The evangelists describe this greatest event in the world as follows:
Matthew, ch. 1, art. 18-25 (Matthew 1:18-25): The Nativity of Jesus Christ was like this: after the betrothal of His Mother Mary to Joseph, before they were united, it turned out that She was pregnant with the Holy Spirit.
Joseph, Her husband, being righteous and not wanting to make Her public, wanted to secretly let Her go. But when he thought this, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph, son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife; for that which is born in Her is of the Holy Spirit; and she will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus; for He will save His people from their sins. And all this happened, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, who says: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel, which means: God is with us” (Is. 7:14). Rising from sleep, Joseph did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him and received his wife. And She did not know how She finally gave birth to Her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Luke, ch. 2, Art. 1-20 (Luke 2:1-20): In those days a command came from Caesar Augustus to make a census throughout the whole earth... And everyone went to be registered, each to his own city. Joseph also went from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to enroll with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for Her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the hotel. In that country there were shepherds in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Suddenly an Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were afraid with great fear. And the Angel said to them: Do not be afraid; I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people: for today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord; and here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the Angel, glorifying God and crying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
When the Angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other: let's go to Bethlehem and see what happened there, which the Lord told us about. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in a manger. When they saw it, they told about what had been announced to them about this Child. And all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these words, writing them in Her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, as they had been told.
Matthew: ch. 2, Art. 1-12 (Matthew 2:1-12): When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” for we saw His star in the east and came to worship Him. Hearing this, King Herod became alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And having gathered all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked them: where should Christ be born? They said to him: in Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what is written through the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way less than the provinces of Judah; for from you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Mic. 5:2). Then Herod secretly called the wise men, found out from them the time of the appearance of the star and, sending them to Bethlehem, said: go, carefully investigate the Child, and when you find it, inform me, so that I too can go to worship Him. After listening to the king, they left. And behold, the star that they saw in the east walked before them, when it finally came and stood over the place where the Child was.
Seeing the star, they rejoiced with very great joy, and, entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His Mother, and fell down and worshiped Him; and having opened their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by a different route.
The All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, at which the solemn song of the prophet Isaiah is sung:
God is with us, understand, pagans, and repent, as God is with us! (Isa.8:9-10, 12-14, 17-18; Isa.9:2, 6).
Frequent repetition in this song: “God is with us!” testifies to the spiritual joy of believers who recognize God-Emmanuel among themselves.
Troparion.
Thy Nativity, Christ our God, rises up and is the world's light of reason: in it, for those who serve as stars study with the stars, I bow to You, the Sun of Truth, and I lead You from the heights of the East. Lord, glory to You!
Your Nativity, Christ our God, illuminated the world with the light of the knowledge of God; for then - those who served the stars as God - were taught by the star to worship You, the Sun of Truth, and to know You, the East, from above. Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion.
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Most Existent, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable: Angels with shepherds praise, and wolves with a star travel: for for our sake the Child of Young, the Eternal God, was born.
Now the Virgin gives birth to the One who is above all created things, and the earth presents a cave to the Unapproachable; Angels with shepherds praise, wise men travel with a star: for for us a young Child was born - the eternal God.
Stichera.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, today Bethlehem will receive Him who sits everlastingly with the Father, today the Angels will gloriously glorify the born Child: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Greatness.
We magnify You, life-giving Christ, for our sake now born in the flesh from the brideless and most pure Virgin Mary.
Prokeimenon.
From the womb before the morning star I gave birth to Thee, the Lord swears and will not repent (Ps. 109:3-4).
Irmosy.
1. Christ is born, glorify: Christ is from heaven, descend: Christ is on earth, ascend. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people, for you have been glorified.
3. First of all, to the Son born incorruptible from the Father, and in the last from the Virgin incarnate without seed, let us cry out to Christ God: Our exalted horn, holy art thou, O Lord.
4. The rod from the root of Jesse and the flower from it, Christ, you grew from the Virgin, you came from the mountain of praise of the shaded thicket, incarnate from the unartful, immaterial and God. Glory to Your power, Lord.
5. God of peace, Father of bounties, You sent us the great counsel of Your Angel, the giver of peace. Thus, having been taught the wisdom of God towards the light, from the morning we glorify Thee, O Lover of Mankind.
6 From the womb of the baby Jonah the sea beast vomited, and received him: but the Word entered into the Virgin, and the flesh that was received passed on, preserved incorruptible: for it did not suffer corruption, but preserve the one who gave birth unharmed.
7. The fathers were educated in piety, heedless of the evil command, not afraid of the fiery rebuke, but standing in the midst of the flames: God of the fathers, blessed art thou.
8. Draw an image of the miracle of the supernatural, germinating cave: it is not as if the young ones are burning, as if below the fire of the Divinity of the Virgin, in the lower depths, the womb. Thus let us sing in praise: may all creation bless the Lord and exalt it to all ages.
Christ is born - glorify! Christ from heaven, take it away! Christ is on earth, ascend! Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and sing with joy, O people: for He is glorified.
Before the ages, from the Father to the incorruptible Son, and in the last times, to the incarnate Son of the Virgin, let us exclaim to Christ God: Thou hast exalted our dignity, holy art Thou, O Lord!
Christ, the branch from the root of Jesse and the flower from it, you were born of the Virgin; from a mountain overshadowed by a thicket, you came, all-praised, incarnate from the womanless, immaterial and God. Glory to Your power, Lord!
God of peace, Father of mercy, You have sent us an Angel (messenger) of Your great counsel, giving peace. Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, beginning our morning prayers at night, we praise You, Lover of Mankind.
The sea beast spewed Jonah out of his womb like a baby, just as he had received him; and the Word, having inhabited the Virgin and taking flesh, was born, keeping Her intact; for It preserved the One who gave birth to Him from the corruption that Itself did not undergo.
The youths, brought up together in piety, despising the wicked command, were not afraid of the threat of fire, but, standing among the flames, sang: Blessed are You, God of the fathers.