Topic: Date of Christ's birth

[William]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

[PeterTheAleut]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

If the Church taught that, she'd probably be wrong.

[ialmisry]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

It is one of 365 (at most, 366) choices. It's one of them, most definitely.

[Shiny]

Feburary 30th, 2 B.C.

[PeterTheAleut]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

On a more serious note to counter the humorous, maybe even ridiculous responses made thus far, I'm not sure the Church is really into making dogmatic statements on when in history a particular event happened, such as the actual date of Christ's birth. The important thing is that Christ was born into this world as a human baby.

[Luke]

I have heard some atheists and agnostics complain that the Church stole Dec. 25 from a pagan holiday.  Of course, they could complain about that with almost anytime of the year.

[PeterTheAleut]

I have heard some atheists and agnostics complain that the Church stole Dec. 25 from a pagan holiday.  Of course, they could complain about that with almost anytime of the year.

I guess there's now question that even this is true.

http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php/topic,32282.0.html

[Cymbyz]

I have recently seen reasonable arguments from Protestant sources on this subject.

For an argument in favor of a date in 4 B.C., see:  http://www.themoorings.org/apologetics/chronology/Chrmas.html

For an artument in favor of a date in 3 B.C., see:  http://www.versebyverse.org/doctrine/birthofchrist.html

I am personally in favor of the later date because the time-frame given allows for all the events to take place without rushing, and there is good astronomical support for the dating.

[Shanghaiski]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

Does the Church celebrate Christ's birth on some other date?

[PeterTheAleut]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

Does the Church celebrate Christ's birth on some other date?

Is the date of our annual celebration of the Nativity supposed to be seen as a dogmatic statement of a historical date?

[Jetavan]

01:34 a.m., Saturday, 24 October, -2 BCE.

[genesisone]

01:34 a.m., Saturday, 24 October, -2 BCE.

GMT?

[Shanghaiski]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

Does the Church celebrate Christ's birth on some other date?

Is the date of our annual celebration of the Nativity supposed to be seen as a dogmatic statement of a historical date?

Just because something is not enshrined in dogma, but is hallowed by tradition, does that mean that it can be tossed aside? It may not be dogma, but the Church bids us celebrate the Nativity of Christ on that date, believing that that is the correct day, not because of history, per se, but because it is the day of liturgical celebration. Same thing with the Transfiguration. Aug. 6 has always been the day, even though the Lord, according to the Gospel, was transfigured shortly before His crucifixion. But Aug. 6 is the date, because it is 40 days before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on Sept. 14.

[PeterTheAleut]

Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?

Does the Church celebrate Christ's birth on some other date?

Is the date of our annual celebration of the Nativity supposed to be seen as a dogmatic statement of a historical date?

Just because something is not enshrined in dogma, but is hallowed by tradition, does that mean that it can be tossed aside? It may not be dogma, but the Church bids us celebrate the Nativity of Christ on that date, believing that that is the correct day, not because of history, per se, but because it is the day of liturgical celebration. Same thing with the Transfiguration. Aug. 6 has always been the day, even though the Lord, according to the Gospel, was transfigured shortly before His crucifixion. But Aug. 6 is the date, because it is 40 days before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on Sept. 14.

Then you're talking about something totally different. You're talking about when the Church celebrates a feast, while I'm addressing the OP's question about what the Church says or doesn't say about a particular date in history. The OP's question is: "Does the Church teach that Christ was born on December 25th?", NOT "Does the Church teach that December 25th is the correct date to celebrate Christ's birth?".