Vespers Introit and Doxology.

While the last stichera (the Dogmaticon) is being sung, the Royal Gates are opened, in token that the hopes of the faithful have not been idle and that the Incarnation of the Son of God hath opened to them the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven. At this moment, the priest comes out through the north door, preceded by the deacon with the censer and the candle bearer with the great candlestick and lighted candle, and, standing before the Royal Gates, gives a blessing with the sign of the Cross towards the east. The deacon exclaims aloud: “Wisdom! Aright!” The exclamation “Wisdom!” signifies that this entrance expresses the coming into the world of the Saviour, as thus: The entrance through the north door instead of the Royal Gates signifies that Christ came in lowliness; the lighted candle and the censer remind us that He brought us the light of truth and the grace of the Holy Spirit; the blessing by the sign of the Cross signifies that Christ hath opened to us the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven by His passion on the Cross. By the exclamation “Aright!” the deacon invites the worshippers to stand reverently and decorously. They, having heard in the Dogmaticon the news of the Incarnation of the Son of God, and seeing in the priest’s entrance a symbol of the mercies which we have received through this incarnation, sing a hymn of praise to Christ, as being God. While this hymn is being sung, the priest enters the sanctuary and stands behind the altar, near the bema.

“O Gentle Light of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly, holy Father, O Jesus Christ: we, Having come to the setting of the sun, (i.e., having lived to see the sun set), having beheld the evening light, we praise the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be hymned with reverent voices, O Son of God, Giver of life. Wherefore, the world doth glorify Thee.”