Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, δοξάσατε
(Christos Gennatai)
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)
Christ is Born, Glorify Him
Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol
(Greek)
(English)
Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, δοξάσατε
Χριστὸς ἐξ οὐρανῶν, ἀπαντήσατε.
Χριστὸς ἐπὶ γῆς, ὑψώθητε.
ᾌσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ,
καὶ ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, ἀνυμνήσατε λαοί,
ὅτι δεδόξασται.
Ῥεύσαντα ἐκ παραβάσεως,
Θεοῦ τὸν κατ' εἰκόνα γενόμενον,
ὅλον τῆς φθορᾶς ὑπάρξαντα,
κρείττονος ἑπταικότα θείας ζωῆς,
αὖθις ἀναπλάττει, ὁ σοφὸς Δημιουργός,
ὅτι δεδόξασται.
Ἰδὼν ὁ Κτίστης ὀλλύμενον,
τὸν ἄνθρωπον χερσίν, ὃν ἐποίησε,
κλίνας οὐρανοὺς κατέρχεται
τοῦτον δὲ ἐκ Παρθένου θείας ἁγνῆς,
ὅλον οὐσιοῦται, ἀληθείᾳ σαρκωθείς,
ὅτι δεδόξασται.
Σοφία λόγος καὶ δύναμις,
Υἱὸς ὢν τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ ἀπαύγασμα,
Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δυνάμεις λαθών,
ὅσας ὑπερκοσμίους, ὅσας ἐν γῇ,
καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσας, ἀνεκτήσατο ἡμᾶς·
ὅτι δεδόξασται.
Christ is born, glorify Him
Christ from Heaven, go meet Him.
Christ on earth, be exalted.
Sing to the Lord, O world!
And praise Him in joy,
For He is glorified.
He has allegedly transgressed,
God of the created,
Subject to all the corruption, fell
From the divine life,
Him, the wise Creator redeems himself,
For He is glorified.
And the Creator seeing that
The men on earth were perishing
Descended from the heavens
To the divine Virgin Mary,
Taking on our flesh,
For He is glorified.
The wisdom and power,
And word of God, the Son of the Father,
Christ the God, unknown to the powers above,
Hidden from those on earth, in human form
Won back the human race,
For He is glorified.
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.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Loose translation by Lisa.
Image: The Nativity (1658) by Moskos Ilias (1649 - 1687).