The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

25 December

ANTIPHON I
Ps. 9.
I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will relate all thy wonders. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

ANTIPHON II
Ps. 111.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments. O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

HYMN OF THE INCARNATION
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen. O only-begotten Son and Word of God, Who art immortal, yet didst deign for our salvation to be incarnate of the holy Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, and without change didst become man, and wast crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death; Thou art One of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

ANTIPHON III
Ps. 109
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand: Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

Troparion, Tone 4.
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone upon the world with the light of knowledge; for thereby they who served the stars, through a star were taught to worship Thee, the Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee.

ENTRANCE HYMN
Ps. 109.
From the womb before the day star I begot Thee. The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

Troparion, Tone 4.
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone upon the world with the light of knowledge; for thereby they who served the stars, through a star were taught to worship Thee, the Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion, Tone 3.
To its proper melody.
Today the Virgin giveth birth to Him Who is above all being, and the earth offereth a cave to Him Whom no man can approach. Angels with shepherds give glory, and Magi journey with a star. For our sake is born a young Child, the pre-eternal God.

IN PLACE OF THE TRISAGION
As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!
As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!
As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Have put on Christ. Alleluia!
As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia!

Prokeimenon, Tone 8.
Psalm 65:4,1,2.
Let all the earth adore Thee, and sing to Thee: let it sing a psalm to Thy Name, O Most High.
Verse: Shout with joy to God, all the earth: sing ye a psalm to His name; give glory to His praise.

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Galatians §209 (4:4-7).
Brethren: When the fulness of the time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that He might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of God through Jesus Christ.

Alleluia, Tone 1.
Psalm 18:2,3.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: The heavens shew forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. Alleluia.
Verse 2: Day to day uttereth speech: and night to night sheweth knowledge.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew.
Saint Matthew §3 (2:1-12).
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, 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 adore Him. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore Him. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother, and falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

ZADOSTOINIK
Magnify, O my soul, the King Who was born in the cave.
Irmos: A strange and all-glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, the place wherein Christ God, the Infinite One, lay, Whom, chanting, we magnify.

Communion.
Psalm 110:9.
The Lord hath sent redemption to His people: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.