Orthodox calendar: September 20 - the pre-celebration of the Nativity of the Virgin Marytranslated

16th Sunday after Pentecost.

Today, September 20, 2026, the Orthodox Church celebrates the forefeast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and honors the memory of the martyr. Sozonta (c. 304); App. from 70 Evoda (66); and Onesiphorus (after 67); martyr Eupsychia (II); St. Luke (after 975); prpp. Alexander Peresvet and Andrey Oslyabi (1380); St. Serapion of Spasoelezarovsky, Pskov (1480); St. John, Archbishop Novgorod (1186); prmch. Macarius of Kanevsky, archimandrite. Ovruchsky, Pereyaslavsky (1678); St. Macarius of Optina (1860); sschmchch. Peter and Michael the Elders (1918); sschmchch. Evgenia, Metropolitan Gorkovsky, and with him Stephen the presbyter and martyr. Eugenia, Nikolai and Pachomius (1937); sschmch. Gregory, Basil the presbyters, martyr. Leo (1937).

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Today, September 20, is the day of the forefeast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on September 21. This is one of the twelve Orthodox holidays.

The holiday, according to Orthodox tradition, lasts 6 days, from September 20 to 25. This period includes pre-celebration and post-celebration. Forefeast - one or several days before a major holiday, the services of which already include prayers dedicated to the upcoming celebrated event. Respectively,…