Five Models of the Church Year: An Ecclesiological and Liturgical-Theological Analysis

The purpose of this article is to highlight how different methodological approaches and ecclesiologies can influence how the church year is presented and understood and to discuss the constructive contribution of a liturgical-theological understanding of this topic. The article presents five different models of the church year. These heortological models are: 1) the secular church year, 2) the pedagogical church year, 3) the pietistic church year, 4) the cultic church year, and 5) the sacramental church year. The models are presented with examples from research and other empirical material. The study highlights the importance of liturgical-theological research about the liturgical year and shows that liturgical-theological perspectives, and more specifically the so-called “Eighth day,” can contribute constructively to handling contemporary challenges and problems. The constructed models of the church year reveal a multifaceted field of research. The models can be used as tools for analysis and interpretation.