In the fourth century AD, the Romans abandoned the classical pagan pantheon for Chistianity. This meant swapping Saturnalia activities for Christmas celebrations. From these early beginnings the Byzantine Emperor would inherit and modify its Christmas traditions.
As the original bastion of Christian Orthodoxy, modern Greek cultural and religious practices owes much to the Eastern Roman Empire histographically known as Byzantine Empire.
Unfortunately, there is shortage scenes on how Byzantine people marked the birth of Christ. However, accounts of the emperor's Christian celebrations are available to historians.
In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan accepting Chistanity as a state religion. Constatine also moved the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium and renamed the city Constantinople.
The Roman Empire was split into Easr and West in 395 AD upon the death of Theodosiius I . The Eastern Roman Empire removed its Western counterpart which fell in the fifth century AD. From this point on many historians refer to the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire.
It was in the Byzantine Empire that the doctrines, aesthetics and practices of the Greek Orthodox faith was developped.
For the Eastern Roman Easter and the dormition of the Virgin were much more significant events on the Christian calandar but the Byzantine Christmas celebrations were lavish affairs.
Several witnesses left written accounts like the "The Works of Liutprand of Cremona," Cremona was an Italian bishop and historian who was sent as a diplomat to Constantinople in the 10th century.
Cremona was personally invited with other diplomats by the Byzantine Emperor to celebrate Chrisrmas together.
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