Mount Athos lithography (icon) of The Nativity of Jesus Christ on natural wood carved by hand.

The Orthodox Christian Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 25 of each year. Joseph and the pregnant Mary set out for Bethlehem to be counted, following an order issued by Caesar Augustus for a census of the population of the Roman state. When they arrived in Bethlehem, they could not find a place to rest, except for a poor cave. There the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ and put him in the manger of the horses. Since then, all pious Christians have sung the following hymn: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace".

Saint John Chrysostom, in 397 AD, introduced the celebration of Christmas for the first time.

Apolytikion of the Holy Nativity of Jesus Christ

Fourth Tone

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.