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Event Information:
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Tue09Jan2024
Post-feast of Theophany. Martyr Polyeuctus (249-51).
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
In your humanity You presented yourself* to John in the Jordan, O Lord,* although You did not leave your heavenly throne.* You were seated with the Father,* yet You were baptized for us.* Since You are generous and the Lover of mankind,* You have freed the world from slavery to the enemy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
In your humanity You clothed yourself* in the waters of the Jordan, O Lord.* You were given witness from on high* by the descent of the Spirit;* and the voice of the Father testified that You are His Son.* Now manifest yourself to us* and grant incorruption to our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Lord, from all eternity* You were begotten in a unchangeable way from the Father.* In latter times You came and received the likeness of a servant.* As the Creator You also renewed our likeness,* for in your baptism You granted incorruption to our souls.
Tone 1
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Martyr, Christ led you away from the error of idolatry* and from the mire of the earth,* just as David was led from the abyss of passion.* For He mystically placed your feet upon the rock of divine knowledge* and granted you a recognition of himself.* Implore Him that we may all be saved.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Neither the love for your wife,* nor the yearning for your children,* nor your high rank, nor the wealth of possessions and riches* shook your strength of soul away from the true faith;* for your trust is in Christ, O all-blessed Polyeuctus.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Before the grace of your martyrdom,* you truly adorned yourself with righteous deeds.* Because of them you were made worthy* to be a faithful witness of Christ;* and you were devoutly baptized in his death by your blood.
Tone 1, Glory…
Today the angelic hosts dance with joy* in memory of the martyr Polyeuctus;* and the human race faithfully celebrates and joyfully cries out:* Rejoice, all-praiseworthy one!* You overcame the snares of the deceitful one,* and you were crowned by Christ with the crown of victory.* Rejoice, warrior of the great King and our Saviour;* you destroyed the altars of idols.* Rejoice, O strength of martyrs!* Pray that we may be delivered from every danger,* for in faith we observe your ever-precious memory.
Tone 2, Now…
Today the Creator of heaven and earth* approaches the Jordan River in the flesh;* the One who is free from sin seeks to be baptized* in order to cleanse the human race from the error of the enemy;* the Master of all is baptized at the hand of the servant* in order to grant us the cleansing through water.* Therefore, let us cry out to Him:* O God who has appeared to us, glory to You!
Aposticha
Tone 6
O incomprehensible One,* You stood before everyone in the waters!* You bowed Your head to the Forerunner.* O sinless One, by Your baptism* You sanctified and delivered the world from slavery.
The sea fled at the sight; the Jordan turned back on its course.
The Father's voice spoke from on high and said:* This is My Beloved Son.* And the Spirit gave witness, O Christ.* The mystery of the Trinity was made known* through Him who was baptized in the Jordan.
Why was it, O sea, that you fled, that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?
You sanctified the waters of the Jordan, O Saviour,* as well as the nature of water.* Therefore, the human race glorifies You* and praises your divine Ephiphany.
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
The One who clothes himself with light as with a robe* deigned, for our sakes, to become as we are.* Today He is clothed in the streams of the Jordan* even though He has no need to be purified.* He refashions us through the cleansing that He receives.* What a marvelous wonder!* He creates anew without fire* and refashions without tearing apart;* He grants salvation to those enlightened in Him,* Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls.
Troparia
Tone 4
O Lord our God, your holy martyr Polyeuctus,* 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 prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the Beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ our God,* who appeared and enlightened the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
When Israel came forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from an alien people.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
The sea beheld this and fled,* the Jordan turned back on its course.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Why was it, O sea, that you fled,* that you, O Jordan, turned back on your course?
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ God,* who appeared and enlightened the world.
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, You have appeared to the world* and Your light, O Lord, has been signed on us,* who with knowledge sing Your praises.* You have come, You have appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord; God the Lord has appeared to us.
verse: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 117:26-27,1)
Epistle
James 3:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Bring to the Lord, you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams.
verse: The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the God of glory has thundered, the Lord reigns over vast waters. (Psalm 28:1,3)
Gospel
Mark 11:11-23
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
and the Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise you as is your due, O Mother of God. Even a spirit from above is filled with dizziness when seeking to sing your praises. But since you are good accept our faith, for you know well our love inspired by God. For it is you who protect all Christians; therefore, we magnify you.
Communion Hymn
The grace of God has appeared* bringing salvation to all.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Titus 2:11)
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan.
Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. (3)