The birth of Mary to Joachim and Anna, the first great feast of the Orthodox church year.
Dates
| Year | Dates | Reckoning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 8, 2025 | Revised Julian | |
| 2025 | September 21, 2025 | Julian calendar churches | |
| 2026 | September 8, 2026 | Revised Julian | |
| 2026 | September 21, 2026 | Julian calendar churches |
Recurrence: Fixed date: Sep 8 on the Revised Julian calendar; Sep 21 for Julian-calendar churches.
Significance
The Nativity of the Theotokos, on September 8, celebrates the birth of Mary to Joachim and Anna, who had been childless into old age. It is the first of the twelve great feasts in the Orthodox church year, which begins on September 1. The feast honours her birth as the beginning of salvation's unfolding.
Observance
The Divine Liturgy is celebrated with the festal hymns of her nativity, opening the cycle of the great feasts.