Four idiomelas from the Royal Hours of the Nativity, chanted by the Vatopedi Choir, Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos:
Ὥρα Πρώτη-Ἦχος πλ. δ'
Βηθλεὲμ ἑτοιμάζου· εὐτρεπιζέσθω ἡ φάτνη· τὸ Σπήλαιον δεχέσθω, ἡ ἀλήθεια ἦλθεν· ἡ σκιὰ παρέδραμε· καὶ Θεὸς ἀνθρώποις, ἐκ Παρθένου πεφανέρωται, μορφωθείς τὸ καθ' ἡμᾶς, καὶ θεώσας τὸ πρόσλημμα. Διὸ Ἀδὰμ ἀνανεοῦται σὺν τῇ Εὔᾳ, κράζοντες· Ἐπὶ γῆς εὐδοκία ἐπεφάνη, σῶσαι τὸ γένος ἡμῶν.
First Hour-Tone pl. of 4th
Prepare, O Bethlehem. Let the manger make ready and the cave anticipate. The truth has come and the shadow has passed away. Born of a Virgin, God has appeared to men, taking our form and deifying that which He assumed. Therefore Adam and Eve are renewed, and they cry out, "The good-will of God has appeared on earth for the salvation of the human race."
Ἤχος πλ. δ'
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.
Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, Ἀμήν.
Τάδε λέγει Ἰωσὴφ πρὸς τὴν Παρθένον· Μαρία, τὶ τὸ δρᾶμα τοῦτο, ὃ ἐν σοὶ τεθέαμαι; ἀπορῶ καὶ ἐξίσταμαι, καὶ τὸν νοῦν καταπλήττομαι! Λάθρα τοίνυν ἀπ' ἐμοῦ, γενοῦ ἐν τάχει. Μαρία, τὶ τὸ δρᾶμα τοῦτο, ὃ ἐν σοὶ τεθέαμαι; ἀντὶ τιμῆς αἰσχύνην, ἀντ' εὐφροσύνης, τὴν λύπην, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐπαινεῖσθαι, τὸν ψόγον μοι προσήγαγες. Οὐκ ἔτι φέρω λοιπόν, τὸ ὄνειδος ἀνθρώπων· ὑπὸ γὰρ Ἱερέων ἐκ τοῦ ναοῦ, ὡς ἄμεμπτον Κυρίου σὲ παρέλαβον· καὶ τὶ τὸ ὁρώμενον;
Tone pl. of 4th
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages, Amen.
Thus saith Joseph to the Virgin, What is this thing, O Mary, which I behold in thee? Verily, I am surprised and perplexed, and my mind is dazzled! Wherefore, henceforth from this moment be thou secluded in secret. What is this matter, O Mary, that I behold in thee? For thou hast given me instead of honour, disgrace; and instead of gladness, sorrow; and instead of being extolled, thou hast brought me blame. Therefore, I cannot bear the reproach of men, from the Temple of the Lord I took thee; from the priests I received thee as innocent of all blame. What then is this thing I behold?
Ὥρα Τρίτη-Ἦχος πλ. β'
Οὗτος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, οὐ λογισθήσεται ἕτερος πρὸς αὐτόν, ὁ τεχθεὶς ἐκ Παρθένου, καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις συναναστραφείς. Φάτνῃ πενιχρᾷ Υἱὸς μονογενής, κείμενος ὁρᾶται βροτός· καὶ σπαργάνοις πλέκεται, ὁ τῆς δόξης Κύριος, καὶ Μάγους ἀστὴρ μηνύει, εἰς αὐτοῦ προσκύνησιν, καὶ ἡμεῖς μελῳδοῦμεν·Τριὰς Ἁγία, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἠμών.
Third Hour-Tone pl. of 2nd
This is our God, beside Whom none other may be considered. He it was Who was born of the Virgin and went about among men, the only-begotten Son, beheld as a man placed in a mean manger, the Lord of glory wrapped in swaddling clothes. And the star pointeth for the Magi to worship Him; and we sing shouting, O Holy Trinity, save our souls.
Ἦχος γ'
Δόξα Πατρὶ καὶ Υἱῷ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.
Καὶ νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τούς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, Ἀμήν.
Ἰωσήφ, εἰπὲ ἡμῖν, πῶς ἐκ τὼν ἁγίων ἣν παρέλαβες Κόρην, ἔγκυον φέρεις ἐν Βηθλεέμ; Ἐγὼ φησι, τοὺς Προφήτας ἐρευνήσας, καὶ χρηματισθεὶς ὑπὸ Ἀγγέλου, πέπεισμαι, ὅτι Θεὸν γεννήσει ἡ Μαρία ἀνερμηνεύτως· οὗ εἰς προσκύνησιν, Μάγοι ἐξ Ἀνατολῶν ἥξουσι, σὺν δώροις τιμίοις λατρεύοντες. Ὁ σαρκωθεὶς δι' ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, δόξα σοι.
Τone 3rd
Tell us, O Joseph, how it is that thou dost bring the Virgin whom thou didst receive from the holy places to Bethlehem great with child? And he replieth, saying, I have searched the Prophets, and it was revealed to me by the angel. Therefore, I am convinced that Mary shall give birth in an inexplicable manner to God, whom Magi from the east shall come to worship and to serve with precious gifts. Wherefore, O Thou who wast incarnate for our sakes, glory to Thee.
The Nativity Liturgy at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (live recording, 12/25/2020):
(2:56:04)