Is today Orthodox Christmas?

Dietrich Johnson said:

Is today (Jan 7) Orthodox Christmas day? I'm asking because I wonder how busy priests will be today/tomorrow/this weekend, as I consider when to ask for a conversation. Thanks for any insight.

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Old calendar Orthodox celebrate Christmas today. New calendar Orthodox celebrate on December 25. I would check the website of the parish you wish to contact to see which calendar they are on.

Dietrich Johnson said:

Thanks for the reply. I see that Jan 6 was the "Epiphany" feast, does that mean that Priests were very busy yesterday and have less time today/tomorrow than normal?

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Yes, for the new calendar, it was Epiphany (or Theophany), which is a major feast with several services in most parishes. Today on the new calendar, it is another major feast for St. John the Forerunner (the Baptist), so yes, I would imagine this is a fairly busy time for the priests right now, following two major feast days and the usual weekend services.

“Paisios” said:

Yes, for the new calendar, it was Epiphany (or Theophany), which is a major feast with several services in most parishes. Today on the new calendar, it is another major feast for St. John the Forerunner (the Baptist), so yes, I would imagine this is a fairly busy time for the priests right now, following two major feast days and the usual weekend services.

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as a priest I can say indeed it is

Dietrich Johnson said:

When does it die down a bit to where priests would have a bit more time than now?

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depends on how much time is between Theophany and Lent

From where I'm standing as a Reader who sees a bit of how the sausage is made at times, there is very little in the year where priests AREN'T super busy. Great Lent through Pascha is beautiful yet brutal where business is concerned. It's a marathon. Holy Week is unreal along with the next week after it. And all year priests are visiting shut-ins and hospitals, blessing homes and cars, counseling couples, traveling all over, going to diocesan days events, summer camps, matins, vespers, liturgies, you name it. They're perpetually busy folks.

Dietrich Johnson said:

Thanks for the reply. I see that Jan 6 was the "Epiphany" feast, does that mean that Priests were very busy yesterday and have less time today/tomorrow than normal?

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Dietrich Johnson said:

Do you mean sometime between Jan 6 and March 2?

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You can always ask him or any other parish member about the schedule

Dietrich Johnson said:

Do you mean just ask the local priest (or parish member)?

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I mean, if you want to convert you should be doing catechism at least in one Church.

Dietrich Johnson said:

When does it die down a bit to where priests would have a bit more time than now?

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I would approach or e-mail him and ask him when would be a good time to meet. Most priests are quite busy, but most are more than willing to meet with inquirers (or their parishioners) if given the opportunity to schedule it (at least that is my experience, both in the world of flesh and blood, and even on sites like this - Fr. @ArmyMatt was kind enough to give me frequent advice and answers to my questions both publicly and privately when I was exploring Orthodoxy before my conversion), but may not be free for a spontaneous meeting.