Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
If you live in New Zealand or Australia or surrounding islands,
Christmas Day is being celebrated on the Gregorian calendar this day. If
you live in the United States, this is Christmas Eve Day for those who follow
the same. If you are following the Julian calendar, the
Feast of Christ’s Holy Nativity is not far off. For all those who love
Christ anywhere in the world, whatever location or following either
calendar—holy joy to each and every one during this very special season of the
year!
This morning I had opportunity to open the Book of Akathists, volume II which is published by Holy Trinity
Monastery in Jordanville, New York. The monastery publishes two volumes
of akathists, all of which are beautiful and meaningful.
The second volume has an Akathist Hymn to the Nativity of Christ
which I prayed this morning. I looked for it on the NET, wondering if it
had been made available “out there,” but did not come across it. I would
encourage everyone to consider buying this volume of akathists as it is very
rich in content. One thing that impressed me was the closing prayer for
the Akathist to the Nativity of Christ which follows:
Prayer to
Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ
On the Day
of His Holy Nativity
O great and unapproachable God, unoriginate Father, Son Who art
equally without beginning, and Spirit Who art equally eternal, Who givest being
to things which were not in existence, Who savest the perishing, Who givest
life to the dead, Who doest what Thou willest among the hosts of heaven and in
Thine earthly habitation, and directest all according to Thy wondrous
providence! Incline Thine ear from the heights of Thy holiness, and
accept from us, Thy lowly and unworthy servants, to whom Thou hast revealed Thy
great salvation from misfortunes and plague, these grateful supplications,
confessions and glorifications, which we offer to Thee with heart and
mouth. For Thou has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, O
Lord, neither hast Thou rewarded us according to our sins. Thou didst say
of old to the children of Israel that if they would not act to keep Thy words
and all Thy commandments, Thou wouldst bring against them a nation of unashamed
countenance, which would assail them in their cities until the walls thereof
were broken. And we have come to realize that this dread sentence hath
been directed against us and our fathers as well. For failing to fear Thy
threat and paying no heed to Thy loving-kindness, we have forsaken the path of
Thy righteousness and walked in the will of our own hearts, and have made no
attempt to hold Thee, the God of men’s understanding and hearts, in our
mind. Moreover, treating the traditions of our fathers as of no import,
we have abandoned Thee for others. For these reasons, grievous ill
fortune overtook us, as it did the children of Israel of old, and because we
paid no heed to their lessons, mindless and savage-minded foes have come
against us. But do Thou, O compassionate and merciful Lord God, Who art
long-suffering, greatly merciful and true, Who maintainest justice and workest
mercy among the thousands, Who takest away iniquities, injustices and sins,
having abandoned us for a little time, have mercy upon us according to Thy
great mercy, and having visited our unrighteousness with the rod, as a
compassionate father doth his children, so do Thou spare us. For thou
hast looked down on our tribulation, and upon our entreaties which, trusting
not in our own righteousness, but upon Thy many compassions, we cast at Thy
feet O Lord; and Thou hast shown us the back of our ungodly adversaries, for
melting away before the face of Thy Christ, Thine enemies have vanished like
smoke, and those who love Thee shine forth like the rising of the sun in their
power. We have seen, O Lord, we have seen, and in us all nations have
seen, that Thou art God, and there is none other besides Thee. Thou
slayest and makest to live, Thou smites and healest, and there is no one who
can deliver from Thy hand. Wherefore, our heart hath been established in
our Lord, our horn hath been lifted up in our God, and we have been gladdened
in Thy salvation. We thank Thee, O Lord, that, chastising us, Thou has
chastened us but a little, lest Thou give us over utterly unto death. Grant,
O Lord, that we may hold the memory of this, Thy glorious visitation, firmly
and continually within us, that made steadfast in Thee by filial fear, faith
and love and protected by Thy might, we may ever, as we do today, hymn and
glorify Thy holy name. Confirm Thy blessing also upon our civil
authorities, that Thy good Spirit may continually rest upon them. In our
land grant holiness unto pastors, judgment and justice to those who govern,
peace and tranquility to the people, efficacy to the laws and advancement to
the Faith. O Lord of all loving-kindness, extend Thy mercy unto those who
know Thee; and reveal Thyself even unto those who seek Thee not; turn the
hearts even of our enemies unto Thee; and make Thyself known to all nations and
people in Thy true Christ: that from the rising of the sun, even unto the
setting thereof, all nations may with one heart cry out to Thee with a voice of
rejoicing: Glory to Thee, the God and Saviour of all, unto the ages of
ages! Amen.
May each of you find peace and joy in the celebration of our
Lord’s Holy Nativity this year.
Presbytera Candace
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