SEPT 8: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM (LIVE-STREAMED).
VESPER PROPERS: 09-08_Nativity_Theotokos_Vespers
PROPERS: 09-08_Nativity_Theotokos_DL
Streaming via Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/saintscyrilandmethodius/
Parishes live-streaming in the Diocese can be found here: https://www.eparchyofpassaic.com/directory
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 descendant of King David, and the “cause of our joy.” (from Metropolitan Cantor Institute)
The Birth of The Theotokos in The ProToevangelium of St. James (from God With Us On-Line): The-Nativity-of-the-Theotokos-in-the-Protoevangelium
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY according to THE BYZANTINE RITE (from 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/
More about the Theotokos’ Nativity found at these sites:
https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/hopko/the_gate_facing_east/
https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-nativity-of-the-theotokos-icon/
Finally and importantly, on September 9th, we commemorate Joachim and Anna, (the Theotokos’s parents and grandparents to Jesus) who miraculously gave birth to the Theotokos in old age. The Synaxis of them is appointed the day after the Birth of the Theotokos, since they are ambassadors of our salvation with the birth of the Theotokos, who gave birth to Jesus.
