Occurrence

The coincidence of two scheduled feasts or observances of the calendar of the church year on the same day. For example, feasts celebrated on fixed dates such as All Saints' Day (Nov. 1) or the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle (Nov. 30) might occur on Sundays. The calendar of the church year provides rules of precedence concerning principal feasts, Sundays, holy days, days of special devotion, and days of optional observance (BCP, pp. 15-18). These rules determine which feast or observance has priority. Since All Saints' Day is a principal feast, it takes priority over a Sunday observance. But the Sunday observance takes priority over all feasts of apostles such as Saint Andrew the Apostle. When a feast of our Lord or other major feast appointed on a fixed day in the calendar cannot be observed because it occurs on a Sunday, the feast is normally transferred to the first convenient open day in the following week. See Precedence, Rules of.