Merry Christmas! [ yes, I know its january ;) ]
 

Merry Christmas (Orthodox Christian)!!



There has been a lot of tension and violence this holiday season for Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians across the Middle East, in Pakistan, in Iran, in Egypt, in Iraq.. Our services have been bombed, our people martyred and assassinated, some in the Church, some having had their doors kicked in their homes, elderly, women, children, its a shame..

But we are here to say that after 2000 years, since the establishment of the Apostolic Church in Jerusalem, up until this very moment, that the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Orthodox Church of Jesus Christ, stands in I-verence and I-ration and I-ity for I-ver!

Merry Christmas to all of you SYGerz and sonic love community across the world who are Old Calendarists like myself, those in Russia, Greek/Byzantine Orthodox, Syrian/Antiochan Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic/Orthodox, Georgian Orthodox, Eritrean Tewahedo Orthodox, Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Indian Malabar Orthodox, and any other who adhere to the Orthodox Faith and Apostolic Tradition, Glory to God in the Highest, on Earth peace, in Heaven delight!

I hope all of y'all are enjoying this season of joy and love and light and life, the Light that shines even the the darkest of moments here on our troubled Earth, and gets us all through each and every day.

Peace and Love to you all!!

habte selassie

Orthodox Christmas


Tags: Christmas, News, Society, Russia, World

Jan 7, 2011 19:02 Moscow Time
President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife, Svetlana, during a Christmas service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Foreground left: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Photo: RIA Novosti

 

 

On Friday the Russian, Serbian, Jerusalem and Georgian Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.
One of the centres of the festivities is Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born.
Thousands of people attended the service in the Church of the Nativity.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducted the Christmas liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife attended the service.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is in the Tver region to the north-west of Moscow for Christmas.
Outdoor Christmas festivities in Russia began in the evening to last for a week.
Children and grown-ups will be making snowmen, playing snowballs, dancing around Christmas trees and competing in skiing and skating

Christmas Comes Twice for Russians in Space
By Tariq Malik
SPACE.com Managing Editor
posted: 07 January 2011
03:43 pm ET
A trio of cosmonauts living on the International Space Station celebrated a second Christmas in orbit today (Jan. 7) to mark Russian Orthodox Christmas.
The three cosmonauts have the day off in space today to celebrate the Russian holiday, which comes just over two weeks after the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas according to the Julian calendar, marking the event today instead of on Dec. 25.
The Russian members of the space station's crew includes cosmonauts Alexander Kaleri, Oleg Skripochka and Dmitry Kondratyev. Together they make up half of the space station's current six-person crew. Two Americans and an Italian round out the crew.
"The cosmonauts will have an off-duty day and our understanding is they are planning the traditional special greeting for them from the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church," NASA spokesperson Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters told SPACE.com from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The multicultural astronauts that live and work on the International Space Station often choose which holidays they will celebrate before the crew ever launches into orbit. For example, the station's entire crew celebrated Christmas in space on Dec. 25, and then rang in the New Year on Jan. 1.
Russia's Santa-like Father Frost visited the Russian space station mission control center near Moscow on Dec. 28 to help mark the New Year, Russia's Federal Space Agency has said. [11 Things Americans Will Be Doing in Space in 2011]
Since today is a Russian holiday, the station's American astronauts aren't expected to take time off, Cloutier-Lemasters said. But that doesn't mean the non-Russians on the station's crew are oblivious to the festive Russian tradition.
"Merry Christmas to all Russia!" wrote Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, the only European member of the space station's crew, on Twitter, where he is chronicling his flight as Astro_Paolo.
The $100 billion International Space Station has been under construction since 1998 and served as an orbital research outpost for astronauts since the first crew took up residence in 2000.
Today, the station has living space equivalent to a Boeing 747 jumbo jet and a wingspan as long as a football field. It can easily be spotted from Earth without the use of a telescope by skywatchers who know where to look and have clear weather.
All six crew members on the space station are expected to get back to work on Monday (Jan. 10).

Orthodox Christmas continues in the Holy Land

By NICOLE JANSEZIAN, TRAVELUJAH
01/06/2011 11:14

Greek, Syrian, Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians will converge at Manger Square in Bethlehem for their continuous Christmas celebrations.

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For more information on Christians sites and travel in Israel, visit Travelujah.com

Orthodox Christmas in the Holy Land continues this week with Orthodox Christians celebrating their holidays and most of their services and festivities taking place on Christmas eve, Jan. 6.

