No, this is wrong. Orthodox priests are supposed to be well informed, but somebody has been teaching them misinformation here. Orthodox priests are supposed to be above this, fact check misinformation, guide their flocks. But here, they've been misguided. The reason the Eastern Orthodox church does not celebrate Hallowe'en is simple: it's a Catholic holiday. That's the only reason. Nothing more, nothing less. There's no harm in celebrating the holiday (the way the Catholics intended it), nothing wrong, it's just a Catholic holiday, not an Orthodox one. That's the only reason. Now, that doesn't been neo-pagans (emphasis on "neo") don't try and claim it. For a world trying to be inclusive, Christianity gets hate, alas blessed are the persecuted. In addition, nobody bothers to factchecks social media, and now with the rise of TikTok, misinformation can spread in the matter of short scrollable videos. These factors combined means that misinformation about Christianity spreads like wildfire. Nobody bothers to factcheck misinformation, and considering the hate against us Christianity, everybody is willing to take misinformation about us as fact - non-believers, but especially neo-pagans. The most common myth is that Hallowe'en arose from pagan holiday Samhain. In reality, this was a week long festival with no concrete changeable date, according to some occurring as early as summer. In addition, the most common myth spread is: Samhain was a death ritual festival. No, that is such a huge misinformation. Samhain had no link to death, it was a sun holiday. In some regions, pre-Christian folk holidays can inter-influence with Christian holidays. However, contrary to popular belief, Samhain's association with death was non-existant until far long after inter-influence with Christianity. Christian Hallowe'en has been a holiday for the dead since it's foundation, while Samhain became associated with death only after influence from the Catholic holiday. Contrary to popular belief, Hallowe'en wasn't "placed" at the same time as Samhain to replace the holiday. We know this for three reasons: • The explanation above. Samhain had no set date, was over a week long, and is unlikely to have been on the 31st Oct. Hallowe'en is a one day holiday, and isn't a movable holiday. Very weird if the intention was to replace the pagan holiday, no? • The "replace a holiday" argument usually refers to holidays that are similar in nature. Samhain had nothing to do with the Christian holiday of Hallowe'en, which was a day to commemorate the dead. Samhain's associations with death came after Christianity, and depending on who you ask may have been an association artificially created in the 1800s-1900s. • The date for Hallowe'en wasn't "decided". Traditionally, when a church or cathedral is built, it opens with a large celebration. It is then dedicated to a Biblical event (eg: the Transfiguration, the Presentation of our Lord, etc) or a Christian saint (eg: St Nicholas, Saints Peter and Paul, etc), and then the dedicated saint or event becomes a great feast day (similar to Serbian slava) of the church. Hallowe'en begun from the foundation of the Church of All Saints', in Rome. As usual, the foundation of the church was marked with great celebrations. As there was no dedicated saint, the foundation date took festivities in the place of a feast day. This grew, and one of the Popes of Rome decided to cannonise the celebration of the foundation date holiday as a day of "All Saints", which would be dedicated to the church. This day was the 1st Nov. The evening feast (night between 31st Oct to 1st Nov) of All Saints' Day would grow into what we know as "Evening of All Saints' Day", also known as "All Hallows' Even" in antiquated English. Over time, "All Hallows' Even" would become "Hallows' E'en" and finally "Hallowe'en", hence the apostrophe in the name. The day after All Hallows' Day would become "All Souls Day", on 2nd Nov. The three days combined are known as "All Hallows' Tide" What does All Hallows' Tide celebrate? All Hallows' Tide is simply a three day holiday to commemorate the dead, and all the Christians that are deceased. Celebrations begin on the evening, as many Orthodox holidays do on Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Even). All Saints' Day is a day to celebrate all canonised saints or those who have no feast that have died and are with Christ. All Souls' Day on the 2st Nov is a day to commemorate and pray for all Christians that have deceased and are hopefully now with Christ. Hallowe'en is a holy day, and should not be messed around with. Neo-Pagans can spread as much misinformation as they want, but Hallowe'en is holy and Christian, celebrating