Liturgical Year 2025–2026

The Year.

The Christian year is the church's older clock. A way of telling time that does not turn faster than prayer can keep up.

CrossAIHub liturgical year wheel — the seasons in clockwise order from the top. Advent — Nov 30 to Dec 24 Christmas — Dec 25 to Jan 5 Epiphany — Jan 6 to Feb 17 Lent — Feb 18 to Mar 28 Holy Week — Mar 29 to Apr 4 Eastertide — Apr 5 to May 23 (current) Pentecost — May 24 Ordinary Time — May 25 to Nov 28 ADVENT CHRISTMAS EPIPHANY LENT HOLY WEEK EASTER PENT ORDINARY TIME 2025 – 2026

Today the church walks through Eastertide — the fifty days of resurrection joy.

The seasons in order

Each season carries its own Scripture, its own history, and its own work. CrossAIHub publishes carefully alongside the calendar — never ahead of it, never to fill empty space.

Advent

November 29, 2025 — December 23, 2025 · Violet

The four weeks before Christmas. A season of waiting — Israel's waiting for the Messiah, and the church's waiting for Christ's return.

Isaiah 9:2 — "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

Feast days in this season
  • December 7, 2025 — Immaculate Conception (Western)
  • December 20, 2025 — Winter Solstice — fourth Sunday of Advent

What CrossAIHub publishes A short daily Advent devotional walking the prophecies of Christ from Genesis through Malachi.

Historic context. Observed across Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and many Protestant traditions. The themes — hope, peace, joy, love — are common to the Sundays of Advent.

Christmas

December 24, 2025 — January 4, 2026 · Gold

The Incarnation — the Word made flesh. Twelve days of celebration that the eternal Son took on our nature.

John 1:14 — "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Feast days in this season
  • December 24, 2025 — Nativity of the Lord
  • December 25, 2025 — St. Stephen — first martyr
  • December 27, 2025 — Holy Innocents

What CrossAIHub publishes Family-prayer pages for the twelve days, with Scripture readings, a brief reflection, and a question for the table.

Historic context. December 25 is observed by Western churches; January 7 is observed by many Eastern Orthodox communities following the Julian calendar. Both confess the same Incarnation.

Epiphany

January 5, 2026 — February 16, 2026 · Gold / Green

The revealing — the magi recognize the Christ-child, Jesus is baptized in the Jordan, the disciples are called. The light reaches the nations.

Matthew 2:11 — "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him."

Feast days in this season
  • December 31, 2025 — Mary, Mother of God (Solemnity)
  • January 5, 2026 — Epiphany of the Lord
  • January 10, 2026 — Baptism of the Lord
  • January 24, 2026 — Conversion of St. Paul
  • February 1, 2026 — Presentation of the Lord

What CrossAIHub publishes Study aids on the calling of the Twelve and the early Galilean ministry. One careful AI-literacy reflection per week.

Historic context. January 6 marks the Epiphany itself — the visit of the magi in the West, the Baptism of the Lord in many Eastern traditions. The season carries through to the start of Lent.

Lent

February 17, 2026 — April 3, 2026 · Violet / Sackcloth

Forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — patterned on Christ's forty days in the wilderness. A season for honest examination of the heart.

Joel 2:13 — "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love."

Feast days in this season
  • February 17, 2026 — Ash Wednesday
  • March 18, 2026 — St. Joseph
  • March 24, 2026 — Annunciation of the Lord

What CrossAIHub publishes A daily Lenten devotional with Scripture, a question for examination, and a quiet practice for the day. No tracking. No streaks. Just the day.

Historic context. Observed across nearly all historic Christian traditions, though the exact dates and disciplines vary (the Orthodox Great Lent begins earlier in 2026). The shared call is the same: turn back to God.

Holy Week

March 28, 2026 — April 3, 2026 · Red / Black

The week that holds everything — Palm Sunday's entry, Maundy Thursday's last supper, Good Friday's cross, Holy Saturday's silence.

John 19:30 — "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

Feast days in this season
  • March 28, 2026 — Palm Sunday
  • April 1, 2026 — Maundy Thursday
  • April 2, 2026 — Good Friday
  • April 3, 2026 — Holy Saturday

What CrossAIHub publishes Day-by-day readings for the family — Monday's anointing at Bethany, Tuesday's teaching in the Temple, the betrayal, the supper, the trial, the cross, the silence.

Historic context. The most ancient observance in the Christian year. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed — all hold this week. The Orthodox Holy Week falls a week later in 2026.

Walking now

Eastertide

April 4, 2026 — May 22, 2026 · White / Gold

Fifty days of resurrection joy — from Easter morning through the Ascension and to the eve of Pentecost. The longest celebratory season in the Christian year.

1 Corinthians 15:20 — "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Feast days in this season
  • April 4, 2026 — Easter Sunday — the Resurrection
  • April 24, 2026 — St. Mark, Evangelist
  • May 2, 2026 — Sts. Philip and James
  • May 13, 2026 — Ascension of the Lord (Thursday)

What CrossAIHub publishes Weekly study aid on the resurrection appearances and the formation of the early church in Acts 1–2.

Historic context. Universal across Christian traditions. The seven Sundays of Easter walk through the resurrection appearances, the call of the disciples, and the promise of the Spirit.

Pentecost

May 23, 2026 — May 23, 2026 · Red

The descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples. The birth of the church. The fiftieth day from Easter.

Acts 2:4 — "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

Feast days in this season
  • May 23, 2026 — Pentecost Sunday

What CrossAIHub publishes A reading guide for Acts 2 with notes on the gift of tongues, the first sermon of Peter, and the practices of the earliest church.

Historic context. Observed universally. The themes of empowerment, mission, and the gathering of the nations are shared across the historic Christian traditions.

Ordinary Time

May 24, 2026 — November 27, 2026 · Green

The long season of growth — the church learning to live in the world that Christ has redeemed. The Sundays count the unfolding of his teaching ministry.

Matthew 28:19–20 — "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Feast days in this season
  • May 30, 2026 — Trinity Sunday
  • June 28, 2026 — Sts. Peter and Paul
  • August 5, 2026 — Transfiguration of the Lord
  • August 14, 2026 — Dormition / Assumption of the Theotokos
  • September 7, 2026 — Nativity of Mary
  • September 28, 2026 — St. Michael and All Angels
  • October 31, 2026 — All Saints
  • November 1, 2026 — All Souls

What CrossAIHub publishes Weekly Scripture meditations on the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, and the letters. Family-prayer guides for the long stretch of summer and autumn.

Historic context. Called Ordinary Time in the Roman calendar; called the Season after Pentecost or Trinity Season in many Protestant traditions. The shape is the same: the long walk of discipleship.

"He has appointed the moon for the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting." Psalm 104:19 (ESV)

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