Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate the Feast of the Birth of Christ starting on January 6th. The Magi were among the first to learn about the birth of the Savior. Seeing bright star in the sky, they went to bow to the newly-minted Messiah with symbolic gifts. They brought him tree resin, How to an ordinary person, incense, as for the messenger of the Lord, and gold, as for the king. Herod also learned about the birth of the Savior; he could not accept this news with dignity, was afraid of the messenger of God and ordered the death of all babies who were under 2 years old. His parents fled to Egypt with Christ and were thus able to save him.
Christmas is rightfully considered one of the greatest holidays in Orthodoxy. In the established hierarchy, it is in second place in importance, second only to . In order to properly prepare for it, you need to find out when Christmas 2019 is celebrated. Its date is unchanged - all ritual celebrations begin with the rising of a star on January 6th. On this evening it is customary to gather large families at one table, which according to tradition should have 12 dishes. The main attribute of the holiday is kutia. The basis for it is porridge; nuts, dried fruits, honey, and poppy seeds are also added to it. It is noteworthy that Orthodox believers, although they set rich tables, do not eat until the first star rises.
Many churchgoers do not think about how to celebrate Christmas on January 7, 2019. On the 6th they go to church for the all-night service. It begins with Great Compline and lasts all night. Afterwards, congratulations are heard from everywhere on the arrival of the great holiday and glorification of the born Jesus.
If you want to see the whole mystery festive service, then you're wondering what time the Christmas service starts on January 6th. In many churches, the service begins an hour before midnight, and the service itself will last until about 4 am. But in order not to be late, it is better to check the exact time with the servants of the temple you plan to go to.
On Christmas Eve, mummers traditionally walk the streets. They carol under the windows of houses and entertain everyone they meet. This period is considered successful for, despite all church prohibitions, they have always been popular. It’s also good to know the signs from January 6 to January 7. For example, people say that the starry sky on this night means a harvest of berries, frost on the trees means an excellent grain harvest, and warmth on Christmas Day will bring a cold spring.
But on the eve of the holiday, it is important not only to remember the signs and traditions, but also not to forget to say a few kind words to everyone you know. In addition to the traditional glorification of the Savior, you can tell them the following words:
Happy great day! Peace and goodness to you!
Merry Christmas! I wish to live according to the commandments of Christ, because only in this way will grace and peace reign in your soul!
Happy Birth of the Savior! May his teachings on love and forgiveness bring peace to your soul!
Of course, the date is not so important for going to church. But it is on this day that you can feel a special reverence, because the services are held solemnly, in detail, they are filled with prayers. And from the people around there comes joy and happiness from the realization of the arrival of a great holiday.
The Christmas service of the Orthodox Church is a long and extremely important event, the purpose of which is to honor the memory of the Son of God and help people become familiar with virtues.
The Post-Feast is a six-day cycle of repeated hymns and chants in honor of the Anointed Jesus.
Preparation for the celebration. Abstinence
The church celebration begins with religious preparations. 40 days before January 7, believers begin the Nativity Fast, which cleanses the soul from sinful thoughts and the body from harmful influence"heavy" food. Abstinence, which is of an ascetic nature, allows one to approach the sacred day properly.
During fasting, one must not eat food of animal origin or engage in unpalatable deeds that discredit the eternal soul.
- The recommended diet during this period is quite strict. It is necessary to exclude not only meat, but also alcohol and fish.
- On the first day of Lent, Christian believers set the table and say appropriate prayers, praising the Almighty for his generosity and mercy.
- Christmas services are not complete without the preparation of kutia, a traditional holiday dish.
- Another table decoration is compote and water pancakes. They were treated to carolers in order to attract happiness and prosperity to the house.
- On weekends, you are allowed to cook food with vegetable oil.
- During the period of Lent, it is recommended to attend churches more often than usual. This allows for spiritual purification.
- There was a tradition to attract wealth. Housewives went to visit friends, did handicrafts and asked the Lord for financial well-being.
- At the beginning of Lent, it is recommended to help those in need with food or money. It brings great luck next year.
- On Christmas Eve, you should not eat holiday food until the first star appears. There is an analogy here with the appearance of the heavenly body at the moment of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Festive kutia
Traditions for Christmas Eve
The fast ends with the appearance of the first star in the night sky, and life unfolds into a new round. The ancestors believed that the time period had passed the required path and was resuming the record from scratch. In the past, they left behind everything that was heavy and unnecessary, so Christmas traditions are a symbol of birth and renewal.
- IN modern culture celebration is perceived as additional rest, it is part of the group New Year holidays. People have A good reason please your family members and have a pleasant rest.
