Icon of Jesus Christ "The Bethlehemite"

15th Century Icon of Jesus Christ "The Bethlehemite" from Kastoria (source)

  

"One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite*, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” 

-1 Samuel 16:18

*Here, David, the Son of Jesse, is foreshadowing another Son, Jesus Christ, Who would later also come from Bethlehem

 

Another view of this famous icon (source)

  

"Seeing Christ’s healing temple opened, and how health streams from Him to Adam, the devil suffered and was stricken. Then he wailed as if in mortal danger and to his friends raised a bitter howl: what shall I do to the Son of Mary? The Bethlehemite is killing me, Who is everywhere present and fills all things."

-Oikos from Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

(source)

 

A modern rendering of Jesus Christ "The Bethlehemite" by Hadjimichael (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Come, let us hymn the Mother of the Savior..."

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

Icon "All Creation Rejoices in Thee" (source)

  

Come, let us hymn the Mother of the Savior, who after giving birth, remained a Virgin. Rejoice, O animate City of our King and God, in whom Christ dwelt, having worked our salvation. Together with Gabriel we hymn you, together with the Shepherds we cry out: O Theotokos, intercede with Him Who took on flesh from you, that we be saved.
-Idiomelon of the Praises from Matins of Christmas
  
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The Nativity Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

The Nativity of Christ (source)

   

The first and great Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist, written through God's help in honor of His Nativity in the flesh.
   

On the Nativity of Christ
by St. Romanos the Melodist
   
Prelude
Today the Virgin gives birth to him who is above all being,
and the earth offers a cave to him whom no one can approach. Angels with shepherds give glory,
and magi journey with a star,
for to us there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages. 

Bethlehem has opened Eden, come, let us see;
we have found delight in secret, come, let us receive the joys of Paradise within the cave.

There the unwatered root whose blossom is forgiveness has appeared. There has been found the undug well
from which David once longed to drink.
There a virgin has borne a babe
and has quenched at once Adam’s and David’s thirst.
For this, let us hasten to this place where there has been born

a little Child, God before the ages.

(Note, this excerpt is taken from the English translation by Fr. Ephraim Lash of blessed memory, available in his wonderful book: On the Life of Christ: Chanted Sermons by the Great Sixth Century Poet and Singer St. Romanos (Sacred Literature Trust Series); the English text of this translation is available here, is available read by Frederica Mathewes-Green here, and the original Greek is available here)
   

The Nativity of Christ (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Ignatius of Antioch on the Mystery of Christ's Incarnation

The Nativity of Christ (source)

  
"Let my spirit be counted as nothing for the sake of the cross, which is a stumbling-block" to those that do not believe, but to us salvation and life eternal. "Where is the wise man? where the disputer?" Where is the boasting of those who are styled prudent? For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Spirit. He was born and baptized, that by His passion He might purify the water.

"Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the Lord; three mysteries of renown, which were wrought in silence by God. How, then, was He manifested to the world? A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of Which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else [in the heavens]. Hence every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom abolished, God Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. And now that took a beginning which had been prepared by God. Henceforth all things were in a state of tumult, because He meditated the abolition of death."
-St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians
  
(source)

 

The Magi following the Star (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Iakovos of Evia on the joy of the Nativity of Christ

The Adoration of the Magi (source)

  
"Yes, my good children! My joy was so great from the nativity of Christ, that I couldn't keep it to myself. I said to myself, 'O Iakovos, go into the forest to chant: 'Christ is born, glorify Him''. And as I was changing the birds came and chanted together with me."

This St. Iakovos of Evia told to students who came as pilgrims to the Monastery of St. David, when, after the vigil of Christmas, they took a walk in the forest and saw the holy elder chanting, surrounded by birds.
(source)
  

St. Iakovos of Evia chanting of Christ's birth in the forest, surrounded by birds (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. John of Kronstadt: The most pleasing sacrifice to the Infant Jesus Christ

The Nativity of Christ (source)

 

“What, then, O, brethren, is required of us in order that we might avail ourselves of all the grace brought unto us from on high by the coming to earth of the Son of God? What is necessary, first of all, is faith in the Son of God, in the Gospel as the salvation-bestowing heavenly teaching; a true repentance of sins and the correction of life and of heart; communion in prayer and in the mysteries [sacraments]; the knowledge and fulfillment of Christ’s commandments. Also necessary are the virtues: Christian humility, alms-giving, continence, purity and chastity, simplicity and goodness of heart.

Let us, then, O brothers and sisters, bring these virtues as a gift to the One Who was born for the sake of our salvation – let us bring them in place of the gold, frankincense and myrrh which the Magi brought Him, as to One Who is King, God, and Man, come to die for us. This, from us, shall be the most-pleasing form of sacrifice to God and to the Infant Jesus Christ.”

-St. John of Kronstadt, Sermon on the Nativity of Jesus Christ

(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"With every "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," it is like casting an atomic bomb in the heart of the devil..."

Jesus Christ enthroned in glory (source)

  
When a man says: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," do you know what happens? It brings energy, it brings the Grace of the Holy Spirit puts it in action. He orders this "fire" of Divine Grace, to be worked throughout the earth. And how is this done? It brings joy to the angels, and brings sadness and enflames the demons. It is a further hell for the demons.
  
With every "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," it is like casting an atomic bomb in the heart of the devil (and because of this, [the devil] fervently puts up roadblocks) and it will be heard unto the ages of ages, not because we ourselves have this Grace, but because the name of Jesus Christ itself carries this energy and Grace and has so much power, as much power and Grace that His Godhead has!
  
For this Grace to be energized in essence in ourselves, we must have the following presuppositions:
A) frequent sacramental life
B) to have been forgiven by all men,
C) to proceed through life with purity in body and soul,
D) to have a spiritual guide, and,
E) to have an order and daily program of spiritual duties in the realm of silence and compunction.
-Elder Ephraim of St Andrew Skete, Mount Athos
  
(source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"The Lord glorified you with a multitude of wonders and awesome deeds..."

St. Spyridon the Wonderworker (source)

  
The Lord glorified you with a multitude of wonders and awesome deeds, O blessed one, for in the holy Synod, you proclaimed the Holy Trinity, and you raised the dead, and transformed the snake into gold, and paradoxically, you turned back and passed through the raging river through your prayers.
-Exaposteilarion for the feast of St. Spyridon the Wonderworker
  
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (source)

  
Well done, good and faithful servant! Well done, worker in the vineyard of Christ! You bore the heat of the day, and to you was given the talent, while you did not grumble against those who came after you. Therefore, the gate of the heavens have been opened unto you. Enter into the joy of your Lord, and intercede on behalf of us, O St. Nicholas.
-Idiomelon of the 50th Psalm, Matins for St. Nicholas
  
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"You were mystically illumined with the radiance of the Spirit..."

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

 

You were mystically illumined with the radiance of the Spirit, and were thus shown forth to be a true prophet of noetic and divine things, O Porphyrios. For through your zeal for ascetic deeds, you overtook all, reaching a height of virtues hard to climb. And having received a multitude of gifts from the Spirit, you grant many gifts and wonders to those who entreat you, while your life instructs all, calling them to repentance. But, O venerable and compassionate Father, intercede for salvation of souls for those who of those who take refuge in your boldness [before God].

-Idiomelon from the Great Vespers for St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

   

(source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!