Ήχος Γ-Εωθινόν Ευαγγέλιο ΣΤ ***********************************************************************************

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1 STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York Telephone: (718) Fax Telephone: (718) Dean: Fr. John K. Lardas *** ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH OF THE WTC ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΤΟΥ WTC Ήχος Γ-Εωθινόν Ευαγγέλιο ΣΤ *********************************************************************************** Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem during the reign of the emperor Augustus (Octavian). Caesar Augustus decreed that a universal census be made throughout his Empire, which then also included Palestinian Israel. The Jews were accustomed to be counted in the city from where their family came. The Most Holy Virgin and the Righteous Joseph, since they were descended from the house and lineage of King David, had to go to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed.in Bethlehem they found no room at any of the city s inns. Thus, the God-Man, the Savior of the world, was born in a cave that was used as a stable. I behold a strange and most glorious mystery, the Church sings with awe, Heaven, a Cave; the Virgin the Throne of the Cherubim; the Manger a room, in which Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain is laid. (Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Nativity Canon).Having given birth to the divine Infant without travail, the Most Holy Virgin wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger (Luke 2:7). In the stillness of midnight (Wisdom of Solomon 18:14-15), the proclamation of the birth of the Savior of the world was heard by three shepherds watching their flocks by night.an angel of the Lord (St Cyprian says this was Gabriel) came before them and said: Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). The humble shepherds were the first to offer worship to Him Who condescended to assume the form of a humble servant for the salvation of mankind. Besides the glad tidings to the Bethlehem shepherds, the Nativity of Christ was revealed to the Magi by a wondrous star. St John Chrysostom and St Theophylactus, commenting on St Matthew s Gospel, say that this was no ordinary star. Rather, it was a divine and angelic power that appeared in the form of a star. St Demetrius of Rostov says it was a manifestation of divine energy (Narrative of the Adoration of the Magi). Entering the house where the Infant lay, the Magi fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh (Mt. 2:11).The present Feast, commemorating the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, was established by the Church. Its origin goes back to the time of the Apostles. In the Apostolic Constitutions (Section 3, 13) it says, Brethren, observe the feastdays; and first of all the Birth of Christ, which you are to celebrate on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month. In another place it also says, Celebrate the day of the Nativity of Christ, on which unseen grace is given man by the birth of the Word of God from the Virgin Mary for the salvation of the world. In the second century St Clement of Alexandria also indicates that the day of the Nativity of Christ is December 25. In the third century St Hippolytus of Rome mentions the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, and appoints the Gospel readings for this day from the opening chapters of St Matthew.In 302, during the persecution of Christians by Maximian, 20,000 Christians of Nicomedia (December 28) were burned in church on the very Feast of the Nativity of Christ. In that same century, after the persecution when the Church had received freedom of religion and had become the official religion in the Roman Empire, we find the Feast of the Nativity of Christ observed throughout the entire Church. There is evidence of this in the works of St Ephraim the Syrian, St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian, St Gregory of Nyssa, St Ambrose of Milan, St John Chrysostom and other Fathers of the Church of the fourth century.st John Chrysostom, in a sermon which he gave in the year 385, points out that the Feast of the Nativity of Christ is ancient, and indeed very ancient. In this same century, at the Cave of Bethlehem, made famous by the Birth of Jesus Christ, the empress St Helen built a church, which her mighty son Constantine adorned after her death. In the Codex of the emperor Theodosius from 438, and of the emperor Justinian in 535, the universal celebration of the day of the Nativity of Christ was decreed by law. Continued on pg. 3...

