“‘For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)
The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is one of the most joyful days of the Orthodox Church. It ranks next to the greatest holiday, the Resurrection of Jesus. The Feast of the Birth of Jesus is also known as the “Incarnation of Christ.” This means that Jesus became a man and came into the world to save us. We also refer to this joyous feast as Christmas.
As with Pascha, or Easter, the Feast of the Nativity begins with a period of preparation. It is proceeded by a fast corresponding to Lent and lasting for forty days. The fast begins on November 15.
On the Sundays immediately before December 25, special commemorations emphasize the link between the Old Covenant and the New. On December 20 the Forefeast of the Nativity is commemorated, and the daily liturgical texts are directed toward the Feast itself. On Christmas Eve, services include the Great or Royal Hours, the Great Vespers, and the Liturgy of Saint Basil.
On Christmas Day the service commemorates the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, the adoration of the Shepherds, and the arrival of the Wise Men with their gifts. The service held on this day is the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
The days following Christmas are associated with the Theotokos and Joseph. December 26 is the Synaxis of the Mother of God, and the first Sunday after the Feast commemorates “Joseph the Betrothed.” December 29 commemorates the Massacre of the Innocents, and January 1 the Circumcision of our Lord. The Nativity season concludes on December 31, but the spirit of the festival extends to the celebration of Theophany (Epiphany), the feast commemorating the Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River.
CHRISTMAS 2024 NEW YEAR AND EPIPHANY 2025
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ 2024 ΝΕΟΝ ΕΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ 2025
Sunday Dec 22nd SUNDAY BEFORE THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
Οrthros – 8:30 am Divine Liturgy – 9:45 a.m.
Great Vespers Service – 6:00 p.m.
Κυριακή Δεκ 22α ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΠΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΕΩΣ
Όρθρος – 8:30 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία – 9:45 π.μ.
Tuesday Dec. 24th CHRISTMAS EVE
Service of the Royal Hours – 9:30 a.m.
Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil’s – 5:30 p.m.
Τρίτη Δεκ 24η ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΗ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ
Ακολουθία Των Μεγάλων Ώρων – 9:30 π.μ.
Εσπερινή Θεία Λειτουργία τού Αγ. Βασιλείου – 5:30 μ.μ.
Wednesday Dec 25th THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST “CHRISTMAS DAY”
Orthros – 9:00 a.m. / Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Τετάρτη Δεκ 25η Η ΚΑΤΑ ΣΑΡΚΑ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ «ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ»
`Όρθρος – 9:00 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία – 10:00 π.μ.
Friday Dec 27th FEAST DAY OF ST. STEPHANOS THE FIRST MARTYR
Orthros – 9:00 a.m. / Divine Liturgy – 10:00 a.m.
Παρασκευή Δεκ 27η ΆΓΙΟΣ ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ
`Όρθρος – 9:00 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία – 10:00 π.μ.
Wednesday Jan. 1st FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH OF OUR, LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
AND FEAST DAY OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
Οrthros 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
Τετάρτη Ιαν. 1η Η ΚΑΤΑ ΣΑΡΚΑ ΠΕΡΙΤΟΜΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ
`Όρθρος – 9:00 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία – 10:00 π.μ.
Sunday Jan 5th EVE OF EPIPHANY
Οrthros – 8:30 am Divine Liturgy and Agiasmos – 9:45 a.m
Κυριακή Ιαν 5η ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΗ ΘΕΟΦΑΝEΙΩΝ
Όρθρος – 8:30 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία και Μέγας Αγιασμός. – 9:45 π.μ.
Monday Jan 6th EPIPHANY
Orthros – 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Agiasmos – 10:00 a.m.
Δευτέρα Ιαν 6η ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ
`Όρθρος – 9:00 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία καί Μέγας Αγιασμός – 10:00 π.μ.
Tuesday Jan 7th SYNAXIS OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Orthros – 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:45 a.m.
Τρίτη Ιαν 7η ΣΥΝΑΞΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΓ. ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΥ
Όρθρος – 9:00 π.μ. / Θεία Λειτουργία – 10:00 π.μ.
