Moon Phases and the Orthodox Calendar

What the Moon Phases Are

The moon phases (or lunar phases) are the successive appearances of the Moon over the course of a cycle of roughly 29 and a half days. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the angle at which the Sun illuminates it changes, so from Earth the illuminated portion of the Moon appears to us to grow or shrink. Over the course of a month we thus observe four main phases, which have served humanity since ancient times as a way of measuring time.

The four basic phases are:

• New moon — the Moon lies between the Earth and the Sun, so its illuminated side faces away from us and the Moon cannot be seen. This marks the beginning of a new cycle.
• First quarter — the right half of the Moon’s disc is visible; the Moon is “waxing.”
• Full moon — the entire face of the Moon turned toward us is illuminated, and we see a full circle. At this point the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.
• Last (final) quarter — the left half of the disc is visible; the Moon is “waning” and approaching the next new moon.

In popular usage, the period from new moon to full moon is known as the “young” or waxing moon, and the period from full moon to the next new moon as the “old” or waning moon.

The Phases in Folk Tradition

In Serbian folk tradition, great importance was attached to the moon phases in everyday life. It was believed that the time of the waxing moon was favourable for tasks that ought to “grow” and progress — planting crops that bear fruit above ground, starting new undertakings, and even weddings. The time of the waning moon was considered suited to tasks associated with “decrease” — cutting timber, gathering herbs for winter stores, and, by some beliefs, cutting hair.

There were also various beliefs about the influence of the new and full moon on health, mood, and even people’s behaviour. These customs are part of a rich folk heritage and reflect the centuries-old connection of an agricultural people with the rhythms of nature.

It is important, however, to clearly distinguish these folk beliefs from the teaching of the Church. They belong to the realm of custom and tradition, not to the realm of faith.

What the Church Actually Teaches

The Orthodox Church ascribes no spiritual power whatsoever to the moon phases. The Moon, like everything in the universe, is God’s creation, shining according to His will (Genesis 1:16). It is not a source of fortune or misfortune, nor a sign by which a Christian should order his life. The Church regards beliefs that a particular phase brings success or misfortune, or that tasks should be undertaken or avoided depending on the Moon’s phase, as superstition — not as part of the Christian faith.

A Christian orders his life according to God’s will, prayer, and conscience, not according to the movements of heavenly bodies. The believer, therefore, should not fear the new moon or the full moon, nor ascribe to them power over his fate. All good comes from God, not from the position of the Moon in the sky.

The Phases and the Orthodox Calendar

The Orthodox liturgical calendar as a whole is not governed by the Moon, but by the Sun. The fixed feasts — such as Christmas, St Sava’s Day, Vidovdan, or Mitrovdan — have a set date that does not change from year to year, because they are tied to the solar (calendar) cycle.

The one, but very important, exception is the calculation of the date of Pascha. Pascha is determined according to the lunar cycle, because it is historically linked to the Jewish Passover. The rule states: Pascha falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This is why Pascha, and all the so-called movable feasts that depend on the date of Pascha, change date every year.

The Moon, then, has exactly one clearly defined role in the Orthodox calendar: it serves to calculate Pascha. Everything else in the liturgical life of the Church is ordered according to the sun and the established sequence of feasts, not according to the phases of the Moon.

Conclusion

The moon phases are a natural phenomenon and part of God’s order in the world. For centuries they have served humanity as a way of measuring time, and around them many folk customs and beliefs have grown. These beliefs are worth knowing as part of our cultural heritage, but they should not be confused with faith. The Church teaches that a Christian entrusts his life to God, not to the phases of the Moon — and the Moon’s sole liturgical significance lies in calculating the greatest feast of all, the Pascha of Christ.