Forefeast of Christmas in Smyrna
In a joyful atmosphere filled with sweet devotional anticipation, the members of the Orthodox Community of Smyrna are preparing to celebrate the Great Feast of the Holy Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to worship the Divine Infant and to ask for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother.
For a better spiritual preparation for this great feast of faith of Orthodox people of all ethnic origins, living within the canonical boundaries of the Apocalyptic Church of Smyrna, during this period, the Divine Liturgy was performed in various languages, by invited priests who spoke these languages to the various faithful, whilst also having the opportunity for ministering the Mystery of Holy Confession in their native tongues.
More specifically, the Divine Liturgy was performed on Saturday,10 December, in Romanian, by Rev. Fr Segiou Vlad, Proistamenos of the Romanian-speaking Parish of Constantinople; on Thursday, 15 December, on the day of the commemoration of Saint Eleftherios, the Divine Liturgy was performed in Georgian, by Archimandrite Ilia Jinjolava, Proistamenos of the Georgian-speaking Parish of Constantinople, then on Saturday, 17 December, another liturgy was performed in Ukrainian, by Father Iacovos Krochak, the Grand Syncellus.
The officiating priests accepted the confessions in the native languages of the faithful, and after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a fasting table was offered, so that the faithful had the opportunity to discuss many things with the clergy who had come to be amongst them. During these Divine Liturgies, Our Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna officiated and was present, whilst also having the opportunity to address the faithful with edifying words.
For the rest of the Slavonic faithful, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in Slavonic on 24 December 2022, Christmas Eve (New Calendar), by the Hieromonk Vladimiros Rusannen, clergyman of The Holy Metropolis of Pisidia. For the benefit of all the faithful of the Community, the Great Despotic Feasts of Christmas and Epiphany will also be celebrated according to the Julian Calendar, on the 7th and 19th of January 2023, respectively.
Finally, on Sunday, 18 December 2022, the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, our Shepherd, Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna, presided over the Divine Liturgy, with the participation of a large congregation, and spoke appropriately and mingled with the faithful during the reception that followed in the courtyard of the Holy Church.
Source: fosfanariou.gr
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