EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:4-7. Ἀνάγνωσις ἐπιστολῆς Πρὸς Γαλάτας 4.4-7

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1 December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve Vigil The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Gaspar, & Balthasar The Commemoration of the Shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks and came to see the Lord This evening s service consists of Great Vespers, Orthros and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great to be followed by our Christmas Program ENTRANCE HYMNS Apolytikion for the Nativity I Ghennisis sou, Christe ( Your Nativity, O Christ ) Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. Apolytikion of St. Sophia/Ss. Faith, Hope & Agape Greek Oς ελαία κατά καρπος ανεβλάστησας, έν ταίς ανλαίς του Κυρίου, Σοφία μάρτυς σεμνή, καί προσήγαγες Χριστώ καρπόν η δύτατον, τούς τής νηδύος σου βλαστούς, δί α γώνων εύαγων, Αγάπην τε καί `Ελπίδα σύν τη θεόφρονι Πίστει, μεθων δυσώπει υπέρ πάντων ήμων. English Phonetics for Greek Os elea kata karpos anevlastisas, en tes avles tu Kyriou Sofia martys semni, ke prosigages Christo karpon idytaton, tus tis nidyos su vlastus, di agonon evagon, Agapin te ke Elpida, syn ti theofroni Pisti; meth on dysopi yper pandon imon. English As an olive tree laden with fruit you sprouted forth, in the courtyards of the Lord, Sophia martyr dignified, and you brought to Christ a fruit most sweet, Namely your womb s own sprouts, brought up by instructive deeds: your daughters Love and Hope, along with God-minded Faith; together intercede with God for us all. Kontakion for the Nativity I Parthenos simeron ton iperousion tikti ( On this day the Virgin gives birth to the Super-essential. On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Super-essential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God.

2 EPISTLE READING The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:4-7 Let all the earth worship you, and sing praises to you. Verse: Shout with joy to God, all the earth. BRETHREN, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of God through Christ. Ἀνάγνωσις ἐπιστολῆς Πρὸς Γαλάτας Πᾶσα ἡ γῆ προσκυνησάτωσάν σοι καὶ ψαλάτωσάν σοι. Στίχ. Ἀλαλάξατε τῷ Κυρίῳ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ. Ἀδελφοί, ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν. Ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, κρᾶζον, Αββα ὁ πατήρ. Ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.

3 GOSPEL READING The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ The Reading is from Matthew 2:1-20 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'" Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

4 GOSPEL READING (continued) The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ The Reading is from Matthew 2:1-20 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον Τοῦ Ιησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ηρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ιεροσόλυμαλέγοντες, Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ιουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ καὶ ἤλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ηρῴδης ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα Ιεροσόλυμα μετ αὐτοῦ,καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. Οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, Εν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ιουδαίας οὕτως γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου Καὶ σύ, Βηθλεὲμ γῆ Ιούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ιούδα ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ισραήλ. Τότε Ηρῴδης λάθρᾳ καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσεν παρ αὐτῶν τόν

