III. As in gentle rain, in the dew of the SPIRIT, the Children of GoD exulted, walking mystically in midst of the flame, in itself typifying the TRINITY and the Incarnation of CHRIST; and, as those wise through faith, they quenched the power of fire, and the righteous Daniel closed the mouth of lions through whose importunate prayers, O Saviour, Lover-of-men, redeem us also from the unquenchable and everlasting fire, and make us worthy of the lot of Thy Heavenly Kingdom. BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. (DEC. 18-24TH.) I. O Virgin all-blameless, the living Palace of GoD, He, Whom the Heavens cannot contain, found place in thee: Who in the Cave was brought-forth above thought, taking part in poverty and flesh, that He might Deify me, and enrich the poverty, weakness, and bitter hunger. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. II. Thou wast inscribed, O CHRIST, among servants, at the command of Cæsar, coming through tenderness-of-heart to give freedom, life, and redemption to senseless slaves, who worship Thy salutary Birth, O Longsuffering-One, Who camest to save our souls. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. JII. The all-Holy and blameless-one, perceiving the ordinances of nature renovated by the incomprehensible Bringing-forth, to the SON cried-aloud: O much-desired Child, I am amazed at the great mystery, how, remaining a Virgin, also begat I by Thy Power, Who madedst allthings by Thy Will! OF THE BIRTH, ACCORDING TO FLESH, OF OUR LORD and GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. (DEC. 25TH.) After the Verse: Bring my soul out of prison, &c., at page 10. The righteous shall wait for me, until Thou recompense me. Out of depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD: LORD, hear my voice. O let Thine Ears be attentive unto the voice of my prayer. If Thou, O LORD, wilt mark transgressions, O LORD, who shall stand? for with Thee is propitiation. Hymn of Germanus. I. O come, let us exult in the LORD, recounting the present mystery. The middle-wall of partition is broken-throgh, the sword of flame hath given back, and from the Tree of Life the Cherubim retreat, aud I enjoy the gladness of the Paradise from which I fell through the disobedience. For He, the unchangeable Eikon of the FATHER, the Impress of His eternity, hath taken the form of a servant, coming-forth from His unwedded Mother, but unchanged: for what He was, that He still remained, True GOD; and what He was not, He assumed, through Love-to-men becoming Man. To Him let us cry-aloud: O GOD, Who wast Born from a Virgin, have mercy upon us. For Thy Name's sake have I waited for Thee, O LORD; my soul hath waited for Thy Word: my soul hath hoped in the LORD. II. O come, let us exult in the LORD, &c. As immediately above. From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch, let Israel hope in the LORD. Hymn of Anatolius. III. When JESUS the LORD was Born from the Holy Virgin, all-things were enlightened. For as shepherds watched, and Magi worshipped, and Angels sang their Hymn, Herod was troubled: for GoD in Flesh appeared, the saviour of our souls. For with the LORD is mercy, and with Him is plentiful redemption : and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. IV. When JESUS the LORD was Born, &c. As immediately above. V. Thy Kingdom, Ó CHRIST the GOD, is the Kingdom of all the ages, and Thy Dominion in every generation and generation. Incarnate from the Holy GHOST, and from the ever-Virgin Mary becoming Man, Thou hast shined a Light on us, O CHRIST the GOD, by Thy Presence: Light from Light, the Brightness of the FATHER beamed on every creature. Everything that hath breath praiseth Thee, the Impress of the Glory of the FATHER. O GOD, Who art, and wast before, and shinest-forth from the Virgin, have mercy upon us. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. VI. What shall we bring to Thee, O CHRIST, because on earth Thou hast appeared as Man for us? since every creature made by Thee brings to Thee the thanksgiving: the Angels bring the Hymn, the Heavens the Star, the Magi the Gifts, the Shepherds the Astonishment, the Earth the Cave, the Wilderness the Manger, but We the Virgin Mother. O GOD, Who wast before the ages, have mercy upon us. Glory to the FATHER, and to the SON, and to the Holy GHOST: Hymn of Casia. When Augustus reigned alone upon the earth, the many-rulers of men ceased; and when Thou becamest Man from the Pure-one, the many-godheads of the idols fell. Under one worldly kingdom the cities came; and unto one Divine Dominion the nations turned in faith. At the decree of Cæsar the people were enrolled; we, the faithful, were enrolled in the Divine Name, of Thee, our God Who becamest Man. Great is Thy mercy: Glory to Thee. Deacon. Wisdom. Stand up. As at page 14. After the BirTH OF CHRIRT. (DEC. 26TH-31st.) I. When JESUS the LORD was Born, &c. As at III. above. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. III. What shall we bring to Thee, &c. As at VI. above. OF THE CIRCUMCISION, ACCORDING TO FLESH, of our Lord and GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; AND COMMEMORATION OF OUR HOLY FATHER BASIL THE GREAT. (JAN. 1ST.) ¶ After the Verse: If Thou, O LORD, wilt mark, &c., at page 11. Stichera of the Circumcision. I. Together to the race of men came-down the Saviour, manifested clearly in swaddling-clothes: on the eighth day from the Mother, He, Who was without beginning from the FATHER, loathed not the Circumcision of the Flesh. To Him the faithful cry-aloud: Thou art our God; have mercy upon us. For Thy Name's sake have I waited for Thee, O LORD; my soul hath waited for Thy Word: my soul hath hoped in the LORD. II. To the race of men, &c. As immediately above. From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch, let Isracl hope in the LORD. III. He, the All-good God, was not ashamed of cutting-off the Flesh in Circumcision, but gave Himself a type and pattern to all, for salvation : for He, the Maker of the Law, fulfilled the things of the Law, and the things which the Prophets proclaimed concerning Him. Thou, Who art altogether girded with Light, and wast wrapped-around with swaddlingclothes: Glory to Thee, O LORD. For with the LORD is mercy, and with Him is plentiful redemption : and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. Stichera of the Saint. I. He, Who is called by name Of the Kingdom, when thou, with the royal priesthood of the Holy nation of CHRIST, shepherdedst, O father, philosophy and science, ornamented thee with a diadem of the Kingdom, O Basil, having reigned King and LORD of all, Who was born eternally the Co-minded and Co-unoriginate SoN: Whom supplicate to save and enlighten our souls. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. II. Ornamented with Hierarchic garments, glad to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Orthodoxy, thou, O Basil, bubblest-forth lessons to the Church: that we may now be enlightened in them, we theologize and glorify One Divinity in Three Undivided Persons, in the FATHER Almighty, and Only-Begotten WORD of GOD, and Holy SPIRIT : Whom supplicate to save and enlighten our souls. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. III. Thou who hast intercourse and together-dwellest with Heavenly Choirs, O Father Basil, who in life emulatedst their splendour by thy purity of citizenship, whilst in the body behaving upon earth as one without flesh; supplicate earnestly CHRIST our GoD, that the delights of thy Divinely-inspired teaching may, from the dangers and darkness of ignorance, save and enlighten our souls. OF THE HO LY DIVINE-MANIFESTATION OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. (JAN. 6th.) After the Verse: Bring my soul out of prison, &c., at page 10. The righteous shall wait for me, until Thou recompense me. Out of depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD: LORD, hear my voice. O let Thine Ears be attentive unto the voice of my prayer. If Thou, O LORD, wilt mark transgressions, O LORD, who shall stand? for with Thee is propitiation. Hymn of John the Monk. I. The Forerunner, beholding Him, our Illumination, Who enlighteneth all men, coming-near to be Baptized, rejoiced in soul, and with trembling hand pointed Him out, and said to the people: Behold the Redeemer of Israel, Who freeth us from corruption. Thou Who art without sin, O CHRIST our GOD, Glory to Thee. For Thy Name's sake have I waited for Thee, O LORD; my soul hath waited for Thy Word: my soul hath hoped in the LORD. II. The Forerunner, beholding, &c. As immediately above. From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch, let Israel hope in the LORD. III. The warrior Angels saw, with fear, our Redeemer Baptized by a servant, and the Presence of the SPIRIT bearing witness: but a Heavenly Voice sounded from the FATHER: This, on Whom the Forerunner lays his hand, is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I am well-pleased. O CHRIST our GoD, Glory to Thee. For with the LORD is mercy, and with Him is plentiful redemption : and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. IV. The warrior Angels saw, &c. As immediately above. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. V. The streams of Jordan receiveth Thee, the Fountain, and the Comforter in form of a Dove came down; He bows the head, Who bowed the Heavens; the Clay to the Modeller shouted and cried-aloud : Who to ne hath enjoined these things upon me? I have need to be Baptized of Thee. Thou Who art without sin, O CHRIST Our GoD, Glory to Thee. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. VI. Willing to save erring man, Thou puttest on, not unworthily, the form of a servant, for it befitted Thee, the MASTER and GOD, to be manifested for us in things of ours; for Thou wast Baptized in the Flesh, O Redeemer, to make us worthy of forgiveness. Wherefore we cry-aloud to Thee: 0 Benefactor CHRIST our GoD, Glory to Thee. Glory to the FATHER, and to the Son, and to the Holy GHOST: Hymn of Byzantus. Bowing down the head to the Forerunner, Thou bruisedst the heads of dragons; standing in the streams, Thou enlightenedst all-things together to Glorify Thee, O Saviour, the Illumination of our souls. Deacon. Wisdom. Stand up. As at page 14. OF THE HYPAPANTA OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. (FEB. 2ND.) Hymn of Germanus the Patriarch. I. Symeon said: Whom are ye bearing in arms to the glorious Temple? To Whom did he shout and cry-aloud: Now am I liberated. for I have beheld my Saviour? This is He Who from a Virgin was Born: This is He Who is from GOD, GOD the WORD Who was Incarnate for us, and hath saved Man. Him let us worship. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. II. Symeon received Him, become a Babe, Whom, under darkness Moses the Lawgiver, aforetime in Sinai, placed under Law. This is He Who spake through the Law; This is He Who preached in the Prophets, Who was Incarnate for us, and hath saved Man. Him let us worship. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. III. Come also we, in inspired songs, let us meet CHRIST, and receive Him the Saviour, Whom Symeon beheld. This is He Whom David announced; This is He Who spake in the Prophets, Who was Incarnate for us, and uttered the sound of the Law. Him let us worship. OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR MOST-HOLY MISTRESS, THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY. (MAR. 25TH.) I. Willing, before the ages, to reveal to thee, O Maiden, Gabriel was sent, saluting thee, and saying: Hail, O seedless earth; Hail, O unburnt bush; Hail, O inscrutable depth; Hail, thou who art the bridge which leadeth to the Heavens, and ladder, raised on high, which Jacob beheld; Hail, O vase of Divine Manna; Hail, O looser of the curse; Hail, thou who art the restoration of Adam, the LORD is with thee. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. II. Thou mayest appear unto me as a man, said the amphoric Maiden to the Chief-captain, but how sound the words for a man? for He, the GOD Who is about to be with me, and tabernacle in my womb, hath sent: but how can I become, as said to me, a spacious field and sanctified place for the Cherubim to go upon? I am not caught by craft, nor do I desire pleasure; I am ignorant of marriage, how then can I bring-forth a Child? For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. III. When GOD willed to conquer the order of nature, He sent the Bodiless-one and accomplished things for man. These my true words believe, O all-Holy, most-Blameless-one. But she cried: Be it unto me now according to thy word, and I will bring-forth Him Who is without Flesh, lending Him flesh from myself; so that, through the blending, He may lead man up to the original honour, as Alone Powerful. OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE FIRST SIX ECUMENICAL SYNODS. (JULY 13-19TH.) I. Thou, the uncircumscribed and inexplicable WORD, in assuming Flesh for us, O Lover-of-men, proclaimedst from above the august system of the wisdom of the Fathers': as perfect GOD and Man in Two Natures and operations, of Two Wills also, yet One in Person: wherefore acknowledging One God, those Blessed-ones faithfully worship Thee, with FATHER also, and SPIRIT. Praise the LORD, all ye nations; praise Him, all ye peoples. II. Pyrrhus also and Sergius, and Honorius with Evtychian Dioscorus, and a certain Nestorius, were overthrown from precipices; the Gloriousones, the flock of CHRIST, preserved on each side the Two Natures under One Person of CHRIST, SO clearly proclaimed from above, shewn-forth by His operations: Whom also worshipping as Man and perfect GOD, with the FATHER and the SPIRIT, we now Glorify. For His mercy hath been abundant towards us; and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. III. The God-bearing Fathers, this day with one mind proclaim from |