Christian churches launch Season of Creation environmental initiative

The Season of Creation is an ecumenical initiative involving various Christian churches to promote prayer and reflection on environmental care. The observance runs annually from September 1 to October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This tradition was established following a 1987 call by Patriarch Dimitrios of Constantinople and was later expanded by Pope Francis to include all Christian churches.

The theme for the upcoming period is ‘Living Water,’ inspired by the biblical vision in Ezekiel 47:9-12. This passage describes a river flowing from a sanctuary that restores life to desolate areas. The initiative uses this imagery to address contemporary environmental issues, including river preservation, water quality, ecosystem recovery, and the impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable populations.

Participating communities are encouraged to engage in practical actions such as planting trees, cleaning rivers and springs, and holding water blessing ceremonies. The campaign also emphasizes ‘water justice’ to address scarcity and resource management. Organizers provide free liturgical and educational materials in multiple languages to support these global mobilizations.