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IPS Athanasius: At the border between two liturgical years, the Church places the Most Holy Theotokostranslated

September 1, 2026 · 1 min read

Archbishop Athanasius of Great Britain and Northern Ireland sent a message at the beginning of the new church year in which he emphasized that "at the border between two liturgical years, the Church places the same person: the Most Holy Theotokos".

His Eminence pointed out that we are used to measuring time by what begins and by what ends.

"However, God looks at time differently. He does not count the years, but the fruition of grace in the human heart. Therefore, the beginning of the church year is not marked by a shining event before the eyes of the world, but by the birth of a blameless child, in the humble home of the Holy and Godly Parents Joachim and Ana".

"In the birth of the Blessed Virgin, God silently begins a new history - God silently begins the renewal of creation. The eyes of the world see an infant come to the old age of righteous parents; the eyes of faith glimpse the preparation of the living abode of the Word," added the Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The mysterious work of the Savior Jesus Christ The Most Reverend Father Athanasius showed that the entire history of salvation reveals to us a mysterious law of God's work: He...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Show original

Laura Lewis

The part about God not counting years but looking at the grace growing in our hearts really stuck with me. It makes the quiet birth of the little girl to Joachim and Anna feel so much more important than any big public celebration. Thanks for sharing this gentle reminder from Archbishop Atanasie.

Sophia Carter

That line about God measuring time by the growth of grace in the heart rather than by calendars really hit home. It makes the quiet birth of the little girl to Joachim and Anna feel like the true start of everything, not some loud event. Thanks for posting this, Laura – it’s a good one to carry into the new church year.

Olivia Campbell

The bit about God not counting years but watching grace grow in the heart makes sense to me, especially after a busy summer in the kitchen where I kept forgetting what day it was. Quiet starts like the birth to Joachim and Anna feel more real than the big fireworks we do on New Year's. Thanks for posting this, it lines up with what Archbishop Atanasie said.

Sophia Young

That bit about forgetting what day it was in the kitchen really hit home – I had the same thing happen during my pottery glazing sessions last month, losing track of everything except the next firing. The quiet start with Joachim and Anna does feel more like real life than fireworks. Have you read anything else from Archbishop Atanasie lately?

Emily Adams

That part about God counting grace in the heart instead of years stuck with me too. Our garden out the back only looks like it's starting over in spring, but the real work happens quietly under the soil all winter. Have you got a favourite icon of the Theotokos' birth you keep near your prayer corner?

Elizabeth Baker

That part about God measuring by grace ripening in the heart instead of ticking off calendar years really stayed with me too. Last September I kept mixing up which week it was while I was putting up all the tomato sauce from the garden, and it made the whole thing feel more like the quiet Nativity of the Theotokos than any loud countdown. Did the busy kitchen stretch make the new church year feel different for you this time?

Thomas Wright

That pottery story rings a bell — I lose whole afternoons in the woods when the mushrooms are popping and suddenly it’s dark. The part about Joachim and Anna’s quiet house makes sense to me too; it’s the small, steady things that usually matter more than the big show. Haven’t read anything else from the Archbishop lately, but I’ll look up his talks from last year’s retreat in London if you have a favorite.