In Orthodox Christianity, there are many holidays and memorable days. The dates of important events in biblical history, the memory of the Mother of God, angels or saints are especially revered. In addition, each Orthodox church has its own separate patronal feast.
In Orthodoxy, the patronal (temple) holiday is called a celebration dedicated to an event or person in whose honor the main altar of the temple is consecrated. Hence the name of the holiday.
Each Orthodox church is consecrated in honor of an event or in memory of a saint. For example, in Russia there are many Dormition churches. That is, the main altar was consecrated in honor of the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, therefore in this church the patronal feast falls on August 28 in the new style. There are churches Christmas, Transfiguration, in honor of the Nativity of the Mother of God or her Entry into the temple. It is also practiced to consecrate thrones in churches in honor of the apparitions of the miraculous icons of the Mother of God. For example, if the temple is Kazan, then the patronal feast falls on the celebration of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Kazan - July 21 and November 4 (new style). The Archangel Michael and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are especially revered in Russia. Patronal feasts in churches consecrated in their honor fall on November 21st and December 19th, respectively.
Divine services in the church on the patronal feast are distinguished by special solemnity and splendor. Often on such days, priests from nearby cities are invited for conciliar services. The statutory tradition ascribes on patronal holidays to perform processions of the cross around the church with the reading of a passage from the Holy Scriptures and sprinkling of the faithful with holy water. There is a practice of blessing water on a temple feast.
Some parishes delight believers by organizing festive concerts for the patronal feast.
