| Sunday, December 21st, 2025 Sunday Before Nativity | | | | Join us in person on Sunday as we celebrate Divine Liturgy for the Sunday Before Nativity or if you are ever unable to join us in person for services, please visit our YouTube and FaceBook channels to participate via the live stream.
If you have not already, please make sure to subscribe to our channel to receive notifications when services are happening! | |
Sunday, December 21st
8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine Liturgy | | | | Upcoming Services
Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve 5:00 PM - Vespers for the Holy Nativity followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil
Thursday, December 25th Holy Nativity 8:30 AM - Orthros and Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom | | Click on the buttons below to follow along with the services in both English and Greek: | | Please Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and LIKE our Facebook page! | | | Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος· ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο· ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐῤῥύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. | | | Resurrectional Apolytikion
Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy. | | | Ἀπολυτίκιον .
Ἑτοιμάζου Βηθλεέμ· ἤνοικται πᾶσιν ἡ Ἐδέμ. Εὐτρεπίζου Ἐφραθᾶ, ὅτι τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, ἐν τῷ Σπηλαίῳ ἐξήνθησεν ἐκ τῆς Παρθένου. Παράδεισος καὶ γάρ, ἡ ἐκείνης γαστήρ, ἐδείχθη νοητός, ἐν ᾧ τὸ θεῖον φυτόν· ἐξ οὗ φαγόντες ζήσομεν, οὐχὶ δὲ ὡς ὁ Ἀδὰμ τεθνηξόμεθα. Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, τὴν πρὶν πεσοῦσαν, ἀναστήσων εἰκόνα. | | | Apolytikion
O Bethlehem, prepare, Eden is opened unto all. * And be ready, Ephrata, for the Tree of life * has in the grotto blossomed forth from the Virgin. * Indeed her womb is shown to be spiritually * a Paradise, in which is found the God-planted Tree. * And if we eat from it we shall live, and shall not die, as did Adam of old. * Christ is born, so that He might raise up * the formerly fallen image. | | | Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος πλ. δʹ. Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀποῤῥήτως. Χόρευε, ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον, μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, Παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν. | | | Kontakion. Mode pl. 4.
On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God. | | Weekly Lectionary Readings | | Weekly Donation to Our Church:
Please remember the ministries of our Church as you make your weekly offering! Please send your donation to the Church office, OR donate online by clicking the button below: | | | TODAY
Please enjoy the brief Christmas concert that our Sunday School students will offer us today under the direction of Alexandros Kyriakopoulos, who is a dedicated pianist with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. | |
Metropolitan Methodios's Christmas Message | | | Christmas Giving Tree
A huge THANK YOU to the Saint John the Baptist community and beyond for your heartfelt contribution of gifts for the annual “Giving Tree” Christmas ministry for students at English High School ! EVERY gift was fulfilled and then some! Your generosity was overwhelming, and the staff was extremely touched. As always everyone came through once again !! Wishing everyone a beautiful holiday season ahead with your family. Merry Christmas! | | | Advent and Christmas Fast
The Christmas Fast of Advent is a 40-day period of preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ—Christmas.
The Christmas Fast—also called the Nativity Fast—is a season of spiritual preparation, emphasizing repentance, prayer, increased worship, and charitable works. It is similar in spirit to Great Lent, but generally less strict.
Spiritual Focus • Increased prayer • Increased Attendance at the special Advent services and Divine Liturgy • Confession • Acts of charity and almsgiving • Reflection on the Incarnation of Christ
Purpose of the Fast The fast is meant to: • Prepare the heart to receive Christ at His birth • Cultivate humility and repentance • Strengthen discipline and compassion • Create spiritual “room” for the celebration of the Nativity
| | | Sunday School News
Dear Sunday School families,
We have a very exciting new addition to our Sunday School program – MUSIC!!!
We are thrilled to share that Alexandros Kyriakopoulos, an incredible musician and instructor, has begun teaching us music at the end of each Sunday School lesson. Alexandros is a dedicated pianist with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and he runs the music program for the Little Halos preschool at the Saint Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Arlington. Alexandros is teaching us hymns and songs from the church, as well as traditional Greek songs to enhance our lessons and help us to learn further about our faith and culture.
Please join us every Sunday for Sunday School and now, music class, as well!
