A Guide to the Liturgical Year
Browse the sacred celebrations, saints’ commemorations, and fasting traditions that shape the prayer life of the Armenian Church.
Feast Calendars
Back to TopSelect a year to view Armenian Apostolic Church feast days. Movable feasts change from year to year, so these calendars should be reviewed annually.
January – April 2026
- January 6, Tuesday: Nativity & Theophany Christmas Սուրբ Ծնունդ և Աստվածհայտնություն
- February 14, Saturday: Presentation of the Lord to the Temple Tiarn’ndarach Տյառնընդառաջ
- February 16: Great Lent Begins Մեծ Պահք
- March 29, Sunday: Palm Sunday Ծաղկազարդ
- April 5, Sunday: Holy Easter Resurrection Սուրբ Զատիկ
May – July 2026
- May 14, Thursday: Ascension of Our Lord Համբարձում
- May 24, Sunday: Apparition of the Holy Cross Խաչի Երևման Տոն
- May 31 – June 1: St. Hripsime & Companions Սուրբ Հռիփսիմյանց
- June 2: St. Gayane & Companions Սուրբ Գայանյանց
- June 6: St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Deliverance from the Pit Խոր Վիրապից Ելք
- June 7, Sunday: Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin Սուրբ Էջմիածնի Տոն
- June 20: Discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի Նշխարների Գյուտ
- June 25: Holy Translators: St. Sahak & St. Mesrop Սուրբ Թարգմանիչներ
- July 12, Sunday: Transfiguration Vartavar Վարդավառ
August – December 2026
- August 15: Vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator Shoghakat Շողակաթ
- August 16, Sunday: Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի
- September 13, Sunday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross Խաչվերաց
- October 31: Discovery of the Holy Cross Գյուտ Խաչի
- December 8: Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary Սուրբ Աստվածածնի Հղություն
January – March 2027
- January 6, Wednesday: Nativity & Theophany of Our Lord Սուրբ Ծնունդ և Աստվածհայտնություն
- February 8, Monday: Great Lent Begins Մեծ Պահք
- February 14, Sunday: Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple Tiarn’ndarach Տյառնընդառաջ
- March 21, Sunday: Palm Sunday Ծաղկազարդ
- March 28, Sunday: Holy Easter Resurrection of Our Lord Սուրբ Զատիկ
May – July 2027
- May 6, Thursday: Ascension of Our Lord Համբարձում
- May 16, Sunday: Apparition of the Holy Cross Սուրբ Խաչի Երևման Տոն
- May 24, Monday: St. Hripsime and Her Companions Սուրբ Հռիփսիմյանց
- May 25, Tuesday: St. Gayane and Her Companions Սուրբ Գայանյանց
- May 29, Saturday: St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Deliverance from the Pit Խոր Վիրապից Ելք
- May 30, Sunday: Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin Սուրբ Էջմիածնի Տոն
- June 12, Saturday: Discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի Նշխարների Գյուտ
- June 17, Thursday: Holy Translators: Sts. Sahak & Mesrop Սուրբ Թարգմանիչներ
- July 4, Sunday: Transfiguration Vartavar Վարդավառ
August – December 2027
- August 15, Sunday: Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի
- September 12, Sunday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross Khachverats Խաչվերաց
- October 23, Saturday: Discovery of the Holy Cross Գյուտ Խաչի
- December 9, Thursday: Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary Սուրբ Աստվածածնի Հղություն
January – April 2028
- January 6, Thursday: Nativity & Theophany of Our Lord Սուրբ Ծնունդ և Աստվածհայտնություն
- February 14, Monday: Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple Tiarn’ndarach Տյառնընդառաջ
- February 28, Monday: Great Lent Begins Մեծ Պահք
- April 9, Sunday: Palm Sunday Ծաղկազարդ
- April 16, Sunday: Holy Easter Resurrection of Our Lord Սուրբ Զատիկ
May – July 2028
- May 25, Thursday: Ascension of Our Lord Համբարձում
- June 4, Sunday: Apparition of the Holy Cross Սուրբ Խաչի Երևման Տոն
- June 12, Monday: St. Hripsime and Her Companions Սուրբ Հռիփսիմյանց
- June 13, Tuesday: St. Gayane and Her Companions Սուրբ Գայանյանց
- June 17, Saturday: St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Deliverance from the Pit Խոր Վիրապից Ելք
- June 18, Sunday: Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin Սուրբ Էջմիածնի Տոն
- July 1, Saturday: Discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի Նշխարների Գյուտ
- July 6, Thursday: Holy Translators: Sts. Sahak & Mesrop Սուրբ Թարգմանիչներ
- July 23, Sunday: Transfiguration Vartavar Վարդավառ
August – December 2028
- August 13, Sunday: Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի
- September 10, Sunday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross Khachverats Խաչվերաց
- October 21, Saturday: Discovery of the Holy Cross Գյուտ Խաչի
- December 9, Saturday: Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary Սուրբ Աստվածածնի Հղություն
I. Dominical Feasts
Back to TopDominical Feasts are the principal celebrations centered on our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Mother of God, the Holy Cross, and the Holy Church. They form the spiritual rhythm of the Armenian Church calendar.
