New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Sat26Dec2020
Saturday after the Nativity of Christ; Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God; The Holy Priest-Martyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis (824)
A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord* as we tell of this present mystery!* The dividing wall has been destroyed;* the flaming sword turns back,* the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,* and I partake of the delight of paradise* from which I was cast out through disobedience.* For the express image of the Father, the imprint of His eternity,* takes the form of a servant,* and without undergoing change He comes forth from an unwedded mother.* For what He was, He has remained: True God,* and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself,* becoming man through love for mankind.* To Him, let us cry aloud:* O God born of a virgin, have mercy on us!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord* as we tell of this present mystery!* The dividing wall has been destroyed;* the flaming sword turns back,* the cherubim withdraw from the tree of life,* and I partake of the delight of paradise* from which I was cast out through disobedience.* For the express image of the Father, the imprint of His eternity,* takes the form of a servant,* and without undergoing change He comes forth from an unwedded mother.* For what He was, He has remained: True God,* and what He was not, He has taken upon Himself,* becoming man through love for mankind.* To Him, let us cry aloud:* O God born of a virgin, have mercy on us!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
When the Lord Jesus was born of the holy Virgin,* all the world was enlightened.* The shepherds watched in the fields,* the magi adored and the angels praised in song;* but Herod was troubled:* for God has appeared in the flesh, the Saviour of our souls!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
When the Lord Jesus was born of the holy Virgin,* all the world was enlightened.* The shepherds watched in the fields,* the magi adored and the angels praised in song;* but Herod was troubled:* for God has appeared in the flesh, the Saviour of our souls!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
What shall we offer you, O Christ,* who for our sakes have appeared on earth as a man?* Every creature made by You offers You thanks,* the angels offer you a hymn; the heavens a star;* the magi gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;* the earth its cave; the wilderness, the manger;* and we offer you a Virgin Mother.* Pre-eternal God, have mercy on us!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
What shall we offer you, O Christ,* who for our sakes have appeared on earth as a man?* Every creature made by You offers You thanks,* the angels offer you a hymn; the heavens a star;* the magi gifts; the shepherds, their wonder;* the earth its cave; the wilderness, the manger;* and we offer you a Virgin Mother.* Pre-eternal God, have mercy on us!
In Tone 6
Glory… Now…
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!* Today Bethlehem receives Him who ever sits with the Father.* Today angels glorify with holy hymns the Babe that is born.* Glory to God in the highest,* and on earth peace, good will towards men!
Great Prokeimenon
Who is so great a God as our God?* You are the God who do wonders!
verse: Amongst the people have You made Your power known!
verse: And I said: now have I made a beginning: this change has been wrought by the right hand of the Most High.
verse: I have remembered the works of the Lord, and called to mind Your wonders from of old.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
A great miracle has come to pass this day:* nature is made new and God becomes man!* That which He was, He has remained,* and that which He was not, He has taken on Himself* while suffering neither confusion nor division.
The Lord said to my lord: sit at my right hand!
Lord, you have come to Bethlehem* and have made Your dwelling in the cave.* You have heaven as Your throne,* yet You are laid in a manger!* The hosts of angels attend on every side* yet You have come down among shepherds,* that in Your compassion You might save mankind. Glory to You!
From the womb before the morning star have I begotten you!
How shall I tell of this great mystery?* He who is without flesh becomes incarnate;* the word puts on a body; the invisible is seen;* He whom no hand can touch is handled;* and He who knows no beginning now begins to be!* The Son of God becomes the Son of Man:* Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and for ever!
Glory… Now…
The shepherds hasten to Bethlehem, revealing the true shepherd,* seated upon the cherubim and lying in a manger!* For our sakes He has taken upon Himself the form of a child.* O Lord, glory to You!
Troparion
In Tone 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart,* I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
In the council of the just and the congregation,* great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
His work is filled with praise and majesty,* and His righteousness endures forever.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: He who existed before the morning star* and was born of the Father without a mother,* today, O Full of Grace, becomes flesh from you without a father.* Wherefore, a star brings the news to the Magi* and angels with shepherds sing of how you gave birth ineffably.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
I will remember your name throughout all generations.
verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear. (Psalm 44:18,11)
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Epistle
1 Timothy 6:11-16; Hebrews 2:11-18
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Rise up, Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)
Gospel
Matthew 12:15-21; Matthew 2:13-23
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the all-pure Virgin Mother of God, more honourable and glorious than the heavenly hosts.
and the Irmos, Tone 1: To keep silence in fear would be easier for us to do, for this is free from danger, O Virgin Mother, and though it is hard indeed to properly weave hymns, O Mother, give us strength so that our good intentions may be fulfilled.
Communion Hymn
I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 115:13)* The Lord has sent deliverance* to His people.* Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.(Psalm 110:9)
Instead of “We have seen the true light…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of “May our mouths…” and “Blessed be the Name…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (3)