Akathist to the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shone upon the world the light of knowledge; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were taught by a star to worship Thee. O Sun of righteousness, who didst rise from on high as the Dayspring, O Lord, glory to Thee!

To the Virgin chosen out of all generations, holier than the holy angels, and to Christ our God incarnate of her, we Thy servants offer thanksgiving, O Master. Thou who hast mercy beyond count, deliver from all afflictions us who cry to Thee: Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Choirs of angels gathered in Bethlehem to behold Thy birth, which passeth understanding; and seeing their Creator lying in a manger, they marvelled, and crying out in awe they worthily worshipped the One born and her who bore Him, singing thus: O Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, glory to Thee.

Glory to Thee, Creator of all with the Father and the Holy Spirit; glory to Thee, Saviour of the lost; glory to Thee, Seeker of those gone astray; glory to Thee, Resurrection of the dead; glory to Thee, who emptiest the venom of the enemy; glory to Thee, who openest again paradise, sealed by disobedience; glory to Thee, who lovest the race of men beyond measure; glory to Thee, who revealest the heavenly manger to the world; glory to Thee, who preparest the throne of the Cherubim for the Virgin, Thy Mother; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Beholding their King incarnate of the holy Virgin, the bodiless angels said with trembling: This glorious mystery is beyond our telling; and, greatly marvelling at Thine ineffable mercy, they sang to Thee with awe: Alleluia.

Every rational being is struck with awe and with hymns giveth thanks for the mystery of Thy birth! The heavenly powers rejoice, praising: Glory to God in the highest; the world rejoiceth together with men; and we sing to Thee unceasingly:

Glory to Thee, O God, glorified in the heavens; glory to Thee, who establishest peace on earth; glory to Thee, who reconcilest us to Thyself; glory to Thee, sent into the world for us; glory to Thee, who didst call the Magi to worship Thee; glory to Thee, who callest every creature to serve Thee; glory to Thee, who givest us understanding to sing to Thee; glory to Thee, our union with Thee; glory to Thee, our Redeemer through this union; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Mighty in strength, the God of the world and Father of mercies came to save the world doomed to perdition: now a Child is born of a Virgin in Bethlehem; wherefore the Mother and mediatress of salvation is made known to all who glorify and sing of His incarnation: Alleluia.

Having as our intercessor Thy holy Mother, who unfailingly prayeth for us, we sing with gladness the mystery of Thine incarnation, O Master, and with doxology we cry out to Thy divinely desired birth from the Virgin:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, made flesh for us; glory to Thee, Son of the Virgin, ineffably born of a virgin; glory to Thee, who showest us the abyss of love for mankind; glory to Thee, who lovest us beyond measure; glory to Thee, Seeker of the lost lamb; glory to Thee, who at finding it makest known the joy of the angels; glory to Thee, who bearest it upon Thy shoulders; glory to Thee, who bringest this lamb up to the Father; glory to Thee, who unitest the choirs of men and angels; glory to Thee, who freest us from the deceit of the world; glory to Thee, who bringest upon us glorious and ineffable mercy; glory to Thee, who lovest us more than all creation; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Having within him a storm of doubting thoughts, the righteous Joseph now beholdeth in the divine manger the glorious Child born of the Virgin, and he understandeth Him to be true God; wherefore he worthily worshippeth Him, singing with joy: Alleluia.

The chief of the shepherds heard from the angels the tidings of the birth of the Saviour of the world in the city of David; and hastening, he beheld Him lying as a lamb, and with fear he approached Joseph, the reverent servant of the Only-begotten; he told them what had been spoken and, worshipping the One born, said:

Glory to Thee, Lamb of God, Saviour of the world; glory to Thee, Son of God, who showest us an ineffable wonder; glory to Thee, who makest us worthy to hear the song of the angels; glory to Thee, who teachest us also to glorify with them; glory to Thee, who givest angels and men understanding to sing to Thee; glory to Thee, Creator of joy in heaven and on earth; glory to Thee, for through Thee those of heaven dance with those of earth; glory to Thee, who showest the feeble devil Thy might; glory to Thee, who freest us from his torment; glory to Thee, ineffable joy of those who believe in Thee; glory to Thee, wondrous sweetness of those who love Thee; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

The star that moved by God’s will, herald of the birth of Christ, was seen by the star-gazing Magi, and guided by it they came to the Unapproachable and beheld His invisible face; wherefore in gladness they cried: Alleluia.

