Matins and Divine Liturgy of Christmas

Transcript

1 Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751, Durham NC News & Announcements December 24, 2016 Matins and Divine Liturgy of Christmas 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 NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the church Office. 1

2 Today's Readings: Epistle Reading Let all the earth worship you, and sing praises to you. Verse: Shout with joy to God, all the earth. The reading is from Saint Paul's Letter to the Galatians (4:4-7) 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. 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 ὑμῶν, κρᾶζον, Ἀββᾶ, ὁ πατήρ. Ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος, ἀλλʼ υἱός εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ. The Gospel according to Matthew 2:1-12 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.'" Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 2:1-12 Τοῦ δὲ 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. Ακούσας δὲ Ηρῴδης ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐταράχθη καὶ πᾶσα Ιεροσόλυμα μετ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ ἐπυνθάνετο παρ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ ἐν Βηθλεὲμ τῆς Ιουδαίας οὕτω γὰρ γέγραπται διὰ τοῦ προφήτου καὶ σὺ Βηθλεέμ, γῆ Ιούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ιούδα ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ισραήλ. Τότε Ηρῴδης λάθρα καλέσας τοὺς μάγους ἠκρίβωσε παρ αὐτῶν τὸν χρόνον τοῦ φαινομένου ἀστέρος, καὶ πέμψας αὐτοὺς εἰς Βηθλεὲμ εἶπε πορευθέντες ἀκριβῶς ἐξετάσατε 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 αὐτούς, ἕως ἐλθὼν ἔστη 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. 2

3 The Text of the Christmas Carols for the Evening Service Silent Night Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night! Son of God love's pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face With dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth O Come All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels! Christ the Lord. Sing, alleluia, All ye choirs of angels; O sing, all ye blissful ones of heav'n above. Glory to God In the highest glory! Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be the glory giv'n; Word of the Father, 3 Now in the flesh appearing, Christ the Lord. Joy to the World Joy to The world! the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let ev'ry heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing Joy to the world! the Savior reigns Let men their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love And wonders of His love And wonder wonders of His love Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Christ, by highest heav'n adored: Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the favored one. Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see; Hail, th'incarnate Deity: Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,

4 Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold! Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven's all gracious King! The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing. And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When, with the ever-circling years, Shall come the Age of Gold; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling, And all the world give back the song Which now the angels sing. Angels We Have Heard On High Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o're the plains And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains Shepherds why this Jubilee Why your joyous strains prolong What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heavenly song Come to Bethlehem to see him whose birth the angels sing Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord the newborn King See him in a manger laid Whom the choirs of angels praise Mary, Joseph, lend your aid While our hearts in love we raise Gloria, in excelsis Deo Yet with te woes of sin and strife The world hath suffered long; 4

5 O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven No ear may hear His coming But in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still The dear Christ enters in O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel Songwriters: JEREMY MICHAEL LUBBOCK, PIERRE MARCHAND, SARAH MCLACHLAN Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group For non-commercial use only. Hello everyone! I want to thank you all for your help in facilitating a wonderful Christmas Pageant yesterday! Thank you Summer for writing and directing a beautiful play. Thank you Costa for directing the music. Thank you to all of the Sunday School teachers and parents that helped the kids get dressed and get them where they needed to be:) Thank you again to Johnny Mariakakis and Chris Claypoole for volunteering their time as wisemen in our play! Thank you Donna and the choir for singing along during the pageant! Thank you Nick for setting up the sound system and microphones for our children. We had a full church yesterday for our telling of the night Jesus was born, and the kids were fantastic! May I say, what a wonderful reason it was for us all to be together yesterday, to celebrate and glorify the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God certainly blessed the endeavor in its entirety, and drew people closer to Jesus, His Son, through the power of His Holy Spirit. God continues to bring many people to Christ through the telling of His love in the Christmas story. The children of St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church absolutely did their part and touched all of our hearts throughout the rehearsals and especially, final performance! Thank you all again for sharing your children with us and for all of your help. Michelle Claypoole 5

