The Nativity according to the Flesh
of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ
Opening Acclamation: “Blessed is the kingdom…”
Great Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
First Antiphon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
“Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Second Antiphon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
“O Son of God, Who wast born of a Virgin, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.”
“Only-begotten Son and Word of God Who art immortal, Thou didst take on Thee for our salvation to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change wast made man; and was crucified also, O Christ our God; and by Thy death hast Death subdued; Who art One of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: O save, O save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Third Antiphon, during the Little Entrance. Troparion of Nativity, Tone 4 (Choir).
“Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom. For by it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee!”
Entrance Hymn, the Eisodikon (Choir).
“Out of the womb, before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. O Son of God, Who wast born of a Virgin, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!”
Hymns of the Day.
Troparion of Holy Nativity, Tone 4 (Choir).
“Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom. For by it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee!”
Kontakion of Holy Nativity , Tone 3 (Choir).
“Today the Virgin gives birth to the transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels, with shepherds, glorify Him! The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a little child!”
Anti-Trisagion Prayer and Hymn. “Lord, have mercy.”
“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.” (3x)
The Readings. Priest: “Let us attend! Wisdom!”
Prokeimenon, Tone 8 (Chanter). “Let all the earth worship You and sing to You. Shout with joy to God, all the earth!”
Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir through Christ.
Alleluia and Verses with Censing, Tone 1 (Apostolos 351-352, Chanter).
“The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day unto day pours forth speech, and night unto night proclaims knowledge.”
Priest: “Wisdom! Let us attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be to all.”
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, so I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Sermon.
Prayers of the Catechumens and the Faithful. “Lord, have mercy.”
Great Entrance. Cherubic Prayer & Hymn (All).
“All we that in myst’ry holy Cherubim portray as the Life-creating Trinity, with thrice-holy song we adore and praise. Come, let us cast off all earthly care and forget ev’ry vain employ...” (Repeat.)
“for the King of All comes in triumph by unseen Host of Angels brought to us that bid Him welcome. Alleluia.”
Litany of the Prothesis and the Peace. “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this…” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess:”
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.”
The Nicene Creed. Priest: “The Doors! The Doors! In wisdom let us attend.”
“I believe in one God…”
Eucharistic Prayer of St. Basil the Great.
Anaphora. “A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.”
Priest: “Let us lift up our hearts.”
“We lift them up unto the Lord.”
Priest: “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”
“It is meet and right to worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in Essence, and undivided.”
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth: Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He Who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”
The Prayers of Consecration.
Priest: “Take, eat: this is My Body which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins... Drink ye this: this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins... Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, in behalf of all, and for all.”
“We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and we beseech Thee, O our God; we beseech Thee, O our God.”
Priest: “Make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ.” (Amen.) “And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ.” (Amen.) “Changing them by thy Holy Spirit.” (Amen, amen, amen.)
Megalynarion, Tone 1 (Choir).
“O my soul, magnify her who is more hon’rable and who is more glorious than the heav’nly hosts. A mystery I behold, which is strange and wondrous, the cave is heav’n, and the Virgin is the throne of the cherubim; in the confines of the manger is laid the infinite Christ our God, Whom we praise and magnify.”
The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer. “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this...” “To Thee, O Lord.”
The Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.”
The Elevation. Priest: “Let us attend! The Holy things are for the Holy.”
“One is Holy, One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
Communion Prayers.
“I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is truly Thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Wherefore I pray Thee, have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions, both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake, without condemnation, of Thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.”
“Of Thy Mystic Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant, for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation be my partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.”
Communion Hymn, the Koinonikon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
"The Lord hath sent redemption, hath sent redemption to His people. Alleluia.”
Communion.
Receiving Holy Communion unites us with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Bishop, and with all the Orthodox in heaven and earth. Only baptized and/or chrismated Orthodox Christians who are not under penance and have prepared by fasting and frequent confession are invited and encouraged to receive communion as spiritual food, for the healing of soul and body and as a sign of forgiveness of sins.
“Receive ye the body of Christ. Taste ye of the fount everlasting. Alleluia.”
Post-Communion Hymns. Priest: “O God, save Thy people and bless thine inheritance.”
“Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the light of wisdom. For by it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee!”
“Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast made us worthy to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. Establish us in Thy Sanctification, that all the day we may meditate on Thy righteousness. Alleluia.”
Litany of Thanksgiving and the Prayer behind the Ambon. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forever!” (3x.)
Dismissal and Final Blessing.
Parish Announcements.
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