Service Book of the Orthodox Church, Part 1

Service Book of the Orthodox Church, Part 1

continued

The Office of Grand Compline

1 The Priest saith: Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Reader. Amen. Glory to thee, our God ; glory to thee. O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things ; Treasury of good things and Giver of life : Come and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain ; and save our souls, O Good One. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice, and three reverences.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

2 Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation ; But deliver us from the Evil One : Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Reader. Amen. — Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Three reverences.) [And if it be during the first week of the Great Fast (Lent), we begin :]

Psalm Lxx.

3 Haste thee, O God, to deliver me ; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul ; let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil. Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame, that Lent. * Grand Compline is said not only alone, but also in conjunction with Matins (Vespers being said separately) to form the All-Night Vigil Service on the Eves of Christmas and the Epiphany ; and sometimes on the Eve of the Annunciation. cry over me, There! there! But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised. As for me, I am poor and in misery: haste thee unto me, O God. Thou art my helper and my redeemer: O Lord, make no long tarrying.

4 [And when this is finished, the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is chanted.] [But otherwise, the beginning is as followeth.]

Psalm Iv.

5 Hear me, when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty, when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood? Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly; when I call upon the Lord he will hear me. Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil increased. I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm Vi.

6 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation, neither chasten me in thy displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. My soul also is sore troubled: but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me? Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul; O save me, for thy mercy's sake. For in death no man remembereth thee; and who will give thee thanks in the pit? I am weary of my groaning: every night wash I my bed, and water my couch with my tears. My beauty is gone for very trouble, and worn away because of all mine enemies. Away from me, all ye that work vanity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my petition; the Lord will receive my prayer. All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed; they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.

Psalm Xiii.

7 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord; for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart? how long shall mine enemies triumph over me? Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God; lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death; lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him: for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it. But my trust is in thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in thy salvation. I will Lent. sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me; yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest. Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death; lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him.

8 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice, and three reverences.) Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . .

Psalm Xxv.

9 Unto thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me. For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed; but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion. Show me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy paths. Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long. Call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercies, and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness. Gracious and righteous is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment: and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy Name's sake, O Lord, be merciful unto my sin; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is among them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord;

10 for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate, and in misery. The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles. Look upon my adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sin. Consider mine enemies, how many they are; and they bear a tyrannous hate against me. O keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee. Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me; for my hope hath been in thee. Deliver Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm Xxxi.

11 In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; make haste to deliver me. And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence, that thou mayest save me. For thou art my strong rock, and my castle : be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name's sake. Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me ; for thou art my strength. Into thy hands I commend my spirit ; for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. I have hated them that hold of superstitious vanities, and my trust hath been in the Lord. I will be glad, and rejoice in thy mercy ; for thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversities. Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy ; but hast set my feet in a large room. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble, and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness ; yea, my soul and my body. For my life is waxen old with heaviness, and my years with mourning. My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I became a reproof among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours ; and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me ; and they that did see me without, conveyed themselves from me.

12 I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind ; I am become like a broken vessel. For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side ; while they conspire together against me, and take their counsel to take away my life. But my hope hath been in thee, O Lord ; I have said, Thou art my God. My time is in thy hand ; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Show thy servant the light of thy countenance, and save me for thy mercy's sake. Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee ; let the ungodly be put to confusion, and be put to silence in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence, which cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully speak against the righteous. O how plentiful is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men ! Thou shalt hide them privily by thine own presence from the provoking of all men : thou shalt keep them secretly in thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues. Thanks be to the Lord ; for he hath showed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city. And when I made haste, I said, I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes.

13 Nevertheless, thou heardest the voice of my prayer, when I cried unto thee. O love the Lord, all ye his saints ; for the Lord preserveth them that are faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer. Be strong, and he shall establish your heart, all ye that put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm Xci.

14 Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold ; my God, in him will I trust. For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers ; his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day; for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noonday. A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the ungodly. For thou, Lord, art my hope; thou hast set thine house of defence very high. There shall no evil happen unto 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 in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him up, because he hath known my Name. He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and bring him to honour. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

15 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia: glory to thee, O God. (Thrice, and three reverences.) Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . [Then the Choir chanteth the Verses, singing them with sweet melody, slowly and loudly.] God is with us: understand, ye nations, and submit yourselves: for God is with us. [And the second Choir repeateth the same.] [Then each Choir singeth a Verse in turn. And to each Verse the Refrain is sung:] For God is with us. Hear ye, even unto the uttermost ends of the earth: ℟ If again ye shall rise up in your might, again shall ye be overthrown: ℟ If any take counsel together, them shall the Lord destroy: ℟ And the word which ye shall speak shall not abide in you: ℟

16 For we fear not your terror, neither are we troubled: ℟ But the Lord our God, he it is to whom we will ascribe holiness, and him will we fear: ℟ And if I put my trust in him, he shall be my sanctification: ℟ I will set my hope on him, and through him shall I be saved: ℟ Lo, I and the children whom God hath given me: ℟ The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: ℟ And they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them hath the light shined: ℟ For unto us a son is born, unto us a child is given: ℟ And the government shall be upon his shoulder: ℟ Refrain. For God is with us. And of his peace there shall be no end : ℞ And his Name shall be called in the great Council of the Angels : ℞

17 Wonderful, Counsellor : ℞ The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace : ℞ The Father of the world to come : ℞ Refrain. For God is with us. And when the Verses have been sung by the Choirs alternately, as ordered, there is sung : God is with us : understand, ye nations, and submit yourselves : for God is with us. Then both Choirs sing, once : Glory . . . First Choir. For God is with us. Now, and ever, . . . Second Choir, For God is with us. Then both Choirs. For God is with us. And immediately, the following Hymns : The day is past ; I thank thee, O Lord : Grant me, I entreat thee, that this evening and this night I fall into no sin ; and save me, O my Saviour. Second Choir. Glory . . . The day is past ; I sing praises unto thee, O Master. Grant, I entreat thee, that this evening and this night I may be without guile ; and save me, O Saviour.

18 Both Choirs. Now, and ever, . . . The day is past : I hymn thee, O Holy One. Grant, I entreat thee, that this evening and this night I may be assailed by no temptation ; and save me, O Saviour. The Choirs, in unison : With songs unceasing the Bodiless Powers of the Cherubim glorify thee ; the six-winged beings, the Seraphim, with voices perpetual, extol thee exceedingly. With thrice-holy songs, all the Host of the Angels laud thee. For thou art the Father before all worlds, and hast with thee thy Son, who also is from everlasting ; and hast also the Spirit of Life, coequal in honour, and showest forth the Trinity Undivided. O most holy Virgin, Mother of God, and ye eye-witnesses and servants of the Word, with all the company of the Prophets and the Martyrs, who have attained unto life immortal : Pray ye zealously for us all, for all we are in dire distress ; that, being delivered from the wiles of the Evil One, we may loudly sing the Angelic Song : Holy, Holy, Holy Thrice-Holy Lord, have mercy upon us, and save us. Amen.

