DEC 7: VESPERS – 6:00 PM; DEC 8: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM.
PROPERS VESPERS: 12-08_Maternity_Anna_Vespers_sam
PROPERS DIVINE LITURGY: 12-08_Maternity_Anna_DL
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/livestream
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE, ‘WHEN SHE CONCEIVED THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD’ according to THE RUTHENIAN TRADITION (from the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/the-immaculate-conception-the-conception-of-st-anne-when-she-conceived-the-holy-mother-of-god-according-to-the-ruthenian-tradition/
The church commemorates the Conception of the Theotokos by the Righteous Anna or the day that Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, conceived her. The Feast is celebrated on December 8th. Anna, who was barren, conceived the Virgin Mary after prayerfully pleading with God if they could become parents.
Troparion: “Today the bonds of barrenness are loosed, for God has heard the prayers of Joachim and Anna. He promised, beyond hope, the birth of their godly daughter. The Indescribable Himself, born of her as a mortal, commanded us through the angel to sing to her: Rejoice O Woman full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
The Gospel reading is Luke 8:16-21 – which refers to a Lamp on a Stand and Jesus’ Mother and Brothers. In this Gospel, it talks about how no one would cover a lighted candle, but instead would place it so that those who enter may see the light and, thus, heed the word of God by reflecting most on Christ. Also, though Jesus’ mother and brothers were present and wanted to see him, Jesus told the crowds that, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
