St. Cosmas' Canon for the Nativity

The title of this song can perhaps more accurately be translated as "Christ is Born, Give Glory". However, "Christ is Born, Glorify Him" is the more traditional Nativity greeting and translation.

Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, δοξάσατε - (Christos Gennatai) - Greek Children's Songs - Greece - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World  - Intro Image

Notes

Words by Cosmas of Maiuma (d. 794)
Music by William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

Pronunciation

Christós gennátai, doxásate


Christós gennátai, doxásate
Christós ex ouranón, apantísate.
Christós epí gís, ipsóthite.
Ásate tó Kyrío pása i yí,
kaí en effrosýni, animnísate laí,
óti dedóxastai.


Réfsanta ek paraváseos,
Theoú tón kat' ikóna yenómenon,
ólon tís fthorás ipárxanta,
kríttonos eptaikóta thías zoís,
afthis anaplátti, o sofós Dimiourgós,
óti dedóxastai.


Idón o Ktístis ollímenon,
tón ánthropon khersín, ón epíise,
klínas ouranoús katérkhetai
toúton dé ek Parthénou thías agnís,
ólon ousioútai, alithía sarkothís,
óti dedóxastai.


Sofía lógos kaí dýnamis,
Yiós ón toú Patrós, kaí apávgasma,
Christós o Theós, dinámeis lathón,
ósas iperkosmíous, ósas en yí,
kaí enanthropísas, anektísato imás:
óti dedóxastai.

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Sung by Robin Lamb.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Loose translation by Lisa.

Image: The Nativity (1658) by Moskos Ilias (1649 - 1687).