Worldview Calendar: Christian

TRINITY SUNDAY

31 May

31st May 2026

Christian (Western Churches)

(Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate All Saints at this time).

Trinity Sunday, sometimes known as ‘The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity’, is celebrated in the West on the Sunday after Pentecost/Whitsunday, when Christians reflect on the mystery of God, who is seen as One but is understood in and through God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Orthodox Churches have no specific recognition of Trinity Sunday.

The Church has been celebrating the Trinity in its life and worship since its earliest days. Evidence of this can be seen in Trinitarian baptismal formulae. Many early liturgies and prayers refer to the persons of the Trinity, as well as collects, benedictions and doxologies that end with a Trinitarian statement: ‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all’. (2 Corinthians 13:14.)

The Trinity is one of the most fascinating – and controversial – of Christian teachings. It is described as a ‘mystery’. By mystery the Church does not mean a conundrum or a riddle, but rather that the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension which we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. It is ineffable as well as incomprehensible.

The Nicene definition of the Trinity developed over time, based on Scripture and Tradition. The New Testament calls the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ‘God’, yet the three are also clearly distinct. The problem was that the Church had to reconcile the divinity of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit with Jewish monotheism. By the middle of the 2nd century the Church began using the word Trinity to describe this relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit.

Then in the 4th century a presbyter named Arius denied that the Father and Son were both true God and co-eternal, so that his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria, challenged and deposed him. Eventually the Arian controversy spread, and the emperor Constantine, newly fascinated with Christianity, convened a council of bishops in AD 325 in Nicaea to deal with Arianism. It was there that the Church drew up the beginnings of the current Nicene Creed, the bastion of Trinitarian belief.

Christianity adopted this complex view of the nature of God because it was the only way they could make sense of belief in the One God in the context of the events and teaching of the Bible. The idea of the Trinity does not supersede monotheism; it interprets it, in the light of a specific set of revelatory events: God the Father – revealed by the Old Testament to be Creator, Father and Judge; God the Son – who lived on earth amongst human beings; God the Holy Spirit – who filled the followers of Jesus with new life and power.

It is impossible to overemphasise the importance of this doctrine that God is one in three persons. This has correctly been called ‘the distinctive teaching of the Christian faith’, that which sets apart the approach of Christians to the ‘fearful mystery of the deity’ from all other approaches and beliefs. The creed, the fundamental statement of Christian belief, sets out the Trinitarian nature of God. Baptism is carried out ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’. Eucharistic prayers are firmly Trinitarian in concept. The doxology is Trinitarian.

Relevant to the day are the natural symbols of the Trinity – the shamrock used by St. Patrick to explain the Trinity to the ancient Irish; the pansy – viola tricolour – called the ‘Trinity Flower’; a candle with three flames; the triangle; the trefoil; three interlocking circles; and so many others. They all seek to explain, though with only partial success, what is an inexplicable mystery.

Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 1:18; 15:26.

THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS ET SANGUIS CHRISTI)

04 June

4th June 2026

Christian (Roman Catholic)

In some countries, including England & Wales, the festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.

The festival of Corpus Christi, a Latin phrase that refers to the body of Jesus, celebrates the institution of the Mass/Eucharist. It falls 60 days after Easter. The feast is celebrated in the Latin Church either on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or it may be transferred to the following Sunday. Its purpose is to commemorate the institution by Jesus of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper on the day before his crucifixion, as described in the gospels. It has been celebrated by Catholic Christians ever since 1246.

At the end of the Mass, it is customary for there to be a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament (often outdoors), followed by the ‘Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament’. Bread and wine are usually offered during Holy Communion/the Eucharist on Corpus Christi. It is also known as the Day of Wreaths, since in the ancient world it was customary to scatter flowers in the path of important people as a sign of respect and reverence, and this custom was adopted by the Church to honour the Blessed Sacrament as it was being carried in procession on this festival day.

In Spain and Provence the processions often feature saints and characters from the Bible as they follow a path decorated with wreaths and flowers. In Portugal the feast is known as Dia de Corpo de Deus and since medieval times has been one of the major religious observances. In the city of Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, the people make a flower-petal carpet almost three quarters of a mile long for the procession of the clergy and priests.

