Letters | Sunday, 04 January 2009

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Christmas service for Serbian Orthodox

The feast commemorating the Nativity of Jesus Christ (or Christmas) was introduced in the middle of the 4th century. The East celebrated Christ’s Nativity on 6 January, now on 7 January. This because the East follows the Julian Calendar, which is about two weeks behind the present calendar. In the liturgy of the Eastern Churches this feast was called Theophany or Epiphany. Three things were commemorated: the Nativity itself, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.
A period of fasting begins 40 days before Christmas for Eastern Christians. There are two Sundays which prepare the faithful Eastern Christian for the great feast of Christmas, namely the 2nd Sunday before Christmas, called the Sunday of the forefathers, and the Sunday immediately preceding Christmas, called the Sunday of the Fathers. Very little importance is given to the exchange of gifts or to any commercial thought. To the Eastern Christian the birth of Jesus Christ is of tremendous importance to his own eternal salvation, because through the birth of Jesus, God has given the food of Life Eternal. This food is the invisible Body and Blood of our Lord in visible forms, of bread and wine.
His Holiness, Serbian Patriarch Pavle, with all the bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, in the yearly Christmas encyclical reminds of this: “Contemporary man, in conquering with his technology far-flung territories, imperils the living space of numerous other beings. Instead of turning to the inner spiritual dimensions which are limitless and conquering those territories which endanger no one, but rather which give fullness to all things, opening up inexpressible horizons of growth and perfection – instead, man turns to that which is by it’s very nature limited and transient, and thus himself becomes limited and crippled.
“The new hedonistic-utilitarian myths, today placed on the pedestal of divinity and propagated with all the modern means, are endangering most of all those most innocent and least able to repel them: children and youth. Drugs and immorality, the narrowing of life to instinct and the satisfaction of carnal lusts, the desire of the eye and of vanity (cf. 1 John 2:16), are the fruit of these ancient myths dressed in new and eye-catching clothing”.
Serbian Orthodox celebrate Christmas Eve together at the church, with a procession carrying the yule log into the church, then later outside to burn it. The yule log symbolizes the Tree of Life, which Christ was crucified on. It represents life that continues forward, forward to Christ. A lenten meal together follows.
Let us conclude with traditional Christmas greeting: Peace on Earth, Christ is Born! Church Services will be held at St Nicholas Church, in Merchants Street, Valletta, on the 6 January at 6pm and 7 January at 7am.

Alexander Zerajic
Serbian Orthodox Presbyter
for Malta

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