Christmas for a Christian is much more than a decorated tree and gifts. This day is considered the second most important day after Easter, which is called the “Feast of Holidays.” The Nativity of Christ is both a global event that does not lose importance despite the passing centuries, and a very personal holiday for every Orthodox person. After all, Christ was born for everyone and for everyone.
Those who are well acquainted with Christianity understand that the incarnation of God on earth is a unique event that brought man closer to the creator. This holiday is filled with amazing joy and peace, but at the same time with some sadness, because this baby was born for a difficult mission.
Therefore, the main thing in celebrating Christmas is not the table laden with food, although this is an important part of any holiday, but the Christmas service.
Many who come to this night service for the first time are concerned with questions about how long the Christmas Divine Liturgy lasts and what is read and sung at this service. This article is intended to answer such questions.
What does the Christmas service consist of?
The service begins late in the evening on Christmas Eve, that is, January 6. At 11 pm the festive service begins, which lasts until 3-4 am. The All-Night Vigil, the hours and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great make up the Christmas service. The liturgy is usually celebrated in the morning, but holiday liturgies occur at night, immediately after the All-Night Vigil and the Hours. The same thing happens at Easter.
The All-Night Vigil includes Matins and Compline. It should not be surprising that the names of services do not correspond to the time of day. There is a daily cycle of services in the church, but on great holidays the morning and evening service unite in the All-Night Vigil. Matins is performed according to the rite of the great holidays. The canon “Christ is born…” is sung on it.
The liturgy itself does not last that long and completes the entire cycle of festive services. Most likely, people who ask the question of how long the Christmas liturgy lasts in church mean the Christmas service as a whole. After all, those who pray come for the whole night, and not at the end.
The text of the Christmas liturgy is in many ways similar to the texts of the liturgies in common days. The Nativity is distinguished by the festive antiphons sung on it: “The Lord will send a rod of power from Zion, and rule in the midst of Your enemies. The beginning is with You in the day of Your power in the brightness of Your saints.”
Communion at Christmas
Celebrated during the Christmas liturgy and communion. For many Christians, not only attending festive services, but also receiving Communion at them is a very joyful event.
Confession at this service does not take place in all churches, because it is long and intense, many people come to the church, and in some places only one or two priests serve.
Most often, confession before the Christmas liturgy is held in advance, 1-2 days in advance. In some churches there is even the opportunity to receive communion twice after one confession. For example, they confess on the evening of January 3, and communion occurs at the liturgies on the morning of 4 and at night on 7. It is important to read both times the Follow-up to Holy Communion.
Getting ready correctly
How to prepare for the Christmas liturgy? Christmas Eve is spent in strict fasting; it is not at all necessary to fast until the first star. This tradition has been going on since the time when Vespers began after lunch, and after it followed the Liturgy of Basil the Great, which ended already at dark time. After it, one could eat food, and this is what meant “before the first star.”
So it is much more important to visit the temple on January 6, if possible, and not to go hungry. The opposite tradition - to prepare 12 Lenten dishes on this day - is also not established by the church, and it is better to spend this day calmly, prayerfully and with concentration, and not in fuss. But you can prepare sochivo - a dish made from wheat grains and honey. The best preparation for the Christmas liturgy in church will be reading spiritual literature and studying the upcoming service. This will give you strength to long service, because everything that is sung and read will become understandable.
But it is not at all necessary to light candles and venerate icons when the church is crowded.
Symbolism of the holiday
All Christmas traditions, which were later carried over to the New Year celebration, have deep meaning. For example, a Christmas tree is a symbol eternal life thanks to its evergreen needles. On top of it is an eight-pointed star, usually silver or gold, which is reminiscent of Bethlehem. It was in Soviet times that it was replaced by a five-pointed and red one. On Christmas Eve, it is customary to place a burning candle on the windowsill - a sign that we are waiting for Christ, illuminating the way in the winter darkness.
Gifts of the Magi
At the Christmas liturgy, an excerpt from the Gospel about the worship of the Magi is read. By the way, the custom of giving gifts at Christmas is associated with this episode. Holy Scripture. Just as the Magi presented their gifts to the Christ Child, so we give gifts to each other. These gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh (myrrh) - are symbolic. Gold was presented to the Baby as a King, incense - as God, myrrh - as a Man who would suffer and die, because this substance was used in the embalming of buried bodies.
Symbolism of preparation for Christmas
To dive even deeper into the meaning of the holiday, let's go back a little. The pre-festivity of Christmas, that is, special church services, preceding the holiday, lasts from January 2 to January 6. For other holidays, the forefeast lasts only 1 day. And what’s interesting is that church services during the preparation for Christmas have a parallel with the texts of the services of Holy Week. This reminds us that the Incarnation of the Savior is the first step towards His redemptive mission.
Moreover, birth itself in the form of a defenseless child is a huge step of God towards people, a temporary renunciation of his limitless power, as it is called in Theology - kenosis (from the Greek: Condescension).
The Baby was born not in the royal chambers, but in a manger; there was no place for Mary and Joseph even in the hotel. The world did not greet him well. The persecution of the future Messiah began from birth. King Herod, who learned from the wise men about who was born in Bethlehem, carried out the massacre of the infants because he was afraid that the new King would take away his power. Mary and Joseph and the baby managed to escape to Egypt.
Peace in the soul
No one knew that Jesus was not born for earthly power. “My kingdom is not of this world,” said the Savior. The Kingdom of Heaven will not come to earth until the end of time. But we can open our hearts to Christ, and then He will reign in our hearts, and peace will come in them. After all, according to Christ, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
You can strive for this at any time of the year and at any period of life, and Orthodox holidays they will remind you of the most important thing - about God, about love, about our own soul. If the Nativity of Christ left just such a mark on a person, it means that it was not in vain for him and he met it correctly, regardless of whether he followed any traditions.
Christmas is preceded by fasting, which lasts forty days and is therefore called in the Church Charter the “little Pentecost”, just like Lent. The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has five days of pre-celebration (only this Lord's feast has such a large pre-celebration) and 6 days of post-celebration.
