The Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ: GREAT VESPERS WITH DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT – Dec 24.
This evening Liturgy is the first Eucharist of Christmas. Fully vested the priest insences the entire temple as usual and then begins: “Blessed is the Kingdom,” and we respond “Amen.”
Call to Prayer
Come, let us bow in worship before our King and God!
Come, let us bow in worship before Christ, our King and God!
Come, let us bow in worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, our King and God!
Psalm 103
Great Litany
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
8. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord
as we tell of the present mystery.
Destroyed is the middle wall of partition;
the flaming sword turns back, the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,
and I partake of the delight of Paradise from which I was cast out through disobedience.
For the Father’s express Image, the Imprint of His eternity,
takes the form of a servant,
and without undergoing change He comes forth from a Mother who knew not wedlock.
For what He was, He has remained, true God:
and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself, becoming man through love for mankind.
To Him let us cry aloud:
God born of a Virgin, have mercy on us.
7. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord
as we tell of the present mystery.
Destroyed is the middle wall of partition;
the flaming sword turns back, the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,
and I partake of the delight of Paradise from which I was cast out through disobedience.
For the Father’s express Image, the Imprint of His eternity,
takes the form of a servant,
and without undergoing change He comes forth from a Mother who knew not wedlock.
For what He was, He has remained, true God:
and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself, becoming man through love for mankind.
To Him let us cry aloud:
God born of a Virgin, have mercy on us.
6. When Jesus the Lord was born of the holy Virgin,
the whole world was enlightened.
The shepherds watched in the fields,
the Magi adored and the angels sang hymns of praise;
but Herod was troubled: for God appeared in the flesh,
the Savior of our souls.
5. When Jesus the Lord was born of the holy Virgin,
the whole world was enlightened.
The shepherds watched in the fields,
the Magi adored and the angels sang hymns of praise;
but Herod was troubled: for God appeared in the flesh,
the Savior of our souls.
4. Your Kingdom, O Christ our God,
is a Kingdom of all the ages,
and Your rule is from generation to generation.
Made flesh of the Holy Spirit and made man of the ever-Virgin Mary,
You have enlightened us by Your coming.
Light of Light, Brightness of the Father,
You have made all creation shine with joy.
Everything that breathes praises You,
the Image of the Father’s glory.
O God–the One who is–and always was,
who shone forth from a Virgin, have mercy on us.
3. Your Kingdom, O Christ our God,
is a Kingdom of all the ages,
and Your rule is from generation to generation.
Made flesh of the Holy Spirit and made man of the ever-Virgin Mary,
You have enlightened us by Your coming.
Light of Light, Brightness of the Father,
You have made all creation shine with joy.
Everything that breathes praises You,
the Image of the Father’s glory.
O God–the One who is–and always was,
who shone forth from a Virgin, have mercy on us.
2. O Christ what shall we offer You;
for our sake You appeared on earth as man?
Every creature made by You offers thanks to You.
The angels offer You a hymn; the heavens, a star;
the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;
the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger:
and we offer You a Virgin Mother.
O pre-eternal God, have mercy on us.
1. O Christ what shall we offer You;
for our sake You appeared on earth as man?
Every creature made by You offers thanks to You.
The angels offer You a hymn; the heavens, a star;
the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;
the earth, its cave; the wilderness, the manger:
and we offer You a Virgin Mother.
O pre-eternal God, have mercy on us.
Glory…Now…
When Augustus reigned alone on earth,
the many kingdoms of men came to an end;
and when You were made man of the pure Virgin,
the many gods of idolatry were made powerless.
The cities of the world passed under one single rule;
and the nations came to believe in one sovereign Godhead.
The peoples were enrolled by the decree of Caesar;
and we, the faithful, were enrolled in the name
of the divinity,
when You, our God, were made man.
Great is Your mercy: Lord, glory to You.
Prokeimenon – of the day
Readings
Genesis 1:1-13
Numbers 24:2-3, 5-9, and 17-18
Micah 4:6-7 and 5:2-4a
Then, the priest intones the entire text of the following Troparion:
You were born in a cave hidden from sight, but heaven spoke through a star and proclaimed You to all, O Savior. And it brought to You the Magi, who with faith bowed down in worship. Have mercy on them and us.
When the priest has finished, we respond by repeating the conclusion (Tone 6, resurrectional, even though the custom has developed of singing this conclusion to the prokeimenon melody – a custom that is less appropriate):
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
Then the priest intones the following verses of Psalm 86, and we repeat the Troparion’s conclusion after each verse.
His foundations are on the holy mountains; the Lord loves the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things were spoken of You, O city of God.
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
To those who know Me I will mention Raab and Babylon. And, behold, foreigners and the people of Tyre and Ethiopia, these were born there.
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
A person will say “Mother Sion,” and “Such a person was born in her,” and “The Most High Himself founded her.”
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
The Lord will declare this in His record of the peoples and rulers who were born in her. How happy are all who have their dwelling in you.
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
Glory… Now…
Response: And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
Then the priest intones the first half of the Troparion:
You were born in a cave hidden from sight, but heaven spoke through a star and proclaimed You to all, O Savior.
And we conclude:
And it brought to You the Magi,* who with faith bowed down in worship.* Have mercy on them and us.
Isaiah 11:1-10
Baruch 3:36-38 and 4:1-4
Daniel 2:31-36 and 44-45
Then the priest intones another Troparion (Tone 6):
You have shone forth from a Virgin, O Christ, rational Sun of righteousness. And a star showed You, Whom nothing can contain, contained in a cave. You led Magi to worship You and along with them we magnify You: Glory to You, O Giver of life.
When the priest has finished, we respond by repeating the conclusion (Tone 6, resurrectional):
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Then the priest intones the following verses of Psalm 92, and we repeat the Troparion’s conclusion after each verse.
The Lord is King; He is clothed with beauty; the Lord is clothed with strength and has girded Himself. For He has established the world which shall not be shaken.
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Your throne is prepared from of old; You are from everlasting.
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord; the floods have lifted up their voices. The floods shall lift up their breakers with the noise of many waters.
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Wonderful are the surging waves of the sea; wonderful is the Lord on high. Your testimonies have become exceedingly credible; holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Glory… Now…
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Then the priest intones the first half of the Troparion:
You have shone forth from a Virgin, O Christ, rational Sun of righteousness. And a star showed You, Whom nothing can contain, contained in a cave.
And we conclude:
Response: You led Magi to worship You* and along with them we magnify You:* Glory to You, O Giver of life.
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 7:10-16, 8:1-4, and 8-10
Then, the Small Litany and Trisagion followed by the Prokeimenon
Tone 1 Prokeimenon – Psalm 2
The Lord said to Me: You are My Son,* today have I begotten You.
Verse: Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as an inheritance, and as Your possession, the ends of the earth.
Liturgy Readings
Epistle: Hebrews: 1: 1-12
Gospel: Luke 2: 1-10
(if Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then we read Matthew 13:31-36)
Great Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
Google Doc | Word | PDF
Vespers without Divine Liturgy:
PDF – Dec 25: Nativity of Christ – ENGLISH
PDF – Dec Liturgical Booklet – ENG/UKR