In the year 2015 from the birth of Abraham, in the year 1510 from the exodus of the people of Israel out of Egypt, in the year 1032 from the enthronment of David the Prophet and King, in the sixtieth "week" of the prophecy of Daniel, in the fourty-second year of the reign of Caesar Augustus, in the thirty-third year of the reign of Herod, when the staff had gone from Judah as had been prophesied by Jacob the Patriarch, at a time when the whole world was at peace, it please God our Father to send His Only-Begotten Son and Eternal Word to the world to take flesh and become Man and to teach us God's love, to suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day that we might have salvation and life everlasting.
At that time, the Lord Jesus Christ was born in a humble cave in Bethlehem of Juda, and no one knew of it but the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary his mother and Joseph her spouse. No one heard of this miracle surpassing all miracles but a few humble shepherds who had been told by angels in the heavens that sang this hymn: "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will towards men." Then the magi came from the east, led by a star in heaven: they found their way to where the Christ Child was, and they adored Him, and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
To God Incarnate, to the Infant who humbled Himself and took our form, becoming one of us in order that we might become more like Him; to the One who later waked among us to teach us the way of salvation and who loves us so much as to give His life for us: to Him glory, honor and adoration - in all that we are - unto the ages of ages. Amen!
