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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Liturgical New Year Begins on 1 September

1 September - The Liturgical New Year Begins.

When Constantinople was the capital of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church was the official religion of the Empire, the new year for the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church began on September 1.

St. Constantine the Great was the first Roman Emperor to embrace the Christian Faith. He freed the Church from persecution and permitted Christians to worship openly. This declaration and subsequent important decrees (indictions) were made on September 1st. Hence, the Church in the East chose this day as the beginning of the liturgical year.

The "Indiction" is a cycle of 15 years which began under Constantine the Great in 312.

In the early days of the Church and the Christian Roman Empire, major decisions and policies were announced on this day.

Major announcements and new beginnings still are customarily made on September first.

The Church remembers a number of Saints on this day and the following day. (Saints Days - September) These diverse Saints are examples of living according to the will of Holy God. The Liturgical New Year is a good time to make changes to bring our own lives closer to what Holy God wants.

• 1 September - Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos venerated in her ikon of Miasenes
  Holy Father Simon Stylite, Holy Martyr Aeithalas, 40 Holy Women martyred with their instructor Ammon the Deacon; Three Brothers and Holy Martyrs Callistus, Evod, and Hermogenes; and Just Joshua son of Nun
• 2 September - Holy Martyr Mammas and St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople

Gospel

Luke Chapter4, verses 16-22. This reading is the story of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ's first act of public ministry. In Nazareth in the synagogue, He read the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and preached on that reading.
Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ read these words from the Prophet Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of favor of the Lord." ... He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled inyour hearing". Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ proclaimed that He was the Masiah or Messiah.

This Gospel contains the mission that all Christians must keep in mind and in heart every day of every year. Let us pray that Holy God will grant us the wisdom and the strength and the faith to do our part in carrying out the mission of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Kontakion, Troparion, Exapostilarion, and Vespers Sticheron

Troparion (Tone 2)
Maker of the Universe, O Lord who alone have power over seasons and times: bless this year with your bounty, preserve our country in safety, and keep your people in peace, through the prayers of the Mother of God, and save us.

More Information

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on Church Year begins on September 1st. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin.

Liturgical Cycle

Liturgical Cycle
Calendar 2001 / 2002 Liturgical Cycle

Great Feast Days

Great Feast Days

Feasts Days - Specific

Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Theotokos
The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Sunday, February 15, 2004, 18:21:40, PST
The current date and time is: Monday, December 01, 2008, 14:12:33, PST or Monday, December 01, 2008, 22:12:33, GMT