Christmas: the beginning of a new era. Our chronology = the era "from the birth of Christ"

It is believed that for the first time the year of the "new era" as the year of the Nativity of Christ was calculated by the Roman monk Dionysius the Small in the 6th century AD. e., that is, more than 500 years after the event dated by him. At the same time, Dionysius first calculated the date of the Resurrection of Christ, and then used the church tradition that Christ was crucified at the 31st year of his life. The date of the Resurrection, according to Dionysius, is March 25, 5539 from Adam, and the year of the Nativity of Christ, therefore, is 5508 from Adam (according to the Byzantine era).

The authors of the new chronology note that the calculations of Dionysius are in fact incorrect (due to the insufficient development of astronomy at that time). Their erroneousness became known already in XVI-XVII centuries, and since then several attempts have been made to count for Dionysius and correct the dates of the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ.

Here are some of the attempts to "fix Dionysius":

• Christ was resurrected on April 5, 33 CE. e. at 34;
• Christ was resurrected on April 5, 33 CE. e. at 33(the most common opinion until recently; arose in the 19th or 20th century);
• Christ was resurrected on April 9, 30 C.E. e., and was born a few years BC. e.(modern point of view of the Roman Catholic Church).

None of the above solutions satisfies the calendar "Resurrection conditions". Moreover, it turns out that there are no dates at all near the beginning of "AD" that satisfy these conditions.

In other words, if Dionysius knew modern astronomy, then he could not even close the year of Christ's birth where he indicated it - at the beginning of our era. Unfortunately, when astronomical data became sufficient to understand this (and this happened only in the 17th century), the “new era” and the date of the “Nativity of Christ” were already common in the West and canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, and then by the Orthodox Church. church.

Naturally, the question arises: what are the calendar "conditions of the Resurrection"?

Church tradition, in accordance with the Gospels, claims that Christ was resurrected on March 25 on Sunday the day after the Jewish Passover, which, therefore, fell this time on March 24 (Saturday). It is these "Easter conditions", which we will call the "conditions of the Resurrection", that Dionysius had in mind when making his calculations of the date of the Resurrection of Christ, and then of the Nativity of Christ.

That Christ was resurrected the day after the Jewish Passover is quite clearly stated in the Gospel of John. This is also confirmed by church tradition and the entire medieval tradition.

A complete set of calendar conditions accompanying, according to stable church tradition, the Resurrection of Christ can be found in the "Collection of patristic canons" by Matthew Vlastar:

“For the Lord suffered for our salvation in the year 5539, when the circle of the sun was 23, the circle of the moon was 10, and the Jews had the Jewish Passover on Saturday (as the evangelists write) on March 24th. On the Sunday following this Saturday, March 25… Christ was resurrected.

Legitimate Passover (Jewish) takes place on the equinox on the 14th moon (that is, on the full moon) - from March 21 to April 18 - our Passover takes place on the Sunday following it.

Matthew Vlastar gives the following calendar instructions for the year of the Resurrection of Christ:

1) circle to the sun 23;

2) circle of the moon 10;

3) the day before, March 24, was the Jewish Passover, celebrated on the day of the 14th moon (that is, on the full moon);

4) Jewish Passover was on Saturday, and Christ rose on Sunday.

Nosovsky and Fomenko carried out computer calculations for each year from 100 BC to 100 BC. e. before 1700 AD e. The day of the spring full moon (the 14th moon, or Jewish Easter) was calculated using the Gauss formulas, and Christian Easter, the circle of the sun and the circle of the moon - according to Paschalia. Just like Dionysius (and Matthew Vlastar), they assumed that the day of the Resurrection was Paschal day after Paschal.

As a result of the study, they came to the conclusion that the calendar "Resurrection conditions" were fulfilled only once: in 1095 AD e.

The Nativity of Christ refers, therefore, approximately to 1064 AD e. - 31 years before 1095 AD e.

Date 1095 CE e. perfectly corresponds to the new chronology constructed in the works of A.T. Fomenko.

Comparing it with the dating of the First Ecumenical Council, we see that it turns out that the First Ecumenical Council was before the incarnation of Christ. Does this contradict church tradition? It turns out not. This certainly contradicts only the view on the history of the Church, which took shape no earlier than the XIV-XV centuries, but not church tradition.

The ancient texts have preserved for us the “conditions of the Resurrection”, which allow us to unambiguously restore the desired date.

Let's take a closer look at "conditions of the Resurrection" 1-4. They are not equal. Conditions 3 and 4 are known from many sources and constitute a stable church tradition. Conditions 1 and 2 are very special calendar instructions. What happens if you try to satisfy only two conditions 3 and 4?

As shown by a computer calculation carried out by the authors of the new chronology, the "conditions of the Resurrection" 3 and 4 in the time interval from 100 BC. e. before 1700 AD e. carried out only in the following years:

1) 42 years (BC);

2) 53 AD e.;

3) 137 AD e.;

4) 479 AD e.;

5) 574 AD e.;

6) 658 AD e.;

7) 753 AD e.;

8) 848 AD e.;

9) 1095 AD e. (satisfies the full set of conditions 1-4);

10) 1190 AD e.

It is easy to see that here, too, there is not a single solution that would satisfy the traditional chronology.

The common church tradition, clearly reflected in the Gospel of John and in the writings of many church writers, cannot be reconciled with the date of the birth of Christ around the beginning of our era. In order to achieve such an agreement, it is necessary to shift the date of the Nativity of Christ by at least 70 years ago or at least 20 years ahead. If we add conditions 1-2 here, then the solution becomes unambiguous and gives the 11th century AD. e.

Fomenko and Nosovsky consider the meaningful meaning of the obtained "dates of the Resurrection of Christ" - March 25, 1095 AD. e.

March 25, 1095 AD e. was the day of the so-called "kyrio-pascha" (that is, "royal Easter", "Easter of the High Priest") - Easter, which coincided with the Annunciation (March 25). Kyriopaskha is a rather rare event. In church tradition, it is associated with the coming of Christ.

According to the Gospels and church tradition, in the year of the Nativity of Christ, a new star flared up in the east, and 31 years later, in the year of the Resurrection, a total solar eclipse occurred. Church sources clearly speak of a solar eclipse in connection with the Resurrection of Christ, and they do not always attribute it to Good Friday. Note that a solar eclipse in a given area, and even more so a total solar eclipse, is an extremely rare event. Biblical science of the 18th-19th centuries, not having found, of course, the gospel solar eclipse there, "where it is necessary", in Palestine at the beginning of AD. e., remade it into a lunar one. This, however, still did not help - they did not find an exactly suitable lunar eclipse either. However, since then it has been customary to believe that the Gospels describe not a solar, but a lunar eclipse.

Fomenko and Nosovsky consider the original point of view, reflected in the primary sources, according to which the eclipse was solar.

It turns out that such a pair of the rarest astronomical events - a flash of a new star and 31 years later - a total solar eclipse in the Mediterranean, really happened, but not in the 1st, but in the 11th century AD. e.! This is the famous outburst of a new star in 1054 and total solar eclipse on February 16, 1086(on Monday). The band of the shadow of this eclipse passed through Italy and Byzantium.

It is curious that traces of references to Christ in medieval chronicles, referring specifically to the 11th century, have survived even to our time. For example, in the chronograph of 1680 it is reported that Christ himself visited Pope Leo IX: “It is narrated that Christ, in the form of a beggar, visited him (Leo IX) in a concubine.” It is important that this is the only mention of this kind, except in cases of retelling of the Gospels.

