Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the Prophet Jonah, praying within the sea monster, cried out: Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King of hosts!
Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel: “Today the Virgin...”—
Theotokion: We beseech thee, O Virgin Theotokos: In behalf of thy servants entreat thou Him Who was incarnate of thee, for we know thee to be our sole intercessor.
Awe-struck, the heavenly hosts stood before the cave and, unable to keep silent, hymned Thy most pure nativity, chanting: Glory in the highest to the newborn God!
Upon Thy throne hast Thou sat, as Thou didst swear unto the prophet David, O Master, Who camest forth from the fruit of his loins; and unto James didst Thou commit the throne of the Church, O Christ.
David the king is shown to be a wondrous prophet and forefather of the incarnation of God; and James, the disciple of Jesus, is shown forth as the first bishop.
Today the godly David is filled with gladness, and Joseph offereth praise with James. They rejoice, receiving a crown through their kinship with Christ; and they laud Him Who hath ineffably been born on earth, and cry aloud: O Compassionate One, save those who honor Thee!
Ikos: The Incorporeal One is, through the ineffable Counsel, born in the flesh; He Who is uncontainable is now contained in a body and doth preserve both essences immutably; He Who is without beginning and Who alone is beyond time doth take on a beginning; an Infant of surpassing perfection is beheld; He Who beareth all things is borne in arms. Wherefore, as God, He doth crown through His birth those who are honored by their kinship with Him, and, glorifying them with faith, we cry out unceasingly: O Compassionate One, save those who honor Thee!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.