When is eastern orthodox christmas

Similar documents
INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

THE SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH AND CATECHESIS

Introduction to Eastern Catholicism and the Byzantine Catholic Church

A Pilgrim People The Story of Our Church Presented by:

Two Mistaken Pictures Dr. M. Kurian Thomas

For the Publication Committee,

Structure of the Orthodox Church

The Throne of St. Thomas

RCIA Class 12 December 2, 2015

HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE ARRIVAL OF APOSTLE ST. THOMAS IN KERALA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE LIFE OF THE ST.THOMAS CHRISTIANS

The Bishop as Servant of Catholic Renewal

The First Church Schism

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

Alexei Krindatch "The Conundrum of Uniting American Orthodox Church: How to Resolve the Puzzle?"

The Second Church Schism

BISHOP MAR IVANIOS AND THE REUNION MOVEMENT

An Overview of the Coptic Christians of Egypt. by Lara Iskander and Jimmy Dunn. Introduction

Structure of the Orthodox Church

General Introduction

Northeast American Diocese Sunday School Association STUDY NOTES

The History of the Liturgy

Fellowship of St Alban & St Sergius - Society of St John Chrysostom. Joint Catholic-Orthodox Pastoral Consultation in England

MAR THOMA DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS DIOCESEOF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE 2017 Diocesan Examination Grade 6

A Study in Pursuit of Reconciliation within the Body and Bride of Christ

Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (alias Parumala Thirumeni) (June 15, November 2, 1902) is the patron saint of our church.

Religious Groups in the 2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study

RCIA Class December 1, December 6, Rite of Acceptance at the 8:30 am Mass

The Church. Communion. Comm. Union

The Russian Orthodox Church and Contemporary Events: Dispelling the Myths

Sabbath Keepers in India Apostolic Origin

Saint Raphael Religious Education Grade Two Finding God... Our Response to God s Gifts DATE STANDARDS AND INDICATORS EVENT/CHAPTER (1)

TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (SCIENCE & SPORTS COLLEGE) ADMISSION POLICY (FOR ENTRY IN SEPTEMBER 2017)

ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY OPTIONS AND PATTERNS IN THE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Address of His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel WELCOME

A Pilgrim People The Story of Our Church Presented by:

DIPLOMARBEIT. Titel der Diplomarbeit. Placid Podipara s Reflection on the Church St. Thomas Christians are Indian in Culture. Verfasser.

What is Christianity?

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

Saint Raphael Religious Education Grade Four Finding God... Our Response to God s Gifts

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HH PATRIARCH MORAN MOR IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS. Thomas Joseph, Ph.D. Webmaster, SOR [ ]

MAR THOMA DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS DIOCESEOF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE 2017 Diocesan Examination Grade 6

Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center Purification Illumination Deification

India RENEWAL. A letter ON MISSION INSIDE THIS ISSUE. from Ralph Martin

Running Head: THE CHURCH OF THE EAST 1

True or False (2 Points Each)

Kyiv s Birthplace of Orthodoxy in Eastern Europe

Diocese of South- West America Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Sunday School Syllabus

CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTMAS

Constantinople. World Religions and the History of Christianity: Eastern Orthodox

The Catholic Church in Canada has a young history that spans a little over 400 years.

LECTURE BY HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS GERON OF AMERICA ORTHODOX THEOLOGY MAY 22, 2018 SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism UNIVERSAL RELIGION

MAR THOMA DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS DIOCESEOF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE 2016 Diocesan Examination Grade 6

A Brief History of the Church of England

ORTHODOX SYRIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF THE EAST DIOCESE OF SOUTH WEST AMERICA. Centralized Examination Grade 12 Diploma JUNE Reg. No.

