Nativity of the Lord
The Nativity of the Lord is the feast commemorating the coming in flesh of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is popularly known as Christmas. Jesus Christ was born Bethlehem of the Holy Virgin Mary, through the descent of the Holy Spirit, without the contribution of a human father. The Orthodox doctrine states the virgin conception and birth of the Lord and venerates Mary as the Ever-Virgin. Jesus was born during the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus, in the year 754 ab Urbe condita, when a census was taking place in the Roman empire.
The event has a universal dimension, as it is accomplished for and through the whole creation. The icon of Nativity depicts hosts of angels singing joyous hymns, shepherds who come to worship the light in the cave and a star guiding the three wise men who travelled from the Far East to glorify the Holy Infant and offer precious gifts. The icon is inspired by the liturgy and reflects the biblical account yet also include elements handed down by tradition.
Nativity is celebrated on a fix date (i.e. December 25th) in most Orthodox Churches, except for the Old Calendarists who do it 13 days later, being the second most important feast after the great Feast of Resurrection. The dates of the other fixed feasts are established in relation to it.
The Nativity of the Lord is to be understood as an individual event, too because Jesus must be born, spiritually, in the soul of each Christian and determine an ontological change in those who accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. His birth is the premise of all His redeeming work, through which the human persons can attain godlikeness (Gr. theosis).