6 The Saint Barbara Community Wishes You A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year WE NEED YOU as a STEWARD! Our Saint Barbara Church needs each and every family to join our Stewardship Program. Our goal is to have 150 Pledged Families in the Stewardship Program. As of Sept. 30th we have 103 Pledged Families in our Stewardship Program. Please help us Reach our Goal. 6

7 PROJECTS TO DATE: 2015 February 7 June 6-7 July 18 September 12 September 26 October 3 November 6 November December 6 December 12 Gyro Day Greek Festival Gyro Feast Yard Sale Fashion Show Chicken Dinners To-go Evening of Music Joint Philoptochos/PC Fundraiser Saint Barbara Celebration Banquet Holiday Greek Pastries 2016 January 16 January 30 February 20 June 4-5 July 23 September 24 October 1 November December 2 December 10 Evening of Music Spaghetti Event Gyro Event Greek Festival Gyro Event Evening of Jazz Greek Style Chicken Dinner & Pastry Athenian Grill and Pastry Christmas Concert Holiday Greek Pastries THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS By FATHER MICHAEL BAROUDY Archpriest, St. George Orthodox Church, Vicksburg, MississippiTHE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS By FATHER MICHAEL BAROUDY Archpriest, St. George Orthodox Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi The Christian world is about to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord, a celebration in which we all indulge every year. People celebrate this memorable day in various ways, depending upon their own concept of the significance of the day. We have to admit that even here in Christian America, many celebrate the day in a manner that is foreign and even contradictory to the spirit of Christmas. It is becoming increasingly horrifying to any person who does any thinking at all that we are commercializing and paganizing the great Holy Day and have changed it to a holiday. Read, if you will, the paper the day after Christmas and discover the number of drunkards and those who were hailed to court because the occasion was to them a period for dissipation and indulgence. I want us to meditate upon the Christmas spirit and the significance of the day. Were we to reflect seriously upon the underlying purpose of Christmas, we would be awed to know that it involves some tremendous facts of world shaking significance. Let us concern ourselves with the facts surrounding the birth of the Savior so that we might become more appreciative and reverent. 7

8 Reverting to the Bible to discover the basis for the proper approach to a right understanding of the day s significance, we find this statement in St. Paul s letter to the Galatians 4: 4-6 with which the Epistle for this day begins, When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. When we analyze this statement, we discover that it sets forth three basic truths dealing with this most significant subject. Incarnation, Redemption, Adoption. Taking them in their respective order, we have first of all the birth of the Savior from the blessed Virgin Mary, which is called the Incarnation, that is, Jesus taking upon Him our form. This is one of the most staggering mysteries of all time Jesus, the Son of God, assuming our form and our nature. When the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, make of a woman. Is not that a pauser for all of us to reflect upon? Have you ever actually tried to think how great, deep, and immeasurable God s love must have been, to consent to dwell in human flesh? God, in time past, before the coming of Christ, revealed Himself to holy men by inspiring their thoughts to record something of this greatness. Righteousness, mercy, justice and redemption were some of the beautiful attributes of God. Some of the prophets had a foregleam of the birth of the Savior. Micah, the Prophet, predicted the place Bethlehem. Isaiah predicted that a Virgin would be the recipient of the high honor, bearing this wonderful Child. Inspired men throughout history had foregleams of some great revelations of God relative to His advent to humanity in a way we would understand, a way which we could not misunderstand. So when the fullness of time was come, when God s clock struck the hour, He reached down to man, by being born as the rest of us, having human nature and flesh. As St. John the Divine aptly put it, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Looking back upon what transpired at Christ s birth, how many of the people living then knew the great significance of the Babe s birth? How many knew that history will be divided in two, changed from before Christ to after Christ? How many knew that millions of people around the world would chant music and sing joyous hymns to commemorate the great event? Usually people don t take stock in realizing the potentialities invested in a child. Whoever thought that the events transpiring on that Holy Night would be enshrined in music and art, and that millions of cards would be used by people as a means to wish one another a Merry Christmas on His birth and that ministers, the world over, would preach and reach the story of the Holy birth, and choirs would sing his praises? What is the purpose of His coming into the world? Well, the purpose is two-fold: Redemption and Adoption. Christ s coming into the world was not accidental but rather purposeful. To the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angel said. Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. He Himself said of His own mission upon one occasion, The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. God s redeeming love was at the very heart, and the main reason for His coming. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for its redemption. This is the reason we call the story of Christ s life the gospel, that is, good news. God s tenderest love revealed itself in such a 8

