The bright holiday of Christmas is an unusually joyful and wonderful event for every Christian. God became a man in order to save us, He was born “according to the flesh” so that we would become closer to God.

Christmas is one of the main Orthodox twelfth holidays and is considered the second most important event after Easter.

Orthodox Christians celebrate this day every year on January 7th. On this day, the Nativity Fast ends, and Christmas time begins - the time from the Nativity of Christ to the Baptism of the Lord.

Prayers for the Nativity of Christ are, first of all: joy, praise to the Lord and the magnificence of a bright holiday.

On Christmas, Orthodox Christians greet each other with the words: “Christ is born!” and respond to the greeting: “Praise Him!”

Troparion of the Nativity

This troparion (hymn to Christmas) dates back to the 4th century. It is sung during the Christmas service and then for a few days later, until January 13th.

Thy Nativity, Christ our God, rise to the world the light of reason, in it I study the stars serving as a star. Bow down to Thee, Sun of Truth, and guide Thee from the heights of the East. Lord, glory to You!

Russian translation:

Thy Nativity, Christ our God, illumined the world with the light of knowledge, for through it those who serve as stars were taught to worship Thee, the Sun of righteousness, and to know Thee, from on high the Rising Sun. Lord, glory to You!

Kontakion of the Nativity

This is a special kontakion (hymn) that is performed on Christmas days. “Today the Virgin gives birth to the Most Substantial” - this kontakion was written by St. Roman the Melodist at the beginning of the 6th century. According to legend, the Mother of God herself taught Roman to sing and blessed him to compose this hymn.

The Virgin today gives birth to the Most Substantial, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable; Angels with shepherds glorify, wise men travel with a star, for the sake of us being born a Young Child, Eternal God.

Russian translation

The Virgin on this day gives birth to the Superessential, and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable; Angels with shepherds glorify, while wise men travel with a star, for for our sake a young child, the Eternal God, was born.

Christmas stichera

In Orthodox worship, starting from the Nativity Fast, special stichera (chants) are performed, which remind that Christmas is approaching. This is one of these Stirchs, taken from the All-Night Service on the day of St. Nicholas (December 19).

Beautify the den, for the Lamb is coming with the womb-bearing Christ: raise the manger with a word that has resolved us from the wordless deed of us earthly. Shepherds testify to a terrible miracle: and the magicians from Persia, bring gold and Lebanon and myrrh to the king, as if the Lord had appeared from the Virgin Mother. To him, bow down slavishly to Mati, and welcome to the one held in Her arms: how did you dwell in Me, or how did you vegetate in Me, My deliverer and God?

Russian translation

Decorate yourself, cave, for the Lamb (that is, a lamb, a meek, humble animal, with which it is customary to compare people obedient to God; in this case, the Lamb is the Virgin Mary, the One Who will give birth to Christ) is coming, carrying Christ in the womb. The nursery, raise the word of the one who freed us earthly ones from senseless deeds. Shepherds playing flutes, testify of a frightening miracle; and the Magi from Persia, bring gold, frankincense and myrrh to the king, for the Lord has appeared from the Virgin Mother. And before Him, humbly crouching, the Mother herself bowed, turning to the One who was in Her arms: “How were You conceived in Me? Or how did you grow up in me, my redeemer and God?

The most famous Christmas verse

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, today Bethlehem will receive the one who sits ever with the Father, today the Angels of the Infant, born divinely, glorify: glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.

Russian translation

Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth! On this day, Bethlehem receives Him who sits forever with the Father. On this day, the Angels of the born Infant as God glorify: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill among people!

Prayer for Christmas

“Lord Jesus Christ our God, who deigned our salvation for the sake of the earth in the flesh, and from the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary be inexpressibly born! We thank Thee, for thou hast vouchsafed us, who have been cleansed by the feat of fasting, to reach the great feast of Thy Nativity and in spiritual joy to sing Thee with the angels, to glorify with the shepherds, to worship with the Magi. We thank Thee, for by Thy great mercy and immeasurable condescension to our infirmities, comfort us now not only with abundant spiritual food, but also with a festive meal.

