Orthodox Church New Year Traditions
Church New Year
Celebrated September 1
The first day of the Church New Year in the Orthodox Church is September 1st. According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). In this guide, I will share a little more about the significance of this day, some activities, reading suggestions, and other ways to engage with your family or community.
Scroll to learn more about this feast, including various traditions observed on this day!
Old Testament Connection:
As was mentioned, according to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). After reading this passage, Jesus announced to the assembly that this prophecy had been fulfilled in Him that day, right before their eyes, confirming His Messianic role. Although we cannot forensically confirm that date, it is spiritually significant that the Church has joined the first day of Jesus’ public ministry with the first day of the New Year in her rhythm of worship.
Tradition also says that the Hebrews entered the Promised Land in September. Fascinating right? The Orthodox Church in many respects keeps the calendar of the Byzantine Empire. Under a system instigated by the Emperor St. Constantine the Great in the 4th century, the Indiction was a 15-year taxation cycle that began on September 1. Over time, this date came to be popularly observed throughout the Empire as the start of the New Year because it meant the beginning of a new period of taxation. The Church adopted this observance as well.
Local Traditions Associated with this Feast Day:
Place an icon outside your home the eve of the New Church Year
As a way of ringing in the ‘new year’ and asking for Gods blessing over our homes in the upcoming new year. This is a simple village tradition (in Greece) and not a holy tradition. However, these “little t” traditions are important because they help us make Orthodoxy real for our children at home. It’s also said that in the morning, when you bring in the icon, it symbolized Christ being the first one to enter the house in the new year.
2. Plant a Tree
Each year as we begin the Church’s New Year on September 1st, the hymns in the services bring to mind the gift of Creation. This is a local tradition practiced while we were at seminary in New York (St Vladimir’s) to plant a tree on the Church New Year. I hold this tradition fondly and love this idea for the New Year!
Feast day banners by Draw Near Designs
Additional Activity Suggestions:
Create spiritual goals together as a family
At the Church New Year, we are once again invited to enter into the ancient rhythm of the Church. Now, everyone has heard of New Year’s resolutions, right? But, have you ever thought about setting spiritual goals with the new Church year? Check out this blogpost by Orthodox Motherhood on How to Create Spiritual Goals
Schedule Confession
As the New Year is approaching, I felt it necessary to schedule a confession with my Spiritual Father. It feels like the perfect time to begin anew with a clean heart!
Printable Festal Pennant Banner
Check out this FREE feast day banner by Draw Near Designs! You can color it all at once or color them as we go through the Liturgical New Year!
Print out feast day cards or a church calendar wheel (click links)
Print these out so you have them to hand as each feast day approaches. Discuss the cycle of the liturgical year with your kids to set them up for the rhythm of what is coming.
Final thoughts:
I love new beginnings. Having a fresh start in September just feels fitting. The season will soon be changing, school is beginning again… The church is offering us once again, a chance to begin again. Perhaps this will be the year that we make it our goal to attend all the 12 great feasts! Or maybe we want to attend both Sundays and another week day service. Whatever it is, we have a chance to begin anew. Let’s take the opportunity to thank the Lord for all of His creation, our homes, our families and friends, and look for opportunities to bring Him into our lives more and more each day.
In our family, we have the tradition of decorating for fall on the Church, or Liturgical, New Year! This year, we decorated the living room and enjoyed a yummy fall drink: Kid-friendly pumpkin spice latte (recipe here). We also retrieved our icon we left outside overnight! I hope you have a joyous New Church Year!