Priest's Corner

The months of November and December present the most difficult time of the year for Orthodox Christians because we are confronted with family issues that arise only at this time: Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are hard issues for Orthodox and their children to confront. Probably 90% of the Orthodox who follow the traditional Orthodox calendar, the Julian calendar, were not raised celebrating the Nativity on January 7 but, rather, on December 25 with the Roman Catholics and Protestants. Most Orthodox born after 1930 did not know, while growing up, very much about the calendar controversy.

Converts knew the Gregorian calendar and it was only while they were becoming Orthodox that the problems with Christmas arose. In addition, the rules of fasting were not something that either Orthodox or converts grew up with so when we are invited to our parents or friend's homes to celebrate Western Christmas on December 25 we have yet another issue to handle. Of course this really puts pressure on our children when they see all the food which we are not eating placed before them and their parents have to counsel them not to eat any meat, pies, ice cream, etc.

I mention Thanksgiving because in some years the fast for Nativity begins on or before Thanksgiving day so the same issue as Christmas has to be dealt with. Regardless of where we find ourselves we should always remember to follow our faith and keep the fast: not to judge others because we fast, and to fast without complaining as Christ tells us: (Mat 6:17-18). But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. This period of time can strengthen us in our faith as we come to understand the importance of keeping the traditions that have been given us in the Church.

The New Calendarists should never be eating turkey on Thanksgiving because it is a time to fast, yet their bishops tell them it is alright for them to break the fast. They all try to justify this with numerous excuses, but there is no justification to disobey God.

The only reason they celebrate Christmas on December 25 is because they have the day off, it is a legal holiday. The same can be said for their New Year's. At least if they would keep the fast and celebrate the feast as Orthodox we would have much more to talk about but when fasting is ignored and St. Basil's feast is replaced with New Year's Eve parties, we must part ways because the faith is being trampled underfoot.

Judas betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver and the New Calendar Orthodox are willing to betray Christ for two paid holidays a year. If these were not holidays there would be no resistance to returning to the faith they had once received and follow the Julian calendar. There are no other days of the year which matter to them because the Passover (Pascha) is on Sunday. The date of Theophany, the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, is not important to the New Calendarists because it does not fall on a legal holiday.

We have been making excuses for a long time when we go to our families in this season because we are new to the teachings of the Church; however, it is time to approach this in a different way. If we go over to the homes of our families and friends on December 25, then they should be willing to come and participate in our joy of the Nativity on January 7. Ask them to come over to your house and see how they respond.

For the Orthodox convert, you will need patience and love to explain to your families and friends why you no longer celebrate on December 25 and why you fast at this time of the year. This requires on all our parts an effort to read the scriptures, a few articles and become better acquainted with the history of this change of calendar so we can defend our faith. Bear in mind the words of St. Paul: (Colossians 2:8) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." ." (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6)

As we prepare ourselves for the Incarnation of God, the Nativity of Jesus Christ, God-Man, let us not be distracted by all the glitter that we see at this time of the year but rather seek ye the kingdom of God.