Christ is born! Glorify Him!
"Rejoice, Jerusalem, and celebrate, all who love Zion! Today the ancient bond of the condemnation of Adam is loosed. Paradise is opened to us: The serpent is laid low. Of old he deceived the woman in paradise, but now he sees a woman become Mother of the Creator. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! The sinful vessel that brought death upon all flesh has become the first fruits of salvation through the Theotokos for all the world. For from her the all-perfect God is born a child, and by His birth He sets the seal on her virginity. Through His swaddling clothes He looses the bands of sin, and through becoming a child He heals Eve's pangs in travail. Therefore let all creation sing and dance for joy, for Christ has come to restore it and to save our souls! Amen." *
Nativity this year will probably be one of my more memorable ones. I've wanted to experience more of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's services and the extension of my holiday here in Addis has made that possible since I'm here for both the Nativity (called Gena here in Ethiopia and celebrated today since Ethiopia follows the old calendar) and Theophany (T'imk'et, celebrated on the 19th). I did make it to the festal Divine Liturgy at the Alexandrian Orthodox cathedral here on the 25th of last month, but going to the monastery near where my parents live now was really great. I didn't know anyone, but I was warmly welcomed and even allowed to participate in the services with the church's faithful.
The services themselves were beautiful and quite long. I arrived at the church at about 10pm and didn't leave till 3:30am. The festal Divine Liturgy alone went about three hours. (After that it's hard to understand how our visitors in Albion can complain about our Liturgy when it hardly goes over an hour :-).) Ethiopian church music isn't very appealing to Westerners at first, but it grows on you, and the joy of the people singing of Christ's birth was a blessing to see and participate in.
After getting back home I slept a good five or six hours before going to my parents' church (saw people I'd known from a previous life, which was nice) and then out to lunch with them, followed by a quiet afternoon and evening at home. All in all a very good day. Glory to God for His mercies and for His Church - don't know where I'd be without them or her. I struggle as it is, but how much worse it could be...Anyways, once again, a joyous and blessed Nativity to all of you!
"The Word is made manifest and assumes the material substance of our flesh. In His ineffable dispensation, He takes up His dwelling with us. Come, faithful, let us look upon His glory, the glory of the Only-begotten Son from God the Father!" *
*From the canon at the Compline for the eve of the Nativity.
Nativity this year will probably be one of my more memorable ones. I've wanted to experience more of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's services and the extension of my holiday here in Addis has made that possible since I'm here for both the Nativity (called Gena here in Ethiopia and celebrated today since Ethiopia follows the old calendar) and Theophany (T'imk'et, celebrated on the 19th). I did make it to the festal Divine Liturgy at the Alexandrian Orthodox cathedral here on the 25th of last month, but going to the monastery near where my parents live now was really great. I didn't know anyone, but I was warmly welcomed and even allowed to participate in the services with the church's faithful.
The services themselves were beautiful and quite long. I arrived at the church at about 10pm and didn't leave till 3:30am. The festal Divine Liturgy alone went about three hours. (After that it's hard to understand how our visitors in Albion can complain about our Liturgy when it hardly goes over an hour :-).) Ethiopian church music isn't very appealing to Westerners at first, but it grows on you, and the joy of the people singing of Christ's birth was a blessing to see and participate in.
After getting back home I slept a good five or six hours before going to my parents' church (saw people I'd known from a previous life, which was nice) and then out to lunch with them, followed by a quiet afternoon and evening at home. All in all a very good day. Glory to God for His mercies and for His Church - don't know where I'd be without them or her. I struggle as it is, but how much worse it could be...Anyways, once again, a joyous and blessed Nativity to all of you!
"The Word is made manifest and assumes the material substance of our flesh. In His ineffable dispensation, He takes up His dwelling with us. Come, faithful, let us look upon His glory, the glory of the Only-begotten Son from God the Father!" *
*From the canon at the Compline for the eve of the Nativity.