Sunday before Exaltation of the Cross

Transfer of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

September 7, 2014

Saints of the Day:  Martyr Sozon of Cilicia; Apostles Euodos & Onesiphoros of the Seventy; John, archbishop of Novgorod; Venerable Cloud of Nogent-sur-Seine

Hymns of the Day

Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 4

Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion Nativity of the Theotokos, Tone 4

Thy nativity, O Virgin, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe! The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from thee, O Theotokos.  By annulling the curse, He bestowed a blessing. By destroying death, He has granted, eternal life.

Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos,  Tone 4

Joachim and Anna were freed from reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O immaculate one, by the holy Nativity, which, thy people redeemed from the guilt of offenses, celebrate by crying unto thee. The barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.

Megalynarion of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Tone 8

Motherhood knows not virginity, O Theotokos and virgins are strangers to child-bearing, but both these things were fulfilled in thee, O mother of God, wherefore, we all races of the earth, do ceaselessly magnify thee.

Epistle – Galatians 6: 11-18

Brethren, see with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand. As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision, avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.

Gospel – John 3: 13-17  

 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The Nativity of the Theotokos – September 8^th

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8^th each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  [With the blessing of Metropolitan Joseph, we are celebrating this Great Feast today, Sunday, by transference.]

The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.

According to the story found in this book, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.

As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.

Source – Greek Archdiocese webpage

Orthodox Christians do not hold to the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in which it is supposed that Mary was preserved from the ancestral sin that befalls us all as descendants of Adam and Eve, in anticipation of her giving birth to the sinless Christ. Orthodox Christians believe that Mary indeed received the ancestral sin, having been conceived in the normal way of humanity, and thus needed salvation like all mankind. Orthodox thought does vary on whether Mary actually ever sinned, though there is general agreement that she was cleansed from sin at the Annunciation.

Source – Orthodox Wiki