Orthodox Christians that follow the Old Calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7. On the eve of the Nativity and during the holiday proper, priests officiate a series of special services. Priest Eugen Onicov of the Saint Pantaleon Church in Chisinau told IPN that in the eve of the feast, the churches officiate the hours, followed by the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, the vespers, the vigil, the matins and the Nativity Liturgy.
In some churches, the liturgy is officiated at night, like on Easter, while in others it is done in the morning. “The chants are also special. They praise and glorify the Birth of the Jesus Christ and, of course, carols are part of the service. I don't think there is any church where they don't sing Christmas carols after the liturgy. The children that sing them receive gifts”, said the priest.
The believers who fasted before Christmas can receive the Eucharist and are allowed to eat anything. The housewives prepare cozonac (sweet bread), sarmale (rice and minced meat wrapped in grape or cabbage leaves) and special colaci (ring-like braided bread). Until the Epiphany, the Orthodox Christian keep fasting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the day before the feast is a black fast day, when they shouldn't eat anything.
The second day after Christmas, on January 8, the Orthodox Christians celebrate the Synaxis of the Theotokos. The next day, the Church celebrates Saint Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen the Protomartyr.
Most of Moldovan churches, both those subordinated to the Metropolitan Church of Moldova under the Russian Patriarchy and those subordinated to the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia under the Romanian Patriarchy, celebrate Christmas on January 7. Priest Ioan Cosoi, administrative vicar of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia told IPN that there are only three churches in Chisinau observing the Nativity on December 25 – the Saint Theodora of Sihla Church, the Saints Peter and Paul Church and the Holy Trinity Church. Additionally, there are 5 churches in districts that follow the New Calendar.
