Canon to the Resurrection and the Fathers, in Tone VI—

Exapostilarion of the Resurrection; Glory..., of the Fathers: Spec. Mel: “To the disciples...”—

Irmos: The children of those who were saved have concealed beneath the earth Him Who of old covered the pursuing tyrant with the waves of the sea; but let us chant unto the Lord like the maidens: Gloriously hath He been glorified.

Katavasia “Christ is born...”

But if this Sunday fall within the prefestal period, we chant this kontakion, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “The choir of angels...”—

Now and ever..., Theotokion—

At the Praises, four stichera to the Resurrection, and four to the Fathers, in Tone V: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice...”—

Theotokion: O joyous and unwedded Mother, incorrupt Virgin, we bless thee, for thou didst blossom forth from the generation of Abraham and the tribe of David, and gavest birth unto Christ, Who of old was foretold by the prophets.

Through fear are the gates of death thrown open unto Thee, and the everlasting portals are cast down, for through Thine honorable descent have the dead of old arisen, hymning Thy Resurrection with gladness, O Christ.

N.B. But if this Sunday fall on the 24th day of December, the Exapostilarion of the Resurrection is not chanted, but is replaced by this one to the Fathers—

Irmos: Christ is born, give ye glory! Christ cometh from heaven, meet ye Him! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted! O all the earth, sing ye unto the Lord, and chant with gladness, ye people, for He hath been glorified!

Glory..., “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...” (see above)

Lift up thy voice, O Sion, Thou truly divine city, and proclaim the divine memory of the fathers, honoring Abraham, Isaac and the ever-memorable Jacob; for, lo! we all magnify Judah and Levi, the great Moses and the wondrous Aaron, and we honor David, Joshua and Samuel. And weaving divine hymns into godly praise on the forefeast of Christ’s nativity, we ask that we receive grace from Him, and that He grant the world great mercy. Twice

Theotokion: Without change is God known as man through the Virgin who hath not known wedlock; He Who is rich becometh poor, enriching those who, through malice, have been reduced to poverty. Let us all hymn Him with praises, for He hath been glorified.

God, before Whom those of heaven and earth tremble, willeth to stand before the tribunal of Pilate, as One condemned by the judge of an iniquitous trial, and is struck in the face by the hands of the unrighteous.

Irmos: Creation, beholding Thee, Who suspended the whole earth without support upon the waters, Thyself suspended upon Golgotha, was seized with great awe, crying out: None is holy save Thee, O Lord!

Now and ever...,

Stichos: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages!

Theotokion: A conception without pain, an acceptance of thy birthgiving hath transpired in manner beyond recounting, O Theotokos, for the Word of God, Who is God and was proclaimed by the prophets, hath shown Himself to be a mystery beyond nature.

Troparia to the Fathers:

Irmos: To Christ God, the Son Who was begotten of the Father without corruption before time began, and in latter times without seed became incarnate of the Virgin, let us cry aloud: O Lord Who liftest up our horn, holy art Thou!

Glory..., in Tone VIII—

O Elijah, who once rode upon a divine chariot of fire, come thou forth, and thou, O divinely wise Elisha; and together with Ezekiel and Hosea, rejoice! O ye honored and divinely inspired twelve prophets, join chorus, and all ye righteous, chant in hymns unto the nativity of Christ; ye most blessed youths who quenched the flame of the furnace with the dew of the Spirit, entreat Christ in our behalf, that He send down upon our souls great mercy.

Theotokion: She who is more holy than the angels and all creation doth now give birth without seed to the Angel of Great Counsel in the flesh, for the restoration of all who unceasingly chant unto Him: Holy art Thou, O Lord!

Today the assembly of the divine fathers doth radiantly celebrate the forefeast of the nativity of Christ, and most glorious grace doth prefigure it, for Abraham and the children of the Law are an image thereof.

Irmos: Foreseeing Thy divine condescension upon the Cross, Habbakuk cried out in awe: Thou hast cut down the dominion of the mighty, O Good One, entering into fellowship with those who are in hades, in that Thou art Almighty.

Glory..., “The compilation of the teachings of the Law... (see above)”

Stichos: For righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.

