Chapter 21

The Nativity of Christ (Christmas)

The faithful prepare themselves for this great Feast by a prolonged Fast, which beginneth on November 1 5, and is called the Christmas Fast, or the Fast of St. Philip. The Eve of the Feast {Sotchilnik) is dedicated to a specially strut abstinence.

On Christmas Eve the customary festival Compline senrice is celebrated. If the Eve falleth on any day except Saturday or Sunday ‘, then on the morning of thai day the Imperial Hours are read, and, later on, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated, preceded by Vespers. But if the day before the Feast bt Saturday or Sunday, then the Imperial Hours are read on Friday, while the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated on the preceding day {Sotchilnik). If the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used on the preceding day (Sotchilnik) then on the Feast of the Nativity itself the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is used ; and contrariwise.

The other general differences of this festival service are asfolloweth ; Matins are preceded, not by Vespers, but by Grand Compline : aitd after the Liturgy, on the day of the Feast, in Russian churches, a service of thanksgiving is celebrated, in commemoration of Russia’s victory over Napoleon f. ana the French.

The Imperial Hours,* to precede Christmas.

In addition to many of the Prayers and so forth which are used in the daily Hours, and the Christmas Hymns, the following are read;

First Hour. Psalms v., xlv., xlvi. The Parable (Paremiyd). Micah v. 2-4. The Epistle, Heb. i. 1-12. The Gospel. Matt. i. 18-25,

Third Hour. Psalms lxvii., lxxxvii., li. The Parable {Paremiyd). Jer. (Baruch iii. 36-38, iv. 1-4). The Epistle. Gal. iii. 23-29. The Gospel. Luke ii. 1-20.

Sixth Hour. Psalms lxxil, cxxxii., xci. The Parable {Paremiyd). Isaiah vil 10-16, viii. 1-4, 9, 10. ‘Ike Epistle. Heb. i. 10-14, ii 1-3. The Gospel Matt. ii. 1-12.

Ninth Hour. Psalms ex., cxi, Ixxxvi.

In Russia, Many Years are proclaimed for the Emperor, the Holy Synod, the Bishop, the Orthodox Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, and others ; and the Choir respondetk: Many years !

ON THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

At the Vespers which immediately precede the Liturgy, the Stanza (Stikhira) for : Lord, I have cried : In Tone II.

O come, let us rejoice in the Lord, as we declare this present mystery : The partition wall of disunion hath been destroyed, the flaming sword is turned back, and the Cherubim withdraw from the

* The Emperors of Byzantium were wont to attend the Hours on certain of the great Feasts of the Church, which received their name of “ the Imperial Hours ** from that circumstance, as well as from their extraordinary splendour and importance.