Nativity of Our Lord (December 25)
In the early centuries, Christians did not celebrate a separate feast of the Nativity of Christ. Instead, on January 6 the faithful celebrated the feast of the Theophany, which included the Nativity of the Lord and the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.
The feast of the Nativity was first separated from the Theophany in the Roman church. Traditionally, Pope Julius I (337-352) assigned the true date of the Nativity as December 25. In the Eastern Church, St. Basil the Great became the first to celebrate the Nativity on this date between the years 371 and 374. St. Gregory the Theologian, in Constantinople in 379 or 380, began his December 25 sermon with the words “Christ is born, glorify him!” Later, newly ordained priest and future Bishop of Constantinople St. John Chrysostom announced to his faithful on December 20, 386, that the feast of the Nativity would henceforth be celebrated on December 25.
Although the date of December 25 was chosen as the celebration day of the feast of the Nativity, it was only later that this day came to be also regarded as the historical day of the Lord’s birth. The Gospels make no mention of the specific date, and many opinions and theories have arisen concerning the actual date.
The icon of the Nativity of Christ tells the story of Christmas. In the center, Jesus is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The manger is in a dark cave, representing the world dark with sin now illuminated by the Light of the Incarnation. The manger represents a crib, the Church, and a tomb, all in one. Next to Jesus is Mary, The Theotokos, resting on a red blanket that symbolizes the color of life. An ox and donkey are shown near the child, providing warmth from their breath.
The women are midwives, indicating that Jesus was born in the normal way.
Shown also is the Jesse tree, from which shoots a sprout from the stump of Jesse (father of King David).
Joseph is seen at the bottom, not involved in the birth but the protector of Jesus and Mary. He is in doubt of what is happening, and next to him is the Devil, tempting him. Mary is seen looking down at St. Joseph, praying that his struggles of disbelief and temptation will pass.
Approaching are the three wise men, guided by the star above Jesus, and bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The star represents the heavens and the rays of light the Trinity. Witnessing the event are angels and shepherds. A young shepherd sits, wearing a wreath and playing his flute, a symbol of the joy of good news.
Nativity of the Mother of God (Theotokos) (September 8)
The Church does not customarily celebrate the earthly birthdays of the Saints, but rather their heavenly birthday, their date of death which, for them, is the start of their eternal life. The Church observes the earthly birthdays of only two Saints, the Most Pure Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist.
The feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God is an ancient feast which was first observed in Syria and Palestine as early as the 5th or 6th century. It was officially introduced in the Eastern Church by the Emperor Mauricius (Mauritius) at the beginning of the 7th century. The traditional feast day of September 8 may have been selected because it falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8.
The Gospels record very little information about the life of the Mother of God. The source for the birth story of the blessed Virgin Mary may be the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, written about 150 A.D. From this work we learn about Mary’s parents Joachim and Anna and the events of her birth.
Dormition of the Theotokos (August 15)
 The feast of the Dormition celebrates the falling asleep of the Theotokos (Mary, Mother of God). Celebrated on different dates since the fourth century, it was formally established on August 15 by Emperor Maurice (ruled approx 582-602 A.D.). The Feast of Dormition was introduced in Rome in the 7th century and eventually spread to the entire West, where it became known as the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
At this feast flowers are blessed; according to tradition when the tomb of the Blessed Virgin was opened on the third day, it was found to be empty except for sweetly fragrant flowers.
On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that the “immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of Her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
The following is excerpted from Julian J. Katrij, A Byzantine Rite Liturgical Year
Three days before the death of Mary, the Archangel Gabriel appeared and announced to her from her Son, Jesus Christ, the time of her departure into eternity. On the day of her death, the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem, although they had been scattered in various countries of the then known world. St. Thomas was the only Apostle absent. The Mother of God expressed her wish to be buried in Gethsemane near her parents and her spouse, Joseph. Christ, in person, came accompanied by Angels and Saints to escort His Most Holy Mother to heaven. The Apostles, while singing holy hymns, carried the body of Mary to the grave where they remained keeping vigil for three days. On the third day, St. Thomas came from afar and desired very much to view for the last time the Most Pure Mother of God. When the grave was opened, her body was not there, only the funeral clothes in which the body had been wrapped. The Apostles then realized that Mary had been taken up body and soul into heaven.
Feast of the Holy Transfiguration (August 6)
 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shown like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
(Matthew 17:1-8)
The Transfiguration of our Lord celebrates the glorious change in appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Tabor. The early Fathers referred to Christ’s transfiguration as his second epiphany or the second manifestation of His divinity.
Christian tradition since the fourth century has placed the site of the Transfiguration as the top of Mount Tabor, near Nazareth. There, St. Helen (approx. 250-330 AD) built the church of the Holy Transfiguration, solemnly dedicated on August 6.
In the Byzantine Rite the feast of the Holy Transfiguration has been traditionally celebrated on August 6 since at least the 8th century. In 1457 Pope Callistus III extended celebration of the feast to the entire Latin Rite Church. Thus the feast became a universal holy day, celebrated by both Eastern and Western churches on August 6.
