Edward Stourton presents a special Christmas Eve edition of Sunday, featuring live carols from Manchester Chamber Choir.
On Christmas Eve in 1223, in cave near the cliffside village of Greccio in Italy, St Francis of Assisi created what's thought to be the first nativity scene. It was staged for the local villagers and it was a 'living scene' featuring people and animals. Colm Flynn reports from Greccio, and the art historian Dr Geri Parlby explores the nativity scene’s fascinating story and enduring appeal.
There will be no Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this year. Shaimaa Khalil reports from the birthplace of Jesus. Rev Dr Munther Isaac, Dean of Bethlehem Bible College, has created a nativity scene in his church directly inspired by the suffering endured as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict. He reflects on it with Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner.
Carol singing is another much-loved tradition at this time of year. But how many of us have really thought about where our favourite carols come from? The composer and conductor Andrew Gant traces the weird and wonderful history of our carol tradition in his book "Deck The Hall". He says, “it can be a bit like trying to sweep up all the stray pine needles when you’ve taken down your Christmas tree: there’s always a corner you find you haven’t reached.”
Producers: Dan Tierney and Alexa Good Editor: Helen Grady.
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80th Anniversary of Dunkirk; Forgiveness and Will Hajj Happen?
Keeping fit South Asian style, Navajo Nation, Church post-lockdown
VE Day Anniversary; Christian Charity Crisis; Ramadan Online
'Telephone Lament for Coronavirus', US Lockdown Protests, 'Best of' Streamed Worship.
Chester Mystery Plays go online; Pope Francis on Covid-19; Jewish Chronicle's financial woes
Covid ethical dilemmas; Plants for Passion; Holy Howlers
Covid-19 Funerals; Charity Funding; Fuad Nahdi
Response of Religions to Coronavirus; Worship Online; Mothing Sunday
The Bones of Saint Eanswythe; Christ Church College Dispute; Coronavirus and the Vatican
Digital Religion; International Women's Day; Coronavirus and a South Korean Religious Sect
Vatican "Secret" Archives; Coping with Trauma and Dehli Religious Riots
Doom Paintings, Illegal Schools; Bloomberg and the Jewish Vote
When Gospel Meets Hip-hop; Safeguarding; National Holocaust Memorial
Franklin Graham; Faith and Film; Red Sea Spies
Church of England football; Lawyer to Asia Bibi; The Rule of Benedict
Remembering the Holocaust; RE in Wales; Ezekiel Bread
A Hidden Life, Xenobots, Synagogue Leadership Row
Australian wildfires; China's religious prison camps; a 12th C Monk's diet
The Spirituality of Bees; Celebration Earth and Ethical Veganism.
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