Christmas (Feast of the Nativity)
The feast of God born in a manger — though the churches keep it on different days
Christmas is the annual feast of Christ's birth, celebrated with special liturgy and customs. The Chronograph of 354 attests December 25 observed at Rome by 336, and Chrysostom preached the feast at Antioch. Most churches keep December 25; those following the Julian calendar observe it on January 7, and Armenians on January 6. The traditions differ on the date, and some Puritan and Reformed Christians historically rejected the feast altogether.
How it traveled
- Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the FleshEdessa · c. 373 CEapplies
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · c. 390 CEexplains
Key passages(12)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh · Ephrem the Syrian
Hymn III. Blessed be that first day of thine, Lord, wherewith this day of Thy Feast is stamped! Thy day is like Thee, in that it shows mercy unto men, in that it is handed down and comes with all gen
Tap to expand
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Oration XXXVIII. On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ. The Title of this Oration has given rise to a doubt whether it was preached on Dec. 25, 380, or on Jan. 6, 381. The word Theophania is well
Tap to expand
Book V · Constitutions of the Holy Apostles
XIII. Brethren, observe the festival days; and first of all the birthday which you are to celebrate on the twenty-fifth of the ninth month; after which let the Epiphany be to you the most honoured, in
Tap to expand
Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh · Ephrem the Syrian
Hymn XVIII. Resp.—Praise be to Him Who sent Him! (bis) 1. Blessed art thou, O Church, for lo! in thee is the sound,—of the great feast the festival of the King!—Sion is deserted, her gates are sore
Tap to expand
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon XXII. On the Feast of the Nativity, II. I. The mystery of the Incarnation demands our joy. Let us be glad in the Lord, dearly-beloved, and rejoice with spiritual joy that there has dawned fo
Tap to expand
The Letters · Basil of Caesarea
Letter CCXXXII. Placed in 376. Maran, Vit. Bas. xxxv., thinks that this letter is to be placed either in the last days of 375, if the Nativity was celebrated on December 25, or in the beginning of 37
Tap to expand
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Exception is made on the night of Christmas eve, when mass is celebrated, because our Lord was born in the night (De Consecr., dist. 1). And in like manner it is celebrated on Holy Saturday towards th
Tap to expand
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, As stated above (A[1]), in the celebration of this mystery, we must take into consideration the representation of our Lord's Passion, and the participation of its fruits; and the time s
Tap to expand
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon XXXIV. On the Feast of the Epiphany, IV. I. The yearly observance of the Epiphany is profitable to Christians. It is the right and reasonable duty of true piety, dearly-beloved, on the days
Tap to expand
Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious Men · Jerome
Chapter XLI. Maximus, bishop of the church at Turin, a man fairly industrious in the study of the Holy Scripture, and good at teaching the people extemporaneously, composed treatises In praise of the
Tap to expand
Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious Men · Jerome
Chapter XXI. Severianus,Exposition of the epistle to the Galatians and a most attractive little work On baptism and the feast of Epiphany. He died in the reign of Theodosius, his son by baptism. Sev
Tap to expand
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Oration XXXIX. Oration on the Holy Lights. The Oration on the Holy Lights was preached on the Festival of the Epiphany 381, and was followed the next day by that on Baptism. In the Eastern Church th
Tap to expand