Greek, Syrian, Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians will converge at Manger Square in Bethlehem for their Christmas nearly two weeks after the Catholic and Protestant celebration of the holiday.

The disparity in the dates stems from the year 336 when Constantine declared Christianity the empire's religion. Eastern churches continued to commemorate Christmas on January 6 as the date for Christ's birth and his baptism, which up till then was celebrated as part of the Epiphany, the observance of the Magi arriving to see Jesus. The Western church continued to celebrate the Epiphany on Jan. 6 separate from Christmas and the Eastern churches celebrate the Epiphany on Jan. 18.

Then in the 16th century Pope Gregory devised a new calendar. The Eastern Orthodox and some Protestants retained the Julian calendar, which meant celebrating Christmas 13 days later than their Gregorian counterparts.

If you are in Bethlehem, it won't be hard to find any number of services and vespers. Here is a schedule of events:

BETHLEHEM

1. Greek, Syrian and Coptic Churches
Basilica of the Nativity, Manger Square
9 a.m. The Syrian Archbishop arrives at Manger Square
9:30 a.m. The Coptic Archbishop arrives at Manger Square
1 p.m. The Greek Patriarch arrives at Manger Square
Liturgy ends at 3.30 pm
1 p.m. Syrian Vespers
2:30 p.m. Coptic Vespers
10:30 p.m. Greek Matins
11 p.m. Syrian Liturgy
10:40 p.m. Coptic Liturgy
Midnight Greek Service, ends at 3:30 a.m.

2. Romanian Church
The Romanian Church participates in all liturgies and prayers of the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. Ethiopian Church
Ethiopian Monastery of Peace-Church of Eyesus,
Milk Grotto Street
3:30 p.m. Arrival at the Manger Square and procession to the Church of Eyesus
4 p.m. Vespers till 5 p.m.
8:45 p.m. Bells, prayers and veneration of the Icons
9:50 p.m. Laudes (Mahlet)
Midnight Liturgy (Kidassie)
January 7
4 a.m. Special Breakfast of the day
6 a.m. Dispersal or completion of the Festivity


JERUSALEM

1. Greek Church
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Jan. 6, 11:15 p.m. Midnight Service

2. Romanian Church
Shivtei Israel Street 46
Jan. 6, 7 p.m. Vespers
Jan. 7/8/9, 08:30 a.m. Holy Liturgy

3. Russian Church St. Mary Magdalene, Gethsemane
Jan. 6, 10 a.m. Vespers, Liturgy of St. Basil
5 p.m. Vigil Service
Jan. 7, 8 a.m. Divine Liturgy
4:30 p.m. Vespers
Jan. 8, 7 a.m. Divine Liturgy



4. Russian Church (Moscow Mission)
Russian Compound, Sheshin Street
Jan. 6, 5 p.m. Vespers at St. Alexandra Chapel
Midnight, Divine Liturgy at St. Alexandra Chapel

Here's a Merry Christmas I can enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN2NNwZ1op8

2010/2011

 

Jerusalem - A member of the clergy and a worker spread a carpet on a floor in the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, ahead of the Eastern Orthodox Christmas January 5, 2011.

 

Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I talks to worshippers at the patriarchal cathedral of St. George in Istanbul

 

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Maxim

 

Egypt - Riot police stand guard near the Orthodox church where Saturday's bomb attacks took place in Alexandria January 6, 2011. Egypt tightened security around churches on the eve of Coptic Christmas after a New Year's Day bombing killed up to 23 and sparked angry protests by Christians demanding more protection from Muslim militants

 

Patriarch Daniel of Romania leads the Divine Liturgy

 

Armenia - His Holiness Karekin II, global head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, conducts Apostolic Christmas liturgy ceremony in Echmiadzin about 24 km (15 miles) east of the capital Yerevan, Armenia

 

Christmas Liturgy in Antelias - Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia

 

A young worshipper greets the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos (L) upon his arrival to the Church of Nativity for Orthodox Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 6, 2011.

 

Christian clerics pray during Divine Liturgy to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas at Saint Serkis church in Damascus - - Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All East

 

Macedonia - People gather by a bonfire in Macedonia's capital Skopje, on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, a night before Christian Orthodox Christmas Eve. Macedonian Christian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas by the Julian calendar.

 

Ukraine - A child wearing a traditional costume carries a sheaf of wheat, known as "Didukh" during a celebration of the Orthodox Christmas in the centre of Lviv, January 6, 2011. "Didukh", an Ukrainian Christmas ornament, symbolises best wishes for crops and the harvest for the coming year.

