Katavasia of Nativity
Tone 1
Ode 1. Christ is born, give ye glory. Christ
cometh from heaven, meet ye Him. Christ is on earth, be ye exalted.
O all the earth, sing unto the Lord, and sing praises in gladness, O ye people,
for He hath been glorified.
Ode 3. To the Son who was begotten of the
Father without change before all ages, and in the last times was without seed
made flesh of the Virgin, to Christ our God let us cry aloud: Thou hast
raised up our horn, holy art Thou, O Lord.
Ode 4. Rod of the root of Jesse, and flower
that blossomed from his stem, O Christ, Thou hast sprung from the Virgin.
From the Mountain overshadowed by the forest Thou hast come, made flesh from
her that knew not wedlock, O God who art not formed from matter. Glory to
Thy power, O Lord.
Ode 5. As Thou art God of peace and Father of
mercies, Thou hast sent unto us Thine Angel of great counsel, granting us
peace. So are we guided towards the light of the knowledge of God, and watching
by night we glorify Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Ode 6. The sea monster spat forth Jonah as it
had received him, like a babe from the womb: while the Word, having dwelt in
the Virgin and taken flesh, came forth from her yet kept her uncorrupt.
For being Himself not subject to decay, He preserved His Mother free from harm.
Ode 7. Scorning the impious decree, the
Children brought up togther in godliness feared not the threat of fire, but standing
in the midst of the flames, they sang: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Ode 8. The furnace moist with dew was the
image and figure of a wonder past nature. For it burnt not the Children
whom it had received, even as the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s
womb into which it had descended. Therefore in praise let us sing:
Let the whole creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Ode 9. A strange and most wonderful mystery
do I see: the cave is heaven; the Virgin the throne of the cherubim; the manger
a room, in which Christ, the God whom nothing can contain, is laid. Him
do we praise and magnify.
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