5 ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ (συνεχίζεται) Κατὰ Ματθαῖον χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος,καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπεν, Πορευθέντες ἐξετάσατε ἀκριβῶς περὶ τοῦ παιδίου ἐπὰν δὲ εὕρητε ἀπαγγείλατέ μοι, ὅπως κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν προσκυνήσω αὐτῷ. Οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ προῆγεν αὐτοὺς ἕως ἐλθὼν ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον. Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα. Καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν εἶδον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ πεσόντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δῶρα, χρυσὸν καὶ λίβανον καὶ σμύρναν. Καὶ χρηματισθέντες κατ ὄναρ μὴ ἀνακάμψαι πρὸς Ηρῴδην, δι ἄλλης ὁδοῦ ἀνεχώρησαν εἰς τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν. Αναχωρησάντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ ὄναρ τῷ Ιωσὴφ λέγων, Εγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ φεῦγε εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ ἴσθι ἐκεῖ ἕως ἂν εἴπω σοι μέλλει γὰρ Ηρῴδης ζητεῖν τὸ παιδίον τοῦ ἀπολέσαι αὐτό. Ὁ δὲ ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον,καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ ἕως τῆς τελευτῆς Ηρῴδου ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, Εξ Αἰγύπτου ἐκάλεσα τὸν υἱόν μου. Τότε Ηρῴδης ἰδὼν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη ὑπὸ τῶν μάγων ἐθυμώθη λίαν, καὶ ἀποστείλας ἀνεῖλεν πάντας τοὺς παῖδας τοὺς ἐν Βηθλεὲμ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω, κατὰ τὸν χρόνον ὃν ἠκρίβωσεν παρὰ τῶν μάγων. Τότε ἐπληρώθη τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ιερεμίου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος,φωνὴ ἐν Ραμὰ ἠκούσθη, κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὀδυρμὸς πολύς Ραχὴλ κλαίουσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν παρακληθῆναι, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσίν. Τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ηρῴδου ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου φαίνεται κατ ὄναρ τῷ Ιωσὴφ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳλέγων, Εγερθεὶς παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πορεύου εἰς γῆν Ισραήλ, τεθνήκασιν γὰρ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ παιδίου.

6 PRAYERS BEFORE RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION (The Communion Prayers are recited silently by those prepared to receive the Holy Mysteries) I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and for life eternal. Amen. How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, cleanse my soul and save me. Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these Holy Gifts be to my condemnation because of my unworthiness, but for the cleansing and sanctification of soul and body and the pledge of the future life and kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God and to place in Him the hope of my salvation. Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your mystery to Your adversaries. Nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom. PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION We thank You, loving Master, benefactor of our souls, that again today You have counted us worthy of Your heavenly and immortal Mysteries. Set us a straight path; make us all firm in reverence of You; keep watch over our lives; safeguard our movements; through the prayers and intercession of the glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin, Mary and of all Your saints. Amen.

7 December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve Vigil This evening s service consists of Great Vespers, Orthros and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great to be followed by our Christmas Program St. Nicholas Shrine Vigil Candle: Thank you to Phidella Natale for sponsoring today s vigil candle for St. Nicholas Shrine. Anyone wishing to sponsor a vigil candle should sign up at the Pangari. (Each vigil candle lasts one week). Each week a new vigil candle will be placed next to the icon of St. Nicholas until the construction of St. Nicholas Shrine has been completed. The asking donation is $10. Senior Citizen Ministry: St. Sophia s Senior Parea is open to all senior citizens of the community. The next meeting of the Senior Parea will be on Thursday, January 4 th (please note date correction) Ecclesiastical Calendars: In an effort to save the Parish resources, 2018 Church calendars are available for pickup on the table outside of the Parish office on a first come, first serve basis. We respectfully request that each stewarding family take only 1 calendar per household. Thank you! St. Basil s Academy Fundraising Breakfast: Each year, the local chapters of the National Philoptochos Society hold an event in January to raise funds for the operating expenses of St. Basil's Academy. Please join the Ladies' Philoptochos Society on Sunday, January 7, 2018, for breakfast in the "New Year! Stewardship: Thank you to everyone who has supported our 2017 Stewardship Program. If you have not yet returned your 2017 Stewardship Pledge Card, please do so today! They are available at the Pangari. We still need to hear from some of our regulars! If you have not yet finished playing your pledge, please do so before the end of the year so that your payment is posted in In addition, when paying by check, it is imperative that you indicate Stewardship 2017 in the memo line so that your account is properly credited. Also, if you make cash donations, please be sure to include your name either on the outside of the envelope or on a slip of paper attached to the cash. Should you have any questions, please see Tom Cox, our stewardship chairperson. The 2018 campaign will be starting shortly, so it is imperative that we are able to finalize our stewardship roles for this year. Thank you!

8 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY ΙΕΡΑ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΙΕΡΣΕΗΣ The Nativity of our Lord 2017 The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our Holy Metropolis of New Jersey My Beloved, Christ is Born! Glorify Him! The joy of the incarnation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ as the first steps towards the salvation of all humankind reverberates throughout the world today. With His incarnation, the words God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us take on a more profound meaning as we come face to face with He who condescended for our salvation voluntarily. This event had been foretold by the prophets such as Isaiah who said, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given (Isaiah 9:6). With the coming of Christ, we are given renewed hope in the salvation of all humanity since Christ came to unify humanity with Himself. This unity, however, can only come about through our free will. From the first days when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they were given the gift of free will which is what separates all of humanity from the rest of creation. Although humanity was created in order to bring all of creation into union with God, humanity decided to exercise its freedom by saying no to God, thus causing the fall. Even though God wants us to be in union with Him, He respects our freedom to choose otherwise. As a result, humanity walked in darkness until the coming of the Lord as was prophesied by Isaiah when he said, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isaiah 9:2). Thus, God the Father sent His Son so that Christ could show us the way in which we may once again be reoriented towards the Father utilizing our own free will. Consequently, we celebrate today not just the birth of Christ who took on flesh, but we also recall that, through Christ s birth, He has reoriented our path so that we may freely respond yes to God. However joyful today s celebration may be we must also recognize other aspects concerning the mystery of Christ s incarnation. Namely, we must acknowledge that Christ taking on flesh and subsequently sacrificing Himself for the sake of humanity through His 215 East Grove Street, Westfield, NJ, Tel: (908) Fax: (908) Web: metropolis@nj.goarch.org

9 crucifixion as well as the glory of His resurrection are events intimately related to His birth. His incarnation allowed Him to experience all of the painful elements of the human condition, therefore, He who willingly became man and became like us in every way except sin, had to experience these painful realities. The magnificence and yet the mystery of the incarnation necessitates that, to be fully human, one must condescend to experience human pain and frailty. This condescension begins in the cave in which Christ was born, and it is completed on Great Friday as Christ lay in the grave. As we contemplate this complex mystery, let us also never forget the simplicity of Christ s birth, His life of humility, and His central message throughout His earthy ministry when He says, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12). It is my sincerest hope and prayer that each one of us throws off the shadow of darkness by following the Light of Christ which has been given to us to illumine our path to Him. Praying that our Incarnate Lord blesses you and your families as we celebrate His Blessed Nativity today, I remain With Paternal Love in the New-Born King and God, E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey

