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Prayers

Orthodox prayers and hymns for Christmas

Orthodox Christmas has its own prayers and hymns, from the weeks of waiting to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Picture: James Tissot, The Journey of the Magi, about 1894

11 prayers

On Christmas Day

Also called the apolytikion

Troparion of the Nativity

Your Nativity, O Christ our God,has made the light of knowledgedawn upon the world.For by it those who worshipped the starswere taught by a starto worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,and to know You, the Dawn from on high.O Lord, glory to You!

Traditional wording, 1906

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 main hymn of Christmas, sung through the feast. In it the wise men, who worshipped the stars, are led by a star to worship Christ.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood follows the Church Slavonic, so she writes “wisdom” where the Greek says “knowledge”.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Kontakion of the Nativity

Today the Virgin gives birthto Him Who is above all being,and the earth offers a caveto Him Whom no one can approach.Angels give glory with the shepherds,and the wise men journey with the star.For our sake a little Child has been born,God before all ages.

Traditional wording, 1906

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.

St Romanos wrote it in the 500s. In a few lines it sets out the whole Christmas scene: the Virgin, the cave, the angels, the shepherds and the wise men.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

The angels’ song

Glory to God in the highest

Glory to God in the highest,and peace on earth,good will among people.

Traditional wording, 1611

Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will toward men.

Luke tells how the angels sang it to the shepherds on the night Christ was born (Luke 2:13-14). The Church still prays it at Matins, the morning service.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek of Luke 2:14, with the King James wording beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: The King James translators, The King James Version, 1611.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

From 21 November

Also the Christmas greeting

Christ is born, glorify Him

Christ is born: glorify Him!Christ from heaven: go out to meet Him!Christ is on earth: be lifted up!Sing to the Lord, all the earth,and with gladness sing praise, O peoples,for He has been glorified.

Traditional wording, 1906

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.

The first song of the Christmas canon. Its opening lines come from a sermon St Gregory the Theologian preached at Christmas in AD 380 or 381.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood writes “extol” where the Greek and the Christmas greeting say “glorify”.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Christmas canon katavasia

Ode 1Christ is born: glorify Him!Christ from heaven: go out to meet Him!Christ is on earth: be lifted up!Sing to the Lord, all the earth,and with gladness sing praise, O peoples,for He has been glorified.

Ode 3Let us cry out to Christ our God,the Son born of the Father before the ageswithout change,and in these last days made fleshof a Virgin without seed:“You have lifted up our horn.Holy are You, O Lord!”

Ode 4O Christ, Shoot from the root of Jesseand Flower that grew from it,You sprang up from the Virgin.From the mountain thick with shade and treesYou came, O praised One,made flesh of one who had known no man,You, the God Who is beyond all matter.Glory to Your power, O Lord!

Ode 5You are the God of peace, the Father of mercies.You have sent us the Angel of Your great counsel,Who brings peace.So we have been led to the light of the knowledge of God,and we rise while it is still nightto give glory to You, O Lover of mankind.

Ode 6The sea monster spat Jonah out from its bellyas it had taken him in, like a newborn child.So too the Word came to dwell in the Virgin,took flesh, and came forth from her,keeping her untouched.He Himself suffered no decay,and so He kept the one who bore Him unharmed.

Ode 7The young men, raised together in faith,scorned an ungodly commandand were not frightened by the threat of fire.Standing in the middle of the flames, they sang:“O God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Ode 8The furnace that rained down dewwas a picture of a wonder beyond nature.It did not burn the young men it had taken in,just as the fire of the Godhead did not burnthe Virgin’s womb, which it entered.So let us sing out in praise:Let all creation bless the Lordand exalt Him above all for ever.

Ode 9From Christmas Day it opens with this refrain, which speaks of the VirginMagnify, O my soul, her who is more honoredand more glorious than the hosts of heaven.I see a strange and wondrous mystery:the cave is heaven,the Virgin is the throne of the cherubim,the manger is the placewhere Christ our God was laid,Whom nothing can contain.Him we praise and magnify in song.

Traditional wording, 1906

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Magnify, O my soul, the Virgin, the all-pure Birth-giver of God,more honourable and more glorious than the hosts on high.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.

The eight model verses of the Christmas canon, from “Christ is born” to “I see a strange and wondrous mystery”. At each vigil until Christmas, one of them closes each ode of the canon.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Hapgood’s 1906 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Isabel F. Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church, 1906.

Hapgood worked from the Church Slavonic, so her refrain to the ninth ode names the Virgin in words the Greek refrain does not have.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

On Christmas Eve

Today the Virgin comes to the cave

Today the Virgin comes to the caveto give birth to the Word Who is before all ages,in a way beyond all telling.

Dance for joy, O world, at the news!With the angels and the shepherds, give gloryto Him Who chose to appear as a newborn Child,the God Who is before all ages.

Traditional wording

Today the Virgin comes to the caveto give birth ineffably to the pre-eternal Word.

Hearing this, rejoice, O inhabited earth!With the angels and the shepherds glorifythe pre-eternal God, Whose will it was to appear as a young child!

The kontakion of the days before the feast, sung from 20 December up to Christmas Eve. The Virgin is still on her way to the cave, and the world is told to dance for joy.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with the Orthodox Church in America’s English beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Orthodox Church in America, Troparia and kontakia for 20 December, on its website.

Where the OCA’s English says “rejoice”, the Greek says “dance” (χόρευε).

Where it comes from, and the Greek

The hymn of the Royal Hours

Mary was enrolled with the elder Joseph

Mary was once enrolled with the elder Josephin Bethlehem, as one of David’s line.She was carrying in her wombthe Child conceived without seed.The time came for her to give birth,and there was no room at the inn.But the cave was shown to the queenas a delightful palace.Christ is born, to raise upthe image that fell long ago.

Traditional wording, 1894

Once with Joseph the ancient, as of the seed of David,was Mary enrolled in Bethlehem,bearing in her womb her babe, not of seed;then came the time of her bringing forth;and there was no room in the inn:but as a delightsome palace for the Queen did the cave become.Christ is born, to raise the image that was formerly fallen.

Luke’s story of the census retold: Bethlehem, and no room at the inn. It ends with Christ born to raise up the image of God in man, fallen long ago.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Robertson’s 1894 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: J. N. W. B. Robertson, The Divine Liturgies, 1894.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

Make ready, O Bethlehem

Make ready, O Bethlehem!Let the manger be prepared,let the cave welcome Him!The truth has come, the shadow has passed,and God has appeared to men,born of a Virgin.He has taken our formand made divine what He took on.So Adam is made new, with Eve,and they cry out:“God’s good will has appeared on earth,to save our race!”

Traditional wording

Make ready, O Bethlehem!Let the manger be prepared!Let the cave show its welcome!The Truth comes, and the shadow flees.God is born of a Virgin and is revealed to men.He is clothed in our flesh and makes it divine.Therefore Adam is renewed and cries out with Eve:“Thy favor has appeared on earth, O Lord,for the salvation of the human race.”

Bethlehem is told to get the manger ready, for God has appeared to men, born of a Virgin. The Greek books credit it to St Sophronius of Jerusalem.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with the Orthodox Church in America’s English beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Orthodox Church in America, Royal Hours of the Eve of the Nativity, service texts on its website.

Where the OCA’s English has Adam and Eve say “O Lord”, the Greek has no such word.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

What shall we offer You, O Christ

What shall we offer You, O Christ,for You have appeared on earth as a man for our sake?Every creature You have madebrings You its thanks:the angels bring their song,the heavens the star,the wise men their gifts,the shepherds their wonder,the earth the cave,the wilderness the manger,and we bring a Virgin Mother.O God before all ages, have mercy on us!

Traditional wording

What shall we offer Thee, O Christ,Who for our sakes hast appeared on earth as a man?Every creature made by Thee offers Thee thanks:the Angels offer a hymn; the heavens, a star;the Wise Men, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;the earth, its cave; the wilderness, a manger,and we offer Thee a virgin Mother!O Pre-eternal God, have mercy on us!

A hymn of Vespers on Christmas Eve. Every creature brings Christ a gift, and we bring “a Virgin Mother”.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with the Orthodox Church in America’s English beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: Orthodox Church in America, Vespers of the Nativity with the Liturgy of St Basil, service texts on its website.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

God is with us

God is with us!Know it, you nations, and be overcome,for God is with us!

Hear this, to the ends of the earth,for God is with us!

You who are strong, be overcome,for God is with us!

For if you grow strong again, you will be overcome again,for God is with us!

Whatever plan you make, the Lord will scatter it,for God is with us!

Whatever word you speak will not stand among you,for God is with us!

We will not fear your terror, nor will we be troubled,for God is with us!

But we will hold the Lord our God holy, and He will be our fear,for God is with us!

If I put my trust in Him, He will make me holy,for God is with us!

I will trust in Him, and through Him I will be saved,for God is with us!

Here am I and the children God has given me,for God is with us!

The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light,for God is with us!

A light will shine on us who live in the land and the shadow of death,for God is with us!

For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us,for God is with us!

His rule rests on His shoulder,for God is with us!

There is no limit to His peace,for God is with us!

His name is called the Angel of Great Counsel,for God is with us!

Wonderful Counselor,for God is with us!

Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace,for God is with us!

Father of the age to come,for God is with us!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,for God is with us!

now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.For God is with us!

God is with us!Know it, you nations, and be overcome,for God is with us!

Traditional wording, 1891

God is with us. Let the nations know and be discomfited.For God is with us.

