2015-16 Christmas Season Schedule for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church of East Meadow

Contrary to popular belief, the weeks preceding Christmas are not the Christmas season. In the Orthodox Church, we prepare for Christmas by fasting from meat and animal products for the forty days before Christmas similar to Lent, as well as engaging in more prayer and charity. The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, also known in the Orthodox Church as the Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we celebrate the human birth of the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. We believe that the Son of God became man for our sake that, through Him, we may become divine, sons of God the Father by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in us.

January 1 is celebrated as the Circumcision of Jesus, which is also the Feast Day of St. Basil the Great, one of the most celebrated theologians and philanthropists of the ancient Church. There is no fasting allowed during this season until the Eve of Theophany (Epiphany). Theophany (January 6) is one of the most important Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Whereas Epiphany in the Western churches commemorates the visitation of the three Magi, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan on Theophany. This event also marks the manifestation of the Holy Trinity and the beginning of Christ’s ministry. We bless holy water both at the church and at a body of running water, in our case Alhambra Beach of Massapequa. Orthodox Christians use the holy water of Theophany to bless and sanctify their homes for the coming year.

We welcome the Long Island community to worship and celebrate with us during this holy season. The schedule of services is found below. All services are conducted in English.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is located at 369 Green Avenue in East Meadow. For more information, call 516-483-3649, email info@htocem.org, or visit www.htocem.org.

Christmas Eve, December 24

· The Vesperal Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· The Vigil (Great Compline and Matins) is held at 7:00 PM.

Feast of the Lord’s Nativity/Christmas Day, December 25

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· A festive brunch will follow the service.

Second Day of Nativity/Synaxis of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), December 26

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

Sunday after Nativity, December 27

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· Coffee hour will follow the service.

Circumcision of Christ/St. Basil’s Day/Civil New Year, January 1

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· Coffee hour and the cutting of the St. Basil’s Bread will follow.

Sunday before Theophany, January 3

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· Coffee hour will follow the service.

Eve of Theophany, January 5

· The Vesperal Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· The Vigil (Great Compline and Matins) is held at 7:00 PM.

Feast of Theophany, January 6

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· Brunch will be offered at 11:30 AM.

· The Great Blessing of Water will be held at Alhambra Beach, Massapequa at 1:00 PM.

Sunday after Theophany, January 10

· The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 9:30 AM.

· Coffee hour will follow the service.

· Holy water will be available to all. Please bring a bottle.

About Holy Trinity Church:

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, founded in 1924, was the first Orthodox Christian parish established in the Nassau/Suffolk area. Holy Trinity Church is a parish of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. Originally founded by Russian and Eastern European immigrants, the parish now encompasses Orthodox Christians of all traditional Orthodox ethnicities as well as many converts. All services are conducted in English. Holy Trinity Church proclaims the Gospel to all people on Long Island and has been engaged in many local and international philanthropic projects.