Theotokion: O honored and all-pure one, thine Offspring, Who transcendeth nature, is proclaimed aloud to be the expectation of the nations and the salvation of the world. And today the multitude of the fathers doth hymn Him.

Of old the sacred Abraham received One of the three Persons of the Godhead, and now the Word of the Father, Who is equally enthroned with Him, doth, through the divine Spirit, come to the children, He Who is gloriously praised.

Irmos: A rod from the root of Jesse and blossom therefrom, O Christ, Thou didst spring forth from the Virgin; from the mountain overshadowed and densely wooded hast Thou come, incarnate of her who knew not man, O Thou praised and immaterial God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Now and ever..., “Most blessed art thou...”

The Virgin Theotokos, she who through the ages hath been preached on earth by the prophets in their utterances, she whom the wise patriarchs and the assemblies of the righteous proclaim, with whom the comeliness of women joineth chorus—Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Hannah, together with the glorious Miriam, the sister of Moses: With them all the ends of the world rejoice and all creation rendereth honor, for the Creator and God of all cometh to be born in the flesh and to grant us great mercy.

Theotokion: O Jesus, Habbakuk foresaw Thee incarnate of the Virgin, the mountain overshadowed, breaking down the mountains and hills of evil, and giving over to utter destruction the arrogance of the evil one and the uprisings of the demons.

The children who cast down ungodliness in the furnace are in number and faith images of the divine Trinity, and they have revealed to the world the hidden mysteries of God.

Irmos: Isaiah, rising at dawn out of the night, and beholding the never-waning light of Thy theophany, O Christ, which hath mercifully come to pass for us, cried out: The dead shall rise up and those who are in the tombs shall arise, and all born on earth shall rejoice.

We chant the Evangelical Sticheron in the narthex.

The compilation of the teachings of the law doth reveal the divine birth of Christ in the flesh as being from those who, before the law, proclaimed the glad tidings of grace to those who lived beyond the law. Wherefore, in that this birth is the means of deliverance from corruption, for the sake of the resurrection they declared to the souls held fast in Hades: O Lord, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: Revealing through the divine Spirit Thy painless assumption of our nature, and keeping vigil in the law of grace, O Lord, Isaiah cried out: From the race of Abraham and the tribe of Judah doth a Virgin come, giving birth in the flesh without seed.

Abraham was delivered from the hands of the unrighteous, and the divine youths and Daniel the prophet were once saved from the flame of the furnace and from the den of wild beasts. Wherefore, we now celebrate the forefeast of the nativity of Christ.

Irmos: As God of peace and Father of compassion, Thou didst send Thine Angel of Great Counsel, Who granteth us peace. Therefore, guided to the light of knowledge divine, and waking at dawn out of the night, we glorify Thee, Who lovest mankind.

N.B. But if this Sunday fall on the 24th day of December, the following stichera are chanted, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Called from on high...”—

Theotokion: The Shepherd’s ewe-lamb hath come to give birth. Make ready, O holy cave! Make haste, ye shepherds, to see the newborn Shepherd and Lamb! Ye magi, prepare yourselves with gifts to worship Him as King in the flesh.

The Virgin now cometh to Bethlehem to give birth to Christ, Who becometh a babe in the flesh, to Christ, Who of His own will hath beggared Himself, to Christ, Who becometh visible. Let heaven and earth rejoice!

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!

The proclamation of Isaiah is fulfilled! For, lo! the Virgin beareth in her womb the Incomprehensible and Indescribable One in the flesh, and she cometh most gloriously to receive God. Make ready, O Bethlehem! For it is the King’s pleasure that thou become His abode. O manger, receive Christ wrapped as a babe, Who in His goodness wisheth to loose the bonds of man’s offenses.

Theotokion: O Mary, Mother who knewest not man, from a virgin womb didst thou give birth unto Christ, Whom the prophets beheld in the Spirit; and the fathers who begot Him now join chorus before His nativity.

Leap up, ye mountains and hills! Join chorus, ye divinely eloquent prophets! Ye people and nations, clap your hands! Our salvation and Enlightenment, Who is born in the city of Bethlehem, hath nearly come.