19 And immediately, in a lower voice : I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible : And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds ; Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one Essence with the Father ; By whom all things were made ; Who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; and suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

20 And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen. Then straightway the ALL-HOLY: O all-holy Sovereign Lady, Birth-giver of God, pray for us sinners. (Thrice.) O all ye heavenly Host of Angels and Archangels, pray for us sinners. (Twice.) O holy John, Prophet, and Forerunner, and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us sinners. (Twice.) O holy, glorious Apostles, Prophets and Martyrs, and all Saints, pray for us sinners. (Twice.) O ye, our reverend and God-fearing Fathers, Pastors and Œcumenical Teachers, pray for us sinners. (Twice.) Then the Patron Saint of the Church is invoked:

21 O invincible, and ineffable, and divine power of the Honourable and Life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners. (Twice.) O God, cleanse us sinners. (Twice.) O God, cleanse us sinners, and have mercy upon us. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . O all-holy Trinity, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . Our Father, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . (See page 147.) And if a Feast be impending, then the Hymns for that Feast are sung. Otherwise, the following Hymns are used: On Monday and Wednesday Evenings, Tone II. Lighten mine eyes, O Christ my God, that I sleep not unto death; lest mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

22 Be thou the defender of my soul, O God, for I walk amid a multitude of snares. Deliver me from them and save me, O Good One: for thou lovest mankind. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. And since, through our manifold iniquities, we have no boldness, do thou, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, make fervent entreaty unto him who was born of thee : for the prayer of a mother availeth much unto the benignity of the Master. Despise not the petitions of sinners, O All-Pure One ; for gracious and mighty to save is he who deigned to suffer for us. [On Tuesday and Thursday Evenings the following Hymns shall be sung, Tone VIII..] Thou knowest, O Lord my Creator, the sleepless vigilance of mine invisible enemies, and the frailty of my miserable flesh. Into thy hands, therefore, will I commit my spirit. Cover me with the wings of thy goodness, that I sleep not unto death ; and enlighten the eyes of my spiritual understanding, that I may delight in thy divine words : and make me, in a time, acceptable unto thee, to glorify thee in praise, as the only Good One, who loveth mankind.

23 Verse : Look upon me, and give ear unto me, O Lord my God. How terrible is thy Judgment, O Lord, when the angels stand round about, and men are led before thee ; and the books are opened, and deeds are tried ; and all thoughts are searched out. What judgment shall then be awarded unto me, who was conceived in sins ? Who shall quench the flame for me ? Who shall enlighten my darkness, if not thou, O Lord, who showest mercy upon me because of thy love towards mankind ? Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Grant me tears, O God, as once to the sinning woman of old : And graciously vouchsafe that I may wash thy feet which delivered me from the path of straying, and that I may offer unto thee an incense of sweet savour, even a pure life, fashioned by my repentance. And so shall I, also, hear thy voice which I long for, saying : Thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace.

24 Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hymn to the Birth-Giver of God.

25 In that I have in thee, O Birth-giver of God, that hope which maketh not ashamed, I shall be saved ; in that I possess thy intercession, O All-Pure One, I will not fear. I will follow hard after mine enemies, and put them to flight, invested only, as it were in a cuirass, with thy protection and all-powerful aid. Fervently imploring I cry unto thee : O Lady, save me by thy prayers, and raise me up again from gloomy sleep to glorify thee in song, by the might of the Son of God, who through thee was made flesh. Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) Glory . . . now, and ever . . . More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee. Bless, Father, in the Name of the Lord.

26 Priest. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, have mercy upon us, O Lord Jesus Christ our God. Amen. [Then shall this PRAYER OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT be said :] O Lord, Lord, who deliverest us from all the arrows that fly by day, deliver thou us, also, from all the things that infest the darkness. Accept our evening sacrifice, even the lifting-up of our hands. Grant that we may pass through the course of the night without sin, untempted of evil things ; and deliver us from every alarm and cowardice that cometh to us from the Devil. Grant unto our souls contrition, and unto our minds anxiety concerning that strict searching out of the thoughts which shall come in the dread and just Day of Judgment. Nail our flesh to the fear of thee, and mortify our earthly members : that, in the quietness of sleep, we may be illuminated by the vision of thy judgments. Remove from us, also, every unseemly imagination and hurtful carnal passion. Raise us up again at the hour of prayer fortified in the faith, and advancing in thy commandments ; through the favour and goodness of thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art glorified, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

27 [Then immediately the Priest shall exclaim :] O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Three reverences.)

Psalm Li.

28 Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness ; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight ; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make 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. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health, and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm Cii.

29 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my crying come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble; incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon. For my days are consumed away like smoke, and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand. My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. For the voice of my groaning, my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh. I am become like a pelican in the wilderness, and like an owl that is in the desert. I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow, that sitteth alone upon the house-top. Mine enemies revile me all the day long; and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me. For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, and mingled my drink with weeping; and that, because of thine indignation and wrath; for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down. My days are gone like a shadow, and I am withered like grass. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever, and thy remembrance throughout all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion; for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come. And why? thy servants think upon her stones, and it pitieth them to see her in the dust. The heathen shall fear thy Name, O Lord:

30 and all the kings of the earth thy majesty; when the Lord shall build up Sion, and when his glory shall appear; when he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, and despiseth not their desire. This shall be written for those that come after, and the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked down from his sanctuary: out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth; that he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity, and deliver the children appointed unto death; that they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion, and his worship at Jerusalem; when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord. He brought down my strength in my journey, and shortened my days. But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age; as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations. Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

31 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.

The PRAYER OF MANASSES, King of Judah.

32 O Lord Almighty, thou God of our fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the firmament thereof; who hast bound the sea with the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep and sealed it with thy terrible and glorious Name: All creatures fear thee, yea, they do tremble before the presence of thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and not to be resisted is the anger of thy threatening toward sinners; but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable. For thou art the Lord most high, of tender compassion, long-suffering, rich in mercy, and grievest over the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to the multitude of thy loving-kindness, hast promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against thee; and in the plenitude of thy compassions hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou, therefore, the Lord God of Hosts, hast not appointed repentance to the just, to Abraham, and to Isaac, and to Jacob, who have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance to me a sinner: for my sins are more in number than the sands of the sea. My transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of mine iniquities.

33 I am bowed down with many iron bands, so that I cannot lift up my head by reason of my sins, neither have I any respite: for I have provoked thy wrath, and have done that which is evil in thy sight: I have not done thy will, neither have I kept thy commandments. Now, therefore, I bow the knees of my heart, supplicating grace of thee. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: but I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not together with mine iniquities, neither preserve thou thy divine wrath against my evil deeds forever; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou, O Lord, art the God of those who are penitent; and in me wilt thou manifest all thy goodness; for thou wilt save me, unworthy though I be, because of thy great mercy, and I will praise thee henceforth, all the days of my life. For all the Host of heaven doth sing thy praise, and thine is the glory, unto ages of ages. Amen.

34 O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . (See page 147.) (Thrice, with three reverences.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . O all-holy Trinity, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Our Father, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory . . . now, and ever . . . [Then shall be sung, in Tone VI., the following Hymns:] Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us. For we sinners, void of all defence, do offer unto thee this petition, as unto our Master: Have mercy upon us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Have mercy upon us, O God, for we have put our trust in thee. Be not exceeding wroth with us, neither call to mind our iniquities; but look down upon us now, also, in thy loving-kindness, and deliver us from our enemies. For thou art our God, and we are thy people, we are all the work of thy hands, and we call upon thy Name.

35 Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD (Bogoróditchen).

