συνοδικός
December 14 / December 1
2018 (7527)
PROPHET NAHUM (7TH C. B.C.). RIGHTEOUS PHILARET THE MERCIFUL OF AMNIA IN ASIA MINOR (792). MARTYR ANANIAS OF PERSIA
Nativity (St Philip's) Fast
• Sainted ANANIAS 阿纳尼雅 and SOLOCHONUS 索洛霍诺 Archbishops of Ephesus
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀνανίας καὶ Σολόχων Ἀρχιεπίσκοποι Ἐφέσου
• DEMETRIOS, TRISKHALEOS und KALLINICA
• Martyrs DIODORUS, MARIANUS and companions (283) in Rome under Numerian. A whole Christian church was martyred while gathered for prayer in the catacombs, the entrance of which had been blocked up
• Tr.Rel. of MM CHRYSANTHUS (Chrysanthos) and DARIA (Dareia, Dari or Darice), Martyred at Rome (3rd c.)
• Martyrdom of COSMAS (Kozman) and DAMIAN; their brothers, ANTHIMUS, LONDIUS (Leontius) and ABRABIUS (Eutropius or Euprepius); and their Mother, THEODATA (Theodora); at Aegae (now Ayass) in Cilicia (Arabia) (4th c.)
• VMM CANDIDA and MARINA and companions at Rome
• Virgin MAXIMA and CS ANSANUS at Siena (303)
• MARTIN and DECLAN (8th c.) contributed to the evangelization of the Germanic peoples by extending the Irish activity begun by Saint Boniface of Crediton • Martyrs LUCIUS, ROGATUS, CASSIAN and CANDIDA in Rome
• Martyress ANISIJA Maslanova, Churchwarden of Nativity of St John the Baptist Church in Nizhnij Novgorod (1878-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted together with Prist Constantine Tikhonov in Nizhnij Novgorod after prison, graved on Bugrovka cemetery in common grave
• Rep. of Blessed Virgin VAREN’KA (Barbara Pavlovna Shulayeva of Pilna) of Sergach (1980)
• Martyr ANANIAS 阿纳尼雅 of Persia (345)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀνανίας ὁ Μάρτυρας
While Saint Ananias was being tortured for his belief in Christ, he said, "I see a ladder leading to heaven, and radiant men calling me to a marvelous city of light."
• Martyr ANSANUS the Baptiser, The Apostle of Siena (304) born in Rome he became Orthodox when he was twelve years old, but his own father denounced him to the authorities. The boy contrived to escape and converted so many pagans, first in Bagnorea and then in Siena, that he was called "the Baptiser". Finally he was arrested and beheaded
• Venerable ANTHONY 安托尼 the New 新, monk of Kios in Bithynia (864) Ὁ Ὅσιος Ἀντώνιος ὁ Νέος
• AUSTREMOINE 奥斯特瑞默伊奈 the 1st Bishop of Clermont and Apostle of the Auvergne (3rd c.)
• Sainted BESSUS Bishop of Ivrea (8th c.)
• Day of bishop consecration of Hieromartyr BONIFACE (Winfried, Wynfreth) Enlightener of Germany, Archbishop of Mainz (754)
• Translation of the relics of Abbot and Confessor BOTOLPH 博托尔弗 (Botwulf of Thorney) of Boston and Ikanhoe in England (680)
• Bishop Mac Cainne of Ath-da-laarg, County Meath
• CANDRES (5th c.) a Bishop who enlightened the Maastricht area
• CASTRITIAN (137) the predecessor of St Calimerius as Bishop of Milan. He was bishop for 42 years
• CONSTANTIAN (570) born in Auvergne in France, he became a monk at Micy (Orleans) and founded a monastery at Javron
• Sainted DOMNOLUS Abbot in Paris, Bishop of Le Mans (581)
• Sainted Bishop ELIGIUS (Eloi, Eloy) 埃利吉 of Noyon (588-660) born in Limoges in France, he was a skilled metalsmith and examples of his art survived until the French Revolution. He became master of the mint in Paris under King Clotaire II but in 640 became a priest and soon after Bishop of Noyon. He enlightened the areas round Antwerp, Ghent and Courtra in Belgium, and founded the monastery of Solignac and many other monasteries and convents
• Hieromartyr EVASIUS (362) The 1st Bishop of Asti in Piedmont in Italy, from where he was driven out by the Arians and martyred under Julian the Apostate at Casale Monferrato
• IOANNICUS of Devich, Serbia
• Sainted CASTRITIAN, predecessor of St Calimerius as Bishop of Milan (138) was bishop for 42 years
• Sainted LEONTIUS (433) Bishop of Fréjus in France from c 419 to c 432. He was a great friend of St John Cassian who dedicated his first 10 Conferences to him
• LLECHUD (Llechid) Pat. of Llanechid (Carnarvonshire) (6th c.)
• Holy Prophet NAHUM 纳翁 of the 12 Minor Prophets (698 B.C.)