 

Serbia - A Serbian woman arranges dried oak branches for sale, the Yule log symbol for the Orthodox Christmas eve, in Belgrade

 

A Syrian Orthodox Priest In India carefully involves in cutting cake for Nativity

 

Russia - People participate in the Nativity Liturgy lead by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

 

Ethiopian Orthodox worshippers pray at the Ethiopian section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City January 5, 2011.

 

Georgia - Young faithful of the Georgian Orthodox Church carry national flags during a religious procession in Tbilisi, Georgia on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, to mark the Orthodox Christmas.

 

Albania - Albanian Orthodox Youth Celebrate Christmas

 

India - A huge Christmas Star hanging in front of a Church. The Indian Orthodox Christians celebrate Nativity on 25th of December

 

Eriterian Orthodox Bishop of USA, Abune Makarius reads out Nativity Message

 

Kosovo - Kosovo Serbs carry oak to prepare to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in the town of Gracanica, some 6 km (4 miles) southeast of Kosovo's capital Pristina

 

Patriarchate of Alexandria - Patriarch Theodoros II with Children during Nativity celebrations in Cairo

 

Finland - A Small Smile. Photo From Orthodox Aid Website

http://www.pareizticiba.lv/im.php?i=/505/IMG_6074.jpg Latvia - Latvian Orthodox Christians during Nativity and New Year Liturgy

 

Poland - Polish Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas at Biala Podlaska

 

Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia - Celebrations in Czech

 

United Kingdom - The British Orthodox Christians

 

Lithuania- Lithuanian Orthodox Church believers attend the liturgy on Orthodox Christmas Eve in the Prechistensky, the Cathedral Palace in Vilnius

 

A Coptic priest wafts incense near Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's sons Alaa Mubarak (2nd L) and Gamal Mubarak (R) during the Coptic Christmas eve mass, which will be led by Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Cathedral, in Cairo January 6, 2011

these are the folks I pray with every Sunday and last night, we are a bit more heartical than many others in Orthodox, there is an obvious and unfeigned sincerity in Ethiopian manner of worship that is admired by most who witness our services..

 

Christian Orthodox Christmas has long been a nettlesome holiday for Egypt's Muslims: Some have taken to extending kind wishes to their Coptic neighbors while others have gone as far as forbidding any celebration of the birth of Christ.
This year's Christmas was a different story, however. The church bombing that left 25 dead and at least 80 injured in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on New Year's Eve seems to have finally made millions of Muslims aware of the nation's Islamic extremism and dangerous sectarian divide.
In a sign of goodwill, thousands of Muslims attended Christmas masses on Thursday and Friday alongside Christians. "I'm here to tell all my Coptic brothers that Muslims and Christians are an inseparable pillar of Egypt's texture," Mohab Zayed, a Muslim attendee at a Mass in a church in the Heliopolis district of Cairo, told The Times. "Copts have to know that we will share any pains or threats they go through."

A large number of prominent Muslim intellectuals, actors and clergymen also joined Copts in their masses. Adel Imam, the Arab world's most famous actor, and Amr Khaled, a popular islamic preacher, attended Christmas liturgies.
Also on Thursday, hundreds of Muslims organized a candlelight vigil to show solidarity with Copts in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square. Copts had to celebrate Christmas amid both mourning and great security worries as the Ministry of Interior deployed thousands of armored vehicles, no less than 70,000 police officers, metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs around churches across the country.
A campaign initiated by Muslim cultural tycoon Mohamed El Sawy called on Muslims to act as protecting shields outside churches Thursday and Friday. Leaflets were handed out by Muslim volunteers reading "we either live together or die together," referring to Copts and Muslims.
Coptic student Nader Rizkallah was happy to see Muslims get involved in efforts to get closer to Copts. Nonetheless, he wondered if such solidarity will last.
"I'm really glad with the spirit some Muslims have shown this Christmas, but did we have to wait for something disastrous like the Alexandria bombing to get closer? Will we stay this close next Christmas even if no deadly attacks occur before it?" Rizkallah told The Times.
Last week, Coptic Pope Senouda III appealed to the Egyptian government to start tackling the grass-roots of the sectarian problem in Egypt as a first step toward avoiding further attacks and stemming hatred of Copts in Egypt.
Egypt's Copts, who have long complained of inequality and been marginalization by the Muslim majority, amount to 10% of the country's population.
--Amro Hassan in Cairo
Photo: Protesters carry Korans alongside Bibles and crosses in a solidarity demonstration in Cairo. Credit: Associated Press