December 24, 2017 Sunday before Nativity Eve of the Nativity of Christ Eugenia the Righteous Nun-martyr of Rome

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1 December 24, 2017 Sunday before Nativity Eve of the Nativity of Christ Eugenia the Righteous Nun-martyr of Rome ENTRANCE HYMNS Resurrectional Apolytikion - To Fedhron Tis Anastaseos ( The Joyful News of Your Resurrection ) The joyful news of your resurrection was proclaimed by the angel to the women disciples. Having thrown off the curse that fell on Adam, they ran elatedly to tell the apostles: Death has been vanquished; Christ our God is risen from the dead, blessing all the world with his great mercy. Apolytikion for Pre-Nativity Meghala ta tis pisteos ( Magnificent are Faith s accomplishments ) Magnificent are Faith's accomplishments! The three holy Youths exultingly stood in the fountain of fire as if beside the still waters of rest. And Daniel the Prophet was shown to be a shepherd of lions. At their entreaty, O Christ God, save our souls. Apolytikion for the Hours of Nativity Apegrafeto pote ( As she carried in her womb ) As she carried in her womb * what she conceived without seed, * Mary went to Bethlehem * with elder Joseph to enroll, * for they were of the house and the lineage of David. * The time arrived for her * to give birth to her Child; * but then there was no place * in the inn for them. * Therefore the grotto served as a luxurious * royal palace for the Queen. * And Christ the Lord is born, to raise the image * which was formerly fallen. 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 Forefeast I Parthenos simeron ton proeonion Loghon ( On this day the Virgin Maid ) 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.

2 EPISTLE READING The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers. Verse: For you are just in all you have done. 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. Ἀνάγνωσις ἐπιστολῆς Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:9-10, τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν. Ἀδελφοί, πίστει παρῴκησεν Ἀβραὰμ εἰς τὴν 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 γάρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψὼν καὶ Ιεφθάε, Δαυΐδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν, οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν 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, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον, περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι, ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος, ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσι 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 τελειωθῶσι.

3 GOSPEL READING The Gospel According to 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.

4 ΕVΑΓΓÉΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 1:1-25 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα 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.

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6 December 24, 2017 Sunday before Nativity Eve of the Nativity of Christ Eugenia the Righteous Nun-martyr of Rome 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. Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal Today: Dress rehearsal for our Christmas pageant will take place after the Divine Liturgy today. All children involved with the pageant should be in attendance. 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!

7 To Parents of Young Children: In case you are not aware, our church has a Cry/Bride Room in the Narthex. For those parents whose young children might understandably get fussy during a service, please feel free to take your youngster into that room for a short while. (There is a closed circuit TV showing the service in the room as well as a bathroom/changing station). The intention is NOT to relegate you to another room; rather, this will enable you to attend to your child in a quiet environment before bringing him/her back into the church. New Iconography: As you can see by the new iconography on the walls of our church, the beautification of our church is complete. There are many new opportunities to sponsor an icon. If you are interested in sponsoring any of these, please see either Dr. Peter Patukas or Fr. Peter Thornberg for more details. Register Tapes: Don t forget to save your Shop-Rite register tapes. We can only use receipts from any of the ten Brown s stores located in: Bensalem PA, East Norriton, PA, Fairless Hills PA, Cheltenham, PA and in Philadelphia, PA, on Island Ave., Oregon Ave., 52 nd & Parkside, Haverford Ave., and Ridge Ave. in the Roxborough section. They also have one store in Brooklawn, NJ. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. Please submit receipts timely, only tapes from within 4 months of the transaction date are accepted. REDNER S Register Tapes: We are now collecting Redner s Market register tapes. Remember to use your Pump Perks card when making purchases. The drop off box is located in the lobby of the Cultural Center. Bulletin Announcements: Any church organization requesting that their announcement or flyer be placed in the bulletin must submit their material by 12 noon Wednesday for the upcoming Sunday s bulletin. Please information to elaine.stsophia@verizon.net. Thank you. Elaine Piligian Pastoral Visits - A Request to All Parishioners: If you desire a pastoral visit in case of a hospitalization, or for someone who is homebound, in a nursing facility, or in prison, please have an immediate family member notify the Parish office at so that a visit can be arranged. In Case of Emergency: If you are having an extreme medical emergency ONLY and are in need of an Orthodox priest, please call the Parish office at

