1 of 13

CREATION DAY: WHAT IS IT?

Sr. Ann-Maree O’Beirne RSM

Australian Catholic University

2 of 13

September 1

Known as “Creation Day”, “Feast of Creation” or “World Day of Prayer for Creation”.

First day of the liturgical calendar of Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

The day, we in the southern hemisphere, mark the beginning of spring,

is September 1 although the date doesn’t match the more specific scientific date which is different each year according to the spring equinox,

September 1 has come to be known worldwide, as World Creation Day or “Feast of Creation” or “World Day of Prayer for Creation”.

For the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches September 1 is the First day of the liturgical calendar

I asked myself, why is this date the first day of the liturgical calendar? And discovered it has a tradition that originates in the Roman era when Rome began their civil year on September 1, that was before the advent of the Julian calendar. But there are also connections to Christian traditions relating to Jesus and the day he stood up in the temple and unrolled the scroll proclaiming freedom to captives… There are connections further back to when the Hebrews entered the promised land – tradition has it as occurring in September. This day, and month also relates to harvest festivals in these ancient lands. And significantly the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325] decreed that the Church year should begin on September 1.

So for almost 1,700 years (next year) the Church, particularly the Eastern Church, has had a tradition of celebrating September 1 as the beginning of the liturgical year.

3 of 13

1989: INVITATION TO WESTERN CHURCHES

“We invite through this our Patriarchal Message the

entire Christian world, to offer… every year on this day prayers and supplications to the Maker of all,
both as thanksgiving for the great gift of Creation and
as petitions for its protection and salvation.”

– Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios,

1 September 1989

4 of 13

THEN ADOPTED AS “WORLD DAY OF PRAYER” BY �

These global adoptions were preceded by widespread adoption at local and national levels.

WCC (2008)

CATHOLIC CHURCH (2015)

In 2008 the

World Council of Churches adopted September 1 as “World Day of Prayer

And on August 6, 2015 Pope Francis wrote to

Cardinal TURKSON,�President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and

Cardinal KOCH,�President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity

Saying, and I quote “sharing the concern of my beloved brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, for the future of creation… I have decided to institute in the Catholic Church the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” which, beginning this year, is to be celebrated on 1 September, as has been the custom in the Orthodox Church for some time.

Later in the letter he said, “the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation will offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”

5 of 13

MOMENTUM ACCELERATES SINCE 2015

Annual statements

by

Christian leaders �continually promoting Creation Day.

Growing grassroots momentum�thousands and thousands of local churches celebrate Creation Day annually.

6 of 13

See list

Since 2015,

Pope Francis has published official annual messages �for Creation Day, nourishing grassroots participation.

7 of 13

CREATION DAY: MORE PROFOUND THAN MEETS THE EYE

Not only a ‘World Day of Prayer for Creation’

Creation Day has much deeper theological underpinnings.

Grounded in an ancient tradition of the Orthodox Church,

it is a day to:�

commemorate the theological mystery of Creation�
honor God as Creator

8 of 13

GROUNDED IN AN ANCIENT TRADITION

Since the 5^th Century
The Eastern Church
September 1 represtenting
“the day of Creation,” when God began the creation of the universe.
“In the beginning” (Gn 1:1, Jn 1:1).
“Let there be light”.
Significance as the first day of the liturgical year of Orthodox and Catholic byzantine churches – deeply connected to their Christian reality.

9 of 13

CRUCIAL DISTINCTION

Two different meanings of the word “Creation”.�In Italian, distinct words are used:

“il Creato” stands for the result of the act of creation, the fruit of la Creazione.�i.e. Creation as the created world.

“la Creazione” stands for God’s act of creation of heaven and earth.�i.e. Creation as theological mystery.

10 of 13

CRUCIAL DISTINCTION

Main symbolism of Sept 1 �and the focus of the new feast.

“il Creato” stands for the result of the act of creation, the fruit of la Creazione.�i.e. Creation as the created world.

“la Creazione” stands for God’s act of creation of heaven and earth.�i.e. Creation as theological mystery.

11 of 13

CRUCIAL DISTINCTION

“il Creato” - Creation as the created world.

“la Creazione” - Creation as theological mystery.

Merits a “World Day of Prayer”

12 of 13

CRUCIAL DISTINCTION

“il Creato” - Creation as the created world.

“la Creazione” - Creation as theological mystery.

Merits a liturgical feast

13 of 13

IN A NUTSHELL: CREATION DAY IS…

… not a “Christian Earth Day”

… but a celebration of the Mystery �of God’s Creation of Heaven and Earth

Which, by reminding us of its source and sacredness, �will also inspire care for the created world.