ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND WEEKLY BULLETIN 24 December 2017 Our Holy and God-Bearing Fathers all those who from the Beginning of Time were Well-Pleasing to God Τῶν Ἁγίων καὶ Θεοφόρων Πατέρων ἡμῶν, πάντων τῶν ἀπ' αἰῶνος Θεῷ εὐαρεστησάντων Sunday Before the Nativity Tone 4 Πρὸ τῆς Χριστοῦ γεννήσεως Ἦχος δ Cathedral: 514 Parker Street, Boston, MA Office/Mailing Address: 162 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445 Phone: (617) 731-6633 Fax: (617) 730-2978 Fr. Demetri s cell: (617) 955 0126 www.bostoncathedral.org Upcoming Events Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve: Orthros/Liturgy (8:30 am / 10:00 am) Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve: Great Vespers (6:30 pm) Monday December 25 Christmas Day: Orthros/Liturgy (8:30 am / 9:30 am) Monday January 1 Feast of St. Basil: Orthros/Liturgy (8:30 am / 9:30 am) Friday January 5 Theophany Eve: Vesperal Liturgy (6:30 pm at Chapel) Saturday January 6 Theophany: Orthros/Lit. (8:30/9:30 am at Cathedral) Sunday January 7: Philoptochos Vasilopita Sunday (AZer Liturgy) Tuesday January 9: Philoptochos Mee[ng (7:00 pm) Sunday January 14 Parish Council Affirma[on of Office (AZer Liturgy) Monday January 15 Youth Ski Trip to Pat s Peak (meet at mountain, 12 pm) Monday January 15 Veteran s Homeless Shelter Ministry (4:15 pm)
ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΝΕΑΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF NEW ENGLAND Rev. Fr. Demetrios E. Tonias, Ph.D., Cathedral Dean κδ Δεκεμβρίου,βιζ Πρὸ τῆς Χριστοῦ γεννήσεως Sunday Before the Nativity 24 December 2017 Ἀπολυτίκια Ἦχος δ Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Ἦχος β Μεγάλα τὰ τῆς Πίστεως κατορθώματα! ἐν τῇ πηγῇ τῆς φλογός, ὡς ἐπὶ ὕδατος ἀναπαύσεως, οἱ Ἅγιοι τρεῖς Παῖδες ἠγάλλοντο καὶ ὁ Προφήτης Δανιήλ, λεόντων ποιμήν, ὡς προβάτων ἐδείκνυτο.ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ἦχος δ Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ αἰῶνος μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις ὁ Υἷός του Θεοῦ, υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετά σοῦ. Κοντάκιον Ἦχος γʹ Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα Dismissal Hymns Mode 4 When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world. Mode 2 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. Mode 4 Today mark s the crow ning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery before all ages. For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaims the grace. Wherefore, we also cry out with him, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. Kontakion Mode 3 The Virgin today, for the eternal Logos, to a cave she comes forth, to ineffably give birth. Rejoice and dance, O Universe, to this Ye hearken; being glorified, by the angels and the shepherds. Who willed Continued on next page
ἐποφθῆναι, Παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. to be beheld as, a young child who before the ages is God. Ἀπόστολος Ἑβρ. ια 9-10, 32-40 Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40 Epistle Πίστει παρῴκησεν Ἀβραὰμ 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. Εὐαγγέλιον Ματθ. α 1-25 Matthew 1:1-25 Gospel Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ. Ἀβραὰμ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰσαάκ, Ἰσαὰκ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰακώβ, Ἰακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν 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 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, Continued on next page
Ἰούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ, Ἰούδας δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Φάρες καὶ τὸν Ζάρα ἐκ τῆς Θαμάρ, Φάρες δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἑσρώμ, Ἑσρὼμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀράμ, Ἀρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀμιναδάβ, Ἀμιναδὰβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ναασσών, Ναασσὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαλμών, Σαλμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Βοὸζ ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ, Βοὸζ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωβὴδ ἐκ τῆς Ῥούθ, Ἰωβὴδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰεσσαί, Ἰεσσαὶ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Δαυὶδ τὸν βασιλέα. Δαυὶδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σολομῶνα ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Οὐρίου, Σολομὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ῥοβοάμ, Ῥοβοὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀβιά, Ἀβιὰ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀσάφ, Ἀσὰφ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωσαφάτ, Ἰωσαφὰτ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωράμ, Ἰωρὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ὁζίαν, Ὁζίας δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωαθάμ, Ἰωαθὰμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀχάζ, Ἀχὰζ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἑζεκίαν, Ἑζεκίας δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Μανασσῆ, Μανασσῆς δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀμώς, Ἀμὼς δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωσίαν, Ἰωσίας δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν μετοικεσίαν Βαβυλῶνος Ἰεχονίας ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαλαθιήλ, Σαλαθιὴλ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ζοροβαβέλ, Ζοροβαβὲλ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀβιούδ, Ἀβιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἐλιακίμ, Ἐλιακὶμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀζώρ, Ἀζὼρ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Σαδώκ, Σαδὼκ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἀχίμ, Ἀχὶμ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἐλιούδ, Ἐλιοὺδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἐλεάζαρ, Ἐλεάζαρ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ματθάν, Ματθὰν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰακώβ, Ἰακὼβ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωσὴφ τὸν ἄνδρα Μαρίας, ἐξ ἣς ἐγεννήθη Ἰησοῦς ὁ λεγόμενος Χριστός. Πᾶσαι οὖν αἱ γενεαὶ ἀπὸ Ἀβραὰμ ἕως Δαυὶδ γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ Δαυὶδ ἕως τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος γενεαὶ δεκατέσσαρες, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς μετοικεσίας Βαβυλῶνος ἕως τοῦ Χριστοῦ γενεαὶ 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 Continued on next page
δεκατέσσαρες. Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἡ γένεσις οὕτως ἦν. Μνηστευθείσης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαρίας τῷ Ἰωσήφ, πρὶν ἢ συνελθεῖν αὐτοὺς εὑρέθη ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου. Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, δίκαιος ὢν καὶ μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι, ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν. Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐνθυμηθέντος ἰδοὺ ἄγγελος κυρίου κατ' ὄναρ ἐφάνη αὐτῷ λέγων Ἰωσὴφ υἱὸς Δαυίδ, μὴ φοβηθῇς παραλαβεῖν Μαριὰμ τὴν γυναῖκά σου, τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν. Τοῦτο δὲ ὅλον γέγονεν ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπὸ κυρίου διὰ τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος, Ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Μεθ' ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός. Διεγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβε τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκεν υἱόν καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν. 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. What an explosive thing jealousy is. And we too know of many that have chosen to give up their lives rather than fall under the suspicion of jealousy. But in this case it was not a matter of simple suspicion, as the burden of Mary s own womb entirely convicted her. Nevertheless, Joseph was so free from the passion of jealousy as to be unwilling to cause distress to the Virgin, even in the slightest way. To keep Mary in his house appeared to be a transgression of the law, but to expose and bring her to trial would cause him to deliver her to die. He would do nothing of the sort. So Joseph determined to conduct himself now by a higher rule than the law. It is like the sun not yet arisen, but from afar more than half the world is already illumined by its light. So did Christ, when about to rise from that womb even before his birth cast light upon all the world. In this way, even before her birth pains, prophets danced for joy and women foretold what was to come. And John, even before his birth, leaped in the womb. St. John Chrysostom