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

12 Thank you to the following families who have donated poinsettia plants in honor of or in memory of loved ones, or just to beautify our church at Christmastime Matt, Joann and Nicholas Bannon Frieda Bell James and Mary Caravoulias Betty Cooper Marie Del Viscio Iris Demas Vicky and Steve Dowzicky Eleni Evangelopoulos George Evangelopoulos and Family Mark, Lesa, Megan and Erin Finn The Good Family Theodore, Pamela, Michael and Theodora Karas Georgia C. Katsafanas Bart and Lucy Kline Peggy P. Kostomite Dean, Nina and Leo Laskaris The Lathiris Family Effie Liacouras Alexis and Cary Limberakis Francine, Peter, Demetri and Stefan Lowry Irene Malagari Maria Nasi The Nazzaro Family In memory of Nick Moukoulis, and Bill and Judi Bannon In memory of William Bell In memory of our parents In memory of Andrew Nicholas Petrelis In memory of Frank Del Viscio In memory of George Demas In memory of Harry Papastrat and James Miras In memory of Nicholas Papageorge In memory of Andreas Evangelopoulos and Nicholas Papageorge In memory of Nick and Tula Ganavazos and Georgia Reynolds In memory of Stergios Dikos, and Effie and Mary Doukas In memory of Theodore Karas Sr. and Peter Pappas In memory of Constantinos and Elpida Katsafanas In honor of the Ladies Philoptochos Society of St. Sophia In memory of Leon and Helen Laskaris In memory of George C. Liacouras In memory of Fr. John A. Limberakis, Jack M. Demetris, and Olga "Dolly" Demetris, and In honor of Presbytera Elizabeth Limberakis In memory of Mary and Thomas Stathopulos In memory of John and Helen Christopher In memory of Vangjush Nasi In memory of George, Athena, Yanni, Paraskevi, Thora and Vangeli, and In honor of Spiros and Stella Vanezalos over

13 Bill and Effie Neatherly and Family George and Bessie Neofotistos Alexander and Marianne Nikas and Family Serafim and Despina Notaras The Pogas Family David and Flora Poloway Jeff, Georgia and Marlena Ruser John, Christine and Dimitri Samaras Constantine and Effie Samios Anna Skylakon Vasilios and Sofia Tatsis Fr. Peter, Presbytera Katherine and Sophia Thornberg Shirley Tripolitis Maria and Katherine Tsipras Irene Tsokas The Tsouros Family Anastasios and Sofia Tzivekis Charles and Catherine Zarcone In memory of our Yiayia Vasiliki Raikos In memory of our beloved son Steven and our parents In memory of G. William and Carolyn Ruhl and Alexandros and Despina Tsinikas, and In memory of Demetrios and Anna Manolis and Ralph and Alberta Andrews, and In honor of Nicholas and Ruth Nikas In memory of our parents In memory of Anastasios and Katina Pogas and Marvin and Eileen Reiman In memory of Aris Podotas and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Poloway In memory of George Tripolitis In memory of George and Angela Samaras and Anthony and Sophia Prousi In memory of George and Fotini Samios In memory of Alexander Skylakon In memory of our parents In memory of our grandparents, and in honor of our parents In memory of George Tripolitis In memory of Speros and Olga Tsipras In loving memory of my husband Chris and my sister Niki In memory of Isidoros N. Tsouros, Phokion C. Lacas, Father Stephen P. Theophilos, and In memory of Isidoros C. Costalas, Zoitsa Costalas and Michael Rapitis In memory of our parents, brothers and sisters In memory of our parents