Compline is served during the five days before the feast. At Compline, a special three song and canons are sung, similar to the three song and canons of Holy Week. “These hymns reflect the basic theological idea that the incarnation of the Son of God was for Him the Cross, the first Cross, perhaps no less easy than the last Cross, i.e. crucifixion." On some days of the Nativity Fast, which are marked with the word “Alleluia,” a divine service similar to the divine service of Great Lent is performed and the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian “Lord and Master...” with bows to the ground. With the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple, the singing of the Christmas catavasia begins (this is a cycle of irmos, which are sung at the end of each song of the canon on festive service): “Christ is born, glorify...”. The Nativity of Christ is preceded by the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers; on these days those Old Testament righteous people are remembered who were saved by faith in Christ who had to be born. Following this is the Sunday of the Holy Fathers. On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers or the Week before the Nativity of Christ, in which people who belonged to the family from which the Savior came are remembered, an addition is made to Sunday service from Oktoechos, special service from the Menaion, and the special Apostle and Gospel are read. Christmas Eve is called the Eve of the Nativity of Christ or Christmas Eve from the word “sochivo” - wheat with honey. This is a day of strict fasting. The service of the Nativity of Christ consists of a number of services performed on the eve, on the night of Christmas and in the evening on the very day of the Nativity of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ. These services include: the Royal Hours, the Liturgies of Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, Vespers, Compline, Litia, Matins. The order of services is determined by the day of the week on which Christmas Day falls.
If Christmas Eve of the Nativity of Christ falls on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, then on this day the following are celebrated: Royal Hours with Fine Hours. After them, it is immediately performed Great Vespers with the reading of proverbs, the Apostle and the Gospel, after which the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated. After entering with the Gospel and “Quiet Light” is read 8 proverbs:
1. Gen. 1:12-14 - the content of this proverb indicates that the incarnation of the Son of God was a new creation 2. Numbers 24: 2-18 - prophecy of Balaam about the star from Jacob 3. Micah 4: 6-8, 5:2-8 – prophecy of Micah about the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem 4. Isaiah 11:1-10 – prophecy of Isaiah about the rod from the root of Jesse, on which the Spirit of God rested 5. Jer.3:36-38, 4:1- 4 – Baruch’s prophecy about the appearance of God on earth among people 6. Dan.2:31-45 – Daniel’s prophecy about the uncut stone 7. Isaiah 9:6-7 – Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of the royal Youth 8. Isaiah 7:11- 15; 8:1-4, 8-10 – Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Immanuel from the Virgin.
After the first three paremias, a special troparion is proclaimed, the end of which is “Have mercy on us with them” (sung by the reader), after the 6th paremia another troparion, the end of which is “Giver of Life, glory to Thee”, after the 8th paremia a small litany is pronounced, then the Trisagion follows and the usual order Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. (Apostle Heb. 1:1-12; Gospel of Luke 2:1-20) After the liturgy, a festive glorification takes place: a candle is brought to the middle of the temple and the troparion and kontakion for the holiday are sung before it. The lit candle signifies the star that appeared in Bethlehem, i.e. in a sense, Christmas is already coming (since Vespers is associated with two days, and at Vespers the stichera of the holiday are already sung, then in a sense, Christmas Day stretches out, becoming a longer church day than all the others). It is served on the occasion of the holiday itself all-night vigil. But it is not ordinary, because... it does not consist of Great Vespers and Matins, but of Great Compline (since Vespers has already taken place) and Matins with the first hour. Compline ends with the reading of the Great Doxology, then the lithium. At Great Compline, instead of the troparions “Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,” the kontakion of the holiday is sung. According to polyeleos - magnification. According to the 50th Psalm instead of “Prayers of the Saints our father…” is sung “Every day joy is filled, Christ is born of the Virgin”, the stichera “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, this day Bethlehem will receive Him who sits ever with the Father...”. Instead of “The Most Honest Cherub...” - the refrain “Glorify, my soul, the Most Honest and Most Glorious of the hosts of the mountains, the Most Pure Virgin Mary.” At the end of Matins, the dismissal of the holiday “He who was born in a den and lay down in a manger...”. On the very day of the Nativity of Christ, which falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is celebrated. (Apostle Gal. 4:4-7; Gospel Matthew 2:1-12). Special holiday antiphons are sung, “entrance”; instead of the Trisagion, “Be baptized in Christ…” is sung, instead of “It is worthy...” - Zadostoynik “Glorify, my soul, the Most Honest and Most Glorious of the hosts on high, the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God...”. If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, then the Royal Hours are not celebrated on this day, they are moved to Friday. However, the liturgy is not celebrated on Friday. The Liturgy is celebrated on Saturday or Sunday, on the day of Vespers, during which the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, after which the 9th hour and Great Vespers are celebrated with the reading of parimia. At Vespers the Trisagion is not sung, because there is no liturgy after it, the Apostle is read (Gal. 3:15-22), the Gospel (Luke 2: 1-20), a special litany, a petitionary litany, an ordinary dismissal, after which the troparion and kontakion are sung. The All-Night Vigil takes place on the evening of Christmas Eve and consists of Great Compline (the usual Vespers was already performed after the Liturgy), Matins with 1 hour. After the All-Night Vigil, on the night of January 6-7, the Liturgy of Basil the Great is celebrated. The day after the holiday, January 8, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated. Vespers is great with an entrance and a great prokeme: Who is a great God, like our God, You are God, work miracles, but Matins is only doxological. On the next Saturday, called Saturday after the Nativity of Christ, there is a special Apostle and Gospel. The next week (Sunday) is called the Week of the Holy Fathers. It commemorates the saints and righteous Joseph the Betrothed, King David, Jacob, the brother of the Lord. Twelve days after the Nativity of Christ are called Christmastide, i.e. holy days because these days are consecrated to the events of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany. Since ancient times, the Church has sanctified these days, according to the Charter, on the days of Christmastide: “there is no fasting, there is lower kneeling, lower in the church, lower in cells,” and it is forbidden to perform the sacrament of Marriage. Contents of proverbs, the Gospel and the Apostle, some holiday hymns.
