On December 17th at 12.30 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – Sandra Szabo presents “Orientation” on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. on ORF 2 with the following topics:
Bitter Christmas: Bethlehem under the sign of war
The traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, Bethlehem in the West Bank, usually attracts crowds of tourists at Christmas. But this year the war in Gaza is overshadowing the Christmas celebrations. Access to Bethlehem is severely restricted due to Israeli army roadblocks. The economic pressure on the residents, who are largely dependent on tourism, is increasing. The heads of the Christian churches in Israel decided in November that there should be no Christmas decorations because of the war. The religious celebrations should take place on a small scale. Tim Cupal and Nikolaus Wildner report from Bethlehem.
New Christmas date: Ukraine breaks away from Russia
In Ukraine this year, Christmas will be celebrated for the first time on December 25th and not on January 6th, as is usual in the Orthodox Church. The feast of St. Nicholas was also brought forward to December 6th, which is usual in the West. This means that Ukraine is further distancing itself from Russia in the religious area – but not completely. Only the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Greek Catholic Church, united with Rome, have completed this change. Both religious communities are among the bearers of Ukrainian national identity. The smaller Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, however, has remained with the old Julian calendar. Christian Wehrschütz reports on the reasons for the change and the reaction of the believers.
Guatemala: Youth on the move
Guatemala is considered the youngest country in Latin America in terms of the average age of its population. But the legal feints with which the ruling political elite want to prevent the newly elected president, the left-wing system critic and anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo, from taking office have driven many young people onto the streets. In rural areas, it is primarily a lack of economic prospects that leads many young people to make the dangerous journey to the USA with the help of smugglers. Those who reach their destination are often deported again. The Epiphany Campaign of the Catholic Youth Group uses its donations to support young people in building a future for themselves in their own country. A report from Guatemala by Alexandra Mantler.
Nazi resistance in a Christmas idyll: A rubble nativity scene in Vienna
Since Francis of Assisi invented the nativity scene 800 years ago, it has been an integral part of Christmas tradition, nowadays often as a romantic, kitschy set piece. The Schönbrunn-Vorpark parish in Vienna’s 15th district keeps a different kind of nativity scene alive. Their so-called rubble nativity scene was built in 1949 from the rubble of a bombed-out house. After the refugee crisis in 2015, the Holy Family was designed as a refugee family, the shepherds and wise men were given the shape of Nazi resistance fighters. Sandra Szabo reports on the idea behind an unusual nativity scene.