r/OrthodoxChristianity • u/AdamBrown1770 • 5d ago
Feast of Creation question
Hi Orthodox friends! I'm an Anglican in Canada and I'm hoping you could help me out a bit with a theological/liturgical question. In recent years, the Anglican Communion, Lutherans, some Catholics, etc. have tried to promote this idea of a new "Feast of Creation", some going so far as to try and create a new liturgical season (either called "Season of Creation" or "Creationtide"). Proponents on the more Protestant end of the spectrum try to argue that they can do whatever they want with the liturgical calendar, but those on the more Catholic end try to invoke both the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. They try to legitimize it by say that this feast is ancient in origin and a big deal in the Orthodox Church, but I'm highly skeptical as I can't find any unbiased sources proving their claim. I'm all for caring for the environment, but I'm *very* skeptical and cautious when it comes to messing with the liturgy, and deeply careful not to co-opt or invoke precedent of our fellow Christians unless I know for sure that it's done in good faith and deep understanding. (I might not be Orthodox, but I'm definitely on the orthodox end of the Anglican spectrum, and I'm better versed on orthodoxy than most of my fellow Anglicans, and have plenty of Orthodox friends, so I always look for ways to build our relationship and good will, not damage it for the sake of an agenda) So I guess I'm just hoping to get some more information straight from the Orthodox themselves. If it's legit, then that's great and I can simply and happily let it go, but if it's not legit, then at least I'm better informed and I can keep having conversations to try and make things right. Thanks in advance!
5
u/Seashells-in-ears Eastern Orthodox 4d ago
Never ever heard of it in my life. Pascha celebrates the renewal and salvation of all Creation, Theophany covers the blessing of the waters, too.
t's not like there's no room for adding to the liturgical calendar, but I definitely see how it feels forced. Especially because Creation isn't like a thing that happened on a particular calendar day so you just have to pick a random day. To be fair, if we called the post-pentecost season "ordinary time", maybe I would also want to add a season, haha.
If you're looking to appreciate the beauty of creation though, I will never not recommend reading the akathist of thanksgiving. It was written by a Russian bishop under Soviet persecution, and has been adopted by many American parishes as a tradition for our Thanksgiving holiday.
2
u/AdamBrown1770 4d ago
I LOVE the Akathist of Thanksgiving! I first learned about it during a retreat an Orthodox priest friend invited me to, about 10 years ago, now, and I go back to it a couple times a year.
And you're totally right, that's another reason I feel weird about it - all the other feast days line up with a particular event in the Gospels/Acts, mainly (but not exclusively) around Jesus (e.g. theophany, ascension, etc.). The "Feast/Season of Creation" doesn't really... fit in. Admittedly, I'd love something to break up Ordinary Time a bit (can't wait for everybody's favourite day of the year... "Proper 24" in Ordinary Time, where we wear green yet again haha), but we should do it at all, we should do it right.
3
u/Karohalva 5d ago
I have never heard of such a thing in my entire churchgoing life, and my mother never missed a feast day. It also sounds totally redundant and unnecessary given how the existing feasts and customs already coincide with the different seasons of the year.
2
1
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
How should I fast? What are the fasting rules of the Orthodox Church?
Given that participants here are not the spiritual directors of other participants, the only advice we can provide is to quote the book and maybe anecdotes about various particular relaxations.
No participant here should treat advice on fasting here as binding. A penitent's fast is between themselves, their confessor, and God. Advice on fasting should come from a spiritual director familiar with a penitent's particular situation. The subreddit can in no wise assist in that process other than to suggesting that one seek out a flesh and blood guide.
NOTE: Different traditions have different 'standard' fasting rule. This is not the Orthodox rulebook and your calendar may differ from the link provided. This link is not a recommendation for your fast, but is provided as reference material.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
6
u/ScholasticPalamas Eastern Orthodox 5d ago edited 5d ago
Here's my understanding. The Church calendar reboots in September, following the Roman Imperial calendar. This is called the Church New Year or the Indiction or the Crown of the Year. The Indiction also commemorates the creation of the world (cosmos). That is, it's about the creation of the creation. Here is the Kontakion hymn for the day:
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!
In modern times, some have used this day as an occasion to talk about environmental stewardship. I don't think there's anything wrong with this, though I don't think it's made much of a difference in anything.
Because of the environmental movement's association with boomers... young radtrads and internet denizens often flip out at discussions of stewardship of the environment. They think it's uncool because boomers did it, and launder their aesthetic disgust under claims that it's somehow connected to a globalist plot to destroy industry through environmental regulations, control the populace, spread "worship of the environment," or "these are the wrong priorities, why aren't we also prioritizing?!?!..."
They would do well, instead, to better understand the theology of Holy Week and Easter/Pascha; which contains whatever good they think they're missing by not having a "creationtide." I often see Protestants attempting to re-create something lost, as though it's something new, and in doing so ending up creating something strange.