Nativity of Christ

The Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, kept on December 25, celebrates the birth in the flesh of the Son of God from the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. Laid in a manger because there was no room at the inn, the newborn King was glorified by angels, worshipped by shepherds, and honored with gifts by Magi from the East.

Christmas is, after Pascha, the greatest feast of the church year, prepared by a forty-day fast. In the Child of Bethlehem the Church confesses God become man, that man might be brought back to God.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Nativity of Christ is commemorated on December 25. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on January 7 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Christos, Christodoulos, Chris, Christian, Christoforos, Hristos, Emanuel, Emmanuel, Christopher, Christakis, Christiana, Christina, Christine, Kristina

Also commemorated on December 25

• Adoration of the Magi

  Saint, Προσκύνηση των Μάγων

  The Adoration of the Magi who came from the East to worship the newborn Christ.

• Shepherds of Bethlehem

  Saint, Ποιμένες της Βηθλεέμ

  Commemoration of the shepherds who saw the Lord in Bethlehem.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.