Word Magazine December 1973 Page 3-4 METROPOLITAN PHILIP’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE “God has landed on this enemy-occupied world in human form. You might say landed in disquise." C. S. LEWIS Beloved Clergy, Archdiocesan Trustees, Parish Councils and Faithful of our Archdiocese: Blessings and peace to you and your children in the spirit of this Holy Christmas [...]
Word Magazine December 1998 Page 14-15 CHRISTMAS: A GREAT FEAST OR A SECULAR HOLIDAY? BY V. REV. MICHAEL ABDELAHAD During the month of September, I needed to purchase a birthday card. I entered the card store, “... when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but ...” a display of Christmas ornaments. My initial reaction [...]
The Word Magazine, March 1999, Page 13 GOD'S FREE GIFT BY FR. STEVEN ROGERS I N THE MIDST OF OUR Lenten journey, in this time of contrition and repentance, a proclamation of great hope and expectation is heard throughout the Church. Even as our struggles in Lent confront our sin and our powerlessness to overcome [...]
Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Christ is risen! Today the Church celebrates the memory of the holy myrrh-bearing women. The holy women were faithful disciples of Christ and always remained near the Lord in His earthly service. They listened to his preaching in Galilean synagogues, walked with Him to [...]
The Nativity Fast Sayings of the FathersAmma Theodora said that neither asceticism, nor vigils nor any kind of suffering are able to save, only true humility can do that. There was an anchorite who was able to banish the demons; and he asked them, "What makes you go away? Is it fasting?" They replied, "We [...]
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ The Winter Pascha, Chapter 16: The following is an excerpt from The Winter Pascha, by Fr. Thomas Hopko The gospel reading for the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday before Christmas is "the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham," taken from the gospel according to [...]
The Nativity Sermon of St. John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom "I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn! The angels sing! The archangels blend their voices in harmony! The cherubim resound their joyful praise! The Seraphim exalt His glory! [...]
The Services of Christmas in the Orthodox Church Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann The Nativity Cycle As Orthodox Christians, we begin the celebration of the Nativity of Christ — on December 25 — with a time of preparation. Forty days before the feast of the birth of Our Lord we enter the period of the Christmas Fast: [...]
THE MAGI In the troparion for the feast of the Nativity of Christ we sing: "those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore thee". In the nativity account according to the Gospel of Matthew we read that when Christ was born there appeared an overwhelmingly bright star in the east. While [...]
St. Leo the Great Sermon XXIV. On the Feast of the Nativity, IV. I. The Incarnation Fulfils All Its Types and Promises. The Divine goodness, dearly beloved, has indeed always taken thought for mankind in divers manners, and in many portions, and of His mercy has imparted many gifts of His providence to the ages [...]