“In the same way, we pray to Thee, who opens Your generous hand, fulfilling all living things of Your blessings, giving food to everyone in accordance with the time and rules of the Church, bless the festive food, prepared by Your faithful people, especially this, from them, obeying the Charter of Your Church, in the past days of fasting Thy servants abstained, may they eat them with thanksgiving for health, for strengthening bodily strength, for joy and joy. Yes, all of us, with all the contentment we have, we will abound and in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart glorify Thee, who nourishes and comforts us, as well as Your Beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen".

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Prayer is a special intimate conversation between a person and God, in which one acquires a reverent state and a feeling of touching eternal truths. Prayer for Christmas helps to find peace of mind and peace. This frank appeal to God can express a request, repentance or gratitude. A conversation with God is always individual, and it is necessary to be alone with the Savior, to purify your thoughts and soul.

The Action of Prayer

Every person from time to time goes through difficult periods in life, when the only support that gives hope is a sincere conversation with the Almighty. Many people know the situation when, in everyday life and in especially dangerous moments, we, without hesitation, immediately recall the “Our Father” prayed for centuries or the sacred words known to everyone: “Lord, have mercy.” As soon as we begin to pray, we immediately feel the invisible presence and care of higher powers, a touch on something unknown and eternal.
Prayer is able to remove the heavy burden that a person carries in his soul. It cleanses, pacifies, relieves and soothes. But sacred words have an effect if a person believes in divine powers and opens his soul and heart when reading them. Not all people know the texts by heart, but when it becomes necessary to turn to God, it is openness that is important, and then even simple words coming from the soul will certainly be heard. Prayers are:

1. Private - addressed in private to the Lord with a request or gratitude.
2. Public - texts that form the basis of worship, passing to us from generation to generation. They are divided into several types:

• repentant;
• petition;
• gratitude.

You can communicate with God both aloud and mentally. A mental appeal to the Lord allows you to start a personal monologue with him at any time.

Features of prayer for Christmas

Christmas night is special, it is filled with magical magic, as if all higher powers descend to earth, joyfully glorifying God. It is believed that it is on the night of the Nativity of Christ that the heavenly channel of communication with the Almighty opens. Therefore, the prayers that the priest says in the temple have a special meaning and great power. Festive holy days, as well as the observance of all church canons, strengthen the appeal to God. A sincere prayer coming from the heart on Christmas will certainly be heard and will help to survive a difficult period in life or alleviate suffering.

For those who do not have the opportunity to visit the church, you can also pray at home at a holy supper. The main prayer, which must certainly be read, is the “Our Father” known to everyone since ancient times. You can also read an appeal to the Mother of God or to Jesus Christ - a prayer for Christmas. To attract love and happiness into your life, you can use a special prayer that is read in the morning on Christmas Day.

How to pray correctly

Every person can receive an answer to the appeal, regardless of where exactly he pronounces the sacred words. A prayer appeal should resemble a conversation with the closest person, a meeting with a friend. The main thing at the same time is to start and end the ritual correctly, which will help a few important recommendations:

1. It is advisable to prepare for prayer in advance, then it will have great power. To do this, you need to bring order to your thoughts and create peace in your soul. No extraneous thoughts should disturb the mind, it is important to concentrate as much as possible on the spoken words.
2. It is necessary to pray in front of the icon and preferably with the image of the person to whom the prayer is addressing.
3. It is important to read the texts from the heart, thinking about the spoken words.
4. You can not let any images into consciousness. Also, you should not present the image of the Saint you are addressing.
5. It is important to forgive everyone whom you previously considered enemies, to rid your soul of hatred, anger, resentment.
6. To get the maximum effect, you need to light a candle. Fire is a conductor of energy and in this case enhances the effect of the request.
7. If you are reading an appeal to attract love at Christmas, you should light three candles at the same time. Before pronouncing sacred words, you need to mentally imagine the image of a loved one who would move towards you.
8. Before starting prayer, it is important to overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross, which helps to attract the grace of God and protects from negative energy.
9. It is best to start praying by reading "Our Father", overshadowing yourself with the sign of the cross before and after reading each prayer.
10. Having finished the prayer, it is necessary to kiss the icon, expressing faith and reverence for the Saint.