the saints and commemorating the Christians who are now with Christ, a holiday to pray. Now, neo-pagans try and claim Hallowe'en as their own. We must not partake in their attempt, and if you wish to celebrate Hallowe'en, do it properly, with prayer. The reality is that even modern Hallowe'en isn't evil. It's the only holiday that we give out candy to others for free - this is a very Christian message. The costumes aren't necessarily evil either, think of them like the pre-lent Christian holiday of Carnival, where everyone dresses up in costumes, but with a scary theme. This is okay. Use this as an opportunity to teach your kids what is right and what is wrong. Your child must be able to tell apart sin and evil from good and have their courage and resistance to sin trained, and Hallowe'en is an excellent time for that. You can still do that without the costumes being demonic or heretical - especially as most costumes are fictional, we as Christians are supposed to know truth from false. Even if you desire to play it safe, you can still dress up your children as saints, as police/fireman/medic/etc, and so on, and rather than teach your kids to discern right from wrong as you'd do with a scary costume, teach them morals such as always share, and don't be greedy on your candy. Hallowe'en is a Christian holiday! Now, you know that: an Orthodox can celebrate Hallowe'en if they wish to (considering they do it in the criteria above and pray with Orthodox, not Catholics). The only reason we Orthodox don't celebrate Hallowe'en is that it's a Catholic holiday. If anybody is curious, the Eastern Orthodox Church ALSO CELEBRATES THEIR/OUR OWN HALLOWE'EN. Whilst the Catholics have Hallowe'en, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on the 31st Oct-1st-2nd Nov, the Orthodox Church celebrates All Saints' day after the Pentecoast. Meanwhile, we the Orthodox Church also have our own equivalent to All Souls' day, in fact multiple, known as "Saturday of the Souls". Depending on the country you're from, your Orthodox Church celebrates Saturday of the Souls before the Great Lent (every Orthodox Church), near Pentecoast, the saturday closest to St John's feast in September (mainly Serbia), and the Saturday closest to feast of St Michael the Archangel (every Orthodox church, but mainly Bulgaria). That's the only reason the Orthodox Church doesn't celebrate Hallowe'en: we do, but our equivalent is on another date.
Sorry, but as a cradle Greek Orthodox I disagree. We've even had Halloween nights at our church so that the kids could have a lighthearted time and get candy there, instead of from strangers. If they dressed as witches, they knew that it's fake and that they weren't honoring and emulating evil beings. On the other hand, they would never be allowed to dress up as saints or even in the folk dance costumes that we use in our folk dance ministry... for these are sacred and are not meant to be mocked or taken lightly. Halloween costumes are for fun and dressing as what you are NOT. Just another way to approach it. Thank you.
@starsnstripes6925 Thanks for the suggestion. I've watched the video you mention regarding Halloween, and others featuring Fr. Mikhail, where he advises against praying with non-Orthodox. None of this sounds anything like the Orthodoxy I've known my whole life, but then I'm not Old Calendar (which he is). Thankfully Orthodoxy allows great freedom in worship among the jurisdictions.
greetings i think a church shouldn't be a place for such party doesnt matter what you think about halloween a church is house of God although i'm catholic i'm sure many orthodox would agree...
Sorry, but being Greek Orthodox doesn't make you right. In Orthodoxy there is no such thing as fun. Everything we have in the Church, everything we celebrate has meaning. What is the meaning of Halloween? What are you celebrating? As a cradle Greek Orthodox you should know that images (icons) in Christian life are important, and they are not for fun. When you put a costume of a witch on your child you make him/her a living witch icon. You teach your child that Halloween is normal, that a devil or witch costume is normal, that it’s just fun, and the image of the witch and the image of the Most Holy Theotokos can coexist. Bad idea.
@@alexs8335 interesting opinion. Christians should be in world but not of this world... there's no need to obey the fashions of this world greetings from poland
The Southerners are Converting to Orthodoxy. As a Greek I am so happy.
Thank you Father Gabriel for this excellent video.
Also, Haloween seems very simillar to Apokries here in Hellas. And the Church absolute DETESTS Apokries. So the same rule might apply for haloween..
