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Daily Meditations

The Eighth Day of Christmas: The Feast Day of Saint Basil the Great

01/01/2014

Saint Basil the Great was born in the year 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents’ names were Basil and Emmelia. His mother Emmelia (commemorated July 19 and May 30) and his grandmother Macrina (January 14) are Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (January 10), Peter of Sebastia (January 9), and Naucratius.

The Seventh Day of Christmas: The Sun of Righteousness

12/31/2013

One of the titles of the Messiah in the prophetic writings of the Bible is the Sun of Righteousness. It is found in the prophet Malachi. For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name,

The Sixth Day of Christmas: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

12/30/2013

The adoration of Jesus by the wise men from the East is part of the Nativity celebration in the Orthodox Church.l Whatever the actual historical circumstances of the event—and Orthodox tradition takes them quite literally—the spiritual and theological significance of the coming of the kings with their gifts of paramount importance. We have already seen how the Church emphasizes the fact that the entire order of nature participates in the announcement of Christ’s birth, thus

The Third Day of Christmas: The Synaxis of the Ever-Virgin Mary (Part II)

12/27/2013

It is also the Church’s teaching, following the scripture, that Mary remained a virgin all of her life. She never knew a man. And she never had any other children besides the Lord Jesus. Once again, this conviction is not only defended on the basis of the biblical record, but it is also understood to be a theological truth inspired by the Holy Spirit which is mystically proper and spiritually evident to those with “the

The Second Day of Christmas: The Synaxis of the Ever-Virgin Mary (Part I)

12/26/2013

The gospels teach and the liturgy proclaims that Jesus Christ was born on earth from the Virgin Mary. According to the “mind of Christ” which is given to believers by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor 2), it is evident that it could not be otherwise. The reason is simple. Jesus is the Son of God. God is His Father from all eternity. If there is anything unique, original, totally unprecedented in

HOLY NATIVITY: Encyclicals of Patriarch Bartholomew & Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ 2013

12/25/2013

Prot. No. 1109 Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas + BARTHOLOMEWBy God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical PatriarchTo the Plenitude of the Church:Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in Bethlehem Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” (Isaiah 9.5) Many centuries ago, the Prophet foresaw and announced with enthusiasm and joy the birth of the child Jesus from

The Fortieth Day of Christmas Advent: The Royal Hours of Christmas Eve

12/24/2013

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 preceding the Vespers and Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on Christmas Eve are given the name “Royal Hours.” The Emperor’s attendance at the service was in part a demonstration of his humble acknowledgment that Jesus Christ reigns over all mortal beings. The third psalm

Thirty-Ninth Day of Christmas Advent: Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

12/23/2013

When the angel of the Lord brought the “glad tidings of great joy” of Christ’s birth to the shepherds in the fields, there appeared also “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lk 2:13-14, KJV). The songs of the Orthodox Church services, like those of the Christian West, put this doxology of the angelic choir in the mouths

Thirty-Sixth Day of Christmas Advent: God Is With Us! (Part II)

12/20/2013

Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail or be discouraged till he

Thirty-Fifth Day of Christmas Advent: God Is With Us! (Part I)

12/19/2013

The vigil services of Christmas and Epiphany begin with the chanting of great compline, at the heart of which is the solemn singing of the canticle from the prophet Isaiah. God is with us! Understand all nations, And submit yourselves, For God is with us!   Hear this, even to the farthest bounds of the earth. Submit yourselves, O mighty ones; If you rise up again in your might, You will be again overthrown. The

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