On Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung: three of the Forefeast, and three of the saint of the day, St. Eugenia the Martyr.

In the Greek use, the stichera of the Forefeast are as follows:

Tone Four

Let us sound the cymbals: let us shout aloud in songs. The revelation of Christ is now made manifest: the preachings of the prophets have received their fulfilment. For He of whom they spoke, foretelling His appearance in the flesh to mortal men, is born in a holy cave and is laid as a babe in a manger, and as a child He is wrapped in swaddling clothes.

With uprightness of mind let us lift up our voice in song, celebrating the Forefeast of Christ’s Nativity. For He who is equal in honour with the Father and the Spirit, has from compassion clothed Himself in our substance, and makes ready to be born in the city of Bethlehem. The praises of His Nativity past speech the shepherds and the angels sing.

The Virgin was amazed, as she beheld a conception past telling and a birth past utterance. Rejoicing at once and weeping, she raised her voice and said: ‘Shall I give my breast to Thee, who givest nourishment to all the world, or shall I sing Thy praise as my Son and my God? What manner of name shall I find to call Thee, O Lord whom none can name?’

But in the Slav use, the following stichera of the Forefeast are sung:

Tone Five

Thou dost bear the form of Adam, yet Thou art all-perfect, being in the form of God. Of Thine own will Thou art held in human hands, who in Thy might upholdest all things with Thine hand. To Thee the pure and undefiled Virgin spake aloud: ‘How shall I wrap Thee in swaddling clothes like a child, how shall I give Thee suck who givest nourishment to all the world? How shall I not wonder in amazement at Thy poverty beyond understanding! How shall I, who am Thy handmaiden, call Thee my Son? I sing Thy praises and I bless Thee, who dost grant the world great mercy.’

The undefiled Virgin, beholding the pre-eternal God as a child that had taken flesh from her, held Him in her arms and without ceasing she kissed Him. Filled with joy, she said aloud to Him: ‘O Most High God, O King unseen, how is it that I look upon Thee? I cannot understand the mystery of Thy poverty without measure. For the smallest of caves, a strange dwelling for Thee, finds room for Thee within itself. Thou hast been born without destroying my virginity, but Thou hast kept my womb as it was before childbirth; and Thou dost grant the world great mercy.’

The pure Virgin spoke in wonder, as she heard the Magi standing together before the cave, and she said to them: ‘Whom do ye seek? For I see that ye have come from a far country. Ye have the appearance, but not the thoughts, of Persians; strange has your journey been, and strange your arrival. Ye have come with zeal to worship Him who, journeying as a stranger from on high, has strangely, in ways known to Himself, come to dwell in me, granting the world great mercy.’

Then follow, in both the Greek and the Slav use, the three stichera of St. Eugenia.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Two

Lo, the time of our salvation is at hand. Make ready, O cave; the Virgin draws nigh to give birth. Be glad and rejoice, O Bethlehem, land of Judah, for from thee our Lord has shone forth as the dawn. Hearken, ye mountains and hills and all ye lands round about Judaea: for Christ comes in His love for mankind, to save the man He fashioned.

Aposticha in the Greek use:

Tone One

Let us celebrate, O ye people, the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ, and raising our minds on high let us go in spirit to Bethlehem; and with the eyes of our soul let us look upon the Virgin, as she hastens to the cave to give birth to our God, the Lord of all. Joseph, when he beheld the greatness of this wonder, thought that he saw a mortal wrapped as a babe in swaddling clothes; but from all that came to pass he understood that it was the true God, who grants the world great mercy.

℣. God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from the mountain overshadowed by the forest (Habakkuk 3:3).

Let us celebrate, O ye people, the Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ, and raising our minds on high let us go in spirit to Bethlehem; and let us look upon the great mystery in the cave. For Eden is opened once again, when from a pure Virgin God comes forth, perfect in His divinity as in His manhood. Therefore let us cry: Holy God, Thou Father without beginning: Holy and Mighty, Thou Son made flesh: Holy and Immortal, Thou Spirit the Comforter: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid: Lord, I considered Thy works and was amazed (Habakkuk 3:1–2).