Nativity of our Lord God & Savior Jesus Christ 25 December 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 s w ad d l i ng c l o t h e s, a n d l a i d Hi m i n 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. Continued on next page
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. 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 Continued on next page
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! Η Γέννησις του Κυρίου ημών Ιησού Χριστού Αὐτὴ τὴν ἡμέρα ἡ ἁγία Ἐκκλησία μας γιορτάζει τὸ μεγά ο καὶ ἀνερμήνευτο γεγονὸς τῆς κατὰ σάρκα γεννήσεως τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ Λόγου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπὸ τὴν Ὑπεραγία Θεοτόκο. Μετὰ τὸν Εὐαγγελισμὸ τῆς Παρθένου Μαρίας ἀπὸ τὸν ἀρχάγγελο Γαβριὴ καὶ ἐνῶ πλησίαζε ὁ καιρὸς νὰ τελειώσουν οἱ ἐννέα μῆνες ἀπὸ τὴν ὑπερφυσικὴ σύ ηψη τοῦ Χριστοῦ στὴν παρθενική της μήτρα, ὁ Καίσαρ Αὔγουστος διέταξε ἀπογραφὴ τοῦ πληθυσμοῦ τοῦ ρωμαϊκοῦ κράτους. Τότε ὁ Ἰωσὴφ μαζὶ μὲ τὴν Θεοτόκο, ξεκίνησαν γιὰ τὴν Βηθ εέμ, γιὰ νὰ ἀπογραφοῦν ἐκεῖ. Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως εἶχε πλησιάσει ὁ καιρὸς νὰ γεννήσει ἡ Παρθένος καὶ δὲν ἔβρισκαν κατοικία νὰ καταλύσουν, διότι εἶχε μαζευτεῖ πολὺς λαὸς στὴν Βηθ εέμ, μπῆκαν σὲ ἕνα φτωχικὸ σπή αιο. Ἐκεῖ ἡ Θεοτόκος γέννησε τὸν Κύριο Ἰησοῦ Χριστὸ καὶ σπαργάνωσε σὰν βρέφος τὸν Κτίστη τῶν ἁπάντων. Ἔπειτα Τὸν ἔβαλε ἐπάνω στὴ φάτνη τῶν ἀ όγων ζώων, διότι «ἔμε ε νὰ ἐ ευθέρωση ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τὴν ἀ ογίαν», ὅπως χαρακτηριστικὰ γράφει ὁ Ἅγιος Νικόδημος ὁ Ἁγιορείτης. Ἀπὸ τότε, ὅ οι οἱ πιστοὶ χριστιανοὶ μὲ χαρὰ ψά ουν τὸν ὕμνο τῶν ἀγγέ ων ἐκείνης τῆς νύκτας: «Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίᾳ». Δόξα δηλαδή, ἂς εἶναι στὸν 25 Δεκεµβρίου Θεό, ποὺ βρίσκεται στὰ ὕψιστα μέρη τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ στὴν γῆ ὁ όκληρη, ποὺ εἶναι ταραγμένη ἀπὸ τὴν ἁμαρτία, ἂς βασιλεύσει ἡ θεία εἰρήνη, διότι ὁ Θεὸς ἔδειξε τὴν ἀγάπη Του στοὺς ἀνθρώπους μὲ τὴν ἐνανθρώπηση τοῦ Υἱοῦ Του. Νὰ σημειώσουμε ἐδῶ, ὅτι ἡ γιορτὴ τῶν Χριστουγέννων καθιερώθηκε γιὰ πρώτη φορὰ τὴν 25η Δεκεμβρίου τοῦ 397 ἐπὶ πατριαρχείας Ἁγίου Ἰωάννου τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου. Κατ ἄ ους ὁ πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων Ἰουβενά ιος, χώρισε τὶς δύο ἑορτὲς τῶν Φώτων καὶ τῶν Χριστουγέννων, οἱ ὁποῖες παλιότερα γίνονταν τὴν ἴδια μέρα, δηλαδὴ τὴν 6η Ἰανουαρίου. Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος δ. Ἡ Γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῷ κόσμῳ, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοῖς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο, σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥ ιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους Ἀνατολήν. Κύριε δόξα σοι. Κοντάκιoν. Ἦχος γ. Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπή αιον, τῷ ἀπροσίτῳ προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι, μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι, Μάγοι δέ, μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι δι ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.
CHRISTMAS 2017 We greet you with much love during this most holy season. We strongly encourage and invite all Orthodox Chris[ans to make a sincere effort to adend most of the church services during the Christmas and Epiphany season and to partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Please refer to the enclosed schedule of services to assist you in planning your church adendance. All who are planning to receive Holy Communion on Christmas Eve should abstain from food or drink azer 12 noon on that day children should abstain beginning at 3 PM. ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ 2017 Ὀσοι εκ των χριστιανών μας πρόκειται να κοινωνήσουν το βράδυ στην Λειτουργία των Χριστουγέννων, θα πρέπει να μην φάγουν τίποτε μετά από τις 12 το απόγευμα οι μεγάλοι, τα μικρά παιδιά μετά από τις 3 μ.μ. Schedule of Services Christmas through Epiphany Πρόγραμμα Εορτών December 2017- January 2018 Χριστουγέννων και Νέου Ετους 2017 2018 Sunday, Dec. 17: SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS Κυριακή, 17 Δεκ.: ΠΡΟ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 a.m. Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία, 8:30 π.