"Christ is born! Glorify Him!" is the great message delivered among Orthodox Christians worldwide during Christmas, the holiday which brings in the true flavor of the birth of Our Lord. The fragrance of the nativity of Jesus Christ is celebrated with much grace in the Orthodox world.

Orthodox Christmas is truly the celebration of the great mystery of the Incarnation: The mystery in which God the Word became man in order to redeem human beings; God became one among us and incarnation affirms the importance of both man and the whole of creation.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Theopholis III releasing doves during the traditional Epiphany service at Qasr El Yahud, photo courtesy Travelujah

Orthodox Christianity - Fasting

Holy fasting is one of the most important parts of the orthodox nativity celebrations. Eastern orthodox Churches fast for 40 days where many of the oriental orthodox churches hold a 25 day fasting. The Coptic Orthodox Church observes an additional fast for three days before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, to commemorate the miraculous moving of the mountain of Mukattam (Cairo) at the hands of Saint Simon the Tanner in the year 975, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz Li-Deenillah.

The Armenian Church observes fasting one week prior to the nativity celebrations. Orthodox Church stresses the complete abstinence from non-vegetarian food and other pleasures during fasting periods. Special recipes of food will be cooked and served: Lenten bread and other food such as nuts and fresh dried fruits, vegetables and herbs such as potatoes, peas, and garlic, mushroom soup, slow-cooked kidney beans with potatoes, garlic and seasoning, Bobal'ki (small biscuits combined with sauerkraut or poppy seed with honey), bowl of honey, baked cod etc. The type of food and activity may vary depending on the particular country's culture and traditions.

For more on Orthodox recipes click here.

Dates of Nativity

Due to calendar differences Orthodox Churches celebrate nativity at different dates. Most of the eastern orthodox churches such as the Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian, Russian Orthodox, Coptic and Syrian celebrate Christmas on January 7, 2012 - which is according to the Gregorian calendar, and which day is also known also as Old Christmas Day. This is because 11 days were lost to account for the calendar differences once the Julian calendar was created). The Gregorian calendar predates the Julian calendar which identifies Christmas, as being on 25th of December, and is celebrated by Latin Catholics.

The Armenian Christmas is celebrated on January 6th, which coincides with Epiphany which represents the feast of the Manifestation of Christ. Its theme is the baptism of Jesus in the Eastern church. Hence the Armenians celebrate Christmas and Epiphany together' on a single day which is called 'Theophany'.

Pilgrims being baptised at the Jordan River during the Feast of Epiphany - Photo credit:Travelujah-Holy Land Tours

In Jerusalem, however the Armenians celebrate Christmas on 18th of January and travel to Qasr El Yahud, the baptismal site on the Jordan River. To learn more on this click here.

The Armenian Orthodox will celebrate Christmas on January 18th.

Several traditions, One Faith

Different Orthodox churches have customs practices and traditions according to their land of origin, but at the same time all churches are united in one faith. It is the same expression of the undivided church at different places in the world. The practices and traditions observed in orthodox churches definitely have biblical reflections. For example let us consider the case of Christmas tree. Many people relate Christmas tree to pagan tradition. But Orthodoxy has a very different view on Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is derived, not from the pagan yule tree, but from the paradise tree adorned with apples on December 24/January 7 in honor of Adam and Eve. Hence the Orthodox Church considers the Christmas tree completely biblical in origin.

 
For more information on the origin of the Christmas tree in the Orthodox Church, click here.

At many places Orthodox Christians walk to rivers and seas in procession as part of the nativity liturgy. Holy Christmas songs (canons) are sung from the Holy Day of "Vavedenje" on the 4th of December, until the 13th of January, which is the Day of the New Year and is often called Small Christmas. For more information on this Feast click here:

Santa Claus for Western Christians is St. Nicholas for Orthodox Christians. He was also known as ‘Nikolaos of Myra', a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Orthodox Bishop of Myra, now based in modern Turkey.

For Orthodox Christians, Christmas is a day for inner thoughts, reflections, repentance and healing.