Hear ye, even to the ends of the earth.Though ye were strong ye were made weak.And if again ye shall strengthen yourselves, again ye shall be discomfited.And if ye take counsel and devise it, the Lord shall scatter it.And the word which ye shall speak, it shall not stand with you.And we will not be afraid of your terror, neither will we be troubled.But we will hallow the Lord our God, and He shall be our fear.And if I trust in Him, He will be to my sanctification.And I will trust in Him, and I shall be saved by Him.Behold me, and the children that God hath given me.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.To us that dwell in a far country and in the shadow of death light is sprung up.For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.And the government shall be upon His shoulder.And there shall be no end of His peace.And His name shall be called the Angel of the Great Counsel,The wonderful Counsellor,The mighty God, the Potentate, the Prince of peace,The Father of the world to come.

God is with us. Let the nations know and be discomfited.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.God is with us. Let the nations know and be discomfited.Both now, and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.God is with us. Let the nations know and be discomfited.

Isaiah’s promise of a Child, each verse answered by “God is with us!”. It comes at Great Compline, the evening service of Christmas Eve.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Greek, with Shann’s 1891 translation beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: G. V. Shann, Euchology, 1891.

Shann prints “For God is with us” once at the start and asks for it after every verse.

Where it comes from, and the Greek

At the table on Christmas Eve

Holy Supper prayers

Plain English only: no traditional English wording is given for this prayer

Light the candles and sing “Your Nativity”

O Lord Jesus Christ,You have given us the forty days of Adventthat we might through prayer, fasting, almsgiving and repentanceprepare for the celebration of Your First Coming to us.As we stand at the threshold of this great feast,we gather to partake of this Holy Supper,asking that You Yourself may be present,blessing and strengthening usas we praise the mystery of Your Incarnation.For Yours is the might, the power and the glory,together with Your Father without originand Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

O Lord our God,gazing upon the holy icon of the feast of the Nativityand recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah,“the ox and the ass know their master’s crib,”we call to mind the animalsthat were present in the cavern in Bethlehem.We also call to mind all the animals, domestic and wild,which You have created.We remember the endangered speciesand ask that You preserve themfrom the excesses and cruelty of fallen humanity.We thank You for the pets that bring us joyand all the animals which serve us.For all of creation praises You, O our God,and to You we send up glory,to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

Sing “Memory eternal” for the departed you remember, naming them after “Your servants”Grant rest eternal and blessed repose, O Lord,to the souls of Your servants who have fallen asleep,and make their memory to be eternal.Memory eternal!Three times

Sing “Many years” for everyone at the table and those who are away, naming them after “Your servants”Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life,health, salvation, and furtherance in all good thingsto Your servants, and preserve them for many years!God grant them many years!Three times

May God give us the courage to accept the difficulties of lifeover which we are powerless,symbolized by this bitter clove of garlic.A sliver of raw garlic is dipped in honeyMay all these difficulties be overcome by the fruits of the Spirit:love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,symbolized by this sweet honey.And then eaten

Blessed are You, O Lord, King of the universe,Who brings forth bread from the earth!Bless us, O Lord, as we break this bread together in love.May our tables be filled with an abundance of wheat, wine and oil,that we may in turn give to those who are in need.May we continually be mindful of all who are hungry,those who are homeless,those who suffer the ravages of war, terror, disaster,cruelty, injustice, addiction, abuse and loneliness.Finally, as we partake of this food,may we recognize that You are the true Bread of life,the bread which has come down from heaven.May our communion of the Holy Mysteries on this great feastbe for the healing of our souls and bodies,that being united to You and to each other in a bond of loveby partaking of the one bread and cupwhich are Your most pure body and precious blood,we may send up glory, thanksgiving and worship to You,the Only-begotten Son, Whose glorious Nativity in the flesh we celebrate,together with Your Father without originand Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.The loaf is passed, broken and shared

The poor shall eat and be satisfied.Those who seek the Lord shall praise Him;and their hearts shall live forever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.Lord, have mercy.Three timesChrist our God, bless the food and drink of Your servants,for You are holy always, now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

After the meal, sing or say the kontakion of Christmas, “Today the Virgin gives birth”, and thenGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.Lord, have mercy.Three timesGod is with us, through His grace and love for mankind,always, now and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen.

The Holy Supper is a fasting meal that Carpatho-Rusyn, Slovak and Ukrainian Orthodox families keep when the first star appears. These prayers by Archbishop Job of Chicago go with the candles, the bread and the garlic dipped in honey.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the English of the St Nicholas booklet, with capitals for God, one “Thy” made “Your”, “for ever and ever” for “unto ages of ages”, its places for names turned into directions, and a missing “the” restored. How the wording is made.

Where it comes from, and the original

Scripture for this

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 Read at the Royal Hours on Christmas Eve. The virgin will bear a Son and call Him Immanuel.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One Whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

Micah 5:2 This is read on the morning of Christmas Eve. The Ruler of Israel will come from little Bethlehem.

10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12 In the Gospel of Christmas Eve an angel brings the shepherds good news of great joy, a Savior born in the city of David.

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9-11 The star leads the wise men to the Child, and they worship Him. This is the Gospel of Christmas Day.

4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5 When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman. It is the Epistle of Christmas Day.

Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.

A psalm for this

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

Psalm 2:7

The verse sung before the Epistle at the Liturgy on Christmas Eve.

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Berean Standard Bible