Sunday before Nativity

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ^

[Kolokotronis]

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone

Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.

Resurrectional Kontakion in the Plagal of the First Tone

You descended to Hades, my Savior, and shattered its gates, as the Almighty. As Creator, You raised the dead with yourself, and smashed the sting of death, O Christ. You freed Adam from the curse, O Lover of humanity. Therefore we all cry out to You, Save us, O Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.

Synaxarion

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.

[Kolokotronis]

Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25

Today we also celebrate the Rememberance of the Founding of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Hagia Sophia at Constantinople

[Kolokotronis]

Ping

[big'ol_freeper]

Merry Christmas to you all. May God’s blessings be upon you throughout the new year.

[Tax-chick]

That’s beautiful.

(The Midwestern White People Choir - my family - is doing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” in Spanish at St. Luke’s Redneck Catholic Party Barn today :-).

[redgolum]

LOL!

We are finally (hopefully) heading out for South Dakota after the last round of storms.

To give you an idea how bad it was, some of the Catholic and LCMS churches postponed services today. Which only happens if the priest/pastor can’t get near enough to the building to yell the service.

Blessed Christmas every one!

[Tax-chick]

And a Merry Christmas early to you, too! Good luck with your drive. I’m not missing Oklahoma and Missouri *this* year :-).

[NYer]

Today, the Maronite Catholic Church celebrates Genealogy Sunday

Matthew
Chapter 1

1

^{1 2} The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

3

Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

4

Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse,

6

Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.

7

³ Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph.

8

Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah.

9

Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

10

Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, ⁴ Amos the father of Josiah.

11

Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

12

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13

Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

14

Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,

15

Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

16

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations. ⁵

[livius]

Today we also celebrate the Rememberance of the Founding of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Hagia Sophia at Constantinople

Sigh. Maybe someday again...

[Kolokotronis]

"Sigh. Maybe someday again..."

As long as the government of the U.S. is run by people like Bush, lovers of all things Mohammedan, the Turks will remain a festering sore on the Levant and the priests bearing "the Holy Gifts for the Holy People of God" won't emerge from the wall of the apse at Hagia Sophia. In the meantime, we can look to Valencia for some consolation!

Καλα Χριστουγεννα!