The Nativity of Christ

On the rare occasions that I get to fully listen in church, perhaps the part that I enjoy the most are the hymns. The melodies are beautiful, the words are inspirational and the meanings are profound. One can gather most Orthodox theologies simply from the hymnography of the church.

The songs that we will sing tonight at Liturgy are perhaps the most amazing ones we sing all year. They constantly remind us about the "reason for the season." God became man. The Incarnation. It is a mystery how this can happen, but it did, and these hymns do their best to describe such an indescribable occurrence.

The Kontakion:
Today the Virgin, gives birth to the incomprehensible One.
The earth offers a cave to the unapproachable One.
Angles and shepherds glorify Him,
and Wisemen journey with a star.
Since, for our sakes, is born the Eternal God, a little Child.

The 9th Ode:
Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious Theotokos,
more honourable and more glorious than the hosts on high.
I behold a strange and wonderful mystery,
heaven is the Cave, the Cherubim thrown - Virgin,
the Manger the Place in which Christ lay,
the God whom nothing can contain. Whom we praise and magnify.

Thy Nativity:
Thy Nativity oh Christ our God
Has shone upon the world the light of knowledge:
For thereby they who adored the stars,
though a star were taught
to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness.
And to know Thee the Dayspring from on high.
O Lord, glory to Thee.

One of my favorites, The Hymn of the Nativity:
Today is born of a virgin, He who holds the whole creation in His hand.
Today is born of a virgin, He who holds the whole creation in His hand.
Today is born of a virgin, He who holds the whole creation in His hand.
He, whose essence none can touch
is bound in swaddling clothes as a child.
God, who in the beginning established the heavens,
lies in a manger.
He who rained manna on His people in the wilderness,
is fed on milk from His mother's breast.
The Bridegroom of the Church summons the wise men.
The Son of the Virgin accepts their gifts.
We worship Thy birth O Christ.
We worship Thy birth O Christ.
We worship Thy birth O Christ.
Show us also Thy Divine Thoephany.

I found this hymn on youtube. It is a Byzantine song sung in Arabic. This is perhaps the most amazing hymn. It is totally worth listening to; so beautiful.