The most joyful Christian holiday, the day of Christ’s birth – Christmas is celebrated by the Serbian Orthodox Church and churches that follow the Julian calendar. It is believed that Christ’s birth brought the light of truth to mankind and that this event fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of the birth of the Savior.
On January 7th, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior who came among men to show them the values of faith and love, to reconcile them with God whom they had renounced by committing the first sin, is celebrated.
According to the Gospel, Jesus Christ was born exactly at midnight when the brightest star that moved from east to west stopped above a cave near Bethlehem.
In the cave in Bethlehem, Mary wrapped the newborn Savior in straw and worshiped him as God.
“At the same time, a great and bright star appeared over the land of Israel, which was unusual because it did not move from east to west but moved towards the south, and was not at the height of all the stars but at the height of a bird’s flight,” the Gospel says.
The star was followed for forty days by three wise men, Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior. Arriving in Jerusalem, in the Bethlehem cave, over which the star had stopped, they bowed down to the child “as king of kings and offered him gold, then incense as God, and myrrh as high priest and teacher.”
King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered that all male children under the age of two be killed in Bethlehem, hoping that among them would be the newborn Jesus. According to the Gospel, 14,000 children were killed, but the holy family fled to Egypt, where they lived until Herod’s death.
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Patriarch Porfirije’s Epistle
“Peace be with you – Christ is born” traditionally wished in his Christmas Epistle to the Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian Patriarch Porfirije.
In his epistle, the head of the SPC referred to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and pointed out that the Church admires the courage, patience, and suffering of the Serbian people in the southern province of the state. He says that the Serbian people have been the most endangered and unprotected people on the European continent for a quarter of a century.
He prayed that God would grant peace to the whole world, emphasizing the world conflicts in which children are dying. He noted that the greatest blessing in 2025 is the upcoming celebration of the 850th anniversary of Saint Sava.
Celebrating Christmas with family
Preparations for this holiday began six weeks ago with the Christmas fast, purifying the spirit and body. That is why quarrels and arguments are unthinkable on this day, so those who have quarreled should reconcile or make peace.
The holiday is spent with family, you don’t go to other people’s houses. Only the položajnik comes, a person with a lucky hand who will bring the family happiness, health, and progress.
From Christmas to Epiphany, the days are fatty, even Wednesday and Friday, but on the eve of Epiphany, on the Day of the Cross, one fasts no matter what day it is. Our people call the days from Christmas to Epiphany “unbaptized days.”
According to the folk customary calendar, you should start something today, so that everything goes well until the next Christmas. You don’t sleep, so you don’t doze all year.
There are numerous but also different customs associated with Christmas among the Serbs. However, the greeting on this holiday is the same everywhere:
Christ is born! Truly he is born!
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Source: RTS, Photo: Wikipedia