HOW ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS IN MALAYSIA CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

Few may be aware that an Orthodox Christian church exists in the heart of the city, tucked away amid towering skyscrapers. Housed in an unassuming white bungalow, the Archangel Michael Russian Orthodox Church comes alive with activity on Jan 6 and 7, when its congregation gathers to observe Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Established in 2012, the church is among the few Orthodox churches in Malaysia, which has an estimated Orthodox Christian population of 200, according to Father Seraphim Choy, Parish Priest at the Kuala Lumpur Archangel Michael Russian Orthodox Church.

While Christmas is widely celebrated on Dec 25, Orthodox Christians observe the occasion on Jan 7 as they follow the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar adopted by most of the world. Hence, Dec 25 on the Julian calendar actually falls on Jan 7 on the modern calendar.

Statistically, Orthodox Christianity is the third-largest Christian denomination worldwide, with the majority of its 260 million adherents living in Eastern Europe, Russia and the Balkans.

CELEBRATION

Medical officer Dr Jonathan Chua and his family were among the Malaysian Orthodox Christians who observed Christmas recently at the Archangel Michael Russian Orthodox Church, a tradition they have followed since 2018.

On the night of Jan 6, Dr Chua, his wife Dr Ng Su-Han and their three-year-old son Theodore were among 90 fellow parishioners who gathered at the church for evening prayers and an all-night vigil, culminating in the most important part of the service, the ‘Divine Liturgy’, at midnight.

The liturgy was celebrated by Father Seraphim, with prayers chanted by the choir and congregation.

“Liturgy literally means ‘the work of the people’. The Orthodox Divine Liturgy is a spiritual ascent. Usually, the service is led by at least one priest, sometimes more, depending on who is present,” said Dr Chua.

The church building itself is simple, and it is only upon closer inspection that its purpose becomes apparent, marked by a single religious icon hanging above the front door.

Before entering, all women are required to cover their heads, a customary practice observed in Orthodox Christian communities. 

Inside, the walls are adorned with beautifully painted icons of saints. Attention is immediately drawn to the screen of icons at the front of the church, a defining feature of Orthodox worship.

“It is called the iconostasis, and it separates the altar from the nave, where the congregation stands during worship,” explained Dr Chua, who resides in Kuala Lumpur.

What stands out in an Orthodox church, compared to churches of other denominations, is the absence of musical instruments during worship. In Orthodox churches, choral singing alone carries the prayers, lending the service a solemn and contemplative atmosphere.

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TIKTOK

Father Seraphim said every year, the Christmas liturgy is traditionally followed by a potluck meal in the church compound, prepared by members of the congregation.

“We usually hold the liturgy at midnight because most of the time, Jan 6 and 7 fall on weekdays. However, if Jan 7 falls on a Sunday, we will conduct the liturgy after the Sunday morning service,” he added.

For Father Seraphim, Christmas holds deep significance as it commemorates the moment when “God became man to save us”.

He also said in Orthodox Christianity, Christmas is only the second most important feast day, with Pascha, or Easter Sunday, taking precedence.

Dr Chua, meanwhile, said he and his family have been posting content on TikTok regularly since 2018 to raise awareness about the Orthodox Christian community in Malaysia.

“Our videos have received an encouraging response, especially from those who had no prior knowledge of Orthodox Christianity,” he added.