New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Wed02Feb2022
The Encounter of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ
Holy Day of Obligation.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is taken only if the feast falls on a Sunday or Monday.At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Simeon, tell us whom you are joyfully carrying into the Temple.* To whom are you saying:* Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* because my eyes have seen my Saviour.* He is the child born of the Virgin.* He is the Word and God of God.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Simeon, tell us whom you are joyfully carrying into the Temple.* To whom are you saying:* Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* because my eyes have seen my Saviour.* He is the child born of the Virgin.* He is the Word and God of God.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O Simeon, tell us whom you are joyfully carrying into the Temple.* To whom are you saying:* Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* because my eyes have seen my Saviour.* He is the child born of the Virgin.* He is the Word and God of God.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Simeon, now receive the One* Whom Moses the lawgiver had foreseen through the cloud on Sinai.* He has become a child and submits Himself to the Law.* This is He who spoke through the Law and whom the prophets foretold.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Simeon, now receive the One* Whom Moses the lawgiver had foreseen through the cloud on Sinai.* He has become a child and submits Himself to the Law.* This is He who spoke through the Law and whom the prophets foretold.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Simeon, now receive the One* Whom Moses the lawgiver had foreseen through the cloud on Sinai.* He has become a child and submits Himself to the Law.* This is He who spoke through the Law and whom the prophets foretold.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,* to You we bow in worship.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O faithful, come let us welcome Christ* and receive Him with hymns of praise and glory.* He is the salvation Simeon has seen.* He is the One whom David foretold* and of whom the prophets have spoken.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and inspired the Law,* to You we bow in worship.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O faithful, come let us welcome Christ* and receive Him with hymns of praise and glory.* He is the salvation Simeon has seen.* He is the One whom David foretold* and of whom the prophets have spoken.* O Lord, who for our sake was incarnate and inspired the Law,* to You we bow in worship.
In Tone 6
Glory… Now…
Today the gates of heaven swing open,* for the Word of the Father who has no beginning* has received beginning in time* without any loss to His divinity.* As a child of forty days He is offered by a virgin Mother* in the Temple according to the Law.* The Elder Simeon receives Him in his arms and cries out:* Dismiss me, O Master, for my eyes have seen Your salvation;* O Lord, who came into the world to save us, glory to You!
Readings
(1) Exodus 13:1-3, 11-12, 14-16; (2) Isaiah 6:1-12; (3) Isaiah 19:1-5, 12, 19-21
At the Lytia
In Tone 1
The Ancient of Days, who of old gave the Law to Moses on Sinai* appears this day as an infant.* The Creator of the Law fulfils the Law.* He is brought into the Temple* and is given over to the Elder.* The just Simeon receives Him,* and beholding the fulfilment of the divine promise, joyfully cries out:* My eyes have seen the mystery hidden from all eternity.* It has been revealed in these latter days.* The Light has radiated the darkness of unbelieving Gentiles* and gives glory to the newly chosen Israel.* Therefore, let Your servant depart from the bonds of this flesh* to the wondrous unending life that knows no age.* And we pray You to grant great mercy to the world.
He, who once gave the Law to Moses on Sinai,* today submits Himself to the prescriptions of the Law.* In His compassion He has become like us for our sakes.* Now the pure God, as a holy infant having opened a pure womb,* is being offered as God to Himself.* He is freeing us from the curse of the Law* and granting light to our souls.
In Tone 2
Simeon now receives below in his earthly arms* the One whom the ministers at the liturgy on high entreat with trembling,* and who was prophesied to become incarnate.* Seeing the heavenly God as mortal man,* he is ready to withdraw from earthly things and joyfully cries out:* Glory to You, O Lord, the unsetting Light,* that uncovers those in darkness.
Today Simeon takes in his arms the Lord of Glory,* the One whom Moses formerly saw in the darkness* when he received the tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai.* This is He who speaks through the prophets;* He is the Creator of the Law.* This is He whom David announced.* He is awesome to all, yet He has great and abundant mercy.
The pure Virgin brings the Sacred One* into the sanctuary to the holy priest.* Simeon extends his hands,* receives Him joyously in his arms, and cries out:* O Master, now You let Your servant go in peace,* according to Your word, O Lord.
