Sunday before the Nativity 2025

Written By Joey Wang
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The Sunday before the Holy Nativity

(Matthew: 1:1-25; The Genealogy of Christ)

The Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, or the Sunday before Christmas, commemorates the human ancestors of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church celebrates this day with hymns and the reading of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1, verses 1–25. The genealogy of Jesus is read to create a sense of anticipation for the birth of Christ and to invite the righteous who lived before Christ into the joy of the Nativity. 

Saturday, December 20th - Great Vespers, 5 p.m. Service text:https://antiochianprodsa.blob.core.windows.net/servicetexts/Dec 20 2025 Bilingual VESP.pdf

Sunday, December 21st - Orthros, 8:30 a.m. Service text: https://antiochianprodsa.blob.core.windows.net/servicetexts/Dec 21 2025 Bilingual ORTHROS.pdf

Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m. Service text: https://antiochianprodsa.blob.core.windows.net/servicetexts/Dec 21 2025 Bilingual READ.pdf

Joey Wang
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Sunday of the Holy Forefathers 2025