The Orthodox calendar 2027 places Christmas on Thursday, January 7, in Julian-calendar churches, Pascha (Orthodox Easter) on Sunday, May 2, and the start of Great Lent on Clean Monday, March 15, 2027.
Old Calendar Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas only once in 2027, on Thursday, January 7. Their next Christmas falls on Friday, January 7, 2028.
New Calendar churches celebrate on Saturday, December 25, 2027. The Apostles’ Fast lasts a single day, Monday, June 28, 2027, in New Calendar churches, and 14 days in Old Calendar churches.
The late Pascha on May 2 pushes Pentecost to June 20, which leaves almost no time before the fixed Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.
The Orthodox Church uses two calendars. The Julian (“Old”) calendar runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar until 2100. The Revised Julian (“New”) calendar matches the Gregorian calendar for fixed feasts.
All Orthodox churches except the Church of Finland calculate Pascha, and every date that depends on it, with the Julian calendar. As a result, the movable feasts below are the same for both calendars.
Table of Contents
Orthodox Christmas 2027
Orthodox Christmas 2027 falls on Thursday, January 7, 2027, in churches that follow the Julian calendar, and on Saturday, December 25, 2027, in churches that follow the Revised Julian calendar. January 7 in the Gregorian calendar is December 25 in the Julian calendar.
The table groups the churches by calendar.
| Calendar | Christmas date | Churches |
|---|---|---|
| Julian (Old Calendar) | Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Jerusalem, Mount Athos |
| Revised Julian (New Calendar) | Friday, December 25, 2026, and Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Albania, the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Ukraine |
| Oriental Orthodox (own calendars) | Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Coptic Orthodox Church (Egypt), Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
The church groupings follow EU Alive’s summary of the Orthodox calendar divide. Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) falls on Thursday, January 7, 2027, according to Office Holidays. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Nativity together with Theophany on January 6.
Why Ukraine no longer celebrates Christmas on January 7
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine moved to the Revised Julian calendar on Friday, September 1, 2023, so its Christmas now falls on December 25.
The Kyiv Independent reports that individual parishes and monasteries may keep the old calendar. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church made the same change for fixed feasts.
The Ukrainian government then made December 25 the only state Christmas holiday, under a law President Zelenskyy signed on July 28, 2023 (Wikipedia: Christmas in Ukraine).
Orthodox Christmas season 2026–2027 (Old Calendar)
For Old Calendar churches, the Christmas season runs from the Nativity Fast on Saturday, November 28, 2026, to Theophany on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. The key days follow in order.
| Observance | Old Calendar date | New Calendar date |
|---|---|---|
| Nativity Fast begins | Saturday, November 28, 2026 | Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
| Saint Nicholas | Saturday, December 19, 2026 | Sunday, December 6, 2026 |
| Christmas Eve (Holy Supper, Badnji Dan) | Wednesday, January 6, 2027 | Thursday, December 24, 2026 |
| Nativity of Christ | Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Old New Year (Saint Basil) | Thursday, January 14, 2027 | Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| Theophany Eve (strict fast) | Monday, January 18, 2027 | Tuesday, January 5, 2027 |
| Theophany (Baptism of Christ) | Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | Wednesday, January 6, 2027 |
The days between Christmas and Theophany Eve are fast-free in both calendars, Thursday, January 7, to Sunday, January 17, 2027, for Old Calendar churches.
Orthodox calendar 2027 Great Feasts
The Orthodox Church observes Pascha and 12 Great Feasts: 9 fixed and 3 moveable. The fixed feasts fall 13 days later in Old Calendar churches. The moveable feasts follow Pascha and are the same in both calendars.
