If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday, the Royal Hours are read on the preceding Friday. In such a case, the Liturgy is not celebrated on Friday.

The First Hour

After the blessing of the priest, we say Holy God…, and the opening prayers as usual. Then O come, let us worship…, and the following three psalms:

Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto Thee will I pray. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up. For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee. The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy Thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against Thee. But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. For Thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 44

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever. Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most Mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. And in Thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall teach Thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; whereby the people fall under Thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad. Kings’ daughters were among Thy honourable women: upon Thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house. So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty; for He is thy Lord; and worship thou Him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. The King’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto Thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King’s palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Psalm 45

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Kyrie eleison (three times).

Then Glory be to the Father… and the 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.

Then the reader continues:

Both now…

Theotokion

What shall we call thee, O full of grace? Heaven? For thou hast made the Sun of Righteousness shine forth. Paradise? For thou hast put forth the flower of immortality. Virgin? For thou hast remained without corruption. Pure Mother? For thou hast held in thy holy embrace a Son who is God of all. Pray unto Him to save our souls.

Then we sing the following stichera:

Tone Eight

by Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem

Make ready, O Bethlehem: let the manger be prepared, let the cave show its welcome. The truth has come, the shadow has passed away; born of a Virgin, God has appeared to men, formed as we are and making godlike the garment He has put on. Therefore Adam is renewed with Eve, and they call out: ‘Thy good pleasure has appeared on earth to save our kind’ (twice).

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

Tone Three

Now the prophecy draws near to its fulfilment, which mystically said: ‘And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, who dost prepare the cave, art not the least among the princes: for out of thee shall come forth unto me in the flesh a Governor of the Nations, Christ our God born of a Virgin Maiden, and as a shepherd He shall tend His people, the new Israel.’ Let us all give Him glory.

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid (Habakkuk 3:1).

Repeat.

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Eight

Joseph spoke thus to the Virgin: ‘What is this doing, O Mary, that I see in thee? I fail to understand and am amazed, and my mind is struck with dismay. Go from my sight, therefore, with all speed. What is this doing, O Mary, that I see in thee? Instead of honour, thou hast brought me shame; instead of gladness, sorrow; instead of praise, reproof. No further shall I bear the reproach of men. I received thee from the priests of the temple, as one blameless before the Lord. And what is this that I now see?’

Both now…

Repeat.

Immediately there follows the Prokimenon of the Prophecy:

Tone Four

The Lord said unto Me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee (Psalm 2:7).

℣. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance (Psalm 2:8).

Lessons:

Reading from the Prophet Micah (5:2–4).

Thus saith the Lord: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide: for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth.

Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (1:1–12).

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (1:18–25).

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name Jesus.

After the Gospel the reader says:

Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the false accusation of men: so will I keep Thy precepts. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes (Psalm 118:133–135).

Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, O Lord: that I may sing of Thy glory and majesty all the day long (Psalm 70:8).

Then Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the kontakion of the Forfeast:

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.

Kyrie eleison (forty times) and the Prayer of the Hours, Thou who at every season and every hour… Then Kyrie eleison (three times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim…; In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.

The priest: God be merciful unto us…

And the prayer:

O Christ, the true Light who dost enlighten and sanctify every man that comes into the world, let the light of Thy countenance be marked upon us, that in it we may see the light unapproachable; and direct our steps in Thy commandments, at the prayers of Thine undefiled Mother and of all Thy saints. Amen.

The Third Hour

O come, let us worship…, and the following three psalms:

Psalm 66

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; that Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psalm 86

His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

Psalm 50

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. For Thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Kyrie eleison (three times).

Then Glory be to the Father… and the troparion:

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.

After this, the reader continues:

Both now…

Theotokion

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine, that hast put forth the fruit of life. We pray thee, O Lady, intercede together with the apostles and all the saints, that mercy may be granted to our souls.

Then we sing the following stichera:

Tone Six

This is our God: and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison with Him. Born of a Virgin, He comes to dwell among men. Laid in a poor manger, the Only-begotten Son appears as mortal man and the Lord of glory is wrapped in swaddling clothes. A star guides the Magi to come and worship Him; and we sing: O Holy Trinity, save our souls (twice).

