Glory..., Now and ever..., the above is repeated.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV—
Celebrating thy memory today, O sacred Modestus, with love we glorify thee, the adornment of bishops, the ornament of the Holy Land, the strength of monastics, the model of chastity, which do thou ask that it be given to thy hierarchs, O ever-memorable one.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the saint, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion.
Glory..., Now and ever..., the above is repeated.
After the second chanting of the psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV—
O virgins, begin beforehand the joy of the Virgin! Ye mothers, and ye magi, angels and shepherds, praise the coming forth of the Mother of Christ our God; for the Virgin cometh to give birth in the city of Bethlehem to a Son, the preëternal God, Who saveth the world from corruption.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—
Both canons from the Octoechos, without martyria; and the canon of the holy hierarch, with 6 troparia, in Tone VI—
Glory..., Now and ever..., another Sessional hymn, in the same tone and melody—
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Joseph was amazed...”—
Thou wast the all-precious vessel of the Holy Spirit, having cleansed thy soul of the passions with thine ascetic struggles; wherefore thou didst receive divine anointing, O holy one, and wast shown to be a divinely wise guide, a pastor of Jerusalem and an intercessor for those who honor thee.
At “God is the Lord...,” the troparion of the Resurrection, twice; Glory..., that of the Fathers; Now and ever..., either the Theotokion, or the troparion of the forefeast.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom...”—
He Who is incorporeal becometh incarnate, and He Who is timeless entereth time. For our sake the Lord Who doth shroud the earth in gloom is wrapped in swaddling clothes, immutably revealing Himself as flesh from her who knew not wedlock, in manner beyond the attainment of men’s minds. Wherefore, marvelling, we bow down before the great mystery.
If, however, this Sunday fall on the 24th of December, then the canon to the fathers, with eight troparia, including the Irmos, and that of the forefeast, with six troparia.
After the chanting of Psalm 118, and the usual Evlogitaria, this Sessional hymn to the fathers, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom...”—
The usual kathismata and the sessional hymns of the resurrection, with their Theotokia.
The Gospel Lesson of the Tone.
N.B. But if this Sunday fall on the 24th of December, we chant these Sessional hymns:
In the fathers — in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Judah and the other patriarchs, Jesse, David and the rest, didst Thou mystically prophesy the manifestation of God which would come to pass on earth, that of Thy preëternal Son from the Virgin, Christ, Who hath appeared in Bethlehem prophesying in the Spirit and Who calleth out to all who are in the world.
O ye faithful, let us joyously celebrate the feast of the divine fathers, and, honoring Adam and Abel, blessing Seth and Enos, let us hymn Enoch, Noah, Shem and Japheth. Let us praise Abraham, who shone forth in faith before the law, and the divine Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Levi, and the chaste Joseph, and let us faithfully cry out: O God-bearing forefathers, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who, with love, celebrate your holy memory.
With hymns let us all praise Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the meek David, Joshua, and the twelve patriarchs, together with the three youths who quenched the fiery flame with the power of the Spirit. And let us cry out to them: Rejoice, ye who bravely denounced the deception of the mad king! Pray ye to Christ, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
From the bosom of the Father didst Thou come down, and in Thine ineffable condescension didst Thou take upon Thyself poverty like unto ours, in manner surpassing nature, O Thou Who lovest mankind. It was Thy good pleasure to make Thine abode in a cave, O Lord, and like as a babe art Thou suckled at Thy Mother’s breast, Who art Creator and Lord. Wherefore, the magi, guided by the star, bring gifts unto Thee and cry out: Glory in the highest to God, Who cometh to earth to be born as a man!
N.B. But if this Sunday fall on either the 18th or the 19th of December, this Theotokion—
Like the widow who gave two mites as an offering, I offer thee the praise of thanksgiving which is thy due, O Mistress, for all thy gifts; for thou art shown to be a shelter and aid, ever rescuing me from temptations and tribulations. Wherefore, delivered from those who afflict me, as from the midst of a burning furnace, I cry out to thee with all my heart: O Theotokos, help me by entreating Christ God to grant me remission of transgressions, for I, thy servant, have thee as my hope.
The Song of Ascents. Prokimenon of the Tone.
N.B. If this Sunday fall on either the 18th or the 19th of December: The canon to the Resurrection from the Octoechos, with four troparia, including its Irmos; the canon to the Cross and the Resurrection, with two troparia; the canon to the Theotokos, with two troparia; and the canon to the fathers, with six troparia.
But if this Sunday fall between the 20th and the 23rd of December: The canon to the Resurrection from the Octoechos, with four troparia, including the Irmos; the canon for the forefeast, with four troparia; and the canon to the fathers, with six troparia (excluding the initial two troparia of that canon, which are to the Resurrection).
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.