Today the heavens rejoice and rejoice.
6th Troparion
Not in the royal palaces, not in the rich chambers, not even in the hotel, but in the den, the cattle pen, a great event occurred: the incarnation of God in human form. This is a testament to the boundless, unconditional love of the Lord, who gave his son that we might have eternal life.
The cave in Bethlehem is tiny. This was the only place where Joseph and Mary found shelter. Christ was not placed in an expensive cradle, in a manger with hay.
But in honor of his birth was a great holiday. Only a few shepherds have seen this celebration, but it was so wonderful! A host of angels filled the heavens, all the hosts of heaven gathered together to glorify God. A bright star lit up in the sky as a sign that the Savior had come into the world.
It wasn’t without gifts. Three wise men came from far away lands to look at the newborn, brought him gifts. Gold as a symbol of the king. Incense, a substance used during worship in the temple, symbolizes the recognition of the divine essence of Jesus. A myrna, aromatic resin which embalmed the bodies of the dead, indicates
The inevitable death of a God-man. Death will become a feast of resurrection.
On this day, the church celebrates a great feast of love, hope and humility. On this holiday, we not only glorify the Lord by the great mercy of our Savior, we review our lives and our actions. For this purpose, the Orthodox hold fast in order to repent, pray, refrain from vices and passions. To free your spirit by bodily weakness, grow in faith.
«Come, let us rejoice.It sounds like a Christmas service. So let us rejoice, admire and be appreciative of the great love of God the Father, of humility and readiness to sacrifice ourselves to God the Son, and of the possibility of union with the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
“Go with the star, bring with the Magi the gifts of gold, and Lebanon, and myrrh as King, as God, and as one who died for you.” Glorify with the shepherds, rejoice with the angels, supplication with the archangels, that there may be a common triumph of the heavenly and earthly Powers 1.
1 Gregory the Theologian The Word of the Epiphany, or the Nativity of the Savior.
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