Advent Sunday Readings

Preface

Strictly speaking, the Orthodox Church lacks an Advent season. There are plenty of spiritual preparations for Christmas—St. Philip’s Fast, the use of katavasias from the Nativity canon, liturgical additions to the feasts of St. Andrew and St. Nicholas, and the two pre-Christmas Sundays of Forefathers and Genealogy. But there is no coherent four- or six-Sunday prepartory season like Advent. Unlike in Western tradition, the liturgical year does not start at this time, and it is not preceded by an emphasis on the Second Advent, which gives the season its prophetic character. But the family practice of the Advent wreath, still common in the West, is a beautiful opportunity to set the proper tone of spiritual preparation; and many Orthodox Christians find it a very familiar element in their holiday celebration.

We should be clear that Advent is not equivalent to the Nativity fast. The mostly defunct St. Martin’s fast in the West was also 40 days, and our own Ortho­dox calendar shows that the preparation for Christmas can come in stages. Probably the closest liturgical equivalent to Advent is the shorter period of two pre-Christmas Sundays, since they are the only Sundays in this period that are designated specif­ically by their relationship to Christmas. Indeed, one very easy adaptation would be to reduce the traditional Advent wreath from five candles to three and use the abundant liturgical material from these two Sundays and the pre-feast. This booklet could be used for such an endeavor, simply by skipping the first two Sundays. But three candles would not make a very satisfying wreath. On the other hand, there is no obvious need to stretch the traditional Western wreath to encompass all six weeks of the fast, so the approach here conforms with the Western practice of four Sundays. This allows Advent to start at a suitable time after the Entrance of the Theotokos, the last Great Feast preceding Christmas, and incorporates the pre-Christmas litur­gical elements of St. Andrew and St. Nicholas days. (In our household, we also use

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the Western purple, even though Orthodox vestments during the Nativity fast are dark red. It is a stylistic choice, but we prefer the distinctive Advent color to red, which can get lost in the secular red-and-green theme of the season. We do not use the rose candle, because there is no corresponding liturgical “break” in Orthdoox practice.)

The main problem with adapting a Western Advent wreath for Orthodox use is that we don’t have well-defined services for the first two Sundays. Again, there are liturgical elements that can be drawn from the feasts of St. Andrew and St. Nicholas. But this still leaves the problem of selecting Scripture passages. Given the character of the season, it makes sense to emphasize Old Testament prophecies related to the first Advent of Christ. There are plenty to choose from, and the Orthodox service books offer several options in the readings from Christmas Eve (royal hours and vespers). A few are included here, but a more flexible approach could rotate through some favorites each year.

One distinctively Western element that we incorporate in our observance is

singing the well-known hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” It is based on the “O

Antiphons,” which are songs used during the last week of preparation in the Roman

Catholic liturgy. It is one of the few widely used Advent songs and expresses quite

well the themes of the season. Although it is most directly tied to the last week, we

spread it across the four weeks by singing two verses at a time. (You might notice

that we sneak in one repetition, since they’re an odd number.) If the song is not

familiar to you, you may choose to skip it, or replace it with a well-known troparion

or kontakion of the season. These are included in the liturgical readings for Sundays

Three and Four and Christmas Eve. In fact, those readings are probably too much

for most family observances, so you might pick your favorites or set up some kind of

rotation to cover different readings each year.

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First Sunday

Liturgical Selections (from the Feast of St. An­

drew)

THEOTOKION (Tone 4) Dance, O Isaiah, receive the Word of God; prophesy to the Maiden Mary that the bush will burn with the fire of the splendor of the Godhead yet will not be consumed. Make ready, O Bethlehem; open thy gate, O Eden; proceed on your journey, ye Magi, so that we may behold our Salvation swaddled in a manger. Above the cave, the star proclaimeth Him Who is the Lifebestowing Lord, Who saveth our race.

THEOTOKION (Tone 3) Tell us, O Joseph, how is it thou bringest to Bethlehem, great with child, her whom thou hast received from the temple as a virgin? I have searched the Prophets, saith he, and have been instructed by an Angel, and I am persuaded that Mary shall give birth to God in a manner past interpretation. In homage unto Him, Magi shall come from the East, worshipping Him with precious gifts. O Thou Who wast incarnate for our sakes, Lord, glory to Thee.

THEOTOKION (Tone 8) Receive, O Bethlehem, her that is the City of God; for she is come unto thee to give birth to the unwaning Light. Ye angels, be astonished in Heaven; ye men, give glory on earth; ye Magi, bring from Persia your thrice-glorious gift; ye shepherds abiding in the field sing the thrice-holy hymn. Let every breath praise the Creator of all.

