AT VESPERS

Lord, I have cried, **we insert 6 Stichera, and sing three Idiomel Stichera of the Forefeast.**

Tone 1. By Anatolios.

Peoples, let us celebrate the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; and raising our minds, let us be taken up in spirit to Bethlehem, and let us contemplate with spiritual thoughts the Virgin, who hastens to give birth in a Cave to the Lord of all things and our God. Joseph, as he contemplated the greatness of the wonders, seemed to see a human, wrapped in swaddling clothes like an infant; while he understood from the things that came to pass that he was the true God, who grants our souls his great mercy.

The same Tone, by the same.

Peoples, let us celebrate the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; and raising our minds, let us be taken up in spirit to Bethlehem, and let us contemplate the great mystery in the Cave; for Eden has been opened, as God comes forth from a pure Virgin, he who is perfect in both divinity and humanity. And so let us cry: Holy God, the Father without beginning; Holy Strong, the incarnate Son; Holy Immortal, the comforter Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to you!

The same Tone, by the same.

Listen, O heaven, and give ear, O earth; for see, the Son and Word of God the Father goes forth to be born of a Maiden, who knows not man, by the good pleasure of him who begot him impassibly, and by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. Bethlehem make ready, Eden open your gate; because the One who Is becomes what he was not, and the fashioner of all creation is being fashioned, he who grants the world his great mercy.

Prosomia of the Saint

Tone 4. Called from on high.

Rightly are you called God-bearer: when the Master in his compassion took you in his arms, blessed Ignatios, as he revealed the doctrines of the true wisdom from the highest, then you received the beam with many lights, soaking up, like a sponge, the waters from the deep of enlightenments; and so you followed step by step Christ our God who called you. Implore him to save and enlighten our souls.

Wounded with perfect love, when the whirlwind of affection set your soul aflame, most holy Father, urging you forward to go towards the Master, then you cried out that revered word, ‘I am the Creator’s wheat, and I must be completely ground by the teeth of wild beasts, that I may appear as the purest bread for the Word, our God’. Implore him to save and enlighten our souls.

You were crucified with Christ, O Revealer of mysteries, when you cried aloud that inspired word, ‘My love has been crucified, and I am pressing forward with speed to share in his suffering’. Therefore, blessed Ignatios, you set out like the sun from the East and sped towards the West, giving light, and you were adorned with a diadem of the Kingdom as you were brought to Christ. Implore him to save and enlighten our souls.

By Anatolios**

Godbearer Ignatios, you enfolded Christ your love in your embrace, and you received the reward of your priestly service of the Gospel: to be perfected through blood; and so, becoming wheat of the immortal husbandman, you were ground by the teeth of wild beasts and were revealed as sweet bread for him. Blessed Athlete, intercede on our behalf.

**Of the Forefeast. Tone 8.**

Bethlehem, receive the Mother City of God; for the Light that does not set has come to be born in you. Marvel in heaven, O Angels; humans, give glory on earth; Magi from Persia, bring out your thrice-famous gift; Shepherds abiding in the fields sing the thrice-holy hymn; let everything that has breath praise the Maker of all things.