Zadok Priestly Calendar

Lion and Lamb Ministries transitioned their official calendar to the Zadok Priestly Calendar (a 364-day solar calendar rooted in the Dead Sea Scrolls tradition).

Because the Zadok system operates on fixed solar mathematical cycles (a 30-30-31 day quarter pattern) rather than lunar sighting, the dates fall on the exact same days of the week every single year.

2026 Appointed Feast Dates (Zadok Calendar)

Passover (Pesach): Tuesday, April 7 (Passover Eve begins sunset Monday, April 6) 

Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzah): Wednesday, April 8 – Tuesday, April 14

Firstfruits (Bikkurim): Sunday, April 19

Feast of Weeks (Shavuot / Pentecost): Sunday, June 7

Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah): Wednesday, September 23

Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): Friday, October 2

Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Wednesday, October 7 – Wednesday, October 14 (Begins sunset Tuesday, October 6)

Hanukkah / Dedication: Saturday, December 5 – Saturday, December 12

Sukkot Breakdown on the Zadok System

In the Zadok reckoning:

• Month 7, Day 1 (Yom Teruah): Always lands on a Wednesday.

• Month 7, Day 10 (Yom Kippur): Always lands on a Friday.

• Month 7, Day 15 (Sukkot Day 1): Always lands on a Wednesday.

• Month 7, Day 22 (Shemini Atzeret / 8th Day): Always lands on the following Wednesday.

For their 2026 gathering (held at Bell Cow Lake in Chandler, Oklahoma), Lion and Lamb Ministries scheduled the camp and observance from sunset on Tuesday, October 6 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

The Karaite Calendar (or Kararite Biblical Calendar): 

• Historically and modernly preserved by Karaite Jews, who reject the mathematical calculations introduced by Hillel II in favor of original biblical observation methods.

• The Observed Biblical Calendar (or Observationist / Sighted Moon Calendar): The term widely used within Messianic, Hebrew Roots, and biblical research communities to distinguish it from calculated or solar models.

• The Aviv / Abib Calendar (or Aviv Barley Calendar): Emphasizes that the start of the biblical year (Nisan/Aviv 1) is governed strictly by the developmental stage of the wild barley in Israel rather than the vernal equinox.

• The Sighting-Based Luni-Solar Calendar: The formal astronomical and historical classification for a calendar that tracks lunar months (via the crescent) aligned to solar agricultural cycles (via the barley harvest).

This biblical calendar is based on visible new moon sightings and the barley harvest (Aviv/Abib) in Israel, rather than the calculated modern rabbinic calendar. Because months begin with the observed physical crescent moon over the Land of Israel, dates for upcoming years are projected based on astronomical calculations and confirmed each month.

Biblical days run from sunset to sunset, meaning each appointed time begins the evening before the Gregorian date listed.

The Biblical Appointed Times (Moedim)

1. Passover (Pesach)

• Biblical Date: 14th day of the 1st month (Nisan/Aviv), beginning at twilight

• Significance: Memorial of the Exodus and the sacrifice of the Lamb of God (Leviticus 23:5).

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot)

• Biblical Date: 15th–21st day of the 1st month

• Significance: Seven-day observance eating unleavened bread. The 1st day (15th) and 7th day (21st) are High Sabbaths / days of holy convocation (Leviticus 23:6–8).

1. Firstfruits (Bikkurim)

• Biblical Date: The morrow after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:9–14).

1. Feast of Weeks / Pentecost (Shavuot)

• Biblical Date: Count 50 days (7 complete Sabbaths + 1 day) starting from the Firstfruits offering (Leviticus 23:15–21).

• Significance: Day of holy convocation; commemorates the giving of the Torah at Sinai and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

1. Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah)

• Biblical Date: 1st day of the 7th month (Tishrei)

• Significance: High Sabbath marked by the blowing of trumpets/shofars, calling the assembly to repentance (Leviticus 23:23–25).

1. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

• Biblical Date: 10th day of the 7th month

• Significance: Most solemn day; a strict fast and complete Sabbath of rest (Leviticus 23:26–32).

1. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)

• Biblical Date: 15th–21st day of the 7th month

• Significance: Seven days dwelling in temporary shelters (sukkot/booths) celebrating harvest and God's dwelling with man. The 1st day (15th) is a High Sabbath (Leviticus 23:33–43).

1. The Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret)

• Biblical Date: 22nd day of the 7th month (immediately following Sukkot)

• Significance: Concluding High Sabbath and holy convocation (Leviticus 23:36).

Approximate Dates for the 2026–2027 Biblical Year

(Note: Because of sighting variables for the new moon crescent and Aviv barley status in Israel, dates may shift by one day.)

• Passover: 14 Aviv — Evening of April 1 – April 2, 2026

• Unleavened Bread (Day 1): 15 Aviv — Evening of April 2 – April 3, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Unleavened Bread (Day 7): 21 Aviv — Evening of April 8 – April 9, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Shavuot (Pentecost): 50-Day Count — Evening of May 23 – May 24, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Yom Teruah (Trumpets): 1 Tishrei — Evening of September 12 – September 13, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Yom Kippur (Atonement): 10 Tishrei — Evening of September 21 – September 22, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Sukkot (First Day): 15 Tishrei — Evening of September 26 – September 27, 2026 (High Sabbath)

• Shemini Atzeret (8th Day): 22 Tishrei — Evening of October 3 – October 4, 2026 (High Sabbath)