Saturday Rest: Embracing the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith
FREE Orthodox Church Book, 2025 Edition
Dear Friends,
With our latest printing (2025 edition) of the Sabbath in the Orthodox Church, we have updated it with a new chapter. It has been professionally edited and styled with a new title. It’s now called “Saturday Rest: Embracing the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith”
Read the full book, or download the PDF for Free at: https://celticorthodoxy.com/2015/05/honoring-of-the-sabbath-in-the-historic-orthodox-church/
I hope you enjoy it.
Please find the Table of Contents and Foreword below:
Saturday Rest: Embracing the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith
Demonstrating the continuity of the Christian 7th Day Sabbath, as kept by the Faithful in the Orthodox Church (East and West)
40+ Early Church Fathers are quoted herein as advocating the Saturday Sabbath festivals
Saturday Traditions that substantiate the facts that the Christian Nations of God know His day so that a remnant can keep His day.
2025 Updated Edition.
Copyright © 2008, 2013, 2018, 2020 and 2025. All Rights Reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
✞ FOREWORD ✞
✞ INTRODUCTION ✞
✞ The Early Orthodox Church Kept the Sabbath ✞
✞ Prevalence of Sabbath-keeping in the 4th Century ✞
✞ The Great Schism of 1054 AD Between the Eastern Orthodox and the Western Papists ✞
✞ Church Unity and Precedence Came From Apostolic Britain ✞
✞ The British Orthodox Church ✞
✞ St Joseph of Arimathea and the British Hebrew Priesthood ✞
✞ The Culdees, Not Connected to Rome, Protected the Sabbath ✞
✞ Liturgical Celebrations of the Sabbath ✞
✞ Contemporary Orthodox Observing the Sabbath ✞
✞ The Sabbath of YAHWEH, A Biblical Sign That We Are His People ✞
✞ Keeping the Sabbath “Love Feasts” More Fully ✞
✞ Conclusion ✞
✞ Appendix Sections:
Sec 1 Orthodox Wednesday Crucifixion Doctrine
Sec 2 The Great Schism and the Sabbath
Sec 3 The Didache, Ignatius, and the Sabbath
Sec 4 Regarding Monarch Lead Churches
Sec 5 Renewing the Ancient Call of Repentance✞
FOREWORD
There is a popular doctrine circulating that claims the Christian nations of God (and His one holy Apostolic Church) once completely forgot the Sabbath of God. Therefore, it may be supposed that the national covenants to the true Israel of God were negated. Since the Sabbath is called a sign that we are His people forever—even though only the curses and punishments for disobedience were removed by Christ—some have gone a step further by asserting that all good deeds are no longer commanded for eternity. When some take the argument further, they reject much of Scripture—often because its political and nationalistic elements do not fit their narrative. The Sabbath is a signpost that no one can ignore, and so it was the first target of attack. Those who oppose Christian civilization have created myths to claim that the Church lost its way for some 1700 years, with only a few rediscovering the Sabbath in recent times. However, after reading this book, you will see that this popular doctrine is false, and you will understand that the true Biblical Orthodox Sabbath (known as Saturday) has been honored, preserved, and retained chiefly among the Christian nations of the East and West. Although the 7th Day (Saturday) Sabbath has been somewhat concealed or attacked, it has always remained a stable practice within these nations. The evidence laid out in this book should remove any doubts in this area.
While the official Christian Orthodox doctrine has remained—that the Saturday Sabbath must be kept holy—it has not been as popular among the masses. Unfortunately, popular demand has yielded to the availability of ministers to serve on Sabbaths in the main body of churches. This trend was precipitated by recent overthrows of Christendom, which occurred for larger geopolitical reasons (namely Protestantism in the West and Bolshevism in the East), sweeping away the more robust academic establishments that had supported strong avenues of Sabbath observance. As foundational institutions were removed, churches reduced their daily services to a more limited form dictated by their circumstances. Under harsher economic and political situations, advanced services for the truly faithful diminished. In destroyed areas and churches, only the most basic Sunday and annual holidays were maintained—occasions on which at least Christ’s victory is remembered (if not fully celebrated).