Travelujah's Schedule of Orthodox Christmas and Epiphany Events in the Holy Land

January 5, Eve of Epiphany

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

11 a.m. at the Tomb of Rachel the Custos of the Holy Land is welcomed by Latin Parish Priest and other representatives of Bethlehem

1:45 p.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical vespers and procession to the Grotto

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for Office of Readings and procession to the Grotto

January 6, Epiphany

Midnight at the Grotto

Holy Masses till 9 a.m. with an interruption between 1 and 2:30 a.m. approximately

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for holy mass

10 a.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical mass in Latin and Arabic

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for solemn vespers and solemn traditional procession to eh Grotto; Veneration of Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

January 8, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord at Qasr El Yahud

The fraternity of the Custody of the Holy Land holds its traditional pilgrimage to the baptismal site of Qasr El Yahud on the river Jordan on that date. All are welcome to take part in this special event.

Mass at Qasr El Yahud - 10 am

Wishing you all a blessed Nativity and peaceful New Year.

George Alexander is Travelujah.com's  Orthodox Christianity Expert. He is the Secretary & Spokesperson for the Orthodoxy Cognate Page, Society and Media Network.

Orthodox Christmas in the Holy Land continues this week with Orthodox Christians celebrating their holidays and most of their services and festivities taking place on Christmas eve, Jan. 6.

Greek, Syrian, Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians will converge at Manger Square in Bethlehem for their Christmas nearly two weeks after the Catholic and Protestant celebration of the holiday.

The disparity in the dates stems from the year 336 when Constantine declared Christianity the empire's religion. Eastern churches continued to commemorate Christmas on January 6 as the date for Christ's birth and his baptism, which up till then was celebrated as part of the Epiphany, the observance of the Magi arriving to see Jesus. The Western church continued to celebrate the Epiphany on Jan. 6 separate from Christmas and the Eastern churches celebrate the Epiphany on  Jan. 18.

Then in the 16th century Pope Gregory devised a new calendar. The Eastern Orthodox and some Protestants retained the Julian calendar, which meant celebrating Christmas 13 days later than their Gregorian counterparts.

If you are in Bethlehem, it won't be hard to find any number of services and vespers. Here is a schedule of events:

Anne Buchan inside the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM

1. Greek, Syrian and Coptic Churches

Basilica of the Nativity, Manger Square

9 a.m. The Syrian Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

9:30 a.m. The Coptic Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

1 p.m. The Greek Patriarch arrives at Manger Square

Liturgy ends at 3.30 pm

1 p.m. Syrian Vespers

2:30 p.m. Coptic Vespers

10:30 p.m. Greek Matins

11 p.m. Syrian Liturgy

10:40 p.m. Coptic Liturgy

Midnight Greek Service, ends at 3:30 a.m.

2. Romanian Church

The Romanian Church participates in all liturgies and prayers of the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. Ethiopian Church

Ethiopian Monastery of Peace-Church of Eyesus,

Milk Grotto Street

3:30 p.m. Arrival at the Manger Square and procession to the Church of Eyesus

4 p.m. Vespers till 5 p.m.

8:45 p.m. Bells, prayers and veneration of the Icons

9:50 p.m. Laudes (Mahlet)

Midnight Liturgy (Kidassie)

January 7

4 a.m. Special Breakfast of the day

6 a.m. Dispersal or completion of the Festivity

JERUSALEM

1. Greek Church

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Jan. 6, 11:15 p.m. Midnight Service

2. Romanian Church

Shivtei Israel Street 46

Jan. 6, 7 p.m. Vespers

Jan. 7/8/9, 08:30 a.m. Holy Liturgy

3. Russian Church St. Mary Magdalene, Gethsemane

Jan. 6, 10 a.m. Vespers, Liturgy of St. Basil

5 p.m. Vigil Service

Jan. 7, 8 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4:30 p.m. Vespers

Jan. 8, 7 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4. Russian Church (Moscow Mission)

Russian Compound, Sheshin Street

Jan. 6, 5 p.m. Vespers at St. Alexandra Chapel

Midnight, Divine Liturgy at St. Alexandra Chapel

Nicole Jansezian writes for http://www.travelujah, the leading Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. Users can learn, plan and share their travel experiences on Travelujah.