When King Herod "saw that he was mocked of the wise men" (Matthew, Ch. 2), he became "exceeding wroth," both with them and the newborn King of the Jews. He was angry with the Magi because they had failed to return and tell him where the Child was, and with Christ because he was afraid to lose his kingdom. He thought Christ wished to establish an earthly empire and failed to understand that the Lord's Kingdom is not of this world. What, then, did wretched Herod do? He could harm neither the Magi, who had departed nor Christ, Whose whereabouts were unknown to him, so he poured out his wrath upon innocent children. Like a savage, wounded beast that does not care what injured it, but lunges at whatever happens to be nearby, Herod in his rage attacked the blameless infants because those who had aroused his fury were out of reach. He sent soldiers armed as if for battle to Bethlehem, with orders to slay every child that was "two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."  

After accomplishing the mystery of our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and sent down the Holy Spirit from the Father, in the form of fiery tongues (Acts, Ch. 2). The faithful began to multiply in number, and "there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews" (Acts Ch. 6). The Greeks here referred to were not the pagan idolaters generally called the heathen in the Holy Scripture, for the time had not come for the door of faith to be opened to these, nor had the word of salvation been preached to them. It was only later, following Stefano's murder, that the heathen began to be numbered among the believers (Acts, Ch. 14 ).

All Divine Liturgies in the Orthodox Church are preceded by the chanting of the Hours services, consisting of Psalms, hymns and prayers. But in the Great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor was present each year at the service beginning the celebration of the Holy Nativity of Christ. Therefore, the Hours preceding the Vespers and Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on Christmas Eve are given the name "Royal Hours."

That life is hard is not the exception but the rule. Only the twentieth century has brought the simpleminded dream that life should be easy and leisurely, which it never has been throughout history. "In the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread," the Lord tells Adam (Genesis 3:19), and that is the law of human life. But afflictions and difficulties and limitations are easier to bear when we have warmth in us and among us. For in the day of His Second Coming, the Lord will not ask what kind of times we lived in, but how we related to our neighbor. Was he our "hell" or our "heaven?" We ourselves build either heaven or hell in our own hearts out of the momentary heart is able to transform any situation, even to make a cave in Bethlehem the most beautiful palace and birthplace of the King of kings.

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (St. John 6:68).

Persons and events come and go with the relentless march of time. That which today seems important and crucial may be completely forgotten tomorrow. Persons regarded by their contemporaries as influential and powerful are forgotten as if they never existed.

Christmas Eve Matins

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn

As she carried in her womb what she conceived without seed, Mary went to Bethlehem with elder Joseph to enroll, for they were of the house and lineage of David. The time arrived for her to give birth to her Child; but then there was no place in the inn for them. Therefore the grotto served as a luxurious royal palace for the Queen. And Christ the Lord is born to raise the image which was formerly fallen.