AT MATINS

The Anavathmi, the 1st Antiphon of the 4th Tone.

**After the 1st Reading from the Psalter, Kathisma.**

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone.

Glory. **Tone 2.**

**Theotokion.**

Tone 4.

Come, believers, let us see where Christ is has been born. Let us follow where the star guides with the Magi, kings of the East. Angels sing praises there without ceasing. Shepherds abiding in the fields offer a fitting hymn, saying: Glory in the highest to him who has been born today in a cave from the Virgin and Mother of God, in Bethlehem of Juda. (

**Twice**) ****

After the 2nd Reading of the Psalter, Kathisma

Why, Mary, do you wonder? Why marvel at what is done in you? Because I have born in time a timeless Son, she says. But I do not understand how he was conceived. I have not known man; how then can I bear a son? Who has ever seen a birth without seed? But as it is written: where God so wills the order of nature is overcome. Christ has been born from the Virgin in Bethlehem of Judea. (

Splendour and majesty his work.

The Lord has sent redemption to his people.

Holy and fearful his name.

The Lord’s right hand has wrought power.

From Sion the loveliness of his beauty.

**Our God is in heaven and on earth, has done whatever he willed.**

Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing forever.

And I will establish him as first born, high beyond all the kings of the earth,

And all the kings of the earth will worship him.

What god is great as our God? You are the God who alone works wonders.

By the arm of your power you have scattered your foes.

Gird your sword upon your thigh, O powerful one, in your beauty and loveliness.

Your arrows are sharpened, O powerful one.

From the womb before the morning star I have begotten birth.

The Lord has sworn and he will not repent.

You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedek.

The Lord said to me: You are my son, today I have begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will give you nations as your inheritance.

And the ends of the earth as your possession.

At the head of the book it is written of me.

Your throne, O God, is from age to age.

A staff of right is the staff of your kingdom.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your fellows.

For you will inherit among all the nations.

Blessed is God for ever. So be it. So be it.

**Triadikon. Tone 1.**

Let us worship the Father, and let us glorify the Son, and let us all praise together the all holy Spirit, crying out and saying: All holy Trinity, save us all.

Your people, O Christ, brings your Mother to intercede; at her entreaties grant us your pity, that we may glorify you, Loving Lord, who dawned for us from the grave.

The verses in parentheses are not used in the Slavonic books; in Russian parochial use only the verses in bold type are used. In Slav practice the following Megalynarion is sung between each verse:

We magnify you, O Christ, Giver of life, who was born for us in the flesh this day from her who knew not wedlock, the All-pure Virgin Mary.\]

After the Polyeleos, Kathisma, Tone 4.

How is he contained in a womb, whom nothing can contain? How held in his Mother’s arms, he who is in the Father’s bosom? This is all as he knows, as he wished and as he was well pleased. For being without flesh, willingly he was made flesh; and He Who Is, for our sake has become what he was not; without departing from his own nature he shared in our matter; wishing to fill the world on high, Christ was born in two natures.

From the womb before the Morning Star I have begotten you. \* The Lord has sworn and he will not repent.

The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

**1:18-25**)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, but before they had come together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘See, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but he did not know her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Psalm 50.

All things are filled with joy today, for Christ is born from the Virgin.

**Same Tone.**

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your pities, wipe away my transgression. ****

Idiomel, Tone 6.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth. Today Bethlehem receives him who is ever seated with the Father. Today Angels glorify in a manner fitting God the babe that is born. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.

They are sung to 8 and 6 and both Irmi are sung as Katavasias. The first, by St Kosmas, has the following Acrostic:

Christ becomes mortal. God, that he was, remains.