Source: The Daily Beast He defied the atheism of communism and the empty religious practices of Putinism. With Father Gleb Yakunin’s death on Christmas, Russia has lost a liberal voice of conscience. On Christmas Day, the world lost an extraordinary man of faith who once went to prison for his Christian beliefs under an atheist state and later challenged both his church and the repressive entanglement of church and state under a regime that claims to celebrate religious values. When the Russian dissident and priest Father Gleb Yakunin died, outside the small circle of the liberal opposition and its sympathizers,…
Browsing: Christmas
Source: Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America Be glad, you just, heavens rejoice, mountains leap for joy; Christ is born and the Virgin sits like the Cherubim throne carrying in her bosom God the Word made flesh. Shepherds glorify the one that is born; Magi offer gifts to the Master; Angels sing praises, saying: Lord beyond understanding, glory to you! (Lauds of Christmas Matins) To the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of Parish Councils, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Members of Philanthropic Organizations, the Youth and Youth Workers, and…
Source: Orthodox Christian Network By Seraphim Danckaert in The Sounding David Adams is an Australian explorer and documentarian who travels the world. In a series called “Journeys to the Ends of the Earth” he spends one episode in Ethiopia, investigating its ancient Christian culture and liturgical practices. In the segment embedded above, he has made his way to Lalibela, one of Ethiopia’s most distinctive holy sites, during the celebration of Christmas. [subscribe2]
Source: Haaretz Nazareth is dreaming of a bright Christmas, with hotels and restaurants booked up ahead of the big day on December 25. Locals are thankful that most Israelis have short memories. By Judy Maltz NAZARETH – Behind the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, workers are putting the finishing touches on the man-made Christmas tree that will be lit up on Wednesday evening, at an official ceremony to mark the start of the holiday season. Standing 26-meters tall, this metal-based structure is so massive it will have to be dragged down to the main plaza below in three separate…
Source: Aid to the Church in Need Despite visit from the Pope: Christians in the Holy Land are not looking back on a good year By Oliver Maksan Musa is over seventy. Wistfully he looks out over the tranquil valley with its ancient olive trees. It is a place where fruit and a well-known wine are also grown. Over the course of his long life, the Orthodox Christian from Beit Jala near Bethlehem has seen much suffering in the Holy Land, wars, intifadas, flight and expulsion. However, nothing has touched him as deeply as the impending expropriation of his land.…
Source: Religion News Service / Staten Island Real Time News BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Two weeks before Christmas, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Middle East in a century dumped several inches of snow on the hills of Bethlehem. In addition to shuttering schools and businesses, the storm caused runoff to trickle down the walls of the Church of the Nativity, built above the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Fortunately, the water damage was relatively minor, church officials say, thanks to a rare cooperative venture already underway to repair the basilica’s roof, leaky windows and old wooden beams,…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Protocol Number 187/13 December 25, 2013 The Nativity of Christ For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…. (Isaiah 9:6) To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In the culmination of this blessed season with…
Source: Fr John Peck Read the New Testament by Christmas On November 15, the Orthodox Church begins the Christmas Nativity Season. We approach these holy days with faithful anticipation for the Nativity of The Lord. Take the NT Challenge…start today, and read the entire NT by the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior. NT by Christmas [subscribe2]
Source: Solia – The Herald by Very Rev. Fr. Antony Bassoline The celebration of the birth of Christ has become the most obvious religious-based public festival of American life. Its arrival in December is prepared for months in advance. It is the one event which generates the most anticipation and to which the most tradition and custom have attached themselves. Individual homes and whole cities dress up for Christmas. In popular sentiment, it has eclipsed the greater feast of the Resurrection, and has completely dwarfed its twin festival, the Epiphany. But how did we get a feast of Christmas? What…