Orthodox Church celebrates Church New Year and Saint Simeon Stylites

The Orthodox Church celebrates the beginning of the Church New Year, known as the ‘Nachalo Indikta’. The term ‘indictio’ originates from the Roman Empire, where it referred to a fifteen-year cycle used to determine tax obligations for the maintenance of Roman soldiers.

Historically, the calculation of time via indicts was introduced during the reign of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. While the Roman New Year was once associated with the autumn equinox and the birth of Augustus, the practice evolved over centuries. Religious records, such as the 10th-century Basilian Menologion, attest to the long-standing tradition of celebrating this holy day.

In conjunction with the New Year, the religious calendar also commemorates Saint Simeon Stylites. The life of Simeon, a figure from Cappadocia, is noted for his early spiritual devotion and his journey toward a life of asceticism and prayer.