DEC 29: CONFESSION – 8:45 to 9:30 AM, 3RD HOUR – 9:40 AM, DIVINE LITURGY – 10:00 AM.
The Gospel reading is Matthew 2:13-23, which was also read on December 26th, the Synaxis of the Theotokos. This reading recalls The Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. Joseph is warned in a dream to flee with the infant Jesus and his mother to Egypt in order to escape Herod’s continuing plots to destroy him. After Herod’s death, Joseph, once again in obedience to a dream and in fulfillment of prophecy, goes to reside in Nazareth of Galilee.
On this feast day we commemorate the 14,000 Infants (the Holy Innocents) slain by Herod at Bethlehem. Since the early days of the Church, they have been honored as martyrs for Christ.
On December 29th, the Sunday after Christmas, we also commemorate the “relatives of the Lord”, particularly Saint Joseph, husband of Mary; Holy Apostle James, the brother of the Lord, first bishop of Jerusalem; and King David, prophet and our Lord’s direct ancestor.
After the Feast of the Nativity – December 27 to 31 (from 1995-2016 Melkite Eparchy of Newton): Doc1AftertheFeastDec27to31
END OF APOSTLES FAST
4TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: DIVINE LITURGY