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Event Information:
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Mon20Nov2023
Forefeast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple; Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska, First Superior of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate (+1919); Our Venerable Father Gregory of Decapolis (842); Our Holy Father Proclus, Archbish
Nativity Fast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Living joyfully in the heavenly abode, O Father,* you always stand with the angels before the throne of the Lord.* Pray that He grant the remission of sins* to those on earth who observe your memory.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Through prayer and discipline, O Father Gregory,* you cut the thorns of passion.* You turned up the spiritual ground* and cast into it the seeds of piety.* In this manner, you reaped fruits of healing for us.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O venerable one, all those who honour you* call you a harbour of virtues.* O Gregory, you were a friend of silence and a keeper of vigils.* You are a model of continence, a safe abode of prayer,* a treasury of miracles, and a mediator before God.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The candle-bearing virgins brightly escort the ever-Virgin.* They are in spirit truly prophesying the future* because the Theotokos is the temple of God;* and with a virgin’s glory,* she is being led as a young child into the Temple.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The Theotokos, glorious fruit of the holy promise,* is truly revealed to the world as higher than all creation.* She is piously escorted into the Temple of God* and fulfills the promise of her parents.* She is protected by the Holy Spirit.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Virgin, you were faithfully nourished by heavenly bread* in the Temple of the Lord.* You gave birth to the Word,* who is the Bread of Life for the whole world.* You are a chosen and all-immaculate temple to Him.* You were betrothed mystically through the Spirit* to be the bride of God the Father.
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
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.
Aposticha
In Tone 4
O ever-remembered Proclus, you are a teacher in the Church;* through the splendour of dogmas* and the beauty of your life and words, you enlightened all.* You were truly revealed as a pillar of the Church.* Therefore, we bless you* and celebrate our holy, all-honourable memory in psalms and hymns.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
You taught splendidly* and preached that the Theotokos, the most pure handmaiden, gave birth to Him;* the Creator and Master before all ages,* the Son and the Word of the Father.* Later on in time He willingly became incarnate for us* without changing his nature.* You put the foolish and dishonourable Nestor to shame.
Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; your faithful shall ring out their joy.
O ever-memorable one,* you have drawn the golden glistening waters of the wise preacher of God.* You revealed yourself to be his transmitter of piety.* You made the flock of Christ firm by the teachings of the truth.* You restored his pure and all-precious relics* like a royal pillar of the Church.
Glory... Now...
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 mercy.
Troparia
In Tone 4
O God of our Father,* who always deals with us according to your everlasting compassion,* take not your mercy away from us;* but through the prayers of our fathers,* guide our lives along the ways of peace.
In Tone 4, Glory... Now...
Anne is now preparing a great joy for all of us,* for she has given birth to the only ever-Virgin* who is a joy that dispels all sadness.* Today Anne fulfills her vow with gladness,* presenting to the Temple of the Lord* the One who is the true temple of God’s Word and his pure Mother.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Anne is now preparing a great joy for all of us,* for she has given birth to the only ever-Virgin who is a joy that dispels all sadness.* Today Anne fulfills her vow with gladness,* presenting to the Temple of the Lord* the One Who is the true temple of God’s Word* and His pure Mother.
Troparion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata* you inspire us through your spirit of service and love.* Тeach us to uplift and renew the hearts of the people* wherever we are sent to minister,* to serve where the need is the greatest,* all for the glory of God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata,* co-foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate,* you began your mission in Ukraine for your people,* and brought light into the darkness of their abandonment.* By educating children and youth,* you gave parents renewed strength and hope.* You tended the sick and the poor, for you saw in them the image of God.* You cared for the beauty of God’s temple,* instilling in people the beauty of liturgy.* The Lord led you to sanctity through great suffering.* Thus, you became a woman for all times.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Filled with joy today because of the happy feast of the Mother of God,* the universe cries out:* This is the holy tabernacle!
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.
verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 28:4,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
Epistle
Galatians 2:16-20
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.
verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)
verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer. (Psalm 39:2)
Gospel
Matthew 26:6-13
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)