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Metropolitan Methodios's FOS Message | | | Please join the St. John the Baptist Philoptochos to support “Operation Housewarming for Homeless Veterans” Honoring all St. John’s parishioners who have served in the armed forces. The mission of Operation Housewarming is to support veterans in need of household items as they transition into their own homes . Please refer to the wish list below - donation bins are located in the church lobby - monetary donations are also welcome . Please contact Georgia.lagadinos@gmail.com for more info | | | PHILOPTOCHOS:
Please consider contributing to the Philoptochos outreach projects for the less fortunate in our Boston community:
VETERANS:
We thank our veterans for their selfless, sacrifice, heroism, and everything they have done for our country and our freedom.
The Saint John’s Philoptochos invites you to support a very important ministry “Operation Housewarming” for Homeless Veterans-established in 2012-
The Metropolis Philoptochos and with the help of the overwhelming support and generosity of all Philoptochos chapters and parish communities in our metropolis have provided assistance to over 3000 veterans transitioning to independent living. The items on the wish list represent the needs as identified by the VA Healthcare System and homeless veterans in order to establish their home in the community.
The detailed wish list along with copies are located in the church foyer along with donation bins. Monetary donations are also accepted.
Let’s pledge to support our veterans as they have pledged to support our country.
Thank you in advance and for more information please contact Georgia Lagadinos.
Georgia.lagadinos@gmail.com
UPDATED ENGLISH HIGH FOOD PANTRY WISHLIST FOR THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON
English High School in Jamaica Plain food pantry assists the homeless and food insecure student population.
The list includes the daily necessities that we take for granted. Please help us replenish the shelves for this very important ministry
Toilet paper
Lotion
Meats
Spaghetti sauce
Dishwashing liquid
Laundry detergent
Floor cleaner
Trash bags
Cereal
Pancake mix
Syrup
Bumble Bee Tuna
Bumble Bee Chicken
Socks
Mashed Potatoes
Elbow Pasta
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Cake Mix
Frosting
Food gift cards and fresh meat also accepted | |
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Thank you all for continuing to go on this journey through the Scriptures with me! With every new book of the Bible we delve into, my perception of what is happening in the text continues to be flipped on its head. Before starting St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews, I knew it as the book that used a great deal of Old Testament references to connect it with the New Testament, and once again, I now see that it is much deeper than that.
Yes, Hebrews does link the Old Covenant with the New, yet how St. Paul does this focuses on the revelation of salvation given to us in the person of Jesus Christ, our High Priest and King. In sharing in our human experience to its fullness by becoming man, dwelling among us, living as we live, suffering as we all suffer, and offering His life for the life of the world, we see that Christ truly transfigures all His creation. His blood becomes our new source of life; thus, entering into the pit of death, we see Christ meets us where we are, regardless of how far gone we may believe ourselves to be, ministering to our needs as Highpriest. In His resurrection, He raises us to His level so we may be able to stand in the Kingdom of God, showing us that the whole of our life is transfigured by the love God has for us all, and He becomes the source of our new life.
Now that we have concluded this book, the plan is to take a break until September for our weekly sessions, so we can come back strong with St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians in the Fall. New sessions will start on September 3rd. If you’re looking for more of our Bible studies, you can stream complete Bible studies of Mark, Luke, Acts, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Romans, and now Hebrews. | So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for continuing to go on this jourey with me. If I have in any way misled or offended any of you in this process, I ask your forgiveness, and I pray that God continues to heal all wounds. It has been the pleasure of my life to walk with you all as we continue to discern how to know, love, and serve God as He does us all, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us as we move into another chapter! | | | All are welcome to join our St. John The Baptist community on Sundays during the second half of coffee hour in the conference room for our weekly journey through the theology, scriptures, and tradition of our Orthodox Christian faith and life. During the Fall, we will unpack the Creed and ask the question of what does it means and how is it calling us to live as Orthodox Christians. This will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our faith, so join us for our brief lesson and discussion.
| | 2025 Stewardship Donation | | | Please click the image above to make your 2025 stewardship offering to our beloved Church. During this challenging time of the pandemic, we welcome and appreciate your generosity and your love towards the ministries of our Saint John the Baptist Parish. You may send your donation in the mail to the church office, or click on the button above to make your 2025 Stewardship donation.
Thank you for your love and your support! | | Saints & Feasts of the Week | | The Nativity of Our Lord
December 25th, 2025 | | OCF Young Adults at St. Johns | | | Click the links below for the latest opportunities to strengthen your faith and connect with the community. | | Click on the image above to listen to all past sermons | |  | | Today's Scripture Readings
- Luke 24:36-53
- Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40
- Matthew 1:1-25
| | | (Simply select the correct date and service you would like to view), or one of the buttons above for specific services. | |
Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church 15 Union Park Street, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-5692 | | | | | |
