{"id":4610,"date":"2024-12-24T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/?p=4610"},"modified":"2024-12-24T07:40:06","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T12:40:06","slug":"437-a-merry-christmas-original-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/?p=4610","title":{"rendered":"437- Merry 12 Days + an Xmas story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:55px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/34595135\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/backward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/87A93A\/stats-code\/schedule2452\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:73px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-52620958b89d26ce0310ac9f40253593 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:67px\"><strong><em>Merry Christmas!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orthodoxroad.com\/nativity-icon-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"686\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Icon-of-the-Nativity-1.png\" alt=\"Father Jeremy talks about the Nativity Icon- Orthodoxyroad.com\" class=\"wp-image-2967\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6702127659574468;width:481px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Icon-of-the-Nativity-1.png 686w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Icon-of-the-Nativity-1-201x300.png 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:49px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:27px\"><strong><em>\u201cTwo Angels\u201d is an original Christmas story as the 4th Advent candle and the Nativity Fast have prepared our way for welcoming Jesus Christ to earth! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>Also in this podcast is an excerpt from <em>The Very Fine Light<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:64px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:34px\"><strong>Questions?<\/strong> <strong><em> <a href=\"mailto:NikosSteves@gmail.com\">Nikos<\/a><a href=\"mailto:NikosSteves@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steves@gmail.co<\/a><a href=\"mailto:NikosSteves@gmail.com\">m<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:88px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:27px\"><em><strong>Also, Pray for this war in the Middle East to end <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:27px\"><em><strong>And Pray for the People of Ukraine. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:27px\"><em><strong>There are links below on ways to support them<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>For more information about the Nativity:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orthodoxroad.com\/nativity-icon-explained\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.orthodoxroad.com\/nativity-icon-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fr Jeremy on the Nativity icon- Orthodoxyroad.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:23px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nativity_Fast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>More about the Nativity Fast- Wikipedia<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:23px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholiceducation.org\/en\/culture\/catholic-contributions\/following-mary-s-advent-footsteps.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>The Virgin Mary&#8217;s Role in Advent<\/em>&#8211; Fr. Roger J. Landry<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:36px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><em>The Very Fine Light takes place during the Christmas &#8220;season,&#8221; making it a great holiday read!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-green-cyan-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><em><strong>This book is being self-published, please comment on Amazon after reading<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:71px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a56b72663cfc7777e18ebe5d05fc46d7 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:29px\"><em><strong>Here&#8217;s a timely Gift for Christmas- &#8220;The Very Fine Light&#8221;  <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/2jnPd0Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"467\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon-1400x467.jpg\" alt=\"Background of river with bridge and the book image over this background for my book &quot;The Very Fine Light.&quot; Also Text that reads &quot;Find Book Title at Amazon.com&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-3505\" style=\"width:937px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon-1400x467.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon-1200x400.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Twitter-Bkground-at-Amazon.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/2jnPd0Z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Preview the book for free! using this link to Amazon.com<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-green-cyan-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-129519907713b191632e0261c046cf9a wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><em><strong>The story takes place during the time period from Thanksgiving to New Years in the contemporary (fictional) village of Canalville, New York!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:23px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/?p=4339\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>SIGN UP BELOW for my MAILING LIST for more about upcoming events  &amp; special offers<\/em><\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong><em><strong>The Nikos Steves Mailing List<\/strong><\/em>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Begin Mailchimp Signup Form -->\n<link href=\"\/\/cdn-images.mailchimp.com\/embedcode\/classic-071822.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;  width:600px;}\n\t\/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.\n\t   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. *\/\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"mc_embed_signup\">\n    <form action=\"https:\/\/gmail.us9.