Church Calendar for August 2026: A Complete List of Holidays and Fasts
August is a special month in the church year, as it includes two of the twelve most important feasts—the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God—as well as the Dormition Fast.
Major church holidays in August:
August 1 — The Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
This day is popularly known as Honey Savior or Makoviya. The Dormition Fast begins on this day and lasts for two weeks. On this day, the Church also commemorates the holy martyrs, the Maccabees, their mother Solomonia, and their teacher Eleazar. According to tradition, during the divine services, water, newly harvested honey, and bouquets of wildflowers and poppy heads are blessed.
August 6 — The Transfiguration of the Lord God and Our Savior Jesus Christ
One of the greatest feasts of the Lord, popularly known as Apple Savior. The feast commemorates the events on Mount Tabor, where Jesus Christ revealed His divine glory before the apostles Peter, James, and John. On this day, apples, grapes, and other fruits of the new harvest are blessed in churches, and a relaxation of the Dormition Fast is observed—the consumption of fish is permitted.
August 15 — The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary
A major feast of the Mother of God that concludes the Dormition Fast and is known in folk tradition as the First Purification. The day is dedicated to commemorating the end of the Mother of God’s earthly journey and her passage into eternal life. In churches, a solemn ceremony is held to carry out the Shroud of the Mother of God.
August 16 — The Transfer of the Image of the Lord Jesus Christ Not Made by Human Hands from Edessa to Constantinople
This feast, known among the people as the “Nut” or “Bread” Savior, is celebrated the day after the Dormition of the Mother of God and symbolizes the end of the harvest and the baking of the first bread from the grain of the new harvest.
Chronological calendar of all saints and events for August
August 1: The Exaltation of the Precious Cross of the Lord (Honey Savior). The Maccabean Martyrs, their mother Solomonia, and their teacher Eleazar. The beginning of the Dormition Fast.
August 2: The Transfer of the Relics of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr and Archdeacon.
August 3: Saints Isaac, Dalmatus, and Faustus.
August 4: Saint Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles.
August 5: Martyr Eusignius. Eve of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
August 6: The Transfiguration of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ (Apple Savior).
August 7: Venerable Martyr Dometius.
August 8: Saint Emilian, Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus.
August 9: Apostle Matthew.
August 10: Saints Lawrence, the Archdeacon; Sixtus, Pope of Rome; and others with them, holy martyrs.
August 11: Saint Eupla, the Holy Martyr and Archdeacon.
August 12: Saints Photios and Anicetus, Martyrs.
August 13: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Venerable Maximus the Confessor.
August 14: The Eve of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. The Prophet Micah. The end of the Dormition Fast.
August 15: The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary (First Dormition).
August 16: The Transfer of the Image of the Lord Jesus Christ Not Made by Human Hands from Edessa to Constantinople (Walnut Savior). Saint Diomedes the Martyr.
August 17: Saints Myron the Presbyter and the Holy Martyrs.
August 18: Saints Flora and Laurus, Martyrs.
August 19: Saint Andrew the Stratilates and the other martyrs with him.
August 20: Saint Samuel the Prophet.
August 21: Saint Thaddeus, one of the Seventy Apostles, and Saint Vassa, the Holy Martyr.
August 22: The Holy Martyrs Agathonicus, Severian, Zeno, and others.
August 23: Commemoration of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Luppus, the Holy Martyr.
August 24: The Holy Martyr Eutychius, disciple of Saint John the Theologian.
August 25: The Return of the Relics of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. Saint Titus the Apostle.
August 26: Saints Adrian and Natalia, Martyrs.
August 27: Venerable Pimen the Great.
August 28: Venerable Moses the Murine.
August 29: The Beheading of Saint John the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord. A day of strict fasting.
August 30: Saint Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople.
August 31: The Deposition of the Holy Belt of the Most Holy Theotokos. The end of the church year according to the Eastern Rite.
