Orthodox Christmas?

[Cary.Melvin]

What do the Eastern Orthodox call Christmas which means Christ's Mass which is a term that I don't think the Orthodox use (Mass)? Also do you observe Christmas (or what you call it) on December 25th as well?

Thanks,

[Oblio]

What do the Eastern Orthodox call Christmas which means Christ's Mass which is a term that I don't think the Orthodox use (Mass)? Also do you observe Christmas (or what you call it) on December 25th as well?

Thanks,


Old habit's die hard. We should call it The Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ :) Also, it is easier when speaking with our family and Heterodox friends since that is what they call their Nativity celebration.

As for the date, New Calendar Orthodox celebrate on the 25th of Dec.

Added: I should have said Orthodox on the New Calendar, Old vs. New is simply a tradition, not a separate confession.

[choirfiend]

The name of the feast is The Nativity Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. In common, Americans call it Christmas in general, but we refer to it as the Nativity. (Feliz Navidad!)

All Orthodox celebrate the feast on December 25. However, there is a new calendar and an old calendar in use among Orthodox. Old Calendar Orthodox celebrate on 25th on the old calendar, which by the secular calendar (which is different than the new calendar) that the RC uses, falls on January 7.

[Petronius]

What do the Eastern Orthodox call Christmas which means Christ's Mass which is a term that I don't think the Orthodox use (Mass)? Also do you observe Christmas (or what you call it) on December 25th as well?

Thanks,

Why do you call yourself Roman Orthodox ?
As you are an orthodox from Rome, how can it be that you do not know the answers ?

[Annoula]

i don't know what Christmas means but in greek we call it Χριστούγεννα = Christougenna. you can say that it somehow sounds like Christmas.

Χριστούγεννα = Χριστού + γέννηση = Christ's + birth


what does Christmas mean anyway?? can someone explain??

[choirfiend]

Christmas=Christ's Mass aka the RCC service is called a Mass. Christ's Mass is the service held on Christ's day of birth.

Christmas is what the feast of the Nativity is usually called in English speaking countries.

[Cary.Melvin]

Christmas=Christ's Mass aka the RCC service is called a Mass. Christ's Mass is the service held on Christ's day of birth.

Christmas is what the feast of the Nativity is usually called in English speaking countries.

The Mass is what I think you guys call the Divine Liturgy. Am I right about that?

[choirfiend]

yes, Liturgy is the word we use for worship and the Divine Liturgy is the Eucharistic service.