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Event Information:
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Sun09Jan2022
Sunday after Theophany; Octoechos Tone 8; the Holy Martyr Polyeuctus (249-51)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, during this spiritual service,* we sing to You these evening prayers,* commemorating the mercy You have shown us* by Your resurrection.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;* but in Your kindness have mercy on us* through Your resurrection.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Rejoice, O holy Sion,* the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;* for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins* through the resurrection.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;* yet in these latter times,* He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.* By His death on the cross and His resurrection,* He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.
In Tone 8
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
In your humanity You presented yourself* to John in the Jordan, O Lord,* although You did not leave your heavenly throne.* You were seated with the Father,* yet You were baptized for us.* Since You are generous and the Lover of mankind,* You have freed the world from slavery to the enemy.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
In your humanity You clothed yourself* in the waters of the Jordan, O Lord.* You were given witness from on high* by the descent of the Spirit;* and the voice of the Father testified that You are His Son.* Now manifest yourself to us* and grant incorruption to our souls.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Lord, from all eternity* You were begotten in a unchangeable way from the Father.* In latter times You came and received the likeness of a servant.* As the Creator You also renewed our likeness,* for in your baptism You granted incorruption to our souls.
In Tone 1
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Martyr, Christ led you away from the error of idolatry* and from the mire of the earth,* just as David was led from the abyss of passion.* For He mystically placed your feet upon the rock of divine knowledge* and granted you a recognition of himself.* Implore Him that we may all be saved.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Neither the love for your wife,* nor the yearning for your children,* nor your high rank, nor the wealth of possessions and riches* shook your strength of soul away from the true faith;* for your trust is in Christ, O all-blessed Polyeuctus.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Before the grace of your martyrdom,* you truly adorned yourself with righteous deeds.* Because of them you were made worthy* to be a faithful witness of Christ;* and you were devoutly baptized in his death by your blood.
In Tone 2
Glory…
Today the Creator of heaven and earth* approaches the Jordan River in the flesh;* the One who is free from sin seeks to be baptized* in order to cleanse the human race from the error of the enemy;* the Master of all is baptized at the hand of the servant* in order to grant us the cleansing through water.* Therefore, let us cry out to Him:* O God who has appeared to us, glory to You!
In Tone 8
Now...
Out of his love for mankind* the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,* for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin* and was seen in the flesh He received from her.* He is the One and only God* having two natures but not two persons.* Wherefore we profess and declare the truth* that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.* O Mother, who knew not carnal union,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O Jesus, You descended from heaven* so that You might ascend the cross.* O immortal Life, You came to die.* You are the true light to those who live in darkness,* and You are the resurrection of the fallen.* Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls* who arose from the dead.* For He took upon himself a soul and a body,* and during His passion He separated the one from the other.* His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,* while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.
For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.
O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.* For by Your victory over death* You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,* and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.
O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,* You are above all understanding.* Through Your passion on the cross* You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.* And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;* and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.* O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;* for by Your resurrection on the third day* You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
The One who clothes himself with light as with a robe* deigned, for our sakes, to become as we are.* Today He is clothed in the streams of the Jordan* even though He has no need to be purified.* He refashions us through the cleansing that He receives.* What a marvellous wonder!* He creates anew without fire* and refashions without tearing apart;* He grants salvation to those enlightened in Him,* Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
In Tone 1, Glory… 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 our 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 8: You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
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)
According to Galician usage, we sing the following:
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)