Remember that a prayer is not always fulfilled immediately, for some kind of request it is sometimes necessary for many circumstances to line up, the main thing is not to lose faith!

Texts of prayers for Christmas

“Lord Jesus Christ our God, who deigned our salvation for the sake of the earth in the flesh, and from the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary be inexpressibly born! We thank Thee, for thou hast vouchsafed us, who have been cleansed by the feat of fasting, to reach the great feast of Thy Nativity and in spiritual joy to sing Thee with the angels, to glorify with the shepherds, to worship with the Magi. We thank Thee, for by Thy great mercy and immeasurable condescension to our infirmities, comfort us now not only with abundant spiritual food, but also with a festive meal.

Another Prayer for Christmas: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. All the sins that nest in the chest, I beg you, let go. Do not reproach me with sinful love, do not torment me from wounds with blood. Guide your soul on the true path, and add love to my heart. Let this love be happy, not callous, blind and mocking. May your will be done. Amen".

5 Powerful Prayers for Christmas

Prayer on Christmas for health

“In the hand of Your great mercy, O my God, I entrust my soul and body, my feelings and words, my advice and thoughts, my deeds and all my body and soul, my movements. My entrance and exit, my faith and dwelling, the course and death of my belly, the day and hour of my exhalation, my repose, the repose of my soul and body. But you, O Most Merciful God, the whole world with sins, insurmountable Goodness, gentle, Lord, me, more than all sinners, accept in your hand your protection and deliver from all evil, cleanse a lot of my iniquities, grant correction to my evil and accursed life and from always delight me in the coming sinful falls, and in no way when I anger Your philanthropy, even cover my infirmity from demons, passions and evil people. Forbid the visible and invisible enemy, guiding me on the saved path, bring me to Thee, my refuge and my desires. Grant me a Christian end, shameless, peaceful, keep from the air spirits of malice, at Your Terrible Judgment be merciful to Your servant and count me at the right hand of Your blessed sheep, and with them to You, my Creator, I glorify forever. Amen."

Christmas Prayer for Marriage

“With great joy I turn to you, Mother of God.
You are the one who filled the fruit of your womb with love.
I, the servant of God (my name), I beg you now for help.
Please give me mutual and sincere love.
Send me a loving and caring husband,
so that I can raise children in happiness and joy.
May thy name be hallowed. Amen".

Prayer at Christmas for money and wealth

“Lord Jesus Christ our God, who deigned our salvation for the sake of the earth in the flesh, and from the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary be inexpressibly born! We thank Thee, for thou hast vouchsafed us, who have been cleansed by the feat of fasting, to reach the great feast of Thy Nativity and in spiritual joy to sing Thee with the angels, to glorify with the shepherds, to worship with the Magi. We thank Thee, as by Thy great mercy and immeasurable condescension to our infirmities, comfort us now not only with abundant spiritual food, but also with a festive meal.

Moreover, we pray to Thee, who opens Your generous hand, fulfilling all living things of Your blessings, giving food to everyone in accordance with the time and rules of the Church, bless the festive food prepared by Your faithful people, especially this, from them, obeying the Charter of Your Church, in the past days of fasting, the slaves abstained Yours, may they be eaten with thanksgiving for health, for strengthening bodily strength, for fun and joy. Yes, all of us, with all the contentment we have, we will abound and in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart glorify Thee, who nourishes and comforts us, as well as Your Beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen".