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

Tone Eight

Before Thy birth, O Lord, the angelic hosts looked with trembling on this mystery and were struck with wonder: for Thou who hast adorned the vault of heaven with stars hast been well pleased to be born as a babe; and Thou who holdest all the ends of the earth in the hollow of Thy hand art laid in a manger of dumb beasts. For by such a dispensation has Thy compassion been made known, O Christ, and Thy great mercy: glory to Thee.

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid (Habakkuk 3:1).

Repeat.

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Three

Tell us, Joseph, how is it that thou bringest to Bethlehem, great with child, the Maiden whom thou hast received from the sanctuary? ‘I have searched the prophets,’ said he, ‘and have been warned by an angel: and I am persuaded that Mary shall give birth to God, in ways surpassing all interpretation. Magi from the east shall come to worship Him with precious gifts.’ O Lord, who for our sake hast taken flesh: glory to Thee.

Both now…

Repeat.

Immediately there follows the Prokimenon of the Prophecy:

Tone Four

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given (Isaiah 9:6).

℣. And the government shall be upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6).

Lessons:

Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah (Baruch 3:35–4:4).

This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of Him. He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob His servant, and to Israel His beloved. Afterward did He shew Himself upon earth, and conversed with men. This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die. Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it; walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated. Give not thine honour to another, nor the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation. O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are made known unto us.

Reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (3:23–29).

Brethren, before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (2:1–20).

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

After the Gospel the reader says:

Blessed be the Lord God: blessed be the Lord from day to day, and may the God of our salvation prosper us, for He is our God, the God of salvation (Psalm 67:20–21).

Then Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the kontakion:

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.

Kyrie eleison (forty times) and the Prayer of the Hours, Thou who at every season and every hour… Then Kyrie eleison (three times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim…; In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.

The priest: God be merciful unto us…

And the Prayer of St. Mardarios:

O God the Master, Father Almighty, O Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son, and Thou, O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me a sinner, and according to Thy divine judgement save me, Thine unworthy servant: for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Sixth Hour

O come, let us worship…, and the following three psalms:

Psalm 71

Give the king Thy judgements, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thy poor with judgement. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear Thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In His days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before Him; and His enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him: all nations shall serve Him. For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in His sight. And He shall live, and to Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for Him continually; and daily shall He be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 131

Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions; how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into His tabernacles: we will worship at His footstool. Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength. Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let Thy saints shout for joy. For Thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of Thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep My covenant and My testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Psalm 90

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Kyrie eleison (three times).

Then Glory be to the Father… and the troparion:

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.

After this, the reader continues:

Both now…

Theotokion

As there is no boldness in us because of the multitude of our sins, do thou, O Virgin Theotokos, intercede with the Son whom thou hast borne, for the entreaty of a mother has great power to win the favour of the Master. Despise not, O all-venerable Lady, the prayers of sinners, for He who took upon Himself to suffer for our sake is merciful and strong to save.

Then we sing the following stichera:

Tone One

Come, O ye faithful, inspired by God let us arise and behold the divine condescension from on high that is made manifest to us in Bethlehem. Cleansing our minds, let us offer through our lives virtues instead of myrrh, preparing with faith our entry into the feast of the Nativity, storing up treasure in our souls and crying: Glory in the highest to God in Trinity, whose good pleasure is now revealed to men, that in His love for mankind He may set Adam free from the ancestral curse (twice).

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

Tone Four

Hearken, O heaven, and give ear, O earth. Let the foundations be shaken, and let trembling lay hold upon the nethermost parts of the world. For our God and Creator has clothed Himself in created flesh, and He who with His strong arm fashioned the creation reveals Himself in the womb of her that He formed. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out!

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid (Habakkuk 3:1).

Repeat.