9 marvelous way to save humanity. Before Christ s coming to human life, the world of human beings knew God as a terrible Judge, One on the receiving end to be appeased with gifts, a just God, who would exact from men the very last debit owed Him. They had then some foregleams of Him as a Redeemer, one who would show pity on men, but never as a God whose love knew no limitations to redeem fallen humanity. Then, there was another reason Adoption, to adopt believers into the family of God, making them sons and daughters of His. All human beings who would be willing to appropriate and appreciate the gift of God, and by faith receive Him into their lives, would become, by virtue of that fact, members of God s family, having special attachments and privileges, inducted into the society of the Blessed, belonging to one Eternal Father, becoming one with the Elder Brother, and one with all believers of all colors, races and nationalities the world over. To as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, was the way the Evangelist put it. As redeemed sons and daughters of God, who are empowered to live as becomes God s children, may we seriously reflect upon God s matchless gift to us, and be concerned to declare by our lives, no less than by our lips, the redeeming love of God to all men, of all colors and creeds. May this hour be one of new vision and dedication to a life of service and newness, of hope, faith and love. Christmas is unique among all the holidays, holy days, and birthdays that we observe. The story of the first Christmas is so simple that a little three-year-old caught its spirit when she said, I know what Baby Jesus wants for his birthday a cradle. In love, she wanted to give him what he did not have when he was born. Yet the Christmas story is so profound that it can be fully expressed only in the deep thoughts of the prologue of John s Gospel. The unique truth of Christmas is that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The unique outcome was that this marked the beginning of a new creation, a possible rebirth of humanity. God, through His Son, entered into our human life that we, believing in Him, might receive power to become sons of God. The Baby who had no cradle but a manger became the one Lord and Savior of mankind! Christianity is not a creed to be recited but a new life to be lived in Christ. Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world: for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come O Lord, glory to thee. Τo νόημα των Χριστουγέννων - Ήδη έχει αρχίσει η περίοδος των Χριστουγέννων που όλοι με λαχτάρα περιμέναμε. Άραγε πώς θέλουμε να τα εορτάσουμε; Κοσμικά ή πνευματικά; Αλλ ας πάρουμε τα πράγματα με τη σειρά τους Ασφαλώς τα Χριστούγεννα έχουν νόημα βαθύτατα πνευματικό, άγιο και σωτήριο. Γιατί μ αυτά δεν εορτάζουμε ένα οποιοδήποτε γεγονός, αλλά την ίδια την εμφάνιση, με σάρκα και οστά του Θεού στη γη κι ανάμεσά μας. Μας τίμησε 9