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=8066b0b7e31bb63d6a069caf4&amp;id=91cfe1cfa3&amp;f_id=001405e1f0\" method=\"post\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" name=\"mc-embedded-subscribe-form\" class=\"validate\" target=\"_blank\" novalidate=\"\">\n        <div id=\"mc_embed_signup_scroll\">\n        <h2>Subscribe for Updates! (I will not share your information.)<\/h2>\n        <div class=\"indicates-required\"><span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span> indicates required<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-EMAIL\">Email Address  <span class=\"asterisk\">*<\/span>\n<\/label>\n\t<input type=\"email\" value=\"\" name=\"EMAIL\" class=\"required email\" id=\"mce-EMAIL\" required=\"\">\n\t<span id=\"mce-EMAIL-HELPERTEXT\" class=\"helper_text\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mc-field-group\">\n\t<label for=\"mce-FNAME\">First Name <\/label>\n\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"FNAME\" class=\"\" id=\"mce-FNAME\">\n\t<span id=\"mce-FNAME-HELPERTEXT\" class=\"helper_text\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"mce-responses\" class=\"clear foot\">\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-error-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"response\" id=\"mce-success-response\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>    <!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->\n    <div style=\"position: absolute; left: -5000px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"b_8066b0b7e31bb63d6a069caf4_91cfe1cfa3\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n        <div class=\"optionalParent\">\n            <div class=\"clear foot\">\n                <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\" name=\"subscribe\" id=\"mc-embedded-subscribe\" class=\"button\">\n         \n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/downloads.mailchimp.com\/js\/mc-validate.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">(function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';fnames[5]='BIRTHDAY';ftypes[5]='birthday';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);<\/script>\n<!--End mc_embed_signup-->\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spiritdaily.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><em><strong>I am self-publishing this book. Please spread the word about the book&#8230; <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><em><strong>And Rate and\/or comment on Amazon after reading<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:51px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCf2XVGPYThPpp0etzOF3b4g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-1400x788.jpg\" alt=\"Cover of my new book &quot;The Very Fine Light&quot; and the words &quot;The Nikos Steves Channel&quot; over a background photo of a bridge over the river in the fictional village of &quot;Canalville&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-3499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/NS-Youtube-bkground-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCf2XVGPYThPpp0etzOF3b4g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Listen to this podcast on YouTube- The Nikos Steves Channel<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:27px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong>Find &#8220;Nikos Steves&#8221; on Facebook <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><strong>&#8220;X&#8221; (@StevesNikos)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:77px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:26px\"><em><strong>WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:24px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"block-03be2b53-1e4c-4073-bf75-24cdee278bc3\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/UOCOFUSA.png\" alt=\"Ukranian Orthodox Church of the USA website uocofusa.org\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uocofusa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH of the USA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\" id=\"block-d719b472-c753-4e76-b84b-bb39c655a532\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/1.jpg\" alt=\"Donation details for giving to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>Ukranian Congress Committee of America (UCCA)- from Roman Catholic Prayer Service in Atlanta on<\/strong> March 28, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:66px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I value feedback through the comments section here<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OR- Better via email at <a href=\"mailto:NikosSteves@gmail.com\">NikosSteves@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Constant Procession tells of key apparitions of the Virgin Mary since she passed on from the world and how she serves humanity through Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The origin of these podcasts began with my book <em>The Constant Procession.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Constant Procession (the podcast) is published here every Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/The-Podcast-Academy-Member-Card-lemon.png\" alt=\"The Podcast Academy Member Logo\" class=\"wp-image-2191\" style=\"width:607px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/The-Podcast-Academy-Member-Card-lemon.png 360w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/The-Podcast-Academy-Member-Card-lemon-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/The-Podcast-Academy-Member-Card-lemon-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 85vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:65px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Merry Christmas! \u201cTwo Angels\u201d is an original Christmas story as the 4th Advent candle and the Nativity Fast have prepared our way for welcoming Jesus Christ to earth! Also in this podcast is an excerpt from The Very Fine Light Questions? NikosSteves@gmail.com Also, Pray for this war in the Middle East to end And Pray &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/?p=4610\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;437- Merry 12 Days + an Xmas story&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4610\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nikossteves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}