The Church’s exhortation to get ready for Christmas is conveyed in poetic language. Our hymns command Bethlehem to prepare and make ready for the Nativity of our Lord:
Behold, the time of our salvation has drawn near: O Cave, make ready! The Virgin is drawing near to give birth. O Bethlehem, land of Judah, be glad and rejoice, for from you our Lord has dawned. Listen, mountains and hills, and lands around Judea, for Christ is coming to save man whom He fashioned, since He loves mankind.
(Vespers of the Forefeast, December 20, first hymn of the Aposticha)
O Bethlehem, land of Judah, splendidly prepare the divine Cave for human habitation, for God is coming there to be born in the flesh from a Holy Virgin who knows not man, to save our race.
(Vespers of the Forefeast, December 20, second hymn of the Aposticha)
Listen, O heaven, and give ear O earth! For, lo! The Son and Word of God the Father goes forth to be born of a Maiden, who knows not man, by the good pleasure of the Father who begot Him impassibly by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. Prepare, O Bethlehem! Throw open your gates, O Eden! For the One Who Is becomes what He was not, and the fashioner of all creation is being fashioned, granting the world His great mercy.
(Vespers of the Forefeast, December 20, third hymn of the Stichera)
These hymns are inspired by one of the great prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem of Judea:
And you, O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah, though you are fewest in number among the thousands of Judah, yet out, of you shall come forth to me the One to be ruler of Israel. His goings forth were from the beginning. Therefore He shall give them up until the appointed time for her to give birth, and then the remnant of their brothers will return to the sons of Israel.
And He shall stand and see, and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, and they will dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their God, for now they will be magnified unto the ends of the earth. (Mic. 5:1-3)
~ Adapted from Vassilios Papavassiliou, Meditations for Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Birth
