diff --git a/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt b/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 8c5884e3a9..4e7480495e 100644
--- a/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/bindings/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 add_subdirectory(example_scripts)
 add_subdirectory(tests)
 
-set(PYEXEC_FILES  __init__.py function_class.py gnucash_business.py gnucash_core.py app_utils.py)
+set(PYEXEC_FILES  __init__.py function_class.py gnucash_business.py gnucash_core.py app_utils.py deprecation.py)
 
 set(SWIG_FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/gnucash_core.i ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/time64.i)
 set(GNUCASH_CORE_C_INCLUDES
diff --git a/bindings/python/__init__.py b/bindings/python/__init__.py
index 16b72fba9d..8b3e0b6870 100644
--- a/bindings/python/__init__.py
+++ b/bindings/python/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # >>> from gnucash.gnucash_core import thingy
 from gnucash.gnucash_core import *
 from . import app_utils
+from . import deprecation
 ##  @file
 #   @brief helper file for the importing of gnucash
 #   @author Mark Jenkins, ParIT Worker Co-operative <mark@parit.ca>
diff --git a/bindings/python/deprecation.py b/bindings/python/deprecation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81d4cdc362
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/python/deprecation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# deprecation.py - gnucash submodule with deprecation related content
+#
+# contains decorator methods dealing with deprecated methods and
+# deprecation related convenience methods
+#
+# @brief gnucash submodule with deprecation related content
+# @author Christoph Holtermann <mail@c-holtermann.net>
+# @ingroup python_bindings
+
+from functools import wraps
+
+# use of is_new, force_new and ignore_lock is deprecated, use mode instead
+# the following decorators enable backward compatibility for the deprecation period
+def deprecated_args_session(ignore_lock_or_mode=None, is_new=None,
+        force_new=None, mode=None, ignore_lock=None):
+
+    # check for usage of deprecated arguments (ignore_lock, is_new, force_new)
+    deprecated_args = (ignore_lock, is_new, force_new)
+    deprecated_keyword_use = deprecated_args.count(None) != len(deprecated_args)
+    if deprecated_keyword_use:
+        # deprecated arguments have been used by keyword or more than three args have been used which is only possible with the deprecated args
+        deprecation = True
+    else:
+        deprecation = False
+        # __init__ could have been called without keywords like __init__(book_uri, True) where True aims at ignore_lock
+        # which ist not distinguishable from __init__(book, SessionOpenMode.SESSION_NORMAL_OPEN)
+        # so if mode has not been set by keyword use the 3rd argument
+        if mode is None:
+            mode = ignore_lock_or_mode
+
+    if deprecation:
+        # if any(item in ("is_new", "ignore_lock", "force_new") for item in kwargs):
+        import warnings
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Use of ignore_lock, is_new or force_new arguments is deprecated. Use mode argument instead. Have a look at gnucash.SessionOpenMode.",
+            category=DeprecationWarning,
+            stacklevel=3
+        )
+
+        # if not provided calculate mode from deprecated args
+        if mode is None:
+            from gnucash.gnucash_core import SessionOpenMode
+            ignore_lock = False if ignore_lock is None else ignore_lock
+            is_new = False if is_new is None else is_new
+            force_new = False if force_new is None else force_new
+            mode = SessionOpenMode((ignore_lock << 2) + (is_new << 1) + force_new)
+
+    return mode
+
+def deprecated_args_session_init(original_function):
+    """decorator for Session.__init__() to provide backward compatibility for deprecated use of ignore_lock, is_new and force_new"""
+    @wraps(original_function)
+    def new_function(self, book_uri=None, ignore_lock_or_mode=None, is_new=None,
+                 force_new=None, instance=None, mode=None, ignore_lock=None):
+
+        mode = deprecated_args_session(ignore_lock_or_mode, is_new, force_new, mode, ignore_lock)
+        return(original_function(self, book_uri=book_uri, mode=mode, instance=instance))
+    return new_function
+
+def deprecated_args_session_begin(original_function):
+    """decorator for Session.begin() to provide backward compatibility for deprecated use of ignore_lock, is_new and force_new"""
+    @wraps(original_function)
+    def new_function(self, new_uri=None, ignore_lock_or_mode=None, is_new=None,
+                 force_new=None, mode=None, ignore_lock=None):
+        mode = deprecated_args_session(ignore_lock_or_mode, is_new, force_new, mode, ignore_lock)
+        return(original_function(self, new_uri=new_uri, mode=mode))
+    return new_function
+