Having established this historical context and the challenges faced over time, we now turn our attention to the enduring spiritual and educational heritage that sustained these traditions.
We are at a time when believers must restore the ancient paths, reclaiming our heritage in the orthodox and true Israel faith of Christendom. In light of our rich historical and liturgical heritage, it becomes evident that a revival of these practices is not only desirable but necessary. Let us explore how this revival is both a return to our roots and a call to action in today's world. We are in a generation that demands closing off access to the devil. The laxity in our faith has produced an evil fruit—so much so that even the most egregious departures from traditional practice are now promoted as the norm in many modern churches. When you open the door even a little to the devil, much more may enter. Most of all, these trends have discarded the most essential elements of the faith in Christ. Others have grown spiritually complacent, allowing the devil to infiltrate even the newest versions of churches. Today, not even the most basic catechisms or a minimal sinner’s prayer are used in so-called conversions to Christianity. Many churches have become mere propaganda outlets dominated by the worst influences of the last generation—where that which is good is labeled as evil and vice versa. Woe to such people.
With this theological foundation in mind, let us now examine how these beliefs have been practically embedded in liturgical practices across different branches of the Church. It remains true that “there is no private interpretation of His word,” and in every generation the vast majority have correctly understood that the Sabbath is Saturday. The basic theology texts of every denomination still agree on these facts. Only recently have people been taught very simplistically. At least before, people were taught about salvation through Christ and the need to turn away from sin. Now, sin isn’t even mentioned. Nonetheless, the basic truths are still understood in some form everywhere.
So much has been done to distance people from the essential “study requirements” of the faith. When you receive Christ, it is not called the end but the beginning of a transformation process in which the believer is renewed by the renewing of their mind. The scholarly aspect of the faith has been diminished. However, we may find encouragement in the scholarly practices of the Celtic Church. At the height of Christendom, there was much to admire in the schools of Celtic Orthodoxy, where every church was associated with university-level studies of God’s Word. These institutions were maintained by essential teachers and scholars known as Culdees, who kept the common people well-informed about the great orthodox teachings.
Having explored the historical and educational practices that sustained the Sabbath tradition, we now shift our focus to how these practices have been expressed in liturgical life.
It was once well known that the Sabbath was a sign that we are His people. It was celebrated in both the East and West in official canons, commanding the true Israel nation to “remember it, and keep it holy.” The victory remains: the Saturday Sabbath of God is still taught as a major requirement within the teachings of each branch of the Orthodox Christian faith. It is at least agreed that a remnant of this covenant people will continue to keep it. Such belief has been preserved in various historic and orthodox liturgies, the teachings of the holy fathers, traditions, basic doctrines, and other official writings of God’s true Orthodox Church.
While it is acknowledged which day is the Sabbath, very few churches have continued to keep it holy. Many Orthodox jurisdictions even declare in weekly collects that Saturday is the day to cease work and worship Him, yet their practice is rather lax.
A few groups observe it more correctly, and these are mainly under the umbrella of the greater “true Orthodox Church.” These groups stem from the pre-1960s era of true Orthodoxy, before the World Council of Churches claimed the title of Orthodoxy. Many such true Orthodox communities have maintained the canonical marks of Orthodoxy. This includes several Protestant spheres that are compliant with various requirements established for identifying as orthodox, as agreed worldwide.
