On December 25/January 7, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of Christ. Christ’s Nativity is preceded by the Nativity Fast (Advent), which prepares believers to worthily greet the Lord. On the eve of the feast, Monday, January 6, the Royal Hours and Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great were served at Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL.

The evening service began with Great Compline, Litia, and Matins, which were served by the brethren of the monastery: Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Deacon Alexander Khartoniuk. After the All-Night Vigil, the brethren and parishioners of the church came together to sing Christmas carols and glorify Christ’s Nativity.

At midnight, from January 6 to 7th, festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated. The service was led by parish rector Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), co-served by Priest Daniel Sobolev, Hierodeacon Paisius (Alexeevets), and Fr. Alexander. Archpriest Mark Rowe (dean of the ROCOR Western Rite parishes) also prayed at Liturgy.

The service was enhanced by the beautiful singing of the choir under the direction of conductor Natalia Klyusova. At the end of Liturgy, Fr. Stefan greeted everyone with the feast and wished that the hearts of every person would become a Nativity scene in which the Infant Christ dwells. The holiday ended with caroling, fellowship, and a meal prepared by parishioners and guests of the church.

The final, third holiday of the Nativity cycle is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord ‒ January 6/19. It is also called Theophany, because during the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the appearance of the Trinity was made manifest: the Son of God was baptized in the waters of the Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and the voice of the Heavenly Father proclaimed: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." According to the rubrics of the Orthodox Church, on Saturday evening, January 18, Great Compline with the litia was served, during which five loaves of bread, wine, oil, and grain were blessed. Then followed Matins with the Polyeleos, during which parishioners were anointed with holy oil, and blessed bread was distributed. The canons and stichera of the feast tell us how the Lord came to the Jordan to bless the waters and prepare humanity for Baptism and spiritual renewal.

A mixed choir sang at the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy under the direction of Natalia Klyusova.

At the end of the All-Night Vigil, the officiating priest, Fr. Arkadii, congratulated everyone on the feast of Theophany.

On the day of the feast, Sunday, Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the rector, Fr. Stefan, co-served by Frs. Daniel, Paisius, and Alexander. A multitude of parishioners and guests of the church gathered for the service, many of whom received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After Liturgy, the rite of the Great Blessing of Water took place outside in front of the church. The rector greeted everyone with the feast of Theophany, wishing them God’s help, the grace of renewal, and purification through the holy Baptismal water. The holiday concluded in the traditional manner, with a meal and fellowship between the parishioners and monks.