Niether too far to the right nor the left. U wont find christ in either of those locations.
No, this is wrong. Orthodox priests are supposed to be well informed, but somebody has been teaching them misinformation here. Orthodox priests are supposed to be above this, fact check misinformation, guide their flocks. But here, they've been misguided.
The reason the Eastern Orthodox church does not celebrate Hallowe'en is simple: it's a Catholic holiday. That's the only reason. Nothing more, nothing less. There's no harm in celebrating the holiday (the way the Catholics intended it), nothing wrong, it's just a Catholic holiday, not an Orthodox one. That's the only reason.
Now, that doesn't been neo-pagans (emphasis on "neo") don't try and claim it. For a world trying to be inclusive, Christianity gets hate, alas blessed are the persecuted. In addition, nobody bothers to factchecks social media, and now with the rise of TikTok, misinformation can spread in the matter of short scrollable videos. These factors combined means that misinformation about Christianity spreads like wildfire. Nobody bothers to factcheck misinformation, and considering the hate against us Christianity, everybody is willing to take misinformation about us as fact - non-believers, but especially neo-pagans.
The most common myth is that Hallowe'en arose from pagan holiday Samhain. In reality, this was a week long festival with no concrete changeable date, according to some occurring as early as summer. In addition, the most common myth spread is: Samhain was a death ritual festival. No, that is such a huge misinformation. Samhain had no link to death, it was a sun holiday. In some regions, pre-Christian folk holidays can inter-influence with Christian holidays. However, contrary to popular belief, Samhain's association with death was non-existant until far long after inter-influence with Christianity. Christian Hallowe'en has been a holiday for the dead since it's foundation, while Samhain became associated with death only after influence from the Catholic holiday.
Contrary to popular belief, Hallowe'en wasn't "placed" at the same time as Samhain to replace the holiday. We know this for three reasons:
• The explanation above. Samhain had no set date, was over a week long, and is unlikely to have been on the 31st Oct. Hallowe'en is a one day holiday, and isn't a movable holiday. Very weird if the intention was to replace the pagan holiday, no?
• The "replace a holiday" argument usually refers to holidays that are similar in nature. Samhain had nothing to do with the Christian holiday of Hallowe'en, which was a day to commemorate the dead. Samhain's associations with death came after Christianity, and depending on who you ask may have been an association artificially created in the 1800s-1900s.
• The date for Hallowe'en wasn't "decided". Traditionally, when a church or cathedral is built, it opens with a large celebration. It is then dedicated to a Biblical event (eg: the Transfiguration, the Presentation of our Lord, etc) or a Christian saint (eg: St Nicholas, Saints Peter and Paul, etc), and then the dedicated saint or event becomes a great feast day (similar to Serbian slava) of the church. Hallowe'en begun from the foundation of the Church of All Saints', in Rome. As usual, the foundation of the church was marked with great celebrations. As there was no dedicated saint, the foundation date took festivities in the place of a feast day. This grew, and one of the Popes of Rome decided to cannonise the celebration of the foundation date holiday as a day of "All Saints", which would be dedicated to the church. This day was the 1st Nov. The evening feast (night between 31st Oct to 1st Nov) of All Saints' Day would grow into what we know as "Evening of All Saints' Day", also known as "All Hallows' Even" in antiquated English. Over time, "All Hallows' Even" would become "Hallows' E'en" and finally "Hallowe'en", hence the apostrophe in the name. The day after All Hallows' Day would become "All Souls Day", on 2nd Nov. The three days combined are known as "All Hallows' Tide"
What does All Hallows' Tide celebrate?
All Hallows' Tide is simply a three day holiday to commemorate the dead, and all the Christians that are deceased. Celebrations begin on the evening, as many Orthodox holidays do on Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Even). All Saints' Day is a day to celebrate all canonised saints or those who have no feast that have died and are with Christ. All Souls' Day on the 2st Nov is a day to commemorate and pray for all Christians that have deceased and are hopefully now with Christ. Hallowe'en is a holy day, and should not be messed around with.