Among those who properly observe it, these “remnant Sabbatarians” appear under various names—even among some Anglicans. They are found within the Celtic (or Anglican) Orthodox tradition. In the West, there are unique offshoots of the English and Protestant iterations of standard Orthodoxy that remain foundational in the Eastern autonomous jurisdictions of Orthodoxy. For example, in Russia, when the Moscow princes defied the majority of Russian Orthodox who protected the Saturday Sabbath, they founded what is known as the Molokan Russian Orthodox. Similarly, pivotal moments in England created the Seventh Day Baptist movements. In both the East and West, there have been denominations established by Anglican Orthodox clergy who refused to water down Sabbath observances as dictated by the Monarch. Several examples are provided in this book. Likewise, groups such as the Mennonites, the Orthodox Congregationalists, various branches of the Church of God, and several jurisdictions of the True Orthodox (for instance, the autonomous sees of ancient ethnic groups such as the Metropolitantate of Gothia or Church of the Goths, various Celtic or Orthodox Churches of the Culdees, the Russian Catacomb Church, etc.) have upheld these traditions. Some may object to the inclusion of various Protestants, and for that reason we have inserted a chapter on "The Orthodox Identity of the British Church and Anglicanism" to offer clarification. We believe Orthodoxy has been preserved more robustly in these jurisdictions over the centuries. This book can hopefully help bring unity among all faithful Christians—whether they are increasing their Sabbath observance or are already fully integrated. While we agree that the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways, we acknowledge the foundational truth that we are one body through the Gospel message of faith in Jesus Christ Himself. In this book, we primarily disclose the 7th Day Orthodox Church practices, as handed down through the ages.
The most pivotal doctrine of our faith is the Gospel—that is, the belief in Christ's life, death, burial, Resurrection (1 Cor 15:3), and His ultimate return to bring the Kingdom into full operation in the new heavens and new earth. This leading belief unites us all as one body of Christians in Christ. We become one when we act on that faith—turning from sin, dedicating our lives to Him, being baptized, and partaking in the Communion Sacraments as our King commanded. Foundational orthodox doctrines such as these are laid out in the Nicene (or Apostles’) Creeds. These creeds unite all Christians worldwide in one sense and demonstrate that heresies have long been overcome. Let us celebrate and build bridges on this single, most important part of our doctrine—the faith in Jesus (Yahshua) the Christ. For now, by and through Christ, the Holy Spirit can work and set us free from the bondage of sin.
Having established our theological foundation and its practical expressions in liturgy, we now move to the guiding purpose of this book.
In this book, you will learn about several historic, foundational texts of the Church that prescribe the proper keeping of the Sabbath. The Apostles’ Didascalia is one such text that is regarded as canonical by several branches of the Church. The Didascalia even goes so far as to prescribe Saturday practices in greater detail than those for Sunday.
It must be remembered that this teaching is not exclusive to the Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Culdean Scots guarded Saturday—keeping it holy—while designating Sunday as a workday. These quotations are provided throughout the book in fine detail.
As I quote from numerous authoritative sources, you will find that at the heart of the Great Schism was the issue of the 7th Day (Saturday) Sabbath. Even within the Latin Church jurisdictions, Saturday Sabbath observance continued unhindered, and the Sunday laws were largely ignored. To most, the Roman pope was seen as just another bishop—not held above the rest. Many of the early Ecumenical Church Councils did not even invite Rome to attend.
Today, there remain numerous Orthodox rites based on the Didascalia, where the 7th Day Sabbath is codified in all liturgical guidance. These are mostly associated with the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Western Orthodox texts of the Anglican and Episcopal Churches (confirmed as canonical by several Eastern Patriarchs) not only retain a communion service for Sabbaths but also include a prayer called “the Saturday Collect.” This liturgy was core to the British Orthodox legacy of maintaining independence from Rome. For instance, the introduction to the Book of Common Prayer instructs local bishops to include as many feasts as possible (given the availability of ministers). This text and the liturgy of the B.C.P. were maintained across all subsequent branches of the Church—even by the most nonconformist and dissenting groups—from 1549 until the 1960s in a spirit of unity.
Countless points such as these have been forgotten. In this work, we aim to bring them back to light and celebrate them. The issues are not only to be demonstrated but also to be put into practice in our daily lives, just as our forefathers did. In doing so, we move forward as our King Jesus instructed. In any case, we should all rejoice that we have a God who keeps covenant with His people and praise Him greatly, as Scripture directs in these grand themes of His kingdom governance on earth as in heaven. We should pray and hope that churches and communities will advance in faith, rekindling the first-century evangelistic fire of the God of Israel working in His covenant body and bride.