Hearken, O heaven, and give ear, O earth: for behold, the Son and Word of God the Father comes forth to be born of a Maiden who has not known man, by the good pleasure of the Father who begat Him impassibly, and by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. Make ready, O Bethlehem: throw open thy gate, O Eden. For He who is, comes to be that which He was not, and He who formed all creation takes form, granting the world great mercy.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

Make ready, O cave, for the Ewe Lamb comes, bearing Christ in her womb. And do thou, O manger, accept Him who by His word has loosed us dwellers on earth from acts that are against reason. Ye shepherds abiding in the fields, bear witness to the fearful wonder. And ye, Magi from Persia, offer to the King gold and frankincense and myrrh: for the Lord has appeared from a Virgin Mother. And she, bending over Him like a handmaiden, worshipped Him and said to Him, as He lay in her arms: ‘How wast Thou sown as seed in me? And how hast Thou grown within me, O my Deliverer and my God?’

Aposticha in the Slav use:

Tone One

‘Kings from the east, having learnt that Thou wast to be born as King, are come, bringing Thee gifts, O Son, frankincense and myrrh and gold; and lo, they stand before the doors. Bid them enter and behold Thee, held in my arms as a child, who art older than ancient Adam.’

℣. God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from the mountain overshadowed by the forest (Habakkuk 3:3).

‘Come ye and make haste to enter,’ said the Virgin to the Magi, ‘and behold Him who is invisible, now visibly manifest and become a child.’ And they came eagerly and worshipped, bringing gifts in fulfilment of the divine prophecy.

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid: Lord, I considered Thy works and was amazed (Habakkuk 3:1–2).

‘I hold in my arms as a child Thee who dost uphold all, and I am filled with amazement’, said she who had not known wedlock. ‘How shall I feed with milk Thee who givest food to all, O my Son and my Creator? I glorify Thy measureless condescension towards man, whereby Thou dost save the world that perishes.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

Triumph, O Zion; make glad, O Jerusalem, city of Christ our God: receive the Creator who is contained within a cave and a manger. Open unto me the gates, and entering within I shall see as a child wrapped in swaddling clothes Him who upholds the creation in the hollow of His hand, whose praises the angels sing with unceasing voice, the Lord and Giver of Life who saves mankind.

Apolytikion (troparion) of the Forefeast:

Tone Four

Mary once, with aged Joseph, went to be taxed in Bethlehem, for they were of the lineage of David; and she bore in her womb the fruit that had not been sown. The time of the birth was at hand and there was no room at the inn; but the cave proved a fair palace for the Queen. Christ is born, that He may raise up again the image that before was fallen (three times).

And the Dismissal.

We sing the Canon of the Forefeast:

Tone Six

Canticle One

Irmos: He who in ancient times hid the pursuing tyrant beneath the waves of the sea, is hidden in a manger and Herod seeks to kill Him. But let us cry out with the Magi in song: Let us sing unto the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.

O Lord my God, I will sing a birthday hymn, a song on the Forefeast, to Thee who by Thy Nativity givest me a divine rebirth and leadest me up to my first excellence.

The things above the earth and on the earth were amazed at Thy power, as they beheld Thee, O my Saviour, upon Thy throne on high and in the manger below. For beyond our understanding Thou hast appeared in two natures, God and man.

That thou mightest fill all things with Thy glory, Thou hast come and bowed the heavens till they touched the earth. For as rain upon the fleece hast Thou descended into a virgin womb, from which Thou now comest forth to be born in two natures, O God and man.

Canticle Three

Irmos: When the creation beheld Thee born in a cave, who hast hung the whole earth in the void above the waters, it was seized with amazement and cried: ‘There is none holy save Thee, O Lord.’

O merciful Lord, making manifest the figures of Thine ineffable Incarnation, Thou hast unfolded visions and breathed forth prophecies; and now Thou art come and hast fulfilled them, being born in the flesh from a pure Maid in the city of David.