University of Fribourg, 24 March 2014

GUIDELINES FOR THE CREATION OF NEW PROVINCES AND DIOCESES

The Monotheistic Religions CHRISTIANITY

MALANKARA ARCHDIOCESE OF THE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA

RCIA Days of Celebration Session # 8

TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (SCIENCE & SPORTS COLLEGE) ADMISSIONS CRITERIA 2016/17

Religion Standards Fourth Grade

Nova et Vetera From 30Days Interview with Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos by Gianni Cardinale

NAME: CLASS: TEST TIME: 1 hour

Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan

Act of Canonical Communion signed in Moscow

History of Christianity

Catholics and Church. Thuy & Travis

The Second Vatican Council. It was opened on the 11 th of October 1962, by Pope John XXIII and was closed on the 8 th of December 1965.

The Holy See ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II DURING THE PRAYER MEETING AT THE AIRPORT OF TRIVANDRUM

WHY A HIERARCHY? All baptized people make up the christian faithful. We are all equal in dignity. The Christian faithful are divided into two groups

WHII 2 a, c d, e. Name: World History II Date: SOL Review Day 1

DIOCESAN CLERGY CONFERENCE & DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY 2016

Table of Contents. Church History. Page 1: Church History...1. Page 2: Church History...2. Page 3: Church History...3. Page 4: Church History...

Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate CONTENTS

VERY REV. IYPE THOMA KATHANAR

Resolutions of ACC-4. Resolution 1: Anglican-Reformed Relations.

CHRISTIANITY. Support Materials - GMGY - Beliefs & Religions. Introduction to Christianity

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, REDDING

CHAPTER 14 PRESENCE OF CHRISTIAN GROUPS IN PERSIA FROM 30 A.D. TILL NOW

MAR THOMA DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOL DIOCESE OF NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE

Option E. Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues

CONTENTS. Foreword Part One THE CHURCH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD (30-476)

WESTERN RITE ORTHODOXY AND THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

Guidelines for the Creation of New Provinces and Dioceses

The Jesuits; From Mission Service To World Power

Chapter VII. The Communion of Saints and their Intercession

Table of Contents. Canon Law. Page 1: Canon Law...1. Page 2: Canon Law...2. Page 3: Canon Law...3. Page 4: Canon Law...4. Page 5: Canon Law...

CONSTITUTION Adopted in Provincial Synod Melbourne, Florida July 22, 1998, And as amended in SOLEMN DECLARATION

The Byzantine Empire

The 20 th Century: The Anglican Communion

Pope appoints Most Rev Vincent Nichols 11 th Archbishop of Westminster

RCIA Significant Moments from the Past Session 25

St Gwenn s News 38 DECEMBER 2015

DARKNESS CAN ONLY BE SCATTERED BY LIGHT JOHN PAUL II

The Distinctiveness of the Episcopal Tradition. Session #3: Unity in Diversity

LITURGICAL FAMILIES OF THE EAST

The Holy See APOSTOLIC LETTER GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO SACRUM DIACONATUS ORDINEM GENERAL NORMS FOR RESTORING THE PERMANENT DIACONATE IN THE LATIN CHURCH

HOLY ORDERS, RELINQUISHMENT AND DEPOSITION CANON Canon 10, 2004 as amended by Canon 07, 2014

Liturgy. The Church at Prayer

Transcription:

