What do these colors mean?

This calendar displays all diocesan functions and events. By clicking on a day, you will see all events for that day displayed on the Event Calendar. Further information can be found by going to What's Happening and searching by event type. For example, you can find out when the bishop will be at a particular church by searching the calendar by "Bishop's Visitation." We will endeavor to post information as far in advance as we can.

The calendar is laid out according to the Christian Year with the seasons, festivals and fasts observed by the Episcopal Church. With some variation, this calendar (also called an 'Ordo Kalendar') is followed by the Anglican, Roman, Greek Orthodox and Lutheran churches. For each commemoration listed in the calendar background information for the particular saint or feast day is provided, with a link to the scripture readings for that day.

The colors on the calendar are the liturgical colors of the Christian Year, used for vestments and hangings in the worship space to call attention to times and seasons and the changing rhythms of the year. In general, we use somber colors for times of repentance and fasting; bright colors for times of celebration and feasting. Over time, specific colors have come to be associated with particular seasons.

White or gold: Our most festive colors, used at Christmastime, Eastertime, for major feast days such as Trinity Sunday, The Transfiguration, and All Saints’, and for feasts of saints who are not martyrs. (White is also used for funerals, celebrations of the promise of resurrection.)

Bright Red: Came to be associated with the Holy Spirit and so is used on The Day of Pentecost and for celebrations of Apostles and Evangelists. Also the color for the commemoration of martyrs.

A more somber, dark red is used in Holy Week, from Palm Sunday until the Easter Vigil.

Green: for the Epiphany and Pentecost seasons, often called Ordinary Time. In recent times, particularly in the summer, has come to be associated with rejoicing in the gift of all Creation.

Violet or purple: traditionally used during Advent and Lent. A somber hue, the color of penance; a brighter hue, the color of royalty and expectation. Because penitence is the primary emphasis of Lent, but only one in a complex of themes in Advent including expectation and incarnation, some churches use different colors to distinguish between them: deep blue for Advent (reminiscent of the winter’s night sky) and what is called “Lenten Array,” an unbleached muslin, for Lent.

We hope this calendar will keep you informed of the goings-on around our diocese and serve as a resource for the prayer life of individuals and the worship life of congregations.