Beginning of the Church Year

The Indiction — beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year.

September 1 marks the Indiction, the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year. The custom derives from the civil calendar of the Roman Empire, in which the yearly cycle of taxation and public life began in September, and the Church took up this reckoning for her own cycle of feasts.

On this day the Church prays for God's blessing upon the new year, remembering that Christ read in the synagogue at Nazareth the words of Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me... to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." It is also kept in our time as a day of prayer for the protection of the natural environment.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Beginning of the Church Year is commemorated on September 1. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on September 14 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on September 1

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  Simeon Stylites the Elder

  Venerable, Συμεών Στυλίτης

  Venerable Symeon Stylites the Elder who stood 36 years on a pillar.

  Name days: Simeon, Symeon

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  40 Holy Virgin Martyrs of Thrace

  Martyr, Αγίες Σαράντα Παρθενομάρτυρες

  The 40 Holy Ascetic Virgin Martyrs of Thrace and their teacher Ammon the Deacon.

  Name days: Ammon, Adamantia, Adamantini, Diamanto, Athina, Athena, Akrivi, Antigoni, Antigone, Arivoia, Aspasia, Afroditi, Aphrodite, Dioni, Dodoni, Elpiniki, Erasmia, Erato, Ermioni, Hermione, Efterpi, Euterpe, Thalia, Thaleia, Theano, Theanoi, Theonymfi, Theofano, Kalliroi, Kallirroi, Kallisti, Kleio, Clio, Kleoniki, Kleopatra, Cleopatra, Koralia, Coralia, Lambro, Margarita, Marianthi, Melpomeni, Moscho, Ourania, Urania, Rania, Pandora, Pinelopi, Penelope, Polymnia, Polyniki, Sapfo, Sappho, Terpsichori, Troada, Chaido, Haido, Charikleia, Hariklia, Penelopi

• Joshua the Son of Nun

  Saint, Ιησούς του Ναυή

  Righteous Joshua the son of Nun, successor of Moses and leader of Israel into the Promised Land.

  Name days: Joshua

• Martha the Mother of Simeon Stylites

  Holy Woman, Μάρθα

  Venerable Martha, mother of St. Simeon Stylites of the Wonderful Mountain.

  Name days: Martha

• Evanthia the Righteous

  Holy Woman, Ευανθία

  Venerable Evanthia, righteous woman commemorated at the opening of the Church year.

  Name days: Evanthia, Evanthea, Evanthie, Evantheia

• Meletios the New of Myoupolis

  Venerable, Μελέτιος ο Νέος

  Venerable Meletios the New, ascetic of Mount Myoupolis in Boeotia.

  Name days: Meletios, Meletius, Meletis

• Evodos, Kallisti and Hermogenes

  Martyr, Εύοδος, Καλλίστη και Ερμογένης

  Holy Martyrs Evodos, Kallisti and Hermogenes, siblings of Nicomedia.

  Name days: Evodos, Hermogenes, Ermogenis, Kallisti, Callista, Callisti

• Angelis the New Martyr of Constantinople

  Martyr, Αγγελής

  New Martyr Angelis, goldsmith of Constantinople, martyred under the Ottomans.

  Name days: Angelis