The 28th Day Of The Month Of December
Afterfeast Of The Nativity Of Christ
Commemoration Of The Twenty Thousand Martyrs
Burned Alive In Nicomedia
At Vespers
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…”—
As One most perfect, Thou bearest the guise of Adam in the image of God, and desirest to be held in mine arms, O Thou Who in Thy power holdest all things in Thy hand. And the pure and most immaculate one declared, saying: “How is it that I have wrapped Thee in swaddling bands as a babe? How is it that I nurture Thee with milk, Who feedest all? How is it that I marvel at Thy poverty, which passeth understanding? How can I call Thee my Son, if I am now Thy handmaiden? I hymn and bless Thee, Who grantest the world great mercy!”
Seeing the preëternal God incarnate from her as a babe, holding Him in her arms and kissing Him often, full of joy, the most immaculate one declared to Him: “O God Most High, invisible King, how is it that I see Thee, but cannot understand the mystery of Thy boundless poverty? For this least and strangest of caves containeth Thee Who wast born therein without violating my virginity, but preserving my womb as it was before birthgiving, and granting great mercy unto all.”
Declaring these things in awe as a servant, the pure one heard the magi standing together before the cave, and said unto them: “Whom seek ye? For I see that ye have come from a far-away land: having Persian dress and wisdom, ye have made a strange departure and journey. With haste ye have come to worship Him Who hath journeyed from the highest and within me hath strangely made His abode, granting the world great mercy.”
And 3 stichera of the martyrs, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…”—
Enlivened by strength, fortified mightily and endowed with the power of Christ the Master, in the weakness of your nature ye were shown to be invincible, O athletes, vanquishing the enemy amid your struggles. Pray ye for those who celebrate your holy and luminous memory, O glorious great martyrs.
Theophilus, Dorotheus and Mygdonius, together with Gorgonius and Secundus, Peter and Indes, who were valorous in word and deed, rejoicing, have vanquished the hordes of the enemy; and they pray that those who faithfully celebrate their most honored memory be delivered from all misfortunes.
Youths and virgins, elders and children, together showed forth the same valor. Wherefore, as peers they have received their rewards through grace, abiding with God, the King of all. Let us honor them with sacred hymns as radiant beacons of the whole world, twenty thousand in number.
Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone V—
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! For today angels and men have truly become a single flock. O the wonder! The Invisible One becometh visible; the Word becometh flesh; the Son of God becometh the Son of the Virgin! And the Virgin who knew not man is seen to be the Mother of God, and, a Mother after giving birth, she is found to be a virgin! The incarnate Word of the Father lieth in a manger, and shepherds are become His heralds, sharing in the mystery. Magi from the East have brought gifts, guided by the star, and have worshipped the newborn Savior. And, fervently opening the treasuries of our hearts, with them we who love the feasts of the Church also offer Him good works—faith, hope and love—like gold, frankincense and myrrh, crying out to Him with the words of the incorporeal ones: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men! For He hath come to save our whole race from deception!
At the aposticha, stichera of the feast, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…”—
Divinely assuming all of the first Adam from the Virgin, O Christ, Thou wast born in the cave and laid, swaddled, in the manger.
Stichos: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent.
Sing out prophetically, O David, striking thy harp, for from thy loins, from whence the Theotokos sprung, is Christ born today.
Stichos: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
O ye faithful, let us offer praise fit for God with the shepherds and magi, and glory with the angels, to God Who sprung forth from the Virgin.
Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone I—
“Glory to God in the highest!” is heard from the incorporeal ones in Bethlehem today, addressed to Him Who was well pleased to become Peace on earth. Now the Virgin is become more spacious than the heavens, for Light hath shone forth upon the benighted and lifted up the lowly who chant with the angels: Glory to God in the highest!
Troparion of the martyrs, in Tone II—
O athletes of the Lord, blessed is the ground which was watered by your blood, and holy the habitations which have received your bodies; for in your contest ye vanquished the enemy and preached Christ with boldness. Entreat Him, we pray, in that He is good, that our souls be saved.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion of the feast, in Tone IV—
Thy nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone forth the light of reason upon the world; for therein those who worship the stars have been taught by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee, the Day-spring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee!
At Matins
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory…, that of the martyrs; Now & ever…, that of the feast, once.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed by the Jews…”—
O Jesus Who sittest in the highest on the fiery throne with the unoriginate Father and Thy divine Spirit, Thou wast pleased to be born in the flesh of the Virgin who knew not man; wherefore, the star showed Thee to the magi from Persia. Glory to Thy most good counsel! Glory to Thine appearance! Glory to Thine utter condescension toward men!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity…”—
O Theotokos, thou didst bear in thy womb, in the flesh, the one and unconfused Godhead of the Trinity, the preëternal and unapproachable One, Who is equally eternal with the invisible Father. Thy grace hath shone forth in the world, O most hymned one. Wherefore, we cry out unceasingly: Rejoice, O pure Virgin Mother!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Canon of the feast, with 8 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the martyrs, with 4 troparia.
Ode I
Canon of the feast, the composition of John the monk, in Tone I—
Irmos: Of old, the Master, working a wonder, saved the people of Israel, making the waves of the sea into dry land; and, born of His own will of the Virgin, He setteth before us a path whereby we may travel to heaven. Him do we glorify as equal in essence to the Father and to men.
Thy sacred womb, which was depicted by the bush which burned without being consumed, manifestly bore the Word and mingled God with a human image, loosing the wretched womb of Eve from the bitter curse of old. Let us glorify Him, O ye mortals!
To the magi the star manifestly showed Thee forth, the Word, Who hast existed before the sun and camest to bring an end to sin, and Who in Thy mercy wast wrapped in swaddling bands in the wretched cave. And, rejoicing, they beheld the Lord Himself, a man.
Katavasia: The irmoi of both festal canons.
Canon of the martyrs, the acrostic whereof is: “The multitude of right victorious martyrs saveth me”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone I—
Irmos: Let us all chant a hymn of victory unto God, Who hath wrought marvelous wonders with His upraised arm and saved Israel, for He is glorious.
O vast multitude of honorable martyrs, wash away the multitude of my many transgressions by your mediation, and grant me discourse, that I may sing your festival.
O all-radiant beacons of the Church, right victorious martyrs who have glorified Christ with your members, ye have now been glorified in your radiant memorial.
The divine love of the passion-bearers abolished the godless tyranny of the unbelievers and destroyed the evil opposition of the demons with grace.
Confessing the omnipotent God, Who assumed flesh and destroyed death by death, the martyrs were slain, and have received life everlasting.
Theotokion: O most hymned and blessed one, I hymn thee who gavest birth to the all-hymned God in the flesh, Who magnifieth the athletes who have vanquished the foe.
Ode III
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Look down upon the hymns of Thy servants, O Benefactor, casting down the vaunted pride of the enemy. O Thou Who seest all things, raise up far above sin those who hymn Thee, established immovably upon the foundation of the Faith, O Good One.
Having been vouchsafed to behold the all-rich Offspring of the all-pure Bride, which passeth understanding, the chorus of pipers bowed down in awe-filled homage; and the ranks of incorporeal beings hymn Christ the King, Who became incarnate without seed.
In His loving-kindness, He Who reigneth over the heights of heaven becometh like us through the unwedded Maiden; the Word Who before was immaterial later took upon Himself the matter of the flesh, that He might draw to Himself the first-created man, who had fallen.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: Let my heart be made steadfast in Thy will, O Christ God, Who didst establish the second heaven above the waters and didst found the earth upon the waters, O Almighty One.
Burning most beautifully with the love of Christ, O most lauded ones, ye were in nowise afraid when the fire was kindled; and having found your end therein, ye have been glorified together.
Proclaiming God with lively voice, O most lauded warriors of Christ, ye were undaunted by the threats of the ungodly, and ye met your end, crying out with one voice as did the children.
“Let us not fear the fire which is our fellow-servant!” the valiant ones cried out together, rejoicing in soul; “We are slain for Thee, O Savior, Who hast slain and abolished death!”
Theotokion: In manner past recounting and understanding, O pure Virgin, God became man through thee, that He might deify mankind; wherefore, together we, the faithful, call thee blessed.