- At this time, two forces fight within a person. Goodness directs people to carols and chants, and dark side attracts to a witch's Sabbath.
- Before the celebration, it is customary to thoroughly clean the home and polish the dishes. A Christmas tree was installed in temples and houses, symbolizing eternal existence. Christmas is characterized by a combination of red and green shades, and figurines of angels, donkeys, babies in mangers and candles are used as symbols.
- Giving gifts is children's favorite and the most fun part of the holiday. Dressed as Santa Claus, one of the family members brings sweets and toys in a bag. Children receive gifts on the condition that they behave well and obey adults.
- During the feast, conversations are held about virtues and right actions. Previously, neighbors and beggars were invited to the table, in whose image the Lord could appear. Each person tried all the dishes and thanked them for the treats. Appetizers were served first, then soups with flatbreads, and desserts at the end.
- In church settings, on the eve of the holiday there is a Christmas liturgy. It begins on the morning of January 6 and ends on the morning of the next day. The believers who come attend the service, confess and receive communion. The duration of the ceremony depends on the number of people.
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6, Vespers takes place, representing the actual beginning of the celebration.
Christmas Eve represents the end of the Nativity Fast, which lasted 40 days. On this day, believers observe the most strict fast. Eating is not allowed until the first star appears, which symbolizes the coming of the Savior into the world.
During Vespers, the All-Night Vigil and the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great are served. At the end of the service, an image of the star of Bethlehem, which appeared in the sky at the time of the birth of Jesus, is brought into the temple.
All-night vigil
All-night vigil - the subsequent part of the church service with singing the most beautiful canons and applying to the holy face of the Savior. This service lasts from sunset to dawn (from 18 to 6 am) and symbolizes the ascetic renunciation of sleep in favor of prayers and chants in honor of the Lord.
- The practice has been known since the times of the Old Testament: the apostles recommended staying awake around the clock and remembering the coming of the Messiah.
- During the period of persecution, Christians held meetings at night, in secret places (cemeteries or catacombs).
- From the 2nd to the 4th centuries, the monks stayed awake, reading prayers to Jesus and chanting the Psalms. Since they were hiding in mountain caves, it was dangerous to leave these places at night, as there was a risk of falling into the abyss. Therefore, they did not close their eyes, praised the Lord, and only went to rest in the morning.
Basil the Great used the term “agrypnia” in his writings, which means “lack of sleep.” He claims: this practice was widespread in the East and took place on the eve of every resurrection, on the holy night of Easter and on the feast of the Epiphany.
Divine service for Christmas
Order of the All-Night Vigil
There is a special church structure all-night vigil:
- It begins with the small bell ringing and the ninth Hour, where psalms and prayers are said.
- Next comes the small vespers, the great ringing of bells and the lighting of the lamps.
- Burning candles are placed in a special place in front of the main gates of the iconostasis.
- The priest deeply bows to the abbots of the church, holy images, choirs of singers, and brothers. He enters the altar room and puts on the stole, prays, fumigates the altar with a censer, opens the Holy Gates and leaves.
- The sexton and the priest loudly say: “Rise up!”, and the priest continues to fumigate the icons and those gathered.
- The assistant rector reads the sacred message to the Almighty, and after that Psalm 103, which is repeated many times. At the end of the ritual, the priest stands in front of the Holy Gate and reads the prayers of the lamp.
- Next, all the ministers are busy with the great litany (petition). After prayers and stichera, the clergy appears in the church, with whom “Theotokos Virgin” is sung and a blessing is pronounced on the wheat, wine and oil.
- After the reading of the Apostolic Epistles comes Polyeleos Matins - the most solemn part of the All-Night Vigil.
- Everything ends with the Hours (first, third, sixth) and the Liturgy.
Afterfeast
The next day they celebrate the Synaxis of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Post-Feast is a liturgical period characterized by memories of a great event in the Christian world. The clergy glorify the event itself and all participants. More often, this period lasts six to seven days until the morning holiday service on January 7.
The post-festival ends with the celebration of the holiday, where the most solemn services with prayers and chants take place.
Important! Before celebrating Christmas, every Christian is obliged to observe a strict forty-day fast in order to cleanse himself and become closer to eternal bliss. There are special traditions of behavior at the refectory table, as well as in church settings. By observing all these rules, believers remember the appearance of the Messiah and pay tribute to him incredible feat.
Watch the video about the Christmas service
They already know well that on this holiday it is customary to give gifts and congratulate each other with beautiful cards. Some have heard about the special Christmas turkey dinner in Western countries. But there is one more, very important and especially church ritual, which certainly marks this event - the Christmas liturgy. The meaning of this action is defined as general meaning Christmas itself, and the liturgical church rite. Therefore, it is necessary to first talk about each of these elements separately.