Ὁ Προφήτης Ναούμ
The Prophet Nahum was born in Elcos, Galilee. He predicted the ruin of Ninive, in the second half of the 7th century B.C.
The Prophet Nahum and Saint Nahum of Ochrid (December 23) are invoked for people with mental disorders.
• Venerable NAHUM of Holy Trinity (1396) Radonezh
• NATALIA (Natalie, Natale, Natalee, Nathalee, Natica, Natika, Natasha or Anatolia) of Nicomedia, W. (4th c.)
Christian woman married to a non-Christian Nicomedian imperial officer named Adrian. Her husband was so impressed by Christians persecuted by Diocletian that he openly declared he was a Christian, though he hadn't even been baptized; he was immediately arrested. Natalia visited him, arranged for his instruction in the faith, and ministered to other prisoners. When Adrian was sentenced to death and could have no visitors, Natalia disguised herself as a boy and bribed her way in to see him. On 8 September 304 she watched Adrian's tortured execution, and had to be restrained from throwing herself on the funeral pyre. When a storm put out the fire, she managed to recover Adrian's hand, which she kept as a relic. She then moved to Argyropolis where she lived out the rest of her days alone.
Representation: woman holding her husband's severed hand.
• OLYMPIADES (303) a noble from Rome martyred in Amelia in Italy under Diocletian
• ONESIMUS 奥尼息默 archbishop of Ephesus
Ὁ Ὅσιος Ὀνήσιμος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἐφέσου
• ONOFLEDIS a Nun at Vernon, Diocese of Evreux (7th c.)
• Righteous 义人 PHILARET 斐拉瑞特 the Almsgiver (the Merciful) 仁慈者 from Paphlagonia (792) of Amnia in Asia Minor
Ὁ Ἅγιος Φιλάρετος ὁ Ἐλεήμων
When the Saint drew near to death, he gathered his family and urged them to distribute all the remainder of his wealth to the needy. "My children, do not forget hospitality; visit those who are sick or in prison, watch over widows and orphans; see to the burial of those who die in poverty; do not covet the goods of others; speak no ill of anyone, and do not be glad of misfortunes that befall your enemies; always do as you have seen me do in my life, so that God will keep you under His protection." Then, his face shining with joy, he gave up his soul to God.
Παιδιά μου, μὴ ξεχνᾶτε ποτὲ τὴν φιλοξενία, μὴν ἐπιθυμεῖτε τὰ ξένα πράγματα, μὴν λείπετε ποτὲ ἀπὸ τὶς ἀκολουθίες καὶ λειτουργίες τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, καὶ γενικὰ ὅπως ἔζησα ἐγὼ ἔτσι νὰ ζεῖτε καὶ ἐσεῖς.
• Sainted PORPHYRIOS Patriarch of Antioch (404-413)
• Hieromartyr Sainted PROCULUS Bishop of Narni or Terni in Italy (542) martyred by Totila, King of the Goths
• Righteous SATORNINUS
• Hieromartyr SIMON of Cyrene (100) crucified
First century convert. Father of Saint Rufus. Helped Christ carry the cross on the way to Calvary. Missionary to France. First bishop of Avignon, France.
• Sainted THEOCLITES 德奥克利提 bishop of Sparta (870)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεόκλητος ὁ Θαυματουργός Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Λακεδαιμόνιας
• Sainted TUDWAL (Tugdual, Tual, Tugdualus, Tudgualus) 图德瓦尔 of Brittany, Bishop of Tréguier (564) // NOV 30 //
• URSICINUS (347) Bishop of Brescia in Italy, he took part in the Council of Sardica. His shrine still exists in Brescia
THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH
December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and is the seventh and last of seven months to have a length of 31 days. It got its name from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the Roman calendar, which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name. December contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases).
In the Orthodox Church, the month of December is primarily centered around Christmas, which is the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord on December 25th. This is reflected not only in the calendar of the Church, but also in its hymnography. Beginning with the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple on November 21st, the nine Irmoi of the Christmas Matins Canon (Christ is born! Glorify Him!) begins to be chanted in the churches. Furthermore, the Nativity forty day fast began on November 15th, which is preparing us to receive the eternal God-man born in a manger. Though this fast begins rather lenient compared with Great Lent, seven days prior to Christmas, beginning on December 18th, it becomes stricter when fish, oil and wine are no longer permitted until Christmas day.
We begin the month of December by celebrating the memory of certain Old Testament Prophets who foretold the coming in the flesh of Christ the Savior. Thus we commemorate the Prophet Nahum on December 1, the Prophet Habakkuk on December 2, and the Prophet Zephaniah on December 3. Besides these three to start the month, we also have two prophets in the middle of the month as we get closer to the Nativity, with the Prophet Haggai on December 16 and the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children on December 17. By commemorating these Prophets before the Nativity of Christ, we are being reminded that the event we will celebrate on December 25th was foretold hundreds of years before the event. In fact, the Prophet Daniel even foretold the year in which Christ was to be crucified with his Prophecy of Seventy Weeks around five hundred years before it happened.
