Christ is born!

Glorify Him!

Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord

24 December

Prepared by

Reader Michael J. Bishop

St Nicholas Cathedral

Washington DC

1990

Revised: December 20, 1998

Index

The Royal Hours

First Hour

The Third Hour

Sixth Hour

Ninth Hour

The Typical Psalms

The Royal Hours

If Christmas Eve falls on Saturday or Sunday (and therefore Christmas falls on Sunday or Monday), the Royal Hours are read on the preceeding Friday. In such a case, the Liturgy is not celebrated on Friday.)

First Hour

A stand is set up in the middle of the church for the Gospel book. The priest vested in epitrachelion and phelonion, opens the curtain and begins:

P: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

R: Amen. Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee!

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth; who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of blessings, and Giver of life; come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

O most-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 evil.

P: 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.

R: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us worship God our King!

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!

As the Psalms are chanted, the priest opens the royal doors, takes the Gospel and places it in the center of the Church, after which he makes a full censing of the Church beginning by censing around the Gospel, and concluding by censing before it.

Psalm 5

^{1Give ear to my words, O LORD;
give heed to my groaning.
^{2Hearken to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to thee do I pray.
^{3O LORD, in the morning thou dost hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch.
^{4For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not sojourn with thee.
^{5The boastful may not stand before thy eyes;
thou hatest all evildoers.
^{6Thou destroyest those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
^{7But I through the abundance of thy steadfast love
will enter thy house,
I will worship toward thy holy temple
in the fear of thee.
^{8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness
because of my enemies;
make thy way straight before me.
^{9For there is no truth in their mouth;
their heart is destruction,
their throat is an open sepulchre,
they flatter with their tongue.
^{10Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against thee.
^{11But let all who take refuge in thee rejoice,
let them ever sing for joy;
and do thou defend them,
that those who love thy name may exult in thee.
^{12For thou dost bless the righteous, O LORD;
thou dost cover him with favor as with a shield.
Psalm 45

^{1My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
^{2You are the fairest of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you for ever.
^{3Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty!
^{4In your majesty ride forth victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds!
^{5Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
^{6Your divine throne endures for ever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
^{7you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellows;

^{8your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.}

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
^{9daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
^{10Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father's house;
^{11and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
^{12the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people
^{13with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
^{14in many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions, her escort, in her train.
^{15With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
^{16Instead of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
^{17I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.
Psalm 46

^{1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
^{2Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
^{3though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah]
^{4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
^{5God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her right early.
^{6The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
^{7The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]
^{8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has wrought desolations in the earth.
^{9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
he burns the chariots with fire!
^{10"Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth!"
^{11The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]

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. (3x)

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Troparion

Tone 4

Mary was of David's seed,
So she went with Joseph to register in Bethlehem.
She bore in her womb the fruit not sown by man.
The time for the birth was at hand.
Since there was no room at the inn,
The cave became a beautiful palace for the queen.
Christ is born, raising up the image that fell of old!

When Christmas Day falls on Sunday or Monday, so that the Royal Hours are served on December 22 or 23, the Troparion at all the hours is as follows:
Troparion

Tone 4

Prepare, O Bethlehem,
For Eden has been opened to all.
Adorn yourself, O Ephratha,
For the Tree of Life blossoms forth from the virgin in a cave.
Her womb is a spiritual paradise planted with the Fruit Divine;
If we eat of it, we shall live forever and not die like Adam.
Christ is coming to restore the imagse which He made in the beginning.

R: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

What shall we call you, O full of grace? Heaven, for from you shone forth the Sun of Righteousness; Paradise, for you have budded forth the flower of immortality; Virgin, for you have remained undefiled; pure Mother, for you have remained undefiled. Beseech Him to save our souls.

Tone 8

Make ready, O Bethlehem.
Let the manager be prepared.
Let the cave show its welcome.
The truth comes and the shadow flees.
God is born of a virgin and revealed to men.
He is clothedin 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.
Vs: God shall come from Teman, and the Holy One from the dark and shady mountain.

Now the prophecy approaches its fulfillment.

For it has mystically proclaimed:
"You, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are by no means the least among Judah's rulers!"
Prepare your cave!

From you the Ruler of the Nations comes to me in the Flesh:

Christ our God, born of a young virgin!
He will feed His flock, the new Israel.
Let us all give Him glory!
Vs: O Lord, I have heard what Thou have done, and am filled with awe.

Now the prophecy approaches its fulfillment.

