New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Wed10Jan2024
Post-feast of Theophany. Our Holy Father Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa (after 394). Venerable Dometian, Bishop of Miletene (582-602). Our Venerable Father Marcian, Presbyter and Econome of the Great Church (450-57).
VESPERS
At Psalm 140
Tone 2
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Our Light that enlightens all* comes to be baptized.* The Forerunner sees Him and rejoices in His soul.* His hand trembles as he shows Him to the people:* “Behold, the Redeemer of Israel,* the One who frees us from corruption.”* O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
A servant baptized our Redeemer* and the coming of the Spirit bore witness to Him.* The hosts of angels saw this and shook with fear.* And the voice of the Father was heard from heaven:* “The One on whom the Forerunner lays his hand,* He is My beloved Son; I am well pleased in Him.”* O Christ our God, glory to You!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The streams of the Jordan received You, their Source,* and the Comforter descended in the form of a dove.* He who bowed the heavens now bows His head.* The Clay cries aloud to the Potter:* “Why do You command me to do what is beyond me;* for it is I that should be baptized by You?”* O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
Tone 5
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O venerable Father Gregory, you are filled with holiness,* O reed filled with the breath of the Comforter,* O clearest tongue of piety* and many-splendored luminary of the divine Splendour,* O preacher of truth and foundation of theology,* fountain of sublime doctrine and rich teachings,* you are a flute inspired by God.* You delighted the thoughts of the faithful with your inspired hymns.* O all-wise one, implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the Jordan.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O venerable Father Gregory, you are most worthy of honour,* you are the axe which chops down the assaults of the heretics.* You are the two-edged sword of the Comforter.* You are the shears that prune the wild branches* and the fire which burns up the brushwood of heresies.* Truly you are the winnowing fan* that defines both the simple and the difficult teachings.* You gave clear rules for the path of salvation.* Implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the Jordan.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O venerable Father and all-blessed Gregory,* your mouth is filled with blessed words* which it draws from the unfailing and divine sources of salvation.* You explain the words of prayer for everyone,* and set down rules for virtue,* and are illumined by divine contemplation.* Enlightened by the splendour of the uncreated Trinity,* you were its invincible defender.* O all-wise one, implore Christ and pray to Him to save our race,* for He renewed the world in the streams of the*Jordan.
Tone 4, Glory…
Having adorned your words of wisdom with spotless virtue,* you were adorned in two ways, O Gregory of Nyssa:* you filled the people with wonder by your inspired preaching,* and you delighted them with your knowledge.* You wisely explained the One God in the Trinity.* Thus by your correct teachings You conquered the alien heresy;* you re-established the authority of the faith to the ends of the earth.* With the angelic powers you now stand in the presence of Christ,* and you seek peace and mercy for our souls.
Tone 4, Now…
Upon touching your immaculate head,* the hand of the Baptist trembled.* The streams of the Jordan turned back,* feeling unworthy to serve You.* How could the one who stood in awe of Joshua, the son of Nun,* be unafraid to stand before the Creator of Joshua?* You have completed all that was assigned to You, O Saviour,* so that You might redeem the world by your Epiphany,* for You alone love mankind.
Aposticha
Tone 2
May all creation sing hymns of praise to Christ* who was born of the Virgin* and is baptized in the Jordan today.
The sea fled at the sight; the Jordan turned back on its course.
May the Forerunner and the trumpet of the prophets cry out:* Bring the fruits of your good works to the Lord,* for He is baptized in the flowing waters.
Why was it, O sea, that you fled, that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?
Shining brilliantly from the heavens,* the divine Spirit is now ineffably seen in the form of a dove,* and it descends upon Christ.
Tone 4, Glory…
O Gregory, through your heavenly life you manifested God,* and your actions were filled with light* because of your divine contemplation.* You loved wisdom with a divine yearning;* you became rich through grace from the Spirit.* The sweetness of your words was like an abundance of honey.* You always delight the Church of God with your understanding of the divinity.* Therefore, you abide in heaven as a bishop,* and you pray without ceasing for us who observe your memory.
Tone 4, Now…
When John the Baptist saw You approach* the One who purifies the sin of the world by fire and the Spirit,* he cried out with fear and trembling, saying:* I am unworthy to place my hand on Your immaculate head.* Therefore, O Master, purify me by Your Epiphany,* for You alone love mankind.
Troparia
Tone 4
O God of our Fathers,* 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.
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 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 3:11-4:6
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 11:23-26
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)