MENU BUSCAR BUSCAR When is eastern orthodox christmas Sweet dishes served on the Russian Christmas table included berries, fruit, candy, cakes, angel wings, biscuits, honey. Beverages included drinking broths ( kompot and sweet soups, sbiten ), kissel, and, from the beginning of the 18th century, Chinese tea. [3]. Eastern Orthodox faith community prepares to celebrate Christmas on Sunday. Энциклопедия обрядов и обычаев, СПб.: Респекс, 1996, С. 11-55, 80-88. White cloth is used on dinner tables in some countries to symbolize purity and the cloth that baby Jesus was wrapped in. Straw may be placed on these tables to symbolize the simplicity of the place where Jesus was born. Candles may be lit to represent the light of Christ and the festive Christmas meal represents the end of fasting. Christmas is making an encore appearance this weekend as people who practise Eastern Orthodox faiths are preparing to celebrate the holiday on Sunday. Once the stigma of avoiding these pagan holidays ceased, many Christians had different dates for Christmas, with none of them being December 25 th, but there was also no day that everyone agreed upon. The first mentioning of Christmas being on December 25 th came in 336AD, during the time of the Emperor Constantine. We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information. Энциклопедия обрядов и обычаев, СПб.: Респекс, 1996, С. 11-55, 80-88. 'I want gun control': U.S. veteran who survived Las Vegas.. How does the 12-hour clock system work? Is midnight 12 am or 12 pm? more. Sun, 6 Jan 2019 Armenia Advertising: Content continues below ad. Some Orthodox Christians observe the Nativity and Adoration of the Shepherds (those who visited baby Jesus) on January 6, followed by the Adoration of the Magi (three wise men or kings) on January 7. Church liturgies on Orthodox Christmas Eve (January 6) may be longer than usual but many people find them inspiring. About Orthodox Christmas Day in other countries Read more about Orthodox Christmas Day. Orthodox Christmas Day Observances. Because the Orthodox religion did not fall under the oversight of the Pope, they left the calendar to the old ways but some churches are slowly changing their official date. In 2008, a neo-pagan group filed a similar complaint. The group argued that the fact that Orthodox Christmas is an official holiday is contrary to the Constitution of Russia, according to which "no religion can be established as state and obligatory". After having considered the complaint, the court rejected it on the grounds that decisions about public holidays are within the competence of the Russian Parliament and are not a constitutional matter. [4]. When Is Orthodox Christmas Day 2018? Orthodox Christmas Day 2018 Sun, 7 Jan 2018 17 countries. There are Orthodox Churches in the United States that recognize the holiday dates according to the Julian calendar, for example the Russian, Ukrainian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches. Christmas is still on December 25 in the Julian calendar so the January 7 date is only valid between 1901 and 2100. The Gregorian date for Orthodox Christmas will be January 8 in 2101 if the Julian calendar is still used. 'Tis the season folks! We are all counting down the days until December 25 th, but do we

