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The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Merry Christmas! Kαlά Χριστoύγεννa!
December 24th, 2023
Sunday before the Nativity
Sunday before the Nativity
On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
The incomprehensible and inexplicable Nativity of Christ came to pass when Herod the Great was reigning in Judea; the latter was an Ascalonite on his fathers’s side and an Idumean on his mother’s. He was in every way foreign to the royal line of David; rather, he had received his authority from the Roman emperors, and had ruled tyrannically over the Jewish people for some thirty-three years. The tribe of Judah, which had reigned of old, was deprived of its rights and stripped of all rule and authority. Such was the condition of the Jews when the awaited Messiah was born, and truly thus was fulfilled the prophecy which the Patriarch Jacob had spoken 1,807 years before: “A ruler shall not fail from Judah, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of the nations” (Gen.49:10).
Thus, our Saviour was born in Bethlehem, a city of Judea, whither Joseph had come from Nazareth of Galilee, taking Mary his betrothed, who was great with child, that, according to the decree issued in those days by the Emperor Augustus, they might be registered in the census of those subject to Rome. Therefore, when the time came for the Virgin to give birth, and since because of the great multitude there was no place in the inn, the Virgin’s circumstance constrained them to enter a cave which was near Bethlehem. Having as shelter a stable of irrational beasts, she gave birth there, and swaddled the Infant and laid Him in the manger (Luke 2:1-7). From this, the tradition has come down to us that when Christ was born He lay between two animals, an ox and an ass, that the words of the Prophets might be fulfilled: “Between two living creatures shalt Thou be known” (Abbacum 3:2), and “The ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib” (Esaias 1: 3).
But while the earth gave the new-born Saviour such a humble reception, Heaven on high celebrated majestically His world-saving coming. A wondrous star, shining with uncommon brightness and following a strange course, led Magi from the East to Bethlehem to worship the new-born King. Certain shepherds who were in the area of Bethlehem, who kept watch while tending their sheep, were suddenly surrounded by an extraordinary light, and they saw before them an Angel who proclaimed to them the good tidings of the Lord’s joyous Nativity. And straightway, together with this Angel, they beheld and heard a whole host of the Heavenly Powers praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men” (Luke 2:8-14).
Liturgical Guide
Sunday morning Service
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα,…
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Eve of Nativity in the Fourth Mode
Ἀπεγράφετο ποτέ, σὺν τῶ πρεσβύτη Ἰωσήφ
As the fruit of David’s seed, Mary was registered of old with the Elder Joseph in the little town of Bethlehem, when she conceived with a seedless and pure conception. Behold, the time was come that she should bear her Child, but no place was found within the inn for them; yet the cave proved a delightful palace for the pure Lady and Queen of all. For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Sunday before the Nativity in the Second Mode
Μεγάλα τὰ τῆς πίστεως κατορθώματα…
Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as by the water of rest, the Three Holy Children rejoiced. And the Prophet Daniel proved a shepherd of lions as of sheep. By their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις …
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον…
On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40
BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God.And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 1:1-25
The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Liturgical Guide
4:30pm Service
Apolytikion for Holy Nativity in the Fourth Mode
Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῷ κόσμῳ, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως· ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοῖς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο· σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῷ ἀπροσίτῳ προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι· δι’ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός
Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.
Epistle Reading
St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 4:4-7
Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of God through Christ.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'”Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Announcements
Celebrating the Nativity
Church Services on Sunday, December 24th
8:30am Orthros
9:30am Divine Liturgy:
4:30pm Orthros and Divine Liturgy of the Nativity
Please note, there will not be church service on Monday, December 25th as the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity will be chanted on Christmas Eve.
Philoptochos Baked Goods Preorders
Vasilopitas that were Preordered will be available for pick up on Sundays, December 17th and December 24th (after morning Liturgy ONLY) after church in the Kandaras Hall. Others will be sold on the 17th and 24th (after morning Liturgy ONLY) or until the supply is exhausted.
Holiday Blues to Holiday Cheer
It is the season to celebrate the birth of Christ and to bring in the New Year.
Yet we all have loved ones we miss and old acquaintances never to forget.
All are invited to a special workshop dedicated to supporting one another in grief
and in gratitude.
