|
 In
the earliest days of Christianity, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ
was not generally celebrated in the Church. First mention of the Feast
is made by Clement of Alexandria, who mentions that certain Egyptians
commemorated the birth of Christ on May 20. The Apostolic Constitutions
of the first half of the 4th Century set forth that January 6 should be
celebrated as both the Feast of the Nativity and Epiphany. St. Gregory
of Nyssa in 380 wrote that the faithful of Cappadocia celebrated the Nativity
on Dec. 25. The Feast was not celebrated in Jerusalem until the 6th Century,
while St. John Chrysostom introduced it at Antioch in 386 and at Constantinople
between 398-402. In Rome the Feast of the Nativity of Christ had been
celebrated on Dec. 25 since 354.
December 25 was ultimately chosen by the Church as the date of the Nativity
in order to christianize the pagan Feast of Natalis Invicti or Invincible
Sun, which was celebrated on that day. St. Cyprian of Carthage noted that
this "anniversary of the invincible" was made actual only in
the birth of Jesus-the only invincible One.
As the hymns of Christmas proclaim, "Our Savior, the Dayspring from
the East, has visited us from on high: And we who were in darkness and
shadow have found the Truth. For the Lord is born of the Virgin"
(Exapostilarion). And as the Prophet Isaiah foretold many centuries before,
and as the Church proclaims at the Great Compline during the All-Night
Vigil for the Nativity of Christ, "Understand all ye nations, and
submit yourselves, for God is with us!"
The Christmas story is well-known from the witness of Holy Scripture:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was
governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea,
to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who
was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be
delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped Him in
a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn [Luke 2:1-7].
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where
is He Who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in
the East, and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard
this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all
the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where
the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea;
for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, 0 Bethlehem, in the land
of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you
shall come a ruler who will govern My people Israel." Then Herod
summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the
star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Co and search
diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him bring me word, that
I too may come and worship Him." When they had heard the king they
went their way; and lo, the Mar which they had seen in the East went before
them, till it came to rest over the place where the Child was. When they
saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into
the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down
and worshipped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts,
gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return
to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way [Matt. 2:1-12].
And in that region there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch
over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with
fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring
you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the
Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in
swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men" [Luke
2:8-14].
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that
has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went
with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them
concerning this Child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds
told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard and seen, as it had been told them [Luke 2:15-20].
Now when [the wise men and shepherds] had departed, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rife, take the
Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell
you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy Him."
And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to
Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill
what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called
My son." Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the
wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children
in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according
to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled
what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused
to be consoled, because they were no more" [Matt. 2:13-18].
Troparion of the Feast (Tone 4)
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a star to adore
Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high.
O Lord, Glory to Thee!
Kontakion of the Feast (Tone 3)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers
a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him!
The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the eternal God
was born as a little child! |
