Second Day of the Nativity of our Lord
Troparion — Tone 4
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 Dayspring2 from on High. / O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion — Tone 3
(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.
Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God
Troparion — Tone 4
O Most Pure Mother of God, your holy Synaxis is adorned with many diverse splendors; / and gifts are brought to you by many peoples of the world, O Lady Theotokos. / In your mercy, loosen the bonds of our sinfulness, and save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 6
He Who was begotten before the morning star by the Father without a mother / is incarnate of you today on earth without a father. / Therefore, a star announces the glad tidings to the Magi, / while Angels and shepherds sing of your undefiled child-bearing, O you who are full of grace.
(In some Greek sources this Kontakion is chanted in Tone 8, and is listed as the Original Melody.)
Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis
Troparion — Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Euthymius, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Venerable Constantine of Synnada
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Constantine, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Evarestus of the Studion Monastery
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Evarestus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Νikodemos the Sanctified of Tismana, Romania
Troparion — Tone 1
You followed the greatest Shepherd, Who came forth from the Virgin, / like a sheep of the flock, O Νικόdēmos our Father. / Through fasting, vigil and prayer, you made yourself a laborer sanctified by heavenly things, / healing the souls of those who have recourse to you with faith. / Therefore, we cry: "Glory to Him Who glorified you. / Glory to Him Who gave you strength. / Glory to Him Who, through you, grants healing for all."
Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian of Lavra on Mount Athos
Troparion — Tone 4
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, / you became a successor to their throne. / Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; / by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, / even to the shedding of your blood. / Hieromartyr Constantine, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Venerable Isaac II of Optina
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Isaac, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!