Today is Christmas in the Old Calendar. In Alberta, because of the many, many Ukrainians, both Eastern Catholic and Orthodox, who live in the Province, we call it Ukrainian Christmas. I'd like to wish all my Orthodox and Eastern Catholic readers who keep the Old Calendar a very Merry, Holy, and Blessed Feast of the Nativity.
Tropar of the Nativity:
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, / has shone to the world the Light of wisdom! / For by it, those who worshipped the stars, / were taught by a Star to adore You, / the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Orient from on High. / O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion of the Nativity
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! / Angels with shepherds glorify Him! / The wise men journey with a star! / Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
Христос рождається! Cлавімо Його! Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
For a few years my Ukrainian Catholic parish just west of you in Denver celebrated Christmas twice. I liked the fact that after having Epiphany, we went back to Christmas the next day. And I today will be wishing "Merry Christmas" the Ethiopian Christians who run the 7/11 type store nearby.
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