Image Credit: Chad Klassen / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS

Despite gathering limitations, Orthodox Christmas perseveres in Kamloops

Jan 6, 2021 | 4:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — Tonight marks Christmas Eve for hundreds of Orthodox Christians around the city.

Late-night services and large caroling groups can’t be in-person this year, but Orthodox Christmas will still be recognized.

Because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar — instead of the Gregorian calendar commonly used in North America — Christmas Eve falls on January 6, with Christmas Day on January 7.

Father Chad Pawlyshyn of the All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kamloops says the calendar dates are the main difference in how the occasion is celebrated.

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“Traditionally, in the Orthodox Church when we celebrate Christmas we celebrate the nativity, which is the birth of Christ. There typically isn’t a lot of gift-giving because that’s actually reserved for the feast day of St. Nicholas which is earlier in December,” he explains. “What is emphasized is the birth of Christ. What we traditionally will do is we will have a 12-dish, meatless and dairyless dinner on Christmas Eve.”

Carol singing and visits with friends and family are large parts of celebrating for the Orthodox community, but Pawlyshyn says those Christmas traditions will have to be done virtually.

The church will live stream its services tonight and tomorrow on YouTube and Facebook (accessed here).