to those who are believers in God...

[Rubicon]

here's wishing you a very Merry Christ Mass!!

peace, joy and redemption!!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life"

John 3:16

[ECOCKS]

Why Thank You!

And may you also enjoy a very Merry Christmas as well as a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

[tfcrew]

I surmise from the tone of the post there, that the emphasis is placed on the 'reason for the season' rather than the well worn secular traditional lack of genuine rejoice.

I concure!
..................Merry Christmas

 

[JohnDearGreen]

Ditto.
John Daly's Christmas card:

[mendeleyev]

Весёлого Рождества -- With joy at Christ's birth!

As compared to the Western world it is very quiet now as 25 December is not a holiday in much of the Eastern world. The New Year is the focus of the "New Year Tree" and the exchange of gifts is done at the New Year instead of Christmas.

Armenia, first country in the world to officially adopt Christianity will celebrate Christmas on 6 January along with Epiphany on the same day as they've done thru the centuries.

Most other Eastern nations observe Epiphany (usually termed as Theophany) on 6 January. (It is celebrated in the West on 19 January.)

Christmas arrives in Russia and much of the East on 7 January.

With most of the commercialism having taken place on the New Year, Christmas on 7 January can be a very holy and spiritual time for those of faith.

[SANDRO43]

Most other Eastern nations observe Epiphany (usually termed as Theophany) on 6 January. (It is celebrated in the West on 19 January.)

Not here, Epifania (from Greek ἐπιφάνεια: appearance, manifestation) on 6 January commemorates the visitation of the three Magi Balthasar, Melchior, Gaspar carrying gifts of incense, gold and myrrh to newborn Jesus in Bethlehem, i.e. his manifestation to the Gentiles.

In Italy the night of 5-6 January also means a visitation by the Befana (clearly a corruption of Epifania), an old, ugly, broom-riding lady who delivers small gifts (mostly candy, left in the sock hung on the mantelpiece or equivalent for the purpose) to well-behaved children, and lumps of coal to miscreants .

In Italian, befana is a derogatory term for unpleasant spinsters .

Happy Xmas to all, spinsters included .

[55North]

I wish goodwill to all men, whilst myself and extended family celebrate the ancient northern mid-winter pre-Christian festival of Yuletide, from which most of the emblems of the modern commercial Christmas have been appropriated.  The modern Christmas is only about 150 years old.   
 
The reasons for the season are much closer to nature and community cohesion than the far off birth of someone who, himself, would be absolutely disgusted with what is said and committed in his name.  So, also with the real Santa Claus, or Nicholas of Smyrna.  He too is no doubt turning in his grave.
 
The great thing about reinstating Yuletide is that it can be both non-specific in religion, and non-commercial in celebration.  It is perfect for progressive socities who mean their claimed diversity.

[Shostakovich]

While wishing the best to those of faith in this celebration of the birth of Christ, I can not suppress my sense of irony in the current situation:  Christians appropriated the Christmas tree from an old Nordic Pagan ritual on the way to their conversion to the faith.  In the same way, the shopping mall has again appropriated all the symbols of Christmas to their own religion - the creation of wealth by leveraging the desires and insecurities of the multitude.  What goes around comes around at last -- hail to power, the new world religion; the one at the end of the day almost everyone follows: It's symbol - $.  Can there be any doubt about when it comes to yielding to Ceasar or to God who gets the Lion's share?

We all slaughter the lamb.

[SANDRO43]

While wishing the best to those of faith in this celebration of the birth of Christ, I can not suppress my sense of irony in the current situation: Christians appropriated the Christmas tree from an old Nordic Pagan ritual on the way to their conversion to the faith.

Earlier than that, the Romans celebrated since about 217 BC the feast of the Saturnalia, originally on December 17th then extended to the 23rd because of its popularity - an occasion for revelry .

Then in 274 AD Emperor Aurelian created the feast of Sol Invictus for Dec. 25th.

Both are related to the winter solstice, celebrated in many cultures as the re-awakening of nature after its long sleep.

Nothing new in this widely practiced appropriation process, it's called syncretism .

[Shostakovich]

Nothing new in this widely practiced appropriation process, it's called syncretism .

By whatever name, it's the way to power.

[55North]

Even as I typed my stuff 'off the cuff', I knew, sitting a kilometre from Hadrian's Wall, that there would be Roman stuff to be considered in the mix, but trusted you (Sandro43) to come across with the detail.  
 

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:


It's Christmas morning in Russia as I write this. Early morning in Moscow and already mid afternoon afternoon out East in places like Vladivostok, Magadan, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

So what happens in Russia at Christmas?

For holidays and such Russia, like great parts of the Eastern world, still uses the old Hebrew concept of sundown to sundown as a complete day. The fasts begin at sundown and end 40 days later at sundown as just one example. So last night at 6pm crowds of Russians, Ukrainians, Moldovans, Belarussians, etc, went to church.

Remember those folks who only attend church at Christmas and Easter? Well, it's Christmas.

The research group Monitor Russia, which measures public opinion on a variety of cultural and marketing themes, says that almost 60 percent of Russians believe in God, while 30 percent do not. Of those who believe, over 90 percent said they are Orthodox Christians. (Causing Mendeleyev to question whether they bothered to survey in Muslim republics?) The Moscow Times also reported that over 60 percent of Russians throughout the country intend to celebrate religious services during Christmas.

The Orthodox nativity liturgy is a long service that typically begins just after midnight in some churches (called a midnight vigil) on Christmas Eve while other churches begin at sundown. After the Scripture and prayer vigil is concluded the service immediately transitions into a full liturgy with Holy Communion, a 2nd service which adds another 2-3 hours onto the events.


Readings for the Hours and Vespers:
Old Testament readings include: Micah 5:2-4; Baruch 3:36-4:4; Isaiah 7:10-8:4 and 9-10. Additionally, Genesis 1:1-13 and Numbers 24:2-3, 5-9 and 17-18 are read in the ninth hour, just prior to Vespers. Vespers includes Isaiah 11:1-10; Daniel 2:31-36 and 44-45.

New Testament readings include: Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23; Luke 2:1-20; Hebrews 1:1-12, 1:10-2:3, 2:11-18 and Galatians 2:23-29. At Vespers, Hebrews 1:1-12 and Luke 2:1-20 are read.

On the day of the Nativity, Galatians 4:4-7 and Matthew 2:1-12 are incorporated into the Divine Liturgy.

The Scripture readings for the Hours and Vespers proceeding the Theophany are as follows:

Old Testament readings: Isaiah 35:1-10, 16-20, 23:3-6 and 49:8-15. Additionally, Genesis 1:1-13, Exodus 14:15-18, 21-23, 27-29 and 15:22 - 16:1; Joshua 3:7-8, 15-17, II Kings 5:9-14 and Isaiah 1:16-20 are read at Vespers. A second series of readings include Genesis 32:1-10; Exodus 2:5-10; Judges 6:36-40, I Kings 18:30-39, II Kings 2:19-22 and Isaiah 49:8-15.

New Testament readings: Acts 13:25-33, 19:1-8; Mark 3:1-6, 1:1-11; Romans 6:3-11; Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7; Matthew 3:13-17 or Luke 3:1-18. Vespers includes I Corinthians 9:19-27 and Luke 3:1-18.

The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil is celebrated at Vespers. The feast of the Theophany features the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The readings include Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 and Matthew 3:13-17.

The Divine Liturgy of the Synaxis (Sobor) of John the Baptist is celebrated the day following the Theophany. The Gospel passage is John 1:29-34 and the Epistle is Acts 19:1-8.

Terminology . . . .

Vespers: from the Latin, vesper, meaning the evening. Refers to evening prayer, usually at sunset. Vespers is one of the two primary periods of daily prayer. The other being morning prayer or Matins.

Vigil: From the Latin vigilia; meaning a night of watchfulness. Prayer service which combines Vespers and Matins. Vigil is observed on the eve of Sundays and Feast Days. In its purest form, Vigil lasts all night, usually 12 to 14 hours.

Hours: From the Greek, hora meaning a time or season. Refers to the various observances of daily prayer; aka the Liturgy of the Hours.
(Russian Life magazine)


Parishioners return home in the wee hours of the morning to get some sleep and prepare for the lavish meal to follow during Christmas day. With gifts having been exchanged on New Years day, the day is practiced as more of a religious holiday than in some Western countries.

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

In Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias led the Midnight liturgy in Russia’s main Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the service was televised and broadcast on radio across Russia and to the “near abroad.”