10 GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY ΙΕΡΑ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΙΕΡΣΕΗΣ Πρός τόν εὐλαβέστατον Ἱερόν Κλῆρον, Τούς Ἐντιµοτάτους Ἄρχοντας τοῦ Οἰκουµενικοῦ ἡµῶν Πατριαρχείου, Τούς Προέδρους καί τά Μέλη τῶν Ἐκκλησιαστικῶν Συµβουλίων, Τάς Προέδρους καί τά Μέλη τῶν Φιλοπτώχων Ἀδελφοτήτων, Τούς διδάσκοντας καί διδασκοµένους τῶν Κατηχητικῶν καί Ἑλληνικῶν Σχολείων, Τάς Ὀργανώσεις τῆς Νεολαίας καί ἄπαν τό Χριστεπώνυµον πλήρωµα τῶν εὐσεβῶν Ὀρθοδόξων Χριστιανῶν τῆς Ἱερᾶς Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ἰερσέης. Ἀγαπητοί ἐν Χριστῷ ἀδελφοί, «Λύτρωσιν ἀπέστειλε Κύριος τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ» (Κοινωνικόν ἑορτῆς) Ὅλος ὁ χριστιανικός κόσµος, σέ Ἀνατολή καί Δύση, ἑορτάζει σήµερα καί εὐφραίνεται µέ τό λυτρωτικό ἄγγελµα τῆς θείας ἐνανθρωπήσεως, πού ἀποτελεῖ τήν ἀπαρχή τῆς χαρᾶς καί τῆς ἐλπίδας γιά τό ἀνθρώπινο γένος, διότι χάρις σέ αὐτήν βρῆκε τή λύτρωση. Ἄν καί πολλές φορές ἀπό τήν παιδική µας ἡλικία µέχρι σήµερα βιώσαµε τήν Ἀγία αὐτή ἑορτή, µᾶς διαφεύγει συχνά τό πραγµατικό νόηµα τῆς ἔλευσης τοῦ Σωτῆρος, πού ὑπερβαίνει σέ σηµασία κάθε ἄλλη ἑορτή καί ὁ ἱερός Χρυσόστοµος τήν ὀνοµάζει «µητρόπολιν τῶν ἑορτῶν», ἀφοῦ τέµνει τήν Ἱστορία τοῦ κόσµου σέ «πρό Χριστοῦ» καί «µετά Χριστόν» ἐποχή. Ἀνάλογη, λοιπόν, θά πρέπει νά εἶναι καί ἡ λαµπρότητα τοῦ ἑορτασµοῦ, «ἐν ἑνί στόµατι καί µιᾷ καρδίᾳ» νά ὑµνοῦµε καί νά δοξάζουµε τόν Θεάνθρωπο Κύριο καί τό θαῦµα τῆς θείας οἰκονοµίας, µέ πνεῦµα εἰρήνης καί συναδέλφωσης, οἰκογενειακή ἀγάπη καί χαρά, µετοχή στά µυστήρια τῆς ἐκκλησίας µας καί ὄχι µάταιη ἐπίδειξη πλούτου, ὑλική εὐτυχία καί ἁµαρτωλή ἀπόλαυση. Ποιό, λοιπόν, εἶναι τό ἀληθινό νόηµα τῆς σηµερινῆς ἑορτῆς; Ἡ Γέννηση τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀποτελεῖ τόν ἀντίποδα τῆς πτώσεως τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καί τήν ἀπαρχή τῆς παλινόρθωσής του. Μέ τήν πτώση ἐπῆλθε ὁ ὄλεθρος, ἐνῶ µέ τή Θεία Ἐνανθρώπηση ἡ εὐλογία καί ἡ χάρις. Μέ τό προπατορικό ἁµάρτηµα παρεισέφρησε στό ἀνθρώπινο γένος ἡ φθορά καί ὁ θάνατος, παρόλο πού ὁ Θεός ἔπλασε τόν ἄνθρωπο «κατ εἰκόνα καί καθ ὁµοίωσίν Του», δηλαδή ἐλεύθερο, ἄφθαρτο, ἀθάνατο. Καθώς ὅµως ὁ πεπτωκώς ἄνθρωπος δέν µποροῦσε µόνος του νά ἀντισταθεῖ στή φθορά τοῦ θανάτου, χρειαζόταν ἡ Θεία ἐπέµβαση γιά τήν ἐπίτευξη τῆς λύτρωσής του ἀπό τίς φθοροποιές δυνάµεις. Ὁ πανάγαθος Θεός, λοιπόν, µεριµνώντας γιά τό πλᾶσµα Του, «ὅτε ἦλθε τό πλήρωµα τοῦ χρόνου», ἀπέστειλε τόν Μονογενῆ Υἱόν καί Λόγον Του ὁ ὁποῖος «σάρξ ἐγένετο καί 215 East Grove Street, Westfield, NJ, Tel: (908) Fax: (908) Web:

