My dear readers, I wish you a happy Old-Calendar Christmas.

As some of you doubtless know, I am an Orthodox Christian of the Russian persuasion. My family belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and I grew up using the Old Calendar (AKA Julian Calendar) for my feastdays.

In latter years, this has proven difficult, putting me into the somewhat uncomfortable position of being unable to celebrate Christmas, being miles and miles away from an Old Calendar church. So tonight I will be reading a service that requires no priest to celebrate Christmas. It's a strange world, that way.

I suppose I'm little more these days than a C & E Christian. Which I've done before, and which period ended for a little over two years before I began working 86.5 miles away from where I live. I suppose I should make time for church, and be willing to travel an additional 180 miles roundtrip on Sundays, but it really is wearying. One day, I will grow tired of making excuses.

Until then, I rather wistfully wish all my fellow Orthos greetings and love on this feastday.