The First Sunday of Great Lent is kept as the anniversary of the restoration of the Holy Icons to veneration and honour after the final defeat of the iconoclast heresy. The Seventh Ecumenical Council in the year 787 condemned the iconoclast heresy, but the final restoration of the Holy Icons did not take place until 843, with a solemn procession on the first Sunday of Lent in that year. Ever since then, all the churches of the Byzantine tradition, including our Ukrainian Catholic Church, remember that event joyfully. The reference to “Orthodoxy” in the title of this First Sunday of Lent is not denominational; it refers to all those who venerate the Holy Icons properly in divine worship. The Catholic Church fully accepts the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the proper veneration and use of the Holy Icons. So the restoration of the Holy Icons is a cause of joy for all Christians who accept the proper use of the Holy Icons. In our own times, we rejoice further to see an increasing appreciation of the importance of the Holy Icons among Anglicans, Lutherans and other Western Christians.
The veneration of the Holy Icons is based on fundamental Christology, on our belief in the incarnation of the Son of God, and on our understanding of salvation for the Holy Mother of God and the saints. In the Incarnation, God did not simply speak to us, or come to us intellectually; God became Man. The Second Person of the Holy Trinity, God the Son, by the Will of His Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, took on Himself a human nature in the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who thus became Theotokos, the Holy Mother of God.
The human nature and the divine nature of Jesus Christ, Who is always One unique person, are never separated. Instead, human nature is redeemed by Christ’s assumption of that human nature. When Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, He did not leave His human nature behind; He brought that redeemed human nature with Him, and thus accomplished the plan of our redemption. Thus it became right, appropriate, and necessary to venerate the humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Likewise with the Blessed Mother of God and all the saints. To be a saint means that a Christian gains such holiness, such deep union with God, that the image of God in that person, given at creation, shines in and through that person without distortion. In venerating the icons of the saints, then, we venerate the image of God in the saints.
The root of iconoclasm, the denial of the Holy Icons, is a false Christology: either the iconoclast denies the full humanity of Christ, and therefore cannot venerate that humanity whose very existence he does not accept, or the iconoclast denies the full divinity of Christ, and naturally cannot give divine honours to someone whose divinity he does not recognize. But our Christian Faith teaches us that Jesus Christ is True God and True Man, One Person incarnate in two natures.
So we venerate the Holy Icons; we love them and we take pride in them. In the twentieth century there has been a remarkable revival of good iconography. Authentic icons are a powerful means of preaching the Gospel, of elevating our souls to God. Of course we wish to have the best icons in our churches, but icons should also be present in our homes. Every family can surely have at least one fine, hand- painted icon, in a place of honour, expressing our faith and reminding us of God’s protecting love.
Naturally we venerate and enjoy the holy icons throughout the year. But Sunday of Orthodoxy is a day when we remember this in a special way. (Our Paschal Pilgrimage by Bishop Basil Losten)
All of them were soldiers in the Roman army and steadfastly believed in the Lord Jesus. When the persecution of Christians began during the reign of Licinius, they were brought to trial before the commander. When he threatened to strip them of their honor as soldiers, one of them, St. Candidus, responded, “Not only the honor of being a soldier, but take away our bodies, for nothing is more dear or honorable, to us than Christ our God.” After that, the commander ordered his servants to stone the holy martyrs. While the servants were hurling stones at the Christians, the stones turned and fell back on the servants, severely striking them. One of the stones struck the commander’s face and knocked out his teeth. The torturers, angry as wild beasts, bound all of the holy martyrs and tossed them into the lake and stationed a guard around it so as to prevent any of them from escaping. There was a terrible frost and the lake froze around the bodies of the martyrs. So that their pain and suffering would be worsened, and in order to persuade one of them to deny Christ and acknowledge the idols of Rome, the torturers heated a bath by the side of the lake in sight of the frozen martyrs. Indeed, one of them was persuaded. He came out of the water and entered the bath. And behold, an extraordinary light appeared from heaven which warmed the water in the lake and the bodies of the martyrs. With that light, thirty-nine wreaths descended from heaven over their heads. Upon seeing this, a guard on the shore removed all his clothes, confessed the Name of the Lord Jesus and entered the lake so that he could become worthy of the fortieth wreath in place of the betrayer. Indeed, the last wreath descended upon him. The next day the entire town was astonished when they saw that the martyrs were still alive. Then, the wicked judges ordered that the lower part of their legs be broken and their bodies thrown into the water so Christians could not recover them. On the third day the martyrs appeared to Peter, the local bishop, and summoned him to gather their relics and remove them from the water The bishop with his clergy went out into the dark of night and beheld the relics of the martyrs shining brightly in the water. Every bone which was separated from their bodies floated to the top and glowed like a candle. Bishop Peter gathered and honorably buried them. The souls of these martyrs, who suffered for all of us, went to the Lord Jesus, resurrected with glory. They suffered honorably and were crowned with unfading glory in the year 320 A.D. (Prologue of Ohrid)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
10. Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,
and grant us forgiveness of sins,
for You alone manifested the Resurrection to the world.
