Melkites are CatholicsMelkites are Catholics• The Melkite Greek Catholic Religion and the The Melkite Greek Catholic Religion and the

Roman Latin Catholic Religion are the same Roman Latin Catholic Religion are the same religion. There are about religion. There are about 22 Catholic Churches in a federation under the "Pope".in a federation under the "Pope".The Catholic Churches are different in their The Catholic Churches are different in their implementation of the same religion. The implementation of the same religion. The Catholic Churches are different in their Catholic Churches are different in their spirituality, advanced theology, liturgical spirituality, advanced theology, liturgical services, liturgical calendar, saints, rules, services, liturgical calendar, saints, rules, regulations, customs, history, languages, etc.regulations, customs, history, languages, etc.

• ALLALL Catholics accept the definitions, creeds, Catholics accept the definitions, creeds, cannon laws, etc. of the first seven cannon laws, etc. of the first seven Ecumenical Councils.Ecumenical Councils.

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• Melkites follow Greek variant of the Melkites follow Greek variant of the Byzantine Rite in worship, theology, and Byzantine Rite in worship, theology, and spirituality. spirituality. Melkites are sometimes called "Eastern Melkites are sometimes called "Eastern Catholics" or "Byzantine Catholics" or Catholics" or "Byzantine Catholics" or "Greek Catholics"."Greek Catholics".

• The The Divine Liturgy, customs, etc. were set , customs, etc. were set about 500-600 AD. The usual Divine about 500-600 AD. The usual Divine Liturgy is the Divine Liturgy of Our Father Liturgy is the Divine Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom. (He among the Saints John Chrysostom. (He was born, baptized, and ordained in was born, baptized, and ordained in Antioch.)Antioch.)

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• Feasts in the Melkite church fall into one of Feasts in the Melkite church fall into one of a few categories, in descending order of a few categories, in descending order of precedence precedence 1::

• 1st Class 1st Class • 2nd Class 2nd Class • 3rd Class 3rd Class • Commemoration   Commemoration   • When two Feasts of the same rank fall on When two Feasts of the same rank fall on

the same day, they are ranked further by the same day, they are ranked further by whether they relate to (in descending order whether they relate to (in descending order of preference): of preference):    

• Our Lord Our Lord • Our Lady Our Lady • the Holy Angels the Holy Angels • St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, St. Peter, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, St. Peter,

St. Paul, the other Apostles St. Paul, the other Apostles • Martyrs Martyrs • Other Saints Other Saints Exit

•There are three seasonal There are three seasonal liturgical cycles during the liturgical cycles during the year in the Byzantine churchesyear in the Byzantine churches

•Nativity or Christmas or Christmas•Pascha or Easter or Easter•Pentecostal or Pentecost or Pentecost

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Through Through the prayer the prayer

of the of the Mother of Mother of

GodGodsave usussave usus

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• Feasts of Feasts Feasts of Feasts and Great Feasts and Great Feasts Days are special Days are special days. These Feasts days. These Feasts commemorate an commemorate an event that has a event that has a specific bearing on specific bearing on the life and mission the life and mission of of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ

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There are five kinds of Feasts There are five kinds of Feasts in the Melkite Churchin the Melkite Church1- Feast of the feasts1- Feast of the feasts

2- Great feasts class12- Great feasts class1

3- Great feasts class23- Great feasts class2

4- Great feasts Synaxis days4- Great feasts Synaxis days

5- Saints Great feasts5- Saints Great feasts

The most important feast is the feast of The most important feast is the feast of feasts feasts

The date of the Feast of Feast changes The The date of the Feast of Feast changes The earliest possible date for Feasts of Feasts earliest possible date for Feasts of Feasts Holy and Glorious Pascha is March 22 and Holy and Glorious Pascha is March 22 and the latest possible date is April 25.the latest possible date is April 25.

 

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Rule to Determine the DateRule to Determine the Date• Faithful in Orthodox Dominated CountriesFaithful in Orthodox Dominated Countries• Faithful in Orthodox dominated countries celebrate Faithful in Orthodox dominated countries celebrate

according to the according to the Julian calendarJulian calendar on 1st Sunday on 1st Sunday after 1st full moon after March 20 after 1st full moon after March 20 and and after the Jewish Passoverafter the Jewish Passover. .

• Faithful in Latin Catholic Dominated CountriesFaithful in Latin Catholic Dominated Countries• Faithful in Latin Catholic dominated countries celebrate Faithful in Latin Catholic dominated countries celebrate

according to the according to the Gregorian calendarGregorian calendar on 1st Sunday on 1st Sunday after 1st full moon after March 20. after 1st full moon after March 20.

