Program
Subjects
Works
Book Types
Cover of 'undefined'
Hans Förster

Die Feier der Geburt Christi in der Alten Kirche

Beiträge zur Erforschung der Anfänge des Epiphanie- und des Weihnachtsfests
[The Celebration of Christ's Birth in the Early Church. Contributions to the Research on the Origins of Epiphany and Christmas. By Hans Förster.]
2000. X, 218 pages.
Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum / Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity (STAC) 4
DOI 10.1628/978-3-16-158675-0
Published in German.
  • eBook PDF
  • available
  • 978-3-16-158675-0
Summary
A frequent hypothesis contends that the date of Jesus Christ's birth was established on the basis of calculations, and this led to the celebration of Jesus' birth in the church. Hans Förster discusses this hypothesis. Some of these calculations served as a belated legitimation for the celebration of Jesus' birth or as a justification for bringing it forward from the 6th of January to the 25th of December. In addition, the author demonstrates that Christmas was celebrated by the Armenian church in the 5th century. According to the oldest tradition, the birth of Jesus was commemorated on the day of Epiphany. It was not until Christmas was introduced that Jesus' baptism, and not his birth, was commemorated on Epiphany.

Studien und Texte zu Antike und Christentum / Studies and Texts in Antiquity and Christianity (STAC)