus. He was an Apostle although not one of the twelve but he introduced St Paul to the other Apostles. He accompanied St Paul on the first Missionary journey. At the Council of Jerusalem he supported the Gentile Christians. When he separated from St Paul he returned to Cyprus and continued his apostolic ministry there.
The Nativity of St John the Baptist
Feast Day, June 24th.
Liturgical colour, white.
He was a cousin of Jesus and is referred to in the account of our Lady’s visitation to Elizabeth, his Mother. John’s ministry called Jews to repentance and urged Baptism as their sign of repentance. Jesus was baptised by John, and his baptism began Jesus’ public ministry. The early preaching of the church always began with an account of St John and this is reflected in the Gospels. His ministry took place in the wilderness of Judea. He was later beheaded.
St Peter
Apostle.
Feast Day, June 29th.
Liturgical colour, red.
He was formerly a fisherman and was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus. Peter, meaning ’rock’ was the name given to him by our Lord, his name originally being Simon. After the Resurrection, he became the Apostle to the Jewish Church with St Paul becoming the Apostle to Gentile Church. He would have been the first Bishop. He was martyred in Rome.
St Mary Magdalene
Feast Day, July 22nd.
Liturgical colour, white.
She is sometimes called the Apostle to the Apostles because St John’s Account of the Resurrection refers to St Mary going to the Disciples and testifying to the Resurrection. The Gospels tell us that seven demons had been cast out of her and the Western Church identifies her as the sister of Martha of Bethany.
St James
Apostle.
Feast Day, July 25th.
Liturgical colour, red.
Referred to as St James the Great. He was the son of Zebedee, St John being his brother, and he was one of the three disciples to witness the Transfiguration. He was the first Apostle to die for the faith, having been put to the sword by King Herod Agrippa.
The Transfiguration of our Lord.
Feast Day, August 6th.
Liturgical colour, white.
The Gospels tell us about our Lord going up a mountain to pray accompanied by Saints Peter, James and John. The Gospel account records the Heavenly voice saying “This is My Son, my chosen, listen to Him”. The appearance of Moses and Elijah before Jesus indicates the Gospel writer’s conviction that Jesus fulfilled the writings of the Law and the Prophets.
The Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Feast Day, August 15th.
Liturgical colour, white.
As with most Feast Days, this one initially celebrated the end of St Mary’s earthly life and is sometimes referred to in the Western Church as the Assumption of Our Lady, and in the Eastern Church as the Dormition (or falling asleep) of Mary. As with all Feasts connected with St Mary, we remember her simple faith and the importance of her response to God which allowed Jesus to come into the world. The Magnificat, or Song of Mary, is used in the Church’s Evening Office.
St Bartholomew
Apostle
Feast Day, August 24th.
Liturgical colour, red.
The First three Gospels refer to St Bartholomew, whereas the fourth Gospel refers to him as Nathaniel. Very little is known of his life or death but tradition indicates his ministry took place in India and Armenia. Tradition also tells us that he was martyred at Derbend on the Caspian Sea.
St Matthew
Apostle and Evangelist.
Feast Day, September 21st.
Liturgical colour, red.
Matthew was a Jew and he worked for the Romans as a tax collector. St Mark and St Luke refer to him as Levi. He became a disciple of Christ and is taken to be the author of the First Gospel. His Gospel is particularly Jewish in style with many references to Jesus being the fulfilment of the Prophets. St Matthew was martyred, though the Christian Tradition is unclear as to when and where and how he was martyred.
St Michael and All Angels (Or Michaelmas)
Feast Day, September 29th.
Liturgical colour, white.
St Michael is an Archangel. The Book of Daniel refers to him as the special protector of Israel. The Book of Revelation records his battle with the devil and his Feast Day underlines the importance of angels in Christian devotion. In the Eucharistic Prayer, before the Sanctus, we are reminded that we praise God with the Angels with the words “therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Thy Glorious Name.
St Luke - Evangelist
Feast Day, October 18th.
Liturgical colour, red.
St Luke is the writer of the third Gospel which was written with the needs of the Gentile Church in mind. St Luke was a doctor and companion of St Paul on his missionary journeys. St Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of the first Christians in Antioch in what we now know as Turkey. He is Patron Saint of Doctors and Surgeons
St Simon and St Jude
Feast Day, October 28th.
Liturgical colour, red.
St Simon is sometimes referred to as the zealot as he was the member of a strict Jewish sect. Very little is known about him after Pentecost. He had a preaching ministry and was martyred. One tradition tells us that St Simon had an apostolic ministry in Egypt and later joined St Jude in Persia. St Jude wrote the epistle which bears his name. Very little is known of his background.
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