SUNDAY OF THE HOLY GOD-BEARING FATHERS
On Sunday, December 31, 2023, the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, we celebrate the holy ancestors of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed.
On this day at the Saint Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, California, His Grace Bishop Maxim concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with V. Rev. Nicholas Ceko, Cathedral Dean; Rev. Hieromonk Vasilije Gavrilovic and Rev. Vladan Radovanovic, Episcopal Assistants; Protodeacon Paul Germain from St. George parish in San Diego, and the faithful of the Saint Steven’s parish. The altar was full with clergy and altar servers, both young and old. The responses were prayerfully sung the cathedral choir led by the choir director Rebecca Danks.
Bishop Maxim gave the sermon and spoke about the genealogy of Christ and how we commemorate all our holy God-bearing fathers who came before us, from Adam to Joseph the betrothed. His Grace expressed that from the moment Adam said no to God, also known as the fall, Christ’s lineage was comprised of both sinful and repentant people. But, even among the sinners, there were many who were striving to be well-pleasing to God and who wished to break the bonds of the fall. With the birth of the Christ-child, man was given an example and an opportunity to once again become God-like.