Neo-Pagans can spread as much misinformation as they want, but Hallowe'en is holy and Christian, celebrating the saints and commemorating the Christians who are now with Christ, a holiday to pray.
Now, neo-pagans try and claim Hallowe'en as their own. We must not partake in their attempt, and if you wish to celebrate Hallowe'en, do it properly, with prayer.
The reality is that even modern Hallowe'en isn't evil. It's the only holiday that we give out candy to others for free - this is a very Christian message. The costumes aren't necessarily evil either, think of them like the pre-lent Christian holiday of Carnival, where everyone dresses up in costumes, but with a scary theme. This is okay. Use this as an opportunity to teach your kids what is right and what is wrong. Your child must be able to tell apart sin and evil from good and have their courage and resistance to sin trained, and Hallowe'en is an excellent time for that. You can still do that without the costumes being demonic or heretical - especially as most costumes are fictional, we as Christians are supposed to know truth from false. Even if you desire to play it safe, you can still dress up your children as saints, as police/fireman/medic/etc, and so on, and rather than teach your kids to discern right from wrong as you'd do with a scary costume, teach them morals such as always share, and don't be greedy on your candy.
Hallowe'en is a Christian holiday!
Now, you know that: an Orthodox can celebrate Hallowe'en if they wish to (considering they do it in the criteria above and pray with Orthodox, not Catholics). The only reason we Orthodox don't celebrate Hallowe'en is that it's a Catholic holiday.
If anybody is curious, the Eastern Orthodox Church ALSO CELEBRATES THEIR/OUR OWN HALLOWE'EN. Whilst the Catholics have Hallowe'en, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on the 31st Oct-1st-2nd Nov, the Orthodox Church celebrates All Saints' day after the Pentecoast. Meanwhile, we the Orthodox Church also have our own equivalent to All Souls' day, in fact multiple, known as "Saturday of the Souls". Depending on the country you're from, your Orthodox Church celebrates Saturday of the Souls before the Great Lent (every Orthodox Church), near Pentecoast, the saturday closest to St John's feast in September (mainly Serbia), and the Saturday closest to feast of St Michael the Archangel (every Orthodox church, but mainly Bulgaria). That's the only reason the Orthodox Church doesn't celebrate Hallowe'en: we do, but our equivalent is on another date.
Sorry, but as a cradle Greek Orthodox I disagree. We've even had Halloween nights at our church so that the kids could have a lighthearted time and get candy there, instead of from strangers. If they dressed as witches, they knew that it's fake and that they weren't honoring and emulating evil beings. On the other hand, they would never be allowed to dress up as saints or even in the folk dance costumes that we use in our folk dance ministry... for these are sacred and are not meant to be mocked or taken lightly. Halloween costumes are for fun and dressing as what you are NOT. Just another way to approach it. Thank you.
@starsnstripes6925 Thanks for the suggestion. I've watched the video you mention regarding Halloween, and others featuring Fr. Mikhail, where he advises against praying with non-Orthodox. None of this sounds anything like the Orthodoxy I've known my whole life, but then I'm not Old Calendar (which he is). Thankfully Orthodoxy allows great freedom in worship among the jurisdictions.
greetings
i think a church shouldn't be a place for such party
doesnt matter what you think about halloween
a church is house of God
although i'm catholic i'm sure many orthodox would agree...
@starsnstripes6925Yes, halloween is not for christians. For us, there is celebrating all saints day and prayers for the dead.
Sorry, but being Greek Orthodox doesn't make you right. In Orthodoxy there is no such thing as fun. Everything we have in the Church, everything we celebrate has meaning. What is the meaning of Halloween? What are you celebrating?
As a cradle Greek Orthodox you should know that images (icons) in Christian life are important, and they are not for fun. When you put a costume of a witch on your child you make him/her a living witch icon. You teach your child that Halloween is normal, that a devil or witch costume is normal, that it’s just fun, and the image of the witch and the image of the Most Holy Theotokos can coexist. Bad idea.
@@alexs8335 interesting opinion. Christians should be in world but not of this world... there's no need to obey the fashions of this world
greetings from poland