Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Commemorated on December 29.

On December 29, the Afterfeast of the Nativity, we commemorate the 14,000 holy infants who were put to death by King Herod in his attempt to kill the new-born Messiah (Mt. 2:16).

Today there is also a commemoration of all Orthodox Christians who have died from hunger, thirst, the sword, and freezing.

Troparion

Your Nativity, O Christ our God,
has shone to the world the Light of knowledge;
for by it, those who worshipped the stars
were taught by a star to adore You,
the Sun of Righteousness,
1
and to know You, the Dayspring
2
from on High.
O Lord, glory to You!

Kontakion

(Original Melody)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him.
The wise men journey with a star,
since for our sake the Pre-Eternal God was born as a young Child.
3
1
Malachi 4:2.
2
The beginning of day, dawn.
3
Literally: Since for our sake, God before the ages was born as a young Child.