December 25th is the Feast of the Incarnation of our Lord and savior Jesus the Messiah (Hido d’yaldo d’Moran u foruqan Yeshu mshiho) or Christmas according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
Christmas is a the culmination of the six week period of Suboro & is the central feast of the blessed season. The incarnation of our Lord Jesus is a great mystery which surpasses our comprehension & is worthy of proclamation. God concealed His mysteries from those who consider themselves wise in order to put to shame the wisdom of this world. St. Cyril writes, “for he is unchangeable & unalterable, ever continuing altogether the same according to the Scriptures: but we say that the Son of God, while visible to the eyes, & a babe & in swaddling clothes, & still at the breast of his Virgin Mother, filled all creation as God, & was seated with his Father. For the divinity is without quantity & without magnitude & without limit.” The message of Christmas is the message of salvation. With the incarnation of our Lord, the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven is made available to us all. St. Ephrem writes, “put to shame was the Evil One who became king & plaited a diadem of deceit. Like God, he set his throne on the inhabited earth. The Babe in a manger cast him from his power.”
“Glory to God in the highest and peace to
those below, for the Savior is born in the city of David.” Brikh Mawlodhe d-Moran Yeshu mshiho!
The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:
Evening:
St. John 1:1-17
By the fire-pit:
Hebrews 1:1-12
St. Luke 2:1-14
Morning:
St. Luke 2:15-20
Before Holy Qurbono:
Genesis 21:1-8
Job 19:21-20:4
Joshua 24:21-26
II Kings 4:8-17
Michah 5:1-8
Great Wisdom 8:19-9:3
Zachariah 2:10-3:10
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Daniel 2:31-47
Ezekiel 37:15-28
I Samuel 1:19-23
Isaiah 9:1-7
Holy Qurbono:
I John 1:1-2:6
Galatians 3:23-26, 29:4-7
Ephesians 3:20-21
Matthew 2:1-12
For sermons/commentaries based on the Gospel reading: https://goo.gl/X4djtS
Tone of the Day: 1
Malayalam book: https://tinyurl.com/ypv454fd
Manglish book: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18glc1rx5w34rjLP78faOXvuWfoqevT8k/view?usp=drivesdk
Syriac Phanqitho/Husoyo: https://tinyurl.com/3unvhzd2
Promiyon Sedro (Malayalam courtesy Hymonutho)
– Evening & Midnight by Fr. Manu Baby: https://youtu.be/Mlbc9qs3Zrg
-Morning by Fr. Eldhose Kallarakal: https://youtu.be/FuE06rAbzb8
Feast of Nativity through the Hymns of St. Ephrem (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/3m4QcGe
Fixed Feast
St. Mary's Knanaya Church, Tampa 