Postage stamps start caroling early and announcing the Nativity of the Saviour Jesus Christ, reason for celebration and joy.
This feast with a fixed date on the 25th of December, traditionally called Christmas, represents for Christians around the world, the moment of calm and glamor, hope and spiritual rebirth for all those who believe in the Incarnation of God’s Son.
Romfilatelia invites you to discover, in an original manner, a different kind of Christmas story, and especially to offer unique gift to your loved ones, the philatelic products ‘Christmas 2016’.
Comprising of two stamps and a perforated souvenir sheet, the issue ‘Christmas 2016’ can be purchased starting with Friday, November 11th, 2016, in Romfilatelia’s stores from Bucharest, Bacau, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Timisoara.
The Christian iconic-messages reproduced on the elements of this issue call for an imaginary journey to one of the most beautiful places of worship in Romania: Putna Monastery, the religious leitmotif of this year issues at the celebration of 550 years since the setting of the cornerstone by St. Stephen the Great.
The festive atmosphere suggested by this philatelic project is visually completed by a delicate flower of a Poinsettia, known as the Flower of the Holy Night, Christmas Flower or Christmas Star.
Therefore, on the stamp with the face value of lei 1.30, there is a reproduction of an icon among those of the Twelve Great Feasts, the Nativity, belonging to Putna Monastery’s heritage.
The Nativity icon expresses in colour, all creation that took part in the Nativity in the flesh of the Son of God, by the Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, in the lowly cave of Bethlehem, through the sky with the star that guided the three wise men who came from other countries, through the angels and shepherds who brought glory to God, to the earth that offered up the cave where the much awaited Messiah was born.
On the second stamp of the issue, with the same face value of lei 1.30, is depicted the red flower of Poinsettia. Legend says that a poor girl having nothing to bring to church for Christmas mass, and being convinced that any gift given from the heart is welcomed by God, gathered on the roadside a bunch of green plants. When she entered the church, the star-shaped leaves were stained in red, and the magic of Christmas Day made this plant get the name of Christmas Flower or Christmas Star.
The images depicted on the stamps and on the margin of the perforated souvenir sheet of the issue represent two versions of the Sweet Kiss icon, which were both painted in the workshops of the Holy Putna Monastery. The entire pictorial composition is focused on the ensemble of the Virgin Mary with Child, which is the highest, cleanest and most sacred image of motherhood of all time.
The philatelic issue is completed by the first day cover, and two special products, and as page composition were used the sheet of 28 stamps, minisheet of 8 stamps + 1 label for each stamp of the issue and minisheet of 4 sets.
Christmas is about sharing it with dear ones. Offer them the special philatelic products, realized in a limited edition of 351 pieces:
- the philatelic album, equipped with a block of three stamps (Nativity stamp + 2 stamps Christmas Flower) and the First Day Cover with the “first day” postmark clearly imprinted in gold foiling, both products being numbered from 001 to 351.
- the special mini-album with silver plated stamp, a replica of the postage stamp illustrating the Nativity, next to the certificate of authenticity, and the block of two postage stamps (Nativity stamp + the stamp of the souvenir sheet), numbered from 001 to 351.
Starting with November 11th, we bring the joy of Christmas closer to your home and put at your disposal collection exquisite gifts.
Romfilatelia thanks the Holy Putna Monastery’s representatives for the documentary support granted in the creation of this postage stamp issue.
For further information, please contact the Public Relation Office:
Tel: 021 / 337 24 42
anamaria.anton@romfilatelia.ro