Earth has spread out its wide spaces and receives the Creator, as He receives from angels glory, from heaven the star, from the shepherds praise, from the Magi gifts, and acknowledgement from the whole world.

The riddles of Balaam, the soothsayer and diviner, are now fulfilled. For a star has dawned from Jacob and led the Magi, Kings from Persia bringing gifts, towards the Sun of Glory.

Canticle Four

Irmos: Foreseeing Thy coming from the Virgin, Habakkuk cried out marvelling: O Deliverer, Thou art come incarnate from Teman, to call back Adam from his exile.

The Lord now draws nigh and comes, expectation of the nations and salvation of the world. O city of Bethlehem, prepare the cave: and ye shepherds with the Magi, make haste.

In the strength of Thy Godhead Thou hast been joined with mortal men, through a union without confusion, O Saviour, in the likeness of the flesh of Adam; and in thus assuming human nature Thou dost bestow upon it immortality and salvation.

The Word is made manifest and assumes the material substance of our flesh; and in His ineffable providence He takes up His dwelling among us. Come ye, O faithful, and let us look upon His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten Son from God the Father.

Canticle Five

Irmos: Isaiah, as he watched by night, beheld the light that knows no evening, the light of Thy Theophany, O Christ, that came to pass from tender love for us; and he cried aloud: ‘Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear the incarnate Word, and all those born on earth shall rejoice exceedingly.’

O Creator, Thou makest new those born on earth by Thyself becoming clay. A manger and swaddling clothes and a cave are the marks of Thy lowliness. The Betrothed of Thy Mother is thought by men to be Thy father according to the flesh, and so he takes the place of the Father who begat Thee by His counsel.

The Kings, first fruits of the Gentiles, bring Thee gifts at Thy birth in a cave in Bethlehem, from a Mother who suffered no pangs of travail: by myrrh they point to Thy death, by gold to Thy royal power, by frankincense to the preeminence of Thy divinity.

Coming forth in the flesh, O Word coeternal with the Father, from a Mother who suffered no pangs of birth, Thou hast made Thy dwelling in the cave, using the manger as Thy throne. Through Thy fearful dispensation Thou dost amaze the Magi and the shepherds, and Thou fillest the angels with awe as they cry, ‘Glory to Thy dominion.’

Canticle Six

Irmos: Jonah was compassed but not held fast in the belly of the whale; for serving as a figure of Thy birth and Thine appearing in the flesh, he came forth from the monster as from a chamber. For, born now in the flesh, Thou shalt in the flesh undergo burial and death, and Thou shalt rise again on the third day.

The middle wall of partition of the ancient enmity is now laid low and destroyed by Thy coming in the flesh, O Christ, and the flaming sword now gives way before all who approach. And I partake in faith of the life-giving tree in Eden, becoming once again a husbandman of immortal plants.

Hell reigned with sin from Adam even down to Thee; but their shameless tyranny is brought to naught, now that Thou art born according to the flesh from the tribe of David, O Deliverer. Thou hast set a light upon the throne of his kingdom and Thou reignest unto all ages.

Herod the wicked became a slayer of children but not of Christ. For though he reaped a bitter harvest of children he failed to seize and slay the wheat ear of life. For being the Giver of life, as God He escaped from the pursuer by His divine power.

Canticle Seven

Irmos: Wonder past speech! He who delivered the Holy Children from the flames of the furnace, is laid as a babe in a poor manger, for our salvation who sing: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou.

The enemy and deceiver was wounded when he saw God laid in a poor and narrow manger as a babe, and by the hand of God was he cast down, for our salvation who sing: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou.

O happy manger! Receiving the Creator as a babe, it is made the throne of the cherubim, for our salvation who sing: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou.

According to the law of mortal man, appearing as a babe Thou dost accept to be wrapped in swaddling bands: and thereby Thou dost loose the bands of my offences, bestowing freedom on those who cry aloud: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou.

In Thy Birth without beginning and in Thy Nativity after the flesh, Thou hast remained, O Christ, one in Godhead with the Father and the Spirit, for our salvation who sing: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou.