Christmas - history, meaning and significance of the holiday
As the name suggests, the Nativity of Christ is the day. In fact, the date of this event is somewhat arbitrary in the church calendar, since, firstly, this event was not initially celebrated in the church. Secondly, when it was finally accepted, it was combined with the baptism of Christ and the episode of the visit of the Eastern Magi to the baby Jesus shortly after his birth. This united holiday was called Theophany, or, in Russian, Epiphany. And it was celebrated on January 6th. Well, thirdly, a little later, these events were nevertheless spread over different dates, as a result of which the memory of Christmas began to fall on December 25 - the day of the winter solstice (at that time).
This was not accidental, but it was in no way connected with the event of the birth of Christ. The fact is that winter solstice- large pagan holiday, in which many solar deities of the most diverse pantheons were revered. The Christian authorities of the empire, in order to block the ancient pagan traditions, for the purpose of evangelization, connected this date with the birth of Christ - the Sun of Truth, as Christians call him, obviously contrasting with “false” from their point of view solar gods. Since then, the date has changed one more time - during the change Julian calendar Gregorian. The thirteen days difference between them determines that today Christmas in Russia is celebrated on January 7th. This situation is relevant for those churches that adhere to the Julian calendar in their internal life.
Christmas itself symbolizes the idea of the Incarnation. Christians believe that God himself became a man in the person of Jesus, and his birth from an earthly woman and at the same time a virgin is a great miracle. Believers see in this event the fulfillment of prophecies about the coming of the Messiah - the divine messenger who will save the world. That's why it's so important to them.
Liturgy - definition of the concept
The very word "liturgy" Greek language translated as "common cause". IN pre-Christian times it designated public services and duties of the aristocracy to support the needs of the city. IN christian church this term began to refer to the main divine service, during which the central sacrament - the Eucharist - was performed. The leitmotif of the entire ceremony was the idea that the bread and wine offered on the altar were mysteriously transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ (outwardly remaining bread and wine), with which the believers then partook. This sacrament was established by Jesus himself during the so-called and he was commanded to reproduce it during the meetings of his disciples, that is, Christians. Without participating in this ritual, it is believed that it is impossible to achieve the salvation that God offers in Christ. This is why regular service and participation in the liturgy are so important for believers.
Over time, churches developed a huge variety of liturgical rites. Some of them no longer exist. Others, having developed, continue to be used to this day.
Liturgical rites used in the Russian Orthodox Church
As for the practice of the modern Russian Church, today three orders of liturgy are generally accepted in it: St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great and the liturgy presanctified gifts, used only during Lent. The most frequent, so to speak, everyday, is the liturgy. And the rite of Basil the Great is used only ten times a year. The Christmas liturgy is one of them. But only if the evening, that is, the eve of the holiday itself, falls on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise, the Christmas liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is served on the day of the holiday, and St. Basil the Great on the eve.
Peculiarities of serving the liturgy at Christmas
Like any festive ceremony, the service dedicated to the day of the birth of Jesus Christ has its own characteristics. The first thing that distinguishes the Christmas liturgy is the text. So, instead of everyday psalms, holiday antiphons are sung at the service. Instead of the so-called Trisagion, the song is sung: “Those who were baptized into Christ, put on Christ, alleluia.” Similarly, “It is worthy to eat” is replaced by “Glorify, O soul... For us to love...”. The last thing that distinguishes the Christmas liturgy is the text of the biblical readings, that is, the gospel and the apostolic epistle, which on this day tell about the worship of the Magi and the incarnation of God, respectively. The scale of the holiday also emphasizes the time of the celebration of the Eucharist. If on all other days it departs early in the morning, then in this case night is the usual time when the Christmas liturgy is served. How long it lasts is a difficult question. It depends on the singing, on the number of people receiving communion and on local traditions. If in some parishes the service is completed in two hours, then in a number of monasteries the service can be extended almost throughout the night.
Christmas and Christmas liturgy: 2015
The last thing worth noting is the dates of celebration in the current year, 2015. Since, as has already been said, one part of the churches adheres to Gregorian calendar, and the other - Julian, it turns out that some have already celebrated Christmas this year on January 6th. For others, the Christmas liturgy will be celebrated at the very end of 2015 - December 25. As for the Russian Orthodox Church, it is among the churches that have already celebrated.