36 Open unto us the gate of thy loving-kindness, O blessed Birth-giver of God. In that we have set our hope on thee, may we not fail; but through thee may we be delivered from adversities; for thou art the salvation of the race of Christians. Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) . . . Glory . . . now, and ever . . . More honourable than the Cherubim, . . . (See page 154.) In the Name of the Lord bless, Father. Priest. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

And the Prayer:

37 O Sovereign Master, God, O Father Almighty, O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me, a sinner; and by means which are known unto thee, save me, thine unworthy servant: for blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. Then: O come, let us worship . . . (See page 147.) [And then shall be read (except when the Great Canon is used):]

Psalm Lxx.

38 Haste thee, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil. Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame, that cry over me, There! there! But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised. As for me, I am poor and in misery: haste thee unto me, O God. Thou art my helper, and my redeemer: O Lord, make no long tarrying.

Psalm Cxliii.

39 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire; hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. Yet do I remember the time past: I muse upon all thy works; yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land. Hear me, O Lord, and that soon; for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning; for in thee is my trust: show thou me the way that I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; for I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee; for thou art my God: let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name's sake; and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.

40 Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every night will I give thanks unto thee: and praise thy Name for ever and ever. Lord, thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another. I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. I flee unto thee. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God. For with thee is the well of life, and in thy light shall we see light. O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee.

41 Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy Name forever. Amen. Let thy mercy, be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord; teach me thy statutes. Blessed art thou, O Master; make me to understand thy commandments. Blessed art thou, O Holy One; enlighten me with thy precepts. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever: O despise not the works of thy hands. To thee belongeth worship, to thee belongeth praise, to thee belongeth glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, unto ages of ages. Amen. [If it be the Eve of Christmas, the Epiphany, or the Annunciation, then shall be sung the Canon of the Saint of the day, or of the Birth-giver of God.]

42 [And at the conclusion of the Canon and the Hymns :] O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . (Thrice, with three reverences.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . O all-holy Trinity, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Our Father, . . . For thine is the kingdom, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . (See page 147.) [Then shall be sung, in Tone VI..] O Lord of Hosts, be with us, for beside thee we have no other helper in adversity. Have mercy upon us, O Lord of Hosts.

Psalm Cl.

43 First Choir, Verse 1: O praise God in his holiness: praise him in the firmament of his power. Refrain. O Lord of Hosts, be with us; for beside thee we have no other helper in adversity. Have mercy upon us, O Lord of Hosts. Second Choir, Verse 2: Praise him in his noble acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. [And the Refrain after every Verse.] Praise him in the sound of the trumpet: praise him upon the lute and harp. Praise him in the cymbals and dances: praise him upon the strings and pipe. Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals: praise him upon the loud cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. O praise God in his holiness: praise him in the firmament of his power. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. O Lord, if we had not thy Saints as our intercessors, and thy gracious loving-kindness which showeth mercy upon us, how should we presume, O Saviour, to sing unto thee, whom the Angels unceasingly do glorify in song? O thou who knowest hearts, spare thou our souls.

44 Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Exceeding great, O Birth-giver of God, is the multitude of my transgressions; I have fled unto thee, O Pure One, entreating salvation. Visit thou my feeble soul, and pray to thy Son and our God that he will grant me remission of the terrible deeds which I have wrought, O Only-Blessed One. O all-holy Birth-giver of God, forsake me not all the days of my life: Give me not over to the protection of men, but do thou thyself defend me and have mercy on me. In thee put I my whole trust, O Mother of God: Keep me under thy protection. — Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) Thou who, at all times and at every hour, . . . (See page 51.) Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . More honourable than the Cherubim, . . . (See page 154.)

45 Bless, Father, in the Name of the Lord. Priest. God, be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. [Then we make three great reverences, and recite the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. (See page 41.)] Then: O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . (Thrice, with three reverences.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . O all-holy Trinity, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Our Father, . . . For thine is the kingdom, . . . Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times.) Glory . . . now, and ever, . . . (See page 147.) [And the PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION TO THE MOST HOLY BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD, of Paul, a Monk of the Monastery of the Benefactress.] 46 O Virgin, pure, spotless, incorrupt, undefiled, all-pure; thou Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, who didst unite the Word of God with men through thy most glorious birth-giving, and hast yoked the apostate nature of our race with the heavenly; who art the sole hope of the hopeless, and the helper of the assailed, a speedy defender of those who flee unto thee, and the refuge of all Christians: Hold not in loathing me, a sinner and polluted, who have made myself of no worth through my shameful thoughts, and words, and deeds, and who, through slothfulness of mind have been a slave to the carnal lusts of life. But, in that thou art the Mother of the God who loveth mankind, have compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal, and accept my prayer which is offered unto thee with lips impure; and exercising thy maternal boldness, importune thou thy Son, who is also our Master and our Lord, that he will open unto me also the compassionate loving-kindness of his goodness, and disregarding my countless wickednesses, will turn me again unto repentance, and show me forth a well-skilled doer of his commandments. And be thou ever present with me, in that thou art gracious, and pitiful, and full of loving-kindness: For thou art a fervent Mediatrix and Helper who, in this present life, repellest the assaults of adversaries, and guidest me unto salvation, and at the hour of death carest diligently for my wretched soul, driving far from it the dark forms of evil spirits;

47 and in the dread Judgment Day thou shalt deliver me from punishment eternal, and shalt manifest me an heir of the glory ineffable of thy Son and our God: All which I shall obtain, O Lady and most holy Birth-giver of God, by thy mediation and intercession, through the mercy and love toward mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, to whom are due all glory, honour and worship, together with his Father, who is from everlasting, and his all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 48 [Another Prayer, TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, by Antiochus, a Monk of the Monastery of the Pandect.] And grant unto us, O Master, as we lay us down to sleep, repose both of body and of soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal sensuality. Calm thou the impulses of carnal desires: quench the fiery darts of the Evil One which are craftily directed against us. Assuage the rebellions of our flesh. Still our every earthly and material anxiety; and vouchsafe unto us, O God, a watchful mind, a chaste reason, a sober heart, sleep gentle and free from every vision of the Devil; and raise us up again at the hour of prayer, strengthened in thy precepts, and holding steadfastly within us the memory of thy commandments. Grant that all the night long we may sing praises unto thee, and that we may hymn, and bless, and glorify thine all-honourable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

49 O exceeding glorious, ever-virgin Mother of Christ our God, bear thou our petitions unto thy Son and our God, and implore thou him that, through thee, he will save our souls. [Another Prayer, by St. Ioannikius.] The Father is my hope; the Son is my refuge; the Holy Spirit is my protector. O Holy Trinity, glory to thee. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless. [And immediately the Priest saith, aloud, while we kneel humbly:] O Master, great in mercy, Lord Jesus Christ our God: through the prayers of our all-pure Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the prayers of the Bodiless Powers of Heaven; of the honourable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of the holy, glorious and gloriously triumphant Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing fathers; of the holy, righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints: Make our prayer acceptable. Grant unto us remission of our iniquities. Hide us under the shadow of thy wings. Drive far from us every foe and adversary. Give peace to our life. Have mercy upon us and upon thy world, O Lord, and save our souls, in that thou art merciful and lovest mankind.