11 ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡµῖν» (Ιωάν. 1, 14), «εὐδοκίᾳ» τοῦ Πατρός καί «συνεργείᾳ» τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύµατος. Ὁ Χριστός ἔλαβε «δούλου µορφήν», ἀνθρώπινη δηλαδή σάρκα, γιά νά χαρίσει στούς ὑπόδουλους τῆς ἁµαρτίας, τῆς φθορᾶς καί τοῦ θανάτου, τόν χαµένο Παράδεισο καί τήν ἀληθινή ἐλευθερία, δίνοντας Αὐτός, ὡς «µόνος κραταιός καί δυνατός», τή µάχη γιά τήν ἀπελευθέρωση τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου γένους, πού βρισκόταν «ἐν σκότει καί σκιᾷ θανάτου». Στόν Χριστό, ἐποµένως, προσωποποιεῖται ἡ λύτρωση τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου γένους, γεγονός πού ἀποτυπώνει ὁ προφητάναξ Δαβίδ αἰῶνες πρίν τήν κατά σάρκα ἔλευση τοῦ Θεανθρώπου µέ τό «Λύτρωσιν ἀπέστειλε τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ» (Ψαλ. 110, 9). Ὁ Χριστός εἶναι ὁ Λυτρωτής µας, πού κατῆλθε ἐξ οὐρανοῦ γιά νά µπορέσουµε, ἑνούµενοι µαζί Του, νά ἀνέλθουµε ἐµεῖς οἱ χοϊκοί ἄνθρωποι στόν οὐρανό καί νά φορέσουµε «τήν εἰκόνα τοῦ ἐπουρανίου», κατά τόν Ἀπόστολο Παῦλο (Α' Κορ. 15, 49). Ὁ Ἐνανθρωπήσας Θεός Λόγος ἀπάλλαξε τήν ἀνθρωπότητα ἀπό τή φθορά καί τόν θάνατο, χαρίζοντάς της τήν ἀφθαρσία καί τήν αἰωνιότητα. Ἐποµένως, τά Χριστούγεννα σηµατοδοτοῦν τήν ἀρχή µιᾶς νέας ἐποχῆς γιά τήν ἀνθρωπότητα, τῆς ἐποχῆς τῆς θείας Χάριτος. Ἀποτελοῦν µιά εὐκαιρία γιά κάθε πιστό νά ἀναλογισθεῖ τό ἀπύθµενο ἔλεος τοῦ Θεοῦ γιά τόν ἄνθρωπο. Ἀγαπητοί µου ἀδελφοί, Τά φετινά Χριστούγεννα, ἄς ἐµβαθύνουµε στό νόηµα τῆς ἑορτῆς, κάνοντας µιά πνευµατική ἐπανεκκίνηση. Ἄς δηµιουργήσουµε χῶρο στήν καρδιά µας γιά τόν τεχθέντα Χριστό. Ἄς σπεύσουµε πρός συνάντησίν Του καί τοῦ συνανθρώπου µας, βέβαιοι ὅτι στήν πορεία αὐτή δέν εἴµαστε µόνοι, ἀλλά µᾶς ἐπισκιάζει ἡ θεία χάρις. Ὅπως τό ἄστρο τῆς Βηθλεέµ ὁδήγησε τούς Μάγους στήν προσκύνηση τοῦ νεογέννητου Χριστοῦ, ἔτσι ἡ θεία χάρις θά µᾶς καταυγάζει καί θά µᾶς καθογηγεῖ κοντά στόν «γεννηθέντα δι ἡµᾶς» Λυτρωτή καί Εὐεργέτη Χριστό. Εὔχοµαι καί προσεύχοµαι ὁλόψυχα, τό ἐλπιδοφόρο µήνυµα τῆς ἐνανθρωπήσεως τοῦ Κυρίου µας νά φωλιάσει στίς καρδιές ὅλων µας, ὥστε τά φετινά Χριστούγεννα νά ζήσουµε πραγµατικά τόν ἐρχοµό τοῦ Λυτρωτοῦ. Καλά καί εὐλογηµένα Χριστούγεννα! Ο ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ Ὁ Νέας Ἰερσέης ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