As 1 year according to "R.H." many chronicles imply 1054 CE. e. (the so-called "major shift of 1053 years in chronology"). This means that medieval chroniclers often dated the Nativity of Christ to exactly 1054 (or 1053).

Apparently, these are traces of another tradition of dating the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ by the epoch of the 11th century AD. e. According to this tradition, Christmas was in 1054 - the year of the outbreak of a new star, and Sunday - in 1086, when a total solar eclipse was observed.

By the way, the beginning of the First Crusade - the campaign "for the liberation of the Holy Sepulcher" - dates back to 1096. On the other hand, medieval church sources, which often describe events related to Christ in more detail than the Gospels, claim that immediately after the Resurrection, Pilate was summoned to Rome and executed there, and Caesar’s troops were sent on a campaign against Jerusalem and captured it. . Today it is believed that these are medieval speculations, since in the chronology of Scaliger there is no Roman campaign against Jerusalem in the 30s of the 1st century AD. e. No. However, if the Resurrection dates back to the end of the 11th century, this statement of medieval sources takes on a literal meaning - meaning the First Crusade, during which Jerusalem was taken. If we date the Resurrection to 1095, then it turns out that the crusade began the very next year - exactly as described in the mentioned medieval texts.

Where did the troops of the crusaders go, freeing the tomb of the Lord? Naturally, the reader will say, to Jerusalem. This is true. But the fact is that Jerusalem at that time was called, as we have already said, a city located on the site of modern Istanbul, which was the capital of the Second Rome. This means that Christ was crucified not on the territory of modern Jerusalem, which is located in Israel, but on the territory of modern Turkey. Here, it turns out, why the troops of the crusaders fought with Byzantium. There was a war for the Holy Sepulcher.

According to the Gospels, Mount Golgotha ​​(on which Christ was crucified) was located somewhere in or near Jerusalem. When they mistakenly identified Jerusalem with the Palestinian village of Al-Quds, then, naturally, they tried to “find” a suitable mountain here. However, these attempts, according to Fomenko and Nosovsky, should be recognized as unsuccessful. Since what is offered to us today as the gospel Golgotha ​​is a small hill, which, if desired, can be found almost anywhere. Is there a place near Istanbul that could be reliably identified with the gospel Golgotha?

Turns out there is. This is the highest mountain on the Upper Bosphorus called Beykos. At the very top of this mountain is a gigantic symbolic grave, called the "grave of Jesus" (in Turkish - Yushi). According to the reconstruction of the new chronology, this is the famous gospel mountain Golgotha, that is, the place of the crucifixion of Christ.

Here is what the famous Muslim author of the 19th century Jalal Essad writes about this: “Following along the Asian coast of the Bosphorus, we reach a small pier called Syut-ludzhe, from where the path leads to the highest mountain of the Upper Bosphorus (to Golgotha, according to Fomenko and Nosovsky). On the top of this mountain (180 meters above sea level) is the tomb of Joshua (Jusha) ... The locals call her tomb of Saint Yusha or Yusha, that is, Jesus».

It turns out that this grave corresponds to the ancient descriptions of the grave of Jesus Christ. Such a description, for example, we see in the work "The Journey of Abbot Daniel". In a modern Russian translation, this text sounds like this: “The crucifixion of the Lord is located on the eastern side on a stone. It was high, higher copy. The stone was round, like a small hill. And in the middle of that stone, at the very top, a well was carved about a cubit deep, and less than a span wide in the circumference (in the perimeter). Here the cross of the Lord was erected. In the ground, under that stone, lies the head of the primordial Adam ... And that stone spread over the head of Adam ... and there is this cleft on that stone to this day ... the crucifixion of the Lord and that holy stone are surrounded by a wall ... there are two doors (in the wall).

This description by Daniel of the place of the crucifixion of Christ, Fomenko and Nosovsky note, perfectly corresponds to what we see today on Mount Beykos on the outskirts of Istanbul. Namely, - a round stone like a small hill with a hole at the very top, in the center. Crack in this stone. The very name of the monument is "the tomb of Jesus". The wall around this shrine. Even the number of doors in the wall matches - two. In addition, next to the stone, a high pole was stuck into the ground and tied to it, on top of which today there is a golden (or gilded) disk with Arabic inscription. This pole may well symbolize the spear mentioned by Daniel, with which, as is known (according to the Gospels), Jesus was struck in the side on the cross.

Indeed, Fomenko and Nosovsky say, at the other end of the “grave” lies a second stone, approximately the same size as the first, and approximately the same shape. But no crack. It lies approximately at a distance of 10-15 meters from the first stone. There are no other such stones inside the fenced area (17 meters by 2 meters in size). It is difficult to get rid of the impression, they emphasize, that the second stone marks the place of removal, that is, the place where the body of Jesus was laid after he was taken down from the cross.

January 7 - Christmas. This is the day of the beginning of a new era. On this day, in all the churches of the Orthodox Church, a nightly festive Liturgy is served. Christmas begins with Christmas time - holy days - two weeks before Epiphany Eve.

new era

That night it got very cold. The nights in this area are generally cool, but that night was especially chilly. From the cold, even the night seemed blue-black, and the stars twinkled brighter in the dark sky.

The lucky ones, whose houses were heated in advance and all the cracks were prudently lined with rags, wrapped themselves up warmer and, about to go to bed, exchanged contented words that, for sure, it would be warmer in their place than in their neighbors.

What is an uninvited guest? Who knocks on the door in such darkness? Who can't sleep?

And the nights were really restless - and all because of this census. Here it was necessary to carry out a census of the population. Now everyone goes to Bethlehem, everyone who was born here, and after all, they need a lodging for the night. It’s good if someone is richer, but they ask for nothing.

- Do you have money to pay?
- No, we are poor people, but my wife is about to give birth, and we really need an overnight stay! We have come from afar, She is tired and can no longer walk!

…. Here's another, and there is no money, and still give birth to his wife, well, you won't get around with them hassle
- Sorry, there are no places!

And another door slammed shut.
Try again? Do not sleep on the street? And how to be further?
-Place in the barn?
After all, she will give birth. After all, not just a baby should come into the world. After all, the King of Kings, the savior of the world, will come!

Old Joseph knew who his wife would give birth to. Mary was given to him as a wife as a very young girl - the priests did not know what to do with a girl who had vowed to devote her whole life to God and chose him as her husband, already an old man. And now, after a while, it turns out that his pure bride is pregnant. What about the vow of chastity? And what will happen to her - they will know - she will be stoned to death! Pregnant, but not yet married ... And he decides to secretly let her go. Then at least they won't kill her...

But that night he suddenly woke up. It was not a dream, it was a vision - an angel of God appeared to him. He appeared before him and said that there was no sin on Mary. The one whom she carries under her heart is not the fruit of male lust, but the fruit of the Covenant, the Son from the Holy Spirit, the Savior of the world. The Messiah, whom everyone has been waiting for for hundreds of years.
And long weeks of waiting began, now the one who will come to save the world is already very close. Save us all from death, from sin, give hope for salvation.

It was winter.
The wind blew from the steppe.
And it was cold for the baby in the den
On the hillside.

B. Pasternak

And He did not find even the smallest place in any house. The King and Savior of the world is born, and where? In a dirty barn, where only animals warm the air with their warmth.

The breath of an ox warmed him.
Pets
Were standing in a cave
A warm haze floated over the manger.

