ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM PARISH LONDON

Melkite Church of Antioch and the East of Jerusalem and Alexandria

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Many of the carols we sing in Britain today are quite modern, dating only from the 19th century. But others are older, and the oldest ones almost invariably link Christmas to Calvary and to Easter. The child in the manger is only part of the story – the fulfilment will be reached when he reaches adulthood and offers himself for us and for our salvation in an act of pure love. So The Holly and the Ivy sings of the holly berry which reminds us of drops of Christ’s blood, and the holly’s sharp prickle reminds us of the crown of thorns by Christ, and the spear that pierced his side.

Christmas is profoundly linked to the Eucharist: the name Bethlehem means ‘house of bread’ and Christ was born in the manger, a place where food is placed for animals (think of the French verb ‘manger’ – meaning ‘to eat’). The tradition of Midnight Mass reminds us that a feast-day starts on the evening before – which is why we can also fulfil our Sunday mass obligation with a Saturday evening Mass.

Carol singing is also a very old custom. Once called ‘Thomasing’ it took place on St. Thomas’ Day, shortly after Christmas, when songs would be sung and alms collected for the poor.

 

Mistletoe is said to have pagan origins and is a distinctly British custom – I remember the bewildered expressions on the faces of Austrian friends when I mentioned, is regarded as a Christian form of decoration because of its association with Christ. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).

CAROLS

1- Ding dong ding... dong

 

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold.

Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling.

One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air.

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale.

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here.

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas,
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.

On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home.

 

 

3- Away in a Manger

 

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
 

 

5- Hark the herald angels sing

 

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

 

7- O Come All Ye Faithful:

 

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.


 

 

 

 

 

9- O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel .

 

11- Silent Night

 

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13- Deck the Halls

 

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

 

15- Jingle Bells

 

Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.

Chorus
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright, was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank and we got upsot

(Chorus)

A day or two ago, the story I must tell
I went out on the snow, and on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by, in a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed as there I sprawling lie but quickly drove away

(Chorus)

Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you'll take the lead.

2- Angels from the realms of glory

 

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

 

4- Ding dong merrily on high

 

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6- Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8- O Come O Come Emmanuel

 

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.  


10- Once in Royal Davids city

 

Once in royal Davids city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For He is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12- While Shepherds Watched

 

While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
And glory shone around

"Fear not," he said,
For mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind,
To you and all mankind."

"To you in David's
Town this day
Is born of David's line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign."

"The heavenly Babe
You there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped
In swathing bands
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph,
And forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song

"All glory be to
God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth
From heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease!"

 

14- I Saw Three Ships

 

I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
The virgin Mary and Christ were there
on Christmas Day in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16- We Three Kings of Orient Are

 

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Chorus
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign. Chorus

Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high. Chorus

Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Chorus

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia! Chorus

CHRISTMAS CRIB

The Christmas crib, initiated by St. Francis of Assisi during the 13th century, and a deeply Catholic tradition, has now been adopted by all Christians and it is rare to find a church without one, even if it is part of a denomination which officially bans statues and images from its churches.

Making and buying crib figures – cutting them out from card-board, or making them from odds and ends – has become a traditional activity for children at Sunday schools and church youth groups across the country. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).

CHRISTMAS FASTING

Christmas has a 40-day preparatory fast in the Byzantine tradition. But in the Melkite Church there two weeks of fasting preceding the feast.

 

Christmas’ fast starts officially on 10th December and it consists of complete abstinence from all animal products from Monday through Friday.

 

The law of fast and abstinence is obligatory to every baptised person. Every member of Christ has the duty to atone for his sins and those of his fellow members. The obligation, however, is not binding under mortal sin.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

The Christmas tree is linked, of course, to the Tree of Calvary and also to the Jesse Tree of the Old Testament – indeed the Jesse Tree itself has made something of a comeback in recent years, with various Catholic groups offering versions of it with accompanying books and prayers, to use as a family preparation during Advent.

 

The Christmas tree itself comes to us from Germany: the Germans, when pagans, worshipped evergreen conifers which, then as now, dominated their great forests. They saw in the evergreen something mysterious connected with man’s search for eternity and for eternal life.

