I pray for each of you a most blessed celebration in continuation of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ’s holy Nativity! Even as our preparation for the Feast has its own season (the Nativity Fast or Advent), as Orthodox, we remember that Christmas/Nativity is a season and not just a day. On these holy, light and joy-filled days of the Feast of our Savior’s incarnation-in-the-flesh, we thank God for His greatest gift, that of Himself to renew the human race and make possible our deification. This renewal is made personal to us in our baptism, which begins with Christ’s own baptism in the Jordan at Theophany, which we will celebrate not many days from now. I strongly encourage you to continue to make time to bring Christ into the center of your lives and prioritize these Great Feasts of the Church for you and your children.
Christ is born! Glorify Him! Fr. Robert+
This week at Holy Archangels:
NO FASTING from Dec. 25-Jan. 4.
v Thursday, Jan. 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m., “Colinde”—We invite our church family to an evening of Caroling, Joy, and Feasting at the Rectory. Please bring a main or side dish as this will be a potluck! Contact Psa. Krissy: KrissyMiclean@gmail.com (1353 Tydings Rd. Annapolis, MD)
v Saturday, Jan 4 , 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers. Confession following
v Sunday, Jan 5, 9:30 Hours, 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy EVE OF THEOPHANY (Christ’s Baptism)
- Following Trapeza: the Great Blessing of Water at the City Dock in Annapolis (Strict Fast—no flesh meats, dairy, wine, olive oil). Please join us as we witness to the truth of our Faith and Christ’s holy Baptism in the waters of the Jordan!
Looking Ahead/Mark Your Calendars for these Special Events:
v Monday, Jan. 6, Abbreviated ROYAL HOURS followed by the Divine Liturgy of THEOPHANY
- Great Blessing of the Waters for the Faithful (bring your jar for holy water), Feasting Trapeza to follow.
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers as a living witness of His love, healing, power, and glory;”
- For God’s continued financial provision for our Mission and our college ministry, ACM;
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Archpriest George, Archpriest Michael, Priest John, Deacon Basil, Rdr. Michael, Rdr. John, Benedict, Lance, Colette, Mary, Carol, Katherine, James, Charlene, Claudia, Daniel, Sarah, Seraphim, Ed, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, for our suffering Orthodox brethren in Syria and Egypt, the nuns and orphans of St. Thekla Monastery abducted by Syrian terrorist rebels.
- The departed Lelia, Woodrow, and Anastasia.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal,
You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead.
And when from the depths You raised the dead,
all the powers of heaven cried out:// “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
Troparion of the Feast Tone 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, // has shone to the world the light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars, // were taught by a star to adore You,
the Sun of righteousness, // and to know You, the Orient from on high.// O Lord, glory to You!
Troparion (of the Righteous Ones) Tone 2
Proclaim the wonder, O Joseph, // to David, the ancestor of God;
you saw a Virgin great with child; // you gave glory with the shepherds;
you worshipped with the Magi; // you received the news from the Angel.
Pray to Christ God to save our souls!
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!”
Kontakion (of the Righteous Ones) Tone 3
Today godly David is filled with joy; // Joseph and James offer praise.
The glorious crown of their kinship with Christ fills them with great joy.
They sing praises to the One ineffably born on earth,
and they cry out: “O Compassionate One, save those who honor You!”
Kontakion of the Feast Tone 3
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One.
Angels with shepherds glorify Him; // the Wise Men journey with the star,//
since for our sake the eternal God was born as a little Child!
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies // and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless Angels // and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,// Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts
