Vespers of the Nativity

By Andy Chandler

Freelance Photographer

The traditional Christmas season normally starts at somewhere around 6 a.m. on Black Friday, when the stores open, and ends sometime after 6 p.m. on Christmas Day when the older men in the family settle down in the living room to watch football. However, for one sect of Christians, Christmas, or rather Nativity, began on Dec. 25 and end on Jan. 6.  

Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, Christmas’ 12 days of Christmas forms a bridge between the celebration of Christ’s birth and baptism.

Worshipers at St. Stephen’s the First Martyr in Crawfordsville began their Holiday season Christmas Eve with evening liturgy, followed by the signing of traditional Christmas carols. The next morning, worship commenced with the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity, a high feast day on the Orthodox calendar.  

The season will go on and by the time of this publishing parishioners will have celebrated the Feast of St. Stephen, patron and namesake of the Parish. The season will conclude with the Feast of Theophany, Christ’s baptism, Tuesday.^. 

”Historically, Theophany still remained the more prominent Feast, explained Fr. Joel Weir, priest at St. Stephens. “Of course, as cultural norms and practices changed over the centuries, Nativity, or Christmas gained popularity. In modern practice in the Orthodox Church, we still keep a form of this ‘12 Days’ but it begins with Christmas . . . On Theophany we celebrate Christ’s baptism by blessing water (including, locally, Sugar Creek), blessing the Church and homes as a sign of and prayer for renewal in the New Year.”

The Orthodox and Catholic Church have a liturgical tradition that is not only meant to draw out the holiday, but also to extend the calendar to reflect on the events of the life of Christ. 

In Krakow, Poland, a traditionally Eastern Orthodox/Catholic country, the holiday season is even longer, with decorations staying up until early February to commemorate Christ’s presentation in the temple. In that country, the atmosphere of merriment is still very palpable in the air as late as the end of January, proving that there is more than one way to celebrate this time of year. The merriment of the season can go on.