When the Persian kings saw in the arms of the Virgin the Lord of lords, as one seated on the throne of the Cherubim, and knew Him to be the King who humbled Himself and took the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him with gifts: with gold as King of all, with frankincense as God, with myrrh as the Immortal; and in worship they sang to Thee:

Glory to Thee, who makest light shine for all; glory to Thee, who by a star callest us to worship Thee; glory to Thee, who exposest the wickedness of merciless Herod; glory to Thee, who showest the vanity of his counsel; glory to Thee, who freest us from his deceit; glory to Thee, who teachest the worship of the Sun of righteousness; glory to Thee, Enlightener of our minds; glory to Thee, who by Thy birth dispellest the delusion of many gods; glory to Thee, who overthrowest the enemy’s lair; glory to Thee, who teachest us to worship Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit; glory to Thee, who crushest the head of the serpent that beguiled us; glory to Thee, our Deliverer from eternal death; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Thou Thyself, O Saviour, didst become the fulfiller of the divine prophecies: now Thou hast sent Thyself into the world, O Deliverer, and wast born of the holy Virgin in a lowly manger; being rich, Thou didst of Thine own will become poor, and hast enriched men who sing to Thee in faith: Alleluia.

Thou didst shine forth from Thy Mother, the unwedded Virgin, O Jesus, like the sun, enlightening and driving away the darkness of falsehood; the demons, O Deliverer, unable to bear Thy strength, all trembled, and hell was seized with fear at the sight of Thy wonder; but we cry to Thee in thanksgiving:

Glory to Thee, Deliverer of men; glory to Thee, Crusher of demons; glory to Thee, who by Thy birth madest the prince of deception tremble; glory to Thee, who didst overthrow the folly of idols; glory to Thee, who makest all radiant with the light of the knowledge of God; glory to Thee, who dispersest the mist of ignorance; glory to Thee, who makest the saving water flow for us all; glory to Thee, who givest drink to thirsting Adam; glory to Thee, O Sun, who by Thy birth enlightenest all; glory to Thee, who sheddest the rays of grace upon the world; glory to Thee, who showest men the promised land; glory to Thee, who deliverest from every curse; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

O Lord, willing to fulfil what was ordained from eternity, Thou didst choose from all creation the servants of Thy mystery: from the angels Gabriel, from men the Virgin, from the heavens the star, and from the earth the manger; in it Thou wast pleased to be born, O Deliverer; wherefore, marvelling at Thine ineffable wisdom, we cry: Alleluia.

Our Creator showed us a new creation by His coming in the flesh: He sprang forth from a womb without seed and kept it incorrupt, and showed her to be the mediatress of salvation to those who sing thus:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, who showest compassion to Thy Mother who bore Thee; glory to Thee, who after Thy birth didst keep her a virgin; glory to Thee, resurrection of fallen Adam; glory to Thee, salvation from Eve’s tears; glory to Thee, who wast sent for the salvation of all; glory to Thee, who spreadest abroad the image of the resurrection; glory to Thee, who tearest up the handwriting of our sins; glory to Thee, our pattern of obedience; glory to Thee, who didst willingly become poor for us; glory to Thee, who enrichest us by Thy poverty; glory to Thee, who clothest us with the garment of salvation; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Beholding Thy wondrous and most glorious birth accomplished in a manger, we become strangers to the world; let us transport ourselves to heaven in mind, for God came into the world in the form of a servant, and bringeth up to heaven those who cry to Him: Alleluia.

Thou art the fulfilment of all desire, the perfect sweetness of those who glorify and love Thy divine mercy, O Christ God; born into the world of the holy Virgin, bring us up to heaven, who sing to Thee:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, born into the world; glory to Thee, who revealest Thy face to us; glory to Thee, who callest all who were far from Thee; glory to Thee, our ineffable joy; glory to Thee, sweetness of our hearts; glory to Thee, who by Thy birth madest the light of salvation to dawn; glory to Thee, who didst weep for our salvation; glory to Thee, who thereby quenchest the fire of our passions; glory to Thee, who washest us from the filth of our sins; glory to Thee, who deliverest us from our guilt; glory to Thee, who grantest us incorruption; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

No understanding mind, angelic or human, can grasp Thine incomprehensible birth; make known to me, O Lord, the hidden things of Thy mystery; accept our love and faith, O Giver of mercies, and save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.

We see many-voiced orators voiceless as fish before Thine incarnation, O Master: how, being perfect God, Thou didst come as perfect man, and how Thou wast born of the unwedded Virgin; but we, not searching out this mystery, magnify Thee with firm faith thus:

Glory to Thee, Wisdom of the Godhead in three Persons; glory to Thee, ineffable joy of all; glory to Thee, who showest the wise to be foolish; glory to Thee, who puttest to shame those who try Thee; glory to Thee, who deliverest all from the nets of the devil; glory to Thee, who makest all radiant by the star that moved at God’s will; glory to Thee, outpouring of wisdom in all Thy works; glory to Thee, enlightener of the minds of many; glory to Thee, who showest all the way of salvation; glory to Thee, abyss of measureless mercy; glory to Thee, sea of bounty and love for mankind; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Willing to save the world, the Creator of all was born for this a Child of a Virgin, and, wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger, He looseth the many-coiled sin of the captives; the Son of God is called the Son of the Virgin; in His wisdom He ordereth all things and saveth those who sing to Him: Alleluia.

