WITH THE SPIRIT OF ALL FORMS OF LOVE

Dear Brothers and Sisters. 

A spiritual leader recently asked me, “Why do you celebrate Christmas on January 6? Is it because you follow the new or Gregorian calendar, which was established back in 1582, and the Armenian Church adopted in 1923?” 

I answered that our celebration on January 6 has nothing to do with the Gregorian calendar, but rather it is the original date of the feast’s celebration, followed by all churches. The change was introduced in the West, where December 25 gradually came to be observed as a way to offer a Christian alternative to the Saturnalia—the popular pagan winter festivals—celebrating the birth of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, and it gradually expanded to the Eastern Churches. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Church father and later the Patriarch of Constantinople, clearly mentioned this in 386, saying, “Years back, we traditionally used to celebrate Christmas on January 6, but shifted to December 25 due to practical reasons.” 

I concluded my answer by saying that the essence of the feast, more than the date, is to accept Jesus Christ in our hearts turning them into mangers, to believe and confess Him as our Lord, and, most essentially, to follow in His footsteps, reflecting His love in words and deeds.  

My fellow spiritual brother agreed with me and said, “Absolutely, we should prioritize the message of the Feast.”   

Therefore, whether we celebrate the source of this great joy on December 25 or January 6, let us greet each other with the spirit of all forms of love—be it kindness, understanding, forgiveness, or respect—and with divine virtues. 

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, may all of you have a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.