When the All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, the solemn song of the prophet Isaiah is sung: “God is with us, understand, O Gentiles, and repent, for God is with us!” Frequent repetition in this song: God is with us! - testifies to the spiritual joy of believers who recognize the Lord God among themselves.
Book of the prophet Micah (4:6-8, 5:2-8): “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are you small among the thousands of Judah? from you will come to me one who is to be a ruler in Israel and whose origin is from the beginning, from the days of eternity. Therefore He will leave them until the time when she who is about to give birth gives birth; then their remaining brothers will return to the children of Israel. And He will stand and feed in the power of the Lord, in the greatness of the name of the Lord His God, and they will live in safety, for then He will be great to the ends of the earth.” This proverb, read in the first hour, is dedicated to Micah’s prophecy about the birth of Christ in the city of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, one of ancient cities- the birthplace of David. It is located 10 versts south of Jerusalem. It was originally called the house of Ephrathah, since one of the ancestors of the inhabitants of this city was Ephrathah, the great-grandson of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:1-4). The prophet predicted the birth of the Savior 700 years in advance, so that people would live in hope. This prophecy is read both at the first hour and at Vespers, where a few more lines are added about mercy to the “daughter of Zion,” that is, to the entire Israeli people.
Book of the prophet Isaiah (7:11-15; 8:1-4,8-10):
“...So the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel......before the child can say: my father, my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria will be brought before the king of Assyria . And it will go through Judea, flood it and rise high - it will reach the neck; and the spread of her wings will be throughout the entire breadth of Your land, Emmanuel! Enmity, peoples, but tremble and listen, all distant lands! Arm yourself, but tremble; arm yourself, but tremble! Make plans, but they fail; speak the word, but it will not come to pass: for God is with us!” This proverb, read at the sixth hour, includes Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Immanuel from the Virgin, which translated means “God is with us!”: God will be with His people, God will be a descendant of David, God will be the Son of the Virgin, His appearance into the world will be marked miraculously. Given name The Savior is Jesus. Emmanuel is a common noun and has many other meanings (for example, “Angel of the Great Council” or “Father of the Future Age”, etc.). "God is with us!". These words and those that follow them sound like a hymn, which is especially close to those who hope for God’s help. This must be remembered both by those who rebel against the faithful of God, and by those who seek this fidelity, which is not in words, but in the power of faith.
Contents of the Gospel (Morning - Matt. 1:18-25). “The birth of Jesus Christ was like this: after the betrothal of His Mother Mary to Joseph, before they were united, it turned out that She was pregnant with the Holy Spirit. Joseph, Her husband, being righteous and not wanting to make Her public, wanted to secretly let Her go. But when he thought this, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph, son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife, for what is born in her is from the Holy Spirit; She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. And all this happened, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying: Behold, a virgin is with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel, which means: God is with us. Rising from sleep, Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him, and received his wife, and did not know her. [How] at last She gave birth to Her firstborn Son, and he called His name Jesus.” Contents of the Apostle (Lit. - Gal. 4:4-7)
“...but when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His [Only Begotten] Son, who was born of a woman, made subject to the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. And since you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Jesus Christ.”
The words of the Apostle Paul addressed to the Christians of Galatia indicate the door to salvation for every person through adoption to God, through His Son in communion with the Holy Spirit.
Contents of the Gospel (Lit. - Matt. 2:1-12).“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” for we saw His star in the east and came to worship Him. Hearing this, King Herod became alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And, having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them: where should Christ be born? And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judah, for thus it is written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means the least of the provinces of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod, secretly calling the wise men, found out from them the time of the appearance of the star and, sending them to Bethlehem, said: go, carefully investigate about the Child and, when you find it, notify me, so that I too can go and worship Him. After listening to the king, they left. [And] behold, the star that they saw in the east was walking before them, when it finally came and stood over the place where the Child was. Seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy, and, entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His Mother, and, falling down, they worshiped Him; and having opened their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another route.”
In those days, the eastern sages, whom the Gospel calls the Magi, saw a new star shining in the sky. According to their teachings and traditions, this meant the coming into the world of a great man. The Magi knew that the Jewish people were awaiting the appearance of the Messiah, their true King and Savior, and therefore they headed to Jerusalem to ask where they should look for Him. The words of the Evangelist Matthew are read on the feast of the Nativity of Christ as a certificate of the birth of the true Messiah - the Savior. The Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child: gold, incense and myrrh. These gifts had a deep meaning: gold was brought as a tribute to the King, incense as a tribute to God, and myrrh as a person who was about to die (in those distant times, myrrh was anointed with the dead).
Great Compline for the Nativity of Christ. Stichera on lithium.
“Heaven and earth have come together today, and Christ has been born. Today God has come to earth, and man has ascended to Heaven. Today, what is visible is in the flesh, what is invisible by nature, for man’s sake. For this reason, we too will cry out to Him in glorification: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, for Thy coming is granted, O our Savior, glory to Thee.” Translation: Heaven and earth were united on this day at the birth of Christ. On this day God came to earth, and man ascended to heaven. Today we see the Invisible One by nature in the flesh for the sake of man. Therefore, we too, glorifying, will exclaim to Him: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace: Your coming has given it to us; Our Savior, glory to You!”
The main theme of this text is the Appearance of the Savior on earth in the flesh. Dogmatic idea: Christ became man while remaining God. He came into the world to save people and for this he became a man (the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth is revealed). The words “heaven and earth united” serve as an artistic image, showing the union of two seemingly distant concepts, the union of God and man, and these same words show the union of the Divine and the human in one Person. If the Lord had not come to earth, not a single person could have ascended to heaven. “On this day God came to earth, and man ascended to heaven.” Only with the coming of Christ did it become possible to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The next sentence explains what God did to make this opportunity possible: He became a man.
Irmos of the canon of the Nativity of Christ.
Song 1. “Christ is born, glorify: Christ from heaven, descend: Christ is on earth, ascend. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people, for you have been glorified.” Translation: “Christ is born, glorify!” Christ from heaven, welcome! Christ is on earth - ascend! Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people: for He is glorified.”