Besides commemorating certain Prophets on specific days prior to the Nativity of Christ, the Church also sets aside the two Sundays before the Nativity of Christ to commemorate all the Saints prior to His birth. Thus, on the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law. Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "By your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. Then, on the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of December, 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 has recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38) as well as the Evangelist Matthew (Matthew 1:1-17); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.
December 20th begins the Forefeast of the Nativity. The liturgical structure is similar to the Holy Week preceding Pascha, where more emphasis is placed on prophetic readings and reflective hymns. The Orthodox Church sees the birth of the Son of God as the beginning of the saving ministry which will lead Him, for the sake of man’s salvation, to the ultimate sacrifice of the Cross and the defeat of the sting of death by His glorious Resurrection.
On the eve of the Nativity, December 24th, the Royal Hours are read and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is served with Vespers. At these services the Old Testament prophecies of Christ's birth are chanted. The Vigil of Christmas begins with Great Compline because Vespers has already been served. At Compline there is the singing of the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast with special hymns glorifying the Saviour's birth. The order of Matins is that of a great feast. Here, for the first time, the full Canon "Christ is born," is sung while the faithful venerate the Nativity icon. Concluding the celebration of the Nativity of Christ is the Liturgy. It begins with psalms of glorification and praise instead of the three normal Antiphons. The troparion and kontakion mark the entrance with the Book of the Gospels. The baptismal line from Galatians 3:27 once again replaces the Thrice-Holy. The Epistle reading is from Galatians 4:4-7, the Gospel reading is the familiar Christmas story from Matthew (2:1-12), and then the Divine Liturgy continues in the normal fashion.
After the Nativity of Christ on December 25th, there begins what is commonly known as the Twelve Days of Christmas which lead us to the Feast of the Theophany on January 6th. Thus, on the first day, December 26th, we celebrate the Synaxis of the Theotokos, since without her the Nativity of Christ would not be possible, together with the Flight into Egypt. On the second day, December 27th, we celebrate Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, who is the first-fruits of the martyrs of Christ after the Resurrection. The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomendia are commemorated on the third day because they were martyred on the feast of the Nativity, and on the same day we commemorate Saint Simon the Myrrhgusher who founded Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos, which he dedicated to the Nativity of Christ after it was indicated to him in a divine vision. On the fourth day we commemorate the 14,000 Infants Slain by Herod, who are the first-fruits of the martyrs of Christ before the Resurrection. Finally, the Leavetaking (Apodosis) of Christmas is celebrated on December 31st, the day before the secular New Year as well the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ. Furthermore, on the Sunday After the Nativity of Christ, we have a special commemoration of three men closely associated with the Nativity of Christ - Joseph the Betrothed, James the Brother of God and David the King and Prophet. James was the son of Joseph from a previous marriage and helped in the Nativity of Christ as well as the Flight into Egypt, while David is one of the forefathers of Christ in the flesh.
Besides all these days in the month of December devoted to preparing and celebrating the birth of Christ, we also have a special feast day on December 9th celebrating the wondrous Conception of Saint Anna, the mother of the Most Holy Theotokos. The reason this feast falls in the middle of the preparations for the feast of the Nativity of Christ is because on September 8th we celebrate the Nativity of the Theotokos, who was conceived nine months prior, on December 9th. Therefore on December 9th we have an additional opportunity to celebrate the Mother of God, as well as her parents Joachim and Anna, without whom the Nativity of Christ and the salvation of the human race would not be possible.
In addition to this, the month of December also gives us an opportunity to celebrate many great and beloved saints of the Church, among whom are the following: Barbara on December 4, John of Damascus on December 4, Savvas the Sanctified on December 5, Nicholas of Myra on December 6, Ambrose of Milan on December 7, Patapios on December 8, Daniel the Stylite on December 11, Spyridon the Wonderworker on December 12, Eleutherios on December 15, Dionysios of Zakynthos on December 17, Sebastian on December 18, Ignatius of Antioch on December 20, Juliana on December 21, Anastasia the Pharmakolytria on December 22, and Eugenia on December 24. These imitators of Christ serve as models for us of what it is like to live a life focused on Christ, and the glory that awaits those who do so.
Thus, the month of December is among the richest months of the Orthodox Christian year, with practically non-stop feasting and fasting. In the cold darkness of the winter months the light of Christ, who is the Sun of Righteousness, shines ever so bright, bringing joy and gladness to all the faithful. May we also journey with the Magi, who were guided by a star, to worship the new-born King of kings, and offer him the gifts of our lives.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
愿上帝怜恤我罪人
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
for the sake of the prayers
of Thy most pure Mother,
our holy and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us.
Amen.
•
•
•
Blessed be God.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий