Christmas Archives - Page 24 of 27

Twenty-Fourth Day of Christmas Advent: The Angel of the Lord and the Mountain of God (Part I)

12/08/2014

The Lord came down from Sinai and appeared to us from Seir; He hastened from Mount Paran along with myriads at Kadesh, angels with Him at His right hand, (Deuteronomy 33:2) ANOTHER OLD TESTAMENT ALLUSION in the fourth ode of the katavasias is the mount of shaded leafy trees, which is a reference to the Book of Habakkuk: “God will come from Teman, the Holy One from the mount of shaded leafy trees” (Hab. 3:3).

The Twenty-First Day of Christmas Advent: Saint Savas the Sanctified

12/05/2014

Saint Savas the Sanctified (439–532), a Cappadocian-Greek monk, priest and saint, lived mainly in Palaestina Prima. He was the founder of several monasteries, most notably the one known as Mar Saba. The Saint’s name is derived from the Hebrew meaning “old man”. St. Savas was born at Mutalaska, near Caesarea of Cappadocia, the son of John, a military commander, and Sophia. Journeying to Alexandria on military matters, his parents left their five-year-old son in the

The Twentieth Day of Christmas Advent: Holy Great Martyr Barbara

12/04/2014

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived and suffered during the reign of the emperor Maximian (305-311). Her father, the pagan Dioscorus, was a rich and illustrious man in the Syrian city of Heliopolis. After the death of his wife, he devoted himself to his only daughter. Seeing Barbara’s extraordinary beauty, Dioscorus decided to hide her from the eyes of strangers. Therefore, he built a tower for Barbara, where only her pagan teachers were allowed to

Nineteenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part III)

12/03/2014

Rod of the Root of Jesse The fourth ode of the katavasias refers to one of the great prophecies predicting the coming of the Messiah: There shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a Bower shall grow out of his root. The Spirit of God shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and godliness. (Is. 11:1-2) Jesse was

Eighteenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part II)

12/02/2014

Rod of the Root of Jesse IN OTHER WORDS, the katavasias have a prophetic nature, and they point us to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ: First Ode Christ is born, give glory. Christ comes from heaven, go to meet Him. Christ is on earth, be exalted. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing hymns in gladness, O people, for He has been glorified. Third Ode To Christ our God, the Son who was

Seventeenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part I)

12/01/2014

Rod of the Root of Jesse Rod of the root of Jesse, and flower that blossomed from his stem, You, O Christ, have sprung forth from the Virgin. From the mount of shaded leafy trees, You, the God who is not material have come to be incarnate from her who did not know wedlock. Glory to Your power, O Lord. (Fourth Ode of the Katavasias of the Nativity) We begin to chant the Katavasias of

Fourteenth Day of Christmas Advent: THE FEAST OF ST. ANDREW (November 30)

11/28/2014

When you saw the God so longed-for walking the earth, O First-called beholder of God, you called out to your brother: “Simon! We have found the One we have longed for!” To the Savior you cried out like David: “As the hart longs for fountains of water, so my soul longs for you, O Christ God:”(Vespers of the Feast of St. Andrew, fourth hymn of the Lity) ON THE FEAST OF ST. ANDREW (November 30)

Thirteenth Day of Christmas Advent: All About Thanksgiving

11/27/2014

By Father Lawrence Farley The Christian Faith is all about thanksgiving. Our secular North American society thinks that thanksgiving is moderately important, and so it has a wonderful Thanksgiving Day feast once a year. I love this feast. Every October…when the leaves start to turn colour and the days become a little cooler, we gather if possible with our extended families and sit down to a turkey dinner. There are no pilgrims and no Plymouth

Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord!

11/26/2014

Our hymns are “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’” (Is. 40:3). Just as St. John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ by calling the people of Israel to repentance (Matt. 3:1-2) so too does the Church prepare us for the Nativity by exhorting us to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matt. 3:8). Repentance begins with humility, contrition, tears, and confession, but it does not end there.

Tenth Day of Christmas Advent: Bethlehem Prepare!

11/24/2014

The Church’s exhortation to get ready for Christmas is conveyed in poetic language. Our hymns command Bethlehem to prepare and make ready for the Nativity of our Lord: Behold, the time of our salvation has drawn near: O Cave, make ready! The Virgin is drawing near to give birth. O Bethlehem, land of Judah, be glad and rejoice, for from you our Lord has dawned. Listen, mountains and hills, and lands around Judea, for Christ

Tags

Twenty-Fourth Day of Christmas Advent: The Angel of the Lord and the Mountain of God (Part I)

The Twenty-First Day of Christmas Advent: Saint Savas the Sanctified

The Twentieth Day of Christmas Advent: Holy Great Martyr Barbara

Nineteenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part III)

Eighteenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part II)

Seventeenth Day of Christmas Advent: Search the Scriptures (The Katavasias, Part I)

Fourteenth Day of Christmas Advent: THE FEAST OF ST. ANDREW (November 30)

Thirteenth Day of Christmas Advent: All About Thanksgiving

Twelfth Day of Christmas Advent: Prepare the Way of the Lord!

Tenth Day of Christmas Advent: Bethlehem Prepare!

Categories

Archives

View Our Live Stream Services

Keep In Touch

Stewardship Application

Daily Meditations

Worship Schedule

Light a Virtual Candle

Text-to-Give in 2 easy steps!

1) Text 202-899-7801 to include your donation amount

2) Follow the link to complete the one-time registration