Christmas Prayer for Happiness and Prosperity

“The Beginning Beginning, Holy and Eternal God, and the Creator of all creation! With which words we thank and with which songs we magnify Your inexpressible descent for the sake of man, by the will of His Divinity did not depart, and the bowels of the Father are not parted, this God, like a man, now lies down in a wordless den, Christ our God! Who will confess this unspoken mystery, the greatness and glorious fulfillment of the mystery: the Son of God - the Son of the Virgin is, may he free the world from the legal oath, and the sons of sin and iniquity - the children of God, the heirs of eternal blessings - he will make himself, as an immaculate and all-holy sacrifice, in the pledge of the salvation of a fallen man let him bring. Sweetest Jesus, Lord All-Merciful! By your Divine descent, the earthly vale to the temple of Thy Divine Glory is sanctified, and all who live on it are filled with heavenly joy. Vouchsafe us also, on the day of Your glorious Nativity, with a pure heart and an open soul to confess Thee the true Lamb of God, who delights and strengthens us with the hope of future blessings in the unfading Light of the Thrice-radiant Divinity, through Him everything lives and moves, through Him the renewal of our primitive being may be perfected. Hey, Lord, rich in all good deeds to the Giver, and the Good Giver, for the hedgehog you loved the world so much, as if you deigned to bear all our sorrows and illnesses on Yourself, do not leave us, until the vanity of the earth with sorrows and misfortunes did not dry up our souls, and do not perish the path of salvation is under our feet, may our enemies not laugh at us, but grant us, in the light of Your Divine Revelation, to know the path of peace, goodness and truth, and cry out with an insatiable thirst for You, our Savior, in a hedgehog to do Your will, I do Your will in Your fear, and in praise of Your inexpressible descent, like a fragrant incense, bring You an undefiled life and unhypocritical love, but in our deeds and in the hope of our faith, Your holy will is unceasingly done, and Your glory, glory, will never cease under heaven, - like the Only Begotten from Father, full of grace and truth. As if about You, now the flesh of the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary, Who was born, all the tribes of heaven and earth, fulfilling joys, loudly confess: God is with us, to Him honor and worship befits - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen."

Christmas is one of the biggest church holidays of the year. It is celebrated on January 7 and reminds Christians of high truths, serves as an example of piety and virtue. Prayer for Christmas has great power and potential. If these days you turn to heaven with an open soul, repent sincerely, ask with all your heart, then the prayer will be surely heard.

Prayer is a mental or verbal appeal to God. It can be a request, thanksgiving, repentance. You can turn to heaven in prayer at any time, the content of the conversation can also be different.

Christmas morning prayers: It is better to pray for Christmas in the temple

A prayer for the Nativity of Christ is said in a church church, where the service begins on the evening of January 6. It carries the appeal and praise of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the sake of all those who pray. The service on the Nativity of Christ is very beautiful and solemn; a peaceful festive atmosphere reigns there.

The prayer that the clergyman says has a special meaning. It is believed that God hears such texts first of all, especially if they are heard in a special temple, taking into account all the liturgical canons. In addition, those prayers that are timed to coincide with great church holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, carry special power. It is believed that the words with which a person turns to God on such days have great potential. If they are uttered with an open soul and repentance, then God will certainly help the one who prays and give him the strength to go through a difficult period in his life.

Celebration of Christmas

We glorify you
Life-giving Christ,
us for the sake of now the flesh of the Rozhdshagosya
from Bezvestnaya
and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Troparion to the Nativity of Christ

Your Christmas, Christ our God,
ascension of the world and the light of reason:
serving the stars in it,
learning from a star
To you bow to the Sun of truth,
and lead you from the height of the East:
Lord, glory to You.

Kontakion, voice 3

The Virgin today gives birth to the Substantial,
and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable;
Angels with shepherds glorify
the wolves travel with the star;
for us, for the sake of being born a Young Child, the eternal God.

Troparion to the pre-feast

Get ready Bethlehem
open to all, Eden,
show off, Euphrapho,
like the tree of the belly in the den prospered from the Virgin:
heaven, bo Onoya's womb appeared mental,
in it the Divine Garden,
from worthless poison, we will live,
not like Adam will die.
Christ is born before the fallen, to restore the image.

Prefeast (Evening), tone 4:

Sometimes writing with Elder Joseph,
like from the seed of David, in Bethlehem Miriam,
womb-bearing seedless Birth.
Now it's time for Christmas
and a place without a dwelling,
but, like a red chamber, the nativity scene appeared to the Queen.
Christ is born before the fallen to resurrect the image.

