At Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 for the holy infants, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—

Troparion of the innocents, in Tone I—

The iniquitous one, seeking the hidden Treasure, slew the innocent babes on this day; and Rachel was inconsolable, beholding their unjust slaughter and untimely death, and wept for them, her womb wracked with pain. But she is gladdened now, seeing them in the bosom of Abraham.

The all-iniquitous king searched for the timeless King Who had come under time, and, unable to find and slay Him, he cut down a multitude of innocent babes. Thereby he made them martyrs and citizens of heaven on high, though he knew it not; and they reprove his madness forever.

When Thou wast born of the Virgin, O preëternal Lord, and in Thy goodness becamest a babe, a choir of babes were admitted by virtue of the blood of their martyrdom, their calm souls illumined, O Thou Who art most just; and Thou hast made them to dwell in the mansions of everlasting life, where they denounce the malice of Herod and His most cruel insanity.

And 3 stichera of the venerable one, in the same tone & melody—

A model of abstinence hast thou shown thyself to be for monastics, O all-wise and God-bearing Marcellus, a pillar of fire extending spiritually from earth to the heavens through abstinence, O all-wise one, a converser of purity, a truly genuine preserver of stillness, an animate tower of courage, and a most excellent rule of virtue.

The uprisings of the passions didst thou cause to wither away, O venerable one, through mighty vigils and instruction in the Scriptures, by earnest supplications and the outpouring of tears. Wherefore, thou hast truly shown thyself to be a habitation worthy of the Master, and dost grant healings unto those who approach thee with faith, having been vouchsafed the delight of immortality.

Delighting most directly in the beauty of thy Master, the reflections having been abolished by His manifestation here in the flesh, O most blessed one, pray thou for those who in purity praise thy most sacred memory and honor it with psalms and hymns, that we may obtain mercy on the day of judgment.

Glory…, of the innocents, the composition of Andrew of Crete, in Tone VIII—

The all-iniquitous Herod, seeing the star which is the brightest of all creation, was troubled, and seized the suckling infants from their mothers’ arms; but Elizabeth, taking up John, entreated the stone, saying: “Receive thou a mother and her child!” O Lord, Thou treasure which the manger held, Whom the star announced and to Whom the magi paid homage, glory be to Thee!

Now & ever…, in the same tone—

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, that hath He taken upon Himself, without undergoing either confusion or division.

At the aposticha, stichera of the feast, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “On the third day…”—

An awesome mystery do I behold! For God Who holdeth all creation in the palm of His hand is held in the flesh in a manger of dumb beasts, and He is wrapped in rags Who clotheth the sea in darkness.

Stichos: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent.

Our incorporeal God becometh incarnate! He Who is without beginning taketh on a beginning! He Who is full now emptieth Himself through the Virgin in a little cave! And He Who nurtureth every creature is nurtured on milk as a babe.

Stichos: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.

Shepherds dance at Thy nativity and offer up glory with the angels; the star offereth a gift, and magi pay homage; and men, saved, magnify the Theotokos.

Glory…, of the innocents, the composition of Andrew of Crete, in Tone VIII—

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa, the dominion of the Jews was abolished. Let the infants slaughtered for Christ leap up, and let Judæa lament; for a voice was heard in Rama: Rachel, weeping, bewaileth her children, as it is written, for the all-iniquitous Herod in slaying the babes fulfilled the Scriptures, filling Judæa with innocent blood and staining the earth red with their blood, but the Church of the nations is mystically purified thereby and is arrayed in beauty. The Truth is come! God Who hath been born of the Virgin hath appeared to those who sit in shadow, that He may save us all.

Now & ever…, the composition of John the Monk, in the same tone—

O Lord, having arrived in Bethlehem, 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 mayest save our race, in that Thou art compassionate. Glory be to Thee!

Through the pangs of Thy saints, wherewith they suffered for Thee, O Lord, be thou entreated; and heal all our pains, we pray Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Glory…, that of the venerable one, in Tone VIII—

In thee, O father, that which was created in the image of God hath been manifestly saved; for, taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ, and, praying, thou didst teach all to disdain the flesh as transitory, but to care for the soul as a thing immortal. Wherefore, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels, O venerable Marcellus.

Now & ever…, of the feast, 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 Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!