# Feast of Creation > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Feast_of_Creation > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Feast_of_Creation.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Creation > Source revision: 1341757411 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Celebration commemorating the creation of the universe Feast of Creation God the Geometer — Gothic frontispiece of the Bible moralisée, representing God's act of Creation. France, mid-13th century Observed by Christianity Type Christian Observances Church services, planting trees, picking up litter Date 1 September Frequency annual Related to Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Creationtide The **Feast of Creation**, also known as the **Feast of Creation in Christ**, **Creation Sunday**, **Creation Day** or the **World Day of Prayer for Creation**, is celebrated in [Christianity](/source/Christianity) on September 1 or the subsequent Sunday to honour the creation of the universe by [God](/source/God_in_Christianity) and commemorate the "mystery of creation in Christ".[1][2] The Feast of Creation heralds God as Creator.[3] On the Feast of Creation, the faithful offer "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," as proposed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1989.[1] The readings for this day include the [Genesis creation narrative](/source/Genesis_creation_narrative) in the Bible.[1] In addition to partaking in [liturgies](/source/Christian_liturgy) of the Feast of Creation, Christians exercise [environmental stewardship](/source/Stewardship_(theology)) on the feast day through the caring for the world with activities such as [planting trees](/source/Tree_planting) or [picking up litter](/source/Clean-up_(environment)).[2] In addition to formal liturgies, [ecumenical](/source/Ecumenism) (interdenominational) prayer services are common on the Feast of Creation as well.[4][2] The Feast of Creation has long been observed by [Christian denominations](/source/Christian_denomination) such as the [Eastern Orthodox Churches](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) and since the 1990s, the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), [Evangelical Lutheran Churches](/source/Lutheranism), [Anglican Communion](/source/Anglican_Communion), and [Baptist Churches](/source/Baptists) have celebrated the holy day.[5][1][6] The feast is recognized by the [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches).[5] The month of September is regarded by many Christian Churches as **Creationtide** or **Season of Creation**, which concludes on the [Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi](/source/Feast_of_Saints_Francis_and_Catherine) (October 4) as he is the patron saint of [ecology](/source/Christian_views_on_environmentalism).[7][8] ## Date *The Creation* by [Lucas Cranach the Elder](/source/Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder), 1534 The [calendar](/source/Liturgical_calendar) used by the [Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople](/source/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople) from the 7th to the 18th century stipulated that God initiated the creation of the world on September 1, with that symbolism retained nowadays by being the feast marking the beginning of the Byzantine liturgical year.[1] This day has thus been observed, since ancient Christian times, as a day symbolizing the beginning of Creation.[1] The oldest preserved Byzantine liturgical calendar, the Menologion of Basil II (10th century), explains: “Indikton [September 1] is celebrated by the Church of God, from the ancients, because it is thought to be the beginning of time... Therefore, the first day of September is also a defining month and the beginning of the whole year.”[9] On 6 May 2025, at a gathering of the [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches), Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Anglican and Baptist leaders met to prepare an "ecumenically shared feast of creation as such a witness for unity, so that this ecumenical dream for the third millennium may come true".[5] The Feast of Creation (September 1) inaugurates the [Season of Creation](/source/Season_of_Creation) that concludes on the [Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi](/source/Feast_of_Saints_Francis_and_Catherine) (October 4), which is marked by the [blessing of animals](/source/Blessing_of_animals).[10] ## Observance by Christian denomination ### Eastern Orthodoxy The [Eastern Orthodox Churches](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) have observed the Feast of the Indiction, as it is otherwise known, since the 5th century.[2] In 1989, the Ecumenical Patriarch [Demetrios I of Constantinople](/source/Demetrios_I_of_Constantinople) invited "the whole Christian world" to pray together on September 1 and "offer 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.” Along with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the [Eastern Lutheran Churches](/source/Eastern_Lutheranism) and [Eastern Catholic Churches](/source/Eastern_Catholic_Churches) observe the Feast of Creation.[11] ### Roman Catholicism The Feast of Creation has been observed by various [episcopal conferences](/source/Episcopal_conference) of the Catholic Church since the 1990s. In 2015, [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) "instituted it as the World Day of Prayer for the universal Catholic Church."[2] In his message for Creation Day in 2025, [Pope Leo XIV](/source/Pope_Leo_XIV) noted that “for believers, environmental justice is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.”[2] In the same year, Pope Leo XIV instituted the Mass for the Care of Creation to be used on the Feast of Creation.[2] ### Evangelical Lutheranism The General Secretary of the [Lutheran World Federation](/source/Lutheran_World_Federation) noted the importance of the Feast of Creation to the [Evangelical Lutheran](/source/Lutheran) tradition:[7] Creation and redemption through incarnation and cross, Lange noted, “are most evident in the sacraments” and also “shaped Luther’s call for the renewal of sacramental life.” By focusing on the material or ‘created’ elements of water, bread and wine used in the Eucharistic liturgy to symbolize the life and death of Jesus, he said, Lutherans are called “to care for the for the waters, the land, the fruits, the air.”[7] ### Anglicanism The Feast Day of Creation, along with the season of Creationtide, is observed by the [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England), mother church of the [Anglican Communion](/source/Anglican_Communion).[8] ## See also - [Christianity portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Christianity) - [Christian views on environmentalism](/source/Christian_views_on_environmentalism) - [Ecotheology](/source/Ecotheology) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Insua2023_1-5) Insua, Tomás (30 August 2023). ["Why a "Feast of Creation" on September 1?"](https://laudatosimovement.org/news/why-a-feast-of-creation-on-september-1/). Laudato Si' Movement. Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Vatican2025_2-6) ["Pope invites Christians to unite for Creation Day on September 1"](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-08/pope-leo-creation-day-prayer-ecumenism-christians.html). 31 August 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The Feast of Creation - Ideas to Celebrate it"](https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/the-feast-of-creation-ideas-to-celebrate-it). Birmingham Diocesan Trust. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["WCC Podcast explores Feast of Creation ahead of Creation Day Conference"](https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-podcast-explores-feast-of-creation-ahead-of-creation-day-conference). [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches). 9 April 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WCC2025_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WCC2025_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WCC2025_5-2) ["Christian leaders unite in Assisi to establish historic Feast of Creation"](https://www.oikoumene.org/news/christian-leaders-unite-in-assisi-to-establish-historic-feast-of-creation). [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches). 6 May 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Gerardo Alminaza](/source/Gerardo_Alminaza) (1 September 2025). ["Creation Day: a precious gift from the Orthodox Church"](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-09/creation-day-orthodox-church-philippines-bishop-alminaza.html). [Vatican News](/source/Vatican_News). Retrieved 3 September 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LWF2025_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LWF2025_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LWF2025_7-2) ["Ecumenical efforts to introduce a Christian Feast of Creation"](https://lutheranworld.org/news/ecumenical-efforts-introduce-christian-feast-creation). [Lutheran World Federation](/source/Lutheran_World_Federation). 2 April 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CoE2025_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CoE2025_8-1) ["Creationtide or the Season of Creation"](https://www.churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change/season-creation). [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England). Retrieved 1 September 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-WCC2024_9-0)** ["Report - The Feast of Creation in Christ"](https://www.feastofcreation.com/report-feast-of-creation-in-christ). [World Council of Churches](/source/World_Council_of_Churches). 6 December 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-North2014_10-0)** North, Fair (29 September 2014). ["Blessing all God's creatures"](https://www.livinglutheran.org/2014/09/blessing-gods-creatures/). Living Lutheran. Retrieved 5 October 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios. ["Encyclical Letter on the Day of Protection of the Environment September 1, 1989"](https://www.orth-transfiguration.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lecture_HAH-1989-Patr.-Dimitrios-on-Day-of-Prayer-for-Envir.pdf) (PDF). *Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration*. ## External links - [Feast of Creation](https://www.feastofcreation.com/) - [Feast of Creation - World Council of Churches](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0NdarXfRF4) - [Season of Creation (Creationtide)](https://seasonofcreation.org/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Feast of Creation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Creation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Creation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.