2 Κυριακή, 21η Δεκεμβρίου, 2014 Κυριακή: ΠΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΩΣ. Ἐν ᾗ μνήμην ἐπιτελοῦμεν πάντων τῶν ἀπ αἰῶνος Θεῷ εὐαρεστησάντων ἀπό Ἀδάμ ἄχρι καί Ἰωσήφ, τοῦ Μνήστορος τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, κατά γενεαλογίαν, καθώς ὁ Εὐαγγελιστής Λουκᾶς ἱστορικῶς ἠριθμήσατο ὁμοίως καί τῶν Προφητῶν καί Προφητίδων, ἐξαιρέτως δέ τοῦ Προφήτου Δανιήλ καί τῶν Ἁγίων Τριῶν Παίδων. Τῶν Ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Ἰουλιανῆς, τῆς ἐν Νικομηδείᾳ, καί Θεμιστοκλέους. Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκιον-Ήχος Γ Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον για τα Προεόρτια των Χριστουγέννων Μεγάλα τὰ τῆς πίστεως κατορθώματα! ἐν τῇ πηγὴ τῆς φλογός, ὡς ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀναπαύσεως, οἱ ἅγιοι τρεῖς παϊδες ἠγάλλοντο, καὶ ὁ Προφήτης Δανιήλ, λεόντων ποιμήν, ὡς προβάτων ἐδείκνυτο, Ταὶς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. Απολύτίκιον Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε, Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Απολυτίκιον Αγίου Νικολάου Κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, ἐγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ἀνέδειξέ σε τῇ ποίμνῃ σου, ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλήθεια διὰ τοῦτο ἐκτήσω τῇ ταπεινώσει τὰ ὑψηλά, τῇ πτωχείᾳ τὰ πλούσια, Πάτερ Ἱεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον Η Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, Παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. Sunday December 21st, 2014 Sunday before Nativity.Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Genealogy of Jesus Christ from Adam until Joseph according to St. Luke. Juliana of Nicomedia & her 630 Companion Martyrs. Themistocles the Martyr of Myra Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Resurrectional Apolytikion Third Tone Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The firstborn of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. The Apolytikion of the Forefeast of Christmas Great are the accomplishments of faith. In the fountain of flame the three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters. And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd to the lions, as though they were sheep. Through their prayers O Christ our God, save our souls. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Kontakion On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God.

3 Thus, Nicephorus Callistus, a writer of the fourteenth century, says in his History that in the sixth century, the emperor Justinian established the celebration of the Nativity of Christ throughout all the world.patriarch Anatolius of Constantinople in the fifth century, Sophronius and Andrew of Jerusalem in the seventh, Sts John of Damascus, Cosmas of Maium and Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople in the eighth, the Nun Cassiane in the ninth, and others whose names are unknown, wrote many sacred hymns for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, which are still sung by the Church on this radiant festival.during the first three centuries, in the Churches of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Cyprus, the Nativity of Christ was combined together with the Feast of His Baptism on January 6, and called Theophany ( Manifestation of God ). This was because of a belief that Christ was baptized on anniversary of His birth, which may be inferred from St John Chrysostom s sermon on the Nativity of Christ: it is not the day on which Christ was born which is called Theophany, but rather that day on which He was baptized. In support of such a view, it is possible to cite the words of the Evangelist Luke who says that Jesus began to be about thirty years of age (Luke 3:23) when He was baptized. The joint celebration of the Nativity of Christ and His Theophany continued to the end of