even know when Jesus was born? If we look in the Gospel accounts of the Birth of Christ, we never find a date or season or any such clue to learn the timing of Christ's birth. So why is December 25 th the official date of Christmas? Many Orthodox Christians attend a special church liturgy on Christmas Day on January 7. Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas Day with various traditions. For example, many churches light a small fire of blessed palms and burn frankincense to commemorate the three wise men's (also known as Magi) gifts to baby Jesus. Some parishes have joint celebrations for Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox spend their time going from house to house carolling. People in the Russian Orthodox faith will often be seen with representations of goats while Ukrainians represent death in a more westernized way, Pogosjan said. Regardless of what day you celebrate, or even if you are a believer, Pogosjan thinks "everyone should go to a Ukrainian church service, especially on Christmas or Easter, because it is a celebration of music and art, and an overall kind of magical experience. Teenage girl struck by vehicle while crossing 118 Avenue dies.. The indigenous Church of Malabar/Malankara followed the faith and traditions handed over by the Apostle St. Thomas. During the 16th century, the Portuguese Jesuits began deliberate attempts to annex the native Christians to the Catholic Church, and in 1599 they succeeded through the Synod of Diamper. Resentment against these forceful measures led the majority of the community under the Archdeacon Thomas to swear an oath never to submit to the Portuguese, known as the Coonan Cross Oath, in 1653. The Malankara Church consolidated under Mar Thoma I welcomed Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, who regularized the canonical ordination of Mar Thoma as a bishop. They received episcopal support from Persian bishops, who traveled to Kerala in merchant ships through the spice route, while the local leader of the Saint Thomas Christians held the rank of Archdeacon and was a hereditary office held by the Pakalomattam family. In the 16th century, the overtures of the Portuguese. India, Canada, Africa, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. ] Many Malankara Orthodox Christians came to the United States during this time. In 1968 Fr. G. John (John Geevarghese), an Ecumenical Fellow at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, started celebrating the Holy Qurbana every Sunday in the Seminary chapel, thus organizing the first congregation on America soil. After 1970, the Malankara Orthodox Church gradually spread to many major US cities with increasing numbers of clergy and laity. In 1976, the Holy Synod decided to establish more dioceses in various parts of the world. At this time, the numerous churches in America were placed under the authority of the Metropolitan of the Bombay Diocese, Thomas Mar Makarios. On 14 July 1979, Mar Makarios was given authority over the new American Diocese under the authority of the Catholicos of the East, Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews I. In 1991, Mathews Mar Barnabas took charge of the diocese. In 2002, Zacharias The church had no written constitution until 1934, but was governed by consensus, traditions and precedence. It was the vision of Mor Dionysius, Vattasseril, to have a clearly defined uniform constitution to govern the church administration. He initiated action and appointed a sub-committee with O.M. Cherian as convener to submit a draft constitution. The committee members had discussed the fundamental issues with the Metropolitan in several rounds, but it was not finalized and passed (materialized) in Cherian's lifetime. Catholicos of the East and the Malankara Metropolitan, presently Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II. Oriental Orthodox church centered in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which has its origin in the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. [9]. Not to be confused with Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. Malankara Nazranies also had evolved a script (Karshoni) to write Malayalam after making certain changes in East Syriac script, even though 'Vattezhuthe' an early form of Malayalam was in vogue. The present-day Malayalam script was formulated and used by Indo-Aryan settlers on the lines of Devnagari for the translation of their Epics to Malayalam after 12th century. Aarthat Padiyola in copper plate (preserved at University Manuscript Library, Trivandrum), declaring the sovereignty of Malankara Church in 1806 was written in old Malayalam script. An early script, 'Kharoshti' (used in

