TO ALL OF OUR ORTHODOX FRIENDS: A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:WIk8fnsEbWkC:www.collegebaptist.org/sermon/12.23.01.html ^ | Matthew 2:1-12.

[Liz]

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Matthew 2:1-12.

[MarMema]

Thank you mom.

[MarMema]

Thank you for this post!! May God bless you.

[MarMema]

Thank you so much. Will look forward to meeting you someday...

[Michael2001]

Merry Christmas indeed

[drew]

Thanks!

[maestro]

Ping..............................BTTT MikalM,...Your#14).....Yes!

Happy Christmas! May God's Blessings be upon all "Old Calendar" Orthodox Christians!

Amen,........More Grace and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!

(I loved "grandma's" Christmas noodle soup.....)

[Liz]

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

[Liz]

So glad you liked the post.

[RnMomof7]

Many "nativities" show mother and child.. nothing unusual about that ..

[Fiddlstix]

Merry Christmas to All

[Alamo-Girl]

Merry Christmas indeed!

[Liz]

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and here's hoping for a healthful New Year for all.

[TracyPA]

Merry Christmas to all. My parents were Ukrainian Catholics which used the Byzantine rite. Before our church changed to the new calendar, our Christmas was January 7. Byzantine Catholics are in full communion with Rome as are Roman Catholics who use the Roman rite. Eastern Orthodox churches also use the Byzantine rite, but they broke with Rome many years ago.

[Liz]

The Byzantine rites are so very beautiful - especially weddings.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

The Blessings of Christ be upon you this Christmas Season. Merry Christmas.

[a_Turk]

Yiorgos Aristotelis Sakellariou, left, partially obscured, a 21-year old Greek Orthodox Christian, holds up the wooden cross with his friends after retrieving it from the waters of the Golden Horn during the Orthodox Epiphany ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Jan. 6, 2003. Yiorgos Aristotelis, a student from the Greek island of Zakynthos, braved freezing winter weather to dive into Istanbul's Bosporus and retrieve a wooden cross in a ceremony commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ. (AP Photo/ Osman Orsal)

[nycgal]

Before 9/11, parishioners from St. Nicholas church near the WTC would jump into the Hudson each Jan 6 to retrieve the cross. I wonder if the ceremony is still being held even though the church was destroyed.

[nycgal]

Thanks and a Merry Christmas to you.

[Liz]

Thank you.

[Liz]

Sincerest wishes for a proserous and healthy New Year.