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Event Information:
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Sun21Nov2021
Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 1; The Entrance into the Temple of our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary
Feast of the Mother of God. Holy Day of Obligation.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,* and grant us forgiveness of sins,* for You alone manifested the resurrection* to the world.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O you people, walk around Sion 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.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
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.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Rejoice, O you heavens;* sound the trumpets, you foundations of the earth;* cry out with joy, O you mountains.* For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross;* the Giver of Life has put Death to death;* and the Lover of mankind* has raised up Adam.
In Tone 1
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O faithful, let us leap for joy today,* singing psalms and hymns of praise* in honour of Mary, his mother,* the holy Tabernacle and Ark that contained the Word* whom nothing can contain.* She is offered to God as a child in a marvellous way,* and Zechariah the high priest receives her with great joy,* for she is the dwelling place of the Most High.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Today the living Temple of the holy glory of Christ our God,* Mary, the pure and blessed One,* is being brought into the temple according to the Law* to live in its holy precincts.* Joachim and Anne and all the virgins* rejoice with her in spirit.* They sing hymns of praise to the Lord* and honour his Mother.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Virgin Mother of God,* you are the One foretold by the prophets.* You are the glory of the apostles* and the pride of martyrs* and the cause of renewal for the entire human race.* Through you we have been reconciled with God.* Therefore, we honour your entrance into the temple of the Lord.* Together with the angels, all of us who are saved by your prayers sing to you:* Rejoice, O most holy One.
In Tone 4
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The holy and immaculate One* is being led into the Holy of Holies by the Holy Spirit.* She is being nourished by angels,* since she is the holy Temple of our holy God.* He has sanctified all creation because of her entrance,* and He has deified our fallen human nature.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Today the maidens rejoice.* Carrying lamps, they piously escort Mary,* the spiritual lamp, into the Holy of Holies.* This is a foreshadowing of the splendid Light* that will shine forth from her,* the Light that will enlighten all* who sit in the darkness of ignorance.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The most praiseworthy Anne cries out in great joy:* O Zechariah, receive the One whom the prophets of God* foretold through the Spirit.* Escort her into the holy temple,* since she is to be the sublime Temple,* the palace, throne, and wondrous abode of our God.
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
O Lady and Bride of God,* you entered the temple of God in your infancy* to be brought up in the Holy of Holies,* for you are holy.* The archangel Gabriel was sent to serve you and bring you food.* All the heavenly powers were amazed* at the sight of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.* Therefore, O most pure and immaculate Mother of God,* since you are glorified in heaven and on earth,* through your prayers save our human race.
Readings
(1) Exodus 40:1-5,9-10,16,34-35; (2) I Kings 7:51-8:1, 3-7, 9-11; (3) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4
Litiya
In Tone 1
Today let the heavens above greatly rejoice* and let the clouds pour down gladness* at the mighty and marvellous acts of our God.* For behold, the gate that looks towards the East,* born from a fruitless and barren womb according to the promise,* and consecrated to God as his dwelling,* is now being brought into the temple* as a spotless offering.* Let David greatly rejoice and play on his harp, saying:* Virgins shall be brought to the king after her;* her companions shall be brought into the ark of the Lord* to be nourished with the life of the Incorruptible One* who was begotten from eternity* for the salvation of our souls.
In Tone 4
Today the Theotokos, the Temple that is to contain God,* is being escorted into the temple of the Lord,* and Zechariah receives her.* Today the Holy of Holies greatly rejoices,* and the choir of angels mystically celebrates this feast.* Let us also celebrate with them today* and cry out with Gabriel:* Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you,* and He grants us great mercy.
Come all you people,* and let us praise the only Immaculate One* who was foretold by the prophets* and is being led into the temple.* She was chosen from eternity to be the Mother;* and in time she was revealed as the Theotokos.* O Lord, by her prayers grant us your peace and great mercy.
In Tone 5
Glory… Now…
A day of joy has truly dawned.* It is a most precious feast for us,* because she who was virgin before and after childbirth,* today is offered in the temple.* The aged Zechariah, father of the Forerunner, cries aloud, rejoicing:* The intercessor of those in affliction* comes into the holy temple, since she herself is holy.* She will be sanctified in the abode of the King of all.* Let her father, Joachim, be glad* and let Anne rejoice exceedingly,* because they have offered to God* the immaculate Queen as a three year old child.* Rejoice with them, all you women;* all you virgins and barren ones, dance for joy* and celebrate with them,* for the Queen of all has opened the kingdom of heaven for us.* Let all people be glad and rejoice.
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… Now…
O assembly of the faithful,* let us celebrate this day as a spiritual feast.* With great love, let us honour the maiden of God,* the Virgin and Theotokos,* as she is presented into the temple of the Lord;* for she has been chosen from among all generations* to be the dwelling place of Christ our God* who is the King of all.* O virgins, carry candles and lead the way* for the entrance of the ever-Virgin.* Follow after her who is the Mother of God* and mediatrix for the joy of the world.* Therefore, let us all cry out together with the angels:* Rejoice, for you are full of grace,* and you continually pray for our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan. (3)
DIVINE LITURGY
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 to 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 4: Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 1: You arose in glory from the tomb* and with Yourself You raised the world.* All humanity acclaims You as God.* and death has vanished.* Adam exults, O Master,* and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy:* “You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The Saviour’s pure temple,* the precious bridal chamber and Virgin,* the sacred treasury of the glory of God,* is brought today into the house of the Lord;* and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit.* God’s angels sing in praise of her:* She is indeed the heavenly dwelling-place.
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 32:22,1)
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Epistle
Ephesians 5:9-19; Hebrews 9:1-7
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued peoples under me.
verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48,51)
verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear. (Psalm 44:11)
Gospel
Luke 12:16-21; Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the entrance of the pure one, angels marvel in wonder how the Virgin could enter the holy of holies
And the Irmos: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark, but instead let the lips of those who are believers sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel, crying out with great joy to the Mother of God: O pure Virgin, you are truly higher than all.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)