• Melkites celebrate Pascha on the same date as Melkites celebrate Pascha on the same date as the dominate Church (Catholic or Orthodox) the dominate Church (Catholic or Orthodox) does.does.

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25 December Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ - Celebration

First Day

(One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)

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2 February

• Great Feast of the Holy Hypapanty of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and the Purification of The Theotokos (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)Celebration 40th Day of Great Feast of the Nativity

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6 January6 January

• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Holy Theophany of Holy Theophany of Lord, Lord, God and God and Savior, Jesus Christ Savior, Jesus Christ (One of (One of the Twelve Great the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)Feasts, class 1)

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6 August6 August

• Great Feast of Great Feast of the the TransfiguratioTransfiguration of our Lord, n of our Lord, God and God and Savior, Jesus Savior, Jesus Christ (One of Christ (One of the Twelve the Twelve Great Feasts, Great Feasts, class 1)class 1)

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Sunday before PaschaSunday before Pascha

• Great Feast of Holy Great Feast of Holy and Glorious Palm and Glorious Palm Sunday – ShaneenehSunday – Shaneeneh

Transition Period Transition Period Second Day Second Day (One of the Twelve (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)Great Feasts, class 1)

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40th day of Pascha40th day of Pascha

• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Ascension into Heaven Ascension into Heaven of Our Lord, of Our Lord, God and God and Savior Jesus Christ Savior Jesus Christ (One of (One of the Twelve Great the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1) Holy Feasts, class 1) Holy and Glorious Pascha and Glorious Pascha Celebration Fortieth Celebration Fortieth DayDay

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50th day of Pascha50th day of Pascha

• Great Feast of Pentecost Great Feast of Pentecost Holy and Glorious Holy and Glorious Pascha Celebration Pascha Celebration Fiftieth Day Fiftieth Day Eighth Sunday of Holy Eighth Sunday of Holy and Glorious Pascha and Glorious Pascha (One of the (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class Twelve Great Feasts, class

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14 September 14 September

• The Great Feast of the The Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Exaltation of the Precious Precious and Life and Life giving Holy Cross giving Holy Cross (One of (One of the Twelve Great the Twelve Great Feasts, class 1)Feasts, class 1)

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8 September8 September

• Great Feast of Great Feast of the Nativity of the Nativity of The Theotokos The Theotokos (One of (One of the Twelve Great the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2) Feasts, class 2)

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21 November21 November

• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Entrance of The Entrance of The Theotokos into the Theotokos into the Temple (One of the Temple (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)class 2)

• In the Icon of the Entrance of In the Icon of the Entrance of the Mother of God, Mary is the Mother of God, Mary is shown as a young girl being shown as a young girl being escorted to the Temple by escorted to the Temple by her parents, Joachim and her parents, Joachim and Anna. She is also Anna. She is also accompanied by the holy accompanied by the holy virgins carrying candles. In virgins carrying candles. In all the icons of the all the icons of the Presentation, the High Priest Presentation, the High Priest greets the holy family at the greets the holy family at the entrance of the Templeentrance of the Temple Exit

25 March 25 March

• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Annunciation of Annunciation of The Theotokos The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin and Ever-Virgin Mary (One of the Mary (One of the Twelve Great Twelve Great Feasts, class 2) Feasts, class 2)

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15 August15 August

• Great Feast of the Great Feast of the Dormition of The Dormition of The Theotokos Theotokos (One of the Twelve (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class Great Feasts, class 2)2)

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feasts in honor of saints, such feasts in honor of saints, such asas• 1. 1. The Nativity of St. John the Baptist The Nativity of St. John the Baptist — June 24— June 24• 2. 2. The Beheading of St. John the Baptist The Beheading of St. John the Baptist — —

August 29August 29• 3. 3. The Holy First-leaders of the Apostles Peter The Holy First-leaders of the Apostles Peter

and Paul and Paul — June 29— June 29• Additionally, in the Russian Church, this feast is also Additionally, in the Russian Church, this feast is also

numbered with the great vigil feasts:numbered with the great vigil feasts:• 4. 4. The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

— October 1, which is not included with the twelve — October 1, which is not included with the twelve great feasts.great feasts.

• Also included in the number of great vigils feasts is:Also included in the number of great vigils feasts is:• 5. 5. The Circumcision of the Lord and the The Circumcision of the Lord and the

Commemoration of St. Basil the Great Commemoration of St. Basil the Great — — January 1.January 1.

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