the fourth century in certain Eastern Churches, and until the fifth or sixth century in others.the present order of services preserves the memory of the ancient joint celebration of the Feasts of the Nativity of Christ and Theophany. On the eve of both Feasts, there is a similar tradition that one should fast until the stars appear. The order of divine services on the eve of both feastdays and the feastdays themselves is the same.the Nativity of Christ has long been counted as one of the Twelve Great Feasts. It is one of the greatest, most joyful and wondrous events in the history of the world. The angel said to the shepherds, Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, glorifying God and saying: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Those who heard these things were astonished at what the shepherds told them concerning the Child. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen (Luke 2:10-20).Thus the Nativity of Christ, a most profound and extraordinary event, was accompanied by the wondrous tidings proclaimed to the shepherds and to the Magi. This is a cause of universal rejoicing for all mankind, for the Savior is Born! Concurring with the witness of the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church, in their God-inspired writings, describe the Feast of the Nativity of Christ as most profound, and joyous, serving as the basis and foundation for all the other Feasts. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν. Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:9-10; Πίστει παρῴκησεν εἰς γῆν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ὡς ἀλλοτρίαν, ἐν σκηναῖς κατοικήσας μετὰ Ισαὰκ καὶ Ιακὼβ τῶν συγκληρονόμων τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῆς αὐτῆς ἐξεδέχετο γὰρ τὴν τοὺς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν πόλιν, ἧς τεχνίτης καὶ δημιουργὸς ὁ θεός. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; ἐπιλείψει με γὰρ διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ, Σαμψών, Ιεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρης, ἐδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρης ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι, ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος, ἐπὶ ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.and all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

4 Κατὰ Ματθαῖον Βίβλος γενέσεως Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ Δαυῒδ υἱοῦ Αβραάμ. Αβραὰμ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ισαάκ, Ισαὰκ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιακώβ, Ιακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, Ιούδας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Φαρὲς καὶ τὸν Ζαρὰ ἐκ τῆς Θάμαρ, Φαρὲς δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Εσρώμ, Εσρὼμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αράμ, Αρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αμιναδάβ, Αμιναδὰβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ναασσών, Ναασσὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαλμών,Σαλμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Βοὸζ ἐκ τῆς Ραχάβ, Βοὸζ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ωβὴδ ἐκ τῆς Ρούθ, Ωβὴδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιεσσαί, Ιεσσαὶ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Δαυῒδ τὸν βασιλέα. Δαυῒδ δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐγέννησε τὸν Σολομῶνα ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Οὐρίου,Σολομὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ροβοάμ, Ροβοὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αβιά, Αβιὰ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ασά, Ασὰ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσαφάτ, Ιωσαφὰτ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωράμ, Ιωρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Οζίαν, Οζίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωάθαμ, Ιωάθαμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αχαζ, Αχαζ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Εζεκίαν, Εζεκίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Μανασσῆ, Μανασσῆς δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αμών, Αμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσίαν, Ιωσίας δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος.Μετὰ δὲ τὴν μετοικεσίαν Βαβυλῶνος Ιεχονίας ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαλαθιήλ, Σαλαθιὴλ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ζοροβάβελ,Ζοροβάβελ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αβιούδ, Αβιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελιακείμ, Ελιακεὶμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αζώρ, Αζὼρ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Σαδώκ, Σαδὼκ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Αχείμ, Αχεὶμ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελιούδ, Ελιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ελεάζαρ, Ελεάζαρ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ματθάν, Ματθὰν δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιακώβ, Ιακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἄνδρα Μαρίας, ἐξ ἧς ἐγεννήθη Ιησοῦς ὁ λεγόμενος Χριστός.Πᾶσαι οὖν αἱ γενεαὶ ἀπὸ Αβραὰμ ἕως Δαυῒδ γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ Δαυῒδ ἕως τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος ἕως τοῦ Χριστοῦ γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες.τοῦ δὲ Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γέννησις οὕτως ἦν. μνηστευθείσης γὰρ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ιωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ Πνεύματος Αγίου. Ιωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν παραδειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρα ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν.ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος Κυρίου κατ ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων Ιωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυΐδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαριὰμ τὴν γυναῖκά σου τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ Πνεύματός ἐστιν Αγίου.τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιησοῦν αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν,καὶ καλέσουσι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Εμμανουήλ,ὅ ἐστι μεθερμηνευόμενον μεθ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός. Διεγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ιωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβε τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ,καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιησοῦν. The Gospel of Matthew 1:1-25 The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel"(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

5 Χριστούγεννα σημαίνει: ΘΕΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ. Πολλοί άνθρωποι ομιλώντας για τα Χριστούγεννα λέγουν ότι είναι μία ευκαιρία να δούμε τις ανάγκες του συνανθρώπου μας, να σκύψουμε στις πληγές του διπλανού μας και να τον βοηθήσουμε, μιας και «οι ημέρες το απαιτούν». Χριστούγεννα όμως δεν σημαίνει: άσκηση ελεημοσύνης. Χριστούγεννα δεν σημαίνει παρηγοριά στους πονεμένους και φτωχούς. Χριστούγεννα σημαίνει: Γέννηση του Χριστού! Άλλη μία φορά δυστυχώς ο σκοτισμένος λογισμός των ανθρώπων έχει μετατρέψει μία Σωτηριώδη Εορτή σε μία απλή ευκαιρία ελεημοσύνης. Οι άνθρωποι λοιπόν, οι οποίοι τις πιο πολλές φορές έχουν ξεχάσει καθ' όλη τη διάρκεια του έτους τους συνανθρώπους τους, σαν να ξυπνούν από τον λήθαργο της αναισθησίας τους και μέσα στον συναισθηματικό βερμπαλισμό των εορτών προσπαθούν να αναπληρώσουν το χαμένο έδαφος της αδιαφορίας τους. Για να νιώσουν «το πνεύμα των Χριστουγέννων όπως οι ίδιοι υποστηρίζουναρκούνται σε μία φιλανθρωπία, και έπειτα ξαναχώνονται μέσα στην ματαιόδοξη βιωτή τους. Άνθρωποι της τηλεόρασης, τραγουδιστές, ποδοσφαιριστές, επιχειρηματίες και κάθε είδος διάττοντες αστέρες «συνωστίζονται» για να αποδείξουν ότι έχουν φιλάνθρωπα συναισθήματα, ότι ενδιαφέρονται για τους φτωχούς και τους αρρώστους, για τους ανθρώπους που κοιμούνται χωρίς θέρμανση, για τα παιδάκια που διαβάζουν δίπλα στην ξυλόσομπα κάτω από το φως ενός κεριού. Και δώσ' του οι έπαινοι, και δώσ' του η προβολή, οι φωτογραφίες, οι συνεντεύξεις...