Kontakion of the martyrs, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “The steadfast…”—
Made steadfast in soul by faith, the twenty thousand holy athletes accepted suffering by fire, crying out to Him Who was born of the Virgin: “O preëternal God, accept us as wholeburnt offerings to Thee, as Thou didst accept gold, myrrh and frankincense from the Persian kings!”
Sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—
The honored army of the twenty thousand martyrs hath shone forth upon us, illumining the hearts and minds of the pious for the sake of their faith; for, afire with the divine love of the Master, with zeal the valiant ones accepted a holy demise by fire.
Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in the same tone & melody—
For our sake Thou wast laid in a manger of dumb beasts, O long-suffering Savior, having become a babe of Thine own will; and the shepherds hymned Thee with the angels, crying aloud: “Glory and praise to Christ our God, Who hath been born on earth and deified the nature of mortals!”
Ode IV
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Hymning of old the restoration of the human race, the Prophet Habbakuk, ineffably vouchsafed to behold an image, proclaimed prophetically: A little Babe is come forth from the mountain of the Virgin, unto the restoration of men, O Word!
Receiving flesh from the Virgin of His own will, the Most High hath issued forth, equal to men, to purge away the venom of the serpent’s head, leading all from the sunless gates of hades to life-bearing light, in that He is God.
The nations who of old were overwhelmed by corruption, having escaped the greatest enemy, lift up their hands with hymns of praise, honoring the one Christ as Benefactor, Who hath come to us in His mercy.
Having grown forth from the root of Jesse, O Virgin, thou didst transcend the laws of human nature, giving birth to the preëternal Word of the Father, in that He Himself was well pleased to pass through thy sealed womb in His strange abasement.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: I have heard report of Thee, O Lord, and I was afraid; I have understood thy works, the prophet said, and have glorified Thy power.
Having bound their hearts to Thy love, O Word, the athletes who were slain for Thy sake like innocent lambs showed themselves to be emulators of Thy suffering.
Sailing your souls to the haven of salvation by the Spirit, O blessed and holy ones, ye escaped the storm of the madness of idolatry.
In the contest of martyrdom ye showed yourselves to be steadfast, unshaken and undaunted, overcoming the opposition of the persecutors with divine faith.
Theotokion: Delivered from the ancient curse by thy birthgiving, O blessed one, we who glorify thee as the Theotokos have received blessing, life and deliverance.
Ode V
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Out of the gloomy night of the works of deception, come Thou, O Christ, unto us who now keep vigil in hymnody addressed to Thee as our Benefactor, Who granteth us an easy path, travelling whereon we may attain unto glory.
By His coming in the flesh the Master hath again cut down the cruel enmity directed against us, that He might destroy the soul-destroying ruler, uniting the world with the immaterial beings, making the Begetter accessible to creation.
The people who of old were benighted have finally seen the light of the radiance of the Most High; and the Son bringeth the nations to the Father as an inheritance, bestowing ineffable grace where sin once flourished exceedingly.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: Shine forth thy radiant and everlasting light upon us who rise early unto the judgments of Thy commandments, O Master Christ our God, Who lovest mankind.
The memorial of Thine athletes, which is manifest in light, hath shone forth and illumined the ends of the earth with divine distributions of miracles, O Christ our God.
The sacred ministers offering sacrifice were themselves offered as perfect wholeburnt offerings, magnifying Christ with all the many other martyrs.
Made temples of God through baptism, the saints received a holy end together in the house of God, and have been taken up to the temple of heaven.
Theotokion: That He might unite to those on high those who through disobedience had fallen headlong into the great pit, God made His abode in thy womb and became man, O most immaculate one.
Ode VI
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Engulfed in the uttermost depths of the sea, Jonah prayed: Come Thou and still the tempest! And I, beset by the dark of the tormentor, cry aloud unto Christ: O Destroyer of evils, haste Thou quickly unto my slothfulness!
God the Word, Who from the beginning was with God, intending to preserve the nature which He Himself shareth with us, now strengtheneth it, which from of old was weak, by another fellowship with it, straightway showing it to be free from the passions.
He Who dwelleth in light, and, contrary to His dignity, hath now been well pleased to dwell in a manger, cometh forth for our sake from the loins of Abraham for us who have benightedly fallen into the darkness of transgressions, that, for the salvation of men, He might raise up His children who have fallen low.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: Emulating the Prophet Jonah, I cry out: O Good One, free me from corruption! O Savior of the world, save me who cry out: Glory to Thee!