Ashoka edicts) prevailed in northwestern India was also developed from eastern Syriac, which helped to decipher identical edicts written in India's original but defunct Prakrit languages. Even many documents related to 17th and 18th century also reveals the attachment of Nazranis to Eastern Syria. A memorandum by Malankara Nazranis to Roman Pope against compulsive westernization during the 17th century states that, "All our prayers are written in the Chaldean Syriac of our Apostle father St. Thomas". A Jesuit priest Nunes Barutha of that period states that: "Marthoma Christians are not believe in any other teaching other than written in Eastern Syriac". In 1682, Bartholomew, a West Syrian Malpan from Aleppo was appointed in Verapoly seminary by Carmelites. But Malankara Nazranis strongly opposed the appointment to teach their students by a West Syrian teacher. Canon of Udayamperoor synod (page 79)specifically asked to discontinue the use of Eastern Syriac in liturgy and prayers for native Malayalam. Eastern Aramaic (Syriac) was widely used in Malankara up to the 17th century, and all borrowed words and names from Syriac to Malayalam are phonetically in Eastern Syriac. Later, Malankara Nazranis were almost adapted to Western Syriac and liturgy due to ecclesiastical support and long stay of many Antiochean prelates in the second half of 17th and 18th centuries. Meanwhile, the Dutch East India Company defeated the Portuguese in supremacy of the spice trade in Malabar in 1663. The Malankara church used this opportunity to escape from Catholic persecution with the Dutch East India Company's help. At the request of the Malankara Church, the Dutch brought Gregorios Abdal Jaleel of Jerusalem, a bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church, in their trading vessel in 1665. Mar Thoma I forged a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church and gradually adopted West Syrian liturgy and practices. The Constitution upholds the autonomy and autocephaly of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is Episcopal in its (polity) and not congregational. At the same time it upholds democratic principles by safeguarding the rights and privileges of the lay men. The constitution enshrines the fundamental features of the Church, provides direction for its internal administration, and preserves its integrity and autonomy. The essential features of the Church are provided in the preamble. Andhra Evangelical Lutheran, Assemblies Jehovah Shammah, Christian Revival Church, Church of North India, Church of South India, Garo Baptist, Indian Brethren, Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Church of God (Full Gospel), North Bank Baptist Christian, Northern Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, The Pentecostal Mission, St. Thomas Evangelical, Seventh-day Adventist, United Evangelical Lutheran. Meantime, the Capuchin missionaries catholicized and formed Chaldean Catholic Church and restricted their old tradition to send bishops to Malankara. In light of such a circumstance, to get Apostolic Hand to the newly elevated bishop, the orthodox Churches like Antioch and Alexandria were contacted through the Dutch East India Co. due to their vast mercantile connections in cities and ports. Antiochean Church was the first to respond, sending their Jerusalem Bishop, Mor Gregorios, via a Dutch ship, reaching Malankara in 1665. The Dutch who defeated Portughese in 1663 for trade monopoly and the Malankara Church wanted to escape from the clutches of the Portuguese and caused to the arrival of many more contingent of Antiochean prelates, including Maphriyonos of Mosul, Eldho Mar Baselios (passed away on the 8th day of his arrival and considered as a saint, whose mortal remain is interned at Kothamangalam) and then Mar Sakralla with a team of Metropolitans and priests. When Malankara Syrians began to accept Antiochean prelates, Roman faction got an opportunity to call Malankara people as 'Puthenkootukar' (new tradition) and call themselves as 'Pazhyakootukar' (old traditionalists) to cover up their 54 years of new European relation. In fact, Latin rites introduced in Malankara by Menezes were much more strange and unfamiliar than West Syrian rites for Malabar Christians who were traditionally accustomed with Syrianism. Moreover, they found the west Syrian liturgy and rites to be much attractive due to their perceived "pure Syrian tradition". At the outset of Latinisation, Nazranis were reluctant to accept Latin bishops. When Vasco-da-Gama arrived in Cochin in 1502, Metropolitan Mar Yahb Alla assisted by Mar Denha, Mar Yacob and Mar Yuhanon sent by Babylonian Patriarch (See of East Syriac Catholicosate shifted from Selucia to Baghdad began to known as Patriarch) ministered from Ankamaly along with ArTEENhyaquana. Cardinal

