Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This short is taken from the longer teaching The Spirit of Christmas.
In the Roman Empire, December 25 marked the birthday of Mithra and Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun. It was the holiest day in Roman religion, celebrating the victory of the sun after the winter solstice. Long before Christianity adopted this date, it was central to sun worship throughout the empire.
In the fourth century, the Catholic Church assigned December 25 as the birthday of the Messiah, creating what became known as the Christ Mass. This decision was made despite the absence of any scriptural or historical record of the Messiah’s birth date. The adoption of this date aligned Christianity with existing pagan devotion rather than replacing it.
Early Christian art reflects this transition. Under Saint Peter’s Basilica is a fourth century image depicting Helios or Apollo riding a sun chariot, clothed in a flowing cloak. In the Book of Revelation, Apollo is identified with Abaddon, the angel of the abyss. This imagery demonstrates how pagan symbolism was absorbed into early Catholic worship.
By adopting pagan customs, imagery, and calendar dates, the church made conversion easier for pagan populations. Over time, this strategy allowed Catholicism to replace many traditional religions in Europe by reshaping pagan celebrations rather than abolishing them.
#December25
#SolInvictus
#Mithra
#TheSpiritOfChristmas
#ChurchHistory
#SunWorship
#TruthOverTradition
#BiblicalPerspective
#AncientRome
#yule
#saturnalia
#paganchristmas
#paganholidays
#YHWH
#Yahushua
#messengerofthename
This short is taken from the longer teaching The Spirit of Christmas.
In the Roman Empire, December 25 marked the birthday of Mithra and Sol Invictus, the unconquered sun. It was the holiest day in Roman religion, celebrating the victory of the sun after the winter solstice. Long before Christianity adopted this date, it was central to sun worship throughout the empire.
In the fourth century, the Catholic Church assigned December 25 as the birthday of the Messiah, creating what became known as the Christ Mass. This decision was made despite the absence of any scriptural or historical record of the Messiah’s birth date. The adoption of this date aligned Christianity with existing pagan devotion rather than replacing it.
Early Christian art reflects this transition. Under Saint Peter’s Basilica is a fourth century image depicting Helios or Apollo riding a sun chariot, clothed in a flowing cloak. In the Book of Revelation, Apollo is identified with Abaddon, the angel of the abyss. This imagery demonstrates how pagan symbolism was absorbed into early Catholic worship.
By adopting pagan customs, imagery, and calendar dates, the church made conversion easier for pagan populations. Over time, this strategy allowed Catholicism to replace many traditional religions in Europe by reshaping pagan celebrations rather than abolishing them.
#December25
#SolInvictus
#Mithra
#TheSpiritOfChristmas
#ChurchHistory
#SunWorship
#TruthOverTradition
#BiblicalPerspective
#AncientRome
#yule
#saturnalia
#paganchristmas
#paganholidays
#YHWH
#Yahushua
#messengerofthename
