service files pre christmas.md

The Byzantine rite has no liturgical season corresponding to Advent in the Latin rite and its various western derivatives. This does not mean that there is no liturgical preparation for feast of Christ ‘s Nativity. This begins on 15 November, the day after the commemoration of the Apostle Philip with the Christmas Fast, with replacement of ‘ The Lord is God ‘ by ‘ Alleluia ‘ and other non-lenten features on non-festal days. On 21 November we begin to sing the Christmas Katavasias, ‘ Christ is born, give glory! ‘ Then, on St Andrew’s day and subsequent feasts, the office introduces pre-Christmas idiomela at Vespers and Matins. I have collected these on this and added some footnotes giving scriptural and other references.

PRE-CHRISTMAS TEXTS