Canticle Eight

Irmos: Be ye astonished, O ye heavens, be ye horribly afraid, and let the foundations of the earth be shaken. For lo, He who bears the whole world in the hollow of His hand, is wrapped in swaddling clothes and received as guest in a narrow manger. Him do ye children bless, ye priests praise, and ye people exalt above all for ever.

Adam the prisoner has been set loose and freedom has been given to all the faithful, now that Thou art wrapped in swaddling bands, O Saviour, and laid in a small cave and in a manger for dumb beasts. Therefore, rejoicing, we offer Thee in faith a hymn on this the Forefeast of Thy Nativity.

The error of Persia has ceased: for the stargazers, Kings of the east, bring gifts to Christ the King of all at His birth, gold and myrrh and frankincense. Him do ye children bless, ye priests praise, and ye people exalt above all for ever.

O strange wonders! O goodness and infinite forbearance! Behold, He who dwells in the heights is counted as a babe, and He who is God flees of His own will from Herod. Him do ye children bless, ye priests praise, and ye people exalt above all for ever.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: ‘Be not amazed O Mother, beholding Me now as a babe, whom the Father begat from the womb before the morning star. For I have come openly to restore and glorify with Myself the fallen nature of mortal man, that magnifies thee in faith and love.’

‘O Son without beginning, I am blessed beyond words in Thy strange birth, wherein I have been spared all travail. And as I behold Thee fleeing from Herod with his sword of sorrow, I am torn in soul. But do Thou live and save those that honour Thee.’

‘I have gone down into the land of Egypt but, O Mother, I have laid low with an earthquake the idols of Egypt made by hand of man. And sending into hell the enemies that seek My life in vain, with the power that I alone possess, I shall lift up and save those that honour thee.’

Let the creation rejoice exceedingly: for the Creator now makes Himself to be created, and He who was before all things now makes Himself known as God newly revealed. Let the Magi with their gifts go out to meet Him, let the shepherds clap their hands in faith at the wonder, and let mortal men join the angels and make glad.

After the first reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone Six

The sayings of the prophets are now fulfilled: for our God shall be born tomorrow of the Virgin Mary in fashion past words, and yet shall remain such as He was before His birth. The Magi come together bearing gifts, the shepherds abide in the fields, and we also sing: O Lord born of a Virgin, glory to Thee.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

After the second reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone Eight

As shepherds were piping songs a host of angels stopped them and called out, saying: ‘Cease now, ye who abide in the fields at the head of your flocks; cry out and sing that Christ the Lord is born, whose pleasure it is as God to save mankind.’

Then follows Psalm 50.

Two Canons are used: of the Forefeast, in eight troparia, including the irmos; and of the saint, in six troparia, likewise including the irmos. The irmos of the Canon of the saint is repeated as katavasia at the end of Canticles Three, Six, Eight, and Nine.

Canon of the Forefeast

Tone Two

Canticle One

Irmos: A triumphant force once laid low all the armed host of Pharaoh in the deep: even so the glorious Lord, the Word made flesh, has blotted out malignant sin; for He has been greatly glorified.

O King of all, wishing man to be enrolled in the book of life, thou hast enrolled Thyself according to the law of Caesar. As a stranger hast Thou come unto Thine own, calling back to heaven those who were unhappily estranged from Paradise.

O Bethlehem, receive Christ: for, made flesh, He comes to dwell in thee, opening Eden to me. Make ready, O Cave, to behold most strangely contained in Thee, Him who cannot be contained, who now is made poor in the wealth of His tender mercies.

Christ comes to be born, granting in His goodness a strange rebirth to those sprung from Adam. Be glad, the whole nature of mortal man, thou that art barren and bearest not: the Master has come to make thee a mother of many children.

Canticle Three

Irmos: The desert flowered as a lily at Thy coming, O Lord, even the Church of the Gentiles that was barren: and in that same coming is my heart established.