The main theme of the Irmos of the first song is the calling of everyone to share the great spiritual joy - the Celebration of the Nativity of Christ. Dogmatic idea: Those who have accepted Christ should ascend in mind from the earthly to the Heavenly, meet and accept Christ who descended from Heaven and give Him glory as the Savior of the human race. Recognize God’s love for you, be encouraged, fallen ones, and triumph, transporting your thoughts to heaven, which becomes accessible to you. Artistic image s - various acts of gratitude in relation to Christ: glory and singing to Him, joyful meeting Him, joining His saving path.
Song 3. “First of all ages to the Son born incorruptible from the Father, and in the last from the Virgin incarnate without seed, let us cry out to Christ God: Our horn is lifted up, holy art thou, O Lord.” Translation: “Before the ages, from the Father incorruptible to the begotten Son, and in the last (times) to the seedless incarnation of the Virgin, let us exclaim to Christ God: Thou who has exalted our dignity, holy art Thou, O Lord!”
The main theme of the irmos of the third song of the canon is the foundation of our faith: “in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, born of the Father before all time; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one being with the Father, by whom all things became.” Dogmatic idea: Timelessness of Christ, seedless incarnation of the Son of God. The artistic image is the consonance of the words of the irmos with the words of the Creed.
Christmas is celebrated from December 24 to 25, and from January 6 to 7 - so when to visit the temple? How and when is Orthodoxy celebrated? Catholic Christmas
When to celebrate Christmas - January 6 or 7? Orthodox and Catholic Christmas
They celebrate Christmas, both from December 24 to 25, and from January 6 to 7 - so when to visit the temple and how to do it, what traditions to observe? Many Orthodox people wondering when to celebrate Christmas. We will talk about this in our article.
Why is Christmas celebrated on different days?
In the main Christian Churches is divided church calendar: The Orthodox Church celebrates holidays and days of remembrance of saints according to the old style ( Julian calendar), Catholic - Gregorian (this is associated with astronomical phenomena).
Regarding the Nativity of Christ Gregorian calendar more convenient: after all, the week of holidays begins on December 24-25 with Christmas and continues with the New Year, but the Orthodox should celebrate New Year modestly, calmly, to observe the fast. However, and Orthodox man can have fun on New Year's Eve, trying not to eat meat or any particularly tasty things (if he is visiting). Likewise, children in Orthodox families should not be deprived of the New Year holiday and the joy of Santa Claus. Just many Orthodox families try to emphasize the significance of Christmas more expensive gifts, more active joint visits to events, etc.
Let us note that Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by a number of Orthodox Local Churches, but all Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on the same day (this holiday shifts depending on the phases of the moon). The point is that only in Orthodox Easter The descent of the Holy Fire takes place in Jerusalem.
History of the Nativity of Christ
On Christmas Day the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is celebrated. The Gospel tells that because of the population census, Joseph the Obrochnik and Holy Mother of God were forced to come to Bethlehem, the homeland of Joseph. Due to a simple everyday detail - hotels for the poor were overcrowded and there was no money for expensive rooms - they were forced to take refuge in a cave along with their livestock and pets. Here the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Son of God and laid him in a manger, in straw. They came here called by Angels simple shepherds to worship the Baby, and wise wise men led by the Star of Bethlehem.
It is historically testified that at the time of the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ there was a certain new star, a celestial phenomenon - possibly a comet. However, it lit up in the sky as a sign of coming to earthly life Messiah, Christ the Savior. The Star of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, showed the way to the Magi, who, thanks to it, came to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him.
On Christmas, they ask the Lord for the gift and upbringing of children, remember the simplicity of the Birth of the Infant God, and try to do good deeds during Christmastide - the week between the Nativity of Christ and Epiphany.
How to prepare for Christmas and New Year?
The day before Christmas, January 6, is Christmas Eve. On this day, until the “evening star”, that is, until twilight, according to the Charter of the Church, they did not eat at all; they could only drink water or tea. Nowadays it is difficult to perform such a strict fast. Try, especially if you did not fast during the Nativity Fast, to make a small sacrifice to the Lord - abstain in the morning on this day from meat and dairy products, from fish (even from at least one thing, including sweets). Interestingly, there was a historical joke when Count Suvorov did not eat anything during dinner with Catherine the Second before Christmas. When she asked why, the courtiers explained that it was impossible to reach the first star. The Empress called the servants and bestowed an order - “a star to Count Suvorov.”
In fact, in the Charter and the saying “it is impossible until the first star” does not mean the appearance of heavenly stars, but the singing in the church of the words of the troparion, a prayer in honor of the feast of the Nativity of Christ, where the word star is mentioned.
“Your Nativity, our God of Christ, shone to the world as the light of reason: in it those who served the stars (magi) learned with the star to worship You, the Sun of Truth, and to know You, Coming from the heights of the East. Lord, glory to You."
That is why on Christmas Eve it is advised to fast until the evening Christmas service, visit the temple, and then break the fast at the festive table.
This is not as difficult as it seems: after all, this is exactly how many spend December 31, forcedly fasting: the wife, busy in the kitchen, does not have time to eat, and the family, looking into the refrigerator, hears from the mother: “Don’t touch it, this is for the New Year!” But fasting on Christmas Eve on the eve of Christmas has a deep meaning, a spiritual purpose that is different from simply “creating a festive mood.” While waiting for Christmas, you should pay more attention to meaningful preparation for the holiday, and not to dinner. Prepare, for example, for Confession and Communion with prayer and remembrance of sins. Confess the day before, because on the night of January 6-7 and even in the morning of January 7, churches are crowded. It will be difficult to confess, but to receive communion is a double holiday, double grace.
If you do not plan to receive communion, read the Gospel aloud with the whole family or tell your children about the worship of the Magi, the singing of the Angels and the joy of the shepherds looking at the Infant Christ - the King of the World, humbly lying in the manger. The writer Ivan Shmelev wrote about the traditions of preparing for Christmas and festive pre-revolutionary customs in his amazing novel “The Summer of the Lord,” written from the perspective of a child. You can also read the Christmas chapters from it yourself on Christmas Eve.
Prayer in church at Christmas
Many people who don’t yet know much about the Church get used to being “goers” - coming in when it’s convenient, lighting candles and not praying during services. However, the Lord Himself speaks of church prayer for general worship: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.”
The original meaning of the word “Church” is a meeting of Christ’s disciples, Christians; translated as “meeting”. It is interesting that the first Christians often gathered not only in buildings; it is important that they were together even under open air and could perform the Sacraments and pray.
Therefore, try not only to come to church on Christmas, but also to pray, and even better, to prepare and receive communion during the Liturgy. The main service in the church, the main sacrament, is the Liturgy. The most strong prayer- this is any commemoration of a person during the Liturgy and, of course, communion itself. The whole Church prays for a person during the Sacrament of the Eucharist. By receiving communion, people receive great strength and grace from God.
The Church blesses us to receive communion at least once a year: preferably about once a month.
How the church service goes on Christmas - rites
Please note that not every Orthodox church holds night services from January 6 to 7. There may be options, and you can go to the temple that is more convenient for you to visit, according to the schedule for which you are ready. Be sure to check at the temple stand
It must be said that churches and cathedrals open at different times, services are held at different times depending on
- Region, location;
- Is it a church or a parish church at the monastery?
- Seasons - in small, rural churches.
Before Christmas there will definitely be a solemn vespers service - the All-Night Vigil. The name is only a tradition; the service does not last all night, but for about 2-3 hours in different churches.
The all-night vigil begins either at 17:00 or 18:00. Sometimes - in rare cases, in a village, in a remote monastery - at 16:00. In monasteries, services for both the Liturgy and the All-Night Vigil last longer.
The next day in the morning, at approximately 9 or 10:00, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated, during which you can partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Accordingly, you can go to both services, or just one.
However, there is another option. On the evening of January 6, the service of the saint will begin at 23:30. Then, during the night, an all-night vigil, hours and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated.
The all-night vigil begins with Compline, at which prophecies and psalms are read, and in the middle the choir sings the solemn holiday chant “God is with us.” It includes singing verses from the prophetic book of Isaiah about how the great God himself, the Father of the next age, is now present with people. This chant begins with the words “God is with us, understand the Gentiles (that is, nations) and repent (submit to the power of God), as (because) God is with us.”
Immediately after Great Compline, the festive Christmas Vespers is celebrated. It begins with a litia, a part of the service in which bread is consecrated, vegetable oil(oil), wheat and wine. Then the service of festive matins is performed, at which the choir performs many solemn chants. At Matins, a passage from the Gospel is read, telling about the event of the Nativity of Christ. Matins is joined by “hours” (short services consisting of the reading of three psalms and some prayers). Thus ends the festive All-Night Vigil. It will take about one and a half hours.
You will know that the All-Night Vigil has ended because afterward the priest will exclaim, “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This is how the festive Liturgy will begin. It will last about another hour and a half to two hours. If you get tired, you can leave the Liturgy.
May the Lord protect you with His grace, may the Infant Christ bless you!
The service of the Nativity of Christ: traditions, the sequence of the liturgy, as well as the history of the Christmas holiday. Read more on the Pravmir portal.
Traditions of Christmas: the service of the Nativity of Christ
Κοντάκιον. Ποίημα Ῥωμανοῦ τοῦ Μελῳδοῦ.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῷ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι. Δι´ ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.
(E parfenos semeron ton uperousion tiktei, kai e ge to spelaion tw aprositw prosagei. Angeloi meta Poimenon doxologousi. Magoi de meta asteros oidoporousi. Di emas gar egennete Paidion neon, O pros aiwnwn Teos.)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the super-existent, and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable; The angels sing praises together with the shepherds, while the wise men travel behind the star, because for our sake a young Child, the Eternal God, was born.”
Kontakion, creation of Roman the Sweet Singer
Christmas is a holiday that people all over the world enjoy. Why are they happy? Only because this day began new era“from the Nativity of Christ”, because the tree is decorated, because we receive gifts? But what does this event that happened 2000 years ago have to do with people living today? What are the traditions of celebrating Christmas?
Christ is the Savior, but do we really need to be saved from something, are we in any danger? And can we really meet God? How the liturgical tradition of the Church answers these questions, says Nikolai DERZHAVIN, who has been commentating on television broadcasts of holiday services for 20 years.
What is the meaning of Christmas
The great universal teacher calls the Nativity of Christ “the beginning of all holidays.” “Whoever calls this holiday the mother of all holidays will not sin... In this holiday, the Epiphany, the sacred, and the Epiphany have their beginning and foundation. If Christ had not been born according to the flesh, he would not have been baptized, and this is the feast of the Epiphany; and would not have suffered, and this is Easter; and would not have sent the Holy Spirit, and this is Pentecost. So, from the feast of the Nativity of Christ our holidays began, like various streams from a source.”
The birth of Christ - the Messiah - the Anointed One, Who will save the world, was predicted Old Testament prophets and has been expected for centuries. This happy event happened more than 2000 years ago: Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem of Judea. We Christians annually experience again and again this joy announced by the Angels to the shepherds: “I proclaim to you great joy, which will be to all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord,” says the Holy Gospel.
God becomes Man so that man becomes God by grace. But, at the same time, the Creator, accepting the image of His creation, is “humiliated.” What is happening is what is called “kenosis” in Greek, and “exhaustion” of the Son of God in Slavic. And yours highest point it reaches at the Cross. And yet, at Christmas we rejoice, for we know what rich fruit this exhaustion has brought. We rejoice, for the day of the beginning of our salvation, salvation from sin and death, has dawned. And salvation from death and meeting God, the source of life, is the greatest reason for thanksgiving and joy.
Christmas and the Magi
According to the teaching of the Church, the fact that “for our sake a young Child, the eternal God, was born” is a cause of joy for those who love God. Because God wanted to be born in the form of a man, He gave deliverance from corruption and death, “healed the wounds of Eve,” “forgave sins,” “gave immortality,” “fulfilled prophecies,” “attracted the fallen primordial Adam,” “replaced lies with faith” in the truth, “led everyone to the life-giving light,” as it is said in the Christmas service.
So, what does this event have to do with each of the living people? The Church speaks about this through the mouths of its poets in church hymnography. The main and most frequently sung chants on the holiday are. Troparions - short chants glorifying the holiday, belong to the very ancient species church hymns, from which ancient times Christian hymnography began to develop. The Troparion of the Nativity could have been created as early as the 4th century. In Russian, the text of this chant sounds like this: “ Your birth, Christ our God, shed light of knowledge on the world: for those who served the stars were taught by the star to bow to You, the Sun of Truth, and to know You, the East, from on high. Lord, glory to You".
The Kontakion “Virgin Today” was written by Saint Roman the Sweet Singer, and is considered one of the pinnacles of church poetry. In ancient times, kontakia were the name given to lengthy theological poems that were part of Christian worship. But, over time, they were replaced by another genre of church hymnography - the canon. Kontakia were preserved in worship in the form of the initial stanzas of previous poems (and also gave rise to – a hymn during which you are not supposed to sit, “non-seated singing”).
Let's get acquainted with the text of the kontakion : “Today the Virgin gives birth to the super-existent, and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable; The angels sing praises together with the shepherds, while the wise men travel behind the star, because for our sake a young Child, the Eternal God, was born.” The Invisible God became incarnate and became Man - this is what the feast of the Nativity of Christ, the feast of the Incarnation, proclaims.
If we turn our attention to the texts of the chants, we will notice one characteristic feature: frequent repetition of the words “today” and “now.” Today, now, “The Virgin of the Most Essential is giving birth.” The event took place more than 2000 years ago, but what happened then is directly related to us living today. Therefore, the Church, with its hymns and all its services, introduces us into a special reality. We become spiritual participants and witnesses of events taking place before our mind's eye.
Christ's Birthday
Christians have been celebrating the Nativity of Christ since ancient times. How did they do it before? Modern liturgists believe that the Nativity of Christ is one of the oldest Christian holidays, together with the Annunciation and Easter. It is celebrated exactly 9 months after the Annunciation, on December 25, old style. Initially, it was connected with the feast of the Epiphany, which appeared in the 3rd century, and this common holiday was otherwise called the Feast of Lights. Christmas became separated from the West. In the ancient Roman calendar, dating back to the year 354, under December 25 (or the 8th calendar of January) it is written: “ Birthday of Christ in Bethlehem».
The church charter calls Christmas the “second Easter” and gives it an exclusive place among the days of the liturgical year. This is a holiday twelfth, belonging to the category of the most important 12 Christian holidays. Usually there is one day of pre-celebration before these holidays, and five such days before Christmas. For the sake of the Nativity of Christ, fasting is canceled, even if the holiday falls on a weekly basis. fast days– Wednesday and Friday. After the holiday comes “”, which will last until Epiphany Christmas Eve (January 18). From the point of view of the liturgical regulations, the period of Christmastide is like one day, joyful and jubilant. On Christmastide, however, as at any other time, but on these holidays- especially, people are called to “sanctify”, to consecrate the holiday with good deeds.
Our history knows many examples of truly Christian celebration of the holy days of Christmas. In pre-Petrine Rus', pious sovereigns, on the very night of the Nativity of Christ, visited prisons and freed repentant criminals, distributed alms with their own hands, but did all this so that the royal mercy was not made public. The sovereign’s exits from the palace these days were called “secret.”
The holiday of the Nativity of Christ, perhaps like no other, brought to life many folk customs. Nativity, the glorification of the Infant God, the arrangement of nativity scenes - likenesses and images of the Bethlehem cave - all these are indispensable signs of the holiday, and it is wonderful that many of these customs are being revived today.
The reflection of the Star of Bethlehem illuminated our secular culture. And today it is especially appropriate to recall the lines of our wonderful writer, who in his book “The Summer of the Lord” through the eyes of a child showed Christmas morning in old Moscow: “Christmas... One can imagine in this word strong frosty air, icy purity and snowiness. The word itself seems bluish to me. Even in a church song - Christ is born - praise! Christ from heaven - drop it!– a frosty crunch is heard. The bluish dawn turns white. The snowy lace of trees is as light as air. The roar of the church floats, and in this frosty roar the sun rises like a ball. It is fiery, thick, more than usual: the sun at Christmas. Floats out behind the garden like fire. The garden is covered in deep snow, brightening and turning blue. Look, it ran along the tops, the frost turned pink, the tick marks turned pink, they woke up; sprinkled with pinkish dust, the birches turned golden, and fiery golden spots fell on White snow. Here it is, the morning of the Holiday - Christmas."
About the Slavic and Russian languages in worship
You and I will repeatedly turn to liturgical texts dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, both in Church Slavonic and in Russian versions. And in this regard, I would like to say a few words about ours. The whole world knows beauty Orthodox icon painting, this “theology in colors,” and our churches became national symbols harmony and perfection.
These masterpieces are joined by a huge poetic heritage - the hymnography of Ancient Rus'. The works of Byzantine religious poetry are distinguished by their special theological depth and expressiveness of language: canons, stichera, troparia and kontakia. Indeed, their perception is often difficult due to the language barrier. And in connection with these difficulties, some people have a question: “Why doesn’t the Church abandon the Church Slavonic language, why doesn’t it switch to Russian?” But the simplest path is not always the most correct. The Slavic texts were themselves translated from Greek by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles brothers Cyril and Methodius, but they were sanctified by the thousand-year-old tradition of Slavic books.
To solve the language problem, it is not necessary to sit down at a desk; it is enough to regularly visit church and participate in divine services. After all, many of the texts that we heard today are constantly present in our worship services. Gradually, these texts will become recognizable to us. Then you can refer to the translations to clarify unclear words and expressions. The texts of holiday services are also quite accessible today. They are published in separate editions, with parallel text in Russian. It would be useful and correct if our preparation for the holiday (and most people go to churches on holidays) included a preliminary acquaintance with liturgical texts and with their deep theological content. And you can start with those prayers that are read daily: with the morning and evening rules.
All-night vigil
How is the Patriarchal Christmas service performed?
