1. The Bush which Moses saw in flaming fire in the desert the wood of which was not consumed is a similitude of Mary, the Virgin who was spotless. The Word of the Father became incarnate of her, and the fire of His Godhead did not consume the Virgin, and after she had brought Him forth her virginity was maintained, and His Godhead was unchanged. Our God, Who verily is God, became a man; He came and delivered us. We all magnify thee, O our Lady, the God- bearer, that thy compassion may be over us all.

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

2. The Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, hath become the object of the boast of all of us, because through her was destroyed the curse of olden time, which rested upon our race, through wickedness which the woman committed when she ate of the tree. Through Eve was the door of the Garden shut fast, and because of Mary the Virgin it hath been opened to us again. It is allotted to us to eat of the Tree of Life, that is to say, the Body of Christ and His precious Blood. Because of His love for us He came and delivered us. What understanding, and What language, and What hearing is able to comprehend this mystery, which must be proclaimed to be wonderful, "God is the lover of men?" One is He Alone, the Word of the Father, Who existed before the world in His incorruptible God- head, from One, the Father. The Only-begotten Son came and was incarnate of the holy woman His mother, and after she brought Him forth her virginity perished not, and because of this it became manifest that she was the Bearer of God. O deep is the richness of the wisdom of God! The womb which He decreed should bring forth children in pain, and suffering, and sorrow of heart, hath become the fountain of life, and hath brought forth without the seed of man Him Who removed the curse from our race. And for this reason we will praise Him, saying, "Glory be unto Thee, O Thou Good Friend of man, the Redeemer of our souls."

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

3. O how wonderful and mighty in power was the womb of the Virgin, which brought forth God without seed! And of this the angel who appeared unto Joseph was a witness when he spake, saying, "That which shall be born of her is of the Holy Spirit". It was the Word of God Who became incarnate without change. Mary brought Him forth a second time. And Gabriel rejoiced and said unto her, "Thou shalt bring forth a Son and shalt call His Name Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted, God with us. And moreover, He shall be called Jesus, Who shall save His people from their sins". And may He save us also be His power, and forgive our sins, because we have known in truth that He is the God Who became man. Praise be unto Him forever and ever. O how wonderful is the birth of God by Mary, the Holy Virgin! She completed the Word of the Father; seed did not precede His Birth, and her virginity was not destroyed by His Birth. The Word went forth from the Father without weariness and was born of the Virgin without suffering (or, pain). The wise men worshipped Him, and brought unto Him incense because He was God, and gold because He was the King, and myrrh, which was given for His death which gave life unto men. And for our sakes He accepted death of His own free will. He alone is the Good Being and the Lover of men.

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

4. O how wonderful! He took a rib from the side of Adam, and fashioned from it a woman, and the whole creation of the children of men was given to God, the Word of the Father, Who was incarnate of the Holy Virgin and is called Emmanuel. And because of this we beseech her at all times to strive on our behalf with her beloved Son for the forgiveness of our sins. She was beneficent towards all the saints and the high priests, for she brought to them that for which they waited, and she brought to the Prophets Him concerning Whom they had prophesied, and she brought forth to the Apostles Him in Whose Name they were to preach in all the ends of the world, and from her went forth for the martyrs and believers Him for Whom they were to fight, Jesus Christ. The richness of the grace of His wisdom cannot be fathomed. We will seek after the greatness of His compassion, for He came and delivered us.

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

5. God swore unto in David righteousness, and He will not repent, "Of the fruit of thy belly I will seat upon thy throne". And when that righteous man received it from Him, that CHRIST should be born of him in the flesh, he wished to seek out and to prepare a dwelling-place for God, the Word of the Father. And he completed it with great effort and then he cried out in the Holy Spirit and said, "Behold, we have heard it in EFRÂTÂ and the dwelling-place of the God of Jacob, which is Bethlehem, in which Emmanuel hath chosen to be born in the flesh for our salvation".

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

6. And also another of the prophets hath said it: "And as for thee, O Bethlehem of the land of EFRÂTÂ, thou shalt not be the least of the kings of Judah, for from thee shall go forth a King Who shall rule My people Israel". Oh how wonderful is the word of those who prophesied concerning Christ in one Spirit, to Whom be glory, together with His Good Father and the Holy Spirit, henceforth and forever.

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!

7. When evil men revolted against David who reigned over Israel, he wished to drink water from the pool of Bethlehem, whereupon straightway the captains of his hosts rose up, and waged war in the camp of the rebels, and brought unto him that water which he wished to drink. And when that righteous man saw that they had willingly delivered themselves over to slaughter for this sake, he poured out that water unto the Lord and did not drink of it. And then righteousness was accounted unto him forever. And verily in like manner have the martyrs rejected the desire of this world, and poured out their blood for God, and have endured bitter death[s] for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Have compassion upon us according to the greatness of Thy compassion.

Pray to Him for us, O Holy One! 

8. One of the Holy Trinity saw our low estate, bowed the heaven of heavens, came and dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, and became a man like unto us, with the exception of sin alone. And He was born in Bethlehem, according to what the Prophets preached, He delivered us, and redeemed us, and made us His own people forever and ever. Pray to Him for us, O Holy One!