The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

In place of the usual antiphons, use the festal antiphons:

 

The First Antiphon

 

Stichos 1:  I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

Refrain:  Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Stichos 2:  In the Council of the upright and in the congregation, great are the works of the Lord.

Refrain:  Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Stichos 3:  Sought out in all the things that He hath willed.

Refrain:  Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Stichos 4:  Confession and majesty are His works, and His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages.

Refrain:  Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

Refrain:  Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

 

The Second Antiphon

 

Stichos 1:  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

Refrain:  O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee:  Alleluia.

Stichos 2: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Refrain:  O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee:  Alleluia.

Stichos 3:  Glory and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages.

Refrain:  O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee:  Alleluia.

Stichos 4:  There hath risen up in darkness a light for the upright; he is merciful and compassionate and righteous.

Refrain:  O Son of God Who wast born of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee:  Alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both 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 was crucified, O Christ God, trampling down death by death.  Thou Who art one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.

 

The Third Antiphon

 

Reader: Stichos 1:  The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.

Choir: (Troparion, Tone 4):

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God,  *  hath shined upon the world the light of knowledge; * for thereby, they that worshipped the stars * were 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.

            Stichos 2:  Until I make Thine enemies the footstool of Thy feet.

            Choir:  Repeat Troparion

            Stichos 3:  A scepter of power shall the Lord send unto Thee out of Zion; rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

            Choir:  Repeat Troparion

            Stichos 4:  With Thee is dominion in the day of Thy power, in the splendor of Thy saints.

Choir:  Repeat Troparion

 

The entry verse:

 

From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee.  The Lord hath sworn and will not repent:  Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

 

Troparion & Kontakion

 

Tone 4: Thy Nativity, O Christ our God,  /

hath shined upon the world the light of knowledge; /

for thereby, they that worshipped the stars /

were 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.

 

Glory… Both now…

Tone 3:  Today the Virgin giveth birth to Him Who is transcendent in essence; /

and the earth offereth a cave to Him Who is unapproachable. /

Angels with shepherds give glory; /

with a star the Magi do journey; //

for our sake a young Child is born, Who is pre-eternal God.

 

Instead of the Trisagion:  As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  Alleluia.  Thrice.

            Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both 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.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 8th Tone:  Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee; let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High.

Choir:  Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee; let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High.

Reader:  Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth; chant ye unto His name, give glory in praise of Him.

Choir: Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee; let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High.

Reader. Let all the earth worship Thee and chant unto Thee

Choir:  Let them chant unto Thy name, O Most High.

 

Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians: 

[Gal. 4:4-7 (§209)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the works of His hands.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  Day unto day poureth forth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [Matt. 2:1-12 (§3)]

 

Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Second Canon of the feast, First Tone:

            Refrain:  Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more glorious than the hosts on high, the most pure Virgin Theotokos.

            Irmos:  Better would it be for us to keep silence in fear, for it is without peril; and it is difficult, O Virgin, to weave complex hymns harmoniously with love.  But grant us, O Mother, the strength to fulfill our intent.

 

Or according to the current practice of some, the following Irmos is used (with the same refrain, and in the same tone):

A strange and most wonderful mystery do I see: the cave is heaven; the Virgin the throne of the cherubim; the manger a room, in which Christ, the God whom nothing can contain, is laid.  Him do we praise and magnify.

 

Communion Verse:

The Lord hath sent redemption unto His people.  Alleluia!   Alleluia!  Alleluia!

 

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