In Germany Corpus Christi is celebrated with colourful processions where the sacrament and other holy symbols are carried throughout villages, towns and even on boats on lakes, while streets are decorated with flowers and greenery. Children dressed in white wear wreaths of flowers accompanied by women in regional costume.

The feast was introduced to England from Belgium at some stage between 1318 and 1325. Before the Reformation, there was a famous procession in London on this day. Although the feast of Corpus Christi is no longer observed as a public holiday in England, there was a time when the city guilds were involved in processions and often performed what was known as ‘Corpus Christi’ plays. In medieval times it was a time for the performance of mystery plays.

Symbols that portray the feast may include images of: the host (the consecrated bread and wine); the chalice (to depict the Blood of Jesus); an altar; a ciborium, which is a chalice-like container used to store the consecrated host of the sacrament; or the simple elements of bread and wine.

Corpus Christi is primarily celebrated by the Catholic Church, but it is also included in the calendar of a number of Anglican churches, such as the Church of England. The feast is celebrated by some Anglo-Catholic parishes even in provinces of the Anglican Communion that do not officially include it in their calendars. In English-speaking Roman Catholic parishes, the feast is known as ‘The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)’. In the Church of England it is known as ‘The Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)’.

For Catholics the change of the substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Jesus and of the substance of wine into the substance of his Blood is known as Transubstantiation. They hold that the changes are brought about in the eucharistic prayer through the efficacy of the word of Jesus and the action of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, the outward characteristics of the bread and wine remain unaltered.

PENTECOST

31 May

31st May 2026

Christian (Orthodox Churches)

An important festival in the Christian year, Pentecost is often seen as the ‘birthday’ of the Church, since this is when the disciples of Jesus first proclaimed the Gospel after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is named after the Jewish festival day on which this event happened.

Acts of the Apostles 2:1-13.

THE TRANSFIGURATION

06 August

6th August 2026 (Christian)

6th August 2026 (Orthodox Julian Calendar)

This festival commemorates the occasion when Jesus went up a mountain with three of his disciples, Peter, James and John; here, as his death approached, they saw in a vision how his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white; they witnessed him in conversation with Moses and Elijah, and heard a voice saying, ‘This is my own dear Son with whom I am pleased – listen to him’. For many Christians this account confirms the divine nature of Jesus.

For Orthodox Christians this is an especially important festival, pointing to Christ as both human and divine. Although Moses and Elijah had died centuries before, they could both live again in the presence of the Son of God, implying that a similar return to life can apply to all who face death.

Most scholars date the transfiguration of Jesus to the time of the Festival of Booths, the Jewish feast of God dwelling with his people. The celebration of the event in the Church became for Christians the New Testamental fulfilment of the Jewish feast of Sukkot in a way remarkably similar to the influence of the Jewish feasts of Passover and Pentecost on Christian celebrations.

The feast of the Transfiguration is currently observed on the 6th of August. The summer celebration of the feast lends itself well to the concept of transfiguration. The blessing on this day of grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables, relates effectively to the paradisal view of God’s Kingdom where the whole earth will he transformed by the glory Jesus reveals here to his disciples.

The timing of the transfiguration is significant in the ministry of Jesus. Matthew 15:29 tells of the healing of the multitudes and the feeding of the 4000. This apparently prompted the Pharisees to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah, for they came to him asking for a sign (16:1ff). Jesus knew the disciples were harbouring the same expectations of him (cf. Luke 22:37-38 and Acts 1:6), and posed the famous question ‘But who do you say that I am?’

Peter’s answer in Matthew 16:16 was a great break-through, and Jesus commended Peter for it (v.17). He wanted his disciples to believe that he was the Son of God, the Messiah. Then, immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus announced, for the first time in an explicit way, his coming death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21), indicating the nature of his Messiahship.

It is in this context of this discovery made by the disciples that the transfiguration story falls. Six days went by after Peter’s confrontation with Jesus. Then he took Peter, James, and John up ‘to a high mountain’ (possibly Mount Tabor?) where they witnessed a wonderful sight: Jesus was glorified before their eyes. (Matt. 17:2).

