While the last stichera (the Dogmaticon) is being
sung, the Royal Gates are opened, in token that the hopes of the faithful have
not been idle and that the Incarnation of the Son of God hath opened to them
the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven. At this moment, the priest comes out
through the north door, preceded by the deacon with the censer and the candle
bearer with the great candlestick and lighted candle, and, standing before the
Royal Gates, gives a blessing with the sign of the Cross towards the east. The
deacon exclaims aloud: “Wisdom! Aright!” The
exclamation “Wisdom!” signifies that this entrance expresses the coming into
the world of the Saviour, as thus: The entrance through the north door instead
of the Royal Gates signifies that Christ came in lowliness; the lighted candle
and the censer remind us that He brought us the light of truth and the grace of
the Holy Spirit; the blessing by the sign of the Cross signifies that Christ
hath opened to us the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven by His passion on the
Cross. By the exclamation “Aright!” the deacon invites the worshippers to stand
reverently and decorously. They, having heard in the Dogmaticon the news
of the Incarnation of the Son of God, and seeing in the priest’s entrance a
symbol of the mercies which we have received through this incarnation, sing a
hymn of praise to Christ, as being God. While this hymn is being sung, the
priest enters the sanctuary and stands behind the altar, near the bema.
“O Gentle Light of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly, holy Father, O Jesus Christ: we, Having come to the setting
of the sun, (i.e., having lived to see the sun set), having beheld the evening
light, we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is for
Thee at all times to be hymned with reverent voices, O Son of God, Giver of
life. Wherefore, the world doth glorify Thee.”