At the Aposticha, Idiomel Stichera of the Forefeast.

Tone 2. By Kyprianos.

Bethlehem, land ofJuda, city according to the flesh, radiantly make ready the divine Cave, in which God comes to birth in flesh from a Holy Virgin who knows not man, to save our race.

God comes from Theman, and the Holy One from a shady wooded Mountain. ****

By Andrew Pyros. Same Tone.

Come, let us all faithfully celebrate the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; and spiritually setting forth our hymn like a star, let us with the Shepherds shout aloud the Magis’ hymn of glory, ‘The salvation of mortals has come from a virgin womb, to call back believers’.

Lord, I heard your report, and I was afraid. ****

By Kyprianos. Model Melody.

O house of Ephratha, the holy City, the glory of the Prophets, make ready the house in which the Divine comes to birth.

**Of the Saint. Tone 1.

By Theodore the Studite**

How firm and adamantine was your soul, most blessed Ignatios! For as you had an unyielding desire for your true lover, you said, ‘There is in me no matter-loving fire, but rather living water, which speaks in me, and from within says to me: Come to the Father’; therefore, fired by the divine Spirit, you roused wild beasts to part you quickly from the world and send you to Christ the beloved; implore him that our souls may be saved.

**Tone 2. By Kyprianos.**

See, the time of our salvation has drawn near. Cave make ready, the Virgin is drawing near to give birth. Bethlehem, land of Juda, be glad and rejoice, because from you our Lord has dawned. Listen, mountains and hills, and lands around Judea, because Christ is coming to save mankind whom he fashioned, for he loves mankind.

Apolytikion of the Forefeast. Tone 4. Joseph was amazed.

Bethlehem prepare; Eden is opened for all. Make ready Ephratha, because the tree of life has flowered in the Cave from the Virgin. For her womb has been revealed as the spiritual Paradise in which is the plant of life; eating from it we shall live; we shall not die as Adam. Christ is born to raise up his image which had fallen.

**Of the Saint.**

You shared their way of life.

**Again of the Forefeast**

Bethlehem prepare.

Bethlehem make ready, city of Sion sing a hymn; desert, betrothed to joy, be glad; for a star comes forth in Bethlehem, revealing that Christ is about to be brought to birth; a Cave receives the wholly uncontainable; and a Manger is being prepared to receive eternal life; to him let us all sing and cry: Save our souls, Jesu God, incarnate for us.

God will come from Theman, and the Holy One from a shaded woody mountain.

Christ who comes, manifestly our God, will come and not delay; he will appear from a Bride who knows not wedlock, while he will take his rest in a Cave; and you, O Manger of irrational beasts, receive the one whom heaven cannot contain, who is about to be wrapped in swaddling in you, the one who with a word has delivered us from unreason. A Star reveals, Magi worship, Shepherds abide in the fields, while they see the awesome wonder; and Angels make melody, as they contemplate on earth the redemption of our race.

Lord, I have heard of your report and was afraid.

Isaias, dance, receive the Word of God; prophesy to the Maiden Mary that a Bush is on fire and is not consumed by the ray of the Godhead. Bethlehem make ready; Eden open your gate; Magi journey to see salvation wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger, whom a Star above the Cave has revealed to be the Lord, the giver of life, who saves our race.

**Of the Saint**

Living monument and breathing image, your yearly festival is here, Godbearer Ignatios, and proclaims your priestly service and your deeds of valour; your resistance to shedding of blood on behalf of the Faith; that blest and revered voice which said: I am God’s wheat, and am being ground by the teeth of wild beasts; and so, as you became an imitator of Christ, intercede that our souls may be saved.

**Of the Forefeast. Tone 2. By Byzas.**

Cave, make ready; for the Ewe-lamb has come, bearing Christ in her womb. Manger, receive the One who by a word frees us who are born of earth from irrational action. Shepherds abiding in the fields, bear witness to the fearful wonder; and Magi from Persia, offer gold and incense and myrrh to the King; because the Lord has appeared from a Virgin Mother. Bowing low like a slave his Mother worshipped him, and cried out to the One in her arms: How were you sown in me, or how did you come to be in me, my Redeemer and my God?

The rest of the Office of Matins as usual, and Dismissal.