Nativity of the Savior – Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

We worship Thy Nativity, O Christ, Show us also Thy divine Theophany Nativity of Jesus Christ, Eve of Nativity. Text/Audio.

Today, brothers and sisters, on this pre feast of Nativity, we hear so much about the humility and the lowliness of Christ. Many things that are not befitting of a king are happening. Now, we just read from St. Luke’s account about the Nativity that Mary kept all these things conjecturing them in her heart. We should follow that example. That is what the services really do. All of our services are this conjecturing in our heart, this thinking about holy things and rephrasing the dogmas of our faith in ways that touch us. If you listen to the services carefully, you will see things or hear things every day that are striking to you, that are amazing to you, that cut you to the core. And you should conjecture on them in your heart.

Now, today in the ninth hour there is this solemn troparion that is sung. It’s sung three times in the middle of the church. It is very beautiful, very profound, and you do prostrations afterwards. And its meaning is something that you should conjecture in your heart because it ends in this very solemn and profound way: “We worship Thy Nativity, O, Christ. We worship Thy Nativity, O Christ. Show us also Thy divine Theophany.” ….

Sunday after Nativity. Joseph the Betrothed.

A homily primarily about the life and times of St Joseph the Betrothed.

We worship Thy Nativity, O Christ! Show us also Thy divine Theophany. Audio.

Synopsis: At the Vesperal Divine Liturgy on the Eve of Nativity, a homily about on of the hymns of the Royal Hours. It expresses the connection between Nativity and Theophany, and especially how we must feel and what we must desire as we contemplate the incarnation.

“Today He Who in essence is God intangible and holdeth all creation in His hand is born of the Virgin and creation in His hand is born of the virgin and wrapped in swaddling bands. He lieth in a manger Who established in a manger Who established the heavens by His word in the beginning. He is fed at the breast with milk Who rained down manna upon the people in the wilderness. The Bridegroom of the church summoneth the magi; the Son of the virgin receiveth their gifts.
We worship Thy Nativity, O Christ!
We worship Thy Nativity, O Christ!
Show us also Thy divine Theophany. “

How to react to evil. Sunday after Nativity. 2011

On the Sunday after Nativity, we commemorate King David, Joseph the Betrothed, and James, the Brother of the Lord. The Gospel reading is about the Flight into Egypt. It teaches us how to react to evil. This is the opposite of the way the world reacts. We must learn this way if we are to understand anything about God – this is the way of meekness, the patience of faith and humility.

The Wonder of the Incarnation St Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzen)

Read this homily of St Gregory the Theologian (Nazianzen) carefully! It is a materpiece of Christological theology and rhetoric, and while accurately declaring important dogmas, it also captures the wonder of the incarnation. We MUST feel this wonder if we are true Christians.

Nativity of the Savior. The Meaning of Christmas: Abba Father. Audio.

LISTEN NOW Synopsis: During the Advent season, the "Meaning of Christmas" is often referenced, and most of the time, it is far from the truth, and even hackneyed and shallow. This homily does an almost line by line exegesis of the Epistle Read on Nativity and one of the Epistles read the day before, explaining… Continue reading Nativity of the Savior. The Meaning of Christmas: Abba Father. Audio.

Why A Chinese Buddhist Became an Orthodox Athonite Monk Christ is born! And we are not alone. Nativity 2011

This story, about a Chines Orthodox Athonite Monk is entirely appropriate for the Nativity season. Because God became man, we are not alone. This is worth reading.

Sunday Of The Holy Fathers, Saint John Of Kronstadt, and The Purpose Of The Incarnation, Ye shall be children of the Highest.

On this Sunday before Nativity, St John of Kronstadt is also commemorated, and the Gospel for him and his life perfectly describes the purpose of the Incarnation. This Gospel contains our Lord’s admonishments to love, using concrete examples, and concludes with the promise “And ye shall be children of the highest”. This is the purpose of the incarnation, and examining this Gospel along with St John’s life, which struggled to fulfill it illuminates this purpose for us, therefore, on this Sunday when we read the “Begats”, it is appropriate to delve into what is means to be children of the highest, and how and why we can attain this high calling. We also suggest another way to describe the “Golden Rule” and what should be our inner motivation for loving our fellow man, and doing anything that is good in this life.

Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. The Great Supper; An Invitation to Become, Not to Eat.

Today we hear a parable about the great supper, and I submit to you that this supper is not the one that we eat. It is one that we become. If you understand the supper in this way, then you will understand why it is that people didn’t want to come to the supper. Very few people are willing to turn down a free meal, right? This was not a free meal. This was the way of life that makes us free. The certain man, of course, is God. And that great supper is our becoming like Him so that we will know Him…

The Nativity Fast. Typikon, Why Fast, Pastoral advice. Talk and Outline.

A short talk on the Nativity Fast, on the day the fast began. The Nativity Fast and Great Lent Compared, Nativity Fasting Typikon, Fasting until the Ninth Hour, Why Fast? How does the fast apply to you? (Office parties,Family,The Belly,Prayer,Almsgiving,If you do not fast well). The outline was used in the talk.