To the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics, and all the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church. Your Eminences the archpastors, honourable fathers, venerable monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

On this present light-bearing night we again spiritually relive the joy of the world’s finding of its Saviour. Again in our thoughts we gaze upon the Son of the Living God who lies in a manger of the cave of Bethlehem. Again we hear in our hearts the voice of the angels giving praise to the Creator and Redeemer: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’ (Lk. 2:14).

As we listen attentively to the powers of heaven, we realize that Christ’s Nativity is filled with an extra-temporal meaning and has a direct bearing upon the destiny of each human person. Even he who does not know of the Saviour’s feat may now acquire the knowledge of the Truth, become a son of God and inherit life eternal. Christ’s Nativity reveals to us the truth about ourselves and makes it possible for us to understand and assimilate this truth.

Let us recall that the first man was made by the Creator as perfect ‘in the image and likeness of God’ (see: Gen. 1:26). Yet Adam transgressed the commandment and distorted the Creator’s intention for him. Deprived of a living communion with God, humanity buried itself evermore into the abyss of sin and pride. And then the Lord, in loving his creation and desiring salvation for it, sends into the world his Only-begotten Son, who restored the integrity of human nature and became the New Adam. Christ has shown to us an example of life conforming to the divine plan for the human person. This example is a reliable guide, which enables us not to depart from the way and to find only true direction leading to the fullness of life in both the conditions of our earthly existence and in eternity.

We progress along this saving path when we respond to the calls of God. One such call directed towards us is contained in the Epistle of St. Paul: ‘glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s’ (1 Cor. 6:20). This means that we render praise to God not only in our prayers and hymns but also through good deeds for the benefit of our neighbour, people and Church.

This labour becomes a joyous labour in the name of Christ; it genuinely transforms the world around us and ourselves. People achieve a sense of togetherness when they work not by compulsion and not for the sake of gain but when moved by the sincere desire to do good and useful deeds. It is in this way that we serve the Creator together by embodying his will in our lives. The Greek word leitourgia (‘liturgy’) is translated as ‘common cause.’ Our entire lives should become a Liturgy, a common prayer and cause accomplished so that God’s plan for the world and human person may be embodied in life and so that we can thereby give glory and praise to the Creator. This demands from us solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith and even with those who have not yet found the Lord in their heart yet, like the Magi of the Gospels, find themselves on the path towards him.

The importance of unifying our endeavours in order to overcome tragedy and misfortune was demonstrated to us by the fires, droughts and floods of the past year in Russia and in the other countries of historical Rus’. They once more reminded us of our Christian duty to help our neighbours without regard to their beliefs, nationality and social status. During the hot summer months many people generously shared their efforts, time and material goods with those they may not even know and whom they shall ever likely see. To what purpose did they do this? Out of compassion for those to whom misfortune fell, who experienced hardship and who needed help.

Public solidarity and joint labours for the attainment of common goals are impossible without overcoming selfishness, without forcing oneself to do good, without the renunciation of exclusive attention to our needs and interests. At the foundation of true ‘unity of the Spirit’ (Eph. 4:3) there lies the law of love bequeathed to us by the Saviour. National unity cannot be limited to merely times of trials. It has to become an integral part of our national self-consciousness and life.

I manifestly felt the strength of church unity during my numerous journeys to the dioceses of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Everywhere I saw the readiness of the bishops, clergy, monks and nuns to labour for the good of the Orthodox Church, to bring to perfection their parochial, monastery and diocesan ministries. This plants hope for a successful growth of church life in the spirit of unity and co-operation.

From the bottom of my heart, which is filled with joy, I congratulate you, Your Eminences the archpastors, honourable clergy, monks and nuns, brothers and sisters, on the great and saving feast of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year. I prayerfully wish that you be zealous executors of the will of God, bringing spiritual gifts to the Saviour of the world who has now been born so that his name be glorified always, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

[Rubicon]

thank you Mendeleyev for excellent posts!

[mendeleyev]

You are welcome, Rubicon. с новым годом! and in the spirit of a traditional Christmas toast I wish you a Happy New Year filled with joy, good health, prosperity and success. And as the Christmas greeting Счастливого Рождества! illustrates, I wish you happiness at Christ's Nativity!