Orthodox Christians consider Saturday as the traditional Sabbath day—a time for rest, reflection, and spiritual preparation—but their central day of worship is Sunday, calling it the Lord’s Day.
They consider that Sunday marks the Resurrection of Christ rather than the Old Testament Sabbath observance.
In Orthodox life, Saturday remains a joyful day free from fasting and often includes evening Vespers, while Sunday, viewed as the “eighth day,” represents the dawn of the new creation and the fulfillment of the Law, making it the focal point for the Divine Liturgy and communal celebration.
The question arises: Do we find any support in the Bible for Sunday worship?
Sabbath Observance
From the very beginning of the Bible, the Sabbath represents a divine rhythm. In Genesis 2:2–3, God rested on the seventh day after completing creation, blessing and sanctifying it.
This day of rest, according to the biblical calendar, falls on Saturday, marking the completion of a full week. Later, in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8–11), Israel was instructed in written form to “remember the Sabbath day” and “keep it holy.”
For centuries, the people of God paused work and dedicated the seventh day to God, resting as He rested. There’s no doubt from Scripture or history that the Sabbath described in the Bible corresponds to Saturday.
Within Orthodoxy, this biblical understanding is fully recognized.
Orthodox Christians know that Saturday is the scriptural Sabbath, a day sanctified by God Himself.
Early Christian communities, which emerged from Judaism, inherited this respect for the seventh day. The question, then, is whether the Sabbath changed, and if so, who changed the Sabbath, God or man?
Orthodox Christian Tradition and Practice
The Orthodox Church has preserved a deep reverence for Saturday, even as it shifted its primary celebration to Sunday.
In fact, Saturday remains a special day within the Orthodox liturgical week. It is one of the two days when the Divine Liturgy can be served even during seasons of fasting, the other being Sunday.
In Orthodox monasteries, Saturday is marked by specific prayers, hymns, and memorials for the departed. It is important to know the fact that the Bible does not encourage prayers for those that are departed! Their fate cannot be changed no matter our actions! (Daniel 12:2)
The service known as the “Saturday of Souls,” for example, is dedicated to remembering those who have fallen asleep in Christ.
This rhythm reflects rest from earthly labor and anticipation of eternal life—echoes of creation’s rest.
Orthodox Christians may not “keep the Sabbath” in the same way as it is observed in Judaism and other seventh-day Sabbath keepers denominations —such as abstaining from all work or specific forms of travel.
They acknowledge Saturday as a holy day instituted by God and uniquely blessed within the week.
Sunday (The Lord’s Day?)
Where the story of Orthodox practice becomes truly distinctive is with Sunday, the “eighth day,” or as the Book of Revelation calls it, “the Lord’s Day.”
The problem is, the Bible already defines which is the Lord’s Day – it is Saturday, the seventh day!
Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God…
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD…
Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
In Revelation 1:10, when John “was in the spirit on the Lord’s day”…it is referring to the seventh day Sabbath, Saturday and not the first day of the week – Sunday.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we find any commandment to keep Sunday holy!
Jesus, the apostles and the Sabbath
Jesus kept the Sabbath on the seventh day! (Luke 4:16)
The apostles also honored the seventh day Sabbath! (Acts 13:42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4)
Jesus Himself told the disciples 39 years in advance to “pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:”
He never changed the Sabbath day! For He came to fulfill the Law, not to change it or break it! (Matthew 5:17-19)
First Day Gatherings
Early Christians began gathering on this day not to replace the Sabbath, but to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The problem is Jesus never told them to celebrate His resurrection! He already instituted the baptism as a memorial of His death and resurrection! (Romans 6:3-4)
According to Orthodox theology, Sunday is not a “new Sabbath” but rather the fulfillment of the Sabbath.
Christ’s resurrection on the first day of the week ushered in a new beginning—spiritually symbolized by the “first” and “eighth” days together.
Conclusion
So, do Orthodox Christians keep the Sabbath?
If we mean the biblical Sabbath—the seventh day, Saturday—no, the Orthodox Church gathers on Sunday, the first day of the week for worship.
Orthodox Christians celebrate Sunday, they call it the Lord’s Day, as the crowning day of the week.
Yet, Saturday remains the Sabbath according to the Bible—unchanged, sanctified, and revered. (Exodus 20:8-11)
God blessed this day and sanctified it! (Genesis 2:2-3)
No matter how many christians and churches are honoring Sunday as holy, in the eyes of God, unfortunately it has no meaning.
He expects us to honor His holy day on Saturday, and not our own traditions and doctrines. (Matthew 15:9)
If He wanted to make Sunday holy, He would have done it from the beginning.
But He chose the seventh day, Saturday as the Sabbath to remind us of Him, the Creator of Heaven, and Earth and all the things. (Exodus 20:8-11, Revelation 14:6-7)
By honoring His holy day – the Sabbath, we acknowledge Him as our Creator and Saviour!
We invite our friends from the Orthodox Church to reconsider the Sabbath as it is found in the Bible! God expects you to meet with Him on His holy Sabbath! Will you accept the invitation?
For more content on the Sabbath please check out the following categories:
My Letter To A Sunday Keeper – Sabbath Documentary
The Days of Noah – Powerful Documentary (Video Format)
Bible Studies – Written Format