Irmos: The sea monster thrust forth, like a babe from the womb, Jonah whom it had swallowed; and the Word, Who dwelt within the Virgin and took flesh of her, issued forth, preserving her incorrupt. He kept her who gave Him birth unharmed, for He Himself was not subject to corruption.

Enrolled with slaves, the Master wished to utterly erase the handwriting of our transgressions and to enter in the Book of the Living all who have been slain by the thievery of the serpent. And the Virgin beareth Thee, Who bearest all things, Who art wrapped in mortal flesh and hast been well-pleased to dwell in a little cave. Marvelling at Thy might, the heavenly choirs of angels and the godly shepherds praised Thee Who art born.

Theotokion: Ye mountains and hills, fields and vales, people and generations, nations and every creature: exult, filled with divine gladness, for the deliverance of all, the Word of God, the Timeless One, Who in His loving-kindness hath come under time, doth come with haste.

Having spent three days in the tomb, by Thy life-creating Resurrection Thou didst raise up the dead of past ages, and, loosed from condemnation, they rejoiced with gladness, crying out: Behold, Thou hast come as our Deliverance, O Lord!

Irmos: O ineffable wonder! He, Who in the furnace delivered the venerable children from the flame, is laid in the grave, dead and devoid of breath, for the salvation of us who chant: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

The radiant and animate cloud laden with the heavenly Rain now approacheth to pour It forth upon the earth, that It might water the face of the earth. The spring of grace, the noetic swallow, who is pregnant, giveth birth by the ineffable Word, putting an end to the winter of ungodliness. The pure and undefiled palace doth bring forth the incarnate King in the cave.

Theotokion: O strange wonder, known among the prophets and revealed of old to the fathers: a pure Virgin is come, desiring to give birth unto the salvation of us who chant: O God, our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Glory to Thine arising, O our Savior, for, as Almighty, Thou hast delivered us from hell, corruption and death, and, crying out, we say: None is holy save Thee, O Lord Who lovest mankind!

Irmos: The children raised together in piety, disdaining the ungodly command, feared not the threat of the fire, but, standing in the midst of the flame, they chanted: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Litanies and the Dismissal.

Theotokion: The tongs which Isaiah the prophet beheld of old cometh, holding in her womb Christ, the divine Ember, which burneth up all the fuel of sin and enlighteneth the souls of the faithful.

Troparia to the Fathers:

Irmos: Fall back in awe and fear, O heaven; and let the foundations of the earth be shaken! For, lo! He Who dwelleth in the highest is numbered among the dead and sojourneth as a stranger in a small tomb. Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him ­supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: The voices of the prophets faithfully proclaimed Him as Jesus Emmanuel, Who cometh in human form, God and man; and the Virgin Mary, without having known man, giveth birth in the city of Bethlehem unto a Son, the Word Who is equally without beginning, through the Holy Spirit.

Faithfully preserving the glory of the image and likeness of God, with the fire of the Spirit the children, as champions, extinguished the fire of the golden image, chanting: We know but one Lord!

Irmos: The dew-bearing furnace showed forth the image of a supernatural wonder; for it burned not the youths whom it had received, just as the fire of the Godhead burned not the Virgin, whose womb it entered. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: O Word Who art without beginning, I bear Thee as a newborn Babe, although I have in no wise known man”, said the Virgin, marvelling. “Whom on earth can I call Thy father? I know not. Wherefore, with all I chant to Thee: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!”

The captive children, clothed with the wisdom and power of the Spirit, put to shame the wise men of Babylon and boldly cried out: None is holy save Thee, O Lord Who lovest mankind!

Irmos: Lament Me not, O Mother, beholding in the tomb the Son Whom thou didst conceive in thy womb without seed; for I shall arise and be glorified, and as God everlasting shall I exalt with glory those who magnify thee with faith and love.

Theotokion: All creation doth rejoice in thy birthgiving, O Virgin, for Bethlehem hath opened Eden unto us. And, lo! delighting in the Tree of Life, we all earnestly cry out in faith: Thou hast fulfilled our prayers, O Mistress!

