Orthodox Christians celebrate the Nativity of Christ

Nativity of Christ. Photo: verh.cerkov.ru

On January 7, 2022, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Great Twelve Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On this day, Orthodox Christians remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, which took place in a cave near Bethlehem. The Mother of God with the Divine Infant in her womb and the righteous Joseph the Betrothed came to this city for the census of the population.

The shepherds were the first to know about the birth of the Saviour. That night they were tending their flocks in a field near Bethlehem, and an angel appeared to them and told them about this event. The shepherds came to the place where Christ was born and worshiped Him.

According to the Scriptures, after them three wise men from the East, magi, came to bow to the newborn Christ. These were learned people who were observing the starry sky. They knew about the birth of the Saviour by the appearance of the Bethlehem star in the sky, which brought them to the cave. They brought the Baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Christmas Day concludes the Nativity Fast, after which the Holy Week begins (7-17 January), a time of special joy and celebration of the Saviour's arrival in the world.

As previously reported, Metropolitan Onuphry led the Christmas Eve service.

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