At Great Compline

Priest: Blessed is our God…

After the Doxology “Glory to God in the highest…”, we go forth to the narthex, chanting the stichera of the Litia, the composition of John the Monk, idiomela, in Tone I—

When the Eve of the Nativity falleth on any day other than Saturday or Sunday, at the tenth hour of the night [i.e., 4 o’clock in the morning], a bell is tolled to announce the service, and then all the bells are rung. When the priest and deacon have vested, they begin the service as they do all the feasts of the Lord.

Heaven and earth are glad today, as the prophets said, and angels and men keep spiritual festival, for God, born of the Virgin hath appeared in the flesh to those who sit in darkness and shadow: the cave and the manger have received Him; the shepherds proclaim the wonder; the magi from the East bring gifts to Bethlehem; and with our unworthy lips we offer Him the praise of the angels: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! For the expectation of the nations hath come, and coming hath saved us from slavery to the enemy.

The deacon saith: Bless, master!

Heaven and earth have now joined together today since Christ hath been born. Today God hath come to earth and man hath ascended to the heavens. Today He Who is invisible by nature is seen in the flesh for man’s sake. Wherefore, exclaiming in glorification, let us cry out to Him: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace: for Thou hast given us Thine advent! O our Savior, glory be to Thee!

And as the priest censeth, we recite Great Compline from the beginning:

“Glory to God in the highest!” is heard from the incorporeal ones in Bethlehem today, addressed to Him Who was well pleased to become Peace on earth. Now the Virgin is become more spacious than the heavens, for Light hath shone forth upon the benighted and lifted up the lowly, who chant with the angels: Glory to God in the highest!

Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee. O heavenly King… Trisagion through Our father…, and the rest. In due course we chant “God is with us!…” with hymnody. In place of the usual troparia (“Enlighten mine eyes…” and the rest), we chant the troparion of the feast. And instead of the troparia “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us…”, we chant the kontakion of the feast.

Beholding that which He had created according to His image and likeness corrupted by disobedience, Jesus descended, bowing down the heavens, and made His abode in the Virgin’s womb without undergoing change, that in her He might restore Adam Who had become corrupt, yet crieth: Glory to Thine appearance, O my Deliverer and God!

Glory…, the composition of John the Monk, in Tone V—

The magi, kings of Persia, manifestly recognizing the King of heaven Who was born on earth, arrived in Bethlehem, led by the radiant star, bearing choice gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; and falling down, they offered worship, for they beheld the Timeless One lying in the cave as a babe.

Now & ever…, the composition of Germanus, in Tone VI—

Today all the angels join chorus in heaven, and men rejoice, and all creation leapeth for joy because of the Lord and Savior born in Bethlehem. For all the falsehood of idolatry hath ceased, and Christ reigneth forever.