On 2 January begins the Forefeast of the Theophany. On this same day is the feast day of Saint Basil the Great, and so the service celebrated on that day is the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil. The Sunday after the Nativity has its own liturgical commemoration in honour of "The Righteous Ones: Joseph the Betrothed, David the King and James the Brother of the Lord".Īnother of the more prominent festivals that are included among the Twelve Great Feasts is that of the Circumcision of Christ on 1 January. The Saturday following the Nativity is commemorated by special readings from the Epistle ( 1 Tim 6:11–16) and Gospel ( Matt 12:15–21) during the Divine Liturgy. The Afterfeast of the Nativity (similar to the Western octave) continues until 31 December (that day is known as the Apodosis or "leave-taking" of the Nativity). 29 December is the Orthodox Feast of the Holy Innocents. Christmas Eve) is "The Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ", and celebrates not only the Nativity of Jesus, but also the Adoration of the Shepherds of Bethlehem and the arrival of the Magi the second day is referred to as the " Synaxis of the Theotokos", and commemorates the role of the Virgin Mary in the Incarnation the third day is known as the "Third Day of the Nativity", and is also the feast day of the Protodeacon and Protomartyr Saint Stephen. The Nativity of Christ is a three-day celebration: the formal title of the first day (i. e. During this period one celebration leads into another. The period between Christmas and Epiphany is fast-free. The Twelve Days, using the Gregorian calendar, end at sunset on 18 January.įor the Eastern Orthodox, both Christmas and Epiphany are among the Twelve Great Feasts that are only second to Easter in importance. Christmas and Epiphany are celebrated by these churches on 25 December and 6 January using the Julian calendar, which correspond to 7 and 19 January using the Gregorian calendar. The Oriental Orthodox (other than the Armenians), the Eastern Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholics who follow the same traditions have a twelve-day interval between the two feasts. The Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian Catholic Church celebrate the Birth and Baptism of Christ on the same day, so that there is no distinction between a feast of Christmas and a feast of Epiphany. Federer, states that this was done in order to solve the "administrative problem for the Roman Empire as it tried to coordinate the solar Julian calendar with the lunar calendars of its provinces in the east." Eastern Christianity to just before midnight 5 January as Epiphany begins 6 January) as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast." Christopher Hill, as well as William J. In 567, the Council of Tours "proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany (i.e. the Roman Catholic Church, Christmastide lasts longer than the Twelve Days of Christmas but the Christmas itself lasts one day on December 25. For many Christian denominations-for example, the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Church-the Twelve Days are identical to Christmastide, but for others, e.g. However, 6 January is sometimes considered Twelfth Day/Twelfth Night with the Twelve Days "of" Christmas actually after Christmas Day from 26 December to 6 January. In some Western ecclesiastical traditions, " Christmas Day" is considered the "First Day of Christmas" and the Twelve Days are 25 December to 5 January, inclusive, with 6 January being a "thirteenth day" in some traditions and languages. The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus. Varies by denomination, culture, and nationĬhristmas Day, Christmastide, Twelfth Night, Epiphany, and Epiphanytide The Adoration of the Magi, Fresco at the Lower Church of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Assisi, Italy.
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