Redeeming me from bands of evil, O Lord who lovest mankind, Thou comest to be wrapped as a babe in swaddling bands. I venerate Thy divine condescension.

The Virgin draws nigh to bear Thee, O Lord, who, shining timelessly from the Father, hast now come to be in time, setting us loose from the temporal passions of our souls.

O Lord most merciful and full of pity, seeking me who had gone astray in transgression, Thou hast come to dwell in a cave as in heaven, thereby preparing the heavenly mansions for me.

Sessional hymn of the Forefeast:

Tone One

Rejoice exceedingly, O Zion: make ready, O Bethlehem. The Upholder of all things, sending a star before Him, has made known His condescension without measure. He before whom the heavenly powers tremble, our Only God, without suffering change is born in very truth from the Virgin.

Glory be to the Father…

Sessional hymn of the saint.

Both now…

Of the Forefeast:

Tone Eight

Let us, the faithful, keep festival, observing the Forefeast of Christ’s Nativity, and as is right let us all go forth to meet Him. Like the Magi let us bring as gifts our virtues, and sing the new song of the angels to our God, who is born in Bethlehem without seed from the Child of God and Maiden. Him do all things glorify.

Canticle Four

Irmos: Thou hast come forth from a Virgin, neither angel nor ambassador, but the Lord Himself made flesh, and to me who am man Thou hast brought salvation. Therefore I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Let the creation now cast off all things old, beholding Thee the Creator made a child. For through Thy birth Thou dost shape all things afresh, making them new once more and leading them back again to their first beauty.

The Magi who had been led on their way by a divine star, stood before Thee in wonder at Thy marvellous birth; and bearing gifts, they see the Sun that rose from the virgin cloud.

Behold, the Virgin comes like a young heifer, bearing in her womb the fatted Calf that takes away the sins of the world. Let the creation as it keeps feast rejoice exceedingly.

The preaching of the prophets, foretelling the manifestation of Christ, has today received its saving fulfilment: for He has come in the flesh to enlighten those in peril of darkness.

Canticle Five

Irmos: Thou art become mediator between God and man, O Christ our God; for through Thee, O Master, we have access from the darkness of ignorance to Thy Father, the Author of light.

Let the people that once sat in darkness see the light shine forth that knows no evening: Him whom the star once made known to kings from Persia who worshipped fire.

The Great King comes in haste to enter a small cave, that He may make me great who had grown small, and that, as transcendent God, by His poverty without measure He may enrich me who had grown poor.

‘Now is Christ born of Jacob,’ so Balaam said: ‘and He shall rule over nations, and His Kingdom shall be exalted in grace and shall remain perpetually.’

Canticle Six

Irmos: Compassed about in an abyss of sin, on the unsearchable abyss of Thy tender mercies do I call: bring me out of corruption, O God.

Christ in strange wise comes to His own. Let us make ourselves strangers to sin, and let us receive Him who dwells in the souls of the meek.

Thou, O Bethlehem, art not least among cities: for in thee is born the King and Lord who shall tend as a shepherd the people that is His own.

How shall a small cave receive Thee, for whom the world cannot find room, O Thou whom none can comprehend! O Thou, who with the Father art without beginning, how shalt Thou appear as a small child!

Kontakion of the Forefeast

Tone Three

Today the Virgin comes to the cave to give birth ineffably to the pre-eternal Word. Hearing this, be of good cheer, O inhabited earth, and with the angels and the shepherds glorify Him whose will it was to be made manifest a young Child, the pre-eternal God.

Ikos of the Forefeast

The holy sayings of the Prophets have been fulfilled in the city of Bethlehem within a cave. The whole creation is made rich: let it rejoice and be of good cheer. The Master of all has come to live with His servants, and from the bondage of the enemy He delivers us who were made subject to corruption. In swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, He is made manifest a young Child, the pre-eternal God.

Kontakion and ikos of the saint.

Canticle Seven

Irmos: The profane command of a lawless tyrant fanned the flame exceeding high; but Christ cast the dew of the Spirit over the Children who feared God: blessed is He, and exalted above all.