Christmas morning prayers: If you can’t visit the temple, you can pray at home

First of all, you should thank the Almighty for the opportunity to drink and eat. They do this in front of the icon or sitting at the table. On the feast of the Nativity of Christ, they turn to God, Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the saints. The father of the family leads the meal. At the very beginning of the feast, an excerpt from the Gospel of St. Luke about the Birth of Jesus Christ is read. Then comes family prayer.

You can pray like this:

“Lord Jesus Christ our God, who deigned our salvation for the sake of the earth in the flesh, and from the Blessed and Most Pure Virgin Mary be inexpressibly born! We thank Thee, for thou hast vouchsafed us, who have been cleansed by the feat of fasting, to reach the great feast of Thy Nativity and in spiritual joy to sing Thee with the angels, to glorify with the shepherds, to worship with the Magi. We thank Thee, for by Thy great mercy and immeasurable condescension to our infirmities, comfort us now not only with abundant spiritual food, but also with a festive meal.

“Therefore, we pray to Thee, who opens Thy generous hand, who fulfills all living things of Thy blessings, who gives food to all in accordance with the time and rules of the Church, bless the festive food, prepared by Your faithful people, especially this, from them, obeying the Charter of Your Church, in the past days of fasting abstained Thy servants, may they be one who eats them with thanksgiving for health, for strengthening bodily strength, for fun and joy. Yes, all of us, with all the contentment we have, we will abound and in good deeds, and from the fullness of a grateful heart glorify Thee, who nourishes and comforts us, as well as Your Beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen".

It is known that prayer at Christmas has great power. But it is important that communication with God be sincere, sincere.

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We must know how and what we pray for at the Christmas service. Priest Fyodor Ludogovsky gives an overview of the most important church prayers of various genres. Translations into Russian, unless otherwise noted, belong toHieromonk Ambrose (Timroth) .

Old Testament about the Nativity of Christ

Texts from the Old Testament books are heard during worship every day. Most commonly used Psalter - a book containing psalms - prayer poetic works that were written by an Israeli King David and possibly by other authors.

On the eve of the Nativity of Christ, the books of the prophets who lived before the Savior came to earth acquire special significance. On vespers , which takes place on the eve of the holiday, are read proverbs (fragments of Old Testament books) containing prophecies about Christ, about His birth from the Virgin. Here are the books written, according to church tradition, by Moses, and the books of other prophets - Micah, Isaiah, Baruch and Daniel.

The first of the proverbs is the very beginning of the very first book of the Bible - Genesis . Here we have a story about God's creation of the world: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. But the earth was invisible and unorganized, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.”. Further in this fragment, quite a lot more is said about water. The theme of water arises for the reason that on the eve of the biggest holidays - Easter, Epiphany, the Nativity of Christ - in the ancient Church, during the reading of proverbs, a mass baptism was performed. That is why this proverb from the book of Genesis is read on Christmas Eve, Epiphany, and Great Saturday.

At Great Compline, the prophetic words of Isaiah about the God-Child are solemnly heard:

The Child was born to us, the Son, and given to us.

<…>And His name is called: Great Council Angel.

Wonderful Advisor.

God Strong, Ruler, Head of the world.

Father of the future.

Christmas stichera

This is a rather ancient genre of church hymns. One stichera is one paragraph, one stanza. At the Christmas service we hear stichera from different authors. One of them is a saintHerman, Patriarch of Constantinople . Here is his verse with which Christmas Vespers begins:

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,

explaining the current Sacrament:

the wall separating us from God is broken,

flaming sword reversing

and the Cherubim depart from the tree of life

and I partake of the bliss of paradise,

from which he was expelled for disobedience.

For the unchanging image of the Father

and the mark of his eternity

assumes the form of a slave,

descended from an unmarried Mother,

without undergoing any change.

For He remained what He was - the true God,

and took upon himself what he was not,

having become a man out of philanthropy.

Let us exclaim to Him:

"God, born of the Virgin, have mercy on us!"