50 [Then the Superior maketh a reverence to the earth (if it be in a monastery), and saith to the Brethren:] Bless me, holy Fathers. Pardon me, a sinner. [And the Brethren:] May God pardon thee, holy Father. Let us pray for our Holy Synod (or Patriarch); for our Bishop (or Archbishop, or Metropolitan), N., for the honourable Presbytery, the Diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the laity: Choir. Lord, have mercy. [Here follow petitions for the Ruler of the Land and for all the Authorities (Emperor, or King, and Reigning House, or President, according to the elements and nationalities of which the Parish is constituted).] For the welfare and strengthening of the Christ-loving Army and Navy : R For our Father (N), and for all our brethren in Christ : R For those who hate us and who love us : R For those who are kind to us and who serve us : R

51 For those who have enjoined us to pray for them, unworthy though we be : R For the release of prisoners : R For our departed fathers and brethren : R For those who sail upon the sea : R For those who lie sick : R Let us pray, also, for abundance of the fruits of the earth : R And for every soul of Orthodox Christians : R Let us intercede for our God-fearing Tzars : R For Orthodox Bishops, and for the wardens of this holy Temple (or habitation) : R For our parents and brethren, and for all Orthodox believers, departed this life before us, who here, and in all the world, lie asleep in the Lord : R Superior. Let us say also for ourselves. We. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us.

52 [And we go forth after we have said this Prayer :] Forgive, O Lord who lovest man, those who hate us, and those who have wronged us. Do well unto those who do well. Grant unto our brethren and our kin those petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. Visit the sick, and grant them healing. Guide thou those who sail upon the sea. Journey with those who journey. Succour thou our Sovereign. Unto those who have served us and have been kind to us, grant forgiveness of their sins. Upon those who have enjoined us, unworthy though we be, to pray for them, have mercy, according to thy great goodness. Have in remembrance, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep, and give them rest where the light of thy countenance shall visit them. Remember, O Lord, our brethren who are in captivity, and release them from all the difficulties which beset them. Remember, O Lord, those who bring gifts, and the benefactors of thy holy churches, and grant them those petitions which are unto salvation and life eternal. Remember, also, O Lord, us, thy humble, and sinful, and unworthy servants, and illumine our minds with the light of thy wisdom, and guide us in the way of thy commandments. Through the prayers of our all-pure Lady, the Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary, and of all thy Saints : For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

53 Choir. Lord, have mercy.

The Nativity of the Birth-giver of God

1 [At the All-Night Vigil.] The Stanza (Stikhíra) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone VI. To-day hath God who sitteth on supersensual thrones prepared for himself upon earth a holy throne. He who in wisdom established the heavens hath, in his love toward mankind, made a living heaven; for from a barren root hath he made to bourgeon forth to us a life-bearing garden, even his Mother. Thou who art the God of wonders, and the hope of the hopeless, O Lord, glory to thee. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. And again the Stanza: To-day hath God who sitteth . . . [The Gradual (Prokímen) for the Day.] The Parables (Paremíí). Genesis xxviii. 10-17; Ezek. xliii. 27, xliv. 1-4; Prov. ix. 1-11. The Stanza at the Litiyá, in Tone VIII. (by Patriarch Sergius). On this blessed illustrious day of our Feast, let us sound the spiritual trumpets: for she who is of the seed of David is born this day as the Mother of Life, dispersing darkness; who also is the renewal of Adam and the recall of Eve, the fountain of incorruption, and the annihilation of corruption; through whom, also, we have become godlike, and have been delivered from death. And unto her, with Gabriel, let us cry, O ye faithful: Hail, thou that art full of grace! The Lord is with thee, for thy sake giving unto us great mercy.

2 The Hymn for the Day (Tropár), in Tone IV. Thy holy Nativity, O virgin Birth-giver of God, hath proclaimed joy unto all the universe; for from thee is risen the Sun of Righteousness, even Christ our God. And having destroyed the curse, he hath bestowed a blessing; and having brought Death to naught, he hath given unto us life eternal. The Exaltation (Velitchánie). We magnify thee, O most holy Virgin, and do homage to thy holy Parents, and exalt thy glorious Nativity. The Gradual (Prokímen), in the Fourth Tone. I will call to remembrance thy name from generation to generation. Verse (Stikh): My heart is inditing of a good matter. Verse: Praise ye God in his Saints. The Gospel. Luke i. 39-49, 56.

The Canon.

3 [The First Canon. Tone II. (St. John of Damascus.)] Theme-Songs (Irmosí). I. Come, O ye people, let us sing a song unto Christ-God, who parted asunder the Sea, and guided through it the nation which he had brought forth from the bondage of Egypt: for gloriously hath he been glorified. 111. Establish us in thee, O Lord, who through the Tree didst annihilate sin, and implant the fear of thee in the hearts of us who sing praises unto thee. IV. I have heard, O Lord, the fame of thy dispensation, and have glorified thee, who alone lovest mankind. V. O thou who didst dispel the dim obscurity of the dark sayings in the Scriptures, and didst illumine the hearts of the faithful by the advent of truth through the God-Maiden: Guide thou us, also, by thy light, O Christ. VI. From within the whale Jonah cried unto the Lord: Lead me forth, I beseech thee, from the depths of Hell unto thee; that unto thee, as the deliverer, with the voice of praise, and in the spirit of truth, I may offer sacrifice.

4 VII. The bush which upon the mount burned with fire and the Chaldæan furnace which dropped dew, clearly foreshadowed thee, the Bride of God: for, unconsumed by the flame, thou didst receive the immaterial Fire Divine in thy material womb. For which cause we cry unto him who was born of thee: Blessed be thou, O God of our fathers. VIII. In the furnace of the Children thou didst, of old, foreshadow thy Mother, O Lord, and this foreshadowing saved from the fire those who walked in the midst thereof unconsumed. Her who, through thee, is manifested unto the ends of the world, to-day we hymn and magnify exceedingly. IX. Thee, who from thy Virgin womb didst incarnate God, the Light which shone forth before the Sun was made, and came down to us in the flesh, O blessed, all-pure Birthgiver of God, we magnify. In place of: My soul doth magnify the Lord: the Refrains:

5 Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious Nativity of the Mother of God. Magnify, O my soul, Mary the Virgin, who of the barren one was born. [At the Liturgy.] [The Introit: The Hymn for the Day. (See page 164.)] The Collect-Hymn (Kondák). Joachim and Anna were delivered from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, at thy holy Nativity, O All-pure One. This do thy people celebrate, being redeemed from the guilt of transgressions, when they cry unto thee: The barren giveth birth to the Birth-giver of God and the Nourisher of our Life. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Verse (Stikh): For he hath regarded the lowliness of his hand-maiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. The Epistle. Phil. ii. 5–11. Alleluia. (Tone VIII.) Hearken, O Daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear.

6 Verse: A rich nation shall worship before thy presence. The Gospel. Luke x. 38–42, xi. 27, 28. The Hymn in place of: Meet is it: The Ninth Theme-Song of the Second Canon. Alien to mothers is virginity, and strange unto virgins is child-birth; in thee, O Birth-giver of God, were both achieved. Wherefore all we nations of the earth unceasingly do magnify thee. The Communion Hymn. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

The Elevation of the Precious Cross

1 [At the All-Night Vigil.] The Stanza (Stikhira) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone VI. The Cross, being set up, doth command every created being to sing the most pure Passion of him who was lifted up thereon. For having upon the same slain him who had slain us, he endowed with life those who were slain, and adorned them, and vouchsafed that they might dwell in heaven, forasmuch as he is compassionate, through the rich abundance of his goodness. Wherefore, rejoicing, let us exalt his Name, and magnify his exceeding condescension. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O come, all ye nations, let us adore the blessed Tree, through which the righteousness eternal hath come to pass: for he who beguiled our forefather Adam with the tree is himself beguiled by the Cross, and he who, like a tyrant, did lord it over that which the King had fashioned, falleth, being overthrown by a downfall strange. The poison of the serpent is washed away by the blood of God, and the curse of just condemnation is abolished, in that the Righteous One hath been condemned by unrighteous judgment: for it was meet that the tree should be healed by the Tree, and that by the passion of the Passionless One upon the Tree, the passions of the condemned one should be destroyed. But glory, O Christ our King, unto thy wise providence to usward, whereby thou hast saved all men, forasmuch as thou art good and lovest mankind.

