Although not specifically a feast in the Church,Father’s Day is nonetheless a cultural and social institution that has found its way into the life of the Orthodox Church, at least here in North America, with prayers and celebrations for fathers being offered in many Orthodox Churches, including our own. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as this day does highlight the joy and thanksgiving we have for our blessed fathers – in the same way
Mother’s Day highlights the joy and thanksgiving we have for our blessed mothers. After all, how can setting aside a day to offer thanksgiving for our fathers be a bad thing? Nevertheless, there has always been a degree of cynicism in regard to a day like Father’s Day on my part, as I had always assumed it, like Valentine’s day, was invented as a commercial holiday to sell stuff and make money.
This being said, when I took the time to look into it, I was surprised to discover that both Father’s Day and Mother’s Day were initially faith based initiatives; in fact in the 1930’s there were lawsuits and protests/boycotts against card and candy companies who tried to monetise what was intended to be something personal and sentemental. When Sonora Smart Dodd, came up with Father’s day in 1909 (after being inspired by a sermon for Mother’s day) it wasn’t to sell cards, ties, tools or whatever, to people wanting to honour their fathers. Rather it was to specifically remember her father, and in general remember all father’s in the context something bigger than cards, ties, tools or whatever – faith.
Over a hundred years later, I think she would be somewhat bewildered, if not upset, at seeing that this day – being as near and dear to her heart as her father was – now relegated as being simply a “Hallmark holiday” (a holiday that is perceived to exist primarily for commercial purposes rather than to commemorate a traditionally or historically significant event). To be sure, the context of getting good old dad, cards, ties and tools, for Fathers’s day, as being that which validates one’s love for father, isn’t a context that congruent with the Orthodox liturgical and spiritual life (let alone Sonora, Smart Dodd’s Episcopal Methodist Church in Spokane WA, where the first commemoration of Father’s Day was held in 1910). Having said that, if we return to the roots of this commemoration we will see that something like Father’s Day, it is not only complementary with our faith, but also consistent with it.
The prayers and petitions Orthodox Christians offer in our services are very comprehensive, that profoundly recognise not only our fathers, and mothers, but just about everyone else, whether living or departed (one only has to attend at Liturgy of St. Basil to appreciate this fact!)
In addition to these ongoing prayers and petitions (which articulate the principle, that everyday is Father’s and Mother’s Day) we also take the time to highlight the joy and thanksgiving for our fathers, in the same context as Sonora Smart Dodd did – as being consistent with her intentions and desires and faith. Indeed. I don’t think I am going out on a limb, saying that she would be very pleased that we offer our thanksgiving for our fathers – by offering our thanksgiving to “our Father” for them – The very reason she envisioned this day.
“O Lord, Grant your guidance and wisdom to young fathers. Reassure and inspire our fathers in the prime of life, endowing them with spiritual joy. Comfort and sustain our elderly fathers. Look kindly upon our fathers whom You have called into Your Heavenly Kingdom. Kindle within our hearts the burning love and faithful devotion that Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed His earthly father, holy Joseph the Betrothed. We pray to You, O Heavenly Father, on this Fathers’ Day to accept our prayers and graciously hear us now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.”(from a prayer for Father”s day)
May the Lord grant all our father’s many blessed years! And grant rest and eternal repose for all our departed fathers, in the Kingdom of Heaven!