Many churches are taking environmental action, such as installing solar panels: Photo: Kate Bunker September 1 marks the start of the Season of Creation and a month of eco-contemplation for Christians around the world.
The Season of Creation is a month-long prayerful observation of the world, its beauty and the ecological crises that threaten it and all its inhabitants, including issues around water and sanitation. It runs from the World Day of Prayer for Creation, on September 1, through to October 4, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi.
Last year, Pope Francis placed it on the Catholic liturgical calendar, officially bringing the globe's estimated 1.2 billion Catholics into the annual celebration for the first time, although the Season of Creation has been celebrated by other Christian denominations for decades.
In 1989 Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed September 1 as a Day of Prayer for Creation in the Orthodox church, and adopted by major European Christian churches in 2001.
From there, faith communities began extending the celebration until Feast of St Francis - known as the patron saint of ecology - on October 4. In 2007 the Third European Ecumenical Assembly adopted it, with the World Council of Churches following suit the next year.
For more information as well as resources and prayers, there are a number of websites available. Here are a few:
The Season of Creation is a month-long prayerful observation of the world, its beauty and the ecological crises that threaten it and all its inhabitants, including issues around water and sanitation. It runs from the World Day of Prayer for Creation, on September 1, through to October 4, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi.
Last year, Pope Francis placed it on the Catholic liturgical calendar, officially bringing the globe's estimated 1.2 billion Catholics into the annual celebration for the first time, although the Season of Creation has been celebrated by other Christian denominations for decades.
In 1989 Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed September 1 as a Day of Prayer for Creation in the Orthodox church, and adopted by major European Christian churches in 2001.
From there, faith communities began extending the celebration until Feast of St Francis - known as the patron saint of ecology - on October 4. In 2007 the Third European Ecumenical Assembly adopted it, with the World Council of Churches following suit the next year.
For more information as well as resources and prayers, there are a number of websites available. Here are a few:
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