Stichera at the Aposticha (Orthodox Christmas Chant in English) - Boston Byzantine Choir

6th Day of Christmas – December 30
Stichera at the Aposticha
Special Melody: “Rejoice”
Tone 5, Transcribed by Charles R. Marge
Text copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.
Official Recording by the Boston Byzantine Choir

"Unto the God and Maker of all, to the true king that had shined forth from a Virgin Queen, to Him did the Persian Wise men, the kings that came from the East, bow to render worship offering their gifts. To them did the blameless Maid cry aloud in astonishment: Ye that give worship to the sun and the flame of fire, walking in the dark, tell me, how did ye come to know Him who past understanding doth enlighten the universe, that He is present incarnate, having been born in a cave on earth because of His pity freely granting His great mercy and peace unto the world.

Then did the Magi make their reply to the pure Virgin: Lo, in following Balaam’s words, we closely observed the rising of a bright star in the sky, filled with light and taking an uncommon course. And when we had all beheld this strange thing that was come to pass, and being guided by the star from the very first, we were not remiss to set forth and to make our way. Who, then, is This thou holdest in thine arms as a new born babe? O modest all-holy Maid, how art thou deemed worthy to minister to such a great myst’ry, through which all the world hath found God’s great mercy for itself?

Such things as pass all reason and thought will I now tell you, since ye ask with a mind to learn, the Maiden spake to the Magi, for I behold ye are come hither by behest and order of my Child. Most wondrous and strange is all that is done here, as ye can see, He who is reckoned with the Father outside of time hath of His own will clothed Himself in my poverty so that He might make rich them rendered poor through a willing fall, who lost that holy and blissful and most divine life in Paradise. The same is the Savior, even He that grantest peace and great mercy to the world."

The Boston Byzantine Choir offers authentic Byzantine chant in English, preserving the melodic, modal, and theological integrity of the Orthodox Christian chant tradition. Founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1993, the choir has set the standard for American Orthodox Byzantine chant in the decades since its inception.

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