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 by the Old Testament prophets and was expected for centuries. This joyful event took place more than 2000 years ago: Jesus Christ was 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 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, along 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 also 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 the beauty of Orthodox icon painting, this “theology in colors,” and our churches have become 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. Slavic texts were themselves translated from Greek by saints brothers equal to the apostles Cyril and Methodius, but they are sanctified by the thousand-year tradition of Slavic books.
To solve the same language problem It is not necessary to sit at a desk, it is enough to regularly visit the temple 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 turn to 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 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.
Divine service Orthodox Church consists of daily services: Matins, Vespers, Compline, Midnight Office, Hours And Liturgies. Before the holidays morning and evening service united in the so-called "", that is, a 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 are their names church services received according to the time of commission. 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 birth to the Jerusalem Temple for dedication to God, as required by custom. 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 is the meeting of the Divine Infant in the Jerusalem Temple, in view of his special significance 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 good will
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 fact is that in different Christian traditions of recording 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 represents exact copy 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 the times of the Old Testament were sung by pilgrims 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”).
Forefest of Christmas
January 2the beginning of the pre-celebration of the Nativity of Christ, which lasts until January 6.
In theselast days of fasting
- with2 to 6In January, the fast is intensified: fish is prohibited on all days, food with oil is allowed only on Saturday and Sunday.
On Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve), January 6,custom requires not to eat until the appearance of the first evening star, after which it is customary to eat kolivo or sochivo - wheat grains boiled in honey or boiled rice with raisins; in some areas sochivo is called boiled dry fruits with sugar. The name of this day comes from the word “sochivo” - Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Carols
January 6 – Forever Nativity of Christ , or Christmas Eve, - last dayNativity Fast , eve Nativity of Christ.
On this day, Orthodox Christians especially prepare for the upcoming holiday; the whole day is filled with a special festive mood.
In the morning on Christmas Eve, at the end of the Liturgy and the following Vespers, a candle is brought into the center of the church and the priests sing a troparion before itChristmas.
On the very same day Christmas Eve fasting is no longer as strict as in the previous days of the strictest week Nativity Fast.
The service of Vespers is connected with the Liturgy and is served in the morning, which is whyWe fast until the moment when a candle is brought into the center of the church and before the candle the troparion to the Nativity of Christ is sung.
Many on this daytake communion. It would be good if those who cannot attend church services and who work honor this day with a stricter fast. We remember that, according to the Russian proverb, “A full belly is deaf to prayer.” Therefore, a more strict fast prepares us for the coming joy of the holiday.
Those who receive communion on night Liturgy, according to church tradition, they eat food in last time no less than six hours before the time of Communion, or from approximately 6 p.m. And here the point is not in a specific number of hours, that you need to fast for 6 or 8 hours and not a minute less, but in the fact that a certain limit is established, a measure of abstinence,helping us to keep it in moderation.
Sick people, of course, must fast to the extent that this is consistent with taking medications and with doctor’s orders. It's about It’s not about putting a weak person in a hospital, but about strengthening a person spiritually. The disease is already hard post and feat . And here a person should try to determine the measure of fasting according to his own strength.
As a rule, believers try to meet Nativity at the night holiday liturgy. But in many churches there is also an all-night vigil and Liturgy at the usual time - 5 pm and in the morning.
To attend a night service or a morning service - you need to watch it within your strength. Celebrating a holiday at night is, of course, a special joy: both spiritual and emotional. T ceremonial night services contribute to a deeper prayerful experience and perception of the Holiday.
The Apostle Paul commanded us« Always rejoice. Continuously pray. In everything give thanks to the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).If we celebrate the holiday with joy, prayer and gratitude to God, then we are fulfilling the apostolic covenant.
In the Orthodox Church, in the evening hours are celebrated, calledRoyal, because for a long time kings were present at this service, worshiping the newbornTo the King of Kings.
Royal watchbegin and take place with the open royal doors, in the middle of the temple, in front of the Gospel, placed on a lectern, as if as a sign that nowSaviorno longer lurks, as it once did in the darkness of the den, but shines for all nations. Before the Gospel, incense is burned in remembrance of the incense and myrrh brought by the Magi to the newborn Christ.
The day itself Nativity of Christ in the flesh, as the most important and solemn, in the liturgical books of the Orthodox Churchcalled Easter, a three-day holiday.
On this day, according to the voice of the Church,“All kinds of joy are filled. The angels rejoice in heaven, and men rejoice: all creation plays for the sake of the Savior of the Lord born in Bethlehem: as all flattery of idols ends and Christ reigns forever.”
Christmas Eve - evening meal on the eve of Christmas, accompanied by many traditions and rituals.
