In the quiet Christmas night when the Christmas trees is shining and we open up our presents, we sometimes forget that our hearts are actually filled with joy because of the birth of the Savior. He brings us his greatest gifts each year – forgiveness, love, mercy. He teaches us to avoid mistakes, feel compassion and treat others with love.

However, is it possible that our shopping passion and attempts to find the best possible gifts for our family could distract us from the spiritual meaning of the holiday?

“In modern day secular culture that has diverted from its Christian roots, Christmas is usually linked to giving presents and celebrating the coming of New Year,” theologist Kostadin Nushev says. “But if we did not know our spiritual roots related to faith and if we did not know that behind the image of Santa Claus actually stands St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker because of his merciful heart and his care for children and the poor; if we did not understand the deep meaning of giving presents and doing good deeds for the poor, the suffering and the lonely ones, then there is a risk of the whole Christmas atmosphere receiving the flavor of consumerism and there is a risk of replacing the true spiritual meaning of the holiday.”

Celebrating Nativity started with the adoption of Christianity by the Roman Empire as an official religion. And when the ancient pagan culture that was used to worshiping the winter solstice on this day gave way to the new faith, spiritual rethinking of the old traditions took place.

Thus, the holiday turned into a special sacred time, in which people get in touch with the deep spiritual meaning of their lives.

“The world before the birth of the Son of God was much more inhumane and crude,” the theologian says. This is associated with the Roman Empire, which managed to unite politically the civilization of the then Mediterranean world, imposing its power with brute force and even cruelty. We know that Jesus Christ Himself was condemned by the Romans to be crucified. That is why the coming of the Savior, during the time of Emperor Octavian Augustus, led to a change related to human spirit and enrichment of human culture. And while the world of the Old Testament era knew justice as the highest principle, Christianity brings to mankind a much higher morality, based on love, charity, and compassion. The new Christian era actually means restoring true worship and knowledge of one true God, establishing righteousness, justice, peace, and goodwill among men.”

For Christians, Nativity of Christ is a celebration of the spiritual revival, of the new beginning. However, we can achieve spiritual renewal only if with true faith and purity in our hearts we accept the message Jesus Christ brings – message for perfect morality - the morality of human love and love for God, Kostadin Nushev says.

“If we proceed with this understanding and allow the Son of God to be born in our hearts and shine with his divine truth and love, then the renewal of our personal, family and social life will begin,” the theologian also says. “And as a society, we will be able to discover this universal Christian system of values, which will help us in times of spiritual trials, moral crisis, soullessness and especially apathy - it often conquers us with the alienation, aggression, and dehumanization the overall spiritual crisis in the modern world brings”.

English: Alexander Markov