[drgshmcm]

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church may decide in favor of restoring the Julian Calendar, which means that Christmas will have be celebrated on January 7 instead of December 25.

Senior bishops have made it clear that in 2009 Bulgaria might celebrate Christmas on December 25 for the last time, if the Church decides to renounce the Gregorian Calendar.

On December 20, 2009, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is going to hold a meeting to consider the plea of a group of believers and their priest from the village of Chelopechene, asking that Christmas be celebrated on January 7. The plea was filed on November 20, 2009.

The local priest Mariy Dimitrov has been serving according to the Julian Calendar for the last 20 years in his parish with the special permission of Bulgarian Patriarch Maxim.

Those who filed the plea remind that a similar case for the restoration of the Julian Calendar in 1997 attracted the support of five bishops.

Bulgaria switched to the Gregorian Calendar in 1916, and has been celebrating Christmas on December 25 since it was restored as an official holiday after the end of the communist regime.

- http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=110593

[ButKnillinoi]

So what happens when the Julian date of 25 December shifts to 8 January (Civil)? Will there be a similar protest to keep Christmas on 7 January?

Herman the wondering Pooh

[Daruhuw]

So what happens when the Julian date of 25 December shifts to 8 January (Civil)? Will there be a similar protest to keep Christmas on 7 January?

Herman the wondering Pooh

Of course! Was it Christmas on 8 January in 19th Century Russia? No it was not, I am telling you! Is outrage!

[jeaccatty]

So what happens when the Julian date of 25 December shifts to 8 January (Civil)? Will there be a similar protest to keep Christmas on 7 January?

Herman the wondering Pooh

Probably it will be the same as when in 1900 the date shifted from Jan 6 to Jan 7 - none. The terminology used in the news release is nothing more than the usual media shallowness and ignorance of the true issue of the calendar. We all know that the feast of our Lord's Nativity is never celebrated on any date other than Dec. 25 - its just that Dec 25th on the Julian Calendar (used for Church feasts by the majority of Orthodox Christians) does not coincide Dec 25th on the Gregorian Calendar (which is the generally accepted civil calendar). So let's try to not confuse the issue with red herrings.

Fr David Moser

[ButKnillinoi]

Probably it will be the same as when in 1900 the date shifted from Jan 6 to Jan 7 - none. The terminology used in the news release is nothing more than the usual media shallowness and ignorance of the true issue of the calendar. We all know that the feast of our Lord's Nativity is never celebrated on any date other than Dec. 25 - its just that Dec 25th on the Julian Calendar (used for Church feasts by the majority of Orthodox Christians) does not coincide Dec 25th on the Gregorian Calendar (which is the generally accepted civil calendar). So let's try to not confuse the issue with red herrings.

Fr David Moser

Well, actually, that is not quite correct. In 1900 I believe Russia still used the Julian calendar as the civil calendar, so no "shift" actually occurred for the average parishioner until 1918 (and not until 1923 in Greece). That was when "December 25" (Julian) became "January 7" (Gregorian). The next shift will happen in 2100, so many of us will not be here to worry about it, but it will be the first time the "civil" date of the Nativity will change.

Herman the nitpickin' Pooh

[strongjannabiz]

I am interested to know if there has been or will be a dialogue to reconcile with the True Orthodox Church of Bulgaria?

[cheesypeetyz]

The terminology used in the news release is nothing more than the usual media shallowness and ignorance of the true issue of the calendar.

Fr David Moser

What is the true issue of the calendar, father?

[jeaccatty]

What is the true issue of the calendar, father?

You can look at some of the issues about the interaction of the calendar here. I'm going to copy your question to this thread and post a little bit more in answer to the question.

Fr David Moser

[drgshmcm]

Bulgarian Orthodox Church Dispels News of Moving Christmas
Society | December 8, 2009, Tuesday


The Spokesperson of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has disproved recent statements by bishops that the Julian Calendar might be restored in Bulgaria.

The Spokesperson Bishop Neofit has told Darik Radio that the Orthodox Church was not intending to move Christmas from December 25 to January 7 by rescinding the use of the Gregorian Calendar.

Bishop Neofit made this statement after Tuesday’s meeting of the Holy Synod thus disproving earlier statements by some of the Bulgarian bishops.

“This issue is not on the agenda at all, and there is no way that any requests by some of the parishes would influence the Holy Synod into restoring the Julian Calendar,” he declared.

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=110855

[strongjannabiz]

Does anyone have any updates concerning the decision?

[Oriesssedleli419]

Well, wasn't this whole topic concluded with the press release quoted in the post above yours? After that statement I don't see any room for further updates.

[strongjannabiz]

so nothing further was announced?
in the first post it said 20th December 2009 so when nothing was posted on the 20th i thought no one had any news apart from what was said on the 8th.