THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1: As a new school year approaches, Orthodox Christians, too, are marking new beginnings: Today, members are starting a fresh liturgical year. Although God is eternal, but humans need anniversaries as reminders for sacraments and traditions—so writes Father Michael Harper at the Orthodox Research Institute. (Read more here.)
A yearly return of church holidays also aids members in remembering the exciting milestones of their religion’s history. The last feast of the Orthodox Christian year is the Dormition of Mary, and the first of the year is her Nativity; officials point out the importance of Mary beginning and ending the year because she is the “supreme example” of a life lived in obedience to God.
While some Orthodox churches may not mark this New Year’s Day with more than a few prayers, others celebrate en masse. A 3-day Greek festival attracts more than 4,000 community members around Plymouth, Michigan, each year, and the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church invites the public for a Greek marketplace, Greek foods, authentic dancing and more. (Patch.com has more.)
Looking for Greek recipes to try at home? Check out AllRecipes.
