Advent 2023 – The Christmas story explored
GRAPHIC: Beto Gomez/Shutterstock In the lead-up to Christmas this year, we’re featuring 24 days exploring the Biblical story of Christ’s birth… All Bible quotes come from the NIV unless stated otherwise. A mosaic depicting Joseph, Mary and Jesus. PICTURE: Mayerberg/iStockphoto. DAY 24What names are given to Jesus in the story of His birth?Both Mary and Joseph are […]
Jerusalem’s church leaders call for sober Christmas in Holy Land as war rages
RNS The top leaders of the major Christian denominations in Jerusalem have called on churches in the Holy Land to refrain from organising any “unnecessarily festive” Advent and Christmas activities in solidarity with the victims of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Smoke rises over Gaza as seen from southern […]
Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to 25th December, denouncing Russian-imposed traditions
Kyiv, Ukraine AP Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to 25th December from 7th January, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it. The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to “abandon the Russian heritage,” including that of “imposing the celebration […]
Orthodox Church: After calendar change, many in Ukraine are looking forward to a new Christmas
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has further cemented its split from the Russian counterpart it used to be a part of by adopting a new liturgical calendar. DAVID I KLEIN, of Religion News Service, reports…
Ukraine’s main church to switch calendar in move away from Russia
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Ukraine’s main Orthodox church said on Wednesday it had decided to switch to a calendar in which Christmas is celebrated on 25th December, a move that distances it from Russia. Ukrainian Christians, a majority of whom are Orthodox, have traditionally celebrated Christmas on 7th January alongside other predominantly Orthodox Christian countries such as […]
Ukraine’s main Catholic church moves Christmas to 25th December in pivot to West
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Ukraine’s main Catholic church said on Monday it would move to a new calendar that would see Christmas celebrated on 25th December rather than 7th January, amid an effort by Ukrainian institutions to break cultural links to Russia. The move by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which counts just under a tenth […]
In Mexico, broken baby Jesus statues flood restorers ahead of feast day
Mexico City, MexicoAP It is Maximinio Vertiz’ busy season. Dozens of beloved but worn and broken baby Jesus figurines will pass through this 49-year-old craftsman’s hands, restoring them in time for their annual pilgrimage to church for a Candlemas blessing. Holding a putty knife with a steady hand, Vertiz went about this meticulous task on […]
Northern lights: In polar night, Norway-Russia kids event lights up Christmas
GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO, of Associated Press, reports from Barentsburg…
Ukrainians mark Orthodox Christmas in Europe with a prayer to return home
Warsaw, Poland, Berlin, Germany Reuters Victoria, a Ukrainian refugee, is celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Poland with a simple prayer – that next year she will be back at home. The 40-year-old is one of the millions of Ukrainians who have fled the Russian invasion of their homeland and are marking the holiday with mixed emotions […]
Christmas joy and anger for rival Orthodox churches in historic Kyiv monastery
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Tears of joy streamed down worshippers’ faces as Ukraine’s main church celebrated a “return” to Kyiv’s Cathedral of the Assumption on Orthodox Christmas day, shortly after taking control of it from a rival church with alleged ties to Russia. The golden-domed cathedral, of huge cultural and religious significance, sits on a high […]