The Key West Citizen

Eastern Orthodox Christmas Tuesday

Many years ago the world used the Julian calendar, devised by Julius Caesar in 46 B. C. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII introduced the New Gregorian Calendar in which corrections are made for errors in the Julian calendar. This is the calendar we use today, but the Eastern Orthodox Churches (among them Greek, Russian, Serbian and Ukrainian) still use the old Julian calendar, which is 2 weeks behind the present one.

Thus December 25 on the old calendar falls on January 7 on the new one, and this is the day that the Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate their Christmas.

Most people of this faith celebrate both Christmases, and recognize them both. This is especially wonderful for the children who get visits from two Santas—one from the American Santa (and this is usually the big celebration) and one from their own Santa.

I remember as a child how anxiously I awaited both Santas and how the other children envied the second visit. Now our little daughter is in the same position. She is anxiously awaiting "Russian Santa Claus" for I am of Russian parentage.

Since there is no Eastern Orthodox Church in Key West, those of this faith who can will go to Miami to celebrate this great holiday in their own churches.

The Eastern Orthodox Churches are very elaborate with many Ikons, these are religious pictures, many of which are hand painted and in beautiful frames; gold candelabrums, and gold 8 pointed crosses (symbol of this religion). The priests wear ornate robes, the colors varying with the holiday. Since the Russian churches in America broke with the Patriarch in the U. S. S. R. some time ago, the head of our churches in North America is Metropolitan Leonty, whose headquarters are at the Russian Cathedral in New York City.