For it has mystically proclaimed:
"You, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are by no means the least among Judah's rulers!"
Prepare your cave!
From you the Ruler of the Nations comes to me in the Flesh:
Christ our God, born of a young virgin!
He willfeed His flock, the new Israel.
Let us all give Him glory!
Vs: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Joseph said to the virgin:

What has happened to you, O Mary?
I am troubled; what can I say to you?
Doubt clouds my mind; depart from me!
What has happened to you, O Mary?
Instead of honor, you bring me shame.
Instead of joy, you fill me with grief.
Men who praised me will blame me.
I cannot bear condemnation from every side.
I received you, a pure virgin in the sight of the Lord.
What is this that I now see?

Vs: Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Joseph said to the virgin:

What has happened to you, O Mary?
I am troubled; what can I say to you?
Doubt clouds my mind; depart from me!
What has happened to you, O Mary?
Instead of honor, you bring me shame.
Instead of joy, you fill me with grief.
Men who praised me will blame me.
I cannot bear condemnation from every side.
I received you, a pure virgin in the sight of the Lord.
What is this that I now see?

And immediately the Prokeimenon of the Prophecy follows:

R: The Prokeimenon of the Prophecy in the Fourth Tone.
The Lord said to me: Thou are my Son,

this day have I begotten Thee. (Psalm 2)

Vs: Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Thy possession.

D: Wisdom!
R: The reading from the Prophet Micah. (Micah 5:2-4)

D: Let us attend.

R: Thus says the Lord: But you, Bethlehem, house of Ephratha, are little among the thousands of Judah, yet from you shall come forth to me Him Who is to be ruler in Israel, and His going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity. So the Lord will abandon His people to their enemies until the time when she who is in travail has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren will be converted to the children of Israel. And He shall stand, and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, and they shall abide in the glory of the Name of the Lord their God, and they shall magnify Him even to the ends of the earth.

The Epistle and Gospel follow immediately. The priest proclaims the Gospel from the center of the church. The Gospel is not preceded by censing.

D: Wisdom!
R: The reading from the Epistles to the Hebrews Heb 1:1-12

P: Let us attend!
R: In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs. For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades." And, "Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end."
D: And that we may be made worthy to listen to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.

Pp: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

D: Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

P: Peace be to all!

Pp: And to your spirit.

P: The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (Matthew 1:18-25)

Pp: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
D: Let us attend!
P: ¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; ¹⁹and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; ²¹she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ²²All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). ²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

After the Gospel, the reader continues:

R: Order my steps in Thy word, and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me. Deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men, and so shall I keep Thy commandments. Show the light of Thy countenance upon Thy Servant, and teach me Thy statutes. Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that I may sing of Thy glory and honor all the day long.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
O most-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name's sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by 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 evil.
P: 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.
Pp: Amen.

Kontakion

Tone 3

Today the virgin comes to the cave
Where she will give birth to the Eternal Word.
Hear the glad tidings and rejoice, O universe!

With the angels and shepherds glorify Him Who reveals Himself:

The eternal God, a little child.

R: Lord, have mercy. (12x)

Thou who at every season and every hour, in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering, merciful, and compassionate; who lovest the just and showest mercy upon the sinner; who callest all men to salvation through the promise of blessings to come; O Lord, in this hour receive our supplications and direct our lives according to Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, hallow our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulations, evil and distress. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guided and guarded by their host, we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of Thy unapproachable glory, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of Ages. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos, we magnify you.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless.

P: God be bountiful unto us, and bless us and show us the light of His countenance, and be merciful unto us.

R: Amen.

O Christ, the True Light Who enlightenest and sanctifiest every man who comes into the world, let the light of Thy countenance shine upon us, that in it we may behold the unapproachable light, and guide our footsteps aright to the keeping of Thy commandments, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and of all Thy saints. Amen.

The Third Hour

R: Come, let us worship God, our King!

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!

As the Psalms are chanted, the priest censes around the Gospel, after which he censes the altar, the sanctuary, the iconostas, and the people, concluding by censing before the Gospel.
Psalm 67

^{1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, [Selah]
^{2that thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving power among all nations.
^{3Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
let all the peoples praise thee!
^{4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for thou dost judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. [Selah]
^{5Let the peoples praise thee, O God;
let all the peoples praise thee!
^{6The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
^{7God has blessed us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Psalm 87

^{1On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
^{2the LORD loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
^{3Glorious things are spoken of you,
O city of God. [Selah]
^{4Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia -
"This one was born there," they say.
^{5And of Zion it shall be said,
"This one and that one were born in her";
for the Most High himself will establish her.
^{6The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
"This one was born there." [Selah]
^{7Singers and dancers alike say,
"All my springs are in you."
Psalm 51

