Orthodox Christians mark Christmas Eve
Icon of the Nativity of Christ. Photo: VC
On January 6 (December 24 on the Julian calendar), Orthodox Christians observe Christmas Eve. The name of the day is linked to an ancient custom of preparing and eating sochivo (kutia) – a porridge made from wheat, barley, or rice, with honey, poppy seeds, dried fruit, raisins, and nuts added.
Christmas Eve occurs twice a year – on the eve of the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord.
In popular tradition, there is a pious custom of refraining from food “until the first star.” This practice is associated with the tradition of the Star of Bethlehem, which announced Christ’s birth. At the same time, the church rubric (the typikon) contains no direct instruction requiring abstention from food until nightfall.
In Ukrainian folk tradition, it is also common on Christmas Eve to prepare twelve Lenten dishes symbolizing the twelve apostles. This practice is not a church-wide ordinance and is not enshrined in liturgical prescriptions.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that believers from Bukovyna delivered humanitarian aid to the Sviatohirsk Lavra for Christmas.
Read also
The oldest church in Kyiv celebrated its patronal feast
Metropolitan Viktor led the festive service at the Elijah Church in the capital.
His Beatitude led the celebrations for the 510th anniversary of the Lavra skete in Horodok
In the Rivne Diocese, the Primate of the UOC consecrated an image of the Mother of God restored by the sisters.
Religious Jews attack Armenian monastery in Jerusalem
Police detained six suspects after an attack on the Monastery of Saint James in the Old City.
OCU cleric personally cuts locks during seizure of UOC church in Cherniavka
A PCU cleric rejected the rector's request to provide copies of the meeting minutes, calling him an "enemy of the people."
Oldest UOC church in Sumy marks its patronal feast
Metropolitan Yevlohiy led celebrations at the city’s oldest parish, where the wonderworking Pustynno-Hlynska Icon of the Mother of God was brought for the feast.
Hundreds of faithful in Bulgaria welcome Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God
Patriarch Daniel led the ceremonial welcome for the myrrh-streaming icon in Sofia and thanked the ROCOR Synod for arranging its visit.