Thou wast the leader of the sacred people, O glorious hieromartyr Anthimus, and didst send those who suffered before thee into the joy of heaven.
Like pure gold in the midst of the fire was your martyric piety recognized by Jesus, far outshining the brilliance of the sun.
Having died in the flesh, ye have inherited true life with Christ, Who hath shown you to be mightier than your tortures.
Theotokion: By the power of Jesus Who was born of Thee, O Mary, thou didst truly remain a virgin after giving birth, as thou wast before birthgiving: a truly all-glorious wonder!
Kontakion of the feast, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—
Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offereth a cave to the Unapproachable One. Angels give glory with shepherds, and the magi journey with a star. For for our sake is born a little Child, the preëternal God.
Ikos: Bethlehem hath thrown Eden open! Come, let us see! We have found food in a secret place! Come, let us receive things of paradise within the cave! There the unwatered root hath appeared, putting forth remission as fruit! There is found the undug well from whence David of old thirsted to drink! There the Virgin, giving birth to a Babe, hath straightway caused the thirst of Adam and David to cease! Wherefore, let us go to Him where He is born, a little Babe, the preëternal God.
Ode VII
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Captivated by the love of the King of all, the youths despised the godless threats of the tyrant raging uncontrollably; and when the great fire submitted to them, they said to the Master: Blessed art Thou forever!
The furnace which had been raised to a sevenfold heat savagely burneth the minions, but spareth the youths who were wholly consumed with the fear of God; and the flame crowned them when the Lord freely granted them dew for their piety’s sake.
O Christ our Helper, using Thine ineffable incarnation as a bulwark of defense, having taken on form, Thou hast put to shame the adversary of men, bearing the richness of Thy deification, in hope of which we had fallen from the heights down into the darkness of the uttermost depths.
Omnipotently Thou hast cast down sin, which is exalted in evil without restraint and is incited to a vile frenzy by the perversion of the world; and those whom it formerly attracted Thou savest from its snares today, having become incarnate of Thine own will, O Benefactor.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: The fire neither touched nor vexed Thy children in the furnace, O Savior; for then, as with one mouth, the three hymned and blessed Thee, saying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Looking toward those things alone which are abiding, O blessed one, by divine power ye were shown to be greater than the fire, like the three godly children in Babylon, and are illumined with divine light.
Reviling the irrational edict of the tyrants, O wise ones, with the sacred women and the godly children ye truly offered yourselves wholly to the King of all as a sacrifice.
Reverently placing the enlightenment of the knowledge of Christ within your souls, ye truly passed through the dark cloud of ungodliness, O athletes, and have arrived in everlasting light.
Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to be greater than the heavens, O thou who gavest birth to the Master and God of all. Him do thou earnestly entreat without ceasing, O most holy and pure one, that He save those who hymn thee with ardent faith.
Ode VIII
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: The children of the Old Covenant who were not consumed by the fire prefigure the unburnt womb of the Maiden which, though sealed, giveth birth in manner transcending nature. And grace, working both of these as a single wonder, doth move the people to hymnody.
Having escaped the destruction resulting from man’s being deceived into becoming divine, like the youths all creation with trembling unceasingly hymneth the Word Who hath abased Himself, and with fear it offereth meager praise, in that it is corrupt, even though it have endured such with wisdom.
Thou comest, O Restoration of the nations, to bring lost human nature back from the hills of the wilderness to the pasture rife with flowers, that Thou mightest put down the violent power of the slayer of men, having, in Thy forethought, become God as well as man.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: Christ God, Who saved the chanting children in the furnace and transformed the raging flames into dew, hymn ye and exalt supremely for all ages!
The relics of the martyrs pour forth a healing myrrh of divine fragrance and remove the stench of the passions from those who with faith hymn Thee as Christ forever.
Walking in the midst of the fire, O most comely athletes, ye showed yourselves to be like roses, crying out with fervor: Hymn and exalt Christ supremely forever!
Having suffered together, the youths and virgins, the old and the young, holy infants and a countless multitude of women have received a place in the choirs on high.
