Nativity

Date: 06 January 2006 20:16:57

Hello and Happy New Year to all! I can't believe we're in 2006: 2005 just wooshed by. My warmest wishes to all those who drop by here for a joyous, blessed and exciting 2006.
[and a special thank you to Chris and Dave who got my wiblog up and running again, and all those involved at the Wibsite -- this is truly a great online community]

Well, the highlight of December had to be my chrismation. I think the goofy open-mouthed smile from the day is still with me. There is also a feeling of peace and a feeling of being "at home" and having found a sense of peace and belonging. Not that I didn't have this before my Chrismation, but it seems I have a heightened sense of it now.

A week after my Chrismation was the Feast of the Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, otherwise known as Christmas [the Orthodox don't go for brevity in any sense!] On Christmas Eve morning we had the Service of the Royal Hours; Christmas Eve evening was Vespers, as we have every Saturday; and then Matins and Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day. A very full, but very blessed two days.

And if that were not enough, Christmas Eve after Vespers, as I was feeling wide awake, I went to Christ Church St Laurence, one of the few Anglo-Catholic parishes in Sydney, for Matins and Midnight Mass. Wonderful, as always. They have one of best choirs in Australia, and the Liturgy is always beautiful and transports you to the worship of Christ with the Cherubim and Seraphim. The procession, complete with incense, banners and birettas!, was to O Come All Ye Faithful, which was heartily sung by all [a very voiciferous parish there!]. Tavener's God is with us was the post-communion motet and A Great and Mighty Wonder the post-communion hymn. Australian William James' The Silver Stars was the communion motet. The service ended with Hark the Herald Angels Sing and, one of my favourites, Gaudete.

The Service of the Royal Hours is replete with expectation of the coming of Christ, much like one of my most-beloved hymns O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and packed with Psalms, Old Testament prophecy and the Gospel narratives. I found it rather wonderful, and I particularly enjoyed, if that is the right word, the dialogue between Mary and Joseph during the four hours that make up the service: for some reason the humanity and troubled situation shone through to me clearly this Nativity:

Joseph spoke thus to the Virgin, ‘Mary, what is this doing that I see in you? I am at a loss and am amazed, and my mind is struck with dismay. Go quickly from me then and secretly. Mary, what is this doing that I see in you? Instead of honour, you have brought me shame; instead of gladness, sorrow; instead of praise, reproof. No longer will I bear men's reproach; for I you took from the Priests in the Temple as one blameless before the Lord; and what is this sight?'

Joseph, tell us, how is it that you are bringing to Bethlehem great with child the Maiden you received from the Holy Place? ‘I have searched the prophets,' he says, ‘and I have been warned by a Angel, and I am persuaded that Mary will give birth to God in a way beyond explanation. To worship him Magi will come from the East, honouring him with precious gifts.' O Lord, incarnate for our sake, glory to you!

Come, peoples, bearers of Christ, let us behold a wonder that amazes and holds fast every mind, and as we devoutly worship let us with faith sing its praise. Today a Maiden great with child is coming to Bethlehem to give birth to the Lord; choirs of Angels run before her. And seeing this Joseph, the Betrothed, cries out, ‘What is the strange mystery in you, O Virgin? And how will you bring forth a child, Calf who have never known the yoke?'

When Joseph had been wounded by sorrow, O Virgin, as he went to Bethlehem you cried out to him, ‘Why are you downcast and troubled seeing me great with child? Why wholly ignorant of the dread mystery that is in me. Now cast away every fear as you understand the strange marvel: for in my womb now God descends to earth through mercy, and has taken flesh. You will see when he is born, as he has been well pleased; and filled with joy will worship him as your Creator. Him the Angels praise unceasingly with the Father and the Holy Spirit.'

Vespers and Matins were filled with hymns celebrating the Feast. One from Matins, enquiring about the seemingly impossibility of God becoming Man, and it being of His own free will:

How is he contained in a womb, whom nothing can contain? How held in his Mother's arms, he who is in the Father's bosom? This is all as he knows, as he wished and as he was well pleased. For being without flesh, willingly he was made flesh; and He Who Is, for our sake has become what he was not; without departing from his own nature he shared in our matter; wishing to fill the world on high, Christ was born in two natures.

Divine Liturgy was a wonderful experience, worshipping and praising God for His love for us in becoming Man to save us. It was also a joy to partake of Communion within the Orthodox church for the second time. Thanks be to God.

I hope all had a blessed and joyous Christmas.

Troparion:
Your nativity O Christ, has shone to the world the light of wisdom. For by it those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore you the Sun of Righteousness. And to know you the Orient from on high, O Lord, glory to you.

Kontakion:
Today the Virgin gives birth to the One who is above all being. And earth supplies a cave to Him who could not be approached. Angels and shepherds sing his glory and wise men journey by a star. For on our account is born a little child who is God before all ages.

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/38/83072832_9a430813e7_m.jpg" alt="Icon - Nativity"