News

Istanbul, Dec. 7, 2007 (CWNews.com) - For the first time in 5 years, the Orthodox community in Turkey, received official permission to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the feast of St. Nicholas in the church where the saint served as bishop.

Metropolitan Kalaitsis celebrated the Liturgy in the church of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey, the KNA news service reports. The government of Turkey-- which is militantly secular in its ideology, but heavily influenced by the country's Islamic majority-- now maintains the church as a museum.

Metropolitan Kalaitsis said that he was hopeful the permission to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas would be granted each year in the future.

Catholic World News

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04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)