Your star appeared to the magi, •
O king who is prior to time. •
O you tribes of the earth, •
gather together to worship him; •
he who was born upon the earth.

A visible marvel, the magi saw. • 
Life [himself] emerged and came forth. • 
They offered their gifts to him, • 
praising God who was born, saying, • 
“Glory be to you, O holy one.”

Behold, the Virgin has given birth! • 
[Son of] God has become [Son of] man! • 
God the Logos came to us! • 
Great is this mystery: • 
the birth of Emmanuel.

She came to be a temple for God. • 
This miracle is wonderful. • 
He chose to dwell within her. • 
O you tribes of the earth, • 
let us bless this holy place. 

The rod in the hand of Aaron • 
dwelt with God and befriended him . • 
Her branches sprouted and blossomed • 
by means of the magi and the Hebrews.  • 
Draw near to bow down to him.

Light from Light dawned on us • 
and we have abounded in joy, • 
singing and chanting with the magi, • 
“O faithless [ones], let us believe • 
in the coming of [the Lord] Christ."

Coptic Antiphon for the Nativity - Your Star Appeared to the Magi

Daniel Girgis, ordained SDn. Augustine in the Coptic Orthodox Church, has received his Master of Arts in Theology degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 2021. He has also received his PharmD degree from the SUNY University at Buffalo in 2019. His research focuses on preserving Coptic tradition through the combination and reconciliation of both the oral transmission of Coptic chant and the analysis of liturgical manuscripts; using these two factors to identify and restore authentic and proper ritual practice in the Coptic Rite.