και όλα αυτά...από ενδιαφέρον για τους συνανθρώπους, διότι «οι ημέρες το απαιτούν...». Βεβαίως κανείς δεν μπορεί να πει ότι αυτό που γίνεται είναι κάτι το κακό. Όμως τελικά μήπως είναι άλλη μια φιέστα που χρησιμοποιεί για λόγους προβολής και διαφήμισης τον πόνο και την δυστυχία κάποιων; Μήπως τελικά όλα αυτά που γίνονται αυτές τις όντως ιερές ημέρες είναι μία μεγάλη υποκρισία; Μήπως τελικά η ματαιοδοξία (αν και Χριστούγεννα) θα μασκαρευτεί σε εκδηλώσεις φιλανθρωπίας;διότι ακόμα κι αν όλα αυτά γίνονται γνήσια και μακριά από ψεύτικους συναισθηματισμούς, τελικά...δεν αρκούν. Γι' αυτό και η Εκκλησία, δεν περιμένει αυτές τις ημέρες για να σκύψει πάνω στα προβλήματα του λαού. Η Εκκλησία δεν περιμένει τις εορτές των Χριστουγέννων για να δώσει ένα πιάτο φαΐ, για να πληρώσει το ρεύμα κάποιας οικογένειας, για να αγοράσει πετρέλαιο ή ξύλα για να ζεσταθεί κάποιος ανήμπορος, για να προμηθεύσει με φάρμακα κάποιους αρρώστους.η Εκκλησία δεν περιμένει τις εορτές για να επισκεφθεί κάποιους στο νοσοκομείο ή στην φυλακή. Η Εκκλησία δεν περιμένει όπως η ματαιοδοξία των ανθρώπων που περιμένουν τους φωτογράφους για να δώσουν ένα δέμα σε κάποιον άστεγο. Η Εκκλησία εργάζεται σιωπηλά και συνεχώς προσφέροντας ένα απίστευτο κοινωνικό έργο αν και είναι το πάρεργό της.η Εκκλησία δεν περιμένει επαίνους. Δεν περιμένει «ευχαριστώ». Γιατί; Διότι η Εκκλησία έχει Αγάπη. Και η αγάπη «ου ζητεί τα εαυτής». Σε έναν κόσμο όπου ακόμα και η εορτή των Χριστουγέννων, η εορτή της Ταπείνωσης και της άκρας συγκατάβασης έχει εμπορευματοποιηθεί, έρχεται η Εκκλησία του Χριστού με το στόμα των Θεοφόρων Πατέρων της, με το στόμα των Μαρτύρων και των Οσίων της και μας τονίζει: Χριστούγεννα δεν σημαίνει, φωτάκια, στολισμένα δέντρα, αγορές και παιχνίδια, κάλαντα και χιόνια, γιορτινά τραπέζια ή επανασύνδεση της οικογένειας.χριστούγεννα δεν σημαίνει απλά οι μάγοι με τα δώρα ή το φωτεινό άστρο ή η κρύα φάτνη. Χριστούγεννα δεν σημαίνει ότι γεννήθηκε κάποιος σπουδαίος άνθρωπος.έχουμε χάσει το νόημα των Χριστουγέννων, έχουμε χάσει εδώ και καιρό τον προσωπικό μας δρόμο προς της τελείωση.όχι, δεν είναι τα Χριστούγεννα κάποιος χοντρός ασπρογέννης με μεγάλη κοιλιά! Χριστούγεννα σημαίνει: ΘΕΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ. Γι' αυτό χαιρόμαστε και εορτάζουμε...όχι μόνο αυτές τις ημέρες, αλλά συνεχώς... εδώ και 2000 και πλέον χρόνια.ο Χριστιανός ζει συνεχώς μία ζωή προσφοράς και θυσίας, ταπείνωσης και φιλανθρωπίας...δεν περιμένει το τέλος εκάστου έτους για να θυμηθεί ότι είναι άνθρωπος. Ο Χριστιανός είναι ο όντως Άνθρωπος ο οποίος πλέον έχει την δυνατότητα να γίνει και κατά Χάριν θεάνθρωπος. Διότι ο Θεός μας είναι Θεάνθρωπος...άραγε το έχουμε καταλάβει;

6 Μνυμόσηνο Διονύσιος Μαφρέδας-1 χρόνο Καθημερινές Λειτουργίες 22 Δεκεμβρίου Η Εορτή της Αγίας Αναστασίας Όρθρος 8:00πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:00πμ 23 Δεκεμβρίου Η Εορτή των εν Κρήτη 10 Μαρτύρων Όρθρος 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ 24 Δεκεμβρίου Οι Βασιλικές Ώρες 4:30μμ και Εσπερινή Θεία Λειτουργία του Μεγάλου Βασιλείου 6:00μμ 25 Δεκεμβρίου Η Κατά Σάρκα Γέννησης του Κυρίου και Σωτήρος ημών Ιησού Χριστού Όρθρος-8:45πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00πμ 27 Δεκεμβρίου Η Εορτή του Αγίου Στεφάνου Όρθρος 8:30πμ Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ Memorial Dennis Mafredas 1 year Weekday Liturgies December 22 The Feast of St Anastasia Orthros 8:00am Divine Liturgy 9:00am December 