Saints and Feasts Days

[Principal Holy Days] [Festivals] [Ember Days] [Commemorations]

The Principal Holy Days which are to be observed are:

Christmas Day (25 December)

Easter Day

The Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday)

On these days the Holy Communion is celebrated in every cathedral and parish church unless the ordinary shall otherwise direct.

The Epiphany (6 January)

In any year where there is a Second Sunday of Christmas The Epiphany may be observed on that Sunday.

The Presentation of Christ (2 February)

The Presentation of Christ may be observed on the Sunday falling between 28 January and 3 February.

Maundy Thursday

The Ascension Day

Trinity Sunday

All Saints’Day (1 November)

All Saints’Day may be observed on the Sunday falling between 30 October and 5 November.

On these days it is fitting that the Holy Communion be celebrated in every cathedral and in each parish church or in a church within a parochial union or group of parishes.

Good Friday is also a principal holy day

Festivals

The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
1 January

The Baptism of our Lord
The First Sunday after The Epiphany

The Conversion of Saint Paul
25 January

Saint Brigid
1 February

Saint Patrick
17 March

Saint Joseph of Nazareth
19 March

The Annunciation of our Lord
25 March

Saint Mark the Evangelist
25 April

Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles
1 May

Saint Matthias
14 May

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
31 May

Saint Columba
9 June

Saint Barnabas
11 June

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist
24 June

Saint Peter
29 June

Saint Thomas
3 July

Saint Mary Magdalene
22 July

Saint James the Apostle
25 July

The Transfiguration of our Lord
6 August

Saint Bartholomew
24 August

The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 September

Saint Matthew
21 September

Saint Michael and all Angels
29 September

Saint Philip the Deacon
11 October

Saint Luke
18 October

Saint James, the Brother of our Lord
23 October

Saint Simon and Saint Jude
28 October

The Kingship of Christ
The Sunday before Advent

Saint Andrew
30 November

Saint Stephen
26 December

Saint John the Evangelist
27 December

The Holy Innocents
28 December

Liturgical provision is made for the above days in the Book of Common Prayer.

Ember Days

Days of prayer for those ordained or preparing for ordination: the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, the Day of Pentecost, 14 September and 13 December.

These may be varied by the ordinary to relate to times of ordination in the diocese.

Rules to Order Observance of Festivals

Festivals falling on a Sunday may be transferred to the following Monday or at the discretion of the minister to the next suitable weekday.

Festivals falling on the first Sunday of Christmas may be observed on that day or transferred to the next available weekday.

When Saint Patrick’s Day falls on the Sixth Sunday in Lent or the Monday or Tuesday of Holy Week it is observed on the previous Saturday. When Saint Patrick’s Day falls on another Sunday of Lent it may be observed on the Sunday or on the previous Saturday or the following Monday.

When Saint Joseph’s Day or the Annunciation of our Lord falls on a Sunday in Lent or in Holy Week they are observed on the Monday following the Second Sunday of Easter or at the discretion of the minister on another suitable weekday in the same week.

When the Annunciation of our Lord or Saint Mark’s Day falls in the first week of Easter they are observed on the Monday following the Second Sunday of Easter or at the discretion of the minister on another suitable weekday in the same week.

Festivals falling on a Sunday of Eastertide are observed on the Monday following or at the discretion of the minister on another suitable weekday in the same week.

When Saint Columba’s Day or Saint Barnabas’ Day falls on Trinity Sunday they are observed on the Monday following or at the discretion of the minister on another suitable weekday in the same week.

Festivals not covered by the above rules may be observed on the Sunday or on a suitable weekday in the same week.

Commemorations

A list of persons associated with dioceses of the Church in Ireland.

Some are church founders, some are reformers and re–builders, some went as missionaries to carry the Gospel to other lands. Dates are those linked with their names; some are those of the anniversary of their deaths. These are included for reference and to remind us of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church in all ages. The post–Reformation ‘worthies’ included reflect the Church of Ireland’s relationship with other parts of the Anglican Communion.

Orders for the Commemoration of Saints may be found by clicking here.

Munchin, abbot. Limerick diocese. (7th century)
2 January

Edan, bishop. Ferns diocese. (632)
31 January

BRIGID or Bríd, Abbess of Kildare. circa (525)
1 February

Kieran of Seirkieran. Ossory diocese. circa (545)
5 March

PATRICK, (461)
17 March

Macartan, bishop. Clogher diocese. circa (505)
24 March

Laserian, abbot. Leighlin diocese. (639)
18 April

Assicus (or Tassach), bishop. Elphin diocese. (470)
27 April

Comgall of Bangor, abbot. Down diocese. (602)
10 May

Carthagh, bishop. Lismore diocese. (637)
14 May

Brendan, the Navigator. Ardfert & Clonfert dioceses. (577)
16 May

Kevin. Glendalough diocese. (618)
3 June

Jarlath. Tuam diocese. circa (550)
6 June

Colman. Dromore diocese. (6th century)
7 June

COLUMBA. Abbot of Iona. (597)
9 June

Richard FitzRalph, archbishop. Armagh diocese (1360)
27 June

Moninne of Killeavy. Armagh diocese. (518)
6 July

Kilian, bishop and martyr. Kilmore diocese. (689)
8 July

Declan of Ardmore, bishop. Cloyne diocese. (5th century)
24 July

Felim. Kilmore diocese circa (560)
9 August

Crumnathy (or Nathi). Achonry diocese. circa (610)
9 August

Muredach (or Murtagh). Killala diocese. circa (480)
12 August

Jeremy Taylor, bishop. Down and Connor and Dromore (1667)
13 August

Fachtna (or Fachanan), bishop. Ross diocese. (6th century)
14 August

Charles Inglis, bishop in N. America from Raphoe (1816)
16 August

Oengus Mac Nisse of Dalriada. Connor diocese. (514)
3 September

Ciarán of Clonmacnoise. circa (545)
9 September

Finnian of Movilla in the Ards. Down diocese. (579)
10 September

Ailbhe, bishop. Emly diocese. circa (526)
12 September

Eunan, abbot. Raphoe diocese. (7th century)
23 September

Fin Barre. Cork diocese. (623)
25 September

Canice, bishop. Ossory diocese. (6th century)
11 October

Móibhí, teacher. (545)
12 October

Gall, missionary. Down diocese. (630)
16 October

Otteran, abbot. Waterford diocese. (563)
27 October

Malachy, bishop. Armagh and Down dioceses (1148)
3 November

Laurence O’Toole. Dublin and Glendalough dioceses (1180)
14 November

Columbanus, abbot. Down diocese. (615)
23 November

Colman. Cloyne diocese. (601)
24 November

Finnian of Clonard, abbot. Meath diocese circa (549)
12 December

Flannan. Killaloe diocese. (640)
18 December