Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ

Commemorated on the Sunday that falls between the 18^th and 24^th of December

"On the Sunday before the Nativity (which falls between the 18th and 24th of December), the Holy Fathers have instituted the Commemoration of the Genealogy of our Saviour Jesus Christ, in which we include not only His ancestors according to the flesh from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed of the Mother of God, but all the Righteous and the Prophets, who, by their words or deeds, announced the coming in the flesh of the Son of God." (Synaxarion)
  As baptized Christians, we ourselves are by adoption children of the Father and brethren of Christ, as the Apostle says, and are therefore a continuation of this spiritual lineage. May we be made worthy!
  Since the Jews did not trace genealogies in the mother's line, the Scriptures do not give us the lineage of Christ according to the flesh, which was through his mother Mary; but instead list the forebears of Joseph the Betrothed, who served according to the Law as husband of Mary and father of Jesus. According to the Fathers, the blessed Virgin was the daughter of Joachim, son of Bar-Panther, son of Panther, son of Levi, son of Nathan, son of King David. Thus as prophesied, the Messiah was of the house and lineage of David.