Let's say a few words about the order and sequence of its celebration on the Christmas holiday using the example of the main Christmas service performed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill in Moscow. Patriarchal worship is slightly different in form from the usual parish service, but in essence it is the same service, so our story is also applicable to parish worship. We will talk about these differences in those places where they appear.
The divine service of the Orthodox Church consists of daily services: Matins, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Hours And Liturgies. Before the holidays, morning and evening services are combined into the so-called “”, that is, prayer that continues all night. In practice, such a prayer occurs only twice a year, on the greatest holidays - Christmas and Easter. The All-Night Vigil is a liturgical service that consists of Vespers and Matins. These church services got their name from the time they took place. But today the composition of the All-Night Vigil is changing: Vespers is replaced by Great Compline- a service that takes place after Vespers, hence its name.
According to the tradition that has developed over the past 20 years, before the start of the service, the Patriarch, located in the altar, addresses the television audience with Christmas greetings.
Now the curtain and the holy gates open, we see how the clergy, led by the Patriarch, emerges from the altar into the middle of the temple. The archdeacon comes out from the candles to the pulpit and proclaims “ Bless the lord" The Bishop blesses those gathered and shouts “ Blessed be our God always now and ever and unto ages of ages"The all-night vigil begins.
The primate, preceded by an archdeacon or protodeacon with a candle, censes the festive icon, which is located in the center of the temple on a lectern. The prayer “Heavenly King” sounds, addressed to. Many liturgical services of the Orthodox Church begin with this prayer. The Patriarch censes the throne and altar. This ancient form worship of God, which existed in the Old Testament, before the coming of the Savior into the world. Spiritual meaning incense reveals to us verses from the Psalter: “ May my prayer be corrected, like incense before you“-let my prayer, like incense smoke, ascend to heaven, and the prayerful lifting of hands be like the evening sacrifice.
After the exclamation there follows a litany and the famous hymn “ God is with us" This song is based on the prophecy of Isaiah. This prophet, who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, announced the future birth of the Savior from the Virgin, prophesied about the events of His earthly life, as well as about the suffering that the Son of God would have to accept for the salvation of the human race. The Prophet, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, saw with spiritual vision the future events of the New Testament so clearly that he is often called the “Old Testament Evangelist.” At the end of Compline the troparion and kontakion of the Nativity are sung.
A chant sounds in the church, concluding the service of Compline. This is the song of the holy righteous Simeon the God-Receiver, sung by him in the presence of the Infant Jesus, brought by the Virgin Mary and righteous Joseph on the fortieth day after his birth to the Jerusalem Temple for dedication to God, as required by custom. The righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna are an example of the last righteous people of the Old Testament era, who lived in hope of the coming of the Messiah, Christ, into the world and, at the end of their days, saw this hope come true. The text of the song is taken from the Gospel. In Russian translation it sounds like this: “Now do You let Your servant go, O Lord, according to Your word in peace, for mine eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all nations, a Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” This episode from the Gospel narrative - the meeting of the Infant God in the Jerusalem Temple, due to its special significance, is celebrated by the Church as a great holiday. It is celebrated on February 15 according to the new style. And the event itself, according to the Gospel chronology, occurred after the shepherds worshiped the Born Child of God, but before the eastern sages came from a distant country to worship Him.
People of goodwill
Meanwhile, Matins begins in the church. It, of course, should take place in the morning, but since on Christmas the Church prays to God at night, it begins around midnight. At the beginning of the Six Psalms, the famous words of the Angel's Song are sung, which we will hear many times today in a variety of hymns, both in the gospel and in sermons: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men.
Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria, the father of the Church, who lived in the 12th century, interprets this passage in the Gospel of Luke this way: “What does the song of the Angels mean? Without a doubt, the gratitude of the higher ranks and the joy that we, living on earth, have been blessed. For they say: thank God, there is now peace on earth. Previously, human nature was at enmity with God, but now it has been so reconciled that it has become in union with God and united with Him in the incarnation. So, do you see the peace of God with man? It can be understood differently. The Son of God Himself is peace, as He says about Himself. So, the world itself, the Son of God, appeared on earth. And “good will toward men,” that is, God’s rest. For now God has rested and found God-pleasing in people, whereas before He was not pleased and did not find Himself pleasing in people.”
These words of the angel's song have a most interesting fate in the history of mankind. The point is that in different Christian traditions recordings of these Gospel verses, the word “favor” - good will - was used in two forms - in the nominative case, and then the words meant that God's favor is in people, as we just read. But this word can stand in genitive case and then the meaning changes a little, it turns out “in people of good will,” or in other words, in people of good, good will, there is peace. This expression “among people of good will” has become popular. It is used by Christians and non-Christians, and even by people far from religion.
After the solemn proclamation and singing of “God is the Lord and appear unto us,” the polyeleos(translated as “many mercy”). This part of Matins received its name from the content of Psalms 134 and 135, glorifying the mercy of God. Verses from these psalms are sung by the choir during the polyeleos: Praise the name of the Lord, praise the servants of the Lord. Hallelujah. Blessed be the Lord of Zion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem. Hallelujah.
Under the arches of the temple, a magnification sounds - a short chant glorifying the celebrated event: “We magnify, magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, for our sake, now born in the flesh from the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary.”
Patriarch Kirill descends from the pulpit, a special elevation in the middle of the church, where he has been since the beginning of the service, to cense the icon of the holiday.
The image of the Nativity of Christ, now on the lectern, is special. In the anniversary year of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, it was brought His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II from Bethlehem - the city in which Christ was born. This icon is an exact copy of the image located in the cave of the Nativity of Christ.
We see the deacon enter the altar and take the Gospel from the throne. The choir performs sedately And sedate antiphon. These chants are part of the festive matins. They are compiled in imitation of the so-called. “gravid psalms” (Ps. 119-133), which in times Old Testament the pilgrims sang on the steps of the Jerusalem Temple. Antiphons- chants performed alternately, in imitation of the incessant angelic choir that glorifies the Creator, a name indicating the way the chant is performed (from Greek - “sing alternately, alternating into two choirs”).
