St. Luke Byzantine Catholic Church

                                                Liturgies

Christmas Eve - Tuesday, December 24

Royal Hours at 9:00 am

Singing of Christmas Carols  at 7:45 pm

Vigil Divine Liturgy at 8:00 pm

       Followed immediately by Great Compline  

Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25

Singing of Christmas Carols at 9:45 am

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at 10:00 am

Saturday, December 7 - Festal  Vespers at 4:30 pm

Sunday, December 8 - Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son (Gal 4:4) to save the human race. And when nine months were fulfilled from the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabiel had appeared to the Most-holy Virgin n Nazareth, saying, rejoice thou that art highly favored… behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring for a Son (Lk 1:28, 31), at that time there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the people of the Roman Empire should be taxed. In accordance with this decree, everyone had to go to his own town and be registered. That is why the righteous Joseph came with the Most-holy Virgin to Bethlehem, the city of David, for they were both of the royal lineage of David. Since many people on this small town for the census, Joseph and Mary were unable to find lodging in any house, and they sought shelter in a cave which shepherds used as a sheepfold. In this cave, the Most-holy Virgin gave birth to Him without pain as He was conceived without sin by the Holy Spirit and not by man.  She herself wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, worshiped Him as God, and laid Him in a manger. Then the righteous Joseph drew near and worshiped Him as the Divine Fruit of the Virgin’s womb. Then the shepherds came in from the fields, directed by an angel and worshiped Him as the Messiah and Savior.  At that time three wise men arrived from the east, led by a wondrous star, bearing their gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They worshiped him as the King of kings, and offered Him their gifts (Mt 2). After many messengers and heralds, prophets and righteous men, wise men and kings, finally He appeared, the Lord of the world and King of kings, to perform the work of the salvation of mankind. To Him be eternal glory and praise. 

Troparion (Tone 4):

Your birth, O Christ our God, has shed upon the world the light of knowledge; for through it, those who worshiped the stars have learned from a star to worship You, the Sun of Justice, and to know You, the Dawn from on High. Glory to You, O Lord!

Kontakion (Tone 3):

Today, the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One; and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable. The angels sing his glory with the shepherds; the wise men journey with the star. The eternal God is born for us as an infant child. 

The Feast of the Saint Stephen is celebrated on December 27.

Liturgies:

Friday, December 27 - Divine Liturgy at 7:00 pm

Stephen was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul and one of those Jews who lived in the Hellenic provinces. Stephen was the first of the seven deacons whom the holy apostles ordained and appointed to the service of assisting the poor in Jerusalem. For this, he is called the archdeacon. By the power of his faith, Stephen worked great miracles among the people. The wicked Jews disputed with him, but they were always defeated by his wisdom and the power of the Spirit, Who acted through him. Then the shameful Jews, accustomed to calumnies and slander, incited the people and the elders of the people against the innocent Stephen, slandering him as though he had blasphemed against God and against Moses.  False witnesses were quickly found who confirmed this, Stephen then stood before the people, and all saw his face as it had been the face of an angel (Acts 6:15), that is his face was illumined with the light of grace as was once the face of Moses when he spoke with God. Stephen opened his mouth and enumerated the many good works and miracles that God had performed in the past for the people of Israel, as well as the many crimes and opposition to God on the part of this people. He especially rebuked them for the killing of Christ the Lord, calling them betrayers and murderers (Acts 7:52). And while they gnashed their teeth, Stephen beheld and saw the heavens open and the glory of God. That which he saw, he declared to the Jews: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God! (Acts 7:56). Then the malicious men took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Among his persecutors was his kinsman Saul, later the Apostle Paul. At that time, the Most-holy Theotokos, standing on a rock at a distance with Saint John the Theologian, witnessed the martyrdom of the first martyr for the truth of her Son and God, and she prayed to God for Stephen. This occurred one year after the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, Gamaliel, a prince of the Jews and a secret Christian, clandestinely took Saint Stephen’s body and buried it on his own estate. Thus, this first among the Christian martyrs gloriously reposed and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ God. 

Troparian (Tone 4):

First martyr and apostle of Christ, you fought the good fight. You convicted the tyrants of their wickedness. When you were killed by stoning at the hands of sinners, you received a crown from God’s right hand while you cried out: Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 

Kontakion (Tone 3):

Yesterday, in human flesh the Master came to us; today, from the flesh, His servant departs. Yesterday, the King was born in the flesh; today, His servant is killed by stoning. Thus the holy Stephen, the first martyr, is brought to perfection.