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

September 20, 2026 · 1 min read

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,…

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Katharina Becker

Interesting that the Predprazdnstwo starts on September 20th and includes so many saints like Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabja. I didn't know that the entire period up to September 25th is part of the festival. I'll pay closer attention to the texts in church tomorrow.

Νίκος Αναγνώστου

Yes, and I did not know that Saint Makarios the Optina is commemorated exactly today. The prefeast begins yesterday and ends on the 25th, as you said. Tomorrow I will go to light a candle for Saviour, whom I have particularly venerated.

Πέτρος Δημητρίου

Yes, Macarius the Seer is one of the saints whose date often eludes me. Yesterday I read a little about Sozontas and I was impressed that he martyred so quietly. Are you going to the church of Agios Nikolaos tomorrow?

Martin Wagner

Interesting, right? In our choir we started the preparatory chants for the birth of the Mother of God last week, and the two monks Peresvet and Oslyabja are particularly mentioned every year because they come from the Battle of Kulikovo. Tomorrow at the liturgy it's really worth listening to the texts - they're slowly turning into something festive. Do you have a favorite passage from the canons?