Be thou in dread concerning this, O heaven, and let earth’s limits be amaz’d: for God hath shewn himself in flesh to men, and wider than the heavens thy womb becomes. Therefore the principals of Angels and of men thee magnify, God-bearing one. _Refrain._ Rest thou the babe, O Lord. Christ, who unchang’d becam’st a babe, and willingly didst bear the cross, and the maternal pain didst see of her that gave thee birth; assuage the grief and bitter pain of faithful parents of a babe deceas’d, that we thy might may glorify. Master, thou King of all, who from on high didst send and take the happy babe as a pure bird to heavenly nest, thou hast from diverse snares preserv’d his soul, and join’d it with the righteous souls thy kingdom’s sweets that taste. _Glory._ To babes that nothing have perform’d, O Word of God, thou hast vouchsaf’d a heavenly dwelling-place; for so thou art well-pleas’d, O blessed one, with these to count up thy creation; and, taking now the babe to thee, do thou thyself alleviate the parents’ pain, as all-compassionate and lover of mankind. _Both now. Theotokion._ The heart’s eyes turn I ever unto thee, who hast maternal prayer with him who birth receiv’d from thee; for I entreat thee, O All-pure, Quell thou the passions of my soul, rouse me betimes to penitence, O maid, and with thy light enlighten me. _Then the little ectenia._ _And the exapostilarion._ Now am I at rest, and much forgiveness have receiv’d; for I have passed from corruption, and am translated unto life: glory to thee, O Lord. _And the people the same._ _Verse._ Man is as grass, his day is as a flower of the field. _Verse._ For his spirit goeth forth through him, and he shall not be. _Verse._ And the mercy of the Lord shall endure to ages. _And to each verse the exapostilarion._ _Then, Glory. Both now._ Now have I chosen the maiden Mother of God; for Christ, redeemer of all, was born of her: glory to thee, O Lord. _And straightway the priest exclaimeth,_ For holy art thou, O our God, and thou restest on the Saints, and to thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. _Choir._ Amen. _And they sing_, Holy God.... _Prokimenon, tone vi._ Blessed is the way in which thou goest to-day, O soul.... _Verse._ Return, O my soul, unto thy rest. _The epistle to the Corinthians, section clxii._ Brethren, all flesh is not the same.... _ending_, a quickening spirit.[49] _Verse._ Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and received, O Lord. _Verse._ His soul shall dwell in good things. _The gospel from John, section xxi._ The Lord spake unto the Jews that came unto him, I am the bread of life.... _ending_, at the last day.[50]