St. Romanos the Melodist, born in the 5th century, had the gift of writing kontakia The Virgin appeared to him in a dream on Christmas eve, and gave him a scroll which he swallowed. The poet rose from sleep, gave praise to God, went straight to church and, mounting the pulpit, chanted the Nativity kontakion. Most of the present poem takes the form of a dialogue between the Mother of God and the magi, whose visit to the newborn Child is celebrated in the Byzantine rite on 25th of December. Although in many churches only the prelude is sung, it consist of 24 stanzas.
Prelude
Today the Virgin gives birth to him who is above all being,
and the earth offers a cave to him whom no one can approach.
Angels with shepherds give glory,
and magi journey with a star,
for to us there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages
and the earth offers a cave to him whom no one can approach.
Angels with shepherds give glory,
and magi journey with a star,
for to us there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages
The entire kontakion
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