We have long lost the habit of saying "before our era" "in the new era", introduced into the Russian language after the revolution to replace "before the birth of Christ" and "after the birth of Christ", for example, in English language eras are still referred to as BC (Before Christ - before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini lat. - the year of the Lord)

Meeting the King

Christ was born in the city of Bethlehem during the days of the national census in the Roman Empire, which at that time also included Judea.

“I see (I see) a strange sacrament and glorious,” he sings, “Heaven is a den; Throne of the Cherubim - the Virgin; the manger is a receptacle, in them reclining (reclining) the uncontainable Christ God” (irmos of the 9th song of the canon).

According to legend, the birth of the Divine Infant was painless, therefore the Blessed Virgin, Herself, without outside help, swaddled the Infant and laid Him in a manger.

But in the middle of the midnight silence, when all mankind was enveloped in the deepest sleep, the news of the Nativity of the Savior of the world was heard by the shepherds. They were guarding the flock when an angel appeared to them and said: “Do not be afraid: I am announcing great joy to you, today a Savior, Christ the Lord, has been born to you.”

The shepherds, apparently pious people, immediately hurried to where the angel pointed them, and were the first to be honored to bow to the Christ Child. They divulged everywhere, wherever they looked, about the appearance of angels to them and about the heavenly praise they heard, and all who heard them were amazed. The Blessed Virgin Mary, full of a feeling of deep humility, memorized all this, “composing it in her heart.”

So, poor simple shepherds were the first to see Christ.

Frosty night was like a fairy tale
And someone from the snowy ridge
All the time he invisibly entered their ranks.
The dogs wandered, looking around with fear,
And huddled up to the shepherd, and waited for trouble.
On the same road through the same area
There were several angels in the thick of the crowd.
Their incorporeality made them invisible,
But the step left a footprint.
A crowd of people crowded around the stone.
It was getting light. The trunks of cedars appeared.
- And who are you? Maria asked.
- We are a shepherd's tribe and heaven's ambassadors,
We have come to praise you both.
- You can't do it all together. Wait at the entrance.

The chronology from the Nativity of Christ

The accepted chronology “from the Nativity of Christ” was introduced in the 6th century by the Roman monk Dionysius, called the Small. Dionysius based his calculations on the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was born in the year 754 from the founding of Rome, but, as more careful studies showed, his calculation turned out to be erroneous: Dionysius indicated the year at least five years later than the actual one. However, this Dionysian era, which at the beginning was intended only for church use, from the 10th century became common in Christian countries and is accepted in the civil chronology, although it is recognized as erroneous by all chronologists: the generally accepted date of Christmas is considered to be the 749th year from the founding of Rome.

Why wolves?

The next to the newborn Christ came the wise men from the East. In their person the whole pagan world bowed its knees before the true Savior of the world.

Today it is often said that Orthodox faith accepts astrology, and at the same time they refer to the fact that one of the first to the newborn Savior came the Magi. However, the church testifies to the impossibility of Orthodox astrology: the magi brought all pagan wisdom to the feet of Christ, symbolically showing the insignificance of their knowledge before the greatness of the God-man.

The evangelical magicians determined by the stars that the King of the Jews was born, but, having come to Jerusalem, they were forced to turn to the scribes and Pharisees to find out in which city He was born? “Where is the King of the Jews who has been born? for we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2).

These words frightened Herod. Reigned at that time, tk. he had no legal claim to the throne. Herod was afraid of an opponent, but what was the cost of destroying him? While the baby was still so defenseless: Herod took from the Magi a promise to point him to the newborn King of Kings. They came to Bethlehem and there, “fall down, bow down” Newborn Christ. “Discovering your treasures”, Magi “They brought him gifts: gold, as to a King, frankincense, as to God, and myrrh, as to a man who has to taste death”.

It was getting light. Dawn, like ash dust,
The last stars swept from the sky.
And only the Magi from the myriad rabble
Mary let her into the hole in the rock.
He slept, all radiant, in an oak manger,
Like a ray of moon in the hollow of a hollow.
He was replaced with a sheepskin coat
Donkey lips and ox nostrils.
They stood in the shade, as if in the twilight of a barn,
They whispered, barely choosing the words.
Suddenly someone in the dark, a little to the left
He pushed the sorcerer away from the manger with his hand,
And he looked back: from the threshold at the Virgin,
As a guest, the star of Christmas watched.

Having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, who planned to kill the God-Child, the Magi went to their own country, probably to the south of Bethlehem, in a different way, that is, not through Jerusalem. and then Herod ordered to kill all the babies in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. An angel appeared to Joseph again and ordered him to flee with Mary and the Child to Egypt in order to avoid certain death.

What is Christmas for?

Christ came into the world in order to heal the sinful, fallen nature of man from within. As the well-known theologian of the 20th century, Metropolitan Anthony of Surozh writes, “God gives His Son – yes, for earthly life, but also for death! To death, which is alien to everyone, with which He has nothing in common, because death is the fruit of our alienation from God, death is the fruit of sin, the deadness of the soul, which entails the death of the body. The incarnate God, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, is already immortal at His birth: and He accepts mortality, desiring to be identified with us, people, in everything, to be one with us, not separating either from the love of God, or from unity with Him, in order to live our lives. life, but a purified life, transparent to all that is bright, and die our sinful death. Yes! He dies our death, not His own, because how can Eternal Life die?.. But He partakes in us and dies.”

Christ became a man not only to teach us the true way or to show us a good example. He became a man in order for us connect with yourself, to attach our weak, sick human nature to your divinity.

Holiday

At Christmas, in all the churches of the Orthodox Church, a night Liturgy is served, distinguishing this day from the rest of the days of the year.
The hymns of the service of the Nativity of Christ are especially solemn and melodic. In the evening on the day of the Feast, a festive vespers is served. Temples are always decorated for Christmas in a special way: in many churches, Christmas trees are decorated and Christmas nativity scenes are installed.

At Christmas, the 40-day fast ends and the merry Christmas time begins. The time when there is no fasting, the time that the Orthodox try to spend holy, is the result of the whole fast. Since ancient times, in Rus' these days, especially many works of mercy were done, they helped the poor, the sick, the lonely, this is also the time of folk festivals, fun and joy about the Christmas holiday.

W Hello, dear visitors of the Orthodox website "Family and Faith"!

Congratulations on the Holy Days (Christmas Day)!

TO For festive reading, we offer the word of Bishop Alexander (Mileant) about the joyful Gospel event - the Nativity of Christ!

Christmas event

Bishop Alexander (Mileant)

IN In the history of mankind there is no greater and joyful event than the coming into the world and the incarnation of the Son of God. It is the work of the infinite love of God the Father, who " so loved the world that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The incarnation of the Son of God from the Virgin Mary radically changed the world for the better: it gave people a new way of thinking, ennobled their morals, directed world events along a new channel. It poured a stream of Divine life into the decrepit human organism and thereby brought eternal life to people. For these reasons, the incarnation of the Son of God has taken a central place among world events, and the reckoning is conducted from it - before and after the birth of Christ.

Before the Nativity of Jesus Christ, there was a general expectation of the Savior. The Jews expected His coming on the basis of prophecy; pagans, suffering from unbelief and general licentiousness, also looked forward to the Converter human society. All prophecies regarding the time of the incarnation of the Son of God were fulfilled. Patriarch Jacob predicted that the Savior would come when the scepter departed from Judas (Genesis 49:10). St. Daniel predicted that the Kingdom of the Messiah would come in the seventieth week (490 years) after the issue of the command to restore Jerusalem, during the period of a mighty pagan kingdom that would be strong as iron (Dan. 9:24-27).