2 [The Gradual (Prokimen) for the Day.] The Parables (Paremii). Exodus xv. 22-27, xvi. 1; Prov. iii. 11-18; Isaiah lx. 11-16. The Stanza at the Litiyá, in Tone I. To-day, of a truth, hath the sacredly prophetic saying of David received its fulfilment; for lo! we visibly bow down before the footstool of thine all-spotless feet, and putting our trust under the shadow of thy wings, O all-bountiful One, we cry aloud unto thee: Lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Exalt thou the horn of thine Orthodox people through thy precious Cross, O greatly merciful Christ. The Hymn (Tropár), in Tone I. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance, granting victory over enemies unto our Sovereign, N., and through thy Cross preserving thine Estate. (Thrice.) The Exaltation (Velitchánie). We magnify thee, O life-giving Christ, and do homage to thy holy Cross, whereby thou hast saved us from the works of the enemy.

3 The Gradual (Prokímen), in the Fourth Tone. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Verse (Stíkk): Sing unto the Lord a new song, for the Lord hath done marvellous things. Verse: Praise ye God in his Saints. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. The Gospel. John xii. 28–36.

The Canon.

4 [The First Canon. Tone VIII. (St. Cosmas of Maium.)] Theme-Songs (Irmosí). I. Moses, having with his rod made a long line, divided the Red Sea for Israel journeying on foot; and having again struck the same with a transverse blow, thus tracing the Cross which is the weapon invincible, he united it against the armies of Pharaoh. Wherefore we sing unto Christ our God, for he hath been glorified. 111. The Rod is accepted as the symbol of a mystery; for by its budding-forth it designated the Priest; and in the Church, which of late was barren, there now hath budded forth the Tree of the Cross for her power and strengthening. IV. I have given heed to the mystery of thy dispensation, O Lord, I have understood thy works, and have glorified thy divinity. V. O Tree thrice blessed, whereon was crucified Christ our King and our Lord! Through thee he is fallen who by a tree did beguile, having himself been beguiled by Him who was nailed upon thee in the flesh, even God, who granteth peace unto our souls.

5 VI. Jonah, when he stretched forth his arms in the form of a cross within the belly of the sea-monster, did clearly typify the Redeeming Suffering; and when he came forth thence after three days, he imaged forth by anticipation the supernatural Resurrection of Christ our God, who was crucified in the flesh, and hath illumined the world by his rising on the third day. VII. The mad behest of the impious tyrant breathing forth threats and horrible blasphemies troubled the people: yet neither the brutal rage nor the roaring fire terrified the Three Children; but when, as they stood amid the flames, a dew-bearing breath was wafted against it, they sang: Blessed be thou, O God of our fathers, exceedingly praised, and our God! VIII. O Children, in number equal to the Trinity! Bless ye God the Father, the Creator; sing ye the Word who came down and turned the fire into dew; and magnify ye the Spirit all-holy, who giveth life unto all men, unto all the ages.

6 In place of: My soul doth magnify the Lord: the Refrains. Magnify, O my soul, the all-precious Cross of the Lord. Magnify, O my soul, the Elevation of the life-giving Cross of the Lord. IX. Thou art the mystical Paradise, O Birth-giver of God, who though untilled didst bud forth Christ, by whom the life-bearing Tree of the Cross was planted upon earth. For which cause, now, at its Elevation, adoring it, we magnify thee. [While the Canon is being sung, the Senior Priest putteth on all his vestments, and after the Great Glory (Glory be to God on high) hath been sung slowly and melodiously, and he hath censed all about the Altar whereon lieth the precious Cross, while: O Holy God, Holy Mighty: is being chanted: he placeth the Cross on his head, and making the circuit of the Altar therewith, preceded by a Taper-bearer, he halteth in front of the Holy Door, and having proclaimed: Wisdom, O believers! he goeth to the folding-stand, which is in the middle of the Temple, while the Choir chanteth the Hymn: O Lord, save thy people: After this, the Priest censeth round about the Cross, and having made the customary reverences, he beginneth: Thy Cross do we adore, O Master, and thy holy Resurrection do we glorify. (Thrice.) The Choir also singeth this thrice; and the Stanza, in Tone VIII.]

7 To-day is the Master of creation and the Lord of glory nailed upon the Cross, and is pierced in the side, and of gall and vinegar doth the Sweetness of the Church partake. With a crown of thorns is he invested who covereth the heavens with clouds, and with the robe of scorn is he endued; and he who with his hand did fashion man is smitten by a human hand. He who clotheth the heavens with clouds is beaten upon his shoulders, and receiveth spitting and wounds, indignities and buffetings in the face; and he, my Redeemer and my Saviour, doth endure all these things for the sake of me, the accursed, that He may save the world from guile, forasmuch as he is compassionate. Then the Litanies; and the Benediction: May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother; through the might of the precious and life-giving Cross: and so forth, as usual.

At the Liturgy.

8 In place of: Bless the Lord, O my soul: [Antiphon I., Tone II.] Verse 1: O God, my God, hear me: why hast thou forsaken me? Refrain. Through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O Saviour, save us. Verse 2: Far from my salvation are the words of my transgression: ℟ Verse 5: O my God, I cry in the daytime and thou hearest not, and in the night-season also I take no rest: ℟ Verse 4: And thou continuest holy, O thou Worship of Israel: ℟ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen : ℟

Antiphon II., Tone II.

9 Verse 1: O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? Refrain. Save, O Son of God, who wast crucified in the flesh, us who sing unto thee, Alleluia. Verse 2: O think upon thy congregation, whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old : ℟ Verse 3: And Mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt : ℟ Verse 4: For God is our King before the ages : he hath done salvation upon earth : ℟ Glory . . . now, and ever. O Only-begotten Son and Word of God! Thou who art immortal yet didst deign for our salvation to become incarnate of the Holy Birth-giver of God and ever-virgin Mary; and without change of essence wast made man; who also wast crucified for us, O Christ our God, trampling down Death by death; who art one of the Holy Trinity, and art glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit : Save us.

Antiphon III., Tone I.

10 Verse 1: The Lord is King, be the people never so impatient. Refrain: The Hymn for the Day (Tropár). O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting victory over enemies unto our Sovereign, N., and through thy Cross preserving thine Estate. Verse 2: The Lord is King, be the people never so impatient : he sitteth between the Cherubim, be the earth never so unquiet : ℟ Verse 4: The Lord is great in Zion, and high above all people : ℟ In place of: O Holy God, Holy Mighty : The Introit. O magnify the Lord our God, and fall down before his footstool, for he is holy. Thy Cross do we adore, O Master, and thy holy Resurrection do we glorify. The Collect-Hymn (Kondák). Do thou who, of thine own good will, . . . (See page 61). [The Gradual (Proktmen), in the Seventh Tone (the same as the Introit).]

