Actually, the thread was about ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS, which is preserved in the MP. What about your masonic France?1 What do you really have to say about Russia or the MP?! Concern yourself with your own godless country. Or, more correctly, that islamo-masonic state in transition. It's clear the pathetique is the insane asylum called France too bullied into believing anything. The only lie is your commitment to any calendar or any jurisdiction. What have your ilk done for Orthodoxy in France. Go start your own thread. Orthodox Christmas has nothing to do with a French post-Christian rendition of Diary Of A Madman.
R
What a hateful image...
Orthodox Christmas Is 7, January
The Thread
UOC-MP Visits Ukrainian Peacekeepers In Kossovo
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;8633/
UOC-MP Orthodox Archbishop Makes Christmas Visit to Ukrainian Peacekeepers in Kosovo
06.01.2006, [09:59] // UOC-MP //
Pristina, Kosovo– Archbishop Auhustyn (Markevych) of Lviv and Halych, head of the Synodal Commission on Cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and Other Military Bodies in Ukraine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), visited the Ukrainian contingent of the peacekeeping forces in Kosovo. The visit was organized on request of a special committee of the General Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine as part of a special program on spiritual care for soldiers sent on peacekeeping mission to “hot spots.” So reported orthodoxy.org.ua on 4 January 2006.
Archbishop Avhustyn passed the peacekeepers the blessing of Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan), head of the UOC-MP, gave a Christmas greeting, wished them God’s help in their hard service for the good of the society,and called them to show courage in difficult moments of life.
“The best of the best soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are gathered here today,” said the archbishop. “On one hand, you are entrusted with the honorable mission of peacekeeping, and, on the other, your families wait for you at home. So, you are needed both here and there, in the homeland, which fact should urge you to be strong and courageous. Let the savior of the world, Jesus Christ, fill your hearts with peace at this bright and joyful time.” Archbishop Auhustyn and the assistant head of the general headquarters, Lieutenant-general Hryhorii Sokovskyi, visited base camps White Eagle and Polukrbat. The archbishop served a moleben (prayer service) before the soldiers and sprinkled them with holy water.
Deacon Viktor Yatsenko visited posts and greeted soldiers and officers on duty. All the soldiers received small icons and gifts.
Source:
pope Sends Greetings On Orthodox Christmas
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=41680
Pope sends best wishes to Eastern churches celebrating Christmas
Vatican, Jan. 06 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) sent his greetings to the Orthodox churches that were celebrating Christmas, during his Angelus audience on January 6.
As the Vatican celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, the Holy Father called attention to the Eastern churches that continue to follow the old Julian calendar. Speaking to a crowd of about 50,000 from the window of his apartment in the apostolic palace, the Pontiff sent his Christmas greetings to those Eastern churches.
Pope Benedict told the crowd that as the Roman Church marked the visit of the Magi to the child Jesus, his thoughts turned to Cologne, where the 20th World Youth Day was held this past August. Participants at World Youth Day were asked to follow the Magi, whose relics are kept in the city's cathedral, by coming to adore Christ, the Pope recalled.
"Now, I cannot hear those words without returning in spirit to that memorable event, which represented a true epiphany," the Pope said, referring to World Youth Day. "Today I am happy to extend to the whole Church the message that I offered to the young people gathered on the banks of the Rhine: 'Open your heart wide to God!'"
JP Greeting On Nativity
The Nativity of Our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ
Beloved in Christ,
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
For we the faithful the Nativity season is one of joy, consolation and hope. It is a time when we nourish ourselves on the rich hymns of the Church that reveal to us the deeper meanings of the mystery of the Incarnation. It is a chance for us to recognize the birth of Christ as the re-birth of all mankind.
As this is undoubtedly the case, it is regrettable that so many among us find this rich and awe-inspiring feast to be anticlimactic and without any real meaning, even depressing. This is what results from reducing such a theologically deep and soul-saving feast to a mere secular “holiday of commerce”, devoid of any spiritual value. Then, when Christmas finally does arrive, after a month and a half of pre-season hype, it ends abruptly the next day. What’s more is that many people weary of parties and shopping are happy for it to be over with. Their only consolation, if that, was getting to see loved ones. For the faithful members of the Church, however, this can only happen to us if we allow ourselves to lose sight of the tangible harvest of blessings we have reaped thanks to the great and charitable condescension of God made Man. We must remain connected to the true meaning of this glorious feast by our participation in the services of the Church. We must remember too that Nativity day is only the beginning of a twelve-day feast, not the end. Consider the following:
The birth of the Saviour marked, at last, the fulfillment of the prophetic revelations concerning the coming of the Messiah into the world. The Church’s commemoration of the feast of the Lord’s Nativity is our way of celebrating this joyous event, this milestone in the salvation of the race of man. Consider that generation upon generation looked for the consolation of Christ, and awaited with yearning hearts the appearing of the Anointed One Who would deliver them from the curse of death and the dominion of Satan. Did they not hope to see that glorious event even in their own lifetimes? Hope they did and because of that the words of the prophets concerning Him were received by the God-fearing as a most valuable dispensation from on high. By such means were their expectations sharpened, having been given a glimpse of the blessedness to come. One purpose of the preceding Nativity fast is to remind us of that period when the world hungered and thirsted for the consolation of Christ.
This is not the case with us, for we have seen and experienced the coming of the Lord time and time again by means of the scriptures and all the celebrations and mysteries of the Church. The Messiah has been revealed and made known to us in a clearer and more complete way than He ever was to the ancients. Did Abraham, Isaac or Jacob, or even Moses, or any of the prophets, share in the divine mysteries of Christ the same way that we do now? No! This is not to deny God’s special blessings and favor on those righteous ones under the law, but rather to illustrate the magnitude of blessings and favor we have received, and even more so, as a result of the Lord’s Nativity. Among these blessings is the Church which is the body of Christ, the vine onto which we are grafted, and where are conveyed to the faithful all the Holy Mysteries necessary for our salvation as instituted by the Lord Himself.
In light of this, the Nativity feast should evoke in us, perhaps more than anything else, a spirit of deep gratitude toward God our Saviour Who in His great condescension, and because it was the only way to save us, took on our flesh and became one of us who were in danger of falling away altogether from Him, apart from Whom there is no life. This unprecedented act of the most high so that none should be lost expresses clearly God’s unfathomable love for man. Therefore, beloved, when we celebrate the birth of Christ we celebrate with it our own life, our very salvation. This is cause enough for celebration; is it not?
May we all be blessed by the holiness of the Season.
In Christ,
Father Nazarios
Fr. Basil Micek Speaks
http://directionstoorthodoxy.org/mod/ne ... le_id=6711
Orthodox worshippers light candles in the Nativity church as they celebrate the Orthodox Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem January 7, 2006. Talk of the Times with Archpriest Basil Micek
The Russian Orthodox Church marks Dec. 25 as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. However, we follow the Julian calendar, which was in use for the first 15 centuries of Christianity. (Times-Tribune)
Young Belarussians walk with candles in the centre of Minsk as they attend a flash mob, a group of people who are contacted electronically by an organiser on short notice and instructed to gather at a public place, to mark Orthodox Christmas January 7, 2006. Orthodox Belarus, like other Eastern Orthodox churches, celebrates Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Q: Why is “Russian Christmas” celebrated after Dec. 25?
A: It is NOT. The Russian Orthodox Church marks Dec. 25 as the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. However, we follow the Julian calendar, which was in use for the first 15 centuries of Christianity. The Gregorian calendar, which is used throughout the secular world today, is 13 days ahead. So, to simplify the matter of “Christmas,” it is Dec. 25 on the Julian calendar, and Jan. 7 on the Gregorian calendar. The Russian Orthodox celebrate the Nativity of Christ on 25 Dec./07 Jan.
Q: Tell us about your favorite Christmas tradition.
A: Singing the traditional Nativity hymns and carols ranks first with me. The carols all relate to the mystery which is celebrated — the Nativity of Christ the Saviour, the Son of God become man. A close second is the annual yolka, a Nativity play presented by our Sunday School students. The entire parish enjoys this event. It is followed by a brunch and a visit from St. Nicholas who encourages the children (and all of us) to keep their faith in Jesus Christ.
Staff writer Dana DeStefano talks with Archpriest Basil Micek, of SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, about Russian Christmas.
Age: 57 (I admit to being 39.)
Residence: Scranton
Family: wife, Matushka Pamela, and three sons, Joseph, Timothy and Nicholas
Education/Career: graduate of St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, Russia; parish priest for 27 years
Q: What’s the best thing about celebrating Russian Christmas?
A: No commercialism! The “Christmas” hype is gone until next December (or right after Halloween!). We are free to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ without secular pressure. In this, the old calendar is a blessing!
Q: How long do you leave your Christmas tree on display?
A: Individual Russian orthodox believers vary in this aspect. In my family personally, we leave our Christmas tree up until just after Russian New Year — 14 Jan. (which is Jan. 1 on the Julian calendar). Jan. 14 is the Feast of St. Basil the Great, my own nameday. That’s an important day in Father Basil’s household!
Q: Can you share a Christmas anecdote with us?
A: This story comes from the oral tradition of the Orthodox Church. When St. Joseph took Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt, to flee the wrath of King Herod who wanted to destroy the newborn king, along the way they were accosted by robbers. One of the robbers, after looking upon the Child and His mother, was moved to pity. He convinced the other robbers to spare the Holy Family. Thirty-three years later, that robber, whose name was Dismas, was crucified for his crimes along side Jesus. The crucified robber, by God’s grace, recognized the Saviour and confessed to Him. Jesus, in return, promised him: “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” That is the essence of Christmas — to be with Jesus in paradise. God became a man so that man might become like God.
+Alexis II Urges Faithful To Avoid "modern idols"
http://directionstoorthodoxy.org/mod/ne ... le_id=6707
Russian Patriarch urges faithful to avoid modern "idols" as Orthodox celebrate Christmas
Moscow, Jan. 09 (AsiaNews) - As the Orthodox world celebrated Christmas, Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow urged the faithful to follow Christ, rather than serving the idols of the modern world.
Moscow, Jan. 09 (AsiaNews) - As the Orthodox world celebrated Christmas, Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow urged the faithful to follow Christ, rather than serving the idols of the modern world.
At the Christmas vigil in Moscow's Orthodox cathedral on January 6, Patriarch Alexei encouraged believers to "share the joy of Christmas with those around you, especially those who are alone." He cautioned against becoming "enslaved by idols of power, glory, and pleasure."
The Orthodox celebration of the Nativity, following the Julian calendar, came 13 days after the Christmas celebrations in the Western world.
RUSSIA
Orthodox Christmas, Alexei II: follow Christ to be truly free
In yesterday’s celebration in Moscow, the Patriarch invited all not to be “slaves of idols imposed by the modern world” and to turn to Christ, who is truly Good. A Russian-Orthodox priest drew attention to Chechnya as one of the world’s tragedies today: may the birth of Jesus be a time which spurs Christians not to allow themselves to be “trapped by the fluid sands of fear”.
Moscow (AsiaNews) – Follow Christ and do not be slaves of idols imposed by the modern world. Such was the invitation extended to Alexei II to 5,000 faithful gathered yesterday evening in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow for the Christmas vigil. During the celebration, the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias exhorted those present to commit themselves to “good actions: try to share the joy of Christmas with those around you, especially those who are alone. Let this joy follow you in your life and give you the strength to overcome trials and tribulations”.
Today, Orthodox Christians of the Russian church, from the Holy Land and some of the other eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas, according to the Julian calendar. This is 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics, Protestants, some Orthodox and the secular world. On 7 January, the religious and secular world in Russia comes together and ends fasting from meat, sweets and alcohol started on 28 November. Christmas is a national holiday.
The Patriarch addressed many political figures including the Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov, and religious personalities, like the Nuncio in Russia, Mgr Antonio Mennini. In his message of greetings to Alexei II, the President Vladimir Putin – who was visiting Yakutskha in Siberia yesterday – thanked the Orthodox Church for “its contribution to promoting peace, agreement and mutual understanding in society”.
Alexei II launched an appeal to members of the congregation to follow Christ, the source of “true good” and not to allow themselves to “be enslaved by idols of power, glory and pleasure imposed by the world around”.
The same was expressed by an Orthodox priest, Yakov Krotov, a historian and journalist. Speaking to AsiaNews, he underlined the importance of remembering today that “only by turning to Jesus, the source of absolute freedom, can our faith succeed in not transforming itself into fear”, as a result of tragedies which continued to occur in 2005. One for all, perhaps the closest to the Russian people, but certainly among the most forgotten of the world, is the Chechen tragedy. Fr Krotov said: “The past year did not bring any improvements; blood continues to flow in Chechnya and helps us to evaluate as deeply as ever what is happening in Iraq. For us Christians, it is terrible to see that, even in our country, there are people who use religious jargon to justify the spilling of blood, which pits Christianity and Islam against each other”. Fr Krotov expressed the hope that the birth of Jesus will be a time which spurs Christians not to allow themselves to be “trapped in the fluid sands of fear, and to transform this feeling into faith in Christ, true freedom.”
Until tonight, Moscow is an armoured city: 3,000 members of the security forces have been mobilised. Security is concentrated in particular around religious buildings and near metro stops; in some cases, the forces of order even used metal detectors.