Orthodox Christmas and Epiphany - Gregorian Calendar

One of my most popular posts was on Orthodox Christmas last year. So, again, here's a glimpse on how the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox celebrated Christmas and Epiphany.

First off, know that some Orthodox Churches use the Gregorian calendar for fixed feasts, eg Christmas, and the Julian calendar for moveable feasts such as Easter. These, such as the Greek Orthodox of Churches of Constantinople, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. Others such as the Russian, Georgian, Coptic and Armenian Orthodox use the Julian calendar for both and celebrate Christmas on January 7th.

These are images of Christmas and Epiphany celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar. The Julian celebrations are in the next post.

An Armenian Orthodox clergy leads mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City December 23, 2007. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (JERUSALEM)




Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim attends a Christmas mass in Sofia's golden-domed cathedral, Alexander Nevski, December 25, 2007. The Balkan state, unlike some other fellow Orthodox countries, celebrates Christmas on December 25. REUTERS/Nikolay Doychinov (BULGARIA)

Latinization has creeped into the Bulgarian Orthodox liturgy as the Solemn Rite of the Papal Peekaboo(above) is adapted by Patriarch Maksim into the Orthodox Divine Liturgy(below).


Orthodox priests attend a Christmas mass in Sofia's golden-domed cathedral, Alexander Nevski, December 25, 2007. REUTERS/Nikolay Doychinov (BULGARIA)

Shiite tribal leaders attend Christmas mass at an Assyrian orthodox church in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. The church, which is located next to a Shiite mosque, hosted their neighbors for Christmas mass as a gesture of friendship. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Here are some Orthodox Epiphany Traditions.

Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I conducts the Epiphany day ceremony in Aya Yorgi (St. George) church at the Fener Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Istanbul January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY)


George Goutzgoudis, a-30-year old Greek Orthodox man from Thessaloniki, holds up a wooden cross thrown into the water by Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, not pictured, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. Greek Orthodox men braved the cold winter weather to dive into Istanbul's Golden Horn and retrieve a wooden cross in a ceremony commemorating Epiphany or the baptism of Jesus Christ. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)


An Orthodox priest carries a cross during a water blessing ceremony on Epiphany Day in Flisvos beach, south of Athens January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis (GREECE) [Andrew: From the Encolpion of the Panagia around his neck and the crozier he's carrying, he's a bishop, not a priest.]

An Orthodox faithful kisses a cross during a water blessing ceremony on Epiphany Day in Flisvos beach, south of Athens January 6, 2008. Similar ceremonies to mark Epiphany day were held across Greece on river banks, seafronts and lakes. An Orthodox priest throws a cross into the water and swimmers race to be the first to retrieve it. REUTERS/Yiorgos Karahalis (GREECE)

A priest blesses the water in a fountain during the Epiphany religious service in the village of Izvoru, Romania, Sunday Jan. 6, 2008 . As part of the local Epiphany custom, following the religious service, the villagers get their horses blessed with holy water and then participate in a horse race. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Men jump into the icy water of a lake in an attempt to grab a wooden cross on Epiphany Day in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov (BULGARIA)

Bulgarians sing and dance in the icy river of Tundzha during Epiphany Day celebrations in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . The Eastern Orthodox priests throw a cross in the river and the men take it out. It is believed that those who dance in the river will be healthy throughout the year. (AP Photo/Petar Petrov) [Andrew: They usually don't mention the fellows who died immediately after catching a chill.]




A horse reacts as a priest blesses it during the Epiphany religious service in the village of Izvoru, Romania, Sunday Jan. 6, 2008 . As part of the local Epiphany custom, following the religious service, the villagers get their horses blessed with holy water and then participate in a horse race. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Men ride during the annual horse race ahead of the annual race organised by Orthodox believers during the Epiphany day celebrations near the Romanian town of Macin, 250 km (155 miles) northeast of Bucharest January 6, 2008. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel (ROMANIA)

Epiphany in Rome

His Holiness was wearing the vestments he wore during the inauguration of his ministry as Pope. The Gospel enthroned and opened to Luke's Gospel of the Nativity. The image of the Christ Child lay before it.

It was classic new Marini with central altar crucifix and 7th candle for when the Diocesan Bishop presides. The Roman Canon was used. But the Pope was the only celebrant.

The antependium was really cool too. Haven't seen it before. But very nice.


And interesting thing was that the Apostles creed was sung instead of the Nicene. A nicely done version, with manly voices instead of the usual Sistine kids. But still, the Apostles instead of the Nicene? Hmmm.