This booklet is intended as an encouragement for any Christian who already keeps the Sabbath and may also help those still uncertain about making the complete switch to an Orthodox Sabbath observance. It demonstrates that for many centuries the Sabbath was celebrated more fully on Saturday. The Seventh Day Sabbath was known and practiced in nearly every city and home of Christendom.
Herein you will see it remains a victorious truth that in many assemblies today the Orthodox Clergy continually teach that every home should observe the Sabbath along with all the commandments. It is expected that we turn away from sin and live in accordance with His laws. This expectation is recited several times daily in homes that possess the common prayer books. These points are fundamental to the catechism and conversion texts recited at baptism and confirmation—not only as part of the conversion process but as a daily means of growing in sanctification by turning away from all sin, including one of the gravest—Sabbath breaking. For numerous reasons, God embedded the Sabbath into the nature of Creation for our benefit and blessing. As it is written, “The Sabbath was made for man” (emphasizing man’s benefit), and nothing about it is detrimental. In fact, “…if you call the Sabbath a delight and turn your foot from your own fleshly pleasures on His holy day, then you will have the highest blessings on earth.”
Today, many nonbelievers and apostates are unaware that we have such prayers to renounce sin—and that is to their own shame. We are not to concern ourselves with what outsiders believe, except to know how to pray for them, for only the Holy Spirit can enlighten their eyes. However, within the obedient Church of God, even the newest converts are well informed about these great victories for our homes and communities in Christ. All truly Orthodox priests have protocols to ensure that new converts are guided through the stages of growth necessary to become faithful members. For visitors joining assemblies where they were not baptized, a reference or proof from a Godparent—someone “established as one of the faithful”—is required before they can partake in Communion. Without such proof that the visitor has understood all the conversion teachings of the faith, they will be carefully excluded from certain parts of the services and/or Eucharist. Surely, most of our grandparents handed down the command to keep the commandments. This ensures that the original faith is present in the life of each new congregant. These are just some of the prerequisites that are fundamental to nearly any church claiming to follow the original Orthodox faith. Guarding the communion table is a practice observed by all branches of Christianity to ensure that sins have been confessed and repented; otherwise, the entire assembly might be held accountable. Yet today, too much reliance is placed on parents, elders, and even misguided government leaders to properly instruct the younger generations in God’s commandments.
God has provided ample evidence to support Sabbath keeping on a national scale. It is the norm in every Christian nation that Saturday is part of the weekend rather than a workday. In any ceremony, repentance from all sin—including Sabbath breaking—is emphasized. The Ten Commandments are recited at the Eucharist in most liturgies.
In every Orthodox service, we pledge to observe the Sabbath more fully from that day forward. Some have maintained a dormant form of Christianity until now. This booklet is written for the edification and hope that the Sabbath will become the ultimate fulfillment of Christ’s work of salvation in your life. Christ is called the Sovereign of the Sabbath, and He is the Almighty God who changeth not. The “New Testament” represents the same laws of God now written on our hearts (or, more precisely, the delight and joy in obeying them).
The Saturday Sabbath may not be as popular as it once was, but it is prophesied to make a comeback among Orthodox Christians. The adherence to His Kingdom laws will reach heights once only dreamed of in the First Century. He is coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle, and for a “bride who hath made herself ready” for the wedding.
Read the full book, or download the PDF for Free at: https://celticorthodoxy.com/2015/05/honoring-of-the-sabbath-in-the-historic-orthodox-church/
Hard copies are now available for advance order. Get your copy by writing to info@st-Andrewsocc.org
Check back at www.St-AndrewsOCC.org for release information. Dates for this latest printing will soon be available from our Publisher St Andrew’s Celtic Press.
Kind regards and may God Bless you,
Rev Dr Stephen MK Brunswick