Theotokion: Ezekiel beheld thee, O Virgin, as the closed portal through which Jesus passed, making His abode within thy womb, and assuming flesh from thy blood without undergoing confusion.
Ode IX
Canon of the Feast
Irmos: Better would it be for us to keep silence in fear, for it is without peril; and it is difficult, O Virgin, to weave complex hymns harmoniously with love. But grant us, O Mother, the strength to fulfill our intent.
O pure Mother, having beheld the indistinct images and dim shadows of the Word Who hath newly appeared through the gates that were closed, but mindful now of His true radiance, we bless thy womb as is meet.
Having attained their desire and been vouchsafed to see the advent of God, the people who delight in Christ are now consoled by regeneration; for thou bestowest life-bearing grace to pay homage to glory, O pure Virgin.
Canon of the Martyrs
Irmos: The radiant cloud upon which the unoriginate Master of all descended from heaven, like rain upon the fleece, and of whom He was incarnate, becoming man for our sake, let us all magnify as the pure Mother of God.
Like willingly slaughtered sheep ye were immolated together, and as pure sacrifices ye brought yourselves to the Master Who was slain for us mortals, O right victorious martyrs; and together ye have received crowns of triumph as is meet.
Standing before the Lord with the holy prophets, the honored apostles and the choirs of chosen angels, O ye multitude of sacred martyrs, pray that He save those who bless you with faith from perils and misfortunes.
Your sacred memory far outshineth the rays of the sun, O most lauded athletes, ever dispelling the darkness of the demons, and enlightening all who bless you with faith and love as is meet.
Theotokion: O most immaculate and pure one, who gavest birth to the divine Light Who shone forth from the Father, take pity on my soul, which hath been darkened by the deceptions of life and is become the plaything of the demons, and vouchsafe that through light it may find saving repentance.
Exapostilarion of the feast—
From on high our Savior, the Dayspring of the East, hath visited us, and we who are in darkness and shadow have truly found Him; for the Lord hath been born of the Virgin. Thrice
At the aposticha, stichera of the feast, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Go on before us, O angelic hosts…”—
O house of Ephratha, holy city of Sion, with joy receive the Master of all Who within thee is ineffably born of the Virgin, desiring to record in the census of paradise those who had fallen away. To Him do we cry out: Blessed art Thou Who hast come! Glory to Thee, O our God!
Stichos: From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent.
The choir of those who piped, beholding Thee, O Word, Who hast manifested Thyself to be like unto us, wrapped in swaddling bands in the cave, lying in the manger, hymned Thee openly with the angels, singing: Glory to God in the highest! And with them we cry out: Blessed art Thou Who hast been born! Glory to Thee, O our God!
Stichos: The Lord said unto my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand.
He among the prophets whose voice is great crieth out: The Master desireth to be born as a babe of the Virgin’s womb, in manner past recounting and understanding, for He is truly the Angel of great Counsel, the Life of the living! And with them we also cry out: Blessed art Thou Who hast been born! Glory to Thee, O our God!
Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone I—
Heaven and earth are glad today, as the prophets said, and angels and men keep spiritual festival, for God hath appeared in the flesh, born of the Virgin, to those who sit in darkness and shadow: the cave and the manger have received Him; the shepherds proclaim the wonder; the magi from the East bring gifts to Bethlehem; and with our unworthy lips we offer Him the praise of the angels: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! For the expectation of the nations hath come, and coming hath saved us from slavery to the enemy.
At Liturgy
On the Beatitudes, 6 troparia: 3 from Ode IV and 3 from Ode V of the festal canon.
Prokimenon of the saints, in Tone V—
Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation, and for evermore.
Stichos: Save me, O Lord, for a righteous man there is no more; for truths have diminished from the sons of men.
Epistle to the Romans § 96, from the midpoint [Rom. 8: 3-9]
Brethren: What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Alleluia, in Tone IV—
Stichos: Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth; chant ye unto His name, give glory in praise of Him.
Stichos: For Thou hast proved us, O God, and by fire hast Thou tried us even as silver is tried by fire.
Gospel according to Luke §51, from the midpoint [Lk 10:19-21]
The Lord said to His disciples: “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said: “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”
Communion Verse—
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.