in the early 1990’s, Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis worked quietly at translating many Greek Christmas folk carols and Orthodox ecclesiastical hymns into English and fitting them to their original melodies. His work became known and loved from being introduced into annual parish Christmas pageants, pan-Orthodox Christmas concerts and parish services. Now, almost 30 years later, his music has been collected, given introductions and offered in this edition as a resource for choir directors, priests and youth leaders. The catchy melodies are likely to become as memorable as the familiar Western Christmas carols, while the lyrics are reminders of the cosmic significance of our Lord Jesus Christ’s miraculous birth.