Event Information:
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Tue07Jan2025
🕃 Synaxis of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John.
Post-feast of Theophany. Great Doxology.
VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no psalms appointed to be chanted this evening.
At Psalm 140
Tone 2
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The forerunner, beholding our Enlightener,* who illumines every man, coming to be baptized,* rejoices in soul and trembles.* He points to Him with his hand and says to the people:* “This is He who delivers Israel, who frees us from corruption!* O sinless Christ our God, glory be 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.
When our Deliverer was baptized by His servant* and borne witness to by the coming of the Holy Spirit,* the angelic armies, looking on, were stricken with awe;* and a voice was borne down from the Father in heaven:* “He whom the forerunner baptized with his hand is My beloved Son,* in whom I have been well-pleased!”* O Christ our God, glory be to You!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The currents of the Jordan received You, the Wellspring,* and the Comforter descended upon You in the form of a dove.* You who bowed down the heavens bows Your head,* and clay cries out to the Potter:* “What do You command me to do, O You who are greater than I?* It is I who must needs be baptized of You!* O sinless Christ our God, glory be to You!”
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.
Beholding You coming to him and requesting baptism, O Christ,* the forerunner cried out with trembling:* “Why do You command me to do that which is beyond my power?* How can I touch with my hand You who holds all things in You hand, O almighty Lord?* Better would it be that You baptize Your servant!”
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
“I, who am unapproachable by nature,* have manifested Myself as wholly man, accessible to you.* I, who am rich, have impoverished Myself willingly,* that I may enrich what has become impoverished with incorruption and deliverance.* Approach, then, and baptize Me who am not subject to corruption,* but rescue the world therefrom!”
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
“I am constrained on every side!* To where I shall flee, I know not!” the forerunner said to the Creator;* “As You are the torrent of nourishment, O Compassionate One,* how, then, can the river’s streams receive You who have come,* pouring forth salvation upon those* who honour Your holy epiphany, O Word?”
Tone 6, Glory…
O beacon in the flesh, forerunner of the Saviour,* offspring of a barren woman, friend of Him who came forth from the Virgin,* whom you worshipped by leaping up within your mother’s womb* and have baptized in the waters of the Jordan:* Him do you entreat, O prophet,* that we may escape the waves of tumult which are to come.
Now…
God the Word appeared in the flesh to the human race* and stood forth to be baptized in the Jordan.* And the forerunner said to Him:* “How can I stretch forth my hand and touch the head of You who hold all things?* Even though You are Mary’s Child, yet do I know You to be the pre-eternal God,* who are hymned by the seraphim and go about on the earth.* A servant knows not how to baptize his master.* O unapproachable Lord, glory be to You!”
Great Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Our God is in heaven and on earth; all things whatsoever He has willed, He has done.
verse: When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among a barbarous people, Judea became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
verse: The sea beheld and fled, the Jordan turned back.
verse: What ails you, O sea, that you fled? And you, O Jordan, that you turned back?
Aposticha
Tone 6
When John the forerunner beheld You coming to him, O Master,* he was filled with awe,* and as a guileless servant he cried out with fear:* “What humility is this, O Saviour,* what poverty, wherein You have clothed Yourself,* lifting lowly man up in the richness of Your goodness,* in that You are compassionate,* having clothed Yourself in him?”
The sea beheld and fled, the Jordan turned back.
“Come to Me who am accomplishing the mystery of salvation!”* You responded to the forerunner;* and he obeyed You with fear, O Saviour of all,* and was not overcome with awe.* “For, restoring Adam, who was crushed by sin,* I am baptized as a man in the waters of the Jordan,* to which you see that I am come,* though I am undefiled by nature.”
What ails you, O sea, that you fled? And you, O Jordan, that you turned back?
“Who among mortals has seen the Sun cleansed?” John, answering, said,* “Him who clothes the sky with clouds stripped utterly naked,* and Him who creates the springs and rivers entering the waters?* I marvel at Your ineffable dispensation, O Master!* Burden not Your servant with fearsome commands!”
Tone 6, Glory…
As a lover of the Spirit,* a swallow who manifestly announces the gracious dispensation of God the King,* who shone forth brightly upon the human race* from the pure one to the restoration of men, O forerunner,* you shone forth, utterly lifting the spirits of the downcast,* and guiding aright the hearts of those who are baptized in repentance,* that they may receive everlasting life, O blessed God-pleaser.
Now…
Come, let us emulate the wise virgins!* Come, let us greet the Master who has appeared to us!* For He has come to John like a Bridegroom;* the Jordan, seeing You, was afraid and halted.* And John cried out: “I dare not touch the head of the Immortal One!”* The Spirit descended in the form of a dove, to sanctify the water.* And a voice was heard from heaven, saying:* “This is my Son who has come into the world to save the human race!”* O Lord, glory be to You!
Troparia
Tone 2
The just man is remembered with praises,* but for you the Lord’s testimony suffices, O Forerunner,* for you truly became more honourable than the prophets* and were deemed worthy to baptize the One foretold.* Then you suffered for the truth and joyfully announced to those in Hades* that God appeared in the flesh taking away the sin of the world* and offering us great mercy.
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 LTURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING
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.
Troparion, Tone 2: The just man is remembered with praises,* but for you the Lord’s testimony suffices, O Forerunner,* for you truly became more honourable than the prophets* and were deemed worthy to baptize the One foretold.* Then you suffered for the truth and joyfully announced to those in Hades* that God appeared in the flesh taking away the sin of the world* and offering us great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: She who once was barren gives birth today to the Forerunner of Christ,* who will fulfil every prophecy.* In the Jordan he placed his hand upon the One Whom the prophets foretold,* and thus was shown to be the prophet, the herald,* and the Forerunner of the Word of God.
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 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
Acts 19:1-8
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Light shines forth for the just and joy for the upright of heart.
verse: Rejoice, you just, in the Lord; give glory to his holy name. (Psalm 96:11-12)
Gospel
John 1:29-34
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. (Titus 2:11)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)
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)