The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
It should go
without saying that if one has any possible means of traveling to a Church to
attend the liturgy for the Nativity, they should do so. However, if it is not possible for one to do
so, the following is provided so that at least they can participate in the
feast to the extent possible, under such circumstances.
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
Instead
of “O come let us worship…” the Choir signs 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.
And
immediately after that, the choir sings the Troparion of the feast again.
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:
[Galatians
4:4-7]
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 [Matthew 2:1-12]
Kontakion
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 “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.