Afterfeast

An afterfeast (also known as postfeast) is a period of time following certain major feasts of the Christian year during which the feast continues to be celebrated. The liturgical life of the Church reflects this extended celebration by continuing to express the themes of the feast in the divine services celebrated during the afterfeast.
Most commemorations that have an afterfeast also have a forefeast.
== How long? ==
The afterfeast begins on the day after the feast and concludes on the leavetaking of the feast. Accordingly, the period of the afterfeast varies from commemoration to commemoration.
== Which feasts? ==
Pascha and most First Class Feasts and Second Class Feasts have afterfeasts.
=== From the Pentecostarion ===
* Pascha—afterfeast: 38 days (leavetaking: Wednesday before Ascension)
* Ascension—afterfeast: 8 days (leavetaking: Friday before Pentecost)
* Pentecost—afterfeast: 6 days (leavetaking: following Saturday)
=== From the Lenten Triodion ===
* Palm Sunday—no afterfeast
=== From the Menaion ===
* Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8)—afterfeast: 4 days (leavetaking: September 12)
* Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14)—afterfeast: 7 days (leavetaking: September 21)
* Presentation of the Theotokos (November 21)—afterfeast: 4 days (leavetaking: November 25)
* Nativity of Christ (December 25)—afterfeast: 6 days (leavetaking: December 31)
* Theophany (January 6)—afterfeast: 8 days (leavetaking: January 14)
* Presentation of Christ (February 2)—afterfeast: 7 days (leavetaking: February 9) 
**NOTE: The afterfeast of the Presentation of Christ may be shortened or omitted altogether if February 2 falls on or after the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee.
* Annunciation (March 25)—no afterfeast
* Transfiguration (August 6)—afterfeast: 7 days (leavetaking: August 13)
* Dormition (August 15)—afterfeast: 8 days (leavetaking: August 23)
== See also ==
* Forefeast
* Leavetaking
* Synaxis
== Sources ==
* The Festal Menaion, tr. by Mother Mary and Archimandrite (now Bishop) Kallistos (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press) (ISBN 1878997009)
* The Pentecostarion, tr. Holy Transfiguration Monastery (ISBN 0943405025)
* Website of the St. Raphael Clergy Brotherhood of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America
==External link==
*Afterfeast at Wikipedia
Category:Feasts
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Category:Liturgics