Another author, whose name I would like to name, is not a patriarch or even a man. The famous stichera "To Augustus, who is the sole commander of the earth ...", which is sung at the great vespers during the entrance, belongs to the pen Cassia - poet, hymnographer, composer, nun and founder of a monastery in Constantinople. Here is the full text of this stichera in Russian translation:

When Augustus became sovereign on earth,

polyarchy among people has ceased;

and with your incarnation from the pure virgin

idol polytheism was abolished.

Countries were subject to one worldly kingdom,

and the tribes believed in the one dominion of the Godhead.

The peoples were rewritten by the decree of Caesar,

we, the faithful, signed up in the name of the Divine -

You, our God incarnate.

Great is Your mercy, Lord, glory to You!

As you can see, we are talking about the Roman emperor Augustus Octavian, who at one time put an end to the internecine struggle for power and expanded the boundaries of the empire. Christ was born in Judea just during the reign of Augustus. And with His birth, according to Cassia, the decline of paganism began and all nations began to worship the One God.

Christmas troparion

A troparion - or, more specifically, a dismissive troparion - is one of the most important hymns of any church holiday. The Christmas troparion reminds us of the events described in the Gospel of Matthew: the coming of the Messiah and the wise astrologers who came from the East to bow to the newborn Infant. In Church Slavonic, the troparion sounds like this:

ascension of the world, the light of reason,

serving the stars in it

I study as a star

Bow to you, the Sun of Truth,

and guide you from the height of the east.

Lord, glory to You.

And here is its Russian translation:

Your Christmas, Christ our God,

illumined the world with the light of knowledge,

for through him those who serve the stars

were taught by a star

To worship you, the Sun of Truth,

and to know Thee, from on high the Rising Star.

Lord, glory to You!

Here is also a translation made at the St. Philaret Institute:

Your Christmas, Christ our God,

illumined the world with the light of knowledge,

for then the servants of the stars

were taught by a star

to worship You, the Sun of Truth,

and to know You, Dawn from above, -

Lord, glory to You!

The troparion of the Nativity of Christ sounds repeatedly during the festive service: at Vespers, Compline, Matins, Liturgy, and also for several days following the first day of the holiday.

Christmas canons

One of the Christmas services, Matins, includes two canons. A canon is a hymnographic work formed by eight or nine songs, each of which usually contains two or three or more poetic stanzas. The first stanza in the canon is called the irmos, the others are called troparia. (The troparion of the canon should not be confused with the dismissal troparion discussed above.)

One of the canons for the feast of the Nativity of Christ was written by a hymnographer of Syrian origin named Mansur ibn Serjun at-Taghlibi. He lived in the 8th century and in his youth served at the court of the Damascus caliph. He is known to the Christian world as John of Damascus.

Another canon (in the order of singing - the first) was written by a friend and free brother of John - the saintCosmas, Bishop of Mayum .

The canon of Cosmas of Mayumsky opens with the joyful, exultant words of the irmos:

Christ is born - praise!

Christ from heaven - meet!

Christ on earth - rise!

Sing to the Lord, all the earth

and sing with joy, people,

for He is glorified!

However, these words were not written by Cosmas himself - he only paraphrased and slightly expanded what the saint had said several centuries earlier.Gregory the Theologian in one of his sermons.

Let us also cite a fragment of the canon of John of Damascus. The first troparion of the second ode of this canon refers us to the Gospel of Luke, which describes the appearance of angels to the Bethlehem shepherds, who then went to see the baby Christ:

The choir of pipers was amazed,

honored in an extraordinary way

to see what is beyond the mind:

from the Blessed Bride, all-blessed birth

and a regiment of incorporeal, who sang

without the seed of the incarnating Christ-King.

Kontakion

After the sixth ode of the second canon, in the text of the Christmas matins there is a hymn entitled kontakion, followed by ikos. These two stanzas should be discussed in more detail.

These kontakion and ikos are not part of the canon. This is all that remains in the current service from a very interesting work by another Syrian author -Roman the Melodist . Roman was born in the second half of the 5th century, that is, he lived later than Gregory the Theologian, but noticeably earlier than John and Cosmas, Herman and Cassia. He was the author of multi-stanza hymnographic works, which we called so - kontakia. What we now call this word is only the introductory stanza of the Romanov chant. And what is now called the ikos is the first of a series of many stanzas contained in the kontakion.