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Five

Come ye people, bearers of Christ, and let us behold wonders that strike and hold fast every mind with amazement: and in reverent worship let us sing praises with faith. Today a Maiden great with child comes to Bethlehem to give birth to the Lord: and choirs of angels go before her. Seeing these things Joseph, her betrothed, cried out: ‘What is this strange mystery in thee, O Virgin? And how shalt thou bring forth child, Calf upon whom the yoke has never come?’

Both now…

Repeat.

Immediately there follows the Prokimenon of the Prophecy:

Tone Four

From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee (Psalm 109:3).

℣. The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool (Psalm 109:1).

Lessons:

Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (7:10–16; 8:1–4, 9–10).

Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the Lord to me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. God is with us. Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (1:10–2:3).

Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. But to which of the angels said He at any time, ‘Sit on my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?’ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him?

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2:1–12).

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, 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 worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

After the Gospel the reader says:

Let Thy tender mercies, O Lord, speedily go before us, for we are become exceeding poor. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy Name: O Lord, deliver us and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake (Psalm 78:8–9).

Then Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the kontakion:

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.

Kyrie eleison (forty times) and the Prayer of the Hours, Thou who at every season and every hour… Then Kyrie eleison (three times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim…; In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.

The priest: God be merciful unto us…

And the Prayer of St. Basil:

O God, the Lord of hosts, and Author of all creation, who in Thine ineffable tender mercy hast sent down Thine Only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our kind, and through His Holy Cross hast torn up the handwriting of our sins and thereby triumphed over the princes and dominions of darkness: do Thou, O Master, who lovest mankind, accept these prayers of thanksgiving and supplication even from us sinners, and deliver us from every deadly and dark transgression and from all the visible and invisible enemies that seek to do us harm. Nail our flesh with the fear of Thee, and let not our hearts incline to evil words or thoughts, but wound our souls with Thy love, that ever gazing upon Thee, guided by Thy light and beholding Thee, the eternal Light that no man can approach, we may send up unceasing praises and thanks unto Thee, the Father without beginning, together with Thine Only-begotten Son and Thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Ninth Hour

O come, let us worship…, and the following three psalms:

Psalm 109

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head.

Psalm 110

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and His righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear Him: He will ever be mindful of His covenant. He hath shewed His people the power of His works, that He may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of His hands are verity and judgement; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 85

Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O Thou my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily. Rejoice the soul of Thy servant: for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for Thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto Thy works. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone. Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name. I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore. For great is Thy mercy toward me: and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set Thee before them. But Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save the son of Thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because Thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

Kyrie eleison (three times).

Then Glory be to the Father… and the troparion:

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.

After this, the reader continues:

Both now…

Theotokion

O good Lord, for our sakes Thou wast born of a Virgin and hast endured Crucifixion, despoiling death by death, and as God Thou hast shown forth the Resurrection. Despise not Thy handiwork: show Thy love for man, O merciful Lord. Accept the intercessions made on our behalf by the Theotokos who bore Thee; and save, O our Saviour, Thy people from despair.

Then we sing the following stichera:

Tone Seven

Herod was struck with amazement on beholding the piety of the Magi; and overcome by wrath, he inquired closely when the Child was born. Mothers were bereft of their infants, and by an untimely death their babes were bitterly harvested. Paps grew dry and sources of milk were stopped. Great was this calamity! Therefore let us, the faithful, gathered in godliness, worship the Nativity of Christ (twice).

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

Tone Two

O Virgin, when Joseph went up to Bethlehem wounded by sorrow, thou didst cry to him: ‘Why art thou downcast and troubled, seeing me great with child? Why art thou wholly ignorant of the fearful mystery that comes to pass in me? Henceforth, cast every fear aside and understand this strange marvel: for in my womb God now descends upon earth for mercy’s sake, and He has taken flesh. Thou shalt see Him according to His good pleasure, when He is born; and filled with joy thou shalt worship Him as Thy Creator. Him the angels praise without ceasing in song and glorify with the Father and the Holy Spirit.’

℣. O Lord, I have heard the report of Thee and was afraid (Habakkuk 3:1).

Repeat.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Six

He who holds the whole creation in the hollow of His hand today is born of the Virgin (three times).