When St. Boniface, as Christian missionary from Crediton in Devon, went to Germany, he chopped down a great sacred tree that many worshipped. Convinced that he would be struck by the gods for his misdeed, the locals were impressed when nothing happened that the one true God asks us not to worship his creation, but to use it to his glory. So, every winter during the darkest month when we celebrate the birth of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, we take an evergreen tree indoors and decorate it with lights and sparkling ornaments, and with gifts and sweets for the children. It reminds us that God is “evergreen” and invites us to share his eternal life – a life won for us on Calvary.

 

It was the German-born Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who brought the German custom of the Christmas tree to Britain. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).

CHRISTMAS TURKEY

Turkey is a fairly new arrival on our Christmas tables – it used to be beef, or roast pork. Goose became popular in the 19th century and as late as the Second World War goose fat was smeared on Children’s chests to ward off cold in winter. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).

CHRISTMAS VISITS TO OLD PEOPLE

Most people in Britain, even those of no religious beliefs, do tend to associate Christmas with goodwill and neighbourliness. Old people’s homes get more visits and carol services and concerts are community events which everyone can enjoy.

 

Christmas doesn’t just last for Christmas Day – there may be an old people’s home that would welcome a visit, with some Christmas music and little gifts honouring the Three Kings. Each year we can add to Christmas customs and enjoy contributing to a rich and ever-expanding tradition of Christ-mastide. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

“The emperor Aurelian, (emperor 270-275) worshipper of the Sun-god, introduced the feast of Sol invictus on 25 December, day of the sun’s rebirth after the winter solstice; a day indicated in the Roman civil calendar by the title Natalis Invicti. Christian tradition provided elements to replace this feast by that of the birth of Christ, sun of Justice (Malachi 3: 20). This operation took place at Rome early in the 4th century, since it is first attested by the Depositio martyrum (a Christian book from the 5th  century), around 336, on this date (25 December), initially commemorating Christ’s birth and perhaps the wedding of Cana. Optatus of Milevis (4th-century bishop of Milevis in Numidia) also considered it a memoria of the adoration of the Magi and the massacre of the Innocents. When it reached the East, around 380, it helped to turn Epiphany into the feast of lights and of Jesus’ baptism, while Christmas became the specific feast of the Lord’s birth. Gregory Nazianzen celebrated it at Constantinople in 380, Gregory of Nyssa in Cappadocia at the same time, John Chrysostom at Antioch in 386, Asterius of Amasea in Pontus in 380-400, Paul of Emesa at Alexandria in 432, bishop Juvenal of Jerusalem in 439. By that time it had universally become the anniversary of Christ’s birth.” (‘Christmas’, Encyclopedia of the Early Church, Edited by Angelo Di Berardino, Volume 1 (Cambridge, 1992), page 163)

 

“The birth of Jesus, or Christmas, 25 December, one of the 12 Byzantine Great Feasts, seen first in the West at the beginning of the 14th century. By the 4th – 5th centuries it was celebrated everywhere except by the Armenians. In the East Jesus’ birth was originally commemorated at Epiphany, but the Nativity was celebrated in Antioch and environs by 376, in Constantinople by 380, and in Asia Minor by the end of the 4th century, though Palestine adopted it definitively only in the 6th century.

 

The Nativity is one of the most splendid feasts of the church calendar. It is solemnized by the two Sundays preceding the feast and the following Sunday and has a 40-day preparatory fast; a five-day forefeast, the longest in the Byzantine calendar; a paramone vigil as at Easter and Epiphany; a following synaxis 26 December; and an afterfeast of six days.” ” (The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, “Nativity”, Oxford, 1991, pages 1439-1440).

MINCE PIES

Mince pies are themselves a very important part of Christmas. A traditional mince pie is round or oval in shape, to represent the manger, with Christ represented by the sweet and spicy mincemeat inside. The crimped edges of the pie represent the hills and vales over which Mary and Joseph had to trudge on their way to Bethlehem. Of course mincemeat originally included meat – of which today’s shredded suet is just one lingering remnant – and making it tasty with fruit and spices was one way of serving the otherwise rather dull salted beef which was staple fare of many families by midwinter. (Joanna Bogle, the Catholic Times, Sunday, December 18, 2005, page 10).