Ode 1. Tone 6. Irmos.

Exapostilarion of the Saint.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 3. Irmos.

Kontakion of the Saint. Tone 2.

Glory. Both now.

‘With a cutting hand the Red Sea is cut, while the deep, nurse of waves, is dried up; the same becomes at once a path for the unarmed and for the fully armed a tomb; a song, pleasing to God, was raised: Christ our God has been greatly glorified’.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 4. Irmos.

The infinite Wisdom of God, cause of all things and origin of life, has built his own house from a pure Mother who has not known man. For putting on a bodily temple Christ our God has been greatly glorified.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 5. Irmos.

God’s Wisdom summons the Magi, guiding them to the mystery as first fruits of the Nations, to nourish spiritually those who before were unreasoning at a manger of unreasoning beasts, where a mystical table is spread, to which they hasten as they make their way with gifts, while the star shining before them.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 6. Irmos.

Let us listen to the sayings of the Prophets that have now been fulfilled. For the Virgin has conceived in her womb and hurries to give birth to the One who pre-exists. The heavens revealed him to the Magi, Angels to Shepherds as a babe made manifest.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 7. Irmos.

‘God, who is Lord and Creator of all things, the One who is beyond passion has made himself a pauper and united the created to himself. And carried as a babe in the flesh, he is worshipped in a paltry manger, as he cries, ‘Eat my body, and you will be made firm by faith’.’

Of the Forefeast. Ode 8. Irmos.

Herod makes bold to slay before his time Christ who now comes to pour out his own saving blood for the world. He rages madly before the mad rage of Pilate and so with scarlet savagery he slaughtered multitudes of infants.

Of the Forefeast. Ode 9. Irmos.

A foolish man said, ‘There is no God’. Filled with utter madness, he is sick with the disease of Christocide. Having failed in his rash aim, he armed himself to the teeth against innocent babes and defiled the land with their blood.

‘Lord who constructed heaven’s vault and builder of the Church, establish me in your love, the pinnacle of all desires, the firm foundation of the faithful, only lover of mankind.’

Kathisma of the Saint.

Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.

**Of the Forefeast.

Tone 4. Taking knowledge.**

As we celebrate the Forefeast of Christ’s Nativity, we faithful keep festival and all go forth to meet him as is fitting, like the Magi bearing virtues as gifts and singing the Angels’ new song to the One who is being brought to birth in Bethlehem from a Maiden, child of God, without seed. He is our God, whom all creation glorifies.

‘The Prophet, foreseeing your ineffable mystery, O Christ, cried out to you, ‘Compassionate Father, you have made strong love mighty, for you, O Good One, have sent the Only-begotten Son into the world as atonement.’

Falling like rain up the fleece and like a drop upon the earth who gave you birth, Lord, you come with compassion to be brought to birth and to live among mortals, for the Father has sent you the Only-begotten into the world as atonement.

A new drink, which thirsty David longed to drink of old, comes to the Cave, to gush forth in Bethlehem and to end all the former thirst of soul of Adam and of David, from whom, according to the flesh, Christ is born.

‘Bound together with the bond of love as lovers of the brethren, let us give glory to the Master of all things, who loved the world so much and gave as ransom the beloved Son and bestows peace on all.’

God’s Wisdom, who holds fast the ungovernable water high in the lofty upper air, reins in the deeps and holds back the seas, descending like rain upon a fleece, dwelt in a Virgin’s womb.

Christ by a star calls Magi, disciples of the Seer Balaam, to knowledge. He who cloaks heaven’s vault with clouds, is wrapped in swaddling clothes and he before whom the Cherubim tremble lies in manger, while he who fills all things is contained in a Cave.

‘A final abyss of sins has surrounded me, and no longer able to endure the tempest, like Jonas I cry to you, Master, ‘Bring me up from corruption!’’

Knowing you to be the Lord, the heavens declare your glory, Saviour, though a star, now calling Magi with gifts to knowledge of you and to divine worship.

Let any who has acquired filth wipe it away, and so made pure let them touch Christ the pure as he lies as a babe in a manger purifying the passions of our hearts.

‘I pour out my supplication to the Lord, and to him I declare my afflictions, for my soul has been filled with evils and my life has drawn near to hell. And like Jonas I beg, ‘O God, bring me up from corruption!’’

Seeking things on high.

Those in trials and tribulations hasten to your temple and receive the revered gifts of the divine grace which dwells in you, Anastasia; for you ever pour out healings for the world.

Named with the name of the Lord’s Resurrection, now by your prayers raise me who have fallen, letting a drop of your wonders fall on my soul, O Martyr, and quench the flame of dread sin. For you save the world each day from passions of many kinds, with I too have been tried. For granting all things to all, you pour out healings for the world.

On the 22nd of the month, Commemoration of the holy Great Martyr Anastasia, Healer of Wounds . ****

Anastasia is for those with faith

A cure ‘gainst every drug , and she is burned.

Second and twentieth day, the Great Martyr is burned by fierce fire.

On the same day, Commemoration of the holy Martyr Chrysogonos.

To sword now Chrysogonos gives his neck,

In spirit golden , but in strength of bronze.

On the same day, Commemoration of the holy Martyr Theodoti and her children.

Fire Theodoti with her loved ones bears,

Burning with fiercer love for God than fire.

On the same day, Commemoration of the holy Martyr Zoïlos.

Zoïlos, leaving passing life behind,

In land of living found enduring life.

On the same day the Opening of the doors of the Great Church of God.

*Now holy men lift up the gates of Christ,

For us an image of the Psalmist’s Minds.

On the same day the Light race of the Church of God.

Lights that today race round the Temple’s walls

Show to the world the course of light divine.

At the prayers of your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

‘The Youths in Babylon did not quail before the furnace flame, but cast into the midst of the flame, refreshed with dew, they sang, ‘Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Fathers!’’

Shaking his head, foreseeing evils, Herod looked an opportunity for he sought to put to death the One, who has authority over life and death, Christ the God of our Fathers.

As many of you as are friends of Christ, flee with him as he flees into Egypt, and there worship him with awe, invoking him in a manner fitting God and glorify him with one accord.

‘One who is not with me acts against me’, says Christ, ‘while one who does not gather with me is like one who scatters’. Therefore let us tremble at his condescension in the flesh.

‘The most blessed Youths in Babylon, braving dangers for their ancestral laws, utterly despised the ruler’s irrational command. And united in the fire by which they not smelted, they raised the hymn worthy of the Mighty One. ‘You his works, praise the Lord, and highly exalt to all the ages!’’

Guests wise in God, as we advance in mind to Bethlehem, let us with Angels and with Shepherds contemplate the wonder, raising a song of glory to God in the highest, who grants mortals the prize of good will and peace.

Keeping hold of the law of love, let us take up the aim of brotherly love, being at peace with one another and of one mind, for Christ, the prince of peace, is drawing near, to bring peace to the universe and to save those who cry, ‘Praise the Lord his works, and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

Lawless Herod welcomed Christ with deceitful words, and he informed the Magi that he was going to worship him; but he was not afraid to persecute the hidden God. He not have compassion on the infants, nor did he learn to cry, ‘Praise the Lord his works, and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

‘Come, believers, let us enjoy with uplifted minds the Master’s hospitality and an immortal table in a meagre Cave, having learned that the Word has ineffably become incarnate. Him we magnify.’

‘Go’, said Herod to the princes of the Magi, ‘seek out the child, and when you find him, quickly bring me word’, devising deceit in his heart. But the deceiver was foiled, acting lawlessly to no effect.

The Creator, begotten from the Father before the ages, is born from the Virgin, being Wisdom, Word of God and Power. Knowing the Lord, God and Man, in two natures, we magnify him.

You appeared as a human, in reality, not in mere semblance, thus God by the manner of the exchange, the nature, Saviour that you assumed. Therefore, as we honour your divine sojourning, we magnify you.

‘We who through you, O Virgin, have been saved confess you to be most truly the one who gave birth to God, with all the choirs of the heavens you we now magnify.’

Glorious Virgin Martyr, splendour of champions, all-wise Anastasia, do not cease to implore the one who is now coming to be born of a Virgin Maiden, the pure Mother of God, in a cave and a manger, to grant release from sins to all those who celebrate your all-holy memory and honour you with love.

Of the Forefeast

Your light-bearing memorial, Martyr Anastasia, proclaims in advance Christ’s Nativity in Bethlehem, as it summons Magi from the Persia with gifts; the Shepherds with Angels to sing in praise; for you offered yourself like gold, incense and myrrh to your Master, when you struggled in the contest, O wise in God.

At Lauds, we insert six stichera, and sing the following 4 Prosomia.

Tone 6.

Now all the ancient images are being discharged, for the Virgin is with child, the stone has been cut from the mountain, Jesse’s rod has blossomed and Gideon’s dew has now been poured out on earth. Peoples, let us cry out, ‘The King of Israel, Christ, is at hand!’

Strange happenings of a strange birth-giving are seen! How is the One enthroned with the Father being laid in a manger of irrational beasts? How is the One who cannot be touched in swaddling clothes? How is the One who is everywhere in the Cave? Peoples, let us cry out, ‘The King of Israel, Christ, is at hand!’

The One who worked wonders and smote Egypt, rained Manna on the ungrateful people, becomes incarnate and suckles at the breast. Seen as a little child, he flees from Herod, borne on the Virgin Mother as on a light cloud, as Isaias, the most visionary of prophets foresaw.

The pre-existent Child, King of the ages, is willingly brought to birth and is given to us as a son. Listen, you Nations, Israel, give ear! Understand and be discomfited, for he is with us, the One grind down and wipe out from the earth every kingdom and rule that does not obey him.

Jew, you will be shepherded with a rod of iron, as you did not believe and resisted the Prophets; for to the Son when he is born the Father gives Nations as his lot and the whole earth as his possession, while you he will thrust aside, foul murderer, for you cannot be persuaded to cry, ‘The King of Israel, Christ, is at hand!’

David, leap for joy, for Christ comes from your loins! Jesse, be glad, for your root has flowered! Juda, from your thigh the Lord will come forth. Nations he devours, as Balaam said. As great Isaias said, ‘See, the all-revered Virgin will give birth to a little child, Emmanuel’.