11 Verse: The Lord is King, be the people never so impatient. Alleluia. (Tone I.) Verse: O think upon thy congregation, whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old. Verse: God is our King before the ages : he hath done salvation upon earth. The Epistle. 1 Cor. i. 18–24. The Gospel. John xix. 6–11, 13–20, 25–28, 30–35. The Communion Hymn. The light of thy countenance hath been showed upon us, O Lord.

The Entrance of the Birth-giver of God into the Temple

1 At the All-Night Vigil Service. The Stanza (Stikhíra) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone I. To-day let us faithful exult, singing unto the Lord in psalms and songs, and doing honour unto his holy Tabernacle, the Ark imbued with life, which containeth the uncontainable Word: for in wise supernatural is she brought unto the Lord, being still of tender age in the flesh, and Zacharias, the High Priest, doth with joy receive her, as the abode of God. (Twice.) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. After thy nativity, O Lady, Bride of God, thou didst come into the temple of the Lord, as one consecrated, to be reared in the Holy of Holies. Then, also, was Gabriel sent unto thee, O all-undefiled One, bearing nourishment unto thee. All the powers of Heaven were amazed when they beheld the Holy Spirit take up its abode in thee. Wherefore, O most pure and undefiled Mother of God, who art glorified in heaven and on earth, save thou our race.

2 The Gradual (Prokímen) for the Day. The Parables (Paremíí). Exodus xl. 1-5, 9, 10, 16, 34, 35; 1 Kings viii. 1, 3-7, 9-11; Ezek. xliii. 27, xliv. 1-4. The Stanza at the Litiyá, in Tone IV. To-day is the Tabernacle which containeth God, even the Birth-giver of God, brought into the temple of the Lord, and Zacharias receiveth the same: To-day doth the Holy of Holies rejoice, and the Angelic Choir doth mystically triumph. With them also keeping festival to-day, let us cry aloud with Gabriel: Hail, thou that art full of grace! The Lord most merciful is with thee. The Hymn for the Day (Tropár). To-day is the foreshadowing of the beneficence of God which is to come, and the heralding of man's salvation. The Virgin is clearly manifested in the temple of God, and in anticipation announceth Christ unto all men. Unto her let us, also, cry aloud: Hail, thou who art the fulfilment of the Creator's providence! (Thrice.)

3 The Exaltation (Velitchánie). We magnify thee, O all-holy Virgin, Maiden chosen by the Lord, and do homage to thy Presentation in the temple of the Lord. The Gradual (Prokímen), in the Fourth Tone. Hearken, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear. Verse (Stikh): My heart is inditing of a good matter. The Gospel. Luke i. 39-49, 56.

The Canon.

4 [The First Canon. Tone IV. (The Blessed George.)] Theme-Songs (Irmosi). I. I will open my mouth, and it shall be filled with the Spirit, and I will utter a saying to the Queen-Mother; I will reveal myself, as one keeping high festival, and with joy will I sing her Presentation. 111. O Birth-giver of God, Fountain living and inexhaustible, establish thou those who hymn thee, convoked in a spiritual choir, and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory for thine august Presentation. IV. As he contemplated the unfathomable counsel of God concerning the incarnation by a Virgin, of thee, the Most High, Habakkuk the Prophet cried aloud: Glory to thy power, O Lord! V. All creation marvelled at thine august Presentation; for thou, O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, didst enter into the temple of God as the Temple most pure, giving peace unto all those who sing thy praises. VI. In celebration of this divine and all-honourable feast of the Mother of God, come, O ye godly-minded, let us clap our hands and glorify God, who was born of her.

5 VII. The godly-minded ones worshipped not the creature rather than the Creator, but valiantly trampling under foot the threatened fire, they rejoiced in song, saying: Blessed be thou, O Lord and God of our fathers, exceedingly praised. VIII. Hearken, O Maiden, Virgin pure! Let Gabriel announce the true will of the Most High, which was from of old. Make thou ready to receive God; for through thee the Uncontainable hath dwelt among men: For which cause I cry aloud with joy: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord! IX. Let no hand profane in any wise touch the living Ark of God; but let the lips of the faithful unceasingly chanting the Salutation of the Angel to the Birth-giver of God, cry aloud with rejoicing: Thou art, in very truth, higher than all men, O Virgin pure! In place of: My soul doth magnify the Lord: The Refrains:

6 The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the All-pure One: how that with glory she entered into the Holy of Holies. The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the Virgin: how that with glory she entered into the Holy of Holies. O ye Angels and men, let us do homage to the Presentation of the Virgin: for with glory hath she entered into the Holy of Holies. The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the Virgin: how she who was well-pleasing unto God did enter into the Holy of Holies. Ye Angels, with the Saints, leap for joy! Ye Virgins, sing together with exultation! For the God-Maiden hath entered into the Holy of Holies. O ye Angels and men, let us magnify the Virgin in Hymns: for in godlike wise hath she entered into the Holy of Holies.

At the Liturgy.

7 [The Introit: The Hymn for the Day. (See page 171.)] The Collect-Hymn (Kondák). The all-pure Temple of the Saviour, the most precious Bridal-chamber and Virgin, the Treasure-house of the glory of God, to-day is led into the temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the Divine Spirit; whom also the Angels of God do celebrate in song: This is the Abode of Heaven. The Gradual (Prokímen), in the Fourth Tone. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Verse (Stikh): For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. The Epistle. Heb. ix. 1–7. Alleluia. (Tone VIII.) Hearken, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear. Verse: A rich nation shall worship before thy presence. The Gospel. Luke x. 38–42, xi. 27, 28. The Hymn in place of: Meet is it: The Ninth Theme-Song of the Canon: Let no hand profane . . . (See above.)

8 The Communion Hymn. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.

The Nativity of Christ

1 [The faithful prepare themselves for this great Feast by a prolonged Fast, which beginneth on November 15, and is called the Christmas Fast, or the Fast of St. Philip. The Eve of the Feast (Sotchénik) is dedicated to a specially strict abstinence.] [On Christmas Eve the customary festival Compline service is celebrated. If the Eve falleth on any day except Saturday or Sunday, then on the morning of that day the IMPERIAL HOURS are read, and, later on, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated, preceded by Vespers. But if the day before the Feast be Saturday or Sunday, then the Imperial Hours are read on Friday, while the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated on the preceding day (Sotchénik). If the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great be used on the preceding day (Sotchénik) then on the Feast of the Nativity itself the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is used; and contrariwise.]

2 [The other general differences of this festival service are as followeth: Matins are preceded, not by Vespers, but by GRAND COMPLINE: and after the Liturgy, on the day of the Feast, in Russian churches, a service of thanksgiving is celebrated, in commemoration of Russia's victory over Napoleon I. and the French.] THE IMPERIAL HOURS,* to precede Christmas. [In addition to many of the Prayers and so forth which are used in the daily Hours, and the Christmas Hymns, the following are read:] FIRST HOUR. Psalms v., xlv., xlvi. The Parable (Paremiyá). Micah v. 2-4. The Epistle. Heb. i. 1-12. The Gospel. Matt. i. 18-25. THIRD HOUR. Psalms lxvii., lxxxvii., li. The Parable (Paremiyá). Jer. (Baruch iii. 36-38, iv. 1-4). The Epistle. Gal. iii. 23-29. The Gospel. Luke ii. 1-20. SIXTH HOUR. Psalms lxxii., cxxxii., xci. The Parable (Paremiyá). Isaiah vii. 10-16, viii. 1-4, 9, 10. The Epistle. Heb. i. 10-14, ii. 1-3. The Gospel. Matt. ii. 1-12.

