Open AccessPIERWSZE WCZESNOCHRZEŚCIJAŃSKIE ŚWIADECTWA O ŚWIĘCIE BOŻEGO NARODZENIA
Author(s) -
Józef Naumowicz
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
colloquia litteraria
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2353-8112
pISSN - 1896-3455
DOI - 10.21697/cl.2010.1.05
Subject(s) - art , popularity , philosophy , theology , id, ego and super ego , history , classics , psychology , psychoanalysis , law , political science
The first Christian testimonies about the celebration of Christmas The article presents the earliest reference to the celebration of Christmas as a holiday or feast, namely: the Roman calendar of Philocalus (so-called Chronography of 354), the first sermons preached for this occasion (pope Liberius, Optate from Milewe, Zenon from Verona) and the first hymns (Ambrose from Milan and Prudentius, Ephrem the Syrian). The analysis of sources shows that there is no record of this feast before the First Council at Nicaea (325 A.D.). It appeared in Rome around 335 A.D. and from there it has spread to other regions. As soon as it appeared, it quickly gained popularity and characteristic theological significance.