New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Wed03Jan2024
Pre-feast of Theophany. Holy Prophet Malachi (5th c. BC). Holy Martyr Gordius (313-24).
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
Tone 6
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The feast of Christ’s birth has passed.* It shone more brightly than the sun!* The day of His manifestation is on its way.* That day will be even more radiant.* There the shepherds gave glory with the angels, worshipping God made Man;* here John’s right hand will touch the Master, as he cries out in fear:* Sanctify both me and the waters, only merciful One!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Make ready, river Jordan!* Behold, Christ God approaches to be baptized by John.* He will crush the heads of invisible dragons in your waters.* Rejoice, wilderness of Jordan!* Dance with gladness, mountains!* The eternal Life has come to recall Adam!* Voice crying in the wilderness, John the forerunner, cry:* Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Desert of Jordan, rejoice exceedingly! * Blossom as the lily!* A voice is heard within you: * Prepare the way of the Lord!* He who weighs the mountains in scales* and the wooded valleys in a balance,* who fills all things in His divinity,* approaches to be baptized by a servant.* The Giver of riches has become poor!* Eve was told in days of old:* You shall bring forth children in pain,* but now the Virgin hears:* Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord who has great mercy is with you!
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Seeing that the words of your tongue are now fully realized,* I admire the truth and bless you, O Prophet.* You are truly to be admired;* for you enlightened the world by your splendorous voice,* announcing beforehand the redemptive coming of the Lord.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You lived on earth as if your were an angel.* Likewise, you were enriched with a name signifying an angel.* You joined spiritual goodness to physical goodness,* O all-blessed Prophet, Malachi.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Lord, I offer Your prophet to You* as an intercessor and suppliant.* Through his pleas and prayers, O generous One,* remit the sins of a hopeless soul;* for You are compassionate and kind by essence and nature.
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
How glorious is the marvel!* He who baptizes by fire and the Spirit is coming to the Jordan,* neither as God alone nor mere man, but in two natures;* the one, the same, and the only-begotten Son.* In His humanity He seeks baptism from a mortal,* and in His divinity He takes away the sin of the world* and grants great mercy to all.
Aposticha
Tone 6
Behold the illumination of the faithful.* Behold the One who obtains pardon for us.* Christ our God desires to enter into the currents of the river* so that He may wash away the stain of our wickedness* and renew for us our broken nature.
I think of You from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon.
O Lord, when Your Forerunner saw You coming to him* and asking to be baptized,* he cried out with fear:* My God and my Creator,* how is it that I baptize You,* the only-sinless One?
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and trembled.
O faithful, let us come together in spirit* at the currents of the Jordan* so that we may clearly see the great miracle;* for the Creator of all has manifested Himself* and has come to be baptized.
Tone 5, Glory… Now…
Christ our God is coming to the Jordan River to be baptized.* He desires to cleanse us of our sins by His Theophany,* for He alone is gracious and the Lover of mankind.
Troparia
Tone 2
O divinely inspired Malachi, you announced the coming of Christ,* and you spoke of His dominance over the Law.* How clearly you informed us:* The Lord is surely coming; seek Him in the temple with joy.* Beg Him now to save our souls.
Tone 4, Glory…
O Lord our God, Your holy martyr Gordius,* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with Your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan's dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Tone 4, Now…
Make ready, O Zabulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O river Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in paradise.* For having seen you unclothed* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe:* He has appeared to renew all creation.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Make ready, O Zebulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O river Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in paradise.* For having seen you unclothed* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe:* He has appeared to renew all creation.
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 the Lord stood in Jordan’s current telling John:* Do not be afraid to baptize Me,* for I have come to save Adam, the first man.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)
Epistle
James 1:1-18
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.
verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)
Gospel
Mark 10:11-16
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)