What is a holy convocation?

Answer  
  

A convocation is a summoned assembly. The holy convocations commanded in the Mosaic Law were held on special religious days that required a gathering of God’s people. Some translations call the holy convocations in the Law “sacred assemblies.”  
  

Some examples of holy convocations in the Bible are Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:2–3\); Pentecost (Leviticus 23:21\); Passover (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7\); and the Feasts of Weeks, Tabernacles, and Trumpets (Numbers 28:26; 29:1; Leviticus 23:35–36; 23:24\). The Feast of Unleavened Bread called for two holy convocations, one on the first day and the other on the seventh day (Exodus 34:18\). Every year on the tenth day of the seventh month was the [Day of Atonement](Day-Atonement-Yom-Kippur.html); Israel was commanded to fast on this day and to gather at the tabernacle or temple. This was called the “holy convocation” (Leviticus 23:27; Numbers 29:7, ESV).  
  

Today, the word *convocation* used in religious contexts is often associated with the gathering of a synod, a council that meets for the purpose of deciding upon doctrines or the application of doctrines within an organization. A convocation can be an ecclesiastical meeting of importance, an academic meeting led by a university, a gathering of alumni at a college, a meeting of governing officials to fill a chancellorship or other high office, or simply a graduation ceremony.  
  