And so it happened. By the end of the predicted period, Judea fell under the dominion of the powerful Roman Empire, and the scepter from Judas passed to Herod, an Edomite by birth. It's time for Christ to come. Since people, having fallen away from God, began to deify earthly blessings, wealth and glory, the Son of God rejected these earthly idols and deigned to come into the world in the most modest circumstances.

The events of Christmas are described by two evangelists - the apostles Matthew (out of 12) and Luke (out of 70 disciples). Since the Evangelist Matthew wrote his Gospel for the Jews, he set himself the goal of proving that the Messiah comes from the forefathers Abraham and King David, as was predicted by the prophets. Therefore Evangelist Matthew begins his narrative of the Nativity of Christ with a genealogy (Matt. 1:1-17).

Knowing that Jesus was not the son of Joseph, the evangelist does not say that Joseph begat Jesus, but that James begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom Jesus, called Christ, was born. But why does he give the genealogy of Joseph, and not Mary? The fact is that the Jews were not in the habit of keeping genealogies along the female line. Their law commanded to take a wife by all means from the same tribe to which the husband belonged, therefore the evangelist, without deviating from custom, cited the genealogy of Joseph, showing that Mary, the wife of Joseph, and, consequently, Jesus born from Her, come from the same the tribes of Judah and the tribes of David.

Informed by the Archangel Gabriel that She had been chosen to become the Mother of the Messiah, the Blessed Virgin went on a date with Elizabeth, being only the betrothed bride of Joseph. Almost three months have passed since the Angel's gospel. Joseph, who was not initiated into this secret, noticed Her position, the outward appearance could give rise to the thought of the bride’s infidelity, he could publicly expose Her and subject her to a strict execution established by the law of Moses, but out of his kindness did not want to resort to such a harsh measure. After much hesitation, he decided to release his bride secretly, without making any publicity, handing Her a bill of divorce.

But an angel appeared to him in a dream and announced that the bride betrothed to him would give birth from the Holy Spirit and that he would call the Son she had born Jesus (Ieshua), that is, the Savior, since He would save his people from their sins. That's why." ..do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. Joseph recognized this dream as a suggestion from above, obeyed him, accepted Mary as his wife, but “ did not know her, that is, he lived with her not as a husband and wife, but as a brother and sister, or, judging by the huge difference in years, rather like a father and daughter. Telling about this, the evangelist adds on his own behalf: “And all this happened, so that what the Lord said through the prophet might come true, who says: Behold, a virgin in the womb will take and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name: Emmanuel” (Is. 7:14). Name " Emmanuel" means " God is with us." Here Isaiah does not call the one born of the Virgin Emmanuel, but says that this is how people will call Him, i.e. They will say that the Lord Himself has come to earth.

Evangelist Luke notes that the time of the Nativity of Christ coincided with the census of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, which was carried out at the behest of Caesar Augustus, that is, the Roman emperor Octavian, who received the title of Augustus from the Roman Senate - "sacred." The census edict came out in 746 from the founding of Rome, but in Judea the census began about 750, in last years reign of Herod, called the Great.

The Jews led their genealogies by tribes and clans. This custom was so strong that, having learned about the command of Augustus, they each went to register in the city of their kind. Joseph and the Virgin Mary descended, as you know, from the lineage of David, so they had to go to Bethlehem, called the City of David because David was born there.

Thus, by the Providence of God, the ancient prediction of the prophet Micah was fulfilled that Christ would be born in Bethlehem: “ And you, Bethlehem, - Ephratha, are you small among the thousands [villages] of Judah? From you will come to me the one who should be the ruler in Israel, and whose origin is from the beginning, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2, Matt. 2:6).

According to Roman law, women were subject to the same census as men. Therefore, Joseph went to Bethlehem to sign up not alone, but with the Blessed Virgin. An unexpected trip to the native Bethlehem, and, moreover, a trip shortly before the birth of the Baby should have convinced Joseph that Caesar's decree on the census is an instrument in the hands of Providence, directing that the Son of Mary be born exactly where the Messiah-Savior should be born.

After a tiring journey, Elder Joseph and the Virgin Mary came to Bethlehem, but the future Mother of the Savior of the world did not find a place in the hotel, and She and her companion were forced to fit in a cave where cattle were driven from pasture in inclement weather. Here, on a winter night, in the most miserable conditions, the Savior of the world - Christ was born.

Having given birth to the Son, the Blessed Virgin herself swaddled Him and laid Him in a manger. With these brief words, the evangelist reports that the Mother of God gave birth painlessly. Evangelist's expression and gave birth to her firstborn Son." gives reason to unbelievers to say that the Blessed Virgin, besides Jesus the first-born, had other children, since the evangelists mention the “brothers” of Christ (Simon, Josiah, Jude and James). But we must remember that according to the law of Moses (Exodus 13:2), every male baby, “opening the bed,” that is, the firstborn, was called the firstborn, even if he was also the last. The so-called “brothers” of Jesus in the Gospels were not His blood brothers, but only relatives, being the children of the aged Joseph by his first wife Solomia, as well as the children of Mary Cleopas, whom the Evangelist John calls “His Mother’s sister.” In any case, they were all much older than Christ and therefore could not have been the children of the Virgin Mary.

Jesus Christ was born at night, when everyone in Bethlehem and its environs were immersed in a deep sleep. Only the shepherds did not sleep, who guarded the flock entrusted to them in the field. To these modest people, laboring and burdened, an Angel appears with joyful news of the birth of the Savior of the world. The radiant light that surrounded the Angel in the darkness of the night frightened the shepherds. But the Angel immediately reassured them, saying: Do not be afraid! I proclaim to you great joy, which will be for all people: for today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, is born in the city of David. With these words, the Angel made them understand the true purpose of the Messiah, who came not for the Jews alone, but for all people, for “there will be joy for all people,” who will accept Him as Savior.

The angel told the shepherds that they would find the born Christ the Lord in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. But why did the Angel not announce the birth of Christ to the Jewish elders, scribes and Pharisees, and did not call them to worship the Divine Infant? Yes, because these "blind leaders of the blind" ceased to understand the true meaning of the prophecies of the Messiah and, out of exceptional Jewish pride, imagined that the Deliverer promised to them would appear in the full splendor of the majestic conquering king and conquer the whole world. A modest preacher of peace and love for enemies was unacceptable to them.

The shepherds did not doubt that the Angel was sent to them from God, and therefore they were honored to hear the solemn heavenly hymn: “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men!”(Luke 2:14). Angels glorify God, who sent the Savior to people, for from that time peace of conscience is restored and the enmity between Heaven and earth, which arose as a result of sin, is eliminated.

The angels departed, and the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found the Child lying in the manger, and the first worshiped Him. They told Mary and Joseph about the event that led them to the cradle of Christ, they told the same story to others, and all who heard their story were amazed. " And Mary kept all these words, adding them up in her heart, those. She remembered everything she heard. Evangelist Luke, describing the gospel of the Archangel Gabriel, the birth of Christ (Luke 2 ch.) and other events related to the Virgin Mary, obviously wrote from Her words.

On the eighth day, the circumcision of the Infant was performed, as prescribed by the law of Moses. Probably shortly after Christmas, the Holy Family moved from the cave to the house, since most of the newcomers to Bethlehem after the recording had no need to stay there.

