Nativity of Our Lord
Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 25 December 2020.
First Antiphon
Verse: I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart, * I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: In the council of the just and the congregation, * great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: His work is filled with praise and majesty, * and His righteousness endures forever.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Third Antiphon
Verse: The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies the footstool of you feet.’
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.
Verse: The Lord will send you a sceptre of power out of Zion; reign in the midst of your enemies.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.
Verse: Yours is the dominion on the day you are given power in his splendour of your holy ones.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.
Entrance Verse: From the womb before the daystar I begot you. The Lord has sworn an oath and will not go back on His word: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and ever, Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3
The Virgin today gives birth to Him who is above all being; * the earth offers the cave to Him whom no one can approach; * Angels with shepherds give Him glory, * while Magi make their way with a star, * for to us is born a little Child, the pre-eternal God.
Instead of ‘Holy God’ we sing: All you who have been baptised into Christ, you have put on Christ! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Prokimenon, Tone 8
Let all the earth worship You and sing to You; * let it sing to Your Name, O Most High.
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Epistle : Galatians 4:4–7
A Reading from the letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Galatians:
Sisters and Brothers, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands.
Verse: Day announces its message unto day and night proclaims its knowledge unto night.
Gospel : Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.’ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
Instead of ‘It is truly…’ we sing: O my soul, magnify Christ the King born in a manger. Irmos, Tone 1: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, a dwelling place in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain. Singing His praises, we magnify Him.
Сommunion Hymn
The Lord has sent deliverance * to His people. * Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
[A private prayer of spiritual communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in these Holy Gifts!
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot receive You now,
I place before You my whole life and hope, O loving Master;
and I ask, pray, and entreat You: Make me worthy to partake in a mystical way
and with a pure conscience of Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries:
for forgiveness of sins, for the pardon of offences, for communion of the Holy Spirit,
for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence before You,
and not for judgment or condemnation.
I embrace You as You enter and abide in me, and I unite myself completely to You.
Permeate my soul and body, and never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.]
Instead of ‘Blessed is He who comes…’ we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (1х)
Instead of ‘We have seen the true light…’ we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (1х)
Instead of ‘May our mouths…’ and ‘Blessed be the Name…’ we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (3x)