Difference between revisions of "Nativity"
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In the fullness of time, our Lord [[Jesus Christ]] was born to the Holy [[Theotokos]] and Virgin Mary, thus entering into the world as a man and revealing Himself to mankind. | In the fullness of time, our Lord [[Jesus Christ]] was born to the Holy [[Theotokos]] and Virgin Mary, thus entering into the world as a man and revealing Himself to mankind. | ||
| − | According to the [[Bible]] and to [[Holy Tradition]], Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem in a cave, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds. The baby Jesus was born into a manger from the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]], assisted by her husband St. [[Joseph the Betrothed|Joseph]]. | + | According to the [[Bible]] and to [[Holy Tradition]], Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem in a cave, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds. The baby Jesus was born into a manger from the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]], assisted by her husband St. [[Joseph the Betrothed|Joseph]]. St. Joseph and the Theotokos were forced to travel due to a Roman census; the odd location of the birth was the result of the refusal of a nearby inn to accommodate the expecting couple. |
Though three magi from the East are commonly depicted to have visited the event, bearing gifts of gold, [[frankincense]], and [[myrrh]], the Bible records the coming of an unspecified number of wise men as being a few years after Jesus' birth. In the hymnography for the feast, these gifts are interpreted to signify Christ's royalty, divinity, and suffering. | Though three magi from the East are commonly depicted to have visited the event, bearing gifts of gold, [[frankincense]], and [[myrrh]], the Bible records the coming of an unspecified number of wise men as being a few years after Jesus' birth. In the hymnography for the feast, these gifts are interpreted to signify Christ's royalty, divinity, and suffering. | ||
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Though Jesus' birth is celebrated on December 25, most scholars agree that it is unlikely he was actually born on this date. The choice of December 25 for the Church's celebration of the Nativity is most likely to have been in order to squelch attendance at pagan solstice festivals falling on the same day. | Though Jesus' birth is celebrated on December 25, most scholars agree that it is unlikely he was actually born on this date. The choice of December 25 for the Church's celebration of the Nativity is most likely to have been in order to squelch attendance at pagan solstice festivals falling on the same day. | ||
| − | ==External | + | ==See also== |
| + | *[[Nativity Icon]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103638 The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ] ([[OCA]]) | ||
| + | *[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=352 The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ] ([[GOARCH]]) | ||
*[http://www.touchstonemag.com/docs/issues/16.10docs/16-10pg12.html Calculating Christmas - A differing opinion of the calculation of the date of Christmas] | *[http://www.touchstonemag.com/docs/issues/16.10docs/16-10pg12.html Calculating Christmas - A differing opinion of the calculation of the date of Christmas] | ||
[[Category:Feasts]] | [[Category:Feasts]] | ||
[[Category:Great Feasts]] | [[Category:Great Feasts]] | ||
Revision as of 16:52, December 21, 2005
The Nativity according to the flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, also called Christmas, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on December 25.
In the fullness of time, our Lord Jesus Christ was born to the Holy Theotokos and Virgin Mary, thus entering into the world as a man and revealing Himself to mankind.
According to the Bible and to Holy Tradition, Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem in a cave, surrounded by farm animals and shepherds. The baby Jesus was born into a manger from the Virgin Mary, assisted by her husband St. Joseph. St. Joseph and the Theotokos were forced to travel due to a Roman census; the odd location of the birth was the result of the refusal of a nearby inn to accommodate the expecting couple.
Though three magi from the East are commonly depicted to have visited the event, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Bible records the coming of an unspecified number of wise men as being a few years after Jesus' birth. In the hymnography for the feast, these gifts are interpreted to signify Christ's royalty, divinity, and suffering.
Though Jesus' birth is celebrated on December 25, most scholars agree that it is unlikely he was actually born on this date. The choice of December 25 for the Church's celebration of the Nativity is most likely to have been in order to squelch attendance at pagan solstice festivals falling on the same day.
