Orthodox believers who follow the Julian calendar today celebrate Christmas Eve, a day of fasting, silence, and family gatherings, on the eve of the most joyful Christian holiday – Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas Eve carries strong symbolism and reminds us of the importance of family, faith, and mutual forgiveness. As Predrag Šćepanović points out, for Boje jutra, family has a special place in tradition.
"The family is a small church, a holy family, a memory of the Bethlehem cave where the Savior of the world was born. The entry of the Christmas tree into the home symbolizes the entry of Christ into this world," emphasizes Šćepanović.
According to tradition, the Christmas tree is cut in the early morning hours and brought into the home, and placed on Christmas Eve. For those who are unable to do so in their homes, central placings of the Christmas tree are organized in front of the temples of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral.
Christmas Eve, as Šćepanović points out, is also a day of peace, silence and spiritual concentration, especially important for the younger generations.
"Christ brought peace and goodwill. If God is our Father, then all people are brothers, regardless of differences," he says.
Forgiveness also has a special place on the eve of Christmas.
"If God has forgiven us, we should forgive each other. Christmas is an opportunity to renew brotherly relations and embrace each other in peace," says Šćepanović.
Speaking about preparations for Christmas, he reminds us that Christmas Day is a day of strict fasting, and that the most important thing is to welcome Christ with a pure heart.
"Christmas is the mother of all holidays - if there were no Christmas, there would be no resurrection and victory over death," Šćepanović points out, adding that the holiday should be celebrated in the spirit of love, giving, and caring for those who have none.
Finally, a message of peace and hope was sent to all believers:
"Peace of God, Christ is born! May the love, goodness, and eternal novelty of Christ's message be renewed in all of us."
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