God Himself Has Appeared in the Flesh
We Orthodox Christians who keep the ancient Church Calendar are celebrating the Nativity of Christ Our Lord today. On this January 7th we gather together in monasteries, chapels, churches, and cathedrals, to celebrate the Liturgy of the Nativity of Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The very incarnation of the Son of God and His coming into the world is singularly one of the greatest events in the history of humankind. That God Himself would take on our image, and join His Divinity to our humanity, is one of the great mysteries of our faith.
A Virgin, who by her humility was obedient to the will of God, agreeing to become a living tabernacle of the very God who created her, and who by her obedience became the first disciple of the Lord, and the New Eve, ushered in our salvation.
By His condescension salvation entered our world, and the power of death was overcome. The very Word of God, by Whom the whole of the cosmos came into being, became a little child, born of a woman. At that moment the demons trembled, knowing they’d already lost their battle, and rebellion against God had seen it’s demise.
Let us prepare ourselves for the reception of the Holy Mysteries, that as we partake in the Body and Blood of Our Lord during the Nativity Liturgy, we may give birth, anew, to Christ in our hearts. Let us be reborn in the spirit, transformed and made whole by the living God of Lights. Together with the angels, and all the heavenly hosts, let us sing:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are filled with Thy glory.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Friday January 7, 2022 / December 25, 2021
29th Week after Pentecost. Tone three.
Fast-free
The Nativity according to the Flesh of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
From December 25 till January 5 is a Fast-free period (Sviatki).
The Adoration of the Magi: Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. Commemoration of the shepherds in Bethlehem who were watching their flocks and came to see the Lord.
Massacre of Venerable Jonah and with him 50 monks and 65 laymen at St. Tryphon of Pechenega Monastery, by the Swedes (1590).
New Hieromartyr Michael priest (1930).
The Scripture Readings
Matthew 1:18-25
Christ Born of Mary
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her[e] firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Matthew 2:1-12
Wise Men from the East
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 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.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
