The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

December 25, 2017

Christ is born – ألمسيح ولد

Χριστὸς Γεννᾶται – Христос рождается

Hristos se rodi – Hristos se naşte

Troparion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 4

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the Light of    wisdom! For by it those who worshiped the stars, were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee the Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to Thee.

Kontakion of the Nativity – Tone 3

Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels with shepherds glorify Him, the wise men journey with a star, since for our sake the Eternal God is born as a Little Child!

Megalynarion for St. Basil's Liturgy:

All creation rejoices in thee, O      thou   who art full of grace, both in the hierarchy of the angels and the generations of men. Thou art a hallowed temple and the glory of virgins, wherein God was made flesh and became a little child, who is our God from Eternity. For He made thy womb His throne, more spacious than the heavens he made thy body. All creation rejoices in thee, O thou who art full of grace, glory to thee!

Megalynarion for the Nativity:

Magnify O my soul the most pure Virgin Theotokos; more honorable and  more glorious than the heavenly hosts. I behold a strange, most glorious mystery:  heaven the cave; the Cherubic throne, the Virgin; the manger, the place where Christ lay, the uncontainable one whom we magnify in song.

Epistle – Galatians 4:4-7

Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern My people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” When they had heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, until it came to rest over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.