3 NINTH HOUR. Psalms cx., cxi., lxxxvi. [In Russia, Many Years are proclaimed for the Emperor, the Holy Synod, the Bishop, the Orthodox Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, and others; and the Choir respondeth: Many years!]

On the Day Before Christmas

4 [At the Vespers which immediately precede the Liturgy, the Stanza (Stikhtra) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone II.] O come, let us rejoice in the Lord, as we declare this present mystery: The partition wall of disunion hath been destroyed, the flaming sword is turned back, and the Cherubim withdraw from the * The Emperors of Byzantium were wont to attend the Hours on certain of the great Feasts of the Church, which received their name of "the Imperial Hours" from that circumstance, as well as from their extraordinary splendour and importance. Tree of Life, and I partake of the food of Paradise, whence, because of disobedience, I was expelled. For the Image Immutable of the Father, the Image of his Eternity, taketh the form of a servant, having come forth from a Mother unwedded, yet having suffered no change: for that which he was, that he remaineth, being very God; and that which he was not he hath assumed, becoming very man because of his love toward mankind. Unto him let us cry aloud: O God, who wast born of a Virgin, have mercy upon us. (Twice.)

5 When Augustus reigned alone upon the earth, the polygarchy of men came to an end: and when thou didst become incarnate of the Pure One, the polytheism of idols was annulled. Under one earthly sway were the cities, and in one dominion of the Godhead did the Gentiles believe. By the command of Cæsar were the people inscribed; and we faithful have been inscribed with the name of the Godhead, of thee our God, who hast become man. Great is thy mercy. O Lord, glory to thee. The Entrance is made with the book of the Holy Gospels, and the Hymn: O gladsome radiance! . . The Gradual (Prokímen) for the Day. The Parables (Paremii). Gen. i. 1-13; Num. xxiv. 2, 3, 5-9, 17, 18; Micah iv. 6, 7, v. 2-4; Isaiah xi. 1-10; Jer. (Baruch iii. 36-38, iv. 1-4); Dan. ii. 31-36, 44-46; Isaiah ix. 6, 7, vii. 10-15, viii. 1-4, 9-11.

6 The Little Litany: Again, yet again, in peace . . . : with the Exclamation: For holy art thou, O our God, and unto thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. The Gradual (Prokímen), in the First Tone. The Lord said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Verse (Stikh): Ask of me, and I will give the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. The Epistle. Heb. i. 1-12. The Gospel. Luke ii. 1-20.

Christmas Eve. — Compline and Matins.

7 Compline is read in the usual order, with the Hymns and Collect-Hymn of the Feast in place of the ordinary ones. After: Glory be to God on high: hath been read, the Clergy come forth to the centre of the Temple, and perform the Litiyá, with the Blessing of the Loaves. The Stanzas (Stikhíri) of the Litiyá, in Tone I. Let heaven and earth to-day prophetically exult, and let Angels and men spiritually rejoice: for God hath revealed himself in the flesh unto those who were in darkness and sat in the shadow, and hath been born of a Virgin. The cavern and the manger have received him; Shepherds proclaim the marvel, and Magi from the Orient bring gifts unto Bethlehem. And we, also, with lips unworthy, do bring unto him praise in Angelic wise: Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace: for the Hope of the nations is come, and having come hath saved us from bondage to the enemy.

8 The Hymn at the Blessing of the Loaves, and: God is the Lord: Tone IV. Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath arisen upon the world as the light of wisdom. For at it, they who worshipped the stars were, by a Star, taught to adore thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to thee. The Exaltation of the Feast. We magnify thee, O Life-giving Christ, who for our sakes now art born in the flesh of the Virgin Mary, unwedded and most pure. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. Out of the womb, before the morning star, have I begotten thee. The Lord sweareth and will not repent. Verse (Stikh): The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Gospel. Matt. i. 18–25.

The Canon.

9 [In Tone I. (Composed by St. Cosmas, about 760.)]

Canticle I.

10 Theme-Song (Irmós). Christ is born: extol him! Christ from heaven: go to meet him! Christ on earth: be ye lifted up! Sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth, and praise him in song with joy, O ye people: For he hath glorified himself. Hymns (Troparí). Man who, being made in the image of God, had become corrupt through sin, and was full of vileness, and had fallen away from the better life divine, doth the wise Creator restore anew: For he hath glorified himself. When the Creator beheld man, whom he had made with his hands, about to perish, he bowed the heavens and came down; and was endued with man's nature in very truth, becoming incarnate of a Virgin divinely pure: For he hath glorified himself. The Wisdom, Word, and Might, the Son and Effulgence of the Father, Christ our God, without the knowledge of the supramundane Powers, and the Powers of the earth, is become incarnate and hath renewed us: For he hath glorified himself.

Canticle III.

11 Theme-Song (Irmós). Unto the Son who, in wise immortal, was born of the Father before all the ages, and in these latter days is become incarnate without seed of a Virgin, Christ our God, let us cry aloud: O Lord, who hast exalted our horn, holy art thou! Hymns (Tropari). Adam, mortal, made of clay, yet a participant of the divine inspiration, who had become subject to corruption through a woman's seduction, when he beheld Christ sprung from a woman, exclaimed: Holy art thou, O Lord, who for my sake hast made thyself like unto me. O Christ, who hast conformed thyself unto our base, mortal mould, and by that participation in our lowly flesh hast imparted unto us a share of the nature divine; who, though thou didst become earth-born, yet didst remain still God, and hast exalted our horn: Holy art thou, O Lord. Rejoice, O Bethlehem, which art King over the princes of Judah; for he who feedeth Israel and is borne on the shoulders of the Cherubim is visibly come forth from thee; and he who exalteth our horn is enthroned over all.

Canticle IV.

12 Theme-Song (Irmós). The Rod of the Root of Jesse and its Flower, from a Virgin didst thou bud forth, O most-lauded Christ. From the Mount covered with dense shadow art thou come, being incarnate of a Maid who knew not man, O thou Immaterial One and God: Glory to thy might, O Lord. Hymns (Tropari). Thou, O Christ, the Expectation of the nations, whom Jacob did foretell of old, art risen from the tribe of Judah, and art come to annihilate the power of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria, turning error into truth meet for God: Glory to thy might, O Lord. By thy rising as a Star from Jacob, O Lord, thou didst fill with joy the wise initiates in the word of Balaam the Prophet of old, the Watchers of the Stars, who were led unto thee as the first-fruits of the Gentiles, and didst manifestly receive them: Glory to thy might, O Lord.

13 Like the rain upon the fleece, and like drops of dew falling upon the earth, O Christ, didst thou descend into the Virgin's womb. Ethiopia and Tarshish, the Isles of Araby, and Sheba of the Midians, the Rulers of all the earth, fell down in adoration before thee, O Saviour: Glory to thy might, O Lord.

Canticle V.

14 Theme-Song (Irmós). O God of peace, the Father of mercies, thou hast sent unto us the Angel of thy Great Council, who giveth peace: wherefore we, in that we have been led unto the light of godly wisdom, waking right early from the night, do sing praises unto thee, O thou who lovest mankind. Hymns (Tropari). In obedience to the command of Cæsar, O Christ, thou didst enroll thyself among the slaves, and didst set free us who were slaves of the enemy and of sin; and didst make thyself a beggar, in every way like unto us; and through that same union and community didst render the mortal divine. Lo, a Virgin, as it was foretold of old, having conceived in her womb, hath brought forth God incarnate, yet remaineth Virgin still. Let us sinners, in that we have become reconciled unto God through her, magnify her in song as the true Birth-giver of the Lord.

Canticle VI.

15 Theme-Song (Irmós). The sea-monster cast forth Jonah from its belly unharmed as it had swallowed him. And when the Word took up his abode in a Virgin, and was made flesh, He came forth preserving her undefiled. For in that He Himself suffered not corruption, He preserved unharmed her who bare Him. Hymns (Troparí). Christ our God, whom the Father begat of his own loins before the morning star, is come in the flesh. He who ruleth the most pure Powers lieth in a manger of dumb beasts, and is wrapped in swaddling-bands of rags; yet doth he loose the thick-entangled bonds of transgression. Born of Adam's nature and given unto the faithful as a little child is the Son: yet he is also the Father and the Ruler of the world to come, and is called the Angel of the Great Council. He is the mighty God who ruleth the Universe by his power.

Collect-Hymn (Kondák).

16 To-day a Virgin bringeth forth the Supersubstantial, and earth offereth a cavern to the Unapproachable; Angels together with the Shepherds sing praises; the Wise Men journey on with the Star. For, for our sakes, God, who is before all the ages, is born a little Child.

Ikos.

17 Bethlehem hath opened Eden: O come, let us gaze! We have found nourishment in a secret place: O come, let us receive the things of Paradise within the cavern! There hath appeared the Root Unwatered which buddeth forth remission. There hath been found the Well Undigged, from which David of old longed that he might drink. There a Virgin hath brought forth a Child; and straightway the thirst of Adam and of David hath been assuaged. Wherefore let us go unto him where He is born a little Child, yet is God before the ages.

Canticle VII.

18 Theme-Song (Irmós). The youths reared together in godliness, despising the unrighteous command, were not terrified by the threatened fire, but standing in the midst of the flames did sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art thou. Hymns (Troparí). The shepherds skilled upon the tuneful pipes beheld a revelation marvellous of light; for the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and the Angel proclaimed: Sing praises, for Christ is born. O God of our fathers, blessed art thou. Suddenly, at the word of the Angel, the Heavenly Hosts began to cry aloud: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men; Christ hath shone forth: O God of our fathers, blessed art thou! What meaneth this saying? spake the shepherds: Let us go, let us gaze upon that which is come to pass, upon Christ divine. And when they were come unto Bethlehem, they fell down in worship before him, together with her who had given him birth, singing: O God of our fathers, blessed art thou.

Canticle VIII.

19 Theme-Song (Irmós). The dew-shedding, fiery furnace imaged forth the type of a marvellous wonder: for its flames scorched not the Holy Children whom it had received, even as the fire of the Godhead scorched not the Virgin when it entered into her womb. Therefore let us raise the song: Let all creation bless the Lord, and magnify him unto all the ages. Hymns (Troparí). The Daughter of Babylon doth bear away unto herself the children of David as captives, out of Zion: but she sendeth her children, the Magi, bearing gifts, to do homage unto the Daughter of David, who had received within her God: wherefore, chanting songs of praise, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord, and magnify him unto all the ages. Grief put aside the instruments of song; for the children of Zion sang not in alien lands. But Christ, in that he hath shone forth in Bethlehem, setteth free every error, and the musical harmony of Babylon. Wherefore let us sing the song: Let all creation bless the Lord, and magnify him unto all the ages.

20 Babylon carried the spoil and the spear-won wealth of the kingdom of Zion into captivity. But Christ draweth unto Zion the treasures of the same and its Kings, the Watchers of the Stars, guiding them by a Star. Wherefore, let us sing the song: Let all creation bless the Lord, and magnify him unto all the ages.

Canticle IX.

21 With the Ninth Theme-Song, instead of: More honourable than the Cherubim: the REFRAINS of the Feast are sung: Refrain 1. Magnify, O my soul, the Virgin, the all-pure Birth-giver of God, more honourable and more glorious than the hosts on high. Theme-Song (Irmós). A mystery strange and most glorious I behold: The cavern, Heaven; the Virgin, the Cherubimic Throne; the manger, the receptacle wherein lieth Christ our God, whom nothing may contain. Him, therefore, do we magnify, praising him in song. Refrain 2. Magnify, O my soul, God born in the flesh of a Virgin. Refrain 3. Magnify, O my soul, the King born in a cavern. Hymn (Tropár). When the Wise Men beheld the unwonted course of the wondrous, newly revealed Star, illuminating the heavens with exceeding brightness, they divined that Christ the King was born on earth in Bethlehem, for our salvation. Refrain 4. Magnify, O my soul, God who was worshipped by the Magi.

22 Refrain 5. Magnify, O my soul, him who was announced unto the Wise Men by a Star. Hymn. When the Wise Men said: Where is the new-born Infant King whom the Star hath revealed? For we are come to worship him. Then the wrathful Herod was troubled, and, raging against the Lord, that impious man sought to slay Christ. Refrain 6. Magnify, O my soul, the pure Virgin and only Birth-giver of God, who gave birth unto Christ the King. Refrain 7. The Wise Men and the shepherds came to worship Christ who was born in the town of Bethlehem. Hymn. Herod inquired the time of the Star, through whose guiding the Wise Men were come to Bethlehem to worship Christ with gifts. But being by it led again unto their own country, they left confounded behind them the dread slayer of the children. [The Benediction. (See page 181.)]

At the Liturgy. — Antiphon I., Tone II.

23 Verse 1: I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart. Refrain. Through the prayers of the Birth-giver of God, O Saviour, save us. Verse 2: In the council of the faithful and in the congregation, the great works of the Lord. ℟ Verse 3: Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. ℟ Verse 4: His work is honour and majesty, and his righteousness endureth forever. ℟

Antiphon II., Tone II.

24 Verse 1: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that hath great delight in his commandments. Refrain. O Son of God, who wast born of a Virgin, save us who sing unto thee: Alleluia. Verse 2: His seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the faithful shall be blessed. ℟ Verse 3: Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house, and his righteousness endureth forever. ℟ Verse 4: Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness: he is merciful, loving and righteous. ℟ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O Only-begotten Son and Word of God! . . . (See page 170.) Verse 1: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit thou on my right hand. Hymn. Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, . . . (See page 176.)

25 Verse 2: Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. ℞ (Hymn.) Verse 3: The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Zion: be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies. ℞ (Hymn.) Verse 4: In the day of thy power with an holy worship. Introit. Out of 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 Melchizidech. Instead of: O Holy God, Holy Mighty: is sung: As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Eighth Tone. Let all the earth worship thee, and hymn thee, yea, let it hymn thy Name, O Most Highest. Verse: Shout unto the Lord, all ye lands, sing unto his Name, give glory to his praise. Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the dry land proclaimeth the work of thy hands.

26 Verse: Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge. The Epistle. Gal. iv. 4-7. The Gospel. Matt. ii. 1-12. Instead of: Meet is it: The Ninth Theme-Song of the Canon: A mystery strange . . . (See page 179.) The Communion Hymn. The Lord hath sent deliverance unto his people. The Benediction. May he who was born in a cavern, and lay in a manger, for the sake of our salvation, Christ our true God, through the prayers of his most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles; of our holy and God-bearing fathers; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us and save us, forasmuch as he is good, and loveth mankind.