The Beginning of the Indiction, the Church New Year — September 1 / September 14 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 1 according to the Julian Calendar (September 14 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Beginning of the Indiction, the Church New Year.

The Beginning of the Indiction marks the start of the ecclesiastical new year. On this day the Saviour, while in Nazareth, entered the synagogue and read the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me… to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18–19).

On September 1 in the year 312, Constantine the Great (306–337) inflicted a crushing defeat upon Maxentius (307–312), after which Christians were granted full freedom to confess their faith. In commemoration of these two events, from the most ancient times (it is believed, from the era of the First Ecumenical Council) the Church has reckoned the year from September 1.

Later the celebration of the new year on January 1 gradually became established, yet the ecclesiastical new year to this day begins and is celebrated on September 1. On this day the Holy Church beseeches “the Creator of all creation” to “bless the crown of the year.”