Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Yes, Happy New Year, indeed!
No, I do not have my dates mixed up, nor am I looking at the wrong month of the calendar. This Sunday, September 1, 2024, is actually the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.
Also known as the Feast of the Indiction, it represents the resetting of the Church Calendar, and the beginning of the cycle of spiritual commemorations in the lives of Orthodox Christians. All of these feasts and celebrations are actually bookended between the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8th, and the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th. Our knowledge of, our exposure to, our interaction with, and our identity in Christ is made possible through the ministry of the Mother of God.
“Indiction” is a Latin word meaning “to impose.” It was originally used in this context upon the schedule of the Roman Government issuing taxes. It was the beginning of the Roman fiscal quarter, in that before the Julian Calendar, Rome started their New Year in September. The date of September 1st takes on a religious identity when in the year 312, the Emperor Constantine sees a vision of the Cross in the sky, thusly inspiring him to unify the Empire under the banner of the Cross.
On September 1st, this significant day of “beginnings,” Our Lord Jesus Christ walked into the Synagogue (Luke 4:16-22), opened the scroll, and read out loud for all to hear, and for all to see: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The Lord proclaims His divinity, He establishes His ministry, He articulates what He’ll accomplish, and He introduces hope to a darkened, hardened, and wandering world.
Sundy is the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year. Let’s treat it as would the secular New Year – but with a heightened sense of purpose.
Set new goals for yourself – not career goals or academic goals, but goals for a more robust prayer life.
Make New Year’s Resolutions – but not to exercise more or diet, but to practice more acts of kindness and generosity.
Anticipate what is to come – but not just birthdays, holidays and anniversaries – worship services, retreats, Bible Studies, Lent, Holy Week, Pascha!
This Sunday, the Church hits that big “Reset Button.” We start anew, and we forge into the unknown. We honor the past as we look to the future. We take new steps, and we take them boldly – as Christ proclaimed His earthly ministry through the words of the Prophet. May this day…may this Year, bring you countless blessings and a closer relationship with our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
Happy New Year!
With Much Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter