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The Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Armenian Church Calendar

On 6 January (or 19 January on the Julian calendar) the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the great feast of Epiphany that combines the Nativity of Jesus Christ and His Baptism. Other Churches celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ (or Christmas) on 25 December/7 January, and His Baptism on 6/19 January.

Since 336 the Roman Church started to celebrate Christmas on 25 December to make people forget about the pagan feast celebrated that day. The pagans honored God of Sun, or, in other words, the dominance of day over night; the victory of light over darkness. Christians replaced that pagan feast with the holy Christmas Day.

Quite soon 25 December became the fixed date of Christmas in the West Church calendar. Gradually the new date was also adopted on the East. Since 376, 25 December was accepted as the date of Epiphany in Antioch (PG 49,353), since 433 - in Alexandria (PG 77, 1433), since 549 – in Jerusalem (PG 88, 197). This way all ancient Christian Churches started to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus Christ on 25 December and His Baptism – on 6 January. The only exception was the Armenian Church that stayed with the old tradition: they celebrate both the Nativity of Jesus Christ and Epiphany on 6 January.

Starting from the fourth century, Christians celebrate the following dominical feasts connected with the Nativity of Jesus Christ:

• Circumcision of Christ - 13/26 January, on the eighth day after the Nativity of Jesus Christ. In the Orthodox Church this feast is celebrated on 1/14 January.
• Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Tiarn'ndaraj in Armenian) - 14/27 February, on the fortieth day after the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Presentation of Christ in the Temple on 2/15 February.
• Annunciation Day dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary - 7/20 April, 9 months before the Nativity of Jesus Christ.