This is our God, no other will be reckoned with him, the Prophet cried out in spirit; for he has found every way of knowledge; while after these things he will appear to mortals wearing flesh; for he hastens to be brought to birth of a Virgin, Child of God; he who is by nature unapproachable becoming approachable by me .

Your womb, all-blameless Mother of God, is acknowledged to be a heap of grain of a threshing floor, which carries ineffably, beyond mind and beyond reason a ear of grain untilled; which you bear in a Cave of Bethlehem, and is about to nourish all creation by grace with divine knowledge and to rescue humanity from a famine which destroys the soul.

The unblemished Heifer comes forth to a holy Cave, carrying the fatted Calf, to give him birth in a marvellous manner, to swaddle him as a mortal and lay him in a manger as an infant. Creation celebrates in advance as it harmoniously magnifies the one who has wrought such marvels upon earth.

At the Aposticha, Prosomia.
Tone 2. O house of Ephratha.

The Word of the Father, through whom the universe came to be, without suffering and without change appears as one substance from two natures.

Bethlehem prepare; Eden is opened for all. Make ready Ephratha, because the tree of life has flowered in the Cave from the Virgin. For her womb has been revealed as the spiritual Paradise in which is the plant of life; eating from it we shall live; we shall not die as Adam. Christ is born to raise up his image which had fallen.

O Jesu, your lamb cries aloud: O my Bridegroom, I long for you; and seeking you I struggle, and I am crucified and buried with you in your baptism; and I suffer for your sake, that I may reign with you; and I die for you, that I may live in you; but as a spotless victim now accept one who with longing is slain for you. Through her prayers, as you are merciful, save our souls!

Both now.

‘The three holy Youths for not obeying the tyrannical decree were cast into the furnace, and they confessed God as they sang: Works of the Lord, bless the Lord’.

Let us cast from us the sleep of idleness, and with wakefulness of soul let us sing out to Christ who is brought to birth of a pure Maiden: Works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Let good action be sufficient for the store house of our soul; that with radiant face we may sing to Christ as he is brought to birth: Works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

‘All-holy Virgin, who contained in your womb the uncontainable God, and bore joy for the world, we hymn you’.

To the understanding Christ has given the command to watch, to those who hope for his coming; for he has come to be born from a Virgin.

At your second coming, O Christ, show me, who honour your coming in the flesh, to be a companion of the your sheep on your right hand.

The usual Reading from the Psalter. After the 1st Reading, Kathisma.

The unapproachable God, through compassion willing to become approachable for me, comes forth in flesh, to be born as man in the city of Bethlehem from a Virgin girl; let us eagerly hasten to receive him as we cry out with fear: Lord, glory to you.

A marvellous wonder appears today! For our Saviour is now hastening to be brought to birth for us in the Cave in flesh from the Virgin. Magi will worship him with gifts as a king. Shepherds and Angels with glorify him, with them let us also cry: Glory to him who for us became man.

Psalm 50 and the Canon of the Forefeast, of which the Acrostic is the Alphabet. By Joseph.

‘The ancient Israel, after crossing the expanse of the Red Sea on foot dryshod, through Moses’ hands outstretched in the figure of the Cross, destroyed the might of Amalek in the wilderness’.

Rejoice heaven, and earth be glad; for God is with us in flesh, he is being brought to birth from a Virgin girl and wrapped in swaddling clothes; while he looses the bonds of our offences as he is compassionate.

A pure Queen gives birth beyond understanding to the King of all things, who opens the kingdom above to believers and takes away completely the sin which ever reigned wretchedly in us.

Of the Saint.
Ode 1. Tone 4.
Theotokion.

‘Because the barren, the Church from the Nations, has given birth, and she who had many children, the synagogue, has grown weak; to our wondrous God let us cry: Holy are you, O Lord’.

Daniel sees you, O Word, as a stone cut from a virgin mountain, levelling the altars of idols by your might; and so in fear we glorify you.

Magi from the East, having journeyed with a star to the King of all, offer you gifts, O Christ, myrrh, gold and incense, amazed at your condescension.

