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SEptember 1
April 2026 update:
The "Feast of Creation in Christ" was officially adopted by the Revised Common Lectionary, for celebrations to begin on 6th September 2026 (first Sunday of September).
See lectionary readings and details here.
The "Feast of Creation” – also known as “Feast of Creation in Christ", "Creation Day” or “Creation Sunday” – is celebrated by many Christian churches on September 1 or the subsequent Sunday.
Grounded in an ancient liturgical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church, this is a day to praise God as Creator and ponder the great mystery that everything was created through Christ. And, as a result, it also inspires us to care for the gift of the created world — which is why it also celebrated as a “World Day of Prayer for Creation”.
WHY ON THAT DATE?
“We invite 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 Dimitrios
1 September 1989
Theological Symbolism of September 1
Since the 7th century, September 1 has symbolized the day of God’s creation of the world in the Byzantine tradition and has been the opening feast of their liturgical year (in a parallel with the feast of Rosh Hashanah marking the Jewish New Year).
A series of ecumenical conferences, known as ‘The Assisi Process,’ has explored that rich theological symbolism and the potential of the ‘Feast of Creation in Christ’ to enrich the Christological nature of non-Byzantine liturgical calendars. In short, the feast contains four interrelated themes: (1) Creation as God’s creative act, (2) Creation as Christological mystery, (3) Creation as Trinitarian mystery, and (4) Creation as sacramental and covenantal.
“In the beginning was the Word...
All things came to be through him.”
Gospel of John
Liturgical/worship resources
Unity in Diversity
Different churches celebrate Creation Day in various formats, according to their liturgical/worship traditions. It symbolizes our "Unity in Diversity".
Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine)
September 1 has been a liturgical feast – the Feast of the Indiction – in Byzantine churches since ancient times; more recently, it also became a day of prayer for creation, coming to be known also as Creation Day or Feast of Creation.
Protestant liturgical churches
Mainline Protestant (e.g. Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed, etc) and Anglican churches who follow a liturgical calendar and lectionary are adopting this day as the Feast of Creation in Christ, in line with the Christological nature of the Christian year.
Protestant “non-liturgical” churches (Free Church)
Protestant churches who don’t follow a set liturgical calendar – as Evangelicals, Baptists, Pentecostals, Mennonites, Salvationists (known as "Free Church traditions") – celebrate it as Creation Sunday in their worship services.
Other Eastern churches
Through the leadership of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Feast of Creation is being gradually embraced by other Eastern churches as well.
Link of resources: forthcoming
Resources for other Christian traditions might be added in the near future.
OTHER IDEAS TO CELEBRATE CREATION DAY
Complementing the liturgical celebration of the Feast of Creation in your church, you are encouraged to also enrich the celebration of this special feast through ecumenical prayer together with Christians from other traditions as well as with personal prayer. See ideas for:
ANNUAL ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICE
This 2025 event has ended. Register to the newsletter to receive an update about the 2026 event.
All are welcome to join an online prayer service to celebrate the ecumenical day of prayer (organized annually by the Season of Creation ecumenical committee).
In 2025 it featured reflections by Cardinal Ambongo (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), Bishop Hernández (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia), and Rev. Bae (Presbyterian Church of Korea), as well as prayers from other leaders from various traditions.
THE EXTENDED "SEASON OF CREATION"
In recent years, many denominations have extended the Creation Day celebration to become a larger observance throughout September: the “Season of Creation”, lasting till October 4th (Feast of Saint Francis). Creation Day is the source and inspiration of the extended ecumenical celebration.
“How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.”
Psalm 104:24 (NIV)
A COLLABORATION OF MANY CHURCHES
The Feast of Creation celebrations are encouraged by a wide range of church bodies.*
ORIGINAL INSPIRATION
ECUMENICAL BODIES
DENOMINATIONAL BODIES
* A Feast of Creation steering committee, chaired by Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, coordinates and animates the celebrations of the feast, with the various church bodies participating in relevant working groups preparing resources in this website.
STAY in touch
While new resources are continually prepared for the Feast of Creation celebrations, you are welcome to subscribe to receive occasional updates (just 2-3 emails per year).
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