| Great Feast | New Calendar (2027) | Old Calendar (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Nativity of Christ | Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Thursday, January 7, 2027 |
| Theophany | Wednesday, January 6, 2027 | Tuesday, January 19, 2027 |
| Meeting of the Lord | Tuesday, February 2, 2027 | Monday, February 15, 2027 |
| Annunciation | Thursday, March 25, 2027 | Wednesday, April 7, 2027 |
| Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) | Sunday, April 25, 2027 | Sunday, April 25, 2027 |
| Pascha (Orthodox Easter) | Sunday, May 2, 2027 | Sunday, May 2, 2027 |
| Ascension | Thursday, June 10, 2027 | Thursday, June 10, 2027 |
| Pentecost (Holy Trinity) | Sunday, June 20, 2027 | Sunday, June 20, 2027 |
| Transfiguration | Friday, August 6, 2027 | Thursday, August 19, 2027 |
| Dormition of the Theotokos | Sunday, August 15, 2027 | Saturday, August 28, 2027 |
| Nativity of the Theotokos | Wednesday, September 8, 2027 | Tuesday, September 21, 2027 |
| Exaltation of the Cross | Tuesday, September 14, 2027 | Monday, September 27, 2027 |
| Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple | Sunday, November 21, 2027 | Saturday, December 4, 2027 |
Unlike the Catholic Church, which moves the Annunciation to Monday, April 5, 2027, because March 25 falls in Holy Week, the Orthodox Church never transfers the Annunciation. It is celebrated on its fixed date even during Lent or Holy Week. The Catholic dates are in the Liturgical Calendar 2027.
Orthodox Pascha 2027 and the Paschal cycle
Pascha falls on Sunday, May 2, 2027, five weeks after Western Easter on Sunday, March 28, and three days after Passover ends. The Paschal cycle starts ten weeks before Pascha with the Triodion.
| Observance | Date |
|---|---|
| Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (Triodion begins) | Sunday, February 21, 2027 |
| Meatfare Sunday (last day for meat) | Sunday, March 7, 2027 |
| Forgiveness Sunday (Cheesefare) | Sunday, March 14, 2027 |
| Clean Monday (Great Lent begins) | Monday, March 15, 2027 |
| Lazarus Saturday | Saturday, April 24, 2027 |
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, April 25, 2027 |
| Holy Friday | Friday, April 30, 2027 |
| Pascha | Sunday, May 2, 2027 |
| Thomas Sunday | Sunday, May 9, 2027 |
| Mid-Pentecost | Wednesday, May 26, 2027 |
| Ascension | Thursday, June 10, 2027 |
| Pentecost | Sunday, June 20, 2027 |
| All Saints Sunday | Sunday, June 27, 2027 |
Orthodox fasting calendar 2027
The Orthodox Church keeps four fasting periods, plus Wednesdays and Fridays throughout most of the year. Three of the four periods start on fixed dates, so their Gregorian dates differ between calendars. Great Lent follows Pascha and is the same for all.
| Fast | New Calendar (2027) | Old Calendar (2027) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lent and Holy Week | Monday, March 15, to Saturday, May 1, 2027 | Monday, March 15, to Saturday, May 1, 2027 | 48 days |
| Apostles’ Fast | Monday, June 28, 2027 | Monday, June 28, to Sunday, July 11, 2027 | 1 day (New); 14 days (Old) |
| Dormition Fast | Sunday, August 1, to Saturday, August 14, 2027 | Saturday, August 14, to Friday, August 27, 2027 | 14 days |
| Nativity Fast | Monday, November 15, to Friday, December 24, 2027 | Sunday, November 28, 2027, to Thursday, January 6, 2028 | 40 days |
Why the Apostles’ Fast is one day in the Orthodox calendar 2027
The Apostles’ Fast starts the day after All Saints Sunday and ends before the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, so its length depends on how late Pascha falls. In 2027, All Saints Sunday is June 27, so the fast begins on Monday, June 28.
New Calendar churches keep Saints Peter and Paul on Tuesday, June 29, which leaves one fasting day. Old Calendar churches keep the feast on Monday, July 12, which leaves 14 days.