Kutya was cooked from wheat, peas, rice, and peeled barley. Seasoned with honey, poppy seed, hemp, sunflower or other vegetable oil. Grain was a symbol of resurrection life, and honey or sweet seasoning meant the sweetness of the blessings of a future blessed life.
The order of meals was regulated strict rules: appetizers (herring, fish, salads) were served first, then red (slightly warmed) borscht, mushroom or fish soup. To the borscht, mushroom soup ears or pies with mushrooms were served, and among the Orthodox sochni - flour cakes fried in hemp oil.
At the end of the meal, sweet dishes were served on the table: roll with poppy seeds, gingerbread, honey cakes, cranberry jelly, dried fruit compote (uzvar), apples, nuts.
The meal was non-alcoholic. All dishes were lean, fried and seasoned with vegetable oil, without meat base, without milk and sour cream. Didn't servedishes so that the hostess is always at the table.
Traditional ritual and ritual dishes
KUTIA
KUTIA. Recipes Kutya. Preparation Kutya. TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN...
preparing a big family dinner. The whole family sets the table.
There should be straw on the table (or hay, in memory of the den and manger),
and on the straw there is a snow-white tablecloth.
It is clear that you cannot bring hay into modern apartments, and it is not so easy to get it in cities.
But in Lately beautiful Christmas tablecloths with patterns of spruce paws and bells appeared in stores.
They will also greatly decorate your table.
Kutya is placed in the center.
Then other dishes: pancakes, fish, aspic, jelly, suckling pig, pork head with horseradish, homemade sausage, roast, honey gingerbread, lomantsi with poppy seeds and honey, uzvar.
This set also included drinks, which depended purely on the taste and capabilities of the owner.
Culinary recipes for Christmas, dishes, menu. Kulinar.ru - more than 95...
At the table, kutya should be eaten first, i.e. to start their dinner, each of those present at the table must eat at least one spoon of kutya. According to legends, then this person will live in health and prosperity throughout the coming year.
Christmas Holidays
The holidays began with Christmas- holidays that lasted until Epiphany (January 19).All this time, Christmas rituals, fortune telling, entertainment, and mummers walking through the courtyards and streets took place. On Christmas Day, early in the morning, before dawn, the ritual of seeding the huts was carried out. The shepherd walked with a bag of oats and, entering the house, threw a handful of grain in all directions with the sentence: “For the living, for the fertile, and for health.”
Girls didn't tell fortunes at Christmas. There was a sign: if a stranger’s woman enters the house first, the women in that family will be ill all day. To avoid any troubles, the peasants observed quite strict prohibitions. On Christmas Day it was forbidden to do household chores. It was impossible to sew, otherwise someone in the family would go blind. You can’t weave bast shoes, otherwise you’ll end up crooked. But you cannot hunt in the forest until Epiphany, because then a misfortune will happen to the hunter.
At noon the whole family went to watch the sun play. If the sun is playing - dark forces They hide from him in the cracks. And if the evil spirits do get into the house, then on this day there is a short order with them - scald the corners with boiling water and sweep them with a nettle broom.
The father took his son to the barn to the barn with grain. Before that, the heir was solemnly dressed by the whole family. A sheepskin sheepskin coat was girded with an embroidered belt, a fur hat was put on the head, and felt boots were put on the feet. The father raised his son above the sap with grain, wanting him to grow up faster and become an assistant on the farm.
Second day of Christmas, which is called the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary,dedicated to the glorification of the Mother of Christ, Holy Virgin Maria. Glorifying the Mother of God, the Church remembers the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. It was caused by the fact that King Herod, having learned about the Birth of Christ and the worship of the Magi, became angry and ordered all the babies in Bethlehem to be beaten, hoping to destroy the Savior as well. But an angel appeared to Joseph and ordered him to hide in Egypt. After the death of Herod, Joseph and his Family returned and settled in Nazareth.
From that day on, girls' fortune-telling and mummers' rituals continued until Epiphany. Costumers in fur coats turned inside out, wearing masks or with faces stained with soot walked from house to house, singing songs and acting out various performances and scenes for an appropriate reward. Sometimes they took a horse or a bull with them.
And the girls were guessing. They guessed differently every day, and whoever knew what methods guessed that way.
Third day of Christmas called Stepan's day.According to custom, on Stepanov’s day they cut stakes, placed them in the corners of the yard, sticking them into the snow so that evil spirits scare away. Stepan is seasoned in danger, therefore he is not afraid of any evil spirits and on this day he uses stakes to fence himself off from them. Stepan is associated with the image of a peasant farmer, and therefore a boy born on this day will be a kind, caring, zealous and strict owner. Even on this day, the whole village chose a shepherd, concluded an agreement with him, and arranged a treat.
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