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Event Information:
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Thu04Jan2024
Pre-feast of Theophany. Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles. Our Venerable Father Theoctistus, Hegumen of the Cucomo Monastery in Sicily.
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
O faithful, let us bless with sacred hymns:* Cleophas, Andronicus, Silvanus, and Agabus;* Ananias and Philip;* Prochorus, Nichanor, Rufus, and Sostenes;* Linus, and then Stachius, Stephen, and Timon,* Hermas, Phlegontus, and Mark,* together with Luke, Sosipater, Jason, and Gaius;* and Tychius and Philemon.
May Narcissus and Trophimus be worthily venerated,* together with Caesar, Zenus, and Aristarchus;* Mark, Silus, and Gaius;* Hermas and Asyncritus; Apollo and Cephas;* Clement and Justus; Quartus, Erastus, and Luke;* Onesiphorus, Carpus, and Evodius;* Matthias and James; Urban and Aristobulus;* Tychius and Aristarchus.
Let us venerate the honourable preachers of God:* Pudens, Herodionus, and Artemis;* Philologus, Olympus, and Rhodion;* Apellus and Amplius; Patrobus and Mark;* Tertius and Thaddeus;* the wonderful Epenetus, Achaicus, and Aquila;* Lucius, Barnabus, and Fortunatus;* and the glorious Apollo and Crispus.
Tone 2
When you pierced your souls with divine yearning, O all-blessed one,* you rejoiced and took up your cross and followed Christ.* Through self-discipline, you mortified the desires of your flesh.* By the warmth of your prayers, you received the life-giving energy of the Spirit,* to put an end to the winter of illnesses.* Therefore, we willingly bless you.
O Father, through assiduous prayer and continual fasting,* you purified the cravings of the soul.* You were the temple of the Divinity,* and you received the holy, divine anointing of the priesthood;* you entered into the sanctuary to offer as a sacrifice* the One who was sacrificed out of His great love for us.
You revealed yourself to be meek and innocent* in living the rule, O Father Theoctistus.* You truly followed the way of the meek.* Having become deified through communion with God,* you savoured the joy and happiness of the True One.* Do not cease to remember those who sincerely venerate you* and who observe your divine falling asleep.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
Resplendent is the feast which has passed;* but more glorious is the present day.* On that day the Magi adored the Saviour;* on this, the glorious servant baptizes the Master.* There, the shepherds sang in amazement;* here, the voice of the Father proclaims Him to be the Only-begotten Son.
Aposticha
Tone 8
When the Creator came to be baptized, John said to Him:* This is an unbearable fire, since I am made of clay and straw.* Why is it that You bow Your holy head* which the multitudes of angels dread?* O compassionate Giver of Life,* great is Your condescension.
I think of You from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon.
Behold our Enlightenment, Deliverance, and Salvation;* He desires to solemnly come into the Jordan to be humbled before all,* and to be clothed with water as with a robe.* He clothes the humiliation of all those who were humbled* by the plotting of the evil serpent.
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and trembled.
The fire is truly unbearable,* and the Creator is coming to the Jordan* to cleanse me who am crushed by wicked transgressions.* But being generous and merciful,* He receives the heavenly rain in the midst of the waters* in order to cleanse me from the defilements of my sins.
Tone 6, Glory… Now…
Christ the Truth is coming to the Jordan* to be baptized by John,* and the Baptizer says to Him:* I should be baptized by You, but You are coming to me.* I do not dare to put straw to the fire.* O Master, sanctify me by Your divine Theophany.
Troparia
In Tone 3
O holy apostles, intercede with the all-merciful God,* that he may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
In Tone 8, Glory…
In you, O holy father Theoctistus, the faithful image of God shone forth,* for you carried your cross and followed Christ.* You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away;* and how to value the soul, for it is immortal.* Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.
In 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 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
James 1:19-27
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Mark 10:17-27
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)