John the ForerummerSaint John's Eastern Orthodox Church

 Bringing Orthodox Christian Faith to Amarillo

 

Saint John's Eastern Orthodox Church

1101 Bell Street, Amarillo, Texas, 79106                            (806) 355-0683

Schedule of Services

Saturday, December 10th, (Vespers 6:00 p.m.)

Sunday, December 11th, (Orthros 9:00 a.m. and Liturgy)*

Friday, December 23rd, (Vespers of the Forefeast of the Nativity 6 p.m.)

Saturday, December 24th, Forefeast of the Lord's Nativity (Orthros 9:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.)

Sunday, December 25th, The Feast of the Nativity
(Orthros 9:00 a.m. - Liturgy of St. Basil 10 a.m.)

Because the Nativity is Sunday there can be no evening Liturgy the night of the eve of the Nativity since the Liturgical day begins at sunset that day.  We preserve, therefore, the importance of The Birth of Christ from the beginning of the day until the completion at the dismissal at the end of St. Basil’s Liturgy on Sunday.

“According to the Orthodox Church calendar, the official name for Christmas is ‘The Navtivity According to the Flesh of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ’ or sometimes referred to as simply the Nativity of our Lord.  The Christmas season includes more than just the celebration on December 25th, but also includes the Feast of the Circumcission and Naming of Jesus on January 1, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, which we also call Epiphany or Theophany, on January 6th and the Entrance of the Lord into the Temple on February 2nd.  Together, these feasts are known as the ‘Winter Pascha’, borrowing a term from the Great Pascha in the spring when we celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  These winter feasts celebrate three very important events in Jesus’ life as He begins His preaching and teaching ministry in the world.  At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation of the Word of God and is known to us as Jesus.  We are celebrating the fulfilling of God’s promise that He would send a messiah to save us from our sins.” (Feats of Fath, W. Mills)

 

“Let heaven and earth today make glad prophetically

Angels and men let us keep the spiritual feast

For God, born of a woman has appeared in the flesh to those who sit in darkness and shadow

A cave and a manger have received Him.

Shepherds announce the wonder; Magi from the east offer gifts in Bethlehem

Let us, then from our unworthy lips offer praise like the angels

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace

For the expectation of the nations has come

He has come and saved us from the bondage of the enemy.”

(excerpt from the Litya Hymns at Compline for the Nativity)

 

CHRIST IS BORN!  GLORIFY HIM!

 

On Wednesday evenings from 6:30--7:30 pm there will be a class on “An Introduction to Byzantine Music Theory” by Fr. David Barr. The lessons are on CD and handouts. In this course we will learn about the liturgical cycles, how a liturgy is put together for different feasts as well as vespers and orthros services. We will also learn the Eight Byzantine Tones.  All Chanters are encouraged to attend and others may attend if they are interested in learning more about the music used in the Orthodox Services.

Upcoming Events

  • There will be a Parish Council Meeting on Sunday, December 11th.