Οἶκος Η'
The Shepherds' Witness
The shepherds recognize the newborn Christ as the Lamb of God and honor Mary as the Mother of the Shepherd.
The shepherds heard the angels singing of Christ's presence in the flesh; and running as toward a shepherd, they see him as a spotless lamb pastured in Mary's womb, and as they sang her praise they said: Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and Shepherd; rejoice, fold of the rational sheep.1
The Universal Rejoicing
A series of salutations celebrating Mary's role in opening Paradise, uniting heaven and earth, and securing the victory of the faith.
Rejoice, defense against unseen enemies; rejoice, key that opens the gates of Paradise. Rejoice, for the things of heaven share their joy with the earth; rejoice, for the things of earth dance with the heavens. Rejoice, never-silenced mouth of the Apostles; rejoice, invincible courage of the prize-bearing martyrs.2 Rejoice, firm support of the faith; rejoice, bright mark of Grace. Rejoice, through whom Hades was stripped bare; rejoice, through whom we were clothed in glory. Rejoice, Bride unwedded.
Read the original Latin
Ἤκουσαν οἱ ποιμένες, τῶν Ἀγγέλων ὑμνούντων, τὴν ἔνσαρκον Χριστοῦ παρουσίαν· καὶ δραμόντες ὡς πρὸς ποιμένα, θεωροῦσι τοῦτον ὡς ἀμνὸν ἄμωμον, ἐν γαστρὶ τῆς Μαρίας βοσκηθέντα, ἥν ὑμνοῦντες εἶπον· Χαῖρε, Ἀμνοῦ καὶ Ποιμένος Μῆτερ, χαῖρε, αὐλὴ λογικῶν προβάτων. Χαῖρε, ἀοράτων ἐχθρῶν ἀμυντήριον, χαῖρε, Παραδείσου θυρῶν ἀνοικτήριον. Χαῖρε, ὅτι τὰ οὐράνια συναγάλλεται τῇ γῇ, χαῖρε, ὅτι τὰ ἐπίγεια συγχορεύει οὐρανοῖς. Χαῖρε, τῶν Ἀποστόλων τὸ ἀσίγητον στόμα, χαῖρε, τῶν Ἀθλοφόρων τὸ ἀνίκητον θάρσος. Χαῖρε, στερρὸν τῆς πίστεως ἔρεισμα, χαῖρε, λαμπρὸν τῆς Χάριτος γνώρισμα. Χαῖρε, δι' ἧς ἐγυμνώθη ὁ Ἅδης, χαῖρε, δι' ἧς ἐνεδύθημεν δόξαν. Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.
Notes
Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos companion
Never lose the rhythm again
Chosen Portion delivers your morning, midday and night office to your phone — the Hours, without the bells.
Chosen Portion is a modern Book of Hours: it turns the fixed-hour structure this collection preserves into scheduled, tappable daily prayer on your phone.
- Three daily prayer moments scheduled around your real calendar, not a monastery's
- Psalms and historic prayers sequenced for you — no page-flipping or decision fatigue
- A visible streak of completed offices, so the rhythm compounds instead of collapsing