|
Courier News, www.c-n.com website
Bridgewater, New Jersey, January 6, 2004
More than 200 million Orthodox Christians, many of Russian, Greek and
Ukrainian backgrounds, will celebrate Christmas on Wednesday.
Roman Catholics and most Protestants observe Christmas on Dec. 25, based
on the Gregorian calendar. Most Eastern Orthodox churches observe the event
13 days later based on the Julian calendar.
The Very Rev. Archpriest Stavros Rousos, rector of St. Euphrosynia
Belarusian Greek Orthodox Church in South River [New Jersey], said for the
230 adults and 30 children in his growing church, the celebration began 40
days ago with a fast of meat and dairy products.
The Right Rev. Taras Chubenko of St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
in Carteret [New Jersey] said parishioners at his church began the nativity
fast of meat and dairy products on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The fast
runs
through Wednesday.
Today, parishioners at St. Euphrosynia won't eat until the first star
appears in the sky and members gather for the Holy Supper of Lenten-like
foods, such as pierogi, without cheese or butter, and cabbage and noodles.
Rousos said the Christmas Eve service tonight will include bringing out a
hand-painted holy picture of the nativity and singing hymns to Jesus Christ.
After the service, another supper of boiled wheat -- popular in Belarus --
is served as part of a more festive meal. Fasting resumes after the supper
until Holy Communion on Christmas.
"We have a special greeting, 'Christ is Born,'" Rousos said. People respond
by saying "Glorify Him," he said.
Songs are sung in Belarusian. Although there is no Santa Claus, Rousos said
there is a "Grandfather Frost" who distributes gifts to children.
Chubenko said no one knows when Christ was born, so marking Christmas
becomes a calendar issue.
"There's no hard and fast rule it has to be Jan. 7," said Chubenko, adding
that some Orthodox churches have switched to celebrating Christmas on Dec.
25.
"No one can validate Christmas on December 25 or January 7 to celebrate the
birth of Christ," Chubenko said.
Father Chaykivsky Maryan, the new pastor of St. Spiridon Russian Orthodox
Church in Perth Amboy [New Jersey], said his church will celebrate Christmas
on Wednesday in a church already decorated for the holiday. Born in the
Ukraine, Maryan came to the United States three years ago and became pastor
at St. Spiridon three months ago.
http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,882591,00.html
FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY
|
back