TV instruction. Christmas and the New Era. How the gospel spread.

Target: 1. To introduce the history of the emergence of the Orthodox holiday "Christmas"

2. To continue the formation of an understanding of the symbolic language of the icon

3. Enrich the vocabulary of children with new words of historical and cultural significance

4. To instill children's interest in studying the history of Orthodox culture; to cultivate a respectful attitude towards Orthodox traditions, national culture.

Equipment: cards with new terms, video cartoon

“The Nativity of Christ”, an audio recording of the song “We Praise Christmas”, the icon “The Nativity of Christ”, handout for working in pairs.

During the classes:

Org.moment: Let's smile at each other with our eyes.

Our vision is pure and kind.

The soul is open, the heart beats evenly and calmly.

Today we have another lesson on the defense industry. And it is no longer a secret for you that the lessons on this subject are not so much for the mind, but for the heart, for the soul.

God gave us a soul - this is our small temple.

Take a quick look there: is it clean there today?

Maybe envy started up, lies and laziness lurked,

Or does something else live in it for more than a day?

Put things in order in the temple of your soul!

Only with a pure soul you go through life, friend, go!

What qualities would you like to cultivate in yourself in order to feel, living in a society of people, lightness in your heart and purity in your soul? Name these qualities based on the letters of your name. (children give examples)

IN- true

A- neat

L- loving

E– natural

R- needlewoman

AND– intelligent

I- clear

What book helps people keep their soul and heart clean? (Bible)

vocabulary work

Let's look through our Orthodox dictionary again to repeat some terminology: Bible, Gospel, Savior of the world, Mother of God, vow, Nazareth, Joseph, Archangel, Palestine, Jerusalem,

So, I think you guessed what Orthodox holiday we are going to talk about today?

Work on new topic:

Really, Jan. 7 on vacation in a warm home environment, each of you will meet the brightest, most beautiful and favorite holiday

NATIVITY.

Birth of children- always a joyful and important event in people's lives. Relatives, acquaintances, friends congratulate happy parents, give gifts, wish health and well-being to the newborn child.

The birthday of Christ is celebrated all over the world .

Christmas has become major event for all mankind. Even modern chronology is conducted precisely from the Nativity of Christ.

Today in the lesson you will hear, understand and remember the Christmas story, which happened many, many (more than two thousand) years ago ..

This event took place in a distant and warm country Palestine where is the city Jerusalem. The area is mountainous. Many vineyards and orchards have been planted along the slopes of the mountains by local residents. North of Jerusalem in the land of Galilee in the city Nazareth The Virgin Mary lived in the house of Joseph. At that time, the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus ordered a nationwide census. Everyone had to register in the city where he was born, where his ancestors lived. Joseph was from Bethlehem, so he and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Many people gathered in Bethlehem, the hotels were overcrowded and there was no place for Mary and Joseph. They found shelter outside the city in den, those. in a cave that was used to drive cattle. Here the greatest event in the history of mankind took place - the Savior of the World was born. God Himself, through the Archangel Gabriel, instructed Mary to name her son Jesus(in Hebrew "Savior") Christ(from Greek " Anointed". So the ancient Jews called kings, priests, prophets as a sign of their important service: they anointed with myrrh ( miro)- a mixture of fragrant substances prepared and illuminated in a special way.

Mary swaddled the newborn baby and put it in manger- a slatted box in which they put livestock feed. Now in memory of the cradle of Christ so called children's institution where small children are raised.

Coming to earth, He was not met with honor, nobility and wealth. He did not have a shelter, a cradle like all children. Manger, i.e. the cattle-feed box became his cradle, the cave became his refuge. But did the Virgin Mary take offense at people? She is still humble, radiates love and meekness. (looking at the icon)

Student: Meekness, love and humility breathe with the breath of roses.

The Infant Christ was sent to the sinful earth for salvation.

The virgin bent over her son, in her heart - purity.

Angels fly invisibly, glorify the birth of Christ.

Really, the angels gave the little Christ a beautiful song from heaven.

But this event did not go unnoticed by people. The first to know about the birth of Christ were simple shepherds . That night they pastured their flocks in the field, and the angel announced to them the great joy that the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born in the city of David! And pointed out a place where they could find him. The shepherds hurried to look at the miracle of the baby.

Learn about this event and Magi - ancient scientists who comprehended the secrets of the world by the stars. They believed that when a great person is born, a special star appears in the sky. Seeing a bright star that suddenly flashed in the sky and shone, they realized with all eight faces that the expected Baby was born. It was this star, which will be given the name of Waflema, that showed the Magi the way to the cave itself.

The names of these magi are preserved in the Gospel - BALTHASAR, GASPAR, MELCHEOR. Having bowed to the ground to the Infant, the magi presented gifts: GOLD like king, as a tribute. Frankincense (aromatic resin), like a god during worship. Smyrna (oil), like a human going to death. Because the dead people are smeared with fragrant oil.

Mary kept these gifts all her life. Now they are in a monastery on the mountain Athos. From the gifts to this day comes an amazing fragrance.

And all creatures of God rejoiced at the appearance of the Savior. (Let's listen to some wonderful verses about this.)

Students:

In the manger, the quiet, tiny Christ slept on the fresh hay.

The moon, emerging from the shadows, stroked the flax of his hair.

The bull breathed into the face of the baby and, rustling straw,

He stared at the elastic knee, breathing a little.

Sparrows poured in a crowd through the poles of the roof to the manger.

And the bull, clinging to the niche, crumpled the blanket with his lip.

The dog, sneaking up to the warm leg, licked it secretly.

It was most comfortable for a cat in a manger to warm the Child sideways.

A humble white goat breathed on his forehead.

Only a stupid gray donkey pushed everyone helplessly:

- “I would like to look at the Child even for a minute!”

And wept loudly, loudly in the predawn silence.

And Christ, opening his eyes, suddenly parted the circle of animals

And with a smile full of affection. Whispered: "Look quickly!"

Consolidation of what has been learned with the help of video material.

Let's take a look at this wonderful event - the Nativity of Christ! (cartoon)

What was shown in the last frame of the cartoon? (Christmas tree)

What did the tree look like? (smart, New Year's)

And why do people have smart Christmas trees in their homes on Christmas?

The answer to this question can be found in the poem.

With people, all nature rejoiced that night:

Noisy, leaves on the trees, in a mysterious whisper praised God

And the flowers smelled stronger.

Three trees - a palm tree, an olive tree and a fir tree at the entrance to the cave grew

And in the first days, in proud delight, they bowed to the Infant.

A beautiful palm tree overshadowed him with its green crown.

And fragrant oil dripped from the delicate branches of the silvery olive tree.

Only a modest Christmas tree stood sadly, it had no gifts.

And the eyes of the people were not captivated by the beauty of her unchanging cover.

The Angel of the Lord saw that and said to the tree with love:

“You are modest, you do not grumble in sorrow, for this you are destined to receive a reward from God”

He said so and the stars from the sky rolled onto the Christmas tree one after another.

And she shone all over, and eclipsed the palm tree with the olive tree with its beauty.

And until now, the Christmas tree of Bethlehem is crowned with a star!

For what qualities did the tree receive such a generous reward? (modesty, meekness, humility, patience…)

Check of knowledge:

You also have eight-pointed stars on your desks. Put on each ray a definition corresponding to the term written on the ray . (work in pairs)

Outcome:

For the good work in the lesson, you also deserve gifts. Coloring page with a task. I think that when completing this task, you will show not only creativity of thought, but accuracy and patience.

