The Nativity of the Mother of God
Our parish is dedicated to the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, celebrated on September 8th (Old Calendar).
Our Patronal Feast
The feast honors the birth of the Mother of God and the salvation that comes through her Son. The second major feast of the new church year is the Elevation (Exaltation) of the Holy Cross. The Nativity of the Theotokos is seen as the beginning of our salvation, and the Cross is seen as the culmination of our salvation. By Christ's death on it, our salvation was accomplished.
Mary is also strongly associated with the Cross, for she was the mystical paradise in whom the Tree of Life sprouted; this Tree of Life, Christ our Savior, then planted on earth the life-creating Tree of the Cross (from the Feast). As He suffered and died on the life-giving Tree of the Cross, so too we are called upon to take up our own crosses and die daily for the sake of Him Who died for us.
Saints Joachim and Anna
The righteous ancestors of God who through faith and patience received the promised child.
Saint Joachim, the son of Barpathir, was of the tribe of Judah, and was a descendant of King David, to whom God had revealed that the Savior of the world would be born from his seed. Saint Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, who was of the tribe of Levi. Saint Anna's family came from Bethlehem.
The couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him.
Once, during a great feast, the gifts which Joachim took to Jerusalem as an offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who considered that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained the old man very much, and he, regarding himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place.
When Saint Anna learned what humiliation her husband had endured, she sorrowfully entreated God with prayer and fasting to grant her a child. In his desolate solitude the righteous Joachim also asked God for this. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born to them, Who would be blessed above all other women. He also told them that She would remain a virgin, would be dedicated to the Lord and live in the Temple, and would give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, Saints Joachim and Anna met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary.
Saint Joachim died a few years later at the age of 80, after his daughter went to live in the Temple. Saint Anna died at the age of 70, two years after her husband.
Saints Joachim and Anna are often invoked by couples trying to have children.
Source: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Significance of the Feast
Why the Nativity of the Theotokos holds a special place in Orthodox worship and in the life of our parish.
Beginning of Salvation
"The Nativity of the Theotokos marks the change of the times when the great and comforting promises of God for the salvation of the human race from slavery to the devil are about to be fulfilled."
Source: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Hope and Patience
"This event has brought to earth the grace of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of Truth, piety, virtue and everlasting life."
Source: Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
First Great Feast
"The first Great Feast to fall in the Church Year is the Nativity of the Theotokos."
Our Celebration
"Your Nativity, O Virgin, has proclaimed joy to the whole universe! The Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone from you, O Theotokos!"
Hymns of the Feast
Selected liturgical texts from the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
"Thy nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He hath loosed the curse and hath given the blessing; He hath made death of no effect and hath granted us life everlasting."
"By thy nativity, O most pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; Adam and Eve, from the corruption of death. And we, thy people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to thee: The barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our Life."