SEPT 8: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM; SEPT 9: MOLEBEN TO HOLY CROSS – 5:30 – 5:55 PM, DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM.
VESPER PROPERS: 09-08_Nativity_Theotokos_Vespers
LITURGY PROPERS: 09-08_Nativity_Theotokos_DL
Father Vasyl’s Homily: Fr. Vasyl’s Homily for September 8 2022 Birth of the Theotokos
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://eparchyofpassaic.com/parishes
The Birth of The Theotokos in The ProToevangelium of St James (From God with Us Online): The-Nativity-of-the-Theotokos-in-the-Protoevangelium
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY according to THE BYZANTINE RITE (from the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-according-to-the-byzantine-rite/
Devotion of Byzantine Catholics to the Mother Of God (from Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/devotion-of-byzantine-catholics-to-the-mother-of-god/
PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED MOTHER OF GOD according to THE BYZANTINE RITE TRADITION (from Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh): https://archpitt.org/prayers-to-the-blessed-mother-of-god-according-to-the-byzantine-rite-tradition/
On September 8, we celebrate the first major feast of the liturgical year: the Nativity (birth) of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. This is one of her four major feasts in the course of the year. The stories of the feast are taken from extra-Biblical writings and the Church’s tradition; the hymns of the Liturgy recall the longing of her parents, Joachim and Anna, for a child, but also place the Mother of God in her full context: as a descendent of King David, and the “cause of our joy.” The Gospel Reading is Luke 10: 38-42 and 11:27-28, in which we hear about Jesus’ visit to Martha and Mary. Martha provides hospitality while Mary listens to Jesus’ teachings. Martha complains that Mary neglecting her duties & asks Jesus to instruct her to help. Jesus thus responds that Mary has chosen the better activity. In essence, hearing the word of God & spreading the Good News as a disciple is more important. In Luke 11:27-28, “a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” and Jesus replies, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
On September 9, we commemorate Joachim and Anna (or Synaxis of Joachim and Anna); the post-festive days of the Nativity of the Theotokos continue through September 12, the “leave-taking” of the feast.