And I propose to finish the lesson beautiful song dedicated to the wonderful Orthodox holiday Christmas

The bright holiday of Christmas is a holiday of renewal,

Songs of angelic words are pouring into the universe.

I proclaim joy to you, this joy will be

To all redeemed hearts, to all people on Earth.

This joy is given to us from above, children,

The Song of Heavenly Beauty in the New Testament.

"Birthday of Christ!" - the sky rejoices

Sing children's lips: Glory, hallelujah!

Our chronology = the era "from the birth of Christ"

PRELIMINARY

As already noted, the era "from the birth of Christ" was introduced post factum "with the tip of the pen." For the first time from the Nativity of Christ (in the Latin tradition - "Anno Domini" (AD) - "year of the Lord") the year was designated, which became the 525th year of the new chronology.

The era was created by a Roman monk, papal archivist, a Scythian by origin, Dionysius the Small. There is no information on the basis of what calculations and considerations this was done. Therefore, various conjectures are offered regarding the scheme for the transition to a new chronology, although none of them seems more convincing than the other. It is only known for certain that this was connected with the preparation of Easter tables (Paschalia) for the future.

According to the church tradition established in the light of the decisions of the Council of Nicaea in 325, Christian Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Due to the disproportion of the solar and lunar cycles with which it is compared, the date of the holiday shifts over the years along the time scale within the range from March 22 to April 25 according to the Julian calendar. Almost every year it is determined by calculation.

When compiling Paschalia, the day of the vernal equinox from the year 325 was considered to be March 21 according to the Julian calendar. The calculation of the Easter phases of the moon for each year was based on the relatively accurate 19-year lunar cycle discovered by the great Greek astronomer Meton in 432 - the Olympic - year BC. It has been established that every 19 years all phases of the moon fall on the same day of the month of the solar year. This is the so-called "circle of the moon".

On the other hand, in the Julian calendar every 28 years all the days of the month fall on the same days of the week. This is the so-called "circle of the sun".
Since 19 and 28 are non-multiple numbers, then all (calculated!) Moon phases coincide with the same days of the month and days of the week after a period of time equal to the product of 19 x 28, that is, after 532 years. Therefore, every 532 years (this period is called the great indiction) the calculated dates of Easter Sundays are also repeated. In the modern tradition, indictions are usually counted from the starting point of the Byzantine era - from 5508 BC. The 15th great indiction, which began in 1941, is currently underway.

Based on practical considerations, when developing Easter tables, they used a less accurate, but more convenient 95-year (= 19 x 5) cycle (this is the so-called small Easter circle). According to a custom dating back to the beginning of the 4th century, such tables were prepared by the Paschalists of the Alexandrian Church and then sent throughout the Christian world.

ASSUMPTIONS

In the year 247 of the era of Diocletian, the small Easter circle compiled for the 95th anniversary (153-247) by Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria (444 AD) ended. In this regard, in the year 241, Dionysius the Lesser began to calculate a new paschal, which was supposed to begin with the year 248 of the era of Diocletian. However, the named emperor, as already mentioned above, was a cruel persecutor of Christians. Therefore, Dionysius, in one of his letters, proposed to abandon the era associated with the name of the hated ruler, and continue to count the years from the birth of Christ (according to other sources - "ab Incarnatio Domini" - "from the Incarnation of the Lord", that is, from the feast of the Annunciation Holy Mother of God, which was then celebrated on March 25).

There is an assumption that Dionysius in his calculations took into account the following circumstance. According to one of the interpretations of the Synoptic Gospels and ancient tradition, Jesus Christ, “beginning His ministry, was about thirty years old” (Luke 3:23), and was crucified on the cross, died and rose from the dead at the 31st year of his life. His Resurrection took place on March 25th. This was the first Christian Easter, which coincided with the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and is therefore called Kyriopaskha ("Lord's Easter").

Such a coincidence, as already mentioned, can be observed once in 532 years, during a period called the great indiction. It is after 532 years that all the phases of the moon fall on the same days of the month and days of the week. As Dionysius could determine from his Easter tables, the nearest Kyriopaskha, i.e. Easter, which falls on Sunday March 25 and coincides with the feast of the Annunciation, was supposed to be in the year 279 of the era of Diocletian. Consequently, the first Kyriopaskha, according to the Roman Paschalist, was 532 - 279 = 253 years before the beginning of this chronology. Adding to this the number 31 (the estimated age of Christ at the time of death on the cross), he received that the era of Diocletian itself began in 253 + 31 = 284 after the Incarnation of the Lord, as mentioned above (p. 24-25).

Thus, in accordance with the proposed scheme of reasoning of Dionysius the Lesser, the beginning of the era "from the birth of Christ", that is, January 1, the 1st year, fell on January 1, 753 from the founding of Rome, the 43rd year from the accession of Augustus, 4 year of the 194th Olympiad. On this day, consuls Gaius Caesar and Aemilius Paul took office. From March 1, A.D. 1 the year 5509 began from the creation of the world of the Byzantine era, from April 21 - the 754th year from the founding of Rome, from the new moon on June 10 - the 1st year of the 195th Olympiad, from August 1 - the 44th year from the accession of Augustus.
It is worth noting that Dionysius himself began counting the days of the year from March 25, from the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos (Let us recall the corresponding fragment from the gospel narrative: "(And ... went in to ... the Virgin, betrothed to her husband, the name of Joseph, from the house of David ,.. the angel said to her: ... rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you ... And behold, you will conceive in the womb, and you will give birth to a Son and you will call His name: Jesus "(Luke 1, 27. 28. 30. 31) ).

The Nativity of Christ (let us reproduce the gospel text: "(Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod" (Matt. 2, 1)); "(And (Mary) gave birth to the Son of her firstborn, and swaddled Him, and laid Him in a manger because there was no place for them in the hotel" (Luke 2, 7)) the papal archivist and paschalist, of course, attributed exactly nine months ahead, i.e. on December 25 of the 1st year of the chronology he introduced (see: P. Popov Brief Paschal with a presentation the shortest way to determine the number of Easter Orthodox Church for any given year. - Printed with the permission of the censor of the Moscow Spiritual and Censorship Committee, Priest Alexander Gilyarevsky, dated December 21, 1895. - Kostroma, 1896. - S. 5; I.A. Klimishin. Calendar and chronology. - Ed. 2nd. - M.: "Nauka", 1985. - S. 243.). It was on December 25 that Christmas was already celebrated then.

ANTICIPATIONS

The question is quite appropriate: could not Dionysius, when establishing the era "from the birth of Christ", use ready-made calculations or assumptions? What are the opinions of the Christian historians of the preceding period on this question?
According to Bishop Irenaeus of Lyons and his contemporary Tertullian (beginning of the 3rd century A.D.), "Christ the Lord came into the world about the 41st year of the reign of Augustus." According to Eusebius of Caesarea, "this was the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus, and the 28th of the reign of Egypt." Epiphanius of Cyprus indicates the 42nd year of Augustus, the 752nd year from the founding of Rome, at the consulship of Augustus for the 13th time and Silvanus. According to Sextus Julius Africanus, this happened about the 29th year after the battle of Cape Actium. Later, the Greek historian John Malala (491-578) attributed the Nativity of Christ to the 3rd year of the 193rd Olympiad, the 752nd - from the founding of the City, the 42nd - August, and the "Easter Chronicle" - to the 28th year accession of Augustus in Egypt, to the consulate of Lentulus and Piso.