^{1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to thy steadfast love;
according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
^{2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
^{3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
^{4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in thy sight,
so that thou art justified in thy sentence
and blameless in thy judgment.
^{5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
^{6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
^{7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
^{8Fill me with joy and gladness;
let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
^{9Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
^{10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
^{11Cast me not away from thy presence,
and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
^{12Restore to me the joy of thy salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
^{13Then I will teach transgressors thy ways,
and sinners will return to thee.
^{14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
thou God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of thy deliverance.
^{15O Lord, open thou my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
^{16For thou hast no delight in sacrifice;
were I to give a burnt offering, thou wouldst not be pleased.
^{17The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
^{18Do good to Zion in thy good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
^{19then wilt thou delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on thy altar.
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! (3x)

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Troparion

Tone 4

Mary was of David's seed,
So she went with Joseph to register in Bethlehem.
She bore in her womb the fruit not sown by man.
The time for the birth was at hand.
Since there was no room at the inn,
The cave became a beautiful palace for the queen.
Christ is born, raising up the image that fell of old!

When December 25 falls on Sunday or Monday, the Troparion may be found on page 7.
R: Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Theotokos, you are the true vine laden with the fruit of life. We pray to you, O Lady, intercede together with the Apostles and all the saints, that mercy may be granted to our souls.

Tone 8

He is our God:
There is no other to compare with Him.
Born of a virgin, He comes to live with men.
The only-begotten Son appears as a mortal man.
He rests in a lowly manger.
The Lord of Glory is wrapped in swaddling clothes.
A star leads the wise men to worship Him,
And with them we sing:
O Holy Trinity, save our souls!
Vs: God shall come from Teman and the Holy One from the dark and shady mountain.

Tone 8

Before Thy birth, O Lord,

The hosts of angels already perceived the mystery.
They were struck with wonder and trembled,
For Thou Who did adorn the heavens with star
Are now well-pleased to be born as a babe.
Thou hold the ends of the earth in Thy hands,
But now Thou are laid in a manger of dumb beasts.
Yet all these things fulfilled Thy saving plan,
By which Thy compassion was revealed to us.
O Christ of great mercy, glory to Thee!
Vs: O Lord, I have heard what Thou have done, and am filled with awe.

Before Thy birth...

Vs: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Tone 3

Tell us, O Joseph:

Why do you bring a maiden great with child to Bethlehem?

"I have searched the prophets," he said.
"I have been instructed by an angel.
I am convinced that Mary will give birth to God,
In a manner beyond understanding.
Wise men from the East will come to worship Him,
Offering precious gifts in adoration."
O Lord, incarnate for us, glory to Thee!

Vs: Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tell us, O Joseph:

Why do you bring a maiden great with child to Bethlehem?

"I have searched the prophets," he said.
"I have been instructed by an angel.
I am convinced that Mary will give birth to God,
In a manner beyond understanding.
Wise men from the East will come to worship Him,
Offering precious gifts in adoration."
O Lord, incarnate for us, glory to Thee!

And immediately the Prokeimenon of the Prophecy follows:
R: The Prokeimenon of the Prophecy in the Fourth Tone.
For unto us a child is born.
Unto us a son is given. (Isaiah 9:6)

Vs: And the government shall be upon His shoulder.
D: Wisdom!
R: The reading from the Prophet Baruch. (Baruch 3:35-4:4)

P: Let us attend.

R: He is our God; there is no other to compare with Him. He discovered the entire path leading to understanding, and gave wisdom to Jacob His servant, and to Israel His beloved. Afterwards, Wisdom was seen on earth and He lived with men. Wisdom is the book of the commandments of God, the law that will endure forever. All who hold fast to it will live, but those who forsake it will die. Return, O Jacob, and take hold of it; walk in the presence of its brightness, that you may be illuminated. Do not surrender your honor to another people, or your dignity to a strange nation. How happy we are, O people of Israel; we have the advantage of knowing what is pleasing to God.

The Epistle and Gospel follow immediately. The priest proclaims the Gospel from the center of the church. The Gospel is not preceded by censing.

D: Wisdom!
R: The Reading from the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Galatians. (Galatians 3:23-29)

D: Let us attend!

R: Brethren, ²³Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. ²⁴So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
D: And that we may be made worthy to listen to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord God.
Pp: Lord, have mercy. (3x)

D: Wisdom, let us attend. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.
P: Peace be to all!
Pp: And to your spirit.
P: The reading of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (Luke 2:1-20)

Pp: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
P: Let us attend.
Pp: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
P: ¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. ²This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria. ³}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}