Commentary on the Octateuch — English

Procopius Gazaeus · PG 87 · cols 4005–4007 · machine translation (AI, from the page scans)

TROPARY OF THE HOURS, A WORK OF SOPHRONIUS OF JERUSALEM

^A First Hour, Tone IV. Bethlehem, prepare; let the manger be made ready; let the cave receive Him. Truth has come, the shadow has passed away, and God has appeared to men from the Virgin, having taken on our form and deified the nature He assumed. For this reason, Adam is restored together with Eve, crying out: "On earth, peace and good will have appeared, to save our race."

Tone III. Now the prophetic prediction that said, "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, you are by no means least among the princes," speeds to be fulfilled mystically, preparing the cave; for from you shall come forth to me a leader of the nations, in the flesh, Christ God, born of a maiden Virgin, who shall shepherd His people, the new Israel. Let us all give Him majesty. Versicle: O Lord, I have heard, Tone IV.

This says Joseph to the Virgin: "Mary, what is this drama that I see in you? I am perplexed and distraught, and my mind is stunned. Depart therefore from me in haste, secretly! Mary, what is this drama that I see in you? Instead of honor, you have brought me disgrace; instead of joy, mourning; instead of praise, reproach. I can no longer bear the insults of men; for from the priests, out of the temple, I received you, the blameless handmaid of the Lord, and what is this that I see?" And now, the same.

Hour III, Tone II. ^A This is our God; no other shall be accounted equivalent to Him, who was born of the Virgin and lived among men. The only-begotten Son is seen lying in a poor manger, a mortal, and is wrapped in swaddling clothes. Adoring Him, we also sing: "Holy Trinity, save our souls."

Tone IV. "God shall come from the South." Before Your nativity, O Lord, the spiritual hosts looked on the mystery with trembling and were struck with awe; for You, who adorned the firmament with stars, willed to cry like a babe, and to be laid in the manger of brute beasts, You who hold the ends of the earth in Your palm. For by such an economy Your loving-kindness was made known, O Christ, Your great mercy; glory to You. Versicle: O Lord, I have heard.

Tone III. "Joseph, tell us, how do you lead to Bethlehem, pregnant, the maiden you received from the sanctuary?" "I," says he, "having searched the prophets and having been instructed by an angel, am persuaded that Mary shall bear God in an ineffable manner; to whom, adoring Him, the Magi will come from the East, worshipping with precious gifts. O You who became flesh for our sake, O Lord, glory to You." And now, the same.

4007

Sixth Hour, Tone 1, twice.

Come, O faithful, let us rise up and behold the divine condescension from on high, manifest to us in Bethlehem; and purifying our minds by our life, let us offer virtues instead of myrrh, faithfully preparing the entrance-ways of the Nativity through spiritual treasures, crying out: "Glory to God in the Trinity in the highest, through whom goodwill has appeared among men; He who ransoms Adam from the primordial curse, for He is a lover of mankind." Vers. *God shall come from the South*, Tone 4, twice. "Hear, O heaven, and listen, O earth; let the foundations be shaken, let trembling seize the underworld; for God and Creator has put on the form of flesh; and He who fashioned the creature with a mighty hand, is seen within the bowels of His creation! O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Vers. *O Lord, I have heard*, Tone 2, twice. Come, O Christ-bearing peoples, let us behold a wonder that strikes and overwhelms every thought; and praising Him piously, let us worship in faith; for today the Virgin who is with child arrives at Bethlehem to give birth to the Lord; and choirs of angels run before her; and seeing these things, Joseph the betrothed cried out: "What is this strange mystery in you, O Virgin? And how are you, who know no yoke, about to give birth?" And now, the same.

Ninth Hour, Tone Grave.

Herod was troubled seeing the piety of the Magi, and overcome by his wrath, he accurately calculated the span of the year; mothers were bereaved of their children, and the unripe age of the infants was bitterly harvested; breasts were dried up, and the channels of milk were constricted; the slaughter was great; therefore, O faithful, let us piously gather and worship the Nativity of Christ. Vers. *God shall come from the South*, Tone 2, twice. "When, O Virgin, Joseph was wounded with sorrow as he journeyed to Bethlehem, you cried out to him: 'Why do you look at me being with child, and become gloomy and troubled, not knowing at all my awesome mystery? Henceforth, cast away all your fears, realizing this paradox; for God descends to the earth through mercy, dwelling now within my womb; and although He has taken on flesh, you shall see Him born as He has willed, and filled with joy you shall worship Him as your Creator; whom the angels praise without ceasing and glorify, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit.'" Vers. *O Lord, I have heard*, Tone 2, twice. Today He who holds all creation in the palm of His hand is born of a Virgin; He who in His substance is untouchable is wrapped in rags as a mortal; God is laid in a manger, He who established the heavens of old in the beginning; He is nourished with milk from the breast, He who in the desert rained down manna upon the people; the Bridegroom of the Church calls the Magi to Himself; the Son of the Virgin receives their gifts; we worship Your Nativity, O Christ; show us also Your divine manifestation. And now, the same again.