Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord as we tell of this present mystery.
The middle wall of partition has been destroyed;
the flaming sword turns back,
the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,
and I partake of the delight of Paradise
from which I was cast out through disobedience.
For the express Image of the Father,
the Imprint of His eternity,
takes the form of a servant,
and without undergoing change
He comes forth from a Mother
who knew not wedlock.
For what He was, He has remained, true God:
and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself,
becoming man through love for mankind.
Unto Him let us cry aloud: God born of a Virgin,
have mercy upon us.
from the Vespers of Nativity