ity and the adoration of the
shepherds, and the Wise Men are very prominent in the services. The
following hymn of St. Anatolius (fifth century), from the First Vespers
of the feast, is fairly typical of the character of the Christmas
offices:--

"When Jesus Our Lord was born of Her,
The Holy Virgin, all the universe
Became enlightened.
For as the shepherds watched their flocks,
And as the Magi came to pray,
And as the Angels sang their hymn
Herod was troubled; for God in flesh appeared,
The Saviour of our souls.

Thy kingdom, Christ our God, the kingdom is
Of all the worlds, and Thy dominion
O'er every generation bears the sway,
Incarnate of the Holy Ghost,
Man of the Ever-Virgin Mary,
By Thy presence, Christ our God,
Thou hast shined a Light on us.
Light of Light, the Brightness of the Father,
Thou hast beamed on every creature.
All that hath breath doth praise Thee,
Image of the Father's glory.
Thou who art, and wast before,
God who shinedst from the Maid,
Have mercy upon us.

What gift shall we bring to Thee,
O Christ, since Thou as Man on earth
For us hast shewn Thyself? |101|
Since every creature made by Thee
Brings to Thee its thanksgiving.
The Angels bring their song,
The Heavens bring their star,
The Magi bring their gifts,
The Shepherds bring their awe,
Earth gives a cave, the wilderness a manger,
And we the Virgin-Mother bring.
God before all worlds, have mercy upon us!"{27}

A beautiful rite called the "Peace of God" is performed in Slavonic
churches at the end of the "Liturgy" or Mass on Christmas morning--the
people kiss one another on both cheeks, saying, "Christ is born!" To this
the answer is made, "Of a truth He is born!" and the kisses are returned.
This is repeated till everyone has kissed and been kissed by all
present.{28}

* * * * *

We must pass rapidly over the feasts of saints within the Octave of the
western Christmas, St. Stephen (December 26), St. John the Evangelist
(December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28), and St. Sylvester
(December 31). None of these, except the feast of the Holy Innocents,
have any special connection with the Nativity or the Infancy, and the
popular customs connected with them will come up for consideration in our
Second Part.

The commemoration of the Circumcision ("wh