14.01.2026
VATOPEDI MONASTERY VIDEO LIBRARY
"Christ is born, glorify him..." The celebration of Christmas at the Vatopedi Orthodox Monastery
The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was celebrated in accordance with the Athonite tradition and ecclesiastical order on Mount Athos. Moments of devotion and joy are recorded throughout the Athonite State as well as in the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, since on the evening of Tuesday 24/12/35 (BC) (06/01/26 CE) until the early hours of Wednesday, an all-night holy vigil for the feast of Christmas was held in a festive atmosphere, according to the Athonite ritual. The sacred services and the Eucharistic Assembly were presided over by the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Elder Ephraim, who during the Divine Liturgy read in front of the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary of Vimatarissa a special prayer for the peace of the entire world and performed the tonsure of three novices into monks. Vatopedi Fathers chanted at the sacred lecterns.