New Beginnings: The Orthodox Church Year, Environmental Stewardship, and Personal Vocation

September 1st marks the Ecclesiastical New Year in the Orthodox Church, a date rich with spiritual, historical, and environmental significance. In this episode, host Rob Kaiser explores the Feast of the Indiction, as established by the First Ecumenical Council in 325 AD, and its connection to ancient Roman taxation cycles, Hebrew traditions, and the beginning of Christ's public ministry.

Rob also dives into:

• 📜 The liturgical calendar and why the Church year begins with the Nativity of the Theotokos
• 🌍 The Orthodox Church’s leadership in environmental stewardship, beginning with Patriarch Demetrios’ 1989 declaration
• 📖 A reflection on Luke 4:16–22 and its powerful relevance to the theme of renewal
• 🕊️ How different Orthodox jurisdictions (Greek, Antiochian, Russian, etc.) share a unified faith
• ✝️ Rob’s personal journey and new step forward—discerning a call to seminary and a "coincidental" announcement by The Right Reverend Archimandrite Jeremy (Davis) of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

💬 This episode is a deeply personal and thoughtful reflection on new beginnings—liturgical, ecological, and vocational.

👉 Listeners are encouraged to:

• Share feedback in the All Around Growth Facebook group or Telegram chat
• Consider becoming a Patreon supporter for early access and exclusive content
• Stay tuned for future episodes exploring Byzantine chant, jurisdictional history, and more

🎧 Start your year anew with us—and perhaps start your own journey of deeper spiritual discovery.

Links Mentioned:

• Church New Year - Orthodox Church in America
• Happy (Ecclesiastical) New Year: Why Orthodox Christians Celebrate the New Year in September? - St. Elisabeth Convent
• Ecclesiastical New Year (September 1) - The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America: Diocese of Los Angeles and the West
• Daily Readings - Monday, September 1, 2025
• Indiction - OrthodoxWiki
• Archbishop of America celebrates Ecclesiastical New Year with Ecumenical Patriarch at the Phanar - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
•  The Church New Year and the Call to Serve - The Right Reverend
  Archimandrite Jeremy (Davis), Archiepiscopal Vicar for Toledo and the Midwest - The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America