Nativity, the winter Passover

This article by liturgist Elie Korotkoff examines the designation of the Nativity of Christ as the "Winter Pascha," an expression rooted in the Orthodox Tradition. Through an analytical study of hymnography and the structure of liturgical offices, the author demonstrates that the celebration of Christmas has been historically and structurally modeled on that of Pascha. The central idea is that the Nativity and the Resurrection do not constitute two distinct events but participate in a single mystery of salvation. On the theological level, the article highlights the internal coherence of the divine economy as expressed in Orthodox worship, and shows how the liturgy offers the faithful a real and present participation in this mystery. The contribution of the study lies in the rigorous articulation between hymnographic data, ritual structure, and the theological vision of the salvific work.