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Event Information:
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Sun29Aug2021
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 5; The Beheading of the Honourable and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
All-night Vigil Feast.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 5
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
With Your precious cross, O Christ,* You have put the Devil to shame.* With Your resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin,* and have saved us from the gates of death.* We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Christ, who granted resurrection to mankind,* You were led like a lamb to the slaughter.* Then the princes of Hades were struck with terror* as they saw the gates of their tearful domain being lifted up;* for Christ, the King of Glory, entered therein* and exclaimed to those in chains: Go forth from here!* And to those in darkness: Go forth into the light!
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
What a great wonder!* The Creator of invisible beings suffered in the flesh for mankind,* and rose from the dead as immortal.* Come, therefore, all you nations and adore Him;* for through His compassion we have been freed from the snares of the Devil,* and we have learned to praise the one God in three Persons.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We offer to You our evening worship,* O Light whom the darkness of night can never extinguish.* For in these latter days Your radiance has appeared to the world,* shining in Your flesh as light reflected from a mirror.* Your brilliance has descended even to the depths of Hades and dissolved its gloom.* O Lord, Giver of Light, glory to You;* for You have shown the radiance of Your resurrection to all the nations.
In Tone 6
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
While the birthday of the shameless Herod was being celebrated,* the oath made to the lustful dancer was fulfilled;* the head of the Forerunner was cut off* and offered on a platter to those at table.* What a loathsome banquet, filled with wickedness and horrible murder.* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
While the birthday of the shameless Herod was being celebrated,* the oath made to the lustful dancer was fulfilled;* the head of the Forerunner was cut off* and offered on a platter to those at table.* What a loathsome banquet, filled with wickedness and horrible murder.* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
After dancing, the disciple of the all-evil Satan* requested your head as her payment, O Forerunner.* What a bloody banquet!* Would that you had not made that vow,* O sinful Herod, offspring of a lie.* Since you did make it, would that you had not carried it out;* for it would have been better to have gone back on your oath and received life* than remaining true to your oath* to have cut off the head of the Forerunner.* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
After dancing, the disciple of the all-evil Satan* requested your head as her payment, O Forerunner.* What a bloody banquet!* Would that you had not made that vow,* O sinful Herod, offspring of a lie.* Since you did make it, would that you had not carried it out;* for it would have been better to have gone back on your oath and received life* than remaining true to your oath* to have cut off the head of the Forerunner.* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O Herod, it was not appropriate for you,* because of a satanic passion, to condemn to death* the one who reproached you for your adultery* and the folly of your lust for women.* It was not proper for you to err* and to deliver his all-honoured head to a sinful woman* for the sake of a vow made to a dancer.* Woe to you for daring such murder!* How was it that this adulterous dancer* was not consumed by fire in the midst of the banquet,* as she carried the head on a platter?* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Again Herodias has lost her self-control;* again she is disturbed.* What a cunning and deceiving dance,* and what mindless drunkenness!* The Forerunner's head is cut off and Herod is troubled.* Therefore, O Lord, by the intercessions of your Forerunner,* grant peace to our souls.
In Tone 6
Glory…
While the birthday of the shameless Herod was being celebrated,* the oath made to the lustful dancer was fulfilled;* the head of the Forerunner was cut off* and offered on a platter to those at table.* What a loathsome banquet, filled with wickedness and horrible murder.* As for us, let us worthily venerate and bless the Baptizer,* for he is the greatest man born of woman.
In Tone 5
Now…
A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!
Readings
(1) Isaiah 40:1-3, 9; 41:17-18; (2) Malachi 3:1-7, 12, 22-24; (3) Wisdom 4:7, 16-20; 5:1-7
Lytia
In Tone 1
What shall we call you, O Prophet?* An angel, an apostle, or martyr?* An angel, because you lived as a bodiless being.* An apostle, because you taught the nations.* A martyr, because you were beheaded for Christ.* Entreat Him to have mercy on our souls.
Let us commemorate the beheading of the Forerunner.* At that time, blood poured out on the platter;* now healings are poured out throughout the world.
Today the mother is the cause of a shameful and murderous act,* for she urges her shameless daughter who was born of an unlawful union* to plot against the one whom God called the greatest of the prophets.* When the evil Herod celebrated his birthday with a banquet,* she asked for the precious head of the divine Forerunner.* Because of his oath, Herod delivered the head* as a price for the daughter's dancing.* But the prophet of the coming of Christ* did not cease to denounce the union which was reproved by God.* He denounced it, saying:* It is not lawful for you to commit adultery with your brother Philip's wife.* O the murderous birthday and feast overflowing with blood!* On this day of the beheading of the Prophet and Forerunner,* we the faithful celebrate in joy as in festive garb,* and we pray that the Trinity may be compassionate to us,* and deliver us from the disgrace of our passions,* and that our souls may be saved.
