Great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church

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In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast of the death and Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter), is the greatest of all holy days and as such it is called the "feast of feasts". Immediately below it in importance, there is a group of Twelve Great Feasts (Greek: Δωδεκάορτον). Together with Pascha, these are the most significant dates on the Orthodox liturgical calendar. Eight of the great feasts are in honor of Jesus Christ, while the other four are dedicated to the Virgin Mary—the Theotokos.[1]

  1. ^ Mother Mary and Ware, Kallistos, The Festal Menaion, p. 41. St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1998.