TO ALL OF OUR ORTHODOX FRIENDS: A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:WIk8fnsEbWkC:www.collegebaptist.org/sermon/12.23.01.html ^ | Matthew 2:1-12.

[maestro]

Your# 54).................MERRY CHRISTMAS RUSSIA.....................BTTT

[eleni121]

Merry Christmas on the birth of the Savior - the Son of God, the Promise fulfilled!

[branicap]

If I didn`t know you,I would call your question stupid!

Yes,they know.And,they will cel;ebrate it in grater and grater numbers every year.Despite the fact that almost 700 000 Orthodox Christians will not celebrate Christmas in their ancestral homes!

Happy Christmass to you dear Irish friend.Dont worry,a Pope will turn a blind eye if you have a drink today!

[Incorrigible]

Just making a vague reference to the 1984 #1 pop hit "Do they know it's Christmas" by Band Aid regarding the famine in Africa.

Seemed apropos for a war-torn Yugoslavia.

I'll hoist a few for reconciliation and Christian unity in our lifetimes!

[Liz]

Same to you.

[branicap]

I know,I know!Very nice song,heard her a few times a few days ago!

And,very applicable for some peoples in Balkans!

Hoist one for me,and my little boy Callum,he is half Irish!

[don-o]

A quick "Christ is Born" especially to my old calendar Orthodox brothers and sisters. And also to all who chance on the thread.

We drive 75 miles one way to our parish. Stayed from Sunday until today.

Had a large time.

More later, maybe. Gotta run the boy to his karate class.

[No Truce With Kings]

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

[katnip]

Thanks for the ping.

Merry Christmas to all our Russian Orthodox friends!

'Rejoice, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you ' (2 Cor 13:11).

[Liz]

....Rejoice, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.......

Sounds like what we do on Free Republic.

[drew]

At least once a year they hold it "out in the open".

Interesting. I've never seen it done in the open, but then I realize there are variations amongst the different Orthodox churches. Cheers.

[OldCorps]

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Troparion of the Feast, 4th tone:
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, * hath shined upon the world the light of knowledge; * for thereby, they that worshipped the stars * were taught 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.

Kontakion of the Feast, 3rd tone:
Today the Virgin giveth birth to Him Who is transcendent in
essence; * and the earth offereth a cave to Him Who is unapproachable. * Angels with shepherds give glory; * with a star the Magi do journey; * for our sake a young Child is
born, Who is pre-eternal God.

"At least once a year they hold it "out in the open"".

I think this is a reference to Bright Week after Pascha, when all the doors to the altar are left open. So yes, at this time the laity are able to see the consecration of the gifts.

Happy Feast of Nativity to all Orthodox Christians.
In Christ,
Rdr John

[maestro]

N.B.,.......post# 50).....................BTTT

Merry Christmas!