The law doth rejoice and joineth chorus with the children and the prophets and doth exult today before the divine advent of the Lord. And Abraham doth rejoice, for from his seed hath the incarnate Lord appeared.

Irmos: A strange and most glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, the place wherein lay Christ God, Whom naught can contain, Whom praising, we magnify.

Theotokion: The preaching of the prophets hath reached the ends of the earth, for they foretold Him Who was to come in the fullness of time; and He came and appeared incarnate of the pure Virgin. Let us receive Him with a pure mind!

He Who in manner past understanding was born of the Father before the ages, hath become incarnate of the Virgin in latter times, as He Himself knew, desiring to restore humanity, which had become corrupt through the counsel of the evil serpent.

The unoriginate Son of God, Who is enthroned with the Father and the Spirit in the highest, beholding human nature which had been humbled, doth accept a beginning and desireth to be born in the flesh as man.

Hypacoi, in Tone VIII—

An Angel bedewed the children in the furnace, and hath now put an end to the lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women, saying: Why bring ye myrrh? Whom seek ye in the tomb? Christ God is risen, for He is the life and salvation of the human race!

Thy divine descent into hell, O Christ God, was shown to be life for the dead; for Thou didst restrict the dominion of the enemy below, O Good One, and didst open a path for men to heaven.

The all-pure body of the Deliverer, which lay in the tomb, did not decay, but, as mighty, Thou didst break down the gates of hades and didst rise again in glory on the third day, O Christ!

Troparia to the Fathers:

Let us honor Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the firstfruits of the fathers, for from their seed hath Christ shone forth incarnate of the Virgin, in that He is almighty.

Indicating the coming events of the descent of Christ unto all, Daniel clearly showed forth lions as sheep, for, as a prophet of God, he foresaw the future.

Not attracted by the poison of sin, O children, ye were delivered from the flame; for, being of wisdom more pure than gold, ye were not melted in the furnace of deception.

Thou hast given rise unto a staff from the root of Jesse, O Virgin, putting forth the unfading Blossom of the Creator of all, Who, as God, doth with flowers adorn all the earth, which crieth aloud to Him: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

O Word of God, Thou hast come to edify me, who have been despoiled through evil food and dragged down in mind and made like unto dumb beasts; and, becoming a babe, Thou didst lie down in a manger of dumb beasts. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

The angel, manifestly symbolizing that which radiates joy, is shown forth as a light-bearer in the tomb, proclaiming the resurrection to the women; and, setting aside their lamentation, they rejoiced in the risen Christ, from Whom they received unending joy.

O Good One, Who in Thy loving-kindness assumed a form like ours, of Thine own will Thou wast nailed to the Cross for the sake of me who, of old in paradise rejected Thy holy commandment for the sake of food; and Thou hast died as a man, granting me life.

Troparia to the Fathers:

Let us honor today the divine Daniel, of the race of Abraham, the firstfruit of the fathers, as a leader of the law and of grace; for, as a prophet of God, he foretold the advent of Christ from the Virgin and goeth forth to meet His divine nativity.

Clearly prefiguring through the Angel’s descent the coming of the Lord unto us, the children of Abraham extinguished the furnace; and, rendering the flame dewy by their faith, they consumed the splendor of the golden image therein.

Through the Spirit, Daniel closed the mouths of the wild beasts in the pit; and through grace the children of Abraham quenched the strength of the fire. And, saved from corruption, they proclaim Christ Who is born of the Virgin, entreating Him as the Deliverer of our salvation.

As the most perfect Son of God, the Master by nature, in Thy loving-kindness wast well pleased to be called the Son of man and reckoned among slaves, O most Compassionate One. Wherefore, willingly beggaring Thyself, Thou comest to be born in a cave, O All-good One.

O Christ our King, Who art uncontainable by nature, how can a little cave receive Thee? How can a manger hold Thee, Who comest in the flesh to Thine own for our sake, from a Mother who knew not wedlock, that Thou mightest save those who have been estranged from Thee, O Lord?

By Thy three-day burial, O Good One, Thou didst bring about the mortification of death and the destruction of hell; and, having risen, O good Jesus, in godly manner Thou hast poured forth life upon those who are in the world. Twice

Troparia to the Fathers:

Hospitable was the nature and exalted was the faith of Abraham the forefather. Wherefore, receiving in image the divine mystery, he rejoiced, and, running before Christ, he now maketh merry.

The faith of the youths now holdeth creation subject by the gift of the Creator, for the all-devouring and shameless fire stood in awe of those who honor Jesus Christ, the Creator of fire.

Once Daniel the prophet, closing the mouths of the lions in the pit, showed in godly manner that through the coming of Christ the savagery of the world is in harmony with divine peace.

O Mistress, as a new heaven thou dost come, that Christ, the Sun of glory, might shine forth in the flesh from thy womb, as through a cloud, in the cave; for, in His boundless loving-kindness, He desireth splendidly to illumine all who are of this earth with rays of His own light.

Thou didst perceive our infirmity and misery, O compassionate Christ, and didst not disdain us; but, without leaving the Father, Thou didst abase Thyself and make Thine abode in the womb of her who knew not wedlock, who now cometh forth to give birth unto Thee, without pain, in the cave.

N.B. If this Sunday fall on the 18th or 19th of December, we chant this kontakion to the fathers, in Tone VI—

O thrice-blessed ones, who did not honor an image wrought by hands, but were defended by the indescribable Essence, ye were glorified in your ordeal by fire; and, standing in the midst of unbearable flame, ye called upon God, saying: Make speed and haste Thou to help us, O Compassionate One, in that Thou art merciful; for what Thou willest, Thou canst do!

Ikos: Stretch forth Thy hand whereby of old the warring Egyptians and the embattled Hebrews were tested. Forsake us not, lest death, which thirsteth after us, swallow us up; and spare our souls, as Thou once didst spare Thy three children in Babylon, who glorified Thee unceasingly and were cast for Thy sake into a furnace, from whence they cried out to Thee: Make speed and haste Thou to help us, O Compassionate One, in that Thou art merciful; for what Thou willest, Thou canst do!

Be glad, O Bethlehem! Make ready, O Ephratha! For, lo! she who beareth the Lamb and great Shepherd in her womb doth make haste to give birth. Beholding this, the God-bearing fathers are glad, with the shepherds hymning the Virgin who giveth milk.

Ikos: Beholding the splendid radiance of thy birthgiving, O Virgin, the God-loving Abraham, the ever-memorable Isaac, Jacob and all the divinely assembled choir of saints rejoice, and, with joyous utterances, they lead creation forth to meet thee; for thou art shown to be the mediatress of joy for all, having conceived in thy womb Him Who once was seen in Babylon, Who preserved unconsumed the youths that had been cast unjustly into the furnace, and Who showed thee forth in manner past all comprehension. Wherefore, the young maidens chant unto Him Who is borne in thine arms, hymning thee as the Virgin who giveth milk.

O strange wonder! The Lord, Who sitteth upon a throne in the highest, in assuming flesh hath endured death; but He hath arisen through the might of the Godhead, raising with Himself the dead of past ages.

Thou didst shake the might of death and didst rise again, granting resurrection unto those who truly glorify Thee, the Lord, and that chant unto Thee with Orthodox faith: O God, our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Troparia to the Fathers:

O father Abraham, progenitor of thy race, having begotten Christ in the flesh, thou art clearly revealed by the Spirit as the father of nations, unto the salvation of us who chant: O God, our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Thy hymn of the inspired ones hath put to shame those who utter soulless noises, for the youths, bodily trampling down unharmed the furnace which burned with fire, chant: O God, our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Of old, the prophet Daniel, gazing with spiritual vision, revealed the second coming of Christ, and he foretelleth the dreadful things which shall come to pass therein, crying out: O God, our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

The divine vine whereon the incorrupt Cluster did ripen, draweth nigh, coming to give birth unto Him Who poureth forth the wine of gladness and watereth us who cry out to Him: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

The divine phial which beareth within herself the fragrant Myrrh cometh to pour It out in the cave of Bethlehem, filling with mystic fragrance those who chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O, Thine ineffable condescension toward us sinners, O Christ! For, lo! having tasted death, though Thou art immortal God, Thou wast laid in the tomb as a man. But Thou didst rise again, O Word, raising with Thyself those who were below and who exalt Thee supremely for all ages.

