“New style” Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas today, the birth of Jesus Christ. “Nativity of the Mother of God” priest Vadim Beresteanu, from Palanca, Stefan Voda, says the villagers worship the savior through carols and prayer.

“The villagers celebrate the Birth of the Lord through caroling. They sing special, regional carols. Most of these come from Ukrainian folk, as the villagers have close ties to the surrounding Ukrainian villages. Carol songs epitomize the voice of a godly people; they should spring from God-loving hearts,” says the cleric. In some regions of Moldova, people go caroling on Christmas Eve, while in others – on Christmas Day.

Priest Vadim Beresteanu considers that to celebrate Christmas of December 25, i.e. new style is in fact “a return to old times.” “The new style, as the parish calls it, is a return to old times, since Christmas happened on December 25, during the winter solstice, on the Day of the Sun. The new style returns to that date, and is thus older than the old style, although it had lagged behind and has been dubbed new. Laic logic surpasses theological dialectic and the logic of things,” says the priest.

Vadim Beresteanu claims that celebrating Christmas on December 25 or on January 7 is not the root of discord in our society. This could only be true among fanatics and seekers of discord. At Christmas, believers should seek the essential, follow their hearts and seek spiritual growth.

His High Holiness Petru, Head of the Basarabian Metropolitan Church and Hierarch of the Lands, has written a pastoral letter for Christmas. “Spreading thoughts of joy and peace, love and kindness, I ask the Good Lord to bestow His gifts of serenity and light onto your hearts. May the Holiday of the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, be our unfailing spring of joy, peace, and spiritual rewards,” His High Holiness writes.

In Chisinau, three churches celebrate the Birth of the Lord on December 25: “Holy Theodora of Sihla”, “Peter and Paul”, and the “Holy Trinity”.