Let clouds drop water from on high; He who in glory makes the clouds His chariot, comes borne upon a cloud, that is the Virgin. The light that knows no evening, He comes to shine on those who before were in darkness and in peril.

O army of divine angels, make ready to sing the praises of the ineffable condescension of the Lord. O ye Magi, come with all speed; O shepherds, make haste. Christ is come, the predestined expectation of the nations and their deliverance.

‘What is this great and strange wonder? How do I uphold Thee who upholdest all the world by Thy word? O my Son who art without beginning, Thy birth is beyond all speech!’ So spake the All-Pure, fearfully holding Christ in her arms.

Canticle Eight

Irmos: In Babylon of old by the command of God, the fiery furnace worked in contrary ways: burning the Chaldeans, it refreshed the faithful as they sang: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

The blameless Lady was amazed at the height of the mystery, in truth past speech, that covered the heavens with knowledge, and she said: ‘The heavenly throne is consumed in flames as it holds Thee: how is it, then, that I carry Thee, my Son?’

‘Thou dost bear the likeness of Thy Father, O my Son. How then hast Thou become poor and taken upon Thyself the likeness of a servant? How shall I lay Thee in a manger of beasts without reason, who dost deliver all men from unreason? I sing the praises of Thy compassion.’

Be joyful, all the earth: behold, Christ draws nigh to be born in Bethlehem. Be glad, O sea; dance for joy, thou congregation of prophets, seeing today the fulfilment of your words; rejoice, O all ye righteous.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: The Son of the Father without beginning has appeared to us, God the Lord made flesh of the Virgin, to give light to those in darkness, and to gather the dispersed. Therefore the far-famed Theotokos do we magnify.

Let the kings of the whole earth sing rejoicing, and let the companies of the nations be in exceeding joy. Mountains and hills and hollows, rivers and seas, and the whole creation, magnify the Lord who now is born.

As far as it was right, Thou wast seen by the prophets. Made man in the last times, Thou hast appeared to all in Bethlehem, city of Judah, and a star showed Thee to the stargazers, O Thou who passest all interpretation.

Behold, the Most Holy Word comes unto His own in a holy body that is not His. By a strange birth He makes His own the world that was estranged. To Him let us sing in praise, who became poor for us.

‘O sweetest child, how shall I feed Thee who givest food to all? How shall I hold Thee who holdest all things in Thy power? How shall I wrap Thee in swaddling clothes, who dost wrap the whole earth in clouds?’ So cried the all-pure Lady whom in faith we magnify.

Exapostilarion of the Forefeast:

He who dwells in the light that no man can approach and who upholds all things, in His ineffable compassion is born of a Virgin. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a babe, and laid in a cave in a manger of dumb beasts. Let us hasten to Bethlehem to worship Him with the Magi, bringing as our gifts the fruits of our virtuous deeds.

Glory be to the Father…

Exapostilarion of the saint.

Both now…

Another, of the Forefeast:

Let us, the faithful, offer a hymn to the Virgin Mary: for behold, she now draws nigh to bear Christ the Saviour in the city of Bethlehem. Therefore, ye Magi bringing gifts, press onward swiftly with the star, that we may worship Him together. And ye shepherds, make haste to cry aloud with the angels to Him who is born in a cave and in a manger: Glory to Thee!

Lauds. Four stichera are sung, in the Greek use as follows:

Tone Six

to the special melody, Go ye on before, O ye angelic powers…

What mysteries beyond mind and speech! God in His compassion is born on earth, putting on the form of a servant that He may snatch from servitude to the enemy those who with fervent love cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Saviour who lovest mankind.

Come, Israel slow of heart, cast from thee the mist that lies upon thy soul; recognize the Maker who is born in a cave. He is the expectation of the nations; He shall destroy thy feasts: for thou wilt not consent to cry aloud: Christ the King of Israel is come.

‘O Sun, my Son, how shall I wrap Thee in swaddling clothes? How shall I give Thee milk, who givest food to all creation? How shall I hold Thee in my arms who holdest all things? How shall I look upon Thee without fear, on whom the cherubim with many eyes dare not to lift their gaze?’ So spake she who knew not wedlock as she held Christ.

