Let us also pay attention to the shades that the deserving person acquired in the Slavic translation. The word comfortably in the expression comfortably feared is perceived in two ways: not only as “not bringing trouble,” but also as “not-poor,” that is, rich. Surprisingly, such a “change of sign” does not contradict the Greek text, but only reveals it in a new way, complements it: it would be more fitting for us to love reverent silence, as filled with the fear of God, the fear of the inexpressible, unspeakable, unspoken mystery (let us remember the expressions of other hymns: every mind is amazed to praise according to its property, the branches of multiplicity, like fish of silence, and etc.); but we cannot help but strive for love with all the strength of our soul, with our whole being, to weave long-form songs, even though it is inconvenient to eat! And for this singing we ask the Mother of God for strength - because it is beyond human power due to the inexpressibility of what is being sung, because fear requires silence, and love requires song, and it would seem impossible to combine this!
But we have the will, the ardent desire to sing without losing this saving fear, and the Mother of God is strong to help us.
Liturgical poetry is always the realization of such a miracle, crowning the sincere and selfless will of the songwriter with the power bestowed from above.
The first canon of the Nativity of Christ, the irmos of which we hear in the church starting from the Feast of the Presentation, was created by the Monk Cosmas of Maium.