Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas Eve Today

The Serbian Orthodox Church is celebrating Christmas Eve today, and will prepare for the most joyous Christian holiday, the birth of Jesus Christ. Church services and the burning of badnjaks in Orthodox Christian churches announces the birth of the savior, whose arrival to the world is celebrated as the beginning of a new period and the most joyous event for Christianity.

On this day, a badnjak is brought into Orthodox homes, for which the Church has given special meaning. The badnjak is a symbol of the tree that, according to tradition, was brought by shepherds to Joseph and Mary to light a fire and warm the place where Jesus was born.

The badnjak is lit for the holidays and burns until Christmas when the joy of Christ’s birth is announced. The burning of the badnjak is a symbol of parting with old beliefs and acceptance of new light that comes from faith in the newborn Christ.

All Orthodox churches and believers who observe the Julian calendar (Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Mount Athos, Egyptian Copts, Greek Old Calendarists) celebrate Christmas Even and Christmas Day.

(Source: klix.ba)