Putting Christmas Back Into Christ

a workshop

Plot

The ancient Christian tradition preserved by the Orthodox Church understands the meaning of Christmas-- in its full title, the Feast of the Nativity according to the flesh of our Lord and God and savior Jesus Christ-- to be intimately connected with the great Feast of Pascha, or Easter, which commemorates Christ's resurrection and victory over death. Fr. Hopko writes: "Jesus lay as an infant in the cavern in the reign of Caesar Augustus that he might lay in the tomb under Pontius Pilate.He was worshiped by wise men that the whole of creation might adore him in his triumph over death. The Pascha of his cross was prepared by the Pascha of his coming. The Pascha of his resurrection was begun by the Pascha of his incarnation."