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Scripture Selections (Old Testament Prophecies)

Isa 7:10-16; 8:1-4, 9-10 Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from

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henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, Thou Wisdom, from on high, and order all things far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times didst give the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Second Sunday

Liturgical Selections (from the Feast of St. Nicholas)

THEOTOKION (Tone 6) O cavern, make ready, for the Ewe doth come bearing Christ in embryo. O manger, receive Him Who by His word undid the bestial works of us earthly men. O shepherds, watch and bear witness to the awesome wonder. And, O Magi who come from Persia, bring forth to the King gold, frankincense and myrrh; for the Lord hath appeared from a virgin Mother, whose Mother didst bow to Him as a servant, addressing Him in her bosom, saying, How wast Thou seeded in me, my God and my Deliverer?

THEOTOKION (Tone 6) O groomless Virgin, whence comest thou? Who gave thee birth, and who is thy mother? How was thy

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womb unspoiled? Wherefore, O all-pure one, we behold thee in great wonders, dread mysteries which were fulfilled on earth. And we shall proceed to prepare for thee that which is meet from the cave of earth. And the heavens we ask to give the star. And the Magi come from the ends of the east to the west to behold the Salvation of mankind, a suckling Babe.

THEOTOKION (Tone 8) Make ready, O Bethlehem; let the manger be prepared, let the cave show its welcome. The Truth is come, the shadow is passed away; God hath appeared from a Virgin unto men, formed as we are, and deifying that which He hath assumed. Where­fore, Adam is renewed with Eve, as they cry out: Thy good will hath appeared on earth to save our race.

THEOTOKION (Tone 5) Let us blow the trumpets of praise; for the queen of all, the virgin Mother, hath bent down from on high, whence looking, she crowneth with blessings those who extol her. Let kings and leaders hasten together with praises to the queen who gave birth to the King, who, because of His love to mankind, was pleased to release those who had been condemned to death. O ye shepherds and teachers, let us come together and praise the Mother exceeding pure, the Mother of the Good Shepherd, the lighthouse shining with gold, the cloud enwrapped with light, who is more spacious than the heavens, the living tabernacle, throne of the Master with the fiery likeness, the golden jar of manna, the sealed door of the Word, the refuge of all Christians, eulogizing her with God-inspired songs, saying, O palace of the Word, make us worthy, us wretched ones, of the kingdom of heaven; for through thee nothing is impossible.

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Scripture Selections (Old Testament Prophecies)

Isa 11:1-10 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Micah 4:6-7; 5:2-4 In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore

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will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem, from ev’ry foe deliver them that trust Thy mighty power to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav’nly home, make safe the way that leads on high, that we no more have cause to sigh. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Third Sunday

Liturgical Selections (Sunday of the Holy Forefa­thers)

STICHERA (Tone 8) As we celebrate today the memory of the Forefathers, let us, O believers, praise in faith Christ the Deliverer Who magnified them among all nations; the Lord Who doeth strange wonders; for He is precious and mighty, Who showeth us through them a staff of strength. She is Mary the undefiled Maiden of God who alone knew no man, from whom proceeded Christ the Blossom, budding life

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for all, the everlasting Bliss and eternal Salvation. O Master, Who didst rescue the holy youths from fire and Daniel

from the mouths of the lions, and didst bless Abraham, Isaac Thy servant, and Jacob his son, O Thou Who wast willing to become, like us, of their seed, that Thou mightest save our Forefathers who fell of old, and to be crucified and buried in order to crush the bonds of death and raise the dead from eternity, we worship, O Christ, Thine eternal kingdom.

The youths of God walking forth amidst the flame, rejoicing in the dew of the Spirit as though they were in a garden, didst go before and foreshadow therein the mystery of the Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ. And in that they were wise men they quenched by faith the power of fire. And as for Daniel the righteous, he didst appear closing the mouths of the lions. Wherefore, by their beseechings we plead with Thee, O Savior and Lover of mankind, to deliver us from the everlasting and unquenchable fire, and to make us worthy to receive Thy heavenly Kingdom.

Thy holy youths, O Christ, when they were in the furnace of fire, as though in dew, didst go before and foreshadow mystically Thy com­ing from the Virgin, which hath illumined us without burning. And righteous Daniel, wondrous among Prophets, when he went before and explained plainly Thy divine Second Coming, didst shout, saying, And I saw the thrones placed, and the Judge sat, and the river of fire came before Him. Wherefore, by their beseechings, O Master, deliver us.

