St. Luke Anglican Catholic Church,   Augusta, Georgia

Seasons of the Church Year

Advent ("coming"): a time to prepare for celebrating the birth of Christ and to anticipate His coming again. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30) and has four Sundays.

Christmastide: the commemoration of Christ's nativity. Christmastide, which has 12 days, lasts until January 5th, the day before Epiphany.

Epiphany ("manifestation"): January 6th. Associated with the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. A major festival of the Church.

Pre-Lent, the period between Epiphany and Lent, has three Sundays: Septuagesima, about 70 days before Easter, Sexagesima about 60 days before, and Quinquagesima, 50 days before Easter. The season ends on Shrove Tuesday.

Liturgical Colors

White symbolizes joy, purity and truth.

Red is symbolic of the Holy Spirit (flame) and the blood of martyrs.

Green, the color of living things, is used in seasons of growth.

Violet, symbolic of penitence, is used in Advent, Pre-Lent, and Lent.

Black, for mourning; used on Good Friday and at services for the dead.

Lent (Old English "Lencten," the lengthening of days): 40 days (not including Sundays) before Easter, has a penitential character. We observe Lent by abstaining from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting extra time to religious exercises.

Eastertide: The period from Easter Sunday to the day before Pentecost. Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, is the greatest and oldest feast of the church. The date of Easter is determined by the Paschal Full Moon, its extreme limits being March 21st and April 25th. Eastertide is 50 days long (including Easter Sunday).

Ascensiontide: Ten days beginning on Ascension Day (the 6th Thursday after Easter).

Pentecost (Whitsuntide): The octave (8 days) beginning with Pentecost (Whitsunday). The Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1), the 50th day after Easter, is the second great festival of the Church.

Trinitytide: The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is the first Sunday after Pentecost. The season after Trinity is a season of instruction and discipline complementary to the seasons of historic commemoration.