A Pastoral Letter for the Ecclesiastical New Year.

1 September 2024

Beginning of the Liturgical Year

A Pastoral Letter

For the Ecclesiastical New Year

(1 September 2024 -13 August 2025)

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Peace be with you.

"A person cannot have God as his Father if he does not have the Church as his Mother."

(St Cyprian of Carthage, martyr, +AD 258)

We have come to the closing of another year. I can hear someone say, "But it's only the end of August; we have another four months." True, but we are referring to the conclusion of the liturgical year; the cycle of fasts and feasts that is the year of prayer and worship, both in church and at home. It is the celebration of the Ecclesiastical New Year which reminds us that the Church, Catholic and Orthodox, should be at the very centre of our lives, as people of faith, of prayer and worship.

Many think that the first of January must have a special significance that marks it out as New Year's Day. However, in the West the civil year has begun in different places on different dates. During the Middle Ages in England, the year began on 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation; some places began the year on Christmas Day, some at Easter. However, the progressive adoption by many countries of the calendar reforms of Pope Gregory XI (1502-

1585) meant that most countries, regardless of other traditional or religious customs, eventually observed 1 January as a sort of universal New Year's Day.

Most faith communities have particular days which begin their religious new year. Amongst

mainstream Western Christians, including Roman Catholics, the liturgical year commences on the first Sunday of Advent, between 27 November and 3 December. In the Byzantine tradition, including Melkite, the Ecclesiastical New Year always begins on the first day of September; this year today, a Sunday.

Although several explanations have been offered for 1 September, the generally accepted, and most unexciting, is that in ancient Byzantium this was the beginning of the financial year. Accounts were balanced, debts settled, civil honours announced; everything was ready to start again!

It is also commonly believed that the East Roman Empire chose 1 September in the 5th century to commemorate the vision of the Christogram (8) seen on that day by St Constantine the Great, with the assurance, "In this Sign conquer."

And, of course, looking forward to another liturgical year, we place all before the Good Lord, "O Creator of the universe, you did appoint times by your power; bless the crown of this year with your goodness, O Lord. Preserve in safety your rulers and cities: and through the intercessions of the Theotokos, save us."

The Gospel reading for the Ecclesiastical New Year (Luke 4:16-22) is itself concerned with "a

year" - the Year of the Lord's favour; that "year" which is the time of the Messiah. It was in the synagogue in Nazareth, at the beginning of his mission that Jesus applies the Isaiah prophecy of himself - "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21). We note that in certain icons of the Theotokos and Child, the inscription, in part or complete, on the scroll held by Jesus is, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" ( Isaiah 61).

As with all beginnings, especially those associated with a New Year, we are perhaps inclined to make resolutions for the coming 12 months. Let us leave dieting, gym visiting, dog walking and house renovating to the civil new year on 1 January 2025. For today, if we are to have any New Year resolutions, let them be of the things that belong to God... things which touch upon our spiritual life, our life of prayer and worship.

Next year, 2025, we will celebrate the 1700 anniversary of the first Council of Nicaea, which met during May to August in AD 325. We are, of course, familiar with the Nicaean Creed, which in its developed form we recite at every Holy Liturgy. We are blessed to be Nicaean Christians. Now is a good time to resolve to learn more about the Council and the Acts of that Council. Our Eparchy will lead us through a process of learning about Nicaea as the next several months unfold.

The year 2025 has also been designated by Pope Francis as a Jubilee Year. There will be many opportunities to participate in the spiritual events of this universal Holy Year, the theme of which is a "Journey in Hope". If there is anything that the world needs now, it is certainly hope. Again more of this in the near future.

We should also remember that in 2024 we have celebrated the300th anniversary of the Melkite Catholic Church Ecumenical Journey. As we look back on that event, let us give thanks to God for the reunion of the Melkite Church and community with the Apostolic See of Rome, and also to thank Him for the friendship and fraternal harmony between us and our Antiochian Orthodox brothers and sisters as we journey ever closer to the One Bread and the One Cup. The time of the Lord's favour is near. May the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great and Eternal High Priest, hasten the day.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, through the Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, has issued its 2024 - 2025 Social Justice Statement on Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World. I would urge each of you to make time to read it. https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/resources/social-justice-statements/

This year, this new liturgical year, this new year of prayer, let us make a genuine effort to speak with the Lord more often and ever more sincerely. Let heart speak to heart.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

May the journey of prayer and worship upon which we set out today be for all the faithful of our Holy Eparchy, and our many friends, a year of grace and peace.

With my paternal blessing and with prayers assured,

✠ Robert Rabbat

Bishop of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy

Of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania