*At [[Vespers|Great Vespers]] the **The [[Psalter#Kathismata|kathisma]] reading from the [[Psalter]] that follows the litany of peace is omitted unless the feast coincides with a [[Sunday]], in which case the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual (exceptions: the first kathisma is omitted on the eve of Pentecost and on the eves of '''Nativity''', '''Theophany''', and '''Transfiguration''' when those feasts fall on a Sunday).**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.

**There is a gospel [[pericope ]] for the feast (chanted from the [[holy doorsHoly Doors]] and without a veneration following).

*When the feast falls on a [[fasting|fasting day]], the fast is relaxed to permit fish, wine, and oil(exception: in '''Elevation of the Holy Cross''', even if it falls on Sunday, a strict fasting is observed.).

== Second Class Feasts —Feasts of the Theotokos ==:[[Nativity of the Theotokos]], [[September 8]] :[[Presentation of the Theotokos]], [[November 21]] :[[Dormition]] (Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos, [[August 15]] :[[Presentation|''Presentation of Christ'']], [[February 2|''February 2'']]'''+''':[[Annunciation|''Annunciation'']], [[March 25|''March 25'']]'''+'''

:'''+ ''These are considered Feasts of the Theotokos, but they also share certain characteristics proper to First Class Feasts''.''' *These feasts have both a forefeast and a leavetaking. *An All-Night Vigil is appointed for the eve of the feast. *At Great Vespers**When the feast falls on any day other than Sunday, the kathisma reading appointed for the day is replaced by the first stasis of the first kathisma (Psalms 1-3) (exceptions: at the Great Vespers for the '''Presentation of Christ''' and '''Annunciation''' the kathisma reading is omitted altogether). **When the feast falls on a Sunday the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual.**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.*At Festal Orthros **The polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135, or Psalm 44 with its poetic refrains) is chanted immediately after the second poetic kathisma (on a Sunday it replaces the amomos (Psalm 118) as the third reading from the Psalter).**Select Psalm verses from the eclogarion can follow the polyeleos, if desired. **There is a gospel pericope for the feast (chanted from the holy doors and without a veneration following).**The praises and the great doxology are chanted. *At the Divine Liturgy for the feast, the patronal troparion of the temple is suppressed.*When the feast falls on a Sunday the services for the feast are combined with those of the Resurrection from the [[Octoechos]]. *When the feast falls on a fasting day, the fast is relaxed to permit fish, wine, and oil (exception: when '''Annunciation''' falls during [[Holy Week]], wine and oil (but not fish) are permitted; when '''Annunciation''' falls on [[Holy_Week|Holy Friday]] or [[Holy Saturday]], wine (but not oil or fish) are permitted). == Third Class Feasts —Vigil and Polyeleos Commemorations =='''Third Class Feasts''' are commemorations for which the [[Menaion]] includes a complete akolouthia. *These feasts generally do not have a forefeast or a leavetaking (exceptions: the commemorations of St. [[Demetrios]] ([[October 26]]), the [[Nativity of the Forerunner]] ([[June 24]]), Ss. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] ([[June 29]]), and the [[Beheading of St. John the Forerunner|Beheading of the Forerunner]] ([[August 29]]) each has a leavetaking). *An All-Night Vigil may be appointed if there is a text for [[Little Vespers]] in the Menaion, in which case the commemoration is designated '''Vigil'''. Otherwise, an All-Night Vigil is not appointed and the commemoration is designated '''Polyeleos'''.*At Great Vespers**When the feast falls on any day other than Sunday, the kathisma reading appointed for the day is replaced by the first stasis of the first kathisma (Psalms 1-3). **When the feast falls on a Sunday the first kathisma (Psalms 1-8) is read at Great Vespers on Saturday evening as usual.**Old Testament readings follow the prokeimenon.*At Festal Orthros **The polyeleos (Psalms 134 and 135, or Psalm 44 with its poetic refrains) is chanted immediately after the second poetic kathisma (on a Sunday it replaces the amomos (Psalm 118) as the third reading from the Psalter).**Select Psalm verses from the eclogarion can follow the polyeleos, if desired. **There is a gospel pericope for the feast (chanted from the holy doors and without a veneration following).**The praises and the great doxology are chanted.* When the feast falls on a Sunday the services for the feast are combined with those of the Resurrection from the [[Octoechos]].*When the feast falls on a fasting day, the fast is relaxed to permit wine and oil (exception: the '''Beheading of the Forerunner''' (August 29) is always observed as a strict fast day when it falls on a weekday; when it falls on a Saturday or Sunday wine and oil are permitted). If it is the patronal feastday, fish may be permitted, as well.