December 26
Post-festive day of the Nativity.
THE SYNAXIS OF THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY. On the second day of the Christmas feast, the Church gives glory and praise to the most holy Theotokos, who bore our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The holy martyr Euthymius, bishop of Sardis in Lydia, who on account of his veneration of the Holy Images was forced into exile by the iconoclast Emperor Michael. Finally, when Theophilus was emperor, he was brutally beaten with leather thongs, and he fulfilled his martyrdom. (840)
At Vespers
music (samohlasen)
We do not chant any kathisma at Vespers, unless December 26 falls on Sunday, in which case we sing "Blessed is the man."
There are six stichera at "O Lord, I have cried", all from the feast.
Tone 2 samohlasen. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; * let us proclaim the present mystery * by which the partition has been broken and the flaming sword withheld. * Now the Cherubim shall let us all come to the Tree of Life. * As for me, I am returning to the bliss of Paradise * from which I had been banished by disobedience. * Behold! The Image of the Father and his unchangeable eternity * has taken the form of a servant. * Without suffering He has come forth to us from an all-pure Virgin, * and yet He has remained unchanged. * He is true God as He was before, * and He has taken on himself what He had not been, * becoming man out of his love for all. * Therefore, let us raise our voices in hymns, singing: * O God, born of the Virgin, have mercy on us. (twice)
Because the Lord Jesus was born of the holy Virgin, * all creation is enlightened. * Behold! The shepherds keep watch and the Magi are adoring; * the angels are singing hymns of praise * and Herod is trembling; * for the Savior of our souls has revealed himself in the flesh. (twice)
O Christ our God, your kingdom is eternal, * and your reign is from generation to generation. * You became incarnate of the Holy Spirit * and became man from the ever-virgin Mary. * Your coming, O Christ, has shed a great light upon us. * You are the Light of Light * and the radiance of the Father. * You have illumined the whole creation. * Therefore, everything that breathes sings a hymn of praise to You. * You are the image of the Father's glory. * You are the eternal God, existing before all ages, * who shone forth from the Virgin. * O Lord our God, have mercy on us.
O Christ, what shall we offer You * for your coming on earth in our humanity for our sake? * Every creature that has its being from You gives thanks to You: * the angels offer hymns of praise, the heavens give a star; * the Magi present their gifts and the shepherds, their wonder; * the earth provides a cave and the desert, a manger. * As for us, we offer a Virgin Mother. * O God who are from all eternity, have mercy on us.
Glory, now and ever – Tone 6. Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth. * Today Bethlehem receives the One * who at all times sits with the Father. * Today the angels sing the praises of the newborn Infant. * Glory to God in the highest * and on earth, peace and good will to all.
Entrance with censer. In place of the prokeimenon of the day, the following great prokeimenon:
Prokeimenon, Tone 7 (Psalm 76: 14-16, 11, 12). What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders.
V. You showed your power among the peoples.
V. I said: “This is what causes my grief; that the way of the Most High has changed.”
V. I remember the deeds of the Lord, I remember your wonders of old.
But if if it is Saturday, we sing the usual prokeimenon of Saturday evening: The Lord reigns, he is clothed in majesty.
The aposticha are for the post-feast:
Tone 8 samohlasen. A glorious mystery has this day come to pass. * Nature is being renewed and God becomes flesh. * He remains that which He was; * and He assumes that which He was not, * while suffering neither confusion nor division.
Before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.
O Lord, You have come to Bethlehem * and have made your dwelling in the cave. * The One who has heaven for a throne is now laid in a manger. * The One whom the hosts of angels attend on every side * has come down among shepherds. * In your compassion now save us. * O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.
How shall I tell of this great mystery? * He who is without flesh becomes incarnate; * the Word puts on a body; the Invisible is seen; * He whom no hand can touch is carried; * and He who knows no beginning now begins to be. * The Son of God becomes the Son of Man: * Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Glory, now and ever – Tone 8. The shepherds hasten to Bethlehem, * revealing the true Shepherd * who is seated upon the Cherubim and lying in a manger. * For our sakes He has taken upon himself the form of a child. * O Lord, glory to You!
Troparion of the Nativity, Tone 4. Your birth, O Christ our God, * has shed upon the world the light of knowledge; * for through it, those who worshipped the stars * have learned from a star to worship you, the Sun of Justice, * and to know you, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to you, O Lord!
But if the feast of the Nativity falls on Sunday, then at Vespers on Sunday evening we sing the following at "O Lord, I have cried:" three stichera of the Nativity, and three stichera of the saints from the Sunday after the Nativity; Glory, of the saints, Now and ever, of the Nativity. Aposticha of the Nativity, Glory, of the saints, Now and ever, of the Nativity. At the dismissal, troparion of the saints, Glory, now and ever, troparion of the Nativity.
At the Divine Liturgy
First Antiphon (Ps. 9:2, 110:1-3):
I shall praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I shall declare all your wondrous deeds.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
In the meeting of the just and their assembly, great are the works of the Lord, to be pondered by all who love them.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Majestic and glorious his work, his justice stands firm forever.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Glory... now and ever...
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Second Antiphon (Ps. 111:1-3):
Happy the man who fears the Lord and greatly delights in his commands.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
His posterity will be mighty upon the earth; the children of the upright are blessed.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Riches and wealth are in his house; his justice stands firm forever.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Glory... now and ever...
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God...
Third Antiphon (Ps. 94:1):
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim God our Savior!
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Entrance Hymn (Ps. 94:6):
Come, let us worship and bow before Christ.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Troparion of the Nativity, Tone 4. Your birth, O Christ our God, * has shed upon the world the light of knowledge; * for through it, those who worshipped the stars * have learned from a star to worship you, the Sun of Justice, * and to know you, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to you, O Lord!
Glory, now and ever – Kontakion of the Synaxis, Tone 6. Before the morning star, he was born of the Father without a mother; * today, on earth, he has become man from you without a father. * A star announces the good news to the Wise Men. * The angels join with the shepherds to sing * the glory of your marvelous child-bearing, O Woman full of grace.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3 (Luke 1:46-48).
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
V.For he has looked with favor upon the humility of his servant; from this day forward, all generations will call me blessed.
Epistle: Hebrews 2:11-18
Alleluia, Tone 8 (Ps. 131:8,11). Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, you and your holy ark.
V. The Lord swore a true oath to David; he will not go back on his word.
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23
Magnification. Extol, O my soul, the most holy Virgin Theotokos who is more honorable than the angelic hosts on high.
Irmos, Tone 1. Reverent silence would run no risk; * but love compels us, O Virgin, to a more difficult task: * to weave well-wrought hymns of devotion. * O Mother, give us the strength to do what we intend.
Communion Hymn of the Nativity (Ps. 110:9). The Lord has sent deliverance to his people. Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!