A wall and pillar of wicked war against God and a lawless race appeareth; it deviseth death for the Giver of life to all and slayeth with the sword the choir of innocent infants; therefore let us, slaying every evil in our hearts, magnify Him who came for our salvation, crying:

Glory to Thee, who didst bring the counsel of Herod to nothing; glory to Thee, who numberest the slain infants with the angels; glory to Thee, destroyer of wickedness; glory to Thee, teacher of humility and lover of mortals; glory to Thee, who breakest the horns of pride; glory to Thee, who enlightenest all with the light of righteousness; glory to Thee, who teachest us Thy meekness and obedience; glory to Thee, who receivest the wonder of the shepherds and the gifts of the Magi; glory to Thee, who teachest a service of Thee beyond words; glory to Thee, enlightener of all creation; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Every hymn is overcome that would worthily express Thine incarnation for us, and silence is better; for though we offer Thee hymns as many as the sands of the sea, O most holy King, we accomplish nothing worthy; therefore with awe we sing to Thee: Alleluia.

Thou art the unsetting Light, abiding in the divine darkness and crushing death, O our most merciful God; Thou who wast seen shining forth from the holy Virgin, enlighten us also with the fire of Thy Godhead; and to Thee, the Giver of wisdom and understanding, we who praise Thee sing:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, ineffable Light; glory to Thee, who makest the river of grace flow for us; glory to Thee, who givest the thirsty abundant drink from the water of salvation; glory to Thee, who makest Thy divine burden and yoke sweet to those who love Thee; glory to Thee, who lightenest the burden of sins; glory to Thee, who freest us from the works of the enemy; glory to Thee, good tidings to all by Thy coming into the world; glory to Thee, who by baptism in the font makest all things new; glory to Thee, our Desire, made manifest in the world; glory to Thee, who reconcilest to the Father us who were enemies; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

Willing to grant grace and to loose the debt of the first sins of all men, Thou didst come to us, O our Deliverer, and by Thine incarnation didst loose our debts and tear up the handwriting of sins for those who praise Thine ineffable birth and sing unceasingly: Alleluia.

Singing of Thy birth, we praise Thee, bless Thee and worship Thee, O our Saviour, and we believe that Thou art God and the Lord of lords; save all who hope in Thee and praise thus Thine ineffable birth from the Virgin:

Glory to Thee, Son of God, worshipped in heaven and on earth with the Father and the Holy Spirit; glory to Thee, who revealest the mystery hidden from the ages; glory to Thee, image of Thine ineffable love for us; glory to Thee, adornment of all creation; glory to Thee, our most merciful Deliverer; glory to Thee, who establishest the sceptre of honourable kings; glory to Thee, who adornest the preachers of piety and the priests with wisdom and godliness; glory to Thee, strong wall of the Church; glory to Thee, adornment and salvation of all the faithful; glory to Thee, physician and healing of our bodies; glory to Thee, deliverer of our souls; Jesus, Son of God, made man for our sake, glory to Thee.

O sweet and most merciful Jesus, our King, Creator and Deliverer! Accept now this small supplication of thanksgiving and this doxology of ours, as Thou didst accept the gifts and worship of the Magi; shelter us Thy servants from every temptation; grant us forgiveness of sins and deliver from the eternal torments us who rightly glorify Thine immaculate birth from the Virgin and cry to Thee: Alleluia.

This kontakion thrice, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we have heard from Bethlehem, from the angels of heaven: today on earth peace. Born of the Virgin, Thou didst enlighten those who sat in darkness and exalt the lowly; as the Son without beginning Thou sittest ever with the Father; and when Thou wast born in Bethlehem, O Christ God, and laid in a manger, then the shepherds and the Magi worshipped Thee and the sayings of the prophets were fulfilled, and the powers of the angels marvelled and cried aloud the divine hymn for all to hear, proclaiming Thy glory and praising Thy humility.

And we also, with brokenness of heart and firm faith, lifting up our hands, cry to Thee and entreat Thee, O Lord, that on this day of Thy wondrous birth Thou mayest remember our God-protected people, the portion of Thine all-holy Mother; the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, our great lord and father Ilia; the most reverend hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Georgia, the priests and all the laity, who call Thy feast blessed and glorify the holy Trinity who enlighteneth all.

Now enlighten our hearts also with the uncreated light, and make them a heavenly Bethlehem for Thy dwelling, that by Thy birth in them, as by an immaterial fire, all sins may be burned up; and that we too, like the Magi following the star that moved at God’s will, made radiant and saved by its hope, may sing to Thee with the angels with a voice of joy: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.

This edition was prepared at the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos under the direction of Archpriest Vakhtang Asatiani.

Printed with the blessing of Peter, Bishop of Stepantsminda and Khevi.