Since ancient times, the Day of the Nativity of Christ has been numbered by the Church among the great twelve holidays, in accordance with the Divine testimony of the Gospel, which depicts this event as the greatest, most joyful and wonderful: “I proclaim to you,” says the Angel to the Bethlehem shepherds, “the great joy that will be for all people: for today I am born to you.” in the city of David there is a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the Angel, praising God and crying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
The Orthodox Church proclaims about the greatness of the feast of the Nativity of Christ: “Thy Nativity, Christ our God, rises up into the worldly light of reason, in which those who serve as stars learn to bow to Thee, the Sun of righteousness, and to Thee lead from the heights of the East: Lord, glory to Thee!”
Within the pre-celebration and post-celebration period, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ lasts twelve days.
On the last day before the holiday, the eve of the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Eve) is celebrated, indicating the special importance of the upcoming celebration, for eve of the Nativity occurs only before the most important holidays.
In the Orthodox Church, in the evening hours, called the Royal Hours, are celebrated, because for a long time kings were present at this service, worshiping the newborn King of kings.
The royal hours begin and take place with open royal doors, in the middle of the temple, in front of the Gospel, placed on a lectern, as if as a sign that now the Savior no longer lurks, as he once did, in the darkness of the den, but shines for all peoples. Before the Gospel, incense is burned in remembrance of the incense and myrrh brought by the Magi to the newborn Christ.
At Christmas Services, gospel stories are read, and the choir and parishioners sing special hymns dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. The texts of these chants often use images from the Gospel stories about the Nativity of Christ.
To the great church holidays many parishioners are eager to receive communion. Therefore, even before the start of the all-night vigil, confession begins: after all, one must prepare for communion with dignity, and confession on the eve of receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ is a necessary part of such preparation.
The temple is gradually filled with believers. Candles are lit and parishioners venerate the icons.
There are always many children among the church parishioners. Christmas is a holiday especially loved by children, so on this holiday there are noticeably more children in church than on other church holidays.
On Christmas Eve, in frosty weather, children come to the service in warm clothes, but for the festive liturgy they try to dress the children in festive clothes.
Decorated Christmas trees, the smell of fresh pine needles, and the warm light of warmed candles create a unique holiday flavor. The now almost forgotten atmosphere of the holiday is recreated in the temple building.
The Divine Service of the Christmas All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline. All parishioners of the temple take part in joint prayers.
During Great Compline, the altar and the entire church are censed. The choir and parishioners sing the troparion of the holiday. This is a very beautiful and childishly simple chant, which sets out the main meaning of the holiday:
Your Nativity, Christ our God,
the rise of the world and the light of reason:
there are servants of the stars in it
I follow a star
I bow to you to the Sun of Truth,
and lead you from the heights of the East;
Lord, glory to You!
There are many chants of this troparion, all very beautiful - and it is difficult to name the best.
Important integral part The Christmas all-night vigil is the consecration of bread, wheat, wine and oil. Consecration begins with the reading of special prayers called litiya. These prayers are read at the entrance to the temple. In lithium prayers, the church asks for intercession before God from all the saints.
During the consecration, incense is performed and prayers are read for the multiplication of God's gracious gifts.
After the lithium, the reading of the six psalms begins - six selected psalms from the Psalter.
During the reading of the Six Psalms in the temple, all the lights are extinguished and only the psalmist remains with a lit candle in his hands.
Children listen in fascination to the perhaps not fully understood words of the psalms.
During the reading of the Six Psalms, the priest reads a special prayer in front of the altar.
After the reading of the Psalter ends, Matins begins.
Parishioners light candles.
The temple is filled with light again.
Children also try to light candles on their own.
The Royal Doors open.
The choir sings a bright and triumphant chant
God is with us, understand, Gentiles, and submit:
Like God is with us.
Hear before last lands:
Mighty ones, submit:
If you can do it again, you will win again:
And even if you hold counsel, the Lord will destroy:
Like God is with us.
And the word that ye say shall not abide in you:
Like God is with us.
We will not be afraid of your fear, but we will be embarrassed:
Like God is with us.
God is with us, understand, Gentiles, and submit:
Like God is with us!
With a burning candle in his hand, the priest censes first the altar, then the festive icon.
Censing of the entire temple is also carried out. Parishioners bow their heads during censing.
During Matins the Gospel and the Apostle are read.
During the all-night vigil, special Christmas hymns are heard.
Peaceful angelic words are heard in the chant that precedes the litany:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we bow down, we praise Thee,
We thank You great for Your glory.
Lord, Heavenly King, God,
Father Almighty,
Lord the Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
and Holy Soul.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Take away the sins of the world, accept our prayer.
Sit at the right hand of the Father and have mercy on us.
For You are the only Holy One; You are the One Lord, Jesus Christ,
to the glory of God the Father, amen.
Every day I will bless You and praise You your name forever and ever. Grant, Lord, that on this day we may be preserved without sin!
Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers,
and praised and glorified is Your name forever, Amen.
May Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in Thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me by thy justification
Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me by thy justification
God! You have been a refuge for us throughout our generations.
Az reh: Lord! have mercy on me, heal my soul, for those who have sinned against you.
God! I have come running to You: teach me to do Your will, for You are my God, for You are the source of life, in Your light we will see light.
Show Thy mercy to those who lead You!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
and now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.
Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!
Greatness sounds at Matins
We magnify Thee,
Life-giving Christ,
for our sake, now born in the flesh
from the Blessed and Most Pure
Virgin Mary
In the final part of the evening service, anointing is performed, during which the priest anoints the forehead of the parishioners with consecrated oil (oil) in a cross pattern. Anointing with oil brings special joy to children. You should see their shining eyes after the anointing! They feel joy from the feeling of being involved in the holiday, from feeling like parishioners like adults.
...The all-night vigil is coming to an end. Its main mood is best conveyed by the words of a chant
Every day of joy is fulfilled,
Christ was born in Bethlehem
The all-night vigil service has ended.
On vacation, the priest congratulates the parishioners on the holiday.
Tomorrow morning - the festive Christmas liturgy!
