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Event Information:
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Sun10Jan2021
Sunday after Theophany, Tone 7; Our Holy Father Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa (after 394); the Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Miletene (582-602); Our Venerable Father Marcian, Presbyter and Econome of the Great Church (450-57)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
Tone 7
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,* Who destroyed the power of death* and enlightened the human race;* and let us cry out with the angels:* Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;* and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.* Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day* and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,* the Apostles were amazed,* and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:* This is the glory of the Church,* this is the richness of the Kingdom!* O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,* I still acknowledge You as my God,* and am not ashamed of You;* I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.* Your death is my life, almighty Lord,* and I extol Your resurrection.* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Tone 2
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Our Light that enlightens all* comes to be baptized.* The Forerunner sees Him and rejoices in His soul.* His hand trembles as he shows Him to the people:* “Behold, the Redeemer of Israel,* the One who frees us from corruption.”* O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
A servant baptized our Redeemer* and the coming of the Spirit bore witness to Him.* The hosts of angels saw this and shook with fear.* And the voice of the Father was heard from heaven:* “The One on whom the Forerunner lays his hand,* He is My beloved Son; I am well pleased in Him.”* O Christ our God, glory to You!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The streams of the Jordan received You, their Source,* and the Comforter descended in the form of a dove.* He who bowed the heavens now bows His head.* The Clay cries aloud to the Potter:* “Why do You command me to do what is beyond me;* for it is I that should be baptized by You?”* O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
Tone 5
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O venerable Father Gregory, you are filled with holiness,* O reed filled with the breath of the Comforter,* O clearest tongue of piety* and many-splendored luminary of the divine Splendour,* O preacher of truth and foundation of theology,* fountain of sublime doctrine and rich teachings,* you are a flute inspired by God.* You delighted the thoughts of the faithful with your inspired hymns.* O all-wise one, implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the Jordan.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O venerable Father Gregory, you are most worthy of honour,* you are the axe which chops down the assaults of the heretics.* You are the two-edged sword of the Comforter.* You are the shears that prune the wild branches* and the fire which burns up the brushwood of heresies.* Truly you are the winnowing fan* that defines both the simple and the difficult teachings.* You gave clear rules for the path of salvation.* Implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the Jordan.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O venerable Father and all-blessed Gregory,* your mouth is filled with blessed words* which it draws from the unfailing and divine sources of salvation.* You explain the words of prayer for everyone,* and set down rules for virtue,* and are illumined by divine contemplation.* Enlightened by the splendour of the uncreated Trinity,* you were its invincible defender.* O all-wise one, implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the*Jordan.
Tone 4
Glory…
Upon touching your immaculate head,* the hand of the Baptist trembled.* The streams of the Jordan turned back,* feeling unworthy to serve You.* How could the one who stood in awe of Joshua, the son of Nun,* be unafraid to stand before the Creator of Joshua?* You have completed all that was assigned to You, O Saviour,* so that You might redeem the world by your Epiphany,* for You alone love mankind.
Tone 7
Now...
Immaculate Mother of God,* you became a mother outside the laws of nature,* remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description* and human understanding.* The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,* for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,* and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:* for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.* Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,* and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Aposticha
Tone 7
O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,* and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.* O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead* and enlightened all creation.* For by His resurrection on the third day,* He set us free from the oppression of Hades,* granting us life and His great mercy.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, Lover of mankind,* You descended into Hades and destroyed death.* Then You arose on the third day;* and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us* who glorify Your mighty resurrection.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.* Yet on the third day You arose in great power,* and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
Tone 4
Glory…
O Gregory, through your heavenly life you manifested God,* and your actions were filled with light* because of your divine contemplation.* You loved wisdom with a divine yearning;* you became rich through grace from the Spirit.* The sweetness of your words was like an abundance of honey.* You always delight the Church of God with your understanding of the divinity.* Therefore, you abide in heaven as a bishop,* and you pray without ceasing for us who observe your memory.
Tone 4
Now…
When John the Baptist saw You approach* the One who purifies the sin of the world by fire and the Spirit,* he cried out with fear and trembling, saying:* I am unworthy to place my hand on Your immaculate head.* Therefore, O Master, purify me by Your Epiphany,* for You alone love mankind.
Troparia
In Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
Tone 4
Glory…
The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, N.* Intercede with Christ, our God,* for the salvation of our souls.
Tone 1
Now…
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ God,* who appeared and enlightened the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
When Israel came forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from an alien people.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
The sea beheld this and fled,* the Jordan turned back on its course.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Why was it, O sea, that you fled,* that you, O Jordan, turned back on your course?
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
Troparion, Tone 1: When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ God,* who appeared and enlightened the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today, You have appeared to the world* and Your light, O Lord, has been signed on us,* who with knowledge sing Your praises.* You have come, You have appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in you.
verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:2,1)
Epistle
Ephesians 4:7-13
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.
verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)
Gospel
Matthew 4:12-17
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
and the Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise you as is your due, O Mother of God. Even a spirit from above is filled with dizziness when seeking to sing your praises. But since you are good accept our faith, for you know well our love inspired by God. For it is you who protect all Christians; therefore, we magnify you.
Communion Hymn
The grace of God has appeared* bringing salvation to all. (Titus 2:11)* Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)
Instead of “We have seen the true light…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan.
Instead of “May our mouths…” and “Blessed be the Name…” we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. (3)