In Tone 4
An evil birthday and a lustful banquet is celebrated by Herod today;* for having delighted in adultery and being driven by lustful desires,* he beheaded the Baptist.* But he could not stop the tongue of the Prophet* which condemned his foolishness.* He spilled innocent blood to cover up his unlawful deeds,* but he could not cover the voice who called the world to repentance.* And if he took pleasure in the murder,* we celebrate with all our heart the death of John the Baptist.* For he preceded the Life of all into Hades* to announce to those in darkness and the shadow of death* the coming of Christ our God, the Orient from on high,* whose mercy is beyond measure.
Come, O people, let us exalt the Prophet, Martyr, and Baptizer of the Saviour.* He is an angel in the flesh.* He has condemned Herod and convicted him of unlawful adultery.* Because of the unlawful dancing, his precious head is cut off.* He is in Paradise and is preaching the good news of the resurrection from the dead.* He is fittingly praying to the Lord that our souls may be saved.
Come, O faithful, let us exalt the Prophet, Martyr, and Baptizer of the Saviour.* He fled into the desert and remained there,* nourishing himself on locusts and wild honey.* He rebuked the king who violated the law.* And he comforts our faint-heartedness, saying:* Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In Tone 5
Glory… Now…
When Herod wished to free himself from the rebuke of his sinful deeds,* he delivered your head unjustly, O Forerunner,* to a transgressing woman.* Nor did this wretched one realize that offering it on a platter* was a condemnation for him.* Therefore, since you are a practical teacher of purity* and a saving guide to repentance,* O Baptizer, implore Christ* to deliver us from the shame of our passions.
Aposticha
In Tone 5
O Christ our Saviour,* we lift up our voices in song to glorify You.* For, in Your love for mankind,* You became incarnate without leaving heaven;* You accepted the cross and death;* You cast down the gates of Hades;* and on the third day You arose from the dead* for the salvation of our souls.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
O Giver of Life,* streams of forgiveness, life, and salvation* poured forth from Your pierced side upon us all.* By accepting physical death, You granted us immortality;* by lying in the tomb, You freed us from Hades,* and as God, by rising from the dead,* You raised us with Yourself in glory.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Lover of mankind,* Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are most wondrous.* For, as God, You thereby conquered the power of Hades,* and raised up in glory, with Yourself, those who were long imprisoned there.* You reopened Paradise and enabled them to enter.* Grant forgiveness of sins to us* who glorify Your resurrection on the third day,* for You alone are all-merciful.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lover of mankind,* You accepted suffering in the flesh* and rose from the dead on the third day.* Therefore, heal the passions of our flesh,* raise us from our dreadful iniquities, and save us.
In Tone 8, Glory…
You rebuked kings, O Forerunner of the Saviour,* that they might not act contrary to the law.* But the frolicking of a sinful woman* won over Herod to behead you.* Therefore, your name is praised* from the place of the rising to the place of the setting of the sun.* And since you have favour with the Lord,* beseech Him unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.
Now…
O Virgin, you have never known wedlock,* yet you conceived God in the flesh in a manner which words can never describe* You thus became the Mother of God on high.* O immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants* and grant us the cleansing of our sins.* Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.
Troparia
In Tone 1
Rejoice, Virgin Mary, Mother of God, full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have given birth to Christ, the Deliverer and Saviour of our souls. (2)
In Tone 2
The remembrance of the just is worthy of praise,* but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for you, O Forerunner;* for it has shown that you are indeed more worthy of honour than the prophets.* You were found worthy to baptize the Lord whom you foretold.* Thereafter, you suffered for the truth* and, rejoicing, also announced the good news to those in the Abyss* that God had appeared as man,* taking away the sins of the world,* and granting to all of us the abundance of mercy.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 5: Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 2: The just man is remembered with praises,* but for you the Lord’s testimony suffices, O Forerunner,* for you truly became more honourable than the prophets* and were deemed worthy to baptize the One foretold.* Then you suffered for the truth and joyfully announced to those in Hades* that God appeared in the flesh taking away the sin of the world* and offering us great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 5: You, my Saviour, descended to Hades,* and as the Almighty, You shattered its gates.* With Yourself You, as the Creator, raised the dead and shattered the sting of death,* and delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind.* And so we cry out: “Save us, O Lord.”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 5: The Forerunner's glorious beheading* came to be a form of dispensation divine* that he might proclaim to those in Hades* the message of the coming of the Saviour.* Lets Herodias shed tears of lament* for a lawless murder that was her request;* for she loved a false and transitory age* rather than God's law and the age of life.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us and will keep us* from this generation and for ever.
verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man. (Psalm 11:8,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
verse: The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
Epistle
2 Corinthians 1:21-2:4; Acts 13:25-32
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)
verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. (Psalm 91:13)
Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 6:14-30
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)