10 ιδιαίτερα με την επίσκεψή Του αυτή, υπέροχα, ανυπέρβλητα, μοναδικά, καθώς ένωσε την δική μας ανθρώπινη φύση με τη δική Του τη Θεϊκή. Έτσι έχουμε την εμφάνιση του Θεανθρώπου στην ιστορία. Την ένωση του κτιστού πλάσματος, με τον ίδιο τον Άκτιστο Πλάστη και Θεό. Σκοπός δε αυτής της Θείας παρέμβασης, είναι η Θέωση του ανθρώπου. Οπότε με τα Χριστούγεννα δεν κάνουμε τίποτ άλλο τελικά, απ το να ζούμε την αναδημιουργία μας, την ανά-πλασή μας απ το κατάντημα στο οποίο μας οδήγησε η αμαρτία, ώστε να επανέλθουμε πάλι στην προτέρα μας κατάσταση. Να γιατί το μήνυμα των Χριστουγέννων, είναι το πλέον χαρμόσυνο και τόσο ελπιδοφόρο άγγελμα της ιστορίας. Συνεπώς, όταν αποδίδουμε στα Χριστούγεννα το πραγματικό τους νόημα, κι όταν τα εορτάζουμε όπως πρέπει, δηλαδή πνευματικά, τότε επιτυγχάνεται και ο μέγας σκοπός της ενανθρωπήσεως του Θεού, δηλαδή η ένωση μας με Αυτόν, η Θέωσή μας, και καταργείται το έργο του διαβόλου, ακυρώνονται τα σκοτεινά σχέδιά του, απομονώνεται, χάνεται απ τη ζωή μας! Είναι επόμενο, λοιπόν, όπως ο διάβολος πολέμησε του Χριστού τη γέννηση, ως γεγονός, (απ το να μη βρίσκεται πανάρετη γυναίκα για να αξιωθεί να γίνει μητέρα Του πράγμα που έγινε τελικά με την Παναγία, ως τους διωγμούς με τη σφαγή των νηπίων απ τον Ηρώδη), έτσι την πολεμά έκτοτε, ως εορτή. Πάρα πολλά έγιναν στο πέρασμα των αιώνων, που δεν είναι δυνατό να εξιστορήσουμε. Θα αναφέρουμε μόνο ένα από αυτά την χειρότερη πολεμική όλων, την εκκοσμίκευση των Χριστουγέννων! Πρόκειται για εορτασμό όχι πνευματικό, όπως τον αναφέραμε, αλλά εντελώς κοσμικό Έναν τρόπο που μεταβάλλει το μέγα υπερκόσμιο γεγονός, σε εγκόσμιο και καθαρά υλιστικό! Ούτε λόγος να γίνεται για πνευματική προετοιμασία, δηλαδή νηστεία, μετάνοια, Θεία Λειτουργία, αλλά και έμπρακτη αγάπη, καλοσύνη, ελεημοσύνη και στοργή στον συνάνθρωπο, για σκέψεις και αποφάσεις πνευματικές. Λόγος να γίνεται μονάχα για τα ρεβεγιόν, τα φαγητά, τα γλέντια, τους χορούς, τα ξενύχτια, τα ταξίδια και μάλιστα τα εξωτικά, τα δώρα, τις χαρτοπαιξίες, τα πάσης μορφής θεάματα και διασκεδάσεις, τις κάθε είδους απολαύσεις και ηδονές! Όλα τους τόσο κοσμικά, όλα τους αντιπνευματικά, όλα τους πτυχές της ωραίας ζωής, και όχι της Ουράνιας Ζωής που ζητά από μας ο Χριστός. Καμμιά σχέση με τον Θεοπρεπή εορτασμό, όπως τον ορίζει η Εκκλησία. Φτάσαμε να κατανοούμε πως έρχονται Χριστούγεννα, από τις στολισμένες βιτρίνες των εμπόρων, από τα φωτάκια που αναβοσβήνουν στο μπαλκόνι του διπλανού μας, απ τα έλατα που πωλούνται στους δρόμους, από κάποιες προσκλήσεις σε γεύματα και τα λεγόμενα «εορταστικά» προγράμματα της τηλεόρασης, δηλαδή από τις εκδηλώσεις του κόσμου Οπότε μιλάμε για απολυτοποίηση της ύλης, για την άκρατη κοσμικότητα, για την απόρριψη κάθε πνευματικής πλευράς των πραγμάτων. Μιλάμε για Χριστούγεννα χωρίς Χριστό! Τα υλικά αγαθά, με λογική και μέτρο και στο βαθμό που μας είναι απαραίτητα, δεν τα απορρίπτουμε βέβαια. Όπως είχε δηλώσει σε συνέντευξή του ο μητροπολίτης Μεσογαίας και Λαυρεωτικής κ.κ.νικόλαος «και τα λαμπάκια και το δέντρο καλά είναι, μη μένουμε όμως μόνο σ αυτά»! 10

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