A. Feasts of Christ
Theophany
Fixed celebrations of the Nativity and Baptism of Christ.
- January 6, Tuesday: Nativity & Theophany Christmas Սուրբ Ծնունդ և Աստվածհայտնություն
- February 14, Saturday: Presentation of the Lord to the Temple Tiarn’ndarach Տյառնընդառաջ
Resurrection
Celebrations related to the Resurrection of Christ and the joyful Easter season.
- March 29, Sunday: Palm Sunday Ծաղկազարդ
- April 5, Sunday: Holy Easter Resurrection Սուրբ Զատիկ
- May 14, Thursday: Ascension of Our Lord Համբարձում
Transfiguration
Also called Vartavar, this feast celebrates Christ’s divine glory revealed on the mountain.
- July 12, Sunday: Transfiguration Vartavar Վարդավառ
- Observed seven weeks after Pentecost, or fourteen weeks after Easter.
B. Feasts of the Holy Mother of God
Soorp Asdvadzadzin
The Armenian Church honors the Holy Mother of God through several beloved feasts during the liturgical year.
- Annunciation: April 7
- August 16, Sunday: Assumption of the Holy Mother of God Վերափոխումն Սուրբ Աստվածածնի
- December 8: Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary Սուրբ Աստվածածնի Հղություն
C. Feasts of the Holy Cross and the Holy Church
Feasts of the Holy Cross
- May 24, Sunday: Apparition of the Holy Cross Խաչի Երևման Տոն
- September 13, Sunday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross Խաչվերաց
- October 31: Discovery of the Holy Cross Գյուտ Խաչի
Feasts of the Holy Church
- June 7, Sunday: Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin Սուրբ Էջմիածնի Տոն
- August 15: Vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator Shoghakat Շողակաթ
II. Feasts of Saints
Back to TopSaints’ Commemorations
In the Armenian Apostolic Church, saints are commemorated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, except during Great Lent when saints are commemorated on Saturdays only. During Eastertide, no saints are commemorated.
2026 Saints’ Feasts
- May 31 – June 1: St. Hripsime & Companions Սուրբ Հռիփսիմյանց
- June 2: St. Gayane & Companions Սուրբ Գայանյանց
- June 6: St. Gregory the Illuminator’s Deliverance from the Pit Խոր Վիրապից Ելք
- June 20: Discovery of the Relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորչի Նշխարների Գյուտ
- June 25: Holy Translators: St. Sahak & St. Mesrop Սուրբ Թարգմանիչներ
Saints Page
A full Armenian Saints section can be linked here when ready, giving visitors a deeper way to learn about each saint’s life and witness.
III. Fasting Days
Back to TopFasting in the Armenian Church is a sacred discipline of prayer, repentance, and preparation. There are two kinds of fasting: abstinence from meat and animal products, called bahk, and total abstinence, called dzom.
Daily Fast
Wednesday and Friday are fasting days, except during the forty days of Eastertide until Ascension and during the octave of Theophany, January 6-13.
Great Lent and Holy Week
The Great Fast, Medz Bahk, begins on the first day of Great Lent. In 2026, Great Lent begins on February 16 and leads the faithful toward Holy Week, Palm Sunday on March 29, and Holy Easter on April 5.
Weeklong Fasts
First Half of the Year
- Fast of Nativity and Theophany
- Fast of the Catechumens
- Fast of Elijah
- Fast of our Holy Father St. Gregory the Illuminator
- Fast of Transfiguration
Second Half of the Year
- Fast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
- Fast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- Fast of the Holy Cross of Varak
- Fast of Advent
- Fast of St. Hagop
Major and Fixed Feasts
Back to TopMajor Feasts, Daghavar Doner
- January 6, Tuesday: Nativity & Theophany Christmas
- April 5, Sunday: Holy Easter Resurrection
- July 12, Sunday: Transfiguration Vartavar
- August 16, Sunday: Assumption of the Holy Mother of God
- September 13, Sunday: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
2026 Fixed Feasts
- January 6, Tuesday: Nativity & Theophany Christmas
- February 14, Saturday: Presentation of the Lord to the Temple
- December 8: Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary
