Commemorated September 1
The King of the ages set times in His own power. On the first of September the Church keeps the new year. Saint Demetrius of Rostov says the day was first a rest in the seventh month of the old Law. The same month later opened the Roman fifteen-year cycle called the indiction, after Augustus became sole ruler. The holy fathers at Nicaea kept the first of September as the beginning of Christian freedom, because on that day the Lord entered the synagogue at Nazareth and read Isaiah’s word of the acceptable year.
What the reading keeps
In the seventh month the waters of the flood began to fall, and the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. In that month Moses came down from the mountain with new tables of the Law. In that month the Tabernacle was begun. In that month the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once in the year. In that month Solomon’s temple was dedicated and the Ark of the Covenant was brought in. From that month the years of rest and the fiftieth year of release were counted.
The Church does not keep Caesar’s tax. She keeps Christ’s year.
The Lord came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. On the Sabbath He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. They gave Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He found the place:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Isaiah 61:1–2, as He read it)
— He closed the book, gave it to the attendant, and said that the word was fulfilled in Him.
“And all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.” (Luke 4:16–22)
— The reading also keeps this:
“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” (Acts 1:7)
Christ’s indiction, says Rostov, is His commandments. He does not ask iron, copper, silver, or gold. He asks a firm faith, a sure hope, and love.
Who is gathered on this day
Christ our God, Who opens the year. The Most Holy Theotokos, named in the hymns of the day. The holy fathers of the First Council of Nicaea, who set the feast. Emperor Constantine, who ended the old idol feasts and kept his own indictions. Moses, Noah, Solomon — named in the old month that this day remembers.
On the same Church day the calendar also keeps Saint Simeon the Stylite and his mother Martha, righteous Joshua son of Nun, and other saints. Those are other keepings. This page is the beginning of the year.
Pray for us
Troparion, Tone 2
O Creator of the universe, Thou didst appoint times by Thy power; bless the crown of this year with Thy goodness, O Lord. Preserve in safety Thy rulers and cities, and through the intercessions of the Theotokos, save us.
Kontakion, Tone 4
O Creator and Master of time and the ages, Triune and Merciful God of all: grant blessings for the course of this year, and in Thy boundless mercy save those who worship Thee and cry out in fear: “O Savior, grant blessings to all mankind!”
Glory to Thee, O Christ our God.
Sources
Azbyka: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/726
OCA: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/09/01/501-church-new-year
OCA hymns: https://www.oca.org/saints/troparia/2014/09/01/501-church-new-year
Pravenc, Indiction: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/389569.html
Pravenc, New Year: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F.html
Pravenc, feasts of the Lord: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85%20%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2.html
Pravenc, calendar 14 September (1 September): https://www.pravenc.ru/calendar/2024/09/14.html
Also in the Latin books
New Advent treats the indiction as a way of dating documents, not as this feast: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04636c.htm
New Advent on New Year’s Day is the first of January, not the Church year of September: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11019a.htm
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Updated 9/19/2026