Christmas

The historical development of the Christmas festival in the late third and early fourth centuries had a distinctly theological intention. [Oscar E. Cullmann, The Early Church, edited by A.J.B. Higgins, (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1956), p. 25] The nativity festival was celebrated in response to those heresies that did not accept the fullness of God’s presence in the humanity of Jesus. Through the festival of Christmas the orthodox branch of the church affirmed the fullness of incarnation. God was not a shadowy presence, too spiritual to be identified with humanity. Rather, he became fully clothed with our humanity.

Not only does Christmastide observe the birth of Christ, it affirms the importance of the church year. It could be said that Christmas sanctifies the liturgica…