Every ear is struck with awe at how the Most High willingly came to earth to destroy the power of hell with His Cross and burial, and how with Himself He hath raised up all to cry: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Troparia to the Fathers:

Prefiguring Thy sacrifice, O Christ, Abraham, obedient to Thee, O Master, went forth with faith, desiring to sacrifice on the mountain the son whom he had begotten; but he returned with him, rejoicing and glorifying and exalting above all Thee, the Deliverer of the world.

When Thou didst clothe Thyself in ever-blazing flame as in a divine robe, O Christ, Thou didst utterly extinguish the fire for the three holy children, and by Thy descent the dew cried out unto those who chant: Ye priests, hymn and exalt Him supremely forever!

The prophet Daniel is given to the lions as food by an unjust tribunal, but, through the precept of abstinence, in his piety he had the wild beasts as fellow fasters in the depths of the pit. Through his prayers and those of Abraham and the children, save those who hymn Thee in the world, O Christ!

In gladness let us cry out with the angels: Glory to God in the highest! The Savior is born! The Master cometh, to Whom the star doth point! The magi hasten to behold Him, a Babe in a manger! Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Among slaves wast Thou enrolled of Thine own will, O Master, subjecting Thyself to the law of Cæsar, that Thou mightest free mankind from slavery to the evil one, O most merciful God. Wherefore, rejoicing, we chant: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Why dost thou lament, O creation, beholding the Bestower of life as a mortal upon the Cross and in the tomb? For He shall rise again, renewing thee with light; with His resurrection on the third day hath He cast down Hades and raised up with Himself the dead who praise Him.

Even though Thou didst go down into the grave as one dead, O Christ, Bestower of life, yet didst Thou destroy the might of Hades. And raising up with Thyself the dead which it had swallowed up in the past, as God Thou didst give resurrection unto those who magnify Thee with faith and love.

Troparia to the Fathers:

Celebrating the feast of the fathers that were before the law, let us honor Christ, Who, in godly manner, is begotten of them in the flesh; for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who, through faith, are proclaimers of the Spirit and grace, are shown to be the foundation of the prophets and the law.

God, Who by the fire in the bush showed to Moses the godly mystery in manner past understanding, having descended into the fire for the children, showed the flame of the furnace to be dew through the fire of the Essence of His divinity.

The all-holy children, assembling with Abraham, and Daniel, the wondrous prophet of God, Isaac and Jacob, with Moses and Aaron, faithfully join chorus before the nativity of Christ, praying unceasingly that we be saved.

O mysteries strange, awesome and most glorious: the Lord of glory hath come to earth and, having beggared Himself, He hath entered a cave in the flesh, seeking to restore Adam and to deliver Eve from her pangs.

By Thy swaddling clothes Thou dost loose the bonds of our sinful falls; by Thy great poverty Thou dost enrich us all, O Compassionate One; and having been laid in a manger of dumb beasts Thou dost release men from irrational malice, O all-unoriginate Word of God.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the elect of the patriarchs, the fathers before the law, have shone forth like beacons, for all the prophets and the righteous shone forth from them like radiant lamps. With rays of honorable prophecy have they illumined all creation; and they earnestly pray to God in behalf of the world.

Wondrous hath this been! The unblemished ewe-lamb, the granddaughter of Adam and David, giveth birth unto the Lamb, the all-unoriginate Word, in the latter days, as is meet. The forefeast of her ineffable birthgiving doth the multitude of the fathers celebrate fittingly.

From the seed of Abraham and the divine forefather David is the all-unoriginate Word brought forth, Who of old wondrously saved the youths equal in number to the Trinity by the descent of the Angel into the flame, and Who transformed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women into joy.

Be glad, O Bethlehem! And thou, O Ephratha, make ready, for the Theotokos cometh to the cave and the manger to give birth ineffably unto God. O dread mystery! Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the patriarchs and prophets, angels and men, now radiantly celebrate the forefeast of His divine advent.

Great Doxology. After the Trisagion, the troparion of the Resurrection.