In a series of great holidays, this winter day occupies a very special place. A little more than two thousand years ago, the Son of God took a human form and came to earth to show people the way of salvation. Since the creation of man, there has not been an event in world history more significant than this. That is why the joy of Christ's Nativity can be felt not only by Christians, but even by those who are still far from the faith and the Church. One has only to stop internally, to slightly restrain the running of his thoughts - and the magic of this wonderful night will not hesitate to touch the human heart.
“Truly I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life. I am the bread of life ”(John 6: 47-48), says the Lord. From the time of the Fall to the beginning of our era, many generations of people lived and died, waiting for the coming of the Savior, who would atone for their sins and open the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven for souls, which until the time was closed to humans. The birth of the One who was to accomplish this took place not in the royal palace, not in the house of hereditary clergy full of servants, but in the nativity scene - a refuge for cattle, where His parents, who were going to Jerusalem to take part in the population census, were caught at night. It was there that the Divine Infant was born. Then swaddled by the loving hands of the Mother, He would have been laid on hay in a manger - a feeding trough for animals ... The first to learn about Christmas were not the powerful of this world, but simple shepherds who were awarded the appearance angels. It was revealed in advance to the Eastern wise men - the Magi, who, taking gifts with them, hurried to the sunset, led by the light of the Bethlehem star. Since then and to this day, Christians every year celebrate the birthday of the Son of God, considering this holiday the greatest after Easter - the bright Resurrection of Christ.
In churches that still adhere to the Julian calendar, Christmas falls on January 7th. On this day, the celebration of the birth of the Savior is celebrated by believers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Macedonia, monastics in the monasteries of Mount Athos, Christians in Egypt, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Greek Catholics, Eastern Rite Catholics and some of the Protestant denominations. Thus, the widely celebrated New Year precedes the Nativity of Christ in these countries. However, for believers, this civil holiday cannot overshadow the one until which there is still a week of fasting on New Year's Eve.
And what about New Year's Eve? This holiday, considered today exclusively secular, also has Christian roots. In 314, the Roman Patriarch, Pope Sylvester I, declared Christianity the state religion throughout the Roman Empire. Pope Sylvester departed to the Lord God on December 31, 355, and later on this very day it was established to commemorate him. In this regard, in many Western countries, the New Year is still called Sylvester.
As for the countries listed above, the New Year - or, in the language of the Church, the New Year - the believers living in them will also celebrate. However, it will happen on January 14th. On this day, prayers will be served in the churches at the beginning of the new year, the memory of the Circumcision of the Lord and Saint and Ecumenical Teacher Basil the Great will be celebrated. According to the Julian calendar, the New Year falls on Christmastide days and harmoniously fits into the series of winter holidays - from Christmas to the Epiphany of the Lord (Epiphany).
In the meantime, on this holy night and until the day of the holiday, let us gladly greet each other in our hearts with the words of Christmas greetings:
Christ is born - praise!
“Truly I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life. I am the bread of life ”(John 6: 47-48), says the Lord. From the time of the Fall to the beginning of our era, many generations of people lived and died, waiting for the coming of the Savior, who would atone for their sins and open the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven for souls, which until the time was closed to humans. The birth of the One who was to accomplish this took place not in the royal palace, not in the house of hereditary clergy full of servants, but in the nativity scene - a refuge for cattle, where His parents, who were going to Jerusalem to take part in the population census, were caught at night. It was there that the Divine Infant was born. Then swaddled by the loving hands of the Mother, He would have been laid on hay in a manger - a feeding trough for animals ... The first to learn about Christmas were not the powerful of this world, but simple shepherds who were awarded the appearance angels. It was revealed in advance to the Eastern wise men - the Magi, who, taking gifts with them, hurried to the sunset, led by the light of the Bethlehem star. Since then and to this day, Christians every year celebrate the birthday of the Son of God, considering this holiday the greatest after Easter - the bright Resurrection of Christ.
In churches that still adhere to the Julian calendar, Christmas falls on January 7th. On this day, the celebration of the birth of the Savior is celebrated by believers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Macedonia, monastics in the monasteries of Mount Athos, Christians in Egypt, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Greek Catholics, Eastern Rite Catholics and some of the Protestant denominations. Thus, the widely celebrated New Year precedes the Nativity of Christ in these countries. However, for believers, this civil holiday cannot overshadow the one until which there is still a week of fasting on New Year's Eve.
And what about New Year's Eve? This holiday, considered today exclusively secular, also has Christian roots. In 314, the Roman Patriarch, Pope Sylvester I, declared Christianity the state religion throughout the Roman Empire. Pope Sylvester departed to the Lord God on December 31, 355, and later on this very day it was established to commemorate him. In this regard, in many Western countries, the New Year is still called Sylvester.
As for the countries listed above, the New Year - or, in the language of the Church, the New Year - the believers living in them will also celebrate. However, it will happen on January 14th. On this day, prayers will be served in the churches at the beginning of the new year, the memory of the Circumcision of the Lord and Saint and Ecumenical Teacher Basil the Great will be celebrated. According to the Julian calendar, the New Year falls on Christmastide days and harmoniously fits into the series of winter holidays - from Christmas to the Epiphany of the Lord (Epiphany).
In the meantime, on this holy night and until the day of the holiday, let us gladly greet each other in our hearts with the words of Christmas greetings:
Christ is born - praise!
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