“Prepare, O Bethlehem. Let the manger make ready and the grotto anticipate. The truth has come and the shadow has passed away. Born of a Virgin, God has appeared to men, taking our form and deifying that which He assumed. Therefore Adam and Eve are renewed, and they cry out, “The good pleasure of God has appeared on earth for the salvation of the human race.” – Hymn of the First Royal Hour”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Christ is Born!
Glorify Him!
I pray that as we come ever so close to the divine mystery of Christ’s holy Nativity – His birth, we are beginning to feel the spirit of the holiday. Not the spirit of the Holidays, that is parties, shopping, decorations, lights, and such. Not that these festive elements are negative in any way, but we are on the precipice of the greatest gift ever to have been received from the hand of God.
This gift is greater than life itself. His precious birth sets in motion all that is fantastic and wondrous, as God dwells among us. He who created us, is now “Us.” We are now Him. The heavenly and the earthly are indiscernible and connected from this day. Glory be to God!
Integral to our full connection in the wonder of Christmas is our participation in the divine services of the Church. Most often, especially in our American culture, that means we come to church on Christmas Eve, participate in the Divine Liturgy, receive Holy Communion, and enjoy the next morning under the tree, ripping through wrapping paper.
But every so often…every few years, these plans change. Or, at least they should.
This year, the Feast of the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ According to the Flesh (fancy theological term for Christmas) falls on a Sunday. What does this mean to us from a practical and liturgical perspective?
A great deal.
With Christmas falling on a Sunday, that means that the doctrinal precedence of the day is still reserved for the Day of the Lord – His Resurrection. Please remember that every Sunday Liturgy is a commemoration of Pascha! Every Sunday is Easter Sunday, according to the Church.
This is why we will not celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Christmas Eve, but rather chant Great Vespers for Saturday Evening, which will include hymns, prayers and readings for Christmas. So we are clear:
There is no Communion offered on Christmas Eve this year.
This brings me to the explanation of the other service that we will celebrate this year, differently than most years. On Friday, December 23rd at 9:30 am, we will read and chant the Royal Hours for the Nativity. Services of the Hours are part of the daily cycle of worship in the Orthodox Church. They can precede most any service. The Services of Royal Hours are specifically reserved for only three times each year; Before the Nativity (December 25th), Before Theophany (January 6th) and on Great and Holy Friday.
The designation of these being “Royal Hours” stems from the tradition that in the great cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor was present each year at the service beginning the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Therefore, the Hours before Christmas Eve are given the name “Royal Hours.”
I paternally advise you to attend this service. It is so beautiful.
The Royal Hours before Christmas give us an intimate perspective concerning the birth of Our Lord: the venality of Herod who fears being supplanted; Joseph’s fear of disgrace; Mary’s faith, which leads her to inspire Joseph—and us—with words like “mystery” and “wonder” to describe the event she does not fully understand but has fully accepted.
This is a service primarily comprised of Scriptural readings from both the Old and New Testament.
There is no Communion offered during the Royal Hours before Christmas.
That said (and I’ve said a lot), if you desire to receive the Eucharist on the Feast of the Nativity, and I earnestly pray that you do, then the time to come is on the morning of Sunday, December 25th. You know, just like every other Sunday!
Please refer to the attached Holiday Schedule and attend whenever possible.
As the old lapel pin says, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”
I hope to see you in church on Christmas Morning. With great anticipation in the coming of our Lord, and with love in Christ, I remain,
In His Service,
Fr. Anthony