Christmas Eve Preparation – an early Christian ‘sermon hymn’ on the Nativity

If you want a deeply spiritual treat this Christmas season, let me urge you to listen to or read one of the best loved ‘hymns’ of Eastern Church music called the Kontakion of the Nativity.  listen to Frederica Mathewes-Green reading the full Kontakion with background music.

The written version can be downloaded and read.

This Kontakion is the work of the 6th century poet and singer Romanos and is in dialog form involving Mary and the Magi. This text document has all the biblical references and background to the work.

I love this sermonic and poetic hymn because it is filled with rich biblical imagery and ties the themes of the whole Bible together, especially Christ as the ‘Second Adam,’ which is the theme of my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sermons.

EnJOY!

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