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Event Information:
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Sat09Dec2023
The Conception of Saint Anna when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God
All-Night Vigil Feast. Nativity Fast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
GREAT VESPERS FOR ALL-NIGHT VIGIL
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The sayings of the prophets are now being fulfilled:* the holy mountain is planted in the womb;* the divine ladder is set up;* the throne of the great king is ready;* the God-inspired city is being adorned.* The unburnable bush is beginning to bud forth,* and the treasure house of grace is overflowing.* It is spreading over the rivers of unfruitfulness of the God-wise Anna* whom we glorify.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The sayings of the prophets are now being fulfilled:* the holy mountain is planted in the womb;* the divine ladder is set up;* the throne of the great king is ready;* the God-inspired city is being adorned.* The unburnable bush is beginning to bud forth,* and the treasure house of grace is overflowing.* It is spreading over the rivers of unfruitfulness of the God-wise Anna* whom we glorify.
In Tone 2, Glory…
Today the mystery which has been announced from eternity,* whose depth angels and men cannot measure,* appears in the arms of Anna.* Mary, the maiden of God is prepared* to be the dwelling of the Kings of the ages* who will renew our human nature.* Let us entreat her with a pure heart and say:* Since you are the intercessor for all Christians,* implore your Son and God to save our souls.
Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Readings
(1) Genesis 28:10-17; (2) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11
Litiya
In Tone 1
It is fitting that the Queen of heaven and earth,* who is more precious than the Cherubim,* and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim,* be conceived and remain immaculate as the angels,* so that they who are servants of the Lord* can boast of their own Queen, the Mother of God.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
It is fitting that the unique and chosen woman* be conceived without sin,* and the power of Satan is now taken away;* for the Mother of God will never bow before him.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
It is fitting that the Second Eve* be created and remain without sin* in the manner of the Second Adam;* for the rebirth of mankind now takes place,* just as the fall came through the first Adam and the first Eve.* Christ has renewed all through his new birth,* and it was Mary that gave birth to Him.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
Glory… Now…
Before the nativity of the Son of God,* it was fitting for the Father* to bestow the most pure conception upon the Mother of God,* who is betrothed of the Holy Spirit,* that she might be filled with heavenly gifts* in a manner beyond all other creatures.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Anna, whose name means divine grace,* once cried out in her prayer, asking for a child.* She invoked the God and Creator of all, saying:* Lord of Hosts, You know what shame it is to be barren.* Heal the pains of my heart.* Make my fruitless womb fruitful* so that we may offer to You the child who is born as a gift,* and that with one mind,* we may bless, praise, and glorify Your love* through which the world obtains great mercy.
The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on His word.
Anna was praying with great fervour, beseeching the Lord for a child,* when she heard the voice of an angel* who told her that God had granted her wish, saying plainly:* Do not doubt, for your prayer has reached the Lord.* Wipe away your tears,* for you shall be an olive tree bringing forth a beautiful branch.* You will bring forth the Virgin* from whom will blossom the flower, Christ-in-the-flesh,* who will grant great mercy to the world.
A Son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.
Joachim and Anna, the righteous couple,* gave birth to the precious heavenly fruit, the ewe-lamb,* who in turn will give birth in a manner beyond understanding* to the Lamb of God who is to be sacrificed for all.* Because of this, they offer to the Lord* an unceasing and humble hymn of praise.* Let us, therefore, praise them with fervour.* And let us joyfully celebrate the birth of the One who was born of them,* Mary, the Mother of God;* because through her, great mercy is granted to all of us.
In Tone 2, Glory… Now…
On this day the royal purple appears,* descending from the root of David.* The mystical flower of Jesse buds forth;* from her shall blossom Christ our God,* the Saviour of our souls.
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 4
Today the chains of barrenness are shattered,* for having heard the prayer of Joachim and Anna,* against all hope God has openly promised* the birth of the Maiden of God,* from whom the very Infinite One will be born as a man,* the One who commanded the angels to cry to her:** Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Today the chains of barrenness are shattered,* for having heard the prayer of Joachim and Anna,* against all hope God has openly promised the birth of the Maiden of God,* from whom the very infinite One will be born as a man,* the One who commanded the angels to cry to her:* rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the whole world celebrates* the conception by Anna,* which was brought about by God Himself,* for she has ineffably borne the one who will bear the Word.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
Galatians 4:22-31
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their protector in time of trouble.
verse: The Lord will help them and rescue them; He will deliver them from sinners and save them, for they hoped in Him. (Psalm 36:39,40)
Gospel
Luke 8:16-21
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the glorious conception of the Mother of God.
and the Irmos, Tone 1: Let us the faithful magnify the Mother of God,* wellspring ever-flowing and life-receiving,* the light-bearing lamp of grace,* the living temple and tabernacle all pure,* even more spacious than heaven and earth.
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)