μ. Children s Christmas Pageant Χριστουγεννιάτικο Πρόγραμμα των παιδιών Sunday, Dec. 24: CHRISTMAS EVE Κυριακή, 24 Δεκ.: ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΗ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 a.m. Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία, 8:30 π.μ. Great Vespers, 6:30 p.m. Εσπερινός, 6:30 μ.μ. Monday, Dec. 25: CHRISTMAS DAY Δευτέρα, 25 Δεκ.: ΗΜΕΡΑ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ Orthros & Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, 8:30 a.m. Ορθρος και Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία, 8.30 π.μ. Monday, Jan. 1: NEW YEAR S DAY ST.BASIL Δευτέρα, 1 Ιαν. ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΥ Orthros and Divine Liturgy, 8:30 a.m. Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία, 8.30 π.μ. Friday, Jan. 5: EVE OF EPIPHANY Παρασκευή, 5 Ιαν.: ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΗ ΤΩΝ ΦΩΤΩΝ Vesperal Liturgy, 6:30 p.m. Great Blessing of Εσπερινός, Θεία Λειτουργία στο Brookline, MA the Waters (Agiasmos) Service at Chapel in Brookline ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ, 6:30 μ.μ. Saturday, Jan. 6: EPIPHANY Σάββατο, 6 Ιαν.: ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8:30 a.m. Great Blessing of Ορθρος, Θ. Λειτουργία the Waters (Agiasmos) Service at Cathedral ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ, 8.:30 π.μ.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT AS OF 12 20-2017 Stewards pledged this far: 301 Total pledged for 2017: $208,827 Rev. Dr. Demetrios & Pr. Maryann Tonias & Family Dr. & Mrs. Chris Afendulis Mr. & Mrs. Dimitrios T. Akrivlellis Mr. & Mrs. Peter Alexopoulos Ms. Bessie V. Andersen Mrs. Calliope Andreadis Ms. Fotene Fay Andreadis Mr. Evangelos Andrianesis Mr. Panagiotis Andrianesis & Mrs. Olena Pechak Mr. & Mrs. Arthur C. Anton, Sr. Mr. Dean J. Arnaoutakis Dr. Marica Arvanites Mr. Peter Badavas Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Badavas Mr. & Mrs. Damon S. Bakas Ms. Joanna Bakas Ms. Christine Bakos Ms. Natalie Bassil Mrs. Nancy Batsinelas Ms. Tizita Bekele Mr. Costas L. Belezos Mr. & Mrs. Nick Belibasakis Mr. & Mrs. Van Benno Ms. Maria Beno Mr. Charles C. Beretsos Mr. & Mrs. Triantafillos Blathras Mr. Michael K. Bloukos & Mrs. Stamatia Malouchou Ms. Stephanie Bond Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boujoukos Mr. & Mrs. James G. Boulogiane Mr. Nicholas Bouritsas Mrs. Helen Cakridas Mr. & Mrs. Constintine P. Calliontzis Mrs. Helen Carlos & Mr. Ron Hilliard Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Caparell Mr. Alexander & Dr. Lela Caros Ms. Eugenia M. Carris Ms. Mary A. Carris Mrs. Ioanna Chanteles Mr. & Mrs. Ioannis Chatzizisis Atty. Antonia Chronis & Mr. Bill Jennings Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin H. Clark Ms. Mary Cleary Ms. Maria Clessas Ms. Paula Zafferes-Cocoris Mr. Peter N. Collatos Mr. & Mrs. Neal Collins Mr. Peter L. Condakes & Dr. Pamela Pappas Ms. Alexanda Connors Presbytera Dorris Conomos Ms. Pauline P. Coutlis Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Critikos Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Crosby Mr. & Mrs. John Dakoyannis Mr. & Mrs. Euripides Dalmanieras Mr. Bill Daskalakis Chayas Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Davos Mr. & Mrs. Joanna Davos Mr. & Mrs. Louis Delpidio Ms. Ellen Marie Demeter Mr. John Demopoulos Mr. Christopher Dibona & Dr. Elena Manning Mr. Justin DiCristofalo and Atty. Katerina Koutrobis Mr. & Mrs. Theodoros Dimitriou Ms. Asemena T. Dodge Mrs. Nuala Zaferacopoulos Doherty Mr. Charles J. Doulos Mr. & Mrs. John Douros Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Dragotakes Hon. & Mrs. Michael S. Dukakis Mr. George Dukas Ms. Marie E. Dukas Mr. Nicolaos Economou Mrs. Maria Efteriades Mr. & Mrs. Charles Eliopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Jason Ellis Ms. Christine English Mr. John Eustis Mr. & Mrs. William Evangelakos Mr. & Mrs. Constantine D. Fellis Mr. Theodore Flessas Mr. & Mrs. Angelos Fotopoulos Mr. & Mrs. James A. Foundas Mr. & Mrs. John N. Foundas Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Foundas Mr. & Mrs. Peter Foundas Mr. George Fountas Ms. Sophia Fountas Mr. George Frangiadakis Dr. Calliope G. Galatis Mrs. Gerasimos Galatis Mr. John K. Galatis Continued on next page
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