Nativity 26

Change of melody. ‘Uqyatha: Blessed is your birth, which gladdens all creatures. The first hour of the birth of the Saviour is the beginning of good things and the foundation of life. It is the same hour that confounded the multitude of victories and the end of triumphs, like the first day of creation with the great pillar of creatures. Confusion reigned over the course of creation, and the day of the first fruits of triumphs was for the sake of incorruptibility. The second hour of the birth of the Saviour: the Magi rejoiced in it, the Pharisees were saddened in it, the treasuries were opened in it, the kings were terrified in it, and the children were hidden in it. For in it, at Bethlehem, radiant and terrible offerings were brought near. For the love of gold was offered, and the lack of a sword was for the children. And the day that illuminates all was joyful in his birth. The radiant pillar that pursued with its rays the works of darkness, by the type of that day on which the darkness was broken and its eclipse was for the darkness that had spread over the beauty of creatures. The radiance of the birth of the Saviour over the eclipse of the darkness that was over the heart. The first day, the beginning and the start, is the type of the root that bore fruit for everything. The day of the Saviour is greatly to be praised, more than that which is fixed within the world. For his death is like a root within the earth, and his resurrection is like a head in the heavens. To all branches, his words are like his branches, and also his fruit is his body for those who consume it. The second day glorified in his birth, the second son and the voice of the first.

The firmament commanded, and the waters above were divided, and the seas below were stirred. He who divided between the waters and the waters stood among the watchers, divided, and descended to hunt for the sake of the Church. Instead of the waters that he commanded and were stirred, the spring of life opened and gave drink. The third day, the crown of the psalms: open your mouth in the madrashe and extend in one voice to the birth of him who made flowers and buds bloom on the third day. Now, then, the whole of time is all: the holy bud descended and became from the parched earth, ascended and went up, for it adorned and crowned the victors. The fourth day, one of four praises to the birth of him who created on the fourth day. The pair of luminaries, to whom the foolish bowed, became blind and were struck dumb. The Lord of the luminaries descended to them, and like the sun from the womb, he shone forth for them. His rays opened for the blind, his flashes enlightened the erring. The fifth day, praise to him who created on the fifth day: reptiles and creeping things, which from their species the serpent restrained all its venom from the mother. The annunciation of the heartless one, who by the annunciation overcame the devourer. From the counsel, the hissing was dispersed; from the crooked, the perfect one came forth and went out, the wise one who crushed the scoffer. The sixth day, praise to him who created on the sixth day: on the eve, to Adam, in whom evil was envious, like a lover he restrained, he made glad and extended to him. Poison in the food, he placed life; it was distributed to both. He put on a body and approached both; he tasted death and life in it.

In the flame that consumed him, he was stripped away. The seventh day sanctified the Holy One, who for the Sabbath sanctified what was prepared for the animals. The good one who did not suit the flesh was anxious for purity, and anxious for the animals, that freedom might escape beneath the yoke. He came to the begetter and became a slave in order to set free. He swallowed the axe [of his servitude] between the jaws, broke the yoke that was over the free ones like a lord. The eighth day that circumcises the Hebrews made known that one who commanded that one whose name is Jesus, that he would circumcise with the door the people whose body is circumcised, and his heart was hot within. Behold, on the eighth day, like a babe, he came to the circumcision; he circumcised all. When the sign of Abraham came upon his flesh, his pure daughter, the daughter of Zion, betrothed him. The tenth day glorified in his entrails, for the sign of Jesus is a fitting name. Ten is in the entrails; this one, like a lord, turns the entrails. For when ten ascends from the entrails, he turns it back again from the one who dwells. Or the great mystery in Jesus, that his power is what turns the creatures. In the firstborn he purifies all on the day of his purification. She purified herself for the purification of the firstborn, and he approached. The lord of the sacrifices was stripped of the sacrifices, and he offered the offering of flight; in his birth the forms were delivered up. In his purification and his circumcision, wonders. He came to repay the debts with his coming, in his rising he ascended, he sent forth the treasures.