About the Colors of the Season
Visitors to our site may notice, without knowing why, that the background colors surrounding the center section change from time to time during the year. This is because churches in the liturgical tradition break up the calendar into several “seasons” based on the time we are recalling in Christ’s life or teachings. These colors are also used in the vestments, hangings and altar frontals in orthodox churches around the world, with occasional variations (see below).
Beginning with the “first season” of the calendar, the primary colors used at Holy Apostles in services are:
Sarum blue: used during the seasons of Advent as a color of joyful penitence (purple is an optional choice at some churches)
White: used during the 12 days of the Christmas season, and during Easter and when there is a service that reminds us of the resurrection, symbolic of joy and celebration
Green: used during the long “growing seasons” of Epiphany and Pentecost, the ordinary times of the daily work of the church in the world
Purple: used during the 40 days of Lent as a color of penitence and reflection
Red: used during Holy Week (from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday, after which it is replaced by white for Easter), ordinations, and on holy days that remember saints of the church who have been martyred.