Tisserent in his book 'Eastern Christianity' states that even after the arrival of Portuguese, Babylonian Primates, continued to send prelates and they ministered in Malanakara viz. Mar Yacob (1503 49), Mar Joseph and Mar Elias (1556 69), Mar Abraham (1568 97) and thereafter Mar Simeon. Most of them were detained by Portuguese under Goan Inquisition and sent to Bassein (Vasai), Lisbon or Rome for orientation in Latin language, tradition and liturgy. In 1601, Menezes consecrated Fr. Francis Roz as bishop of Ankamaly, which marked the beginning of Roman Catholic hierarchy in Malankara. In 1652, Mar Ahathalla, a prelate from East Syria reached Mylapore (most emotive place in India for every East Syriac in early times) and the news of his detention and torture by Portuguese, caused the great uprising of 1653 known as 'Coonan (bend) Cross Oath' in which Malankara Nazranes proclaimed that they or their descendants will not make any relation with Rome and elevated Thomas ArTEENhyaquana as Metran (bishop) by laying hands on him by 12 Priests. The church is headed by the autocephalous [10]. The whole constitution conceives the Malankara Church as self-sufficient in all her requirements, be it temporal, ecclesiastical, or spiritual in nature, and upholds that the Malankara Orthodox church is rightly autocephalous in character. Catholicism led to the first of several rifts in the community by Portuguese colonialists and the establishment of the Catholic and the Malankara Church factions. Since then, further splits have occurred, and the Saint Thomas Christians are now divided into several fragments, due to western interferences. Catholic Church in India, Syro-Malabar Catholic, Syro-Malankara Catholic. Latin Catholicism failed to attract Malankara Nazranis, hence Portuguese had to resort to appeasement as well as to pressure tactics to bring Syrians into their fold. In the Coonan Cross Oath almost total strength of Syrians supported ArTEENhyaquana, but within few decades, majority of churches were annexed to Romanism. Kerala's long water ways helped the Portuguese soldiers to directly intervene in coastal churches, while geographically interior churches spared due to lack of roads at that time. They asked Kochi, Vadakkumkoor, Thekkumkoor and Ambalapuzha kings to put diktats to their Syrian subjects to join Catholicism. After his demise, the constitution was presented in the Malankara Christian Association meeting of 26 December 1934, held at M. D. Seminary. It was adopted and brought to force. The constitution has been amended three times to meet specific situations and needs. The validity of the constitution was challenged by the Patriarch party in the Court, but the Supreme Court's final verdict declared the validity of the Constitution. Every member of the Church is bound by the rules and regulations laid down in the Constitution. Brahmavar Orthodox Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Saint Thomas Christians were administratively under the single native dynastic leadership of an Archdeacon (a native ecclesiastical head with spiritual and temporal powers, deriving from Greek term arkhidiākonos) and were in communion with the Church of the East, centered in Persia, from at least 496. [12]. is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 200 260 million members. [5]. The season from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (three weeks before the Great Lent) through Holy Saturday is called Triodion, while the season from Pascha through Pentecost is called the Pentecostarion. The Great Fast or the period of Lent. What the STUPID store owner doesn't realize is that we have in the State of Colorado (I've been through this before when Copper Mt Ski Resort attempted to Ban me but BACKED DOWN quickly) is a "Public Accommodations Law" that makes it a civil violation to discriminate against a patron due to his or her "creed, race, or lifestyle.". The Brother Nathanael Foundation; PO Box 547; Priest River ID; 83856. Contributors from Opus Dei and a Greek Orthodox church discuss self-denial and corporal mortification with a Muslim chaplain. Through this sacrament sinners may receive forgiveness. They enter into confession with a priest often in an open area in the church (not in a confessional as in the Roman Catholic tradition nor separated by a grille). The next two pics basically show me holding the Cross in the POURING RAIN @. All members of the Eastern Orthodox Church profess the same faith, regardless of race or nationality, jurisdiction or local custom, or century of birth. Holy Tradition encompasses the understandings and means by which that unity of faith is transmitted across boundaries of time, geography, and culture. It is a continuity that exists

only inasmuch as it lives within Christians themselves. [45]. Section II. The Mother and TEEN, and the Original of the TEEN (14k). The name Candlemas comes from 'Candle Mass' because in many Candlemas services, the candles are blessed to be used in churches during the coming year or are given out to people for them to use in their homes and private prayers. In many Eastern/Orthodox churches, an all night vigil is held on the night before the candle blessing ceremony. In the morning, the candles are blessed and are given out to people. Where to learn and purchase Orthodox Liturgical Calendars. This sacrament,', remarks Sergius Bulgakov, 'has two faces: one turns towards healing, the other towards the liberation from illness by death. See Chapter V, Section IV regarding Cupid (St. Valentine's Day). Following Twelfth Night, on 6th January, is Epiphany, when people remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus when he was a baby; and the Baptism of Jesus when he was an adult. I answered, "I don't celebrate holidays dear Dr Kim. As far as I'm concerned there is only one "holy" day in December and that's Christmas.". This page has been archived and is no longer updated. It is the name by which the church refers to itself in its liturgical or canonical texts, [14]. I wish you and everybody else here at RJN a very Merry CHRISTmas, not forgetting Jeff Rense for the great work he does. The Bishops in the Orthodox Church are considered to be the direct successors of the original Apostles and they are very much a unifying focus in the Church. Priests in the Orthodox Church are permitted to be married but may not marry after ordination. Bishops must always be celibate. Orthodox priests normally do not shave their beards, in accordance with the Bible.