In the "Constantinople list of consuls of 395" (Consularia Constantinopolitana ad a. CCCXCV), like Epiphanius of Cyprus, the Nativity of Christ refers to the year of the consulate of Augustus and Silvanus: "Under these consuls, Christ was born on the eighth day before the January calends", that is, 25 December, according to presbyter Hesychius.
As you can see, all the listed authors and sources point to the 3rd or 2nd year BC, and the "Easter Chronicle" - to the 1st year BC.
In the "Chronograph of the Year 354" (Chronographus Anni CCCLIIII), the event of the Nativity of Christ is attributed to the year of the consulate of Gaius Caesar and Aemilius Paul, i.e. on the 1st year of the new era. "Under these consuls," it says here, "the Lord Jesus Christ was born on the eighth day before the January calends on Friday of the 15th moon."
"Chronograph of 354" is a fairly serious work, containing, in particular, a list of all the Roman consuls, starting from 509 BC. to 354 AD, lists of prefects of Rome for a hundred years (251-354 AD) and bishops of Rome from the Apostle Peter to Pope Julius (352). As a papal archivist, Dionysius may well have been aware of a document containing such important chronological information. And therefore, he could use the cited testimony in establishing the starting point for the system of counting years from the birth of Christ. Perhaps it was precisely this that prompted him to the idea of ​​introducing a proper Christian chronology?
Of course, the possibility of a later interpolation cannot be ruled out here. The original "Chronograph" has been lost, and we have only copies of the monument. However, in favor of its authenticity, in particular, the following circumstance can speak.

Here - after indicating under the year 29 AD. (certainly, in a later recalculation) of the names of the consuls Fufi Gemina and Rubellius Gemina - it is noted: "In their consulate, the Lord Jesus Christ suffered on Friday at the age of the Moon 14 days." And further, in section XIII "Bishops of Rome", we find additional information: "During the reign of Tiberius, our Lord Jesus Christ suffered at the consulate of both Gemini on the eighth day before the April kalends."
As you can see, in the above fragments, the death of Christ on the cross is attributed to Friday, March 25, and His Resurrection, therefore, to March 27. IN Western Church In the 2nd-5th centuries, many authoritative theologians and historians (Bishop Hippolytus, Presbyter Tertullian and others) accepted on faith the evidence of the false "Acts of Pilate", according to which "Christ suffered eight days before the April kalends (ante diem VIII Kal. Apr.)" . In the Roman martyrology (commemorative list of martyrs), under this number, a prudent robber was even included, one of the two who were crucified on Golgotha ​​next to Christ (Luke 23, 32. 39-43). But after Dionysius, who dated the first Kyriopaskha precisely on March 25, 31 A.D., such an anachronism in later interpolation can hardly be considered possible.

As applied to the case, we give another example. In one of the monuments close to the "Chronograph of 354" in time, in particular, in the "Constantinople list of consuls of 395" (Consularia Constantinopolitana ad A. CCCXCV), under 29 AD. after the names of "both Gemins" there is a postscript: "Under these consuls, Christ suffered on the tenth day before the April kalends and rose again on the eighth day (passus est Christus die X Kal. Apr. et resurrexit VIII Kal. easdem)". If the day coincides with Dionysius, in this case the year of the death of Christ differs. In later monuments, the date March 25 is directly indicated.

POSTTHINKS

Directly or indirectly, but in determining the time of the Nativity of Christ, unfortunately, Dionysius was undoubtedly mistaken. Its dating is in direct conflict with the above historical evidence of the Gospel of Matthew: "...Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod" (2, 1).
As follows from the message of Josephus in the "Antiquities of the Jews" (XIV. 14, 5), King Herod I the Great "reached royal power in the one hundred and eighty-fourth Olympiad, in the secondary consulate of Gnaeus Dometius Calvin and [in the first] Gaius Asinius Pollio."

According to the consuls, this is 714 from the founding of Rome, i.e. 40 BC Unfortunately, the author does not indicate the number of the year for the fourth anniversary of the 184th Olympiad, as it often happens with him.
In particular, the consul Asinius Pollio (76 BC - 4 AD), orator, poet, historian (his "History" has not survived to this day), public figure, known as the founder of the first public library in Rome and patron of the eminent Roman poet Virgil (70-19 BC).
It is with this contemporary of Maecenas that Virgil connects in the famous IV eclogue "Bukolik" ("Shepherd's Songs") his heartfelt prophecies about the onset of the "golden age":

"The last circle has come according to the broadcast of the prophetess of Kuma,
Now again the majestic order is beginning,
Virgo is coming to us again, Saturn's kingdom is coming,
Again a new tribe is sent from high heaven.
Be supportive of the newborn, with whom to replace
An iron clan, a golden clan will settle on the earth.
Virgo Lucina! Apollo is already your lord over the world.
Under your consulate, that blessed age will come,
Oh Pollio! And the great years will follow.

But let us return to King Herod, whose name has become a household name throughout the Christian world. This cruel ruler died “five days after the execution of [his son] Antipater, having reigned thirty-four years after the death of Antigonus [the last ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty] and thirty-seven years after the proclamation of his king by the Romans ... having managed to live to an advanced age. .. (he was about seventy years old)" ("Antiquities of the Jews", XVII. 8, 1).
In that year, before the Jewish Passover, on the night after the execution by Herod of the Jews who rebelled against his iniquities under the leadership of a certain Matthias, whom he "ordered to be burned alive", "a lunar eclipse occurred" (XVII. 6, 4).

According to astronomical calculations, there were three lunar eclipses in the closest time period to the event: on the night of March 12-13, 750, January 20, 752, and on the night of January 9-10, 753 from the founding of Rome. At the same time, the second of them was apparently only in the western hemisphere and, therefore, may not be taken into consideration. Further, on the coins of 753, the successor of the king who ended his bloody age is already indicated, and January is too early term to celebrate the Jewish Passover. All this points to the first eclipse. And this means that Herod reposed from his evil deeds in 750 from the founding of Rome, that is, in the 4th year before the birth of Christ.
According to the Gospel of Matthew (2, 1-18), a few years before his death, the power-hungry king committed, perhaps, the most insidious and cruel crime in his life - the beating of babies.

The arrogant ruler considered himself "ridiculed by the magi", who, guided by the Star of Bethlehem, came from the East to bow to the Born Infant Jesus, Who was called the King of the Jews. They did not return to Jerusalem in detail to inform the treacherous and malicious satrap. And he "was very angry and sent to beat all the babies in Bethlehem and in all its limits, from two years old and below, according to the time that [before] found out from the Magi."
The cited gospel testimony relates the event of the Nativity of Christ from the death of Herod even further, within up to two years, "according to the time that [the king] found out from the Magi." Before his death, the holy family spent some time in the country of the pyramids ("flight into Egypt", Mt. 2:13-15, 19-21).
In this context, we can also recall that, according to the Gospel of John, the preaching of Christ before His betrayal on the cross and death lasted not one, but three years. This is evidenced, in particular, by the Jerusalem presbyter Hesychius (432). Thus, the chronological framework of the earthly life of the Savior is noticeably expanding.
In addition to circumstances of a historical nature, one should undoubtedly take into account the errors in the initial data in the chronological calculations of Dionysius (if any): the inaccuracy of the Metonic lunar cycle and the Julian calendar itself, the lack of a specific time reference for the Alexandrian Easter tables, and much, much more .. .

