Conversations for the holidays

1. “Conversation on the Day of Christmas” (the full title is “Conversation on the Day of Christmas, our Savior Jesus Christ, which day was not yet generally known, but a little before that it became known from some who came from the West and announced it”) delivered by St. John Chrysostom in Antioch on December 25, 386. Consists of 7 chapters. Since earlier in Antioch there was a custom to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 6 along with the Epiphany, disputes arose over the new holiday: some recognized it, others rejected it. With this conversation, the saint wishes to put an end to these disputes and provides three proofs in favor of the fact that the day of the Nativity of Christ should be celebrated on December 25: 1) the rapid spread of this holiday, which “so quickly became famous, reached such heights and became famous”; 2) the census, which is mentioned in the Gospel (Luke 2:1-7). It shows that Christ was born at the first census, the time of which can be learned from the ancient codes publicly preserved in Rome; 3) the date of conception of the prophet John the Baptist. St. John provides detailed evidence from the Holy Scriptures that righteous Elizabeth conceived a son at the end of September, when the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated. Six months after this event, in March, the Virgin Mary conceived. 9 months later, in December, Jesus Christ was born. At the end of the conversation, the saint calls the Nativity of Christ the greatest mystery, therefore pagans cannot comprehend it and accept the truth of the Incarnation. *The title of the work in Greek is Εἰς τὴν ϒενέθλιον ἡμέραν τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ. *The title of the essay in Latin is In diem natalem. 2. “A Word on the Day of Epiphany” (the full title is “A Word on the Day of Epiphany against those who are not present in sacred assemblies, and about the holy saving Baptism of our Savior Jesus Christ, and about those who partake unworthily, and about the fact that those who leave the Divine Liturgy before its end and go out before the concluding prayer are likened to Judas”) delivered by St. John Chrysostom in Antioch on the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, 387. Consists of 4 chapters. At the beginning of his speech, the saint calls on Christians to attend church not only on major holidays, but also not to forget about Sunday: “A week has seven days; God divided these seven days with us in such a way that He did not take more for Himself and did not give us less, and did not even divide them equally - He did not take three for Himself and did not give us three, but He separated six days for you and left one for Himself.” The conversation says that there will be another Epiphany. One has already happened, and the other will happen when Christ appears in Glory at the end of the world. St. John compares Jewish cleansing, which freed not from sins, but only from bodily uncleanness, with Christian Baptism, which frees from sins, cleanses the soul and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. It also touches on the topic of worthy communion of the Holy Mysteries, which must be approached with reverence and fear. *The title of the work in Greek is Εἰς τὸ βάπτισμα τοῦ Σωτῆρος. *The title of the work in Latin is De baptismo Christi. 3. “Conversation on the Ascension” (the full title is “Conversation on the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Said in the church of the martyrs in Romanesia, where the bodies of the martyrs, which lay hidden near the corpses of heretics, were transferred and placed specially at the top”), delivered by St. John Chrysostom in Antioch, probably May 14, 386. Consists of 5 chapters. The saint discusses the significance of Christ’s Ascension into heaven and His “sitting” at the right hand of the Father, seeing in this the co-ascension and deification of all human nature: “Now God has reconciled with the human race, now the long-term enmity has ceased and the long war has ended... Now the Angels have received what they have long desired; Now the Archangels have seen what they have long thirsted for: they have seen our nature shining on the Royal Throne, shining with glory and immortal beauty.” *The title of the work in Greek is Εἰς τὴν ᾿Ανάληψιν τοῦ Κυρίου. *The title of the work in Latin is In ascensionem Domini nostri Iesu Christi. Conversation on Christmas Day Conversation on the Day of Epiphany Conversation on Ascension You might be interested in: