Leavetaking of the Nativity of our Lord

Commemorated on December 31.

Materials for the Leavetaking of the Nativity are taken from the service of the Feast day itself in the Menaion. The Scripture readings at Liturgy, however, are of the day, not of the Feast. The Prokeimenon, Alleluia verses, and Communion hymn are all of the Feast.

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.