[The manuscript of the present volume was sent to the press only a few weeks before the lamented death of the author, and therefore the work did not receive final revision at his hands. In its original draft the manuscript contained a somewhat fuller discussion of some of the topics handled, _e.g._ the work of the mediaeval computists, and such technical terms as ‘Sunday Letters,’ ‘Epacts,’ etc., as well as a fuller treatment of the various Eastern Kalendars. Exigencies of space, however, and the scope of the present series, made it necessary for the author to curtail these portions of his work, while suggesting books in which the study of these topics may be pursued by the student. The Editors have endeavoured, as far as possible, to verify the references and to supplement them, where it seemed necessary to do so. In a few cases they have added short additional notes, enclosed in brackets, and bearing an indication that they are the work of the Editors.] CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION xi A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY xxi I. THE ‘WEEK’ ADOPTED FROM THE JEWS. The Lord’s Day: early notices. The Sabbath (Saturday) perhaps not observed by Christians before the fourth century: varieties in the character of its observance. The word _feria_ applied to ordinary week days: conjectures as to its origin. Wednesdays and Fridays observed as ‘stations,’ or days of fasting 1 II. DAYS OF THE MARTYRS. Local observances at the burial places of Martyrs. Early Kalendars: the Bucherian; the Syrian (Arian) Kalendar; the Kalendar of Polemius Silvius; the Carthaginian. The Sacramentary of Leo; the Gregorian Sacramentary. All Saints’ Day; All Souls’ Day. The days of Martyrs the dominant feature in early Kalendars: the Maccabees 12 III. ORIGINS OF THE FEASTS OF THE LORD’S NATIVITY AND THE EPIPHANY. Festivals associated with the Nativity in early Kalendars 27 IV. OTHER COMMEMORATIONS OF THE LORD. The Circumcision; Passiontide, Holy Week; mimetic character of observances. The Ascension. The Transfiguration. Pentecost 37