Today the Virgin comes to the cave to give birth to the Eternal Word.
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!
Glorify with the angels and the shepherds the Eternal God, who is willing to appear as a new-born child, yet is our God before all ages.
Photo: icon above the altar at the grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!
Glorify with the angels and the shepherds the Eternal God, who is willing to appear as a new-born child, yet is our God before all ages.
Photo: icon above the altar at the grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem
"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." + Luke 2:7
"Mary was of David’s seed, so she went with Joseph to register in Bethlehem. She bore in her womb the Fruit not sown by man. The time for the birth was at hand. Since there was no room at the inn, the cave became a beautiful palace for the Queen. Christ is born, raising up the image that fell of old." —Troparion, Eve of the Nativity of our Lord
"Mary was of David’s seed, so she went with Joseph to register in Bethlehem. She bore in her womb the Fruit not sown by man. The time for the birth was at hand. Since there was no room at the inn, the cave became a beautiful palace for the Queen. Christ is born, raising up the image that fell of old." —Troparion, Eve of the Nativity of our Lord
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Larg deschideţi poarta ("Open wide the gate to all souls....")
Romanian carol from the Holy Mountain
Romanian carol from the Holy Mountain
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” —Isaiah 9:6-7
He who sits at the right hand of the Father, goes without shelter at the inn, that He may for us prepare many mansions in the house of His Heavenly Father ... He was born, not in the house of His parents, but at the inn, by the wayside, because through the Mystery of the Incarnation, He has become the Way, by which He guides us to our home. ☦️ Venerable Bede (+ 735)
Orthodox Nativity Chant “In the Dark Night", by the Monks of Svetogorskaya Lavra in Ukraine. Pray for persecuted Orthodox faithful in Ukraine and all our Orthodox brothers and sisters everywhere who are enduring many hardships.
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"Behold a new and wondrous mystery."
"All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and He that was lowly is by divine mercy raised." ☦️ St John Chrysostom
Feast of the Holy Nativity, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Moscow
"All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and He that was lowly is by divine mercy raised." ☦️ St John Chrysostom
Feast of the Holy Nativity, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Moscow
St John Chrysostom and St Theophylactus, commenting on St Matthew’s Gospel, say that the star that revealed the Nativity to the Magi "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.”
The Magi -- Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25), when they entered the house where the Holy 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 Magi -- Melchior, Caspar, and Bathasar (Dec 25), when they entered the house where the Holy 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).
Joseph, the Betrothed (Dec 26) was chosen by God to be the guardian of Jesus Christ and His holy Mother, a task which he performed with great humility and diligence.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” + St Matthew 2:13-15
My blessed children, the holy Fathers teach that a man’s heart is entangled with the prickly roots of various passions which are lodged very deep within it. When a person, through enlightenment of God, attempts to uproot (in essence, to transfigure) a passion, he grips and removes the rootlets with forceps. However, as he attempts to uproot each passion, he simultaneously lacerates the heart. When the heart is cut open, it bleeds and hurts. If a person decides not to bear the pain, he gives up at that point, he abandons the struggle, and thus remains passionate and sinful. If, however, he patiently endures the pain, he removes the root of the passion and is set free." —Elder Ephraim, from Homily 5 of The Art of Salvation
When the Holy Infant was born in Bethlehem and honoured by the Magi, King Herod "in exceeding wrath ... harvested the infants as sorrowing wheat" (Kontakion). Herod had been replaced by the True King of All.
The Holy Innocents (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.
The Holy Innocents (Jan 10/Dec 28) were the 14,000 infants slain by Herod after Christ’s birth, thus becoming the first martyrs for Christ.