My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Manger a Throne
"O Creator, Thou makest new those born on earth by Thyself becoming clay. A manger and swaddling clothes and a cave are the mark of Thy lowliness. The betrothed of Thy Mother, Joseph, is thought by men to be Thy father according to the flesh" (Canon of Forefeast of Nativity, Ode Five. Mode Plagal Two).
Saint Gregory of Nyssa writes that "the Child is wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger; and the Mother is an incorrupt Virgin after childbirth, and embraces her Son" (Saint Gregory of Nyssa). The Saint then accentuates the note of joy in his writing about the Theotokos. As Eve introduces death through sin and gave birth in sorrow and pain. "It was fitting that the Mother of Life (New Eve) should begin her pregnancy with joy and complete her giving birth in joy" (Saint Gregory of Nyssa).
The New Eve
In this festival of re-creation, Mary is the renewal of all born o the earth. She is the New Eve. As the first Eve became the mother of all living people, so the New Eve became the Mother of all renewed mankind, divinized through the Incarnation of the Son of God. The Virgin Mary, the glory of our race, is the highest thanksgiving to God, which man, from among all created beings, brings to the Creator. (Quspensky and Lossky, The Meaning of Icons, p. 159).
Saint Andrew of Crete, in the Praises of the Feast, chants: "O virgin Theotokos who hast born overthrown the ancient curse of Eve" (Lauds of Nativity, Mode Four). Saint Ephraim the Syrian also speaks of the mystery concerning the two virgins, Eve and Mary. "Today Adam has been recalled from error and from the dark deceiving of the adversary (Satan), for Christ is made flesh as man from the Virgin; and renewing Adam, He has removed the curse that came from the virgin Eve" (Lauds of Forefeast). And, "Let women praise her, the pure Mary: that as Eve their mother, great was their reproach; lo! In Mary their sister, greatly magnified was their honor. Blessed is He Who sprang from women!" (Saint Epraim, "Hymn XV," On the Nativity).
Saint Hesychios of Jerusalem succinctly states that "the Only-begotten Son of God, Creator of the world, was born by her as an infant, He Who refashioned Adam, sanctified Eve, destroyed the Serpent, and opened paradise keeping firm the virginal seal."
Saint Gregory Palamas writes that "after dwelling in the Theotokos in an inexpressible manner, He proceeded from her bearing flesh. Then appearing on earth and living among men, He divinized our nature and granted us thing which Angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12).
Righteous Joseph's Trial
We see in holy icons that Righteous Joseph is not depicted in the immediate group of the Christ Child and His Mother. He is not the father and therefore he is emphatically separated from them. At times he is depicted as though pondering the wonder (miracle) of the Event, which is beyond the natural order of things. In many holy icons, the devil, in the guise of an old and bent shepherd, is seen standing before Joseph trying to tempt him. This scene bespeaks Joseph's doubts and troubled state of soul, which are expressed by his dejected attitude. The devil is telling him that a virgin birth is not possible; that it is opposed to the laws of nature and beyond words or reason.
However, in a hymn from the Third Hour on the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity, let us hear how Joseph answered these thoughts: "Tell us, Joseph, how is it that thou bringest to Bethlehem, great with child, the Maiden whom thou hast received from the sanctuary? 'I have searched the Prophets," said he, "and have been warned by an Angel. And I am persuaded that Mary shall give birth to God, in way surpassing all interpretation. And Magi from the east shall come to worship Him with precious gifts."
By a Strange Self-emptying He Passed Through Thy Womb, Vaster than the Heavens
"What shall we offer Thee, O Christ, Who for our sakes hast appeared on earth as Man? Every creature made by Thee offers Thee thanks. The Angels offer Thee a hymn; the heavens, a Star; the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger; and we offer Thee a virgin Mother, O Pre-eternal God, have mercy upon us!"
On this occasion of the Divine Birth-giving, Saint John Kronstadt comments upon the unsurpassing affection of the Mother for her Son. "The Theotokos is one flesh and blood, and one spirit with the Savior, as His Mother. So infinitely great was her virtue by the grace of God that she became the Mother of God. She gave Him her most pure and most sacred flesh, nourishing Him with her milk, carrying Him in her arms, clothing Him, caring in every way for Him in His infancy, kissing Him over and over again and caressing Him. O Lord, who can describe the presence of the God-bearing Virgin?...She is one with God..." (Saint John Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, p.255) [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George