DOXASTICON (Tone 6) Let us, O believers, extol today all the Forefathers before the law, Abraham the friend of God, Isaac born after the promise, Jacob with the twelve heads of the tribes, David the most meek, and Daniel the Prophet of desires, honoring with them the three youths who changed the furnace to a dewy place, asking forgiveness of Christ God, glorified in His saints.

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DOXASTICON (Tone 3) Come ye feast-lovers, let us extol with hymns the assembly of the Forefathers, Adam the first father, Enoch, Noah and Melchizedek; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and those after the lawMoses, Aaron, Joshua and Samuel; and with them Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the twelve prophets, with Elijah and Elisha, and all the rest; and Zachariah, the Baptist, and those who preached Christ, the Life and Resurrection of our race.

APOLYTIKION (Tone 2) Thou hast justified by faith the ancient Forefathers, and through them Thou hast gone before and betrothed unto Thyself the Church of the Gentiles. Let the saints, therefore, take pride in glory; for from their seed sprouted forth a noble fruit, and she it was who gave birth to Thee without seed. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.

KONTAKION A hand-wrought image ye would not worship, O thrice-blessed ones; but armed by the Undepictable Essence, ye were glorified in your ordeal by fire. Standing in the midst of the irresistible flame, ye called upon God: Speed Thou, O Compassionate One, and hasten, since Thou are merciful, to come unto our aid; for Thou art able, if it be Thy will.

OIKOS Stretch forth Thy hand, which in ancient times both the Egyptians experienced when they waged war, and the Hebrews when warred against. Do not abandon us, lest Satan, who hateth us, and Death, which thirsteth for us, swallow us up; but draw nigh unto us, and spare our souls, as once Thou didst spare Thy Children in Babylon, who unceasingly praised Thee, and for Thy sake were cast into the furnace, and cried out therefrom unto Thee: Speed Thou, O Compassionate One, and hasten, since Thou are merciful, to come unto our aid; for Thou art able, if it be Thy will.

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EXAPOSTEILARIA (Tone 2) Let us come together, O lovers of the Fathers, rejoicing in the memory of the Fathers, praising as is meet Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from whom Christ was seen to come in the flesh for the abundance of His compassion.

Let us laud Adam and Abel, Seth and Enos, Enoch, Noah, Abra­ham, Isaac and Jacob; Moses, Job and Aaron; Eliezar, Joshua, Barak, Samson, Jephtae, David and Solomon.

THEOTOKION (Tone 2) O Virgin all-immaculate, pure Mary, blameless Bride of God, come in that terrible hour and stand beside me to help me; then do thou show thyself to be my mediatrix with thy Son, and rescue me, the lowly one, out of that dread condemnation and every suffering and torment.

AINOI (Tone 2) Let us all celebrate the memory of the revered Forefathers, extolling their lives by which they were made great.

Verily, the youths did put down the fire sitting in the midst of the furnace and praising God the Almighty.

And Daniel the Prophet, when he was locked in the den, living with the beasts, did appear safe, not harmed by their mischief.

DOXASTICON (Tone 7) Come, let us all celebrate the anniver­sary of their memory, the anniversary of the Fathers before the lawAbra­ham and those with him. Let us honor meetly the tribe of Judah, and praise the youths who were in Babylon, who put down the flames of the furnace; for they foreshadowed the Trinity, and with them Daniel. And holding steadfastly the foresayings of the Prophet, let us shout with a loud voice with Isaiah, saying, Behold the Virgin shall conceive in the womb and give birth to a Son, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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Scripture Selections (Sunday of the Holy Forefa­thers)

Col 3:4-11 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Luke 14:16-24 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges,

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and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid every strife and quarrel cease and fill the world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Fourth Sunday

Liturgical Selections (Sunday of the Genealogy)

DOXASTICON (Tone 6) Verily, Daniel, the man of desires, when he saw Thee, O Lord, a Stone cut out without hands, did foretell Thee a Babe born without seed, O Word incarnate of the Virgin, the untransformed God, Savior of our souls.

DOXASTICON (Tone 2) Rejoice, O honored Prophets, who didst organize well the law of the Lord, and appeared as stable, unshakeable pillars of faith; for verily, they hath become mediators of the New Covenant of Christ. Wherefore, having been translated to heaven, plead ye with Him to grant safety to the world and to save our souls.

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APOLYTIKION (Tone 2) Great are the accomplishments of faith; for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though at waters of rest. And the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep. Wherefore, by their pleadings, O Christ God, save our souls.