We will meet just after coffee hour on Sunday, December 31st here at the
church (hall).
Isabella Christodoulou, LCSW will facilitate this gathering in the hope and faith
that it will be a healing experience for everyone who chooses to attend and bring
our community even closer.
Stewardship
As year 2023 comes to a close, please take a moment to check if you have fulfilled your pledge of treasure to St. Demetrios Church for Stewardship 2023.
Also, we encourage everyone to fill out their stewardship form for year 2024.
Thank You!
Hellenic Cultural Society News
The Hellenic Cultural Society of South Florida under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Tampa and the Festival of the Arts in Boca Raton present “Socrates Now” by Yannis Simonides at 5:30 PM on January 18, 2024 at FAU Theater 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431. The event is free and open to the public, however, seat reservations are required: https://fauevenuts.uiversitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=6019
“Socrates Now” is an eighty minute solo performance-discourse which captures the essence of the socratic ethic in an accessible and engaging manner. You are invited to take a seat at the People’s Court in the Agora of Ancient Athens as Socrates goes on trial for his life being judged by a jury of 500 male citizens in 399 B.C. Hear the philosopher face his accusers with his trademark wit, incisive logic and the courage of his ideals. Consider his arguments on virtue, justice, politics, corruption, civic duty, love, life and hope in the face of death and draw your own judgement. Enjoy the post-performance opportunity to discuss with the actor the ramifications of your verdict. The actor YANNIS SIMONIDES was born in Constantinople and was raised in Athens. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Yale School of Drama. He has served as professor and chair of the undergraduate Drama Department at the New York University [NYU] Tisch School of the Arts and is a founding director of the Greek Theatre of New York. Simonides has been awarded an Emmy by the American Academy of Televisioin Arts and Sciences and has been named Ambassador of Hellenism by the City of Athens for his lifelong service to Greek Arts and Letters worldwide.
Saint Demetrios Fence Project- Fall 2023
The time has finally come to fence in our property.
Our plan at this time is to close off our property with a 6-foot-high steel fence. There will be four entry gates some or all of which will ultimately be motorized for ease of use.
As part of this project, we will have to redo the festival outdoor electrical system. The motorized fence will have to tap into this system for power. The current electrical infrastructure is approximately 20 years old and has critical salt corrosion problems. Our concern is that it may experience a critical failure during a festival that could lead to a complete festival loss.
The price tag for all this will be $350,000. Our community has already collected $227,000 for the fence. These funds have primarily come from the William and Bridget Eaton Partalis Charitable Remainder Unitrust and The Dina Hatzikostantis Estate. The Parish Council also intends to use the 2023 Partalis Family Lead Trust gift of approximately $27,000 for the fence project.
This leaves our community responsible for raising the remaining $100,000.
Please help us as we continue our endeavor to rebuild our parish. Your gift will help Saint Demetrios continue its mission of offering liturgical services, sacraments and programs that cultivate spiritual growth, strengthen families, and transform lives.
FESTIVAL Volunteers 2024…WELCOME BACK to one of ST DEMETRIOS’ BEST FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES & FUNDRAISER!
Volunteer Today in the South Narthex…Food Prep * Setting up & Decorating * Cashiers * Bakery * Greek Coffee
Volunteer Table * Parking & Golf Carts Drivers * Food Line Server * GYRO * Loukoumades * Greek Grocery * Admissions
Bar * Greek Grill Saganaki Loukaniko * Kitchen Team *
There’s Great Joy getting to know your church family during festival time!
Festival 2024 Sponsorship Opportunities
St. Demetrios 2024 Walking Saints Pilgrimage
For information, contact:
aleka@insiderstours.com
Book here https://bookme.name/InsidersToursInc/lite/st-demetrios-2024-walking-saints-pilgrimage-deposit
Stewardship Form
Please fill out a year 2023 pledge form by clicking here https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/ Or download this form, fill out both sides completely and return it to the office. Thank you!
Calendar
Sunday 12/24
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Sunday 12/24 Christmas Eve
4:30pm Orthros and Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Monday 12/25 Christmas Day
Merry Christmas
Sunday 12/31
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Divine Liturgy Grief Workshop
1:15pm Bible Study
Monday 1/1 St. Basil the Great
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