A one-stanza kontakion (that is, a kontakion in the modern sense of the word) is, along with a dismissive troparion, one of the main chants of any holiday. Here is the Church Slavonic text of the kontakion and its Russian translation.

The Virgin today gives birth to the Substantial,

and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable.

Angels with shepherds glorify

the wolves travel with the star:

for us to be born

Otrocha Young, Eternal God.

Translation:

The Virgin on this day gives birth to the Superessential,

and the earth brings a cave to the Unapproachable;

Angels with shepherds praise

the wise men travel after the star,

because it was born for us

Young child, eternal God!

And now, for comparison, let's give the introductory stanza (that is, the current kontakion) and the first two stanzas of the main part of the kontakion for the Nativity of Christ in the Russian translation of Hieromonk Jacob (Tsvetkov), in editions Priest Mikhail Zheltov:

WITHtoday the Virgin gives birth to the Supreme Being, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable; the angels glorify together with the shepherds, while the wise men travel with the star: for the sake of us was born the Young Infant, the Eternal God!

IN Ifeem opened [us] Eden - come, we'll see; we found pleasure in a hidden [place] - come, we will receive heavenly [joy] inside the cave: there appeared a Root not drunk with [moisture], growing forgiveness; there appeared an unearthed well, from which David had longed to drink; there the Virgin, who gave birth to the Child, immediately quenched the thirst of Adam and David. Therefore, let us come to this [place] where the Young Child, the Eternal God, was born!

ABOUTThe father of the Mother, by His will, became [Her] Son, the Savior of the children reclined as a child in the manger. Recognizing Him, the Mother of God says: “Tell me, Child, how did You dwell in Me and how were You formed in Me? I see you, [My] womb, and I am horrified - for I feed on milk, and remain unmarried. And although I see You, [Child], in swaddling clothes, [at the same time] I contemplate Your virginity sealed - for You have preserved it, deigning to be born [of Me, O], Young Infant, Eternal God!”

In total, the main part of the Romanov Kontakion contains 24 stanzas (icosas). At the same time, the initial letters of the stanzas form an acrostic - a phrase that, in Greek, means "Hymn of the humble Roman."

One more thing should be noted. All stanzas of the kontakion end with the same expression - "Young Infant, Eternal God" (in Church Slavonic - "Young Child, Eternal God"). This is a feature of all ancient multi-stanza kontakia. And not only kontakia, but also akathists - a genre to which we are now moving on.

Christmas akathists

The kondaki of Roman the Melodist are written vividly and brightly - but, unfortunately, they have gone out of church use. The canons of Cosmas of Mayum and John of Damascus are rich in content; they refer us to the images and plots of the Old and New Testaments; but it must be admitted that all this is very difficult for the perception of an insufficiently prepared reader and, moreover, a listener.

Perhaps it is for this reason that akathists are becoming more widespread with each century and decade.

Akathist is also a multi-stanza work, like the ancient kontakion and canon. But the akathist is usually simpler in language, it has a clearer and more understandable structure. The first akathist - it was an akathist to the Mother of God - appeared no later than the first quarter of the 7th century. We do not know the name of its author. Later, other akathists began to appear - dozens, hundreds, now thousands. Initially, akathists (except for the very first one) were not intended for singing in the temple. Nevertheless, the akathist is increasingly becoming a part of church worship.

There are several akathists for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Three of them, the most famous at present, were written by Russian bishops of the 20th century: Bishop Tikhon (Tikhomirov), Archbishop Nikon (Petin) and Metropolitan Nikodim (Rusnak). Let us give at least three stanzas (out of 25) of each akathist. They are, by and large, written in Church Slavonic, but this language is understandable enough. As for the Russian translation of akathists, such experiments are unknown to us.