All you ends of the earth be filled with joy; for the Mother of God has to give birth to the King of the universe, O inexpressible wonder! He who is without beginning begins; he who is without flesh takes flesh. A Cave receives the one who possesses all things. Bethlehem rejoice, and creation dance on this prefestal day.

Adorned with divers virtues given by God, decked with the flowers of your honoured martyrdom, wholly fair and blameless you appeared, pure Saint. Therefore your Lord loved your beauty and has now brought you into a most shining bridal chamber, in which you dance, Juliana, with the Martyrs as you magnify Christ.

‘He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus, supremely divine, has come on a light cloud, and with his undefiled hand saved those who cry: Glory, O Christ, to your power!’

The holy box of the fragrant myrrh of revered sanctification is coming forth to the city of Bethlehem to empty him out who grants sanctification to all of us who cry: Glory, O Christ, to your power.

Inspired Isaias, as you see that your revered proclamations have become realities, rejoice and dance; for the Virgin without seed has borne the uncontainable in flesh in the Cave of Bethlehem.

‘The godless will not see your glory, O Christ; but we, rising in the night before dawn, will hymn you, O Only-begotten, radiance of the glory of the Father’s Godhead, only lover of mankind’.

God Emmanuel is born of a Maiden and laid in a manger he works our restoration as he wills; let us devoutly celebrate beforehand his Nativity.

You, the Word without beginning and one in nature with the Father, were laid in a manger of irrational beasts and freed from unreason us who celebrate devoutly the Forefeast of your Nativity.

‘I have come to the depths of the sea, and a storm of many sins has drowned me; but as God lead my life back from corruption, as You love mankind.’

A little Child is born for us on earth, he who shone ineffably from the Father before the ages; he has freed us all from the ancient transgression as he is compassionate.

Strange and marvellous things were heard in the city of Bethlehem when you were born, O Word without beginning; for Shepherds with Angels brought you a hymn as their Master.

‘Three youths in Babylon held the tyrant’s command as idle chatter, and in the midst of the fire they cried aloud: Blessed are you, the God of our fathers.’

How will a Cave contain you, the Uncontainable, as you come to be born for us? How will a Virgin suckle you, compassionate Jesus, who are called the nourisher of all?

Following the words of the Seer Balaam, Magi hasten to worship Christ with gifts, recognising him as the one who reigns over everything that has breath.

‘All-powerful Redeemer of all, you came down and bedewed the devout in the midst of the flame, and taught them to sing: All you works, bless, praise the Lord’.

O Christ you have deigned to be born in the Cave of a pure Virgin through your ineffable compassion, to save me who by my many transgressions have been declared a robbers’ cave.

Signing my complete forgiveness, you, the Maker of creation, were enrolled by Caesar’s decree with your servants; I hymn the measureless mercy of your compassion, Master.

‘By the sickness of disobedience Eve gave entrance to the curse; while you, Virgin Mother of God, by the offshoot of your child-bearing, made the blessing flower for the world; therefore we all magnify you’.

Believers, let us all dance, let us leap for joy and shout in harmony; the salvation of all, the Lord, draws near to be brought to birth and to save those who with devout mind celebrate his Nativity.

The creative Wisdom now advances; the prophetic clouds part asunder; grace clears the sky; the truth has shone out; shadowy riddles cease; the gate of Eden has been opened; Adam dance; our God who fashioned us is himself willingly fashioned.

Fulfilling the oracles and visions of the Prophets, the Word is brought to birth in flesh and becomes corporeal, and after birth he is laid in a manger of irrational beasts. This is the supreme condescension! This the awesome dispensation! For this we sing: The King of Israel, Christ draws near.

That you may cleanse the poison of corruption and refashion for me the original image, you become incarnate and take suck, and you, who at your behest cause the universe to revolve, are wrapped around in swaddling clothes; O Word, who work wonders, I sing your praise, Angel of the Father’s counsel, through which I am made immortal.

Not leaving the bosom of the Father, you appeared as a mortal; and carried in a Virgin’s arms you summoned from Persia through a star the Magi who worshipped you as sovereign God; with the breath of your lips you destroy the godless rulers of the nations and shepherd your chosen people.