The Syro-Malabar Church is a Catholic Church sui iuris of the East Syriac Rite that adheres to the following calendar for the church's liturgical year. Like other liturgical calendars, the Syro-Malabar calendar loosely follows the sequence of pivotal events in the life of Jesus.[1]
Liturgical seasons
The Syro-Malabar liturgical year opens with the season of Annunciation, which begins on the Sunday between November 27 and December 3. This day corresponds to the First Sunday of Advent in the Western Roman Rite tradition.
The liturgical year is divided into the following nine seasons.[1]
| Season | Theme | Start date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annunciation മംഗളവാര്ത്തക്കാലം ܕܣܘܼܒܵܪܵܐ (Subara) | Mystery of creation, the fall of man, the birth of the forerunner, and the mystery of incarnation | The Sunday between November 27 and December 3 | 3–4 weeks |
| 2 | Nativity പിറവിക്കാലം یلدا (Yelda) | Birth of Jesus, presentation in the temple, Holy innocents, Holy Magi | December 25 | 1–2 weeks |
| 3 | Epiphany ദനഹാക്കാലം ܕܕܸܢܚܵܐ (Denha) | Baptism of Jesus, proclamation of the son of man, and public ministry | The Sunday between January 2 and 6; otherwise January 6, if no such Sunday exists | 4–9 weeks |
| 4 | Great Fast നോമ്പുകാലം ܕܨܵܘܡܵܐ ܪܲܒܵܐ (Sawma Ramba) | Passion and death of Jesus | The 7th Sunday before Easter[2] | 7 weeks |
| 5 | Resurrection ഉയിര്പ്പുകാലം ܕܲܩܝܵܡܬܹܗܿ ܕܡܵܪܲܢ (Qyamta) | Resurrection, victory over sin, death and evil | Easter Sunday | 7 weeks |
| 6 | Apostles ശ്ലീഹാക്കാലം ܕܲܫܠܝ݂ܚܹܐ (Slihe) | Pentacost, coming of the Holy Spirit, and the new covanent | Pentecost Sunday (the 7th Sunday after Easter) | 7 weeks |
| 7 | Summer കൈത്താക്കാലം ܕܩܲܝܛܵܐ (Qaita) | Growth of the Church, remembrance of the martyrs and apostles | The 7th Sunday after Pentecost | 7 weeks |
| 8 | Elijah– Holy Cross–Moses ഏലിയാ - സ്ലീവാ - മൂശക്കാലങ്ങള് ܕܐܹܠܝ݂ܵܐ ܘܲܨܠܝ݂ܒ݂ܵܐ (Elijah, Sliba, Muse) | Transfiguration, exaltation of the Cross and the second coming of Jesus | The 14th Sunday after Pentecost | 6–11 weeks |
| 9 | Dedication of the Church പള്ളിക്കൂദാശക്കാലം ܕܩܘ݂ܕܵܫ ܥܹܕܬܵܐ (Qudas Edta) | Dedication of the Church, eternal life and reward | The Sunday between October 30 and November 5 | 4 weeks |
Although the eighth season (Elijah–Cross–Moses) is considered one of the nine, it is also regarded as a combination of the three distinct seasons that are named (Elijah, Cross, and Moses).[3]
Holy days of obligation
In the Syro-Malabar Church, there are 6 holy days of obligation:[4]
- Epiphany (January 6)
- Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29)
- The Ascension of Our Lord (sixth Thursday after Easter)
- St. Thomas (July 3)
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
- Christmas (December 25)
Liturgical Lents
The Syro-Malabar Church proposes the following days of fasting to the faithful:[5][6]
| Name | Theme | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Days' Lent | Repeant for the fall of man; preparation for the incarnation | December 1–24 |
| Rogation of the Ninivites Three Days' Lent | Repeant and return to the Lord | The third Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the beginning of Lent |
| Great Lent | Part 1: Preparation for the great passion mirroring the 40 day fast of Jesus in the desert; Part2: In remembrance of the passion of Christ | Season of Lent Part 1: The first Monday or Ash Monday to Sixth Friday (40 days) Part 2: Lazarus Saturday (6th Saturday; a day before Palm Sunday) to Holy Saturday; (no break in-between the two parts) [7] |
| Fifteen Days' Lent | Remembrance of the Assumption of Our Lady | August 1–14 |
| Eight Days' Lent | Remembrance of the Nativity of Our Lady | September 1–7 |
References
- 1.[1.2]Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 3.
- 2.In the Syro-Malabar calendar, Lent starts one week earlier than it does in the Roman Rite tradition.
- 3.Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). pp. 50–58.
- 4.Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 5.
- 5.Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 4.
- 6.Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Commission for Liturgy. "Syro-Malabar Liturgical Calendar: 2020–2021" (PDF). p. 19.
- 7."Lazarus' Saturday (കൊഴുക്കട്ടാ ശനി)". SyroCalendar. Toshen M. Thomas. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2026.