Orthodox Christmas Day

Orthodox Christmas History

Orthodox Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Being central to the Orthodox liturgical year, the celebration is characterised by solemn religious services, communal meals, and charitable activities. The focal point of Orthodox Christmas observance is the Divine Liturgy, a service of the Eastern Orthodox Church embodying scripture readings, hymns, and Holy Communion. The Orthodox Christmas feast is characteristically vegan or vegetarian, known as "fasting meals," symbolising spiritual preparation and purification.

The roots of Orthodox Christmas can be traced to the early Christian communities of Eastern Europe and the Byzantine Empire. In the UK, Orthodox Christianity is a minority, comprised mainly of Greek, Russian, and Cypriot communities. Despite being a minority, the presence of the Orthodox Christmas is quite noticeable, for instance, in parts of London like Bayswater, which hosts St Sophia's Cathedral known for its vibrant Orthodox Christmas celebrations.

In the UK, Orthodox Christmas is observed on the 7th of January, in line with the Julian calendar— 13 days after the 25th of December, which is when Christmas is celebrated by most Western Christian churches using the Gregorian calendar. The observance usually includes attending the Divine Liturgy in the morning, followed by feasting and festivities. The importance of family gatherings and charity is emphasised, mirroring the wider British Christmas traditions of family and goodwill. Thus, the Orthodox Christmas observance in the UK is a blend of longstanding religious traditions and the multicultural fabric of British society.

Facts about Orthodox Christmas Day

• In the Orthodox tradition, a 40-day period called the Nativity Fast occurs before Christmas. Fasting is a faithful abstain from foods, especially those derived from animals, and wine.
• The Orthodox tradition uses icons - paintings of saints, to help people to pray. The main icon for Christmas features scenes from the birth of Christ.
• The Orthodox Christian community in the United Kingdom has roots dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, although migration and resettlement from Orthodox-majority countries have increased the number of Orthodox Christians significantly in recent years.
• In the 19th century, many Russian nobles, artists, and intellectuals spent time in the UK, bringing their Orthodox Christian faith and traditions with them. One example is Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, a well-known poet who spent some time in London during the 1820s.

In the News and Trending in the UK for Orthodox Christmas Day

Top things to do in the UK for Orthodox Christmas Day

• Attend an Orthodox Christmas service. Orthodox Christianity is popular in Greek and Slavic-language communities, including Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian, Macedonian communities.
• Films you can watch that touch on the Orthodox faith or Eastern European traditions:
  The Fool- This is a Russian drama film that shows the life of people in Russia, where Orthodox Christianity is the majority religion. While it does not focus on Christmas, it does provide a view into the society and their way of life.
  Ostrov (The Island) - This is a popular Russian film about an Orthodox monk, highlighting elements of the Orthodox faith.
  The Living Stones of Cairo - This documentary centers on the Coptic (Egyptian Orthodox) Christian community in the UK. Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, the same date as many Eastern Orthodox Christians.
• Popular events you can attend during Orthodox Christmas in United Kingdom are:
  Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom, Bayswater, London: The Cathedral usually holds a Divine Liturgy service to celebrate Orthodox Christmas.
  Russian Orthodox Church, London: The Russian Orthodox Church in London also celebrates Orthodox Christmas with special services, and sometimes organizes events like carol singing and traditional meals.
  Serbian Orthodox Church, Birmingham: The Serbian community in Birmingham usually organizes a series of Christmas services and celebrations at their Orthodox Church.
  Romanian Orthodox Church, London: In areas with a significant Romanian population, there are often special Christmas services.