Christianity

Christianity is a worldwide religion followed by people of many different cultures and backgrounds.

Christians are people who are followers of Jesus Christ and who believe in a God who can be known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Though Christians hold much in common, there is a wide diversity of beliefs, ethical standpoints and forms of worship found within the many denominations and groups which make up the Christian Church.

The two major groups of Christians are

Protestants
and Roman Catholics.

There are many faith communities which are Protestant, for example:

The Church of Scotland
Baptist, Salvation Army
Pentecostal, Episcopalian, and so on.

The Anglican Church, which is Protestant, includes the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The Roman Catholic Church is world-wide and diverse but is centred on the leadership of the Pope and the Bishops, and the importance of the Sacraments, especially Mass.

The other main Christian group in the world is the Orthodox Church, found mainly in Greece and Russia.

There are many Greek Orthodox Christians in Haringey.

The Christian year consists of a cycle of liturgical seasons in some Christian churches which set out when feasts, memorials, commemorations and times of reflection take place.

Some, like Christmas Day, happen on the same date every year, while others move around within a range of dates.

The main festival that moves is Easter, and since many other festivals have their dates fixed in relation to Easter, they move with it.

Christians belong to various groups or denominations that vary slightly in their beliefs and practices.

The dates of the festivals vary somewhat between the western Church (Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant) and the Eastern (Orthodox) church, though the sequence and logic is the same.

The extent to which the fasts and festivals are celebrated also varies between churches; in general Protestant churches observe far fewer of them then Catholic and Orthodox churches, and in particular are less likely to celebrate feasts of the Virgin Mary and the saints.