9. O you people, walk around Zion and encompass her.
And there give glory to Him Who is risen from the dead.
For He is our God
Who delivers us from our sins.
8. Come you people, praise and worship Christ.
Glorify His Resurrection from the dead;
for He is our God Who delivered the world
from the deceit of the enemy.
In Tone 6
7. The prophets, inspired by Your Spirit, O Lord,
foretold that You, whom nothing can contain or grasp,
and who has shone forth in eternity before the morning star
from the immaterial and bodiless womb of the Father,
was to become a child,
taking flesh from the Virgin,
being joined to men and seen by those on earth.
At the prayers of these Your prophets,
in Your compassion count us worthy of Your light,
for we sing the praises
of Your ineffable and holy Resurrection.
6. The divinely-inspired prophets preached You in word and honoured You in works,
and they received as their reward a life without end.
For they steadfastly refused, O Master,
to worship the creation instead of You, the Creator;
They renounced the whole world for the Gospel’s sake,
and in their suffering they were conformed to Your Passion which they had foretold.
At their intercessions, count us worthy to pass through the period of the Fast without offence,
for You alone are rich in mercy.
5. You who are uncircumscribed, O Master, in Your divine nature,
were pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed;
and in assuming flesh, You have also taken on Yourself all its distinctive properties.
Therefore we depict the likeness of Your outward form,
venerating it with an honour that is relative.
So we are exalted t the love of You,
and following the holy traditions handed down by the apostles,
from Your icon we receive the grace of healing.
4. As a precious adornment
the Church of Christ has received the venerable and holy icons of the Saviour Christ,
of God’s Mother and of all the saints.
Celebrating now their triumphant restoration,
she is made bright with grace and splendour,
and drives away all heretics.
With great rejoicing
she gives glory to God who loves mankind,
and who for her sake
has endured His voluntary Passion.
In Tone 2
3. Bravely enduring the present happenings and rejoicing in things hoped for,
the holy martyrs said to each other:
We have not stripped ourselves of a garment,
but we have put off the old person.
The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet.
Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment.
Let us not bow down, O captains.
We suffer a little at present
that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ,
since He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
2. Throwing off their garments and going into the lake without trembling,
the holy martyrs said to each other:
Since we have lost Paradise,
let us not care for a corruptible garment today.
Having once been clothed in corruption through the serpent,
let us now beseech resurrection for all.
Let us despise the icy destroying cold and scorn the flesh,
that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ
for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
1. Looking upon the tortures as pleasures
and hastening towards the icy lake as towards the heat,
the holy martyrs said to each other:
Let us stand fearless in the winter season
that we may escape the dreadful fire of Hades.
Let a foot be burnt that it may rejoice forever;
let a hand be lost that it may be lifted towards the Lord;
let us not spare the dying nature.
Let us now accept death
that we may receive crowns of victory from Christ,
for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
In Tone 2, Glory…
The grace of truth has shone upon us;
the mysteries darkly prefigured in the times of old have now been openly fulfilled.
For behold, the Church is clothed in a beauty that surpasses all things earthly,
through the icon of the incarnate Christ
that was foreshadowed by the ark of testimony.
This is the safeguard of the orthodox faith;
for is we hold fast to the icon of the Saviour whom we worship,
we shall not go astray.
Let all who do not share this faith be covered with shame;
but we shall glory in the icon of the Word made flesh,
which we venerate but worship not as an idol.
So let us kiss it, and with all the faithful cry aloud:
O God, save Your people
and bless Your inheritance.
In Tone 1, Now…
Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,
glory of the whole world!
She was herself formed by human seed,
yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,
the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.
She was seen as being heavenly
and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.
