www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The Dating of the Nativity

Dear Friends,
I recently received a question on the Eastern Churches' dating of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord (or Christmas). I'm not sure if you are aware of the Armenian Church's traditional practice regarding this Feast. Leaving the issue of "calendars" aside (which is not standardized throughout the Armenian Church), the Armenian Church (to the best of my knowledge) is the only ancient Church which maintains the original dating of the Nativity of our Lord on January 6th. Allow me to quote an Armenian text, "Saints and Sacraments of the Armenian Church," in which the author, Bishop Kaloustian writes,

"The reason for changing [the Nativity from January 6th to December 25th] is given [by a Roman Catholic] author:

'The Lord was born in the month of January on the same day on which we celebrate the Epiphany, for, of old, the feast of the Nativity and Epiphany were kept on one and the same day. The reason why our Fathers changed the solemnity celebrated on the sixth of January, and transferred it to the 25th of December is as follows: It was the custom of pagans to celebrate the birthday of the Sun on this very day, December 25th. In these solemnities and festival the Christians too were tempted to participate. The leaders of the Church, therefore, decided that the Birth of Christ, be kept on this date (i.e. 25th of December) to overshadow the pagan festival and on January sixth, the feast of Epiphanies. (cf. Catholic Encyclopedia: Articles, "Christmas" and "Epiphany").

Bishop Kaloustian continues:

"This change, having begun in Rome, spread very quickly to the East and all over the Roman Empire. The change did not penetrate into Armenia, because the Armenians, having no such pagan festival on December 25th to suppress, did not see any reason for following the new practice... the Armenians wanted to remain faithful to the ancient custom; so they have kept the old date throughout the centuries to the present day." (pages 62-63).

It is also interesting to note that in addition to the separation of the celebration of the Nativity (moved to December 25th) from that of the Theophany (remaining on January 6th), the Latin Church went a further step and moved the Baptism of our Lord to a later date, now celebrating it on the Sunday following January 6th. Here is a chart documenting these liturgical differences:

1. The Armenian Church:

The Nativity (Birth), Visit of the Magi, & Theophany (Baptism): January 6th

2. All other Eastern Orthodox Churches:

The Nativity (Birth) & Visit of the Magi: December 25th
Theophany (Baptism): January 6th

3. The Latin Roman Catholic Church:

The Nativity: December 25th
Epiphany (Visit of the Magi): January 6th
Baptism of our Lord: The Sunday after January 6th

Thus on the 6th of January (whichever calendar they are using) Armenians celebrate the Nativity (Birth) and Theophany (Baptism) of Christ in one solemn Divine Liturgy as is the ancient tradition. I hope this helps to round out your information on the Eastern Churches� dating and celebration of the Nativity of our Lord. Have a Happy New Year and a blessed celebration of our Lord�s Nativity and Theophany!

Trusting in Christ's Light,
Wm. Ghazar Der Ghazarian

Kreesdos Dznav yev Haydnetsav! (Christ is Born and Revealed!)
Orhnyal eh Haydnootyoonun Kreesdosee! (Blessed is the Revelation of Christ!)

Contrary evidence exists that Our Lord's Incarnation happened on 25 March. According to the Jewish tradition Prophets were either born and died on the same day or conceived and died on the same day. Therefore, Easter has been celebrated early on on 25 March until it was moved to a Sunday. Aurelian didn't institute the pagan feast of Sol Invictus until around AD 270. Likely since there was an up and coming religion who celebrated the birth of the Sun of Justice the True Oriens, he started this pagan festival to supplant the feast of Our Lord's Nativity.

Here's the Link:
http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=16-10-012-v

There are a few errors in my last post, please check the link I provided for the REAL story.

