Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Two canons, the irmos of each being chanted twice, and the troparia repeated to make up the number 12.
B Chant ye unto His name. [Ps. 65: 2]
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—
For our sake Thou wast laid in a manger of dumb beasts, O long-suffering Savior, having become a babe of Thine own will; and the shepherds hymned Thee with the angels, crying aloud: “Glory and praise to Christ our God, Who hath been born on earth and deified the nature of mortals!”
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, thrice.
Then the sticheron: “Have mercy on me, O God…”, and this sticheron, in Tone VI—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
O Theotokos, thou didst bear in thy womb, in the flesh, the one and unconfused Godhead of the Trinity, the preëternal and unapproachable One, Who is equally everlasting with the invisible Father. Thy grace hath shone forth in the world, O most hymned one. Wherefore, we cry out unceasingly: Rejoice, O pure Virgin Mother!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We magnify Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life, Who for our sake hast now been born in the flesh of the all-pure Virgin Mary who knew not wedlock.
Selected Psalm verses—
A Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth. [Ps. 65: 2]
A Give glory in praise of Him. [Ps. 65: 2]
B Tell forth all His wonders. [Ps. 104: 2]
A Say unto God: How awesome are Thy works. [Ps. 65: 3]
B Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice. [Ps. 95: 11]
A Sing unto God, chant unto His name. [Ps. 67. 5]
B Confession and majesty are His work. [Ps. 110: 3]
A He hath sent redemption unto His people. [Ps. 110: 9]
B Holy and terrible is His name. [Ps. 110: 9]
A Out of Sion is the magnificence of His comeliness. [Ps. 49: 2]
B Our God is in heaven and on earth; all things soever He hath willed, He hath done. [Ps. 113: 11]
A Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever. [Ps. 88: 2]
B He shall call upon Me and shall say: My Father art Thou. [Ps. 88: 27]
A I will make Him My firstborn. [Ps. 88: 28]
B Higher than the kings of the earth. [Ps. 88: 28]
A And all the kings of the earth shall worship Him. [Ps. 71: 11]
B What God is as great as our God? Thou art God Who worketh wonders. [Ps. 76: 14-15]
A With the arm of Thy power hast Thou scattered Thine enemies. [Ps. 88: 11]
B From the womb before the morning-star have I begotten Thee. [Ps. 109: 3]
A The Lord hath sworn and will not repent. [Ps. 104: 4]
B Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. [Ps. 109: 4]
A The Lord said unto Me: Thou art My Son. [Ps. 2: 7]
B This day have I begotten Thee. [Ps. 2: 7]
A Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance. [Ps. 2: 8]
B And the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. [Ps. 2: 8]
A In the heading of the book it is written concerning Me. [Ps. 39: 8]
B Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. [Ps. 44: 7]
A A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. [Ps. 44: 7]
B Wherefore, God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness more than Thy fellows. [Ps. 44: 8]
A For Thou shalt have an inheritance among all the nations. [Ps. 81: 8]
B Blessed is the Lord forever. So be it. So be it. [Ps. 88: 53]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice .
Come, ye faithful, let us behold where Christ was born, and let us follow whither the star goeth with the magi, the kings of the East. There the angels unceasingly hymn Him, and the shepherds play a fitting song on the pipes, singing: Glory in the highest to Him Who hath been born of the Virgin Theotokos in a cave in Bethlehem of Judæa!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
From the womb before the morning-star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent.
Stichos: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies the footstool of Thy feet.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Matthew, § 2 [Mt 1: 18-25]
The birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When, as His Mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying: “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, (which, being interpreted, is) God with us.” Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her first-born Son; and he called His name Jesus.
After Psalm 50, instead of “Through the prayers…”, we chant—
Glory…: All things are filled with joy today! Christ hath been born of the Virgin!
Now & ever…: All things are filled with joy today! Christ hath been born in Bethlehem!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! Today Bethlehem receiveth Him Who is ever seated with the Father. Today the angels glorify as God the Babe Who was born. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.