In 680-681 the sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople prescribed that the “wheat and grapes” were to be blessed in church on the feast of the Holy Transfiguration. In accordance with Byzantine tradition, on this date fruits are blessed, originally apples, plums, and pears, but now especially grapes, because they are symbolic of the perpetually new transfiguration of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and they act as a reminder of the transfiguration we must daily undergo as committed, baptized followers of Christ.
Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (November 21)
The Feast of the Entrance (also known as the Feast of the Presentation) celebrates the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Queen, Mother of God (Theotokos) and ever-virgin Mary. It’s purpose is to shed light on the childhood of the Blessed Mother, her parents, her training in the Temple, and her preparation as the Theotokos.
The Gospels are silent on the Entrance of the Holy Mother into the Temple. The Feast traces its origins to the apocryphal writings of James and Matthew, where we learn of Mary’s parents Joachim and Anna. According to tradition, when she was three years old, her parents brought her to the Temple and placed her under the instruction and care of the high priest Zachary, father of John the Baptist. Here she remained until years later she was betrothed to Joseph.
The Feast of the Entrance has been universally observed in the East since the 8th century, although some references to it date back to the 5th century. The date of November 21 was established as early as the 9th century. In the West, the feast spread throughout Europe until it had become firmly established by the middle of the 15th century.
Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist (August 29th)
St. John the Baptizer was the last of the prophets, uniting the Old and the New Testaments. On August 29th is celebrated the last major feast of the church year, the martyrdom of John at the hands of Herod Antipas. John had condemned the marriage of Herod to Herodias, the wife of his half-brother. The Gospel of Matthew records the beheading of John at the request of the young daughter of Herodias, and the Roman historian Josephus also relates how Herod ordered his death because of his great popularity and the King’s fear of an uprising of the people.
Celebration of the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist dates to the fourth century A.D., correlating to the first finding of his head. Following his martyrdom, his disciples took and buried his body, but his head, which had been irreverently discarded by Herodias, was secretly taken by the venerable Joanna and buried on the Mount of Olives, where it remained forgotten for centuries. During the reign of Constantine the Great, John appeared to two monks in a dream and revealed the location of his head. It was unearthed, but later hidden and lost again.
It was discovered again in 452 A.D., again thanks to John appearing in a dream, and this time transferred to Constantinople. During the Iconoclastic wars of the 8th century it was hidden in Comana of Asia Minor, where John Chrysostom had died. It was discovered for the third time in 857 during the reign of Emperor Michael. Finally, during the Fourth Crusade (1204 A.D.) It disappeared, allegedly taken by crusaders to the West. At the present time several churches claim its possession, as do Muslims, who also honor John as a prophet and believe that his head is interred at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.
Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Feast of the Encounter of Our Lord, God And Savior Jesus Christ with Simeon and Anna (February 2)
Joseph is shown at left as an elderly man, with the priestess Anna and offering the “poor man’s” sacrifice of two turtle doves. Anna is pointing toward the infant Jesus. Mary is standing with Simeon, who is holding Jesus. Jesus is shown as a child, but is wearing a small dress, not swaddling clothes, and his legs are bare. He appears to be giving a blessing.
40 days after his birth, Mary and Joseph, according to Jewish law and custom, took their first-born son Jesus to the Temple in order to offer sacrifice for the purification of the mother (Mary). The Theotokos did not have need for purification, since without defilement she had given birth to the Source of purity and sanctity. Nevertheless, Mary and Joseph submitted to the precepts of the Law and, not being wealthy, took two turtle doves to be offered.
Arriving at the Temple, they were met by the righteous elder Simeon. A noted scholar and holy man, Simeon had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, and by inspiration from above, went to the Temple at the very moment that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus arrived. Simeon took the God-infant in his arms, and having given thanks to God, uttered: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Lord, with peace according to Thy word, wherefore hath mine eyes beheld Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to the enlightening of gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
Also in the temple was the 84 year old widow Anna the Prophetess, “who did not leave the temple, serving God both day and night in fasting and prayer. And she also at that time, having drawn near, glorified the Lord and spake about Him to all awaiting deliverance at Jerusalem” (Luke 2:37-38).
About 450 A.D., people began the custom of holding lighted candles during the Divine Liturgy of this feast day, and some churches in the West refer to this holy day as Candlemas.
The Ascension of our Lord
"Today the human race is completely reconciled with God. The ancient battle and enmity have disappeared. We, who were unworthy to live even on earth - are now lifted up to heaven. Today we become heirs to the kingdom of heaven, we, who do not even deserve earth, we ascend to heaven and inherit the throne of the King and Lord. Human nature, against which the cherubim guarded paradise, is now raised up above all the cherubim."
St. John Chrysostom
Pentecost 
"We have seen the true light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith, we worship the undivided Trinity, for it has saved us."
|
Who We Are