This info. seems incorrect to me. The author seems oblivious to the fact that the Church (East and West) has a long history of placing its feasts on pagan dates to over-ride the pagan themes with the Gospel message (as the West did with the Nativity). To Protestants this is evidence of our "paganization" of Christianity. But in reality, it is just the opposite. Only someone who is tainted with the Protestant view has to fight to try and cover up this reality. "Halloween" is another example. The pagans observed the night when the dead came back and visited earth. The Christians decided to counter this belief by celebrating their departed Hallowed or Saints on the same evening, October 31st. Many Europeans transferred the title of the pagan spring festival of the god "Oester" to the Christian festival now known as "Easter" which is celebrated at the same time of the year. Armenians did the same thing retaining the title of the pagan festival "Vartavar" for our celebration of the feast of the Transfiguration, which took its place in Christian Armenia. This is nothing to shy away from, but rather to celebrate. Our forefathers in the faith combated paganism and used our faith and calendar to overcome it. As for the Nativity, there are Patristic quotes which support the idea that the Nativity was moved from January 6th to December 25th to combat the pagan festival. I see no need for the gymnastics exhibited in the Touchstone article, in an attempt to "save Christmas from paganism." Christmas is just fine as it is.

I have to agree with Ghazar on this, or at least some of his post. Regarding the feasts of the Transfiguration and Dormition (Assumption), they were originally celebrated sometime during March or April. What gives a hint of this is the rubrics for the feasts, in which they list "When the feast occurs during the Great Fast..."

I would like to see something other than what may appear in Touchstone magazine to be considered somewhat authoritative.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Just a reminder that the Lord's Incarnation is still celebrated on March 25th (the Annunciation)in the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

My question to Ghazar is this: Do the Armenians also celebrate the Incarnation/Annunciation on January 6th?

The answer to this will help us to remember that the actaul dates were never particularly important until the Nativity was outplaced to the 25th of December, thus forcing an eighth day Circumcision on January 1st and a back-dating of the Incarnation/Annunciation to March 25th

In Christ,
Andrew

Hello, brother Andrew. The Armenian Church now celebrates the Annunciation on April 7th. I have read that it was previously celebrated on Jan. 6th and was later moved to the above date. Why do you ask? Apparently every form of major "Theophonic" feast (is that a word?) was originally placed on this day (Jan. 6th) and they were gradually spread out throughout the year.

Dear Father Anthony,

Here is more evidence:
In Antioch, on the feast of St. Philogonius, Chrysostom preached an important sermon. The year was almost certainly 386, though Clinton gives 387, and Usener, by a long rearrangement of the saint's sermons, 388 (Religionsgeschichtl. Untersuch., pp. 227-240). But between February, 386, when Flavian ordained Chrysostom priest, and December is ample time for the preaching of all the sermons under discussion. (See Kellner, Heortologie, Freiburg, 1906, p. 97, n. 3). In view of a reaction to certain Jewish rites and feasts, Chrysostom tries to unite Antioch in celebrating Christ's birth on 25 December, part of the community having already kept it on that day for at least ten years. In the West, he says, the feast was thus kept, anothen; its introduction into Antioch he had always sought, conservatives always resisted. This time he was successful; in a crowded church he defended the new custom. It was no novelty; from Thrace to Cadiz this feast was observed -- rightly, since its miraculously rapid diffusion proved its genuineness. Besides, Zachary, who, as high-priest, entered the Temple on the Day of Atonement, received therefore announcement of John's conception in September; six months later Christ was conceived, i.e. in March, and born accordingly in December.

By the way, who is Ghazar in the icon?

Dr Eric,

I will take Saint John Chrysostom over Touchstone Magazine anyday. I have found a few "misprints" in their material over the years, that have given some erroneous information that was never retracted.

Thank you for the material.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dr Eric,

You have not been around the east long have you? That is the icon of the Raising of Lazarus, Ghazar's patron saint. I guess many of us from the east take it for granted that many others would know.

Stick around, I am sure you can learn a little more.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

St. John is Awesome!!!!!!!

I kinda figured that Ghazar must have been the Armenian for Lazarus. But you know what happens when you assume.

Dr Eric,

You got to get into Saint John Chrysostom's Cathectechal Homilies, I believe they are available from Paulist Press. It will give you an education that will leave you wondering why didn't they teach this in Sunday School.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I didn't go to Sunday School.
Saturday morning Catechism with the saintly Fr. Joseph Sense (RIP)
I'll check those out though. Thanks!!!

Dr. Eric