The Magi “saw in the hands of the Virgin Him Who with His hand made man”

Having sighted the divinely-moving star, the Magi followed its radiance; and holding it as a lamp, by it they sought a powerful King; and having reached the Unreachable One, they rejoiced, shouting to Him: Alleluia!

The sons of the Chaldees saw in the hands of the Virgin Him Who with His hand made man. And knowing Him to be the Master, even though He had taken the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him with gifts, and to cry to her who is blessed:

Rejoice, Mother of the Unsetting Star:

Rejoice, dawn of the mystic day!

Rejoice, thou who didst extinguish the furnace of error:

Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten the initiates of the Trinity! 

Rejoice, thou who didst banish from power the inhuman tyrant:

Rejoice, thou who didst show us Christ the Lord, the Lover of mankind!

Rejoice, thou who redeemest from pagan worship: 

Rejoice, thou who dost drag us from the works of mire! 

Rejoice, thou who didst quench the worship of fire:

Rejoice, thou who rescuest from the flame of the passions!

Rejoice, guide of the faithful to chastity: 

Rejoice, gladness of all generations!

Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

Rejoice,

O Bride

Unwedded!

The Magi returned to Babylon as witnesses, bearers of God. There they announced the Good News and fulfilled the Scriptures by proclaiming you before all as the Messiah. Herod was left alone, left to his stupidity, unable to enter into praise: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Akathist Hymn to Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos

This hymn is traditionally attributed to St. Romanos the Melodist (d. 560) who composed it for the feast of the Annunciation in 532, after the imperial city of Constantinople, "the city of the Virgin," had been delivered from the evils of a civil war under Emperor Justinian.