Fr. Niko's Monthly Message - Dec. 2023
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
At the end of every Orthros service, there is a series of prayers that is known as the Doxology, from the Greek word “δοξολογω,” to give glory. These prayers are read or, if Divine Liturgy follows, they are chanted, and are a way in which the congregation praises God’s glory. In Western Christianity, these prayers might be known as adoration, and similar prayers are found throughout the Holy Scriptures. Their sole purpose is to praise God for the many ways which He is great.
In the Western world today, the idea of “giving glory” might be a somewhat foreign one. We might think of the American flag or a bald eagle, but that is probably about as close as it gets. Rarely do we find ourselves in a setting in which our sole purpose is to offer praise. And yet so often in our Church, we often give glory to God, something slightly different from thanking God or asking forgiveness. In the ancient world, one would often give praise to a king before addressing him or asking for anything. One might greet the king with “Hail, you who are greatest among all men!” It was common to acknowledge the greatness of the one whom one stood before.
When we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the moment in the history of salvation when we affirm that God took on flesh to save the human race, Orthodoxy believes that now we stand in the presence of another king, and our calling is to give Him glory! The katavasies, the hymns of the season during Orthros, immediately call for us to glorify: “Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. Christ is on earth; arise to Him. Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth… For He is glorified.” (Ode 1) We celebrate this great feast of the Church by offering God our glory. It is an acknowledgment that He is the King of all creation, but also of our lives, and a reminder to us that it is only proper since now we are in His presence.
Let us remember this truth during the Christmas season, and indeed, glorify Him!
With love in Christ,
Fr. Nikolaos Bekris
Proistamenos
Fr. Niko's Monthly Message - Dec. 2023
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
At the end of every Orthros service, there is a series of prayers that is known as the Doxology, from the Greek word “δοξολογω,” to give glory. These prayers are read or, if Divine Liturgy follows, they are chanted, and are a way in which the congregation praises God’s glory. In Western Christianity, these prayers might be known as adoration, and similar prayers are found throughout the Holy Scriptures. Their sole purpose is to praise God for the many ways which He is great.
In the Western world today, the idea of “giving glory” might be a somewhat foreign one. We might think of the American flag or a bald eagle, but that is probably about as close as it gets. Rarely do we find ourselves in a setting in which our sole purpose is to offer praise. And yet so often in our Church, we often give glory to God, something slightly different from thanking God or asking forgiveness. In the ancient world, one would often give praise to a king before addressing him or asking for anything. One might greet the king with “Hail, you who are greatest among all men!” It was common to acknowledge the greatness of the one whom one stood before.
When we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the moment in the history of salvation when we affirm that God took on flesh to save the human race, Orthodoxy believes that now we stand in the presence of another king, and our calling is to give Him glory! The katavasies, the hymns of the season during Orthros, immediately call for us to glorify: “Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. Christ is on earth; arise to Him. Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth… For He is glorified.” (Ode 1) We celebrate this great feast of the Church by offering God our glory. It is an acknowledgment that He is the King of all creation, but also of our lives, and a reminder to us that it is only proper since now we are in His presence.
Let us remember this truth during the Christmas season, and indeed, glorify Him!
With love in Christ,
Fr. Nikolaos Bekris
Proistamenos
Fr. Niko's Monthly Message - Dec. 2023
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
At the end of every Orthros service, there is a series of prayers that is known as the Doxology, from the Greek word “δοξολογω,” to give glory. These prayers are read or, if Divine Liturgy follows, they are chanted, and are a way in which the congregation praises God’s glory. In Western Christianity, these prayers might be known as adoration, and similar prayers are found throughout the Holy Scriptures. Their sole purpose is to praise God for the many ways which He is great.
In the Western world today, the idea of “giving glory” might be a somewhat foreign one. We might think of the American flag or a bald eagle, but that is probably about as close as it gets. Rarely do we find ourselves in a setting in which our sole purpose is to offer praise. And yet so often in our Church, we often give glory to God, something slightly different from thanking God or asking forgiveness. In the ancient world, one would often give praise to a king before addressing him or asking for anything. One might greet the king with “Hail, you who are greatest among all men!” It was common to acknowledge the greatness of the one whom one stood before.
When we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the moment in the history of salvation when we affirm that God took on flesh to save the human race, Orthodoxy believes that now we stand in the presence of another king, and our calling is to give Him glory! The katavasies, the hymns of the season during Orthros, immediately call for us to glorify: “Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. Christ is on earth; arise to Him. Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth… For He is glorified.” (Ode 1) We celebrate this great feast of the Church by offering God our glory. It is an acknowledgment that He is the King of all creation, but also of our lives, and a reminder to us that it is only proper since now we are in His presence.
Let us remember this truth during the Christmas season, and indeed, glorify Him!
With love in Christ,
Fr. Nikolaos Bekris
Proistamenos
Fr. Niko's Monthly Message - Dec. 2023
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord,
At the end of every Orthros service, there is a series of prayers that is known as the Doxology, from the Greek word “δοξολογω,” to give glory. These prayers are read or, if Divine Liturgy follows, they are chanted, and are a way in which the congregation praises God’s glory. In Western Christianity, these prayers might be known as adoration, and similar prayers are found throughout the Holy Scriptures. Their sole purpose is to praise God for the many ways which He is great.
In the Western world today, the idea of “giving glory” might be a somewhat foreign one. We might think of the American flag or a bald eagle, but that is probably about as close as it gets. Rarely do we find ourselves in a setting in which our sole purpose is to offer praise. And yet so often in our Church, we often give glory to God, something slightly different from thanking God or asking forgiveness. In the ancient world, one would often give praise to a king before addressing him or asking for anything. One might greet the king with “Hail, you who are greatest among all men!” It was common to acknowledge the greatness of the one whom one stood before.
When we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the moment in the history of salvation when we affirm that God took on flesh to save the human race, Orthodoxy believes that now we stand in the presence of another king, and our calling is to give Him glory! The katavasies, the hymns of the season during Orthros, immediately call for us to glorify: “Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven; go and meet Him. Christ is on earth; arise to Him. Sing to the Lord, all you who dwell on the earth… For He is glorified.” (Ode 1) We celebrate this great feast of the Church by offering God our glory. It is an acknowledgment that He is the King of all creation, but also of our lives, and a reminder to us that it is only proper since now we are in His presence.
Let us remember this truth during the Christmas season, and indeed, glorify Him!
With love in Christ,
Fr. Nikolaos Bekris
Proistamenos