From the akathist of Bishop Tikhon:

INChosen and before the age of the Father, Born, Savior of the world and King of the ages, as a Child born to us, Son, and given to us. This now, by will, we accept flesh from the Virgin and, like a reasonable Sun of Truth, to those who exist in darkness and the shadow of death, sitting Divinely ascended. Come, let us rejoice, seeing God in the flesh, in Bethlehem we are wrapped in shrouds for the sake of it, and with the sorcerers and shepherds bowing down to this, we will loudly cry out: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.

Aangels of old at the gates of Eden, the tree of life of the fallen Adam is streaking, now from the weight of Bethlehem the joy of the great earthly people is announced, even if it will be for all people: as if the Savior was born, Who is Christ the Lord, in the manger of wordless flesh as a child. Come, faithful, let us glorify the Mother of the Savior, after the Nativity of the Virgin who appeared again, and with the Angels and shepherds a worthy song in the den from Her, let us sing to the Born:

Glory to Thee, the Pre-Beginning Word, this God, the man who appears;

glory to Thee, God the Great and Eternal, His Divinity did not depart, from the side of the Maiden incarnate.

Glory to Thee, the Son of God - the Son of the Virgin, who received the ghost of a slave;

glory to Thee, the Word of God, Unsearchable, who has come into the vale of our exile.

Glory to Thee, the Eternal Word, with a strange exhaustion from the Virgin, shining to the world;

glory to Thee, God's Wisdom and Strength, for our sake impoverished for us.

Glory to Thee, Bride of the Most Pure, rich Christmas, His glory is full of the essence of Heaven;

Glory to Thee, the shining Sun of Truth, Through which the whole earth is filled with joy.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.

INthe Creator and Builder of all kinds perishes man, his hand was created, merciful about him, bowing heaven, down to earth, reigning on the heights of Heaven, making earth, - His Father first of all gives birth, but the fallen will renew human nature. His sight is Samago and Man and God, exultant with all heavenly and earthly, praising the divine condescension of God, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

From the akathist of Metropolitan Nikodim:

ANDthe most pure angel virgin from all generations; and from Her, born of the flesh, Christ our God, with thanksgiving we offer Thee to Thy servants, Master. But you, as if you have inexpressible mercy, free us from all troubles, calling:

Jesus, Son of God, incarnated for us, glory to Thee.

Amany gathered in Bethlehem to see the incomprehensible Christmas; and seeing your Creator, lying in a manger like a baby, wondering! And reverently with fear, I was born and I gave birth to a godly reverence, singing like this:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, born before the age of the Father.

Glory to Thee, with the Father and the Spirit all created.

Glory to Thee, come to save the lost.

Glory to Thee, even descended to the level of a slave.

Glory to Thee, seeker of the lost.

Glory to Thee, Savior of the lost.

Glory to Thee, destroying the mediastinum of enmity.

Glory to Thee, paradise, closed by disobedience, I will open again.

Glory to Thee, the human race unspeakably loved.

Glory to Thee, on earth the den of heaven revealed.

Glory to Thee, who gave birth to The Virgin, Who showed the Throne of the Cherubim.

Jesus, Son of God, incarnate for us, glory to Thee.

INgoing without flesh, the Angels of their Lord, having taken flesh from the pure Virgin, horrified! And deciding to each other: this glorious Sacrament is incomprehensible to us to be: both marveling at the ineffable That descent, with fear I sing: Alleluia.

From the akathist of Archbishop Nikon:

Rwait on the Virgin, receiving heavenly singing, accept from the spiritual treasures the hymn that I offer up to You: Jesus, God-child, save us!

ABOUTHaving received the gospel of angels, having entered spiritually into the city of Bethlehem, and having seen the Child in the manger, let us joyfully sing to Him:

Jesus, angels rejoice;

Jesus, leap of my heart.

Jesus, the whole world's waiting;

Jesus, heavenly radiance.

Jesus Godchild, save us!

ANDthose who believe in faith, the shepherds show the way, and we rejoice with them the same way, we sing to the Born One: Alleluia!

The akathist of Archbishop Nikon contains a Russian phrasal acrostic: "I sing the Nativity of Christ with the spirit."