The Creator of heaven and earth is carried today* in the arms of the Elder Simeon.* Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he cried out:* Now I am set free, for I have beheld my Saviour.
Today, Simeon the Elder enters the Temple, rejoicing in spirit,* to receive in his arms the One who gave the Law to Moses,* the One who fulfils the Law in Himself.* For Moses was counted worthy to see God,* although in darkness and sounds that were not clear;* and with covered face he rebuked the unbelieving people.* But Simeon carried the pre-eternal Word of the father in bodily form,* and he revealed the Light of the Gentiles, the Cross, and the Resurrection.* Anna was shown to be a prophetess,* announcing the Saviour and Deliverer of Israel.* Unto Him let us cry aloud:* Through the Theotokos have mercy on us, O Christ our God.
In Tone 4
Today, the holy Mother who is higher than any temple* has herself come into the Temple* to show the world the Creator and Giver of the Law.* Simeon the Elder receives Him in his arms;* he venerates Him and cries aloud:* Now let Your servant depart in peace,* for I have seen You, the Saviour of our souls.
In Tone 5
Glory…
Search the Scriptures as Christ our God said in the Gospels;* for in them we find Him who was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes,* the One laid in a manger and fed upon milk,* who received circumcision and was carried by Simeon.* Not in fancy or imagination,* but in very truth has He appeared to the world.* Let us cry out to Him:* Glory to You, O pre-eternal God!
Now…
He Who is Ancient of Days and young in the flesh* is being brought into the Temple by His virgin Mother.* He fulfils the promise of His own Law.* Simeon receives Him and says:* Now You may let Your servant go in peace,* for my eyes have seen Your salvation, O Lord.
Aposticha
In Tone 7
Adorn your bridal chamber, O Zion, and welcome Christ the King.* Welcome Mary, the gate of heaven,* for she has appeared as a cherubic throne* on which the King of Glory is seated.* Indeed, the Virgin has become a cloud of light,* bearing in her arms the eternal Son.* Simeon received Him in his arms* and proclaimed to the people that He is the Master,* the Master of life and death, and the Saviour of the world.
Now You may let Your servant go in peace, O Lord, according to Your word.
The all-pure Mother carried into the Temple* the One who comes forth from the Father in all eternity* and from the womb of a Virgin in time.* The Lawmaker of Mount Sinai submits to the Law* and is presented to the elderly and holy one* so that he may see the Promised One.* When Simeon received Him in his arms, he joyfully cried out:* This is God, co-eternal with the Father,* and the Saviour of our souls.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people, Israel.
Mary, the Mother of God, carried in her arms* the Lord who rides the chariot of the Cherubim* and is praised with the hymns of the Seraphim.* He was incarnate of her without human seed;* He is the Lawgiver who fulfils the precepts of the Law.* She handed Him over into the arms of the aged priest.* Holding the Life in person,* Simeon asked to be delivered from his present life, saying:* Dismiss me now, O Master, that I may tell Adam* how my eyes have seen the eternal God* who was made man without undergoing change,* and who brought about the salvation of the world.
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
He who rides on the Cherubim and is praised by the Seraphim* is now being brought into the holy Temple according to the Law.* He is sitting in the arms of an old man as though upon a throne.* From Joseph He receives God-pleasing gifts, a pair of turtle doves,* and from the newly-chosen people of the Gentiles, and undefiled Church.* the two doves indicate that He is the head both of the Old and New Testaments.* As for Simeon, when he saw what had been revealed come to pass,* he received the child and blessed the virgin Mother of God,* pointing out to her the sufferings that she would bear.* He asked the Lord to be released from life, saying:* Now You may dismiss me, O Lord, as You have promised;* for my eyes have seen You, the eternal Light,* the Lord and Saviour of all Christian people.
Troparion
In Tone 1
Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection. (thrice)
DIVINE LITURGY
Entrance
The Lord has made known His salvation;* He has revealed His truth before the nations.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit has rejoiced in God, My Saviour.
verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46,48)
Epistle
Hebrews 7:7-17
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.
verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)
Gospel
Luke 2:22-40
Hymn to the Mother of God
O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.
and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.
Communion Hymn
I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)