Daily texts will return after June 20, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Mon23Sep2024
🕃 The Conception of the Honourable and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John.
Great Doxology
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
As the godly Zachariah sacrificed within the holy temple* and offered up the petitions of the people* to the benefactor and all-merciful One,* he beheld the holy angel who cried to him:* your prayer and petition have been heard!* Take courage, O priest, and believe in me,* for you will have a son, the holy Forerunner,* who will be greater than all those born of women!* Greater than Elijah in power, he will go before Christ!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
As the godly Zachariah sacrificed within the holy temple* and offered up the petitions of the people* to the benefactor and all-merciful One,* he beheld the holy angel who cried to him:* your prayer and petition have been heard!* Take courage, O priest, and believe in me,* for you will have a son, the holy Forerunner,* who will be greater than all those born of women!* Greater than Elijah in power, he will go before Christ!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You appear strange to me in sight and manner, Zachariah replied;* strange in words and in report!* For I have come to ask the salvation of the people* and not to acquire a son as you proclaim.* I find you opposed to their request and fear you do not tell the truth.* For how will what you say be believed?* The limbs of Elizabeth have died, and I am already aged:* these are sure signs that I must not believe your words.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You appear strange to me in sight and manner, Zachariah replied;* strange in words and in report!* For I have come to ask the salvation of the people* and not to acquire a son as you proclaim.* I find you opposed to their request and fear you do not tell the truth.* For how will what you say be believed?* The limbs of Elizabeth have died, and I am already aged:* these are sure signs that I must not believe your words.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Why do you not believe my words, Zachariah?* Why do you say I bear false tidings?* As an archangel of God I stand with you;* what I have been commanded, that I say to you!* But since you were faithless and have not believed,* you will be dumb and speechless until you behold the divine fulfilment of my words.* When Elizabeth has borne the Voice and great Forerunner of the Word,* your tongue will be loosened and you will bless the God of Israel!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Why do you not believe my words, Zachariah?* Why do you say I bear false tidings?* As an archangel of God I stand with you;* what I have been commanded, that I say to you!* But since you were faithless and have not believed,* you will be dumb and speechless until you behold the divine fulfilment of my words.* When Elizabeth has borne the Voice and great Forerunner of the Word,* your tongue will be loosened and you will bless the God of Israel!
Tone 6, Glory...
Today the fruit of prayer buds forth from a barren womb: John the Forerunner!* Wilderness, give glory! Dance, all people!* Behold, the herald of repentance begins to take flesh in his mother's womb!* Come, lovers of the feast!* Let us exult in his glorious conception, crying out:* you are greater than those born of women!* Do not cease to intercede for those who faithfully honour your divine conception,* that we may receive forgiveness of sins and great mercy!
Now…
О Theotokos, who at the sound of the archangel’s voice* conceived in your womb the Word,* who with the Father and the Spirit is equally beginningless,* you have been revealed to be more exalted than the cherubim, seraphim, and thrones.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 8
The holy priest and prophet went into the holy of holies* and before him stood the holy angel.* As it is written, he addressed him saying:* your petition has been heard!* Now the barrenness of Elizabeth is brought to an end* and she will bear you a son, John the Forerunner:* an ambassador, a lamp of the Sun and prophet of the Most High;* the Voice of the Word and divine Son who will come forth from the Virgin!
You, child, will be called the prophet of the most high!
Tell me clearly, how will I know this? answered the blessed elder.* For as you see I am full of days and Elizabeth is barren.* How do you utter words beyond nature?* I am amazed and now suspect, man, that you do not speak the truth.* Depart, for I ask the salvation of the people and not to acquire a son.* Such a thing cannot be believed!
To serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life!
I am Gabriel, archangel of God Almighty, the bodiless one said to the elder.* Now since you did not believe my words, be dumb and practice silence.* And when your wife has borne to you the Trumpet of the Word,* the Spirit will illumine your speech and you will cry out clearly:* you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,* to prepare His ways in grace, as He is well pleased!
Tone 6, Glory…
You came forth, Baptizer, an angel from a barren womb.* You dwelt in the desert from your very swaddling clothes;* shown forth as the seal of all the prophets:* for you were made worthy to baptize in the Jordan* the One whom they saw in various ways and foretold in figures!* You heard the Voice of the Father come from heaven* bearing witness to His sonship;* you saw the Spirit in the form of a dove* draw down the voice upon the One baptized.* Since you are greater than all the prophets,* do not cease to intercede for us who celebrate your memory in faith!
Now…
Theotokos, you are the true vine who blossomed for us the fruit of life.* Intercede with Him, we pray you, Lady, together with the Forerunner and all the saints* that He may have mercy on our souls!
Troparion
Tone 4
Joy to you, O barren one unable to give birth.* Behold, you conceive today the one who is really a torch of the Sun* who will enlighten the whole world that suffers from blindness.* Rejoice, O Zechariah, and cry out in all confidence:* The one who will be born is a prophet of the Most High.
Glory… Now…
To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Joy to you, O barren one unable to give birth.* Behold, you conceive today the one who is really a torch of the Sun* who will enlighten the whole world that suffers from blindness.* Rejoice, O Zechariah, and cry out in all confidence:* The one who will be born is a prophet of the Most High.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 1: Zechariah rejoices greatly with his wife Elizabeth,* for she has conceived John the Forerunner* whom the angel announced in gladness.* As for us, we honour him in witness of this blessing.
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
Galatians 4:22-31
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
Luke 1:5-25
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)