www.orthodox.cn - English Machine Translation - 2008-01-09 - In capital of China, in territory of Embassy of the Russian Federation, have taken place solemn divine services in honour of a great holiday of Nativity of Christ.

More than 100 Orthodox believers have gathered in christmas night for a celebratory Divine liturgy within the precincts of ancient construction of Russian Spiritual Mission – Red Fangzi. Holy Dormition Orthodox community of city of Beijing – the most numerous in China. Not only the Russian compatriots, but also citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Greece, France, the USA and Romania here come to pray. On service there have arrived believers from Beijing and other cities of China.

Christmas services archpriest Dionisy Pozdnyaev, the teacher of the Moscow Spiritual academy Hieromonk Melety (Sokolov) in sosluzhenii diakona – have lead the prior of a temple of sacred apostles Peter and Paul in Hong Kong the clergyman of the Russian Foreign Church who have arrived from Australia. After night divine service the Christmas message of the Most holy Patriarch Moscow and vseya has been read to Russia Alex.

By a holiday of Nativity of Christ in Red Fangzi where divine services are spent, the cypress iconostasis has been established (installed). It became the present (true) spiritual gift to a community of Orthodox believers. After a writing of all icons (icons are now written in Moscow) it will be possible to speak about a full reconstruction of the church interior so necessary for fulfilment of divine services.

By already developed tradition in the afternoon on January 7th in a building of club of the Russian Embassy forces of Sunday school of an Orthodox community of Beijing there has passed(there has taken place) the Christmas fur-tree.

Celebratory christmas services have taken place and in other cities of China - Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.


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)