It is found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer[1] and in Lesser Feasts and Fasts,[2] with additions made at recent General Conventions.
The veneration of saints in Anglicanism is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early Church which honors important and influential people of the Christian faith.
The usage of the term saint is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
Since 1964, the Episcopal Church has published additional books which expand the liturgical calendar.
[15] It listed only 25 holy days assigned to a specific date, nearly all of them honoring New Testament persons or events.
The Commission of the Book of Common Prayer made official reports in 1916,[18] 1919,[19] and 1922[20] recommending the addition of 45 to 54 holy days.
Its calendar was published in the Book of Common Prayer's list of optional observances.
The convention then voted to either reject a proposed feast, refer it to the Standing Commission on Liturgy to consider, add it to the calendar on a trial basis, or give it final approval.
[26] In 2003, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music began extensive work on calendar revision.
At the time, women made up about 7% of commemorations and most dates honored white male clergy.
[28] The book had more than 100 additional commemorations to honor a variety of historical persons such as poet Christina Rossetti, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, and the Dorchester Chaplains.
[33] The text of A Great Cloud of Witnesses stated that it was not intended to be a calendar of saints, but "an extended family history."
[34] In 2018, the commission released a report saying the calendar had been thrown into a "situation of great confusion.
"[35] It proposed a new calendar that updated Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006, the last publication that had met with final authorization.
These rules of precedence all establish a ranking, from most to least important, as follows:[39] Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are appointed as major fast days with special services.
"Days of special observance" or lesser fast days include all the weekdays of Lent and every Friday in the year, with the exception that fasting is never observed during the Easter or Christmas seasons, or on Feasts of our Lord.
[42] It also gave final authorization to the deletion of William Porcher DuBose from the calendar.