He whom in essence none can touch is wrapped in swaddling clothes as a mortal.

God who in the beginning founded the heavens lies in a manger.

He who rained manna down on the people in the wilderness is fed on milk from His Mother’s breast.

He who is the Bridegroom of the Church calls unto Himself the Magi.

The Son of the Virgin accepts their gifts.

We worship Thy birth, O Christ (three times).

Show us also Thy divine Epiphany.

Immediately there follows the Prokimenon of the Prophecy:

Tone Four

Zion is our mother, a man shall say: and such a man was born in her (Psalm 86:5).

℣. His foundations are in the holy mountains (Psalm 86:1).

Lessons:

Reading from the Prophet Isaiah (9:6–7).

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (2:11–18).

Brethren, both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2:13–23).

And when the wise men were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

After the Gospel the reader says:

Deliver us not up unto the end, for Thy Holy Name’s sake, neither disannul Thou Thy covenant; and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, for the sake of Abraham Thy beloved, and Isaac Thy servant, and Israel Thy holy one (Song of the Three Children, verses 11–12).

Then Holy God…, etc., and the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the kontakion:

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.

Kyrie eleison (forty times) and the Prayer of the Hours, Thou who at every season and every hour… Then Kyrie eleison (three times); Glory be to the Father… Both now…; Greater in honour than the cherubim…; In the Name of the Lord, give the blessing, Father.

The priest: God be merciful unto us…

And the Prayer of St. Basil:

O Master and Lord, Jesus Christ our God, who art longsuffering towards our faults and hast brought us even unto this present hour, in which, hanging upon the life-giving Cross, Thou hast opened unto the good thief the way into Paradise, and destroyed death by death: be merciful to us, Thy humble and sinful and unworthy servants. For we have sinned and transgressed, and we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look at the height of heaven, since we have forsaken the path of Thy righteousness and have walked according to the desires of our own hearts. But we pray Thee of Thy boundless goodness, spare us, O Lord, according to the abundance of Thy mercy, and save us for Thy Holy Name’s sake, for our days have been consumed in vanity. Pluck us from the hand of the adversary, forgive us our sins, and kill our fleshly lusts, that putting off the old man, we may put on the new, and may live for Thee our Master and Protector; and that so, following Thine ordinances, we may attain to eternal rest, in the place where all the joyful dwell. For Thou, O Christ our God, art indeed the true joy and gladness of those that love Thee, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father who is without beginning, and Thy most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Typika

Psalm 102.

Glory be to the Father…

Psalm 145.

Both now…

O Only-begotten Son and Word of God…

In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom, and the Beatitudes, at the end of which we say:

Glory be to the Father…

Both now…

Remember us, O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.

Remember us, O Master, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.

Remember us, O Holy One, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.

Then we continue:

The heavenly choir sings Thy praises, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

℣. Draw near to Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed (Psalm 33:6).

The heavenly choir sings Thy praises, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

Glory be to the Father…

The choir of the holy angels and archangels with all the powers of heaven sings Thy praises, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

Both now…

If there is no Liturgy, we say:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty…

Then, whether there is a Liturgy or not, we continue:

Forgive, remit, and pardon, O God, our sins both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and in word, in knowledge and in ignorance, committed by night or by day, in intention and in thought: forgive us them all, for Thou art good and lovest mankind.

Our Father…

The kontakion:

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.

Kyrie eleison, 40 times.

O most holy Trinity, consubstantial Power, undivided Kingship, the Cause of all good, be gracious even to me, a sinner. Confirm and instruct my heart and take away from me every defilement. Enlighten my mind, that I may ever glorify, praise, and worship Thee, saying: One is holy, one is Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

If there is a Liturgy, we continue:

It is meet in truth to bless thee, the Theotokos…

And the Dismissal.

But if there is no Liturgy, after the prayer, O most holy Trinity…, we say:

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from henceforth and for evermore (three times).

Psalm 33.

It is meet in truth to bless thee, the Theotokos…

And the Dismissal.