Then there appeared Moses and Elijah. These two characters fit perfectly into this scene. Moses was the great lawgiver in Israelite history, but he was also the first of God’s great prophets (cf. Deut 18:14ff). Elijah was a great prophet too. Furthermore, both of them saw an appearance of God in their lifetimes (Moses: Exod 33:17ff; Elijah: 1 Kings 19:9ff), and both of these occurred on a mountain (Mt. Sinai). Both of them, like Jesus, had performed mighty works in the name of the Lord God of Israel, and both had experienced, to some degree, the rejection of their own people. These two characters have symbolic significance. Together they represent the Law and the Prophets, both of which pointed forwards to Jesus (cf. Rom. 3:21) and to his future suffering and exaltation.

Matthew 17:1-17, Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36.

ASSUMPTION (DORMITION) OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

15 August

15th August 2026

Christian (Roman Catholic, Anglican)

Dormition of the Mother of God – Christian (Orthodox) Julian Calendar

On this day many Christians celebrate the ‘taking up’ of Mary, body and soul, to heaven. Several Catholic communities mark the festival of the Assumption with processions and fêtes.

On this day, Eastern Orthodox Christians commemorate the passing of Mary, Mother of Christ, in the presence of the Apostles. Miraculously brought together at her house, Mary told the Apostles of the reason for their gathering, and comforted them. She raised her hands to pray for peace for the world, and blessed each apostle before giving up her spirit. The apostles buried Mary at Gethsemane, where Jesus had also been buried; but on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, Mary appeared to them, saying “Rejoice”. In this way, the apostles first learned that Mary’s body had been taken up into Heaven, where Christ had already taken her spirit. When the apostles went to the grave, her body was gone, leaving a sweet fragrance. The symbolism of this event encompasses the idea of death as ‘falling asleep’ (this is what ‘dormition’ means), to be followed by eventual resurrection.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

21 September

Around 21st September 2026 – Dates vary

Christian (Western, Anglican and Free Churches)

Special services are held around this time of year to give thanks for the goodness of God’s gifts in providing a harvest of crops along with all the other fruits of society. Displays of produce are often made, usually distributed afterwards to those in need. Increasingly the emphasis is on a wider interpretation than just the harvests of the fields and seas.

ALL SAINTS’ DAY

01 November

1st November 2026

Christian (Western Churches)

(The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or a Monday.)

All Hallows’, originally All Martyrs’

This day provides a chance to offer thanks for the work and witness of all Christian saints, recognising that not all are known or specially celebrated. Many churches stress this day rather than Hallowe’en, which falls the day before, by holding events especially designed for children.

ALL SOULS’ DAY

02 November

2nd November 2026

Christian

On this day in particular the departed are remembered and prayers on their behalf are offered. From earliest times Christians have prayed for the souls of the dead. In the year 998, All Souls, ‘the faithful departed’, began to be remembered in the Church calendar on this day.

ADVENT SUNDAY

29 November

29th November 2026

Christian (Western Churches)

Advent means ‘Coming’. It heralds the start of the Christian year, and commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It is often celebrated by lighting the first candle in the advent crown – a circular wreath of greenery. A further three candles are lit on subsequent Sundays, culminating with the Christmas candle on the 25th of December. Together these signify the transition from darkness to light, the light of Jesus coming into the world.

The earliest celebration of Advent dates back to the year 567 CE when monks were ordered to fast during December, in preparation for Christmas. Some Christians fast during Advent to help them concentrate on their preparations for celebrating the coming of Jesus. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days, starting on November 15th. It is also called the Nativity Fast. Orthodox Christians no meat or dairy foods during Advent, and they may also avoid olive oil, wine and fish.

There are some Christmas Carols that are really Advent Carols. These include ‘People Look East’, ‘Come, thou long expected Jesus’, ‘Lo! He comes, with clouds descending’ and, perhaps the most popular advent song, ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel!’.

There are several ways that Advent is counted down but the most common is by a calendar or candles. There are many types of calendars used in different countries. The most common ones in the UK and USA are made of paper or card with 24 or 25 little windows. One of these is opened each day in December and a Christmas picture is displayed underneath.

For Christians Advent is a time of preparation for and reflection on the mystery of the incarnation. It is observed through private prayer and self-discipline and its aim is to ready the believer for celebrating at Christmas the miracle of God’s taking human form.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

08 December

Christian (Roman Catholic)

Celebrates the doctrine held mainly by Roman Catholics that Mary herself was born free from Original Sin, leaving her sinless for the conception and bearing of Jesus.