DOXASTICON (Tone 1) Shining with the divine lightning-flashes of the divine oracles, the Prophets of great name are blessed forever; laden with the fruit of the Spirits sayings, they proclaimed unto all men the unfathomable birth of Christ God. And passing their life in an exceedingly wondrous conversation, they lawfully attained to the end of their course.

EXAPOSTEILARION (Tone 2) Verily, the chiefs of the Patri­archs and the Fathers before the law did go before, gleaming with faith like the stars, namely Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for all the Prophets and righteous ones were illuminated by them, since they were shining lamps, and by the rays of their venerated prophecy illuminated the whole of dark creation.

AINOI (Tone 5) In truth raise thy voice, O Zion, divine city of God, and preach the divine memory of the fathers, honoring with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Him of everlasting memory. For lo! With Judah and Levi we magnify Moses the great and Aaron the wonderful; and with David we celebrate the memory of Joshua and Samuel, inviting all with divine songs and divine praise to the preparation of the Nativity of Christ, praying to receive His goodness; for He it is that granteth the world the Great Mercy.

Come, O Elijah, who didst ascend of old the divine fiery chariot, and O Elisha of divine mind, and rejoice together with Ezekiel and Josiah. Yea, exchange glad tidings with them, O venerated rank of the

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twelve Prophets inspired of God, on the Nativity of the Savior. And all ye righteous ones, sing hymns. And ye all beatified youths who quench the flames of the furnace with the dew of the Spirit, pray for us, pleading with Christ to grant our souls the Great Mercy.

Verily, she hath appeared on earth, the Theotokos, who was pro­claimed from the ages by the words of the Prophets, and whom the wise Patriarchs and the rank of righteous ones did foretell, with whom the comeliness of women, Sarah, Rebecca with glorious Anna, and Mary, the sister of Moses, shall exchange glad tidings; and with them shall rejoice the ends of the earth, and all creation: for God shall come to be born in the flesh and grant the world the Great Mercy.

DOXASTICON (Tone 8) Verily, the collection of Mosaic teach­ings maketh plain the divine Nativity of Christ in the flesh to those to whom was preached the grace before the law, having transcended the law by faith. Wherefore, since the Nativity was the cause of sal­vation from corruption, they foretold Thy Resurrection to the souls imprisoned in Hades. O Lord, glory to Thee.

Scripture Selections (Sunday of the Genealogy)

Gen 14:14-20 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem

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brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Deut 1:8-11, 15-17b Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. (The Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s:

Deut 10:14-21 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth

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the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Heb 11:9-10, 32-40 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteous­ness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Matthew 1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac be­

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gat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom be­gat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam be­gat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Je­chonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was

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spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph be­ing raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem, from ev’ry foe deliver them that trust Thy mighty power to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Christmas Eve

Liturgical Selections (Forefeast of the Nativity)

STICHERA (Tone 1) O Virgin free of all blame, the living palace of God, thou hast held Him Whom the heavens hold not, to Whom thou shalt give birth in a manner exceeding understanding; Who hum­bled Himself, becoming flesh, that He might make me worthy and enrich me; Who became poor by the excess of the most bitter food.

O long-suffering Christ, verily, because of Thy compassion Thou wast enrolled with the servants by order of Caesar, that Thou mightest

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come and grant liberty, life, and safety to Thy thankless servants, who adore Thy saving Nativity, O Thou Who comest to save our souls.

The all-holy and blameless one, when she apprehended the incom­prehensible Nativity which reneweth the orders of nature, shouted unto the Son, saying, My greatly beloved Son, I am dazzled by this great mystery: that by Thy might I shall still be a Virgin after Thy Birth, O Thou Who doest all things by Thy will.

THEOTOKION (Tone 2) Behold, the time of our salvation ap­proacheth; make thou ready, O cave, for it is time for the Virgin to give birth. And thou, Bethlehem of Judah, rejoice and be glad; for from thee shall shine forth our Lord. Hearken, O mountains and hills and the regions about Judah: for Christ cometh to save man whom He did create, since He is the Lover of mankind.

APOLYTIKION (Tone 4) Be thou ready, O Bethlehem; for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha; for the Tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin; for her belly did appear as a noetic paradise in which is planted the divine Plant, whereof eating we shall live and not die as Adam. Verily, Christ shall be born, raising the likeness that fell of old.

DOXASTICON (Tone 1) Hearken, O Heaven, and give ear, O earth: for behold, the Son, the Word of the Father, cometh to be born of a Maiden that hath not known man. Wherefore, by the pleasure of Him Who gave Him birth without passion, and by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, O Bethlehem, make ready, and O Eden, open thou thy gates; for He Who is shall be that which hath not been; and the Maker of the entire creation shall become the Granter of Great Mercy to the world.

