On January 7 (December 25 o.s.), the Orthodox world celebrates the great feast of the Nativity of Christ. The greatness and importance of this feast is attested to by the preparatory 40-day Nativity Fast. Every person, family, and church celebrates this remarkable and important feast in his own way, and the Church of Our Lady of Pochaev in North Port, FL was no exception.

All of the appointed divine services were held in advance, along with the reading of the Three Ode Canons of the Nativity. These hymns, performed at Small Compline, open to us the depth and significance of Christ’s Nativity for the salvation of all men. On the eve prior to the feast, the brethren adorned the church and the Christmas tree; presents were also prepared for children and adults.

Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Deacon Alexander Kharitoniuk performed the service for Nativity Eve and the All-Night Vigil on Saturday, January 6. Singing on the kliros were rector Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk) and Hierodeacon Paisius (Alexeevets). That same day, special prayers were offered up for the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022), as this had been His Eminence’s birthday.

On the very feast of the Nativity of Christ, the parish rector celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Priest Daniel Sobolev (deputy rector of St. Sophia Mission in Kissimmee, FL) and Frs. Paisius and Alexander. A wonderful mixed choir under the direction of Fr. Arkadii adorned the service.

After Liturgy, Fr. Stefan read aloud the Nativity Epistle of the First Hierarch, Metropolitan Nicholas to the faithful of the Church Abroad. Afterward, the children performed a Nativity concert in the church and recited poems lovingly prepared by Irina Levitsky. After congratulations were given on their performance, the children and grownups were given presents prepared by the monastic brotherhood.

The feast concluded with a luncheon, Christmas carols, and interaction between the brethren, guests, and church parishioners.