She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,
and brought peace in its place, she opened up the kingdom of heaven.
Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,
and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.
Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,
for He will fight our enemies for us, He is all-powerful!
Readings
Isaiah 43:9-14; Wisdom 3:1-9; Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
In Tone 1
O Christ, by Your Passion we have been freed from suffering;
and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.
O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,
let the nations clap their hands with joy.
For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,
has nailed our sins to the Cross;
He has put Death to death,
and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,
He has given life to all mankind.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O God, You are above all understanding;
You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.
Yet of Your own free will,
You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.
When You descended below,
Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;
but the souls of the just received You with great joy.
Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.
What a wonder this is!
You are the life of all and have tasted death
in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.
O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief
as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;
but they did not find Your most pure body.
Instead, they found an angel
who proclaimed Your unique and glorious Resurrection,
and commanded them to announce to Your Apostles:
The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
In Tone 6 , Glory..
Faithful, let us praise the forty passion-bearing Martyrs in hymns!
Singing in harmony let us cry out to them saying:
“Rejoice, O athletes of Christ:
Hesýchius, Méliton, Heráclius, Smarágdus and Domnus;
Euónicus, Válens and Vivianus;
Claudius and Priscus!
Rejoice, Theódulus, Euthýchius and John,
Xanthéas, Hiliánus, Sisínius, Kýrion, Angíus, Aétius and Flavius!
Rejoice, Acácius, Ecdíkius, Lysimáchus, Alexander,
Elías and Candidus,
Theóphilus, Dométian and Gáius
with the Godly Gorgonius!
Rejoice, Leóntius and Athanasius,
Cýril and Sacerdon,
Nicholas and Valerius,
Philóctimon, Sevérian, Chudíon and Aglaius!
You have boldness before Christ our God, most honored Martyrs.
Beseech Him earnestly
that those who keep your most precious memory with faith may be saved!
In Tone 2, Now…
Advancing from ungodliness to the true faith,
and illumined with the light of knowledge,
let us clasp our hands and sing aloud,
offering praise and thanksgiving to God;
and with due honour
let us venerate the holy icons of Christ;
of the all-pure Virgin and the saints,
whether depicted on walls, on wooden panels or on holy vessels,
rejecting the impious teachings of the heretics.
For, as Basil says,
the honour shown the icon passes to the prototype it represents.
At the prayers of Your undefiled Mother and of all the Saints,
we beseech You, Christ our God,
to bestow upon us Your great mercy.
Troparia
In Tone 1
Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!** O only Lover of Mankind.
In Tone 1, Glory…
Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
In Tone 2, Now…
We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and we beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh* to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all thing with joy.
DIVINE LITURGY
The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints St. Basil the Great is celebrated.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!** O only Lover of Mankind.
Troparion, Tone 2: We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and we beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh* to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all thing with joy.
Troparion, Tone 1: Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 6: Leaving behind every army on earth* you cleaved to the Master in heaven,* O Forty passion-bearers of the Lord.* For passing through fire and water* you rightly received glory from heaven* and a myriad of crowns, O blessed saints.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The uncircumscribed Word of the Father* became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God,* and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory,* He suffused it with the beauty of God.* Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word,* we portray it in images.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name for ever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything You have done to us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us, and will keep us, from this generation, and for ever.
Epistle
Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40; 12:1-2
Hebrews 12:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: They called on the Lord, and He heard them.
verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
verse: For You, O God, have tested us, and You have tried us by fire a silver is tested.
Gospel
John 1:43-51
Matthew 20:1-16
Hymn to the Mother of God
In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before the ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider than all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
1-а Неділя Посту. Неділя православія.
Згідно Типікону в цей день служиться літургія св. Василія Великого.
Тропар (глас 1): Хоч запечатали камінь юдеї* і воїни стерегли пречисте тіло Твоє,* воскрес Ти, Спасе, на третій день,* даруючи життя світові.* Тому сили небесні взивали до Тебе, Життєдавче:* Слава воскресінню Твоєму, Христе,* слава царству Твоєму,* слава провидінню Твоєму,* єдиний Чоловіколюбче!
Тропар (глас 2): Пречистому образові твоєму поклоняємося, благий,* просячи прощення прогрішень наших. Христе Боже,* бо волею благоволив єси плоттю зійти на хрест,* щоб ізбавити тих, що їх створив єси, від неволі ворожої.* Тому благодарственно кличемо тобі:* Ти радістю сповнив усе,* Спасе наш, прийшовши спасти світ.
Тропар (глас 1): Страстоносці всечеснії, сорок Христових воїнів, непохитні лицарі, ви, що перейшли крізь вогонь і воду, стали співгромадянами ангелів. З ними же моліться Христові за тих, що з вірою вас хвалять: Слава тому, що дав вам кріпость, слава тому, що вас вінчав, слава тому, що через вас подає всім зцілення.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові.
Кондак (глас 6): Все воїнство світу покинувши, на небесах ви до Владики прилучилися, сорок страстотерпців Господніх: крізь вогонь бо й воду пройшовши, блаженні, достойно прийняли ви славу з небес і вінців миожество.
І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Кондак (глас 8): Неописанне Слово Отче* із тебе, Богородице, воплоченням описалося* і, осквернений образ у давнє зобразивши,* з божественною добротою з’єднало,* та, ісповідуючи спасення,* ділом і словом ми це являємо.
Прокімен (глас 4): Благословен єси, Господи, Боже отців наших,* і хвальне, і прославлене ім’я твоє на віки (Дан 3,26).
Стих: Бо праведний єси в усьому, що сотворив ти нам (Дан 3,27).
Прокімен (глас 5): Ти, Господи, захорониш нас і збережеш нас від роду цього і повік (Пс 11,8 ).
Апостол (Євр 11,24-26. 32-40. 12,1-2) (Неділя): Браття, вірою Мойсей, коли був виріс, відрікся зватися сином дочки фараона; волів радше страждати разом з людом Божим, ніж дознавати дочасної гріховної втіхи, бо, дивлячись на нагороду, вважав за більше багатство наругу вибраного народу від скарбів Єгипту. І що ще скажу? Часу не вистане мені, коли заходжуся розповідати про Гедеона, про Варака, про Самсона, про Єфту, про Давида й Самуїла та пророків, що вірою підбили царства, чинили справедливість, обітниць осягнули, загородили пащі левам, силу вогню гасили, вістря меча уникали, ставали сильні, бувши недолугі, на війні проявили мужність, наскоки чужинців відбивали. Жінки діставали назад своїх померлих, які воскресали. Інші загинули в муках, відкинувши визволення, щоб осягнути ліпше воскресіння. Інші наруг і бичів зазнали та ще й кайданів і в’язниці; їх каменовано, розрізувано пилою, брано на допити; вони вмирали, мечем забиті; тинялися в овечих та козячих шкурах, збідовані, гноблені, кривджені; вони, яких світ був невартий, блукали пустинями, горами, печерами та земними вертепами. І всі вони, дарма що мали добре засвідчення вірою, не одержали обіцяного, бо Бог зберіг нам щось краще, щоб вони не без нас осягли досконалість. Тому і ми, маючи навколо себе таку велику хмару свідків, відкиньмо всякий тягар і гріх, що так легко обмотує, і біжімо витривало до змагання, що призначене нам, вдивляючися пильно в Ісуса, засновника й завершителя віри, який, замість радости, що перед ним була, витерпів хрест, на сором не звертаючи уваги, і який возсів праворуч Божого престолу.
Апостол (Євр 12,1-10): Браття, маючи навколо себе таку велику хмару свідків, відкиньмо всякий тягар і гріх, що так легко обмотує, і біжімо витривало до змагання, що призначене нам, вдивляючися пильно в Ісуса, засновника й завершителя віри, який, замість радости, що перед ним була, витерпів хрест, на сором не звертаючи уваги, і який возсів праворуч Божого престолу. Тож думайте про того, хто витерпів від грішників таке велике проти себе противенство, щоб ви, ізнемігшись, не впали духом. Ви ще не протиставились до крови в боротьбі проти гріха. І ви забули попередження, що вам, як синам, говорить: «Мій сину, не легковаж Господнім каранням і не падай духом, коли він тебе картає, бо кого Господь любить, того карає, і б’є кожного сина, якого приймає.» На вашу науку ви терпите. Бог поводиться з вами, як із синами. Хіба є такий син, що його батько не карає? Коли ж вас виховано без картання, – якого всі зазнають, – то ви незаконновроджені, а не сини. А втім, коли ми мали батьків тілесних як виховників і їх поважали, то чи ж не багато більш ми маємо коритися Отцеві духів, і будем жити? Ті бо на короткий час, як знали, нас карали; він же – нам на користь, щоб нас зробити учасниками святости своєї.