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KATHISMATA The sayings of the Prophets have now been ful­filled. For on the morrow, our God is born of the Virgin Mary in a manner surpassing speech, and remaineth as He was before His birth. The Magi gather, bearing gifts; the shepherds abide in the field, and we also sing: O Thou Who wast born of a Virgin, O Lord, glory to Thee.

The song the shepherds played on their reed-pipes was stayed by a great angelic host, which called out to them, saying: Tarry not in the field now, O ye that shepherd the nurslings of the flocks; cry aloud singing praises, that Christ the Lord hath been born in Bethlehem, He that in truth hath been well pleased, as God, to save the race of mankind.

KONTAKION O Bethlehem, rejoice; Ephratha, make thou ready; for in her womb the Ewe-lamb doth bear the Great Shepherd, and lo, she now urgently maketh haste to give birth to Him. On behold­ing Him, the righteous God-bearing Fathers all rejoice, and with the shepherds sing hymns of praise of the Virgin that nursed a child.

OIKOS Beholding the splendor of thy conception shining out, O Virgin, Abraham the friend of God, the celebrated Isaac, Jacob and all the divinely gathered choir of the Saints rejoice, and they have brought creation to meet thee with words of jubilation. For thou art the cause of joy for all, who didst conceive in thy womb Him that was seen of old in Babylon and past all understanding preserved the Children unburnt, when they were unjustly cast into the furnace. Wherefore, they sing unto Him Who was seen in the hands of the young Maiden, and they praise the Virgin that nursed a child.

EXAPOSTEILARION (Tone 2) Rejoice, O Bethlehem, and thou, Ephratha, make ready; for the Theotokos shall come to the cave and

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the manger to give birth in an ineffable manner to God. O what a terrible mystery, the mystery of Him Who cometh before Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the Patriarchs, and all the Prophets; and mankind with the angels shall celebrate His Nativity with divine rejoicing.

KONTAKION (Tone 3) Today the Virgin cometh to the cave where she will give birth in an ineffable manner to the Word Who is before all the ages. Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when thou hearest it heralded: Glorify Him, with the angels and the shepherds, Who chose to be seen as a new-born babe, the God Who is before all the ages.

Scripture Selections (Christmas Eve)

Heb 1:1-12 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And,

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Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Luke 2:1-20 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and

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found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Appendix: Katavasias of the First Canon of Christ’s Nativity (Tone 1)

Ode 1. Christ is born, glorify Him. Christ is come from heaven, receive Him. Christ is on earth, be ye elevated. Sing to the Lord, all the earth; and ye nations, praise Him with joy; for He hath been glorified.

Ode 3. Let us cry unto the Son, born of the Father before the ages without transubstantiation, Christ God Who hath been incarnate in these last days of the Virgin, without seed, shouting, O Thou Who hath elevated our state, Thou art holy, O Lord.

Ode 4. O praised Christ, a stem hath come out of Jesse, and from it hast sprouted a Flower from a dense and shadowed mountain, O im­material God, coming incarnate from the Virgin that hath not known man. Glory, therefore, to Thy might, O Lord.

Ode 5. Since Thou art the God of peace and the Father of mercies, O Lover of mankind, Thou didst send to us the great Messenger of Thy mind, granting us Thy peace. Therefore, have we been led aright

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to the light of divine knowledge, glorifying Thee as we come out of darkness.

Ode 6. The sea-monster did disgorge Jonah from its belly, as it re­ceived him safely like a fetus. As for the Word, when He dwelt in the Virgin, taking from her a body, He was born, preserving her with­out corruption, and without transubstantiation, preserving His Mother without harm.

Ode 7. The youths having grown together in true worship, despising the command of the infidel, were not dismayed by the threat of fire; but were singing as they stood in the midst of the flames: Blessed art Thou, God of our fathers.

Ode 8. Ode 8. We praise, we bless and we worship the Lord. Verily, the dewy furnace did shadow the sign of the supernatural won­der; for it burned not the youths whom it received, as the fire of divinity also burned not the womb of the Virgin in which it dwelt. Wherefore, let us offer praise with song, saying: Let all creation praise the Lord, exalting Him evermore, to the end of ages.

Ode 9. Ode 9. Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts. I behold a strange and wonderful mystery: the cave a heaven, the Virgin a cherubic throne, and the manger a noble place in which hath laid Christ the uncontained God. Let us, therefore, praise and magnify Him.

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