Antiphon III
Glory…, Now & ever…: Kontakion, in Tone III—
Then both choirs together chant: Glory…, Now & ever…
I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.
Troparion, in Tone IV: Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Instead of the Trisagion, we chant:
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Troparion: Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
In the council of the upright and in the congregation, great are the works of the Lord.
Troparion: Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Troparion: Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Confession and majesty are His work, and His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages.
Again, the troparion is chanted at a higher pitch—
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Glory…, Now & ever…
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.
Refrain: O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia!
His seed shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Refrain: O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia!
Glory and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages.
Refrain: O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia!
There hath risen up in darkness a light for the upright; he is merciful and compassionate and righteous.
Refrain: O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who chant unto Thee: Alleluia!
O only-begotten Son and Word of God, Who art immortal, and didst deign for the sake of our salvation to become incarnate of the holy Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, Who without change becamest man, and wast crucified and trampled down death by death, O Christ God, Who art One of the Holy Trinity, worshipped with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us!
Stichos: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
Stichos: Until I make Thine enemies the footstool of Thy feet.
Stichos: A scepter of power shall the Lord send unto Thee out of Sion; rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.
Stichos: With Thee is dominion in the day of Thy power, in the splendor of Thy saints.
Entrance Hymn—
From the womb before the morning-star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent: Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Today the Virgin giveth birth unto the Transcendent One, and the earth doth offer a cave to Him Who is unapproachable. Angels and shepherds give glory, and the magi journey with the star. For unto us a Child is born, the preëternal God!
As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia!
Prokimenon, in Tone VIII—
Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee; let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High.
Stichos: Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth; chant ye unto His name, give glory in praise of Him.
Epistle to the Galatians, § 209 [Gal. 4: 4-7]
Brethren: When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father! Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Alleluia, in Tone I—
Stichos: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.
Stichos: Day unto day poureth forth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge.
Gospel according to Matthew, § 3 [Mt. 2: 1-12]
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Communion Verse—
The Lord hath sent redemption unto His people.
On this feast the faithful eat sumptuously. Even if the feast of the Nativity of Christ fall on a Wednesday or a Friday, layfolk are permitted to eat meat, and monastics are allowed to eat cheese and eggs. It is permitted to eat these foods every day between the feast of the Nativity and the Eve of Holy Theophany.
If the Leave-taking, or any day of the postfestive period of the Nativity of Christ, fall on Saturday:
Friday evening, on “Lord, I have cried…”, at Glory…, Now & ever…, we chant the doxasticon of the feast, rather than the dogmaticon of the scurrent tone.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.