The commentary said something about a German choir assisting with the Sistine Schola and the choir of the Mater Ecclesiae. Not sure about that. But manly voices prevailed.

The really really really cool thing was that the chant Puer Natus was sung during the offertory. In fact, our schola sang the same song during Communion. How cool is that?! =)

I was thrilled to hear it.

The throne was back as well. But boy, did the Pope recite the Canon really really fast. Communion was distributed by young priests from the Propagande Fide college, the Urbanianum, over 200 of them, as Adeste Fideles and Ave Verum Corpus was sung. Something new I noticed was that the Pope was accompanied by two acolytes with candlesticks as he distributed Holy Communion. A good sign of respect for the Real Presence.

Nativity Scenes

On this Feast of the Epiphany, the 12 Days of Christmas come to an end. On this note, I would like to end the festive postings of this season by highlighting some Nativity Scenes.

First up, something close to home, the Crèche at casa Andrew. These are archival photos of where it is stored outside the season, in an old bookcase with my grandparent's books.

It's a beautifully produced and wonderfully detailed porcelain set. Comes with the 3 Magi, a donkey, a cow, a shepherd and an angel, besides the Holy Family.

I would particularly like to highlight the realism of the cow and donkey. Wow... =)

What follows are images of the Christmas Crib at my parish. Mark, Angela and myself got together to do the arrangements within the constraints set by the asst. parish priest who decided the location.

The Christ Child is particularly beautiful.



The Nativity Scene was set up at the base of our Sanctuary, towards the right, where is is more approachable compared to the higher location of the crib last year.

Last year, above.

After his return to Italy from a voyage to Egypt and Acre in 1220, St. Francis of Assisi introduced three-dimensional nativity scenes. Some accounts state he used statues or costumed people, but Thomas of Celano, the biographer of Francis tells how he only used a straw-filled manger (feeding trough) set between a real ox and donkey. According to Thomas, it was beautiful in its simplicity with the manger acting as the altar for the Christmas Mass. Francis's first biographer, Brother Tommaso da Celano, says that Francis was merely emulating what he had seen elsewhere in previous years when, in 1223, he asked his friend Giovanni Velita, a nobleman from the nearby town of Greccio, to construct a nativity scene in a cave near the town of Greccio, for a Christmas Eve mass at which Francis preached.

The Vatican apparently has a number of cribs set up. Here's the main one, out in the square in front of the Obelisk.


It's larger than life.

His Holiness is seen here, praying before the Crib.

There are several other cribs as well.

Within the Vatican basilica, above.

Above, somewhere in the square. In the Paul VI Hall, below and another one. The Pope always seems to be spending time in contemplation and prayer before the manger.



For more images of cribs in the Churches of Penang, click here.

Ugly

Am I the only one who thinks that His Holiness should let someone with some taste and good eyesight redecorate the Paul VI Hall?

I mean, what the heck? Jesus (if you can call that hideous thing emerging from what looks like the Black Forest that) looks like he's wearing a low cut pink dress and is about to pounce on the unsuspecting Pope. Yeesh, give me a break. When I go to the Vatican for a Papal Audience, I expect the Sala Regia, not this.

Christmas in IC

Some of you have been asking how Christmas was in my parish since I’ve reported on Christmas in Rome and Bethlehem, but neglected to report on matters closer to home…

Well, here it goes.

Christmas was a simple affair, but the Church was very packed as the Christmas/Easter Christians turned up in full force. This was even though a Vigil Mass was celebrated in Tamil in the evening (this is distinct from the Midnight Mass). The choir, which had been practising for a while, presented a selection of carols before Mass began.

The Church was darkened and remained so until after the Gloria.

We were fortunate to have as a guest concelebrant Fr. Alex Edwin, a friend of Fr. Marshall and our former parish priest. Unfortunately, he is unwell and has been so for a few years and has to undergo dialysis treatments. I'm sure he was very glad to be 'home' with us and celebrate Christmas in this parish. It must be lonely to not be able to minister as a priest.

Overall the celebrations and Mass was pretty straightforward and ordinary (although the event celebrated, the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ was certain not).

But the most striking and extraordinary feature of the Mass would have to be this, a veritable army of extraordinary ministers.

Extraordinary, isn't it? If only the same understanding of the word 'extraordinary' in the extraordinary form of the Mass as allowed by Summorum Pontificum was as widespread.

La Grande Armée marching forth.