Index: src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/DateField.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/DateField.java	(revision 746932)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/DateField.java	(working copy)
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@
     /**
      * Converts a millisecond time to a string suitable for indexing.
      * Supported date range is: 30 BC - 3189
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the given <code>time</code> is not
+     *                                  within the supported date range.
      */
     public static String timeToString(long time) {
 
@@ -81,13 +83,13 @@
 
 
         if (time < 0) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("time too early");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("time too early");
         }
 
         String s = Long.toString(time, Character.MAX_RADIX);
 
         if (s.length() > DATE_LEN) {
-            throw new RuntimeException("time too late");
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("time too late");
         }
 
         // Pad with leading zeros
Index: src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/NodeIndexer.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/NodeIndexer.java	(revision 746932)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/query/lucene/NodeIndexer.java	(working copy)
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Date;
 
 /**
  * Creates a lucene <code>Document</code> object from a {@link javax.jcr.Node}.
@@ -505,8 +506,13 @@
     protected void addCalendarValue(Document doc, String fieldName, Object internalValue) {
         Calendar value = (Calendar) internalValue;
         long millis = value.getTimeInMillis();
-        doc.add(createFieldWithoutNorms(fieldName, DateField.timeToString(millis),
-                PropertyType.DATE));
+        try {
+            doc.add(createFieldWithoutNorms(fieldName, DateField.timeToString(millis),
+                    PropertyType.DATE));
+        } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+            log.warn("'{}' is outside of supported date value range.",
+                    new Date(value.getTimeInMillis()));
+        }
     }
 
     /**