Astronomers also turned to the problem of dating the Nativity of Christ later. In particular, attempts were made to connect the gospel testimony of the appearance of the Bethlehem star, which guided the Magi, with the mutual arrangement of the planets on the same axis, with their convergence, connection at one point in the sky with the brightness of the glow multiplied as a result.
As Rabbi Abarvanel (XV century) said, in particular, "the most important changes in the sublunar world are foreshadowed by the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn." Prophet Moses, according to him, "was born three years after such a conjunction in the constellation of Pisces."
One of the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn just in the constellation of Pisces was observed in 747 from the founding of Rome, that is, in 7 BC. The distance between them at that time was about half a degree, which is equal to the diameter of the moon. The following year, Mars joined these planets. Based on the calculations of the location of the mentioned planets, one of the founders of the new astronomy, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), attributed the event of the Nativity of Christ to the year 748 from the founding of Rome, that is, to the time two years before the death of King Herod. Considering a different point of view to be absolutely erroneous and completely conditional, the creator of the laws of planetary motion dated his work "New Astronomy" as follows: "Anno aerae Dionisianae 1609" - "Years of the era of Dionysius 1609".

In search of traces of the Star of Bethlehem, we also note that archives containing information about a wide variety of astronomical phenomena on a global scale were once explored. As a result, records were found in Chinese and Korean chronicles, according to which in the spring of 5 BC. at a point in the sky not far from the star of Capricorn, a new star flared up, which was visible for 70 days. According to the astrological ideas of that time, this foreshadowed the birth of a great king.
Here, we believe, it will not be inappropriate to recall once again one of several historical facts which are definitely related to the problem under discussion.
Let us turn to the above initial words of the story of the Nativity of Christ from the Gospel of Luke: "In those days, a command went out from Caesar Augustus to make a census throughout the whole earth. This census was the first in the reign of Quirinius Syria" (2, 1-2).

Emperor Caesar Augustus, shortly before his death, compiled a short biography, which he bequeathed to be cut on copper boards and installed at the entrance to his mausoleum. After his death, the so-called "Acts of the divine Augustus" in Latin and Greek were widespread throughout the Roman Empire.
In A.D. 1555 envoys of Emperor Ferdinand II to Sultan Suleiman in Ankara (ancient Ancyra) on the wall of the local temple of Rome and Augustus, later turned into a mosque, a bilingual inscription (Monumentum Ancyranum) containing the text of "Acts" was discovered. Fragments of similar inscriptions were also found in Antioch and Apollonia (Pisidia in Asia Minor).

The biography tells in the first person about the deeds of the divine Augustus for the benefit of the Roman people, for the sake of asserting its greatness, prosperity and power, for the sake of the reign of peace, the revival of good old morals; all his victories and triumphs, all the blessings addressed to Roman citizens, soldiers, veterans of cohorts are listed.
Among other things, it refers to the conduct by Caesar Augustus of the census "throughout the whole earth." During the years of his reign, it was carried out three times: “The census was carried out after a gap of forty-two years ... I made the second census alone, having consular powers, to the consulate of Gaius Censorinus and Gaius Asinius ... The third census, having consular powers, I made with my son Tiberius Caesar to the consulship of Sextus Pompeius and Sextus Appuleius.
According to the dating accepted in modern historiography, the first census in the empire was carried out in 28 BC, the second - in 8 BC, the third - in 14 AD. The results of the last census were published 100 days before the death of Augustus (See, in particular: Reader on the history of Ancient Rome. - M., 1962. - S. 528).
Judea was not considered a province of Rome until 6 AD, when, under Archelaus, son of King Herod, it was annexed to Syria. However, the country was heavily dependent on the empire, its rulers were appointed in the eternal city. Herod was confirmed on the throne of Judea in 40 BC. in the Roman Senate, from where he left, accompanied by two of the triumvirs - Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian and Mark Antony. Josephus, as we saw earlier, speaks of Herod being proclaimed king "by the Romans." Therefore, the Evangelist Luke mentions the conduct of the census by the command of Caesar.

In the light of the foregoing, the time scale of the "Acts of the Divine Augustus" becomes more understandable in relation to Judea. True, the appointment of Quirinius as governor of Syria was documented only in the year 6 AD. However, based on the gospel text: "This census was the first in the reign of Quirinius Syria" (Lk.2,2), - it seems quite possible to assume that he could be there twice: not only in modern times, but also somewhat earlier. According to commentators, it could be in 3-2 years. BC. and in 6-7 years. AD (Joseph Flavius. Jewish antiquities. -V. 2.- Minsk: "Belarus", 1994. - Notes to the book XVIII. - P. 591). But where the multiplication of events is allowed, the problem of two or three years, we believe, is by no means a problem. True, it can hardly be argued that the issue is thus closed.

In conclusion and in confirmation of the last thesis, we will cite a very competent opinion in this case, which belongs to a prominent Russian historian of the Ancient Church and an authoritative specialist in the field of church chronology, professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy V.V. Bolotov (1854-1900).
When in 1899 at a meeting of the Commission of the Russian Astronomical Society for the Reform of the Calendar, at which the scientist was present as a representative of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the problem of the starting point (epoch) of the perspective system of universal chronology was raised, he stated: "It is better to exclude the year of the birth of Christ from a list of those epochs on which the Commission can choose. It is impossible to scientifically establish the year of the birth of Christ (even only the year, and not the month and date!) "(Quoted from: S. I. Seleshnikov. History of the calendar and chronology. - M. : "Science", 1970. - S. 190).

APPROVAL OF THE ERA "FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST"

The era "from the Nativity of Christ", introduced by Dionysius the Small in 525, was already tested by Pope Boniface IV at the beginning of the 7th century. It is also found in the documents of Pope John XIII (965-972). But only since the time of Eugene IV, since 1431, this era has been regularly used in the documents of the office of the Vatican. At the same time, the year from the creation of the world had to be indicated without fail.
Shortly after the introduction, the era was also used by some Western historians and writers, in particular, by a contemporary of the papal archivist Marcus Aurelius Cassiodorus, a century later by Julian of Toledo, then by Bede the Venerable.

During the VIII-IX centuries, the new era became widespread in many states of Western Europe.
As for the Eastern Church, according to E. Bickerman, for a long time she avoided using the era "from the Nativity of Christ", since disputes about the time of the appearance of the Baby of Bethlehem in Constantinople continued until the XIV century.
True, there were exceptions. So, in the Greek Paschalia, compiled in the 9th century for the entire 13th great indiction (877-1408) by John the Presbyter, along with the year from the creation of the world, the circles of the Sun and the Moon, etc. the year from the Nativity of Christ is also affixed.

In Russia, the Christian chronology and the January New Year, as already mentioned, were introduced at the end of 1699 by the decree of Peter I, according to which (better for the sake of agreement with the European peoples in contracts and treatises) the year that began after December 31, 7208 from the creation of the world began to be considered 1700 from the Nativity of Christ. However, the Julian calendar survived until 1918. Apparently, the Russian tsar did not dare to encroach on the heritage of the great and divine Caesar, covered with antiquity. At the same time, as already noted, Peter I mistakenly considered 1700 the beginning of a new centenary century.
To date, the era "from the birth of Christ", created by Dionysius the Lesser more than a millennium and a half ago, "has become, as it were, an absolute scale for fixing historical events in time" (E.I. Kamentseva. Chronology. - M .: "Higher School", 1967. - P. 24).

Notes on our calendar. I.A. Klimishin.