After the usual psalm, we chant the first kathisma in its entirety.
Glory..., in Tone VI—
At “Lord, I have cried...,” 3 stichera for the resurrection, 4 stichera for the feast from those chanted on the feast itself, and three stichera for the saints, in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “Joy of the ranks of heaven...”—
Troparion of the feast, in Tone IV—
Let us all praise King David, the ancestor of God, for from him sprang forth the rod of the Virgin, and from her blossomed the Flower, even Christ, Who hath called forth Adam and Eve from corruption, in that He is full of loving-kindness.
Now and ever..., Dogmaticon of the tone.
At the Litia, the stichera chanted on the feast itself.
In old age Joseph the betrothed beheld the things foretold by the prophets clearly fulfilled, having received a strange betrothal and a revelation from angels who cry, Glory to God, Who hath sent down peace upon the earth!
Glory..., Now and ever..., this sticheron, the composition of John the Monk, of Damascus, in Tone V—
The magi, kings of Persia, learning most certainly that the King of heaven was born on earth, came to Bethlehem, guided by the light of a radiant star; and, presenting their choice gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, they fell down and worshipped Him, for they beheld the Timeless One lying in the cave as a babe.
Let us all praise the brother of God, for he is a holy hierarch who shone forth nobly also in martyrdom, through whose prayers do Thou save all who sing to Thee, O Jesus, our God, Who wast wrapped in swaddling clothes in the cave.
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera of the feast, idiomela, in Tone II—
Let us celebrate the memory of the pious David and James, king and prophet, apostle and first bishop; and, delivered from deception by their teachings, let us glorify Christ, Who shone forth from the Virgin and became incarnate to save our souls.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, telling of this present mystery: The middle wall of partition hath been demolished, the fiery sword is removed, the cherub withdraweth from the gate of life, and I partake of the food of paradise, from whence I was driven away because of disobedience; for the immutable Image of the Father, the Image of His eternity, doth assume the guise of a servant, issuing forth from the Mother who knew not wedlock, without undergoing change, yet He hath remained what He was before, our true God; and He hath received what He was not, becoming man in His love for mankind. To Him let us cry aloud: O God Who wast born of the Virgin, have mercy on us! Twice
Prokimenon of the day.
The composition of Anatolius— When the Lord Jesus was born of the holy Virgin, all things were enlightened; for when the shepherds piped, the magi offered homage and the angels sang; and Herod was troubled, for God appeared in the flesh, the Savior of our souls. Twice
We do not chant any kathisma, unless this feast fall on Sunday.
Thy kingdom, O Christ God, is a kingdom of all the ages, and thy dominion is for all generations. O Christ God Who wast incarnate by the Holy Spirit and becamest man through the Ever-virgin Mary, Thou hast shone forth Thine advent upon us as light. O Light from Light, Effulgence of the Father, Thou hast illumined all creation. Every creature that hath breath praiseth Thee, the Image of the glory of the Father. O Thou Who art and ever shall be, O God Who hast shone forth from the Virgin: Have mercy upon us!
What shall we offer Thee, O Christ, in that Thou hast appeared on earth as a man for our sake? For every creature fashioned by Thee offereth Thee thanksgiving: the angels, hymnody; the heavens, a star; the magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, a cave; the wilderness, a manger; and we, the Virgin Mother. O God Who hast existed from before time, have mercy upon us!
Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone VI—
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!
Entrance, and Great Prokimenon, in Tone VII—
What God is as great as our God? Thou art God Who worketh wonders.
Stichos 1: Thou hast made Thy power known among the peoples; with Thine arm hast Thou redeemed Thy people.
Stichos 2: And I said: Now have I made a beginning; this change hath been wrought by the right hand of the Most High.
Stichos 3: I remembered the works of the Lord; for I will remember Thy wonders from the beginning.
But if it be Saturday evening, we chant the usual prokimenon, in Tone VI—
The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.
Stichos 1: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.
Stichos 2: For He established the world which shall not be shaken.
Stichos 3: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
The Great Prokimenon “What God is as great as our God…” and its stichoi are thus chanted on the eve of the feast itself, while the daily prokimenon is omitted. Then followeth the litany.
At the aposticha, stichera idiomela, the composition of John the monk, in Tone VIII—
An all-glorious mystery is wrought today: nature is restored and God becometh man! He hath remained what He hath been, and what He hath not been, He hath taken upon Himself, without undergoing either confusion or division.
Stichos: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent.
Arriving in Bethlehem, O Lord, Thou didst make Thine abode in the cave; Thou Who hast heaven for Thy throne wast laid in a manger; Thou Whom the armies of the angels surround didst descend unto shepherds, that Thou mightest save our race, in that Thou art compassionate. Glory be to Thee!
Stichos: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
How can I recount this great mystery? He Who is incorporeal becometh incarnate, the Word becometh flesh; the Invisible becometh visible; the Intangible is touched; the Unoriginate beginneth to be. The Son of God becometh the Son of man: Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, and for evermore!
Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—
The shepherds hastened to Bethlehem, proclaiming the true Shepherd Who sitteth on the cherubim and lieth in the manger, having taken on the guise of a babe for our sake. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
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 Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Day-spring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.