Thursday Theotokia -- St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey

Lyrics:
1. A splendid wonder revealed to man,
A second heaven in Bethlehem,
A mystery shrouded in swaddling clothes,
In the bridal chamber, He finds repose.
Come, let us adore His birth.

2. The Holy Spirit descends as dew.
O earth, who sowed good seed in you?
Without toiling, God’s vine bears fruit.
A plant from dry ground grows and takes root.
Come, let us adore His birth.

3. As budding branches, we raise our voice,
The heavens and earth together rejoice.
Our angelic praise shall never cease:
“Glory to God, on earth His peace.”
Come, let us adore His birth.

4. Blessings descend from realms beyond.
Arise and shine, for your light has dawned.
O all ye tribes upon the earth:
Gather, exult in awe and mirth,
Come, let us adore His birth. 

5. Eternity crosses the threshold of time,
a gate sealed shut, glorious, sublime.
He enters a Prince and emerges a slave,
The Ancient of Days as young as a babe.
Come, let us adore His birth.

6. Laid in a cave as from the sealed tomb
He proceeds forth from the virginal womb.
Firstborn from among the dead,
He bestows the riches of His Godhead.
Come, let us adore His birth.

7. Behold, the Virgin is with Child!
Both God and Adam now reconciled.
With men on earth, He deigns to dwell:
Our newborn King, Emmanuel.
Come, let us adore His birth.

8. Light of Light on us has dawned
enclosed within these virginal arms.
Fast asleep in His mother’s embrace,
Still from His Father’s throne, He reigns.
Come, let us adore His birth.

9. In the East, Your star shined bright,
Guiding the magi on this* luminous Night.
They found You nursing at Your mother’s breast,
O Bread of Life who feeds all flesh.
Come, let us adore His birth.

10. Life shone forth and was revealed,
a visible marvel, once concealed.
The magi offer Him their gifts:
The Word made flesh, now in our midst.
Come, let us adore His birth.

11. With the magi we offer oblations:
The bread and wine in adoration.
In the manger, the altar of sacrifice,
He offers His flesh, the Bread of Life.
Come, let us adore His birth.

12. Receive God’s gift, all ye faithful:
Set upon this mystical table.
This blessed Night** He comes to us
and finds His rest within our hearts.
Come, let us adore His birth.

* - "that" if not chanted on the festal liturgy vigil
** = "Day" if chanted during the day, as opposed to the festal liturgy vigil

A Splendid Wonder (English Nativity Communion Melody on Ἀστὴρ μάγοις)

Kiahk Psalm 150 Alleluia-Arsani Sidarous

Asomen Spanish

Afrek Etfe - St Mark's Makkar Cedar Grove

Lyrics:

I start this song with words peacefully
About the pride and brightness of humanity
I place my cares permanently 
Upon Virgin Mary who helps quickly
I reveal and speak my mind openly

How can I speak and what can I say
About the mystery of her virginity
Mary's pregnancy baffles minds mysteriously
It is impossible to explain and say
Even the scholars could not find a way

Ezekiel the prophet spoke about her
He greeted her with peace and said about her
Jesus the King will come to her
He is her Lord and the Creator
He loved her before He had made her

All the arts and all the wonders
Even the sayings of the scholars
Her virginity we should not ponder
Our Almighty Lord is the real wonder
Who dwelt in her womb as a Child to her

By His will He suffered and was crucified
He rose from the dead after He died
The Son of Man raised men who died
From the depths of Hades to the Paradise
He returned man to the Paradise of light

The salvation of the creation appeared from
The pure and chosen Virgin Mount Zion
Her pregnancy is a mysterious one
To my heart and to my conscience
But nothing is impossible to my Lord, the One

Moses the prophet spoke a great saying,
With an old prophecy that was amazing
He said that God will truly bring
A great prophet with no equal being
Who created the end and the beginning

He saw you in a burning bush with flames
He became amazed and marveled
Many prophesied what would happen
This is a known symbol of Mary
John the Evangelist spoke and preached

All my life I glorify with melodies
I could not refrain, I must reveal
The mysteries of the Mother of Christ
I was entrusted to evangelize
Regardless of any circumstances

Solomon spoke of you in the Song of Songs
Welcome, my sister, for you I long
The aroma of your clothes is sweet
Truly, John the Evangelist spoke
About Virgin Mary in many words

He testified saying "I saw a lady
Clothed in garments full of light
Clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet
And around her head twelve stars shining
Being with a child, she cried out in labor"

There is no doubt that this is true
The moon is no one but John the Baptist
The twelve stars are the twelve apostles
And surely the Sun in the Child Jesus
This is a simple act of the Mighty God

My heart and mind are attatched to you
I have never seen anyone like you
I always confess and do not deny
You are my fortress and my refuge
A harbor to those who are in distress

We asked and were given
We reached the shore of enlightenment
For we believed with all understanding 
And became righteous and carried the yoke
Of Jesus the Mighty One to His people

Melody of the Nativity Paramoun (Istermagi Tune)

Morning Doxology - Peter Sedrak

Friday Psali & Friday Theotokia

"Esther Magi" in English

Teoi Enhikanos (Live)

Agios O Theos — Fr. John Ibrahim, Anthony Doss, and Chorus (December 12, 2020, Jersey City, NJ, USA)

Coptic Lighthouse is a youth group from St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church of Washington, D.C. who hope to provide some light in a dark and stormy world through praising the True Light, our Lord Jesus Christ.  

“Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.”
Psalms 43:3

Melody of the Nativity Paramoun (Istermagi Tune)

Coptic Lighthouse

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