23 The 10 Martyrs of Crete Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am December 24 The Royal Hours of Christmas 4:30pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 6:00pm December 25 The Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Orthros 8:45am Divine Liturgy 10:00am December 27 The Feast of St. Stephen Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am Σήμερα-Χριστουγεννιάτικη Γιορτή από τα παιδιά του Κατηχητικού σχολείου και Χριστουγεννιάτικο πάρτι της Φιλοπτώχου μετά από την Θεία Λειτουργία Ανακοινώσεις 4 Ιανουαρίου, 2015-Αγιασμός των υδάτων στο Battery Park στο Μανχάταν 11 Ιανουαρίου, 2015-Γεύμα Φιλοπτώχου, Βασιλόπιτα, μετά τη Θεία Λειτουργία στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας. 18 Ιανουαρίου, 2015-Καθαγιασμός της εικόνας της Γεννήσεως-Δωρεά της αγαπημένης μας Πολυξένης Χίου και το τριετές μνημόσυνο της. Today-Sunday School Christmas Pageant & Philoptochos Christmas Party Announcements January 4, Blessing of the waters at Battery Park, Manhattan January 11, 2015 Annual Philoptochos Vasilopita Luncheon following the Divine Liturgy in the church hall January 18, Consecration of the Nativity Icon donated by our Beloved Paulette Hios and her 3 year Memorial Service Ωράριο για τις Κυριακάτικες Λειτουργίες Όρθρος 9:15πμ * Θεία Λειτουργία 10:30πμ Hours for Sunday Liturgy Orthros 9:15am * Divine Liturgy 10:30am

7 DECEMBER 2014/JANUARY The Sunday Before 11 The Sunday 7 The Synaxis of St. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 21-Orthros: 9:15am, Divine Liturgy: 10:30am Sunday School Christmas Pageant and Philoptochos 28 Orthros: 9:15am, Divine Liturgy: 10:30am Epiphany Orthros: 9:15am, Divine Liturgy: 10:30am, Blessing of the Water at Battery Park 1:00 PM after Epiphany Orthros: 9:15am, Divine Liturgy: 10:30am The Cutting of the Vasilopita 18 Consecration of Nativity Icon by Bishop Sebastia -Midnight Run 22 The Feast of St. Anastasia Orthros8:30am Divine Liturgy 23 Orthros 8:30am Divine Liturgy 9:30am 24-Christmas Eve Christmas Recess for A. Fantis school begins Royal Hours 4:30pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy New Year s Eve 5-The Fore feast of Epiphany, Royal Hours: 8:30 AM, Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM, (Followed by the Great 6 Epiphany Orthros 8:00 AM, Divine Liturgy 9:00 AM (Followed by the Great Blessing of the Water) John the Baptist Reception to follow in the church hall for the Name Day of our Priests Orthros 8:30am Trip to Barclays Center YKT vs. NAK following game on Court! 25-Christmas Day Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:30am officiated by his Grace Bishop 1-The Circumsission of our Lord and the Feast of St. Basil Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 26-Synaxis of the Theotokos Orthros-8:30am Divine Liturgy- 9:30am The Feast of St. Stephanos Orthros-8:30am Divine Liturgy- 9:30am GOYA Retreat hosted by our Cathedral

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12 Consecration of the Nativity Icon donated by our Beloved Paulette Hios and her 3 year Memorial Service Καθαγιασμός της εικόνας της Γεννήσεως-Δωρεά της αγαπημένης μας Πολυξένης Χίου και το τριετές μνημόσυνο της. Orthros 9:00am Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:30am Officiated by his Grace Bishop Sevastianos Όρθρος 9:009 :00πμ Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία 10:30 :30πμ Εκ του Θεοφιλεστάτου Επισκόπου Σεβαστιανού Sunday, January 18, 2015 Κυριακή, 18 Ιανουαρίου, 2015 Γεύμα μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία εις μνήμην της Πολυξένης Χίου στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας *** Luncheon offered by the Cathedral in memory of Paulette Hios following the Divine Liturgy in the Church Hall Help Decorate our Cathedral this Christmas Season Please make your donation in the box at the back of the church or in the church office. Thank You. Merry Christmas!!!