DEC 23: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM; DEC 25: DIVINE LITURGY – 10:00 AM. With the holiday season upon us, please keep in mind that the annual St. Nicholas Giving Tree will be set up in the back of the church. Pleae keep with the tradition that this tree has been our “giving tree” for many years and provides the opportunity to contribute money to benefit an orphanage in the Ukraine. Please take a “ornament” and provide a monetary gift as directed.
NOTE: There will be a children’s pageant, telling the story of Christ’s Birth. Please confirm with Nancy Driscoll (etss3@aol.com) by this Sunday Nov 27th) if your child/children would like to participate. We will then assign roles and costumes and select a practice date. Also, a festive brunch is planned for after Christmas Liturgy so we can celebrate as a parish before heading off to be with our families. Be on the lookout for more info and a sign up sheet for things to bring.
DEC 23: PROPERS (ROYAL HOURS): NativityVigilOfficeofReadings
PROPERS NATIVITY ROYAL HOURS: NativityRoyalHours
MUSIC NATIVITY ROYAL HOURS: NativityRoyalHours_music
DEC 24: PROPERS (GREAT VESPERS): 12-25_Nativity_Vesper_Liturgy
DEC 24: PROPERS (VIGIL DIVINE LITURGY): Christmas_Eve_service
DEC 25: PROPERS: (CHRISTMAS DAY DIVINE LITURGY): 12-25_Nativity_DL
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Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/livestream
FATHER VASYL’S CHRISTMAS HOMILY: Homily Christmas 12.25.21
The Homily of St. John Chrysostom for the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord: St-John-Chrysostom-Nativity-of-the-Lord
THE TRADITIONAL BYZANTINE CELEBRATION of the FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD (from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/the-traditional-byzantine-celebratlon-of-the-feast-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord/
During the evening Divine Liturgy the Gospel Reading (December 24th) is Luke 2: 1-20, the Birth of Jesus, the Messiah. In Luke’s account, Jesus’ humble birth is recounted with the backdrop of a mighty empire. The passage can also be broken into two parts: Luke 2:1-7: the birth of Jesus and Luke 2:8-20: the angels’ announcement to the shepherds who first heard the good news.
On Christmas Day, the Gospel reading is Matthew 2:1-12, The Magi Visit the Messiah, in which we learn that the wise men are led by a star to the Messiah. They come to worship Him and bring gifts, but their arrival raises fears in Jerusalem and for King Herod.
Holy Supper is a traditional fasting meal on the Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Eve). Since Christmas is preceded by forty days of fasting, the Holy Supper is the last meal of the fast. The Holy Supper is called Velija (veh-LEE-yah), literally “vigil” and meaning Christmas Eve Holy Supper. Velija is a 12-dish (the number of dishes symbolizes the apostles) meatless feast whose preparations begin early on Christmas Eve and starts when the first star is seen that night. It is a solemn meal that brings the family together. The foods include but not limited to, include Christmas bread, red borscht with tiny dumplings, mushroom soup, or pea soup, carp, herring, or other fish dish, i.e., Viennese fish, fried fish, pierogi, braised sauerkraut, halupki or cabbage rolls made with mushrooms and beans/rice, haluski (cabbage and noodles), kutia (wheat berry pudding), gingerbread, poppyseed cake, honey cake, nut/apricot/poppy seed rolls, and dried fruit. Holy Supper for SSCM (1) (1)
CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE CARPATHIAN HIGHLANDS: christmasevesm
TRADITIONAL BYZANTINE CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVITY FEAST: https://archpitt.org/the-traditional-byzantine-celebratlon-of-the-feast-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord/
OTHER RESOURCES FOR HOLY SUPPER: https://www.thespruceeats.com/russian-christmas-eve-recipes-1135522
HOLY SUPPER: holy-supper
HOLY SUPPER FOOD TRADITIONS: http://orthodoxtraditions.blogspot.com/2013/12/russian-christmas-eve-supper-holy-supper.html
In the Byzantine Rite, Christmas Eve is referred to as Paramony (“preparation”). It is the concluding day of the Nativity Fast and is celebrated as a day of strict fasting. Nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky, in commemoration of the Star of Bethlehem. The liturgical celebration begins earlier in the day with the celebration of the Royal Hours, followed by the Divine Liturgy combined with the celebration of Vespers, during which a large number of readings from the Old Testament are chanted, recounting the history of salvation. After the dismissal at the end of the service, a new candle is brought out into the center of the church and lit, and all gather round and sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast.