Apostles’ Fast length in the Orthodox calendar 2027–2031
| Year | Pascha | Apostles’ Fast begins | New Calendar length | Old Calendar length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Sunday, May 2, 2027 | Monday, June 28, 2027 | 1 day | 14 days |
| 2028 | Sunday, April 16, 2028 | Monday, June 12, 2028 | 17 days | 30 days |
| 2029 | Sunday, April 8, 2029 | Monday, June 4, 2029 | 25 days | 38 days |
| 2030 | Sunday, April 28, 2030 | Monday, June 24, 2030 | 5 days | 18 days |
| 2031 | Sunday, April 13, 2031 | Monday, June 9, 2031 | 20 days | 33 days |
Fast-free weeks in 2027
Four weeks in 2027 carry no Wednesday or Friday fast.
The table lists them.
| Fast-free period | Dates (Old Calendar) |
|---|---|
| Christmas to Theophany Eve | Thursday, January 7, to Sunday, January 17, 2027 |
| Week after the Publican and the Pharisee | Monday, February 22, to Saturday, February 27, 2027 |
| Bright Week (week after Pascha) | Monday, May 3, to Saturday, May 8, 2027 |
| Week after Pentecost (Trinity Week) | Monday, June 21, to Saturday, June 26, 2027 |
The week before Great Lent, Monday, March 8, to Saturday, March 13, 2027, is Cheesefare Week. Meat is not eaten, but dairy, eggs, and fish are permitted, including on Wednesday and Friday.
Old Calendar vs. New Calendar Orthodox churches
The two calendars differ only in fixed feasts and fasts; Pascha and its cycle are identical. The table compares them.
| Feature | Julian (Old) Calendar | Revised Julian (New) Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | January 7 (Gregorian) | December 25 |
| Fixed feasts | 13 days after the Gregorian date until 2100 | Same as the Gregorian date |
| Pascha | Julian Paschalion (Sunday, May 2, 2027) | Julian Paschalion (Sunday, May 2, 2027) |
| Apostles’ Fast in 2027 | 14 days | 1 day |
| Examples | Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Jerusalem | Greece, Romania, Constantinople, Ukraine |
In 2100, the gap between the Julian and Gregorian calendars grows to 14 days, and Old Calendar Christmas moves to January 8.
Orthodox calendar dates 2027 to 2031
Pascha moves between early April and early May, and every moveable date moves with it. The table covers five years.
| Year | Clean Monday (Great Lent) | Pascha | Pentecost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Monday, March 15, 2027 | Sunday, May 2, 2027 | Sunday, June 20, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, February 28, 2028 | Sunday, April 16, 2028 | Sunday, June 4, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, February 19, 2029 | Sunday, April 8, 2029 | Sunday, May 27, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, March 11, 2030 | Sunday, April 28, 2030 | Sunday, June 16, 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday, February 24, 2031 | Sunday, April 13, 2031 | Sunday, June 1, 2031 |
In 2028 and 2031, Orthodox Pascha and Western Easter fall on the same Sunday.
What the Orthodox calendar 2027 is not
The Orthodox calendar is often confused with other calendars and conventions. The points below separate them.
- It is not the Catholic liturgical calendar. Orthodox Pascha, May 2, 2027, falls five weeks after Catholic and Protestant Easter.
- It is not one calendar. Old and New Calendar churches celebrate fixed feasts 13 days apart.
- Orthodox Christmas is not “on January 7” for every Orthodox Christian. Greek, Romanian, Antiochian, and Ukrainian Orthodox churches celebrate on December 25.
- The Old Calendar is not a different Christmas date. Both calendars celebrate December 25; the Julian December 25 falls on the Gregorian January 7.
Frequently asked questions
When is Orthodox Christmas 2027?
Orthodox Christmas 2027 is Thursday, January 7, 2027, for Julian-calendar churches such as the Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches. Revised Julian churches, such as the Greek Orthodox Church, celebrate on Friday, December 25, 2026, and will celebrate again on Saturday, December 25, 2027.
When does Orthodox Lent start in 2027?
Orthodox Great Lent begins on Clean Monday, March 15, 2027, and ends before Palm Sunday on April 25. Holy Week follows, ending with Pascha on Sunday, May 2, 2027.
Why do some Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Churches that still use the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on December 25 on that calendar, which falls on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar between 1900 and 2099.
