LEAVETAKING OF THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY

On January 13, or December 31 according to the old calendar, the Church celebrates the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus. It is important not to forget this, because some commentators claim that the date of Christmas was supposedly chosen arbitrarily for the sole purpose of marking the beginning of a new season, which centuries later came to be celebrated as New Year’s Day.

1 Christmas is indeed connected to the start of a new calendar year, but in the sense that the new calendar year for Christians begins with its Leavetaking. The Church marks the transition to the New Year with the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord.

2 Circumcision is perhaps the most “Old Testament” of all Orthodox holidays. Circumcision was a sign of belonging to the People of God. It also signified the giving of a name. The Son of God receives a human name, and thus the New Year begins. This is deeply symbolic. It turns out that to become human, one must begin counting time, only to later part with time—and thus die. “To live is to die,” as Metallica titled their legendary song. Mortality, as the philosopher Martin Heidegger saw it, is what drives a person’s ability to create and survive.

3 In everyday life, ambulances and other emergency vehicles often rush past us. They’re transporting people or rushing to their aid. In a brightly flashing vehicle, they pass us by, carrying human lives past us, because a person has become extremely ill, and other people—the medical staff—are making every effort to snatch the suffering patients from the clutches of passing time. “God, comfort all who are awake and weeping this night,” prayed Saint Augustine, the Father of the Church, whom popular piety invokes in the struggle against despondency..

4 Ordfnaryl holidays often leave us drained; like ordinary living and dead people, they sap our strength. Liturgical holidays, like the departed saints, fill us with grace and inspire us. As we bid farewell to Christmas, we take the saints—whose feast days fell during the Christmas season—with us as companions.

5 These are the Virgin Mary, the First Martyr Stephen, the Martyrs of Nicomedia, King David, the Righteous Joseph, the Infants of Bethlehem, and James, the Brother of God. Finally, there is the great philanthropist and ascetic Melania the Younger, the spiritual sister and companion of Saints Jerome and Augustine, who passed away on this very day in 439. The New Year begins with St. Basil of Caesarea, who—and this is a major dogmatic theme—ushered in a new era in the history of the Orthodox Church through his works. The Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople (381), which he prepared, bestowed upon Christianity the most important Symbol of Faith. The Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople (381), which he prepared, bestowed upon Christianity the most important Creed. Basil created many great, beautiful, and grace-filled works for the Church. Christ is born! Holy ones of God, pray to God for us!