Алилуя (глас 4): Алилуя, aлилуя, aлилуя!
Стих: Мойсей і Арон між єреями його і Самуїл між тими, що призивають ім’я його (Пс 98,6).
Стих: Призивали Господа і він вислухав їх (Пс 98,6).
Стих: Воскликніте Господеві, вся земля, співайте ж імені його, віддайте славу хвалі його (Пс 65,2).
Стих: Бо ти випробував нас, Боже; перетопив нас, як перетоплюється срібло (Пс 65,10).
Євангеліє (Ів 1,43-51) (Неділя): У той час вирішив Ісус піти в Галилею; і знайшовши Филипа, мовив до нього: «Іди за мною.» А був Филип з Витсаїди, з міста Андрієвого та Петрового. Зустрів Филип Натанаїла і сказав до нього: «Ми знайшли того, про кого Мойсей у законі писав і пророки, – Ісуса Йосифового сина, з Назарету.» Натанаїл же йому на те: «А що доброго може бути з Назарету?» Мовив до нього Филип: «Прийди та подивися.» Побачивши Ісус, що Натанаїл надходив до нього, сказав про нього: «Ось справжній ізраїльтянин, що нема в ньому лукавства.» Натанаїл же йому: «Звідкіль знаєш мене?» Сказав Ісус, промовивши до нього: «Перше, ніж Филип закликав тебе, бачив я тебе, як був єси під смоковницею.» Відповів же йому Натанаїл: «Учителю, ти – Син Божий, ти – цар Ізраїлів.» Ісус відказав, мовивши до нього: «Тому, що я повідав тобі: Бачив я тебе під смоковницею, – то й віриш! Бачитимеш більше, ніж те.» І сказав до нього: «Істинно, істинно кажу вам: Побачите небеса відкриті, й ангелів Божих, як висходять та сходять на Сина Чоловічого.»
Євангеліє (Мт 20,1-16): Сказав Господь: «Царство Небесне подібне до чоловіка-господаря, який рано-вранці вийшов найняти робітників у свій виноградник. Домовившись із робітниками по динарію денно, послав їх у свій виноградник. А коли вийшов, близько третьої години побачив інших, що бездільно стояли на ринку. Він же їм сказав: Ідіть і ви в мій виноградник, що буде по справедливості, дам вам. І ті пішли. Коли ж знову вийшов, близько шостої та дев’ятої години, зробив так само. Близько одинадцятої вийшовши, стрінув інших, що стояли, і сказав їм: Чого тут увесь день бездільно стоїте? Кажуть йому: Бо ніхто не найняв нас. Сказав їм: Ідіть і ви в виноградник. Коли ж настав вечір, власник виноградника наказав своєму управителеві: Поклич но робітників та роздай їм заплату, почавши від останніх аж: до перших. Ті, що прийшли близько одинадцятої години, взяли по динарію. Коли приступили перші, думали, що більше дістануть. І вони взяли по динарію. А взявши, стали ремствувати на господаря, кажучи: Оті останні одну годину попрацювали, а ти зрівняв їх з нами, що зносили тягар і спекоту днини. Той, відповідаючи одному з них, сказав: Друже, не кривджу тебе; чи не за динарія погодився зо мною? Бери своє та йди! Хочу бо й цьому останньому дати, що й тобі. Хіба не дозволено мені робити зо своїм, що захочу? Чи око ж твоє лукаве з того, що я добрий?! Так то останні будуть перші, а перші – останні!»
Замість Достойно: Тобою радується, Благодатная, всяка твар, ангельський собор і чоловічеський рід, освященний храме і раю словесний, дівственна похвало, що із неї Бог воплотився і младенцем став – перед віками сущий Бог наш. Лоно бо твоє престолом сотворив і утробу твою просторішою небес учинив. Тобою радується, Благодатная, всяка твар, слава тобі.
Причасний: Хваліте Господа з небес,* хваліте Його на висотах (Пс 148,1).
Другий: Радуйтеся, праведні, у Господі,* правим належить похвала (Пс 32,1). Алилуя (х3).
Epistle (Hebrews 11:24-26; 32-40; 12:1-2) (Sunday): Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Epistle (Hebrews 12:1-10): Brethren, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.
Gospel (John 1:43-51) (Sunday): At that time Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’
Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16): The Lord said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”