Make ready, O Bethlehem

Today, December 20 is the Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ. At the cycle of services, we are privileged to chant this hymn:

Make ready, O Bethlehem for Eden hath been opened for all. Prepare, O Ephratha, for the Tree of Life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Virgin. For her womb didst appear as a supersensual paradise in which is planted that Holy Vine. If we should eat thereof, we shal live and not die as Adam of old. Verily, Christ shall be born, raising the image that fell at the beginning.

I love this hymn especially since it is chanted on the hard chromatic (hijaz-kar) scale of the fourth mode. In other words, it sounds more like a plagal second, but musically speaking, it is fourth tone. But another reason why I love this hymn so much is because this short little hymn synthesizes so much of our faith: our ancestral curse, the incarnation, the eucharist, the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from mortal corruption and sin.

Here is a recording of this hymn with a litte video that I made. And it's in English, though I myself prefer Greek.

Hymns of the Day--September 15

MOSES PREFIGURED YOU, O PRECIOUS CROSS WHEN HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HANDS ON HIGH PUTTING AMALEK THE TYRANT TO FLIGHT. YOU ARE THE BOAST OF THE FAITHFUL AND HELP OF THE SUFFERING, GLORY OF THE APOSTLES, CHAMPION OF THE RIGHTEOUS, THE PRESERVER OF ALL THE SAINTS! BEHOLDING YOU RAISED ON HIGH CREATION REJOICES AND CELEBRATES, GLORIFYING CHRIST WHO IN HIS INFINITE GOODNESS HAS JOINED TOGETHER THROUGH YOU THAT WHICH WAS DIVIDED.--Aposticha at Vespers

THE WORDS OF MOSES THE PROPHET HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, O GOD: YOU WILL SEE YOUR LIFE HANGING BEFORE YOUR EYES! TODAY THE CROSS IS EXALTED, AND THE WORLD IS FREED FROM ERROR! THE ENDS OF THE EARTH GREATLY REJOICE! THEY SING YOU DAVID'S PSALMS WITH LOUD CLASHING CYMBALS: YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SALVATION IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH, O GOD! YOU HAVE SAVED US THROUGH YOUR CROSS AND RESURRECTION, FOR YOU ARE GOOD, AND THE LOVER OF MANKIND. GLORY TO YOU, ALL-POWERFUL LORD!--Doxasticon at the Aposticha for Vespers

SAVIOR, YOU WILLED TO SUFFER DEATH AND THE CROSS, FIXING IT IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH. WHEN IT WAS YOUR GOOD PLEASURE THAT YOUR BODY BE NAILED, THE SUN HID ITS RAYS! BEHOLDING THESE THINGS, THE THIEF ON THE CROSS HYMNED YOU, CRYING OUT: REMEMBER ME, O LORD! BELIEVING, HE RECEIVED PARADISE!--Sessional Hymn after the Second Kathisma at Orthros

Exaltation of the Holy, Precious and Life-Giving Cross

"O Lord, save Thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their enemies. And by the power of Thy Cross, preserve Thine estate."--Troparion of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

"Rejoice, life-giving Cross of hte Lord, thou never-conquered battle-trophy of piety, support and staff of the faithful, the wall surrounding the Church, and the door that leadeth into Paradise. Through thee hath corruption been made to vanish and be no more; death's mighty powerhath vanquished and swallowed up, and we have been raised from the earth to celestial things. O truceless foe of demons, and our weapons invicible, thou ar the glory of Martyrs and the true adornment of all the Saints, calm port of salvation, that which granteth the great mercy of God unto the world."--Aposticha at Great Vespers of the Feast

"O strange wonder, great and marvellous! Today, the life-bearing Tree, the all-holy and precious Cross, being lifted up on high his made manifest openly. All of the ends of the earth give glory now and all the demons are sorely terrified. O what a gift this is, kindly granted to us mortal men, O Christ! Whereby save our souls, since Thou alone art merciful."--Praises at Orthros of the Feast

"Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master and Thy Holy Resurrection, we glorify."--Anti-trisagion at Liturgy for Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

"Today the Tree of Life, raised up from the hidden recesses of the earth, confirmeth the Resurrection of Christ, Who was nailed upon it. And raised on higy by priestly hands, it declareth His Ascension into the Heavens, whereby our nature lifted from its fall to earth, becometh a citizen of the Heavens. Wherefore, lt us cry in thanksgiving: O Lord, Who was lifted up upon the Cross, and through it hasst lifted us up with THyself, vouchsafe the joy of Heaven unto us who sing Thy praises."--Sticheron in Tone 6 for the Adoration of the Cross