O ye shepherds, shout aloud in new songs: O ye Magi, cast away your magic spells. Let the mountains and the hills rejoice exceedingly. O ye daughters of kings, come unto the joy of the Theotokos. O ye people, let us say: Blessed art Thou, our God who now art born: glory to Thee.

But in the Slav use the following stichera are sung:

Tone Six

to the special melody, Go ye on before, O ye angelic powers…

The star from Jacob has risen within the cave: celebrating the Forefeast, let us hasten with the Magi and go with shepherds. Let us see God in swaddling clothes: let us see the Virgin feeding Him on milk. O fearful sight! Christ the King of Israel is come.

The choir of angels honours thee with hymns, O radiant Mother, who hast not known wedlock: and rejoicing it makes glad at thy birthgiving, O Most Pure. Hail! Thou hope of the Orthodox. Hail! Thou Advocate of those who sing to thee. Therefore let us cry: Blessed art Thou, our God who hast come: glory to Thee.

A Light shall spring forth from the root of Jesse, as the prophet full of light foretold. For we see a Virgin giving birth, in ways past nature, to a most precious rose in a cave: He who sits in the heights upon the same throne as the Father. O ye people, let us say: Blessed art Thou, our God who hast come: glory to Thee.

Today Adam has been recalled from error and from the dark deceiving of the adversary, for Christ is made flesh as man from a Virgin; and renewing Adam, He has removed the curse that came from the virgin Eve. O ye people, let us say: Blessed art Thou, our God who hast come: glory to Thee.

Then in both the Greek and the Slav practice we sing:

Glory be to the Father…

Same Tone

Come, O Bethlehem, prepare for the birth. Come, Joseph, and be enrolled with Mary. O most sacred manger! O swaddling clothes that carry God! There the Life was wrapped, even Christ our God, who shall tear to pieces the bands of death, and bind fast mortal men to incorruption.

Both now…

Same Tone

O most blessed womb of the Maid of God, thou hast been shown forth as spiritually vaster than the heavens. For Him whom heaven cannot contain, thou dost carry and hold within thee. O most blessed breasts of the Virgin, that Christ has sucked who feeds all that has breath! He has built flesh for Himself in the womb of the Maiden that knew not a man.

Aposticha:

Tone Two

to the special melody, O house of Ephratah…

O Virgin, thou art become the dwelling of the Maker of all; for having come to dwell in thee, the Lord of glory now draws near His time of birth.

℣. God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from the mountain overshadowed by the forest (Habakkuk 3:3).

In Bethlehem, in a manger of dumb beasts, from a Virgin now is born a young Child who is the pre-eternal God. O what a wonder is this!

℣. O Lord, I have the report of Thee and was afraid: Lord, I considered Thy works and was amazed (Habakkuk 3:1–2).

O ye spiritual ranks of angels in the heights, join the shepherds and Magi, and cry ye aloud to God who now is born: Glory to Thee.

In the Greek use we continue:

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

O Bethlehem, receive the Mother of God: for she has come to thee to give birth to the Light that never sets. O ye angels, gaze with wonder from heaven; O ye men, give glory on earth. O Magi from Persia, bring your threefold gift; ye shepherds abiding in the fields, sing ye the thrice-holy hymn. Let everything that hath breath praise the Maker of all.

But in the Slav use we sing:

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Two

Glory to Thee, O Father, Son, and Spirit, through whom a fearful mystery is brought to pass unto man’s regeneration.

Both now…

Same Tone

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, who of the Holy Spirit hast borne Life unto the world to the deliverance of all.

The rest of the service of Mattins as usual, and the Dismissal.

The Forefeast of Christmas (24 December) is observed as a fast, and neither animal products nor fish may be eaten. In the Greek use, wine and oil are not permitted, except when the Forefeast falls on Saturday or Sunday: but in the Slav use wine and oil may be taken, whatever day of the week it may be.