Vicar Celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of Christ at the Miami Cathedral

The Nativity of Christ is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.  It is traditionally celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Matrona in Miami on the night of  January 6-7 (December 24- 25 on the Julian Calendar). 

The  services consisted of the Great Compline, Litiya, Matins, the Procession with the relics of St. Matrona (the Cathedral’s patroness), and the Divine Liturgy.  They were led by Archimandrite Alexander, Bishop-Elect of Nicopolis and the Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate.  Concelebrating were Archpriest Maxim Pliskov of the Cathedral clergy, and Hieromonk Pedro Medina Bazan, Rector of the Spanish Mission of St. Sebastian in Miami, who joined them at the procession.

The services were enhanced by the beautiful singing of the choir of the Cathedral.  The Orthodox faithful of many different nationalities attended to glorify the new-born Christ in common prayer and to receive the Holy Sacraments. The Miami Cathedral unites Orthodox Christians from different nations and cultures.

The Vicar’s Christmas message was read to all the faithful in the parishes of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America.  At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a prayer service for the holiday was performed before the icon of the Nativity of Christ.

At the  conclusion of the service, Archimandrite Alexander greeted the parishioners and thanked them for their continuing support of the Cathedral, wishing everyone the blessings of the newly born Christ.

On the morning of January 7, Archpriest Maxim celebrated a second Divine Liturgy in the cathedral on the alternate altar.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!