: Starting on November 21, the choir or chanter transitions from the standard hymns to the beautiful Christmas melodies during the Orthros (Matins) service.
In the Orthodox liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (November 21st) serves as the "threshold" for the Christmas season. It is on this day that the Church begins singing the Katavasies of Christmas, "Christ is Born, Give ye Glory!" Guide to the Hymns & Traditions ymni_isodion_ths_theotoku_me_thn_tessarakontame...
: Many parishes perform a Divine Liturgy every day for 40 days leading up to Christmas (Nov 15 – Dec 25). The hymns of the "Isodia" are prominent during the first week of this journey. : Starting on November 21, the choir or
: Incorporating the daily commemoration of saints alongside the pre-feast hymns of the Nativity. The hymns of the "Isodia" are prominent during
"Today is the prelude of the benevolence of God, and the herald of the salvation of mankind..." Liturgical Sequence : The beginning of the Nativity Fast.
The "put together guide" for this specific combination of the feast and the 40-day period typically involves: