WCC News: The Feast of Creation: an Eastern Orthodox gift to the whole church

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" The words of the Prophet Isaiah, cited throughout the gathering, found fresh meaning on 18–19 March, when more than 600 church leaders came together online, according to event organisers, to explore the Feast of Creation, a liturgical observance rooted in Eastern Orthodox tradition that is now taking hold across confessional boundaries worldwide.  Webinar – Feast of Creation: New Liturgical Feast, Gift for the Third Millennium 02 April 2026 World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator, Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, speaking in his capacity as chair of the Feast of Creation committee, placed the moment in its broader context: "The ecumenical process towards a common liturgical Feast of Creation started with a powerful conference in Assisi in March 2024," he said, adding that its success "might become a landmark in the history of Christianity." Convened by WCC, Middle East Council of Churches, and churches and communions spanning the global Christian family, the event, titled "The Feast of Creation: A New Liturgical Feast, a Gift for the Third Millennium,” drew on a decade of steady ecumenical groundwork. "The strong backing by so many church families can be seen as an encouraging sign that the ecumenical miracle of joint ecumenical action for establishing this feast in the church calendar globally could become a reality," Bedford-Strohm added, reflecting his personal reading of the process. Celebrated on 1 September, or the following Sunday, the Feast of Creation already sits in the liturgical calendars of many churches. Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant for Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice, traced its Eastern Orthodox origins for those attending, drawing on the 10th-century Menologion of Basil II, the oldest Byzantine liturgical calendar. "September 1st represents 'the day of Creation,’ God's act of the creation of the universe," he explained. In 1989, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios widened its scope by inviting "the entire Christian world to offer every year on this day prayers and supplications to the Maker of all." Creation Day has since gained steady momentum alongside the extended Season of Creation, both among grassroots communities and church leadership worldwide. Rev. Dr Antoine Al Ahmar, director of the Theological Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and a theologian of the Maronite Catholic Church, presented a new theological report drawing on three academic conferences held in Assisi since 2024. "Creation is a multifaceted mystery," he said. "Therefore, the Feast of Creation is a multifaceted feast." He outlined four dimensions celebrated on the holy day: God's act of creation, creation as a Christological mystery, creation as a Trinitarian mystery, and creation as a sacramental and covenanted gift. Rev. Dr Cheryl Lindsay of the Consultation on Common Texts and Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross of the World Methodist Council walked participants through a growing set of resources, chief among them the addition of the Feast to the Revised Common Lectionary in April 2026, with new biblical readings available to congregations ahead of this year's celebrations. Prayers from Frances Namoumou of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Karen Westerfield Tucker of the World Methodist Council closed the gathering, drawing attention back to what the feast ultimately asks of its observers: a living commitment to the care of creation. As one tradition's gift becomes the whole church's celebration, that commitment grows a little more visible. The full recording is available on the WCC website. Learn more about the Season of Creation here Watch the Feast of Creation webinar in various language here Feast of Creation webinar unites churches across time zones on 18–19 March (News Release, 18 March 2026) Christian leaders unite in Assisi to establish historic Feast of Creation (News Release, 06 May 2025) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland