Author: Michael Winn

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 3

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,
the power of Death has been vanquished
and the deceit of the devil has been destroyed.
Therefore, mankind, saved by faith,
offers You hymns of praise forever.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O Lord, all creation has been enlightened by Your resurrection,
and Paradise has been reopened;
therefore, all creation extols You
and offers You hymns of praise forever.

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

I glorify the powers of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
and I praise the dominion of the undivided Divinity,
the consubstantial Trinity,
Who reigns forever and ever.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

We adore Your precious Cross, O Christ,
and with hymns of praise we glorify Your Resurrection;
for by Your wounds we have all been healed.

In Tone 2

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O holy Nicholas, Bishop of Christ,
you lived your life with people of Myra.
But since your spirit was anointed,
your fragrance of sanctity was known by all.
Now you anoint the faithful
who show their love for you.
O Father, deliver us from all distress and sorrow
as you pray to the Lord for us.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

O holy Nicholas, true servant of Christ,
you are truly a protector of your faithful flock;
and whenever you were asked for help,
you gladly assisted those who sought your aid.
Now you are also ready by day or by night
to deliver us from all distress and sorrow.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

When you appeared in a dream to Constantine the King,
you gave him this warning:
Release at once from prison those you have unjustly confined,
for they are innocent;
no murder did they commit as you claim.
O King, listen to me, or else I shall call upon the Lord.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O holy Nicholas, holy preacher of Christ,
always ready to help all on land or at sea.
Whether they be near or far, you have compassion for all.
You are a precious helper;
therefore, we who gather here ask you to pray to the Lord
that we be delivered from all distress and sorrow.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

What crowns of praise shall we confer upon the saintly Nicholas?
Once present in the flesh in Myra,
he is present in spirit to all who love him purely.
He is the leader and defender of everyone,
a comforter in distress and a haven of all in danger,
a pillar of piety and conqueror for believers.
For his sake, Christ overcame enemies and shows us great mercy.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

What crowns of praise shall we confer upon the saintly Nicholas?
Once present in the flesh in Myra,
he is present in spirit to all who love him purely.
He is the leader and defender of everyone,
a comforter in distress and a haven of all in danger,
a pillar of piety and conqueror for believers.
For his sake, Christ overcame enemies and shows us great mercy.

In Tone 6, Glory…

We have gathered to celebrate and to praise with song
the model of bishops and a glory to the fathers,
a fountain of miracles and a great helper of believers.
Let us sing to the saintly Nicholas:
Rejoice, O Protector of Myra
who was revered as its leader and strongest pillar.
Rejoice, O Radiant Star whose light of miracles shines throughout the world.
Rejoice, O Divine Joy to those in sorrow.
Rejoice, O Defender of those who are oppressed;
for even now, all-holy Nicholas,
you still pray to God for us who celebrate your feast with faith
and who honour you with zeal and joy.

In Tone 3, Now…

O Lady most honourable,
how can we but be rapt in wonder
at you giving birth to the Incarnate God
who, without a mother, was born of the Father before all ages?
You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,
without a man instrumentality.
He is God and man whose two natures are intact,
neither one losing any of its properties.
Therefore, O Virgin Mother,
intercede with Him to save the souls
of those who believe and confess in true faith
that you are the Mother of God.

Readings
(1) Proverbs 3:13-16; (2) Proverbs 8:22-30; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

Lytia

In Tone 2

O holy Father Nicholas,
Christ has shown you to be the model of faith.
Your humility inspired all in your flock.
From Myra, your piety shines throughout the world.
You are known as the protector of widows and orphans.
Now we ask your unceasing prayer for the salvation of our souls.

O holy Father Nicholas,
your relics poured out myrrh and protected Myra.
While you lived, you appeared in a dream to the king;
by this appearance you freed from lashes, prison, and death,
those who were condemned unjustly;
now manifest yourself as you did then.
Implore Christ in behalf of our souls.

Even if the city of Myra were silenced, O holy Nicholas,
hymns of praise would be sung to you:
by the entire world which has been enlightened by your brightness;
by the multitude of your magnificent miracles;
and by the condemned who were saved by you.
We also join the inhabitants of your city and cry to you:
Intercede for the salvation of our souls.

In Tone 4

You anoint with the myrrh of the Holy Spirit, O Nicholas.
You send down flowers fresh with the fragrance of the divine goodness.
You became an imitator of the apostles of Christ.
Throughout the world, the sound of your miracles is heard, O holy Father.
Despite the great distances,
you appeared In a dream, as very near,
to deliver from death those who had fallen under the unjust sentence,
and to save from many dangers those who seek your protection.
By your prayers, also deliver us from misfortunes,
for we sing your praises unceasingly.

In Tone 8

The fruit of your good works, O holy Father,
has brought joy to the hearts of the faithful.
Who indeed has not heard of your wonderful works
and not admired your patience and humility,
the joy with which you fill the poor,
and the compassion that you show to the afflicted?
You have truly been an admirable example for all.
And now that your unfading crown has been placed on you,
O holy Nicholas, pray for our souls.

O Nicholas, while on earth you lived for the glory of the Lord;
now He has glorified you in the heavenly and true life.
Since you have obtained favour in his sight, implore Him to save our souls.

In Tone 6, Glory…

O good and faithful worker
in the vineyard of Christ,
you endured the hardships of daily labours;
you did not complain of those who worked less than you.
You increased the talent given you.
Therefore, the gates of heaven opened to you,
and now you share the joy of the Lord.
O holy Nicholas, pray for us.

Now…

O Zion, be happy; rejoice, O Jerusalem,
the city of Christ our God;
welcome the Creator who rests in a manger in a cave.
Open your gates, Jerusalem, and I will enter
so that I may see Him who holds all creation in his hand,
even though He lies in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The angels ever praise this life-giving Lord
who is the only Saviour of all.

Aposticha

In Tone 3

O Christ, Who darkened the sun by Your passion
and enlightened all creation by Your resurrection,
accept our evening prayer; for You love mankind.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

O Lord, Your life-giving Resurrection has enlightened the entire universe
and has revived Your creation which lay in corruption.
Therefore, we, who have been released from the curse of Adam, cry out to You:
Almighty Lord, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O God, although in Your divine nature You are unchangeable,
yet in Your human nature You underwent change by suffering in the flesh.
All creation was prostrate with fear
when it saw You hanging on the Cross,
and it groaned in sorrow as it sang the praises of Your long-suffering.
But You descended into Hades and arose on the third day,
granting life and great mercy to the world.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

You suffered death, O Christ, to deliver mankind from death.
And when You arose from the dead on the third day,
You enlightened the world
and resurrected all who acknowledge You as God.

In Tone 6, Glory…

O man of God, O faithful servant of the Lord,
you are a chosen vessel filled with desire for God.
You are a pillar and a foundation of the Church;
you are an heir of the kingdom.
O holy Father Nicholas, pray to the Lord for us.

Now…

O Virgin without husband, from where do you come?
Who gave you birth; who is your mother?
How can you cradle the Creator in your arms?
How did you accomplish virgin-birth?
Most pure Lady, we see in you great wonders,
awesome mysteries fulfilled on earth.
We shall prepare a worthy cave for you.
We shall ask the heavens for a star.
We shall ask the Magi to come from the east to the west
to behold your new-born Child in a manger,
to behold the Saviour of all.

Troparia

In Tone 1
Rejoice, Virgin Mary, Mother of God, full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have given birth to Christ, the Deliverer and Saviour of our souls. (2)

In Tone 4
The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop Nicholas.* Intercede with Christ our God* for the salvation of our souls.

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 4: The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop Nicholas.* Intercede with Christ our God* for the salvation of our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 3: You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs* unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.

Now and forever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: In Myra, O holy one, you proved yourself a priest.* You fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O venerable father.* You laid down your soul for your people* and saved the innocent from death.* And so you were sanctified as a great initiate of God’s grace.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7, 2)

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. (Psalm 63:11)

Epistle
Colossians 1:12-18; Hebrews 13:17-21

Alleluia, Tone 3
verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever.
verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me. (Psalm 30:2, 3)
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; he has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9, 13)

Gospel
Luke 17:12-19; Luke 6:17-23

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 5

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you stand together with the Angels and dwell with the holy monks;
you converse with the Prophets
and are co-heir of the Kingdom with the Martyrs and Apostles.
You dwell in the Light that knows no evening
and shine with His divine light and intense desire.
You stand before Him with boldness and unceasing enlightenment,
delighting in His beauties.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you stand together with the Angels and dwell with the holy monks;
you converse with the Prophets
and are co-heir of the Kingdom with the Martyrs and Apostles.
You dwell in the Light that knows no evening
and shine with His divine light and intense desire.
You stand before Him with boldness and unceasing enlightenment,
delighting in His beauties.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you stand together with the Angels and dwell with the holy monks;
you converse with the Prophets
and are co-heir of the Kingdom with the Martyrs and Apostles.
You dwell in the Light that knows no evening
and shine with His divine light and intense desire.
You stand before Him with boldness and unceasing enlightenment,
delighting in His beauties.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you are an unquenchable lamp of abstinence,
a radiant beacon for monastics, illumined with rays of love.
You are an unshaken tower of patient endurance,
the support and strength of those who honour you with faith,
a treasury of healings and true dweller in the desert,
which you showed to be the Paradise of God bearing the divine fruit of salvation.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you are an unquenchable lamp of abstinence,
a radiant beacon for monastics, illumined with rays of love.
You are an unshaken tower of patient endurance,
the support and strength of those who honour you with faith,
a treasury of healings and true dweller in the desert,
which you showed to be the Paradise of God bearing the divine fruit of salvation.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you are an unquenchable lamp of abstinence,
a radiant beacon for monastics, illumined with rays of love.
You are an unshaken tower of patient endurance,
the support and strength of those who honour you with faith,
a treasury of healings and true dweller in the desert,
which you showed to be the Paradise of God bearing the divine fruit of salvation.
Entreat Christ, O holy Father,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you are a fiery pillar of the virtues,
a beacon guiding men from the sea of life to the harbour of God.
As a pure dwelling of the Holy Spirit, you cast down the spirits of deception.
You are an instructor of monastics,
a sure measure of abstinence,
a height of humility visible to all,
and a fountain pouring forth a depth of healing.
Entreat Christ, O venerable one,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

O divinely wise Sabbas,
you are a fiery pillar of the virtues,
a beacon guiding men from the sea of life to the harbour of God.
As a pure dwelling of the Holy Spirit, you cast down the spirits of deception.
You are an instructor of monastics,
a sure measure of abstinence,
a height of humility visible to all,
and a fountain pouring forth a depth of healing.
Entreat Christ, O venerable one,
and implore Him to grant to the Church unity, peace and great mercy!

In Tone 6, Glory…

You set your mind as master over the deadly passions,
keeping the image unharmed through the ascetic life.
Thus you rose into the perfect likeness, for bravely curbing nature,
you hastened to subject to that which is better:
and made the body servant to the spirit.
Therefore you were revealed as the chief of those living the monastic life,
a citizen of the desert,
a master teaching those who come to you,
a perfect example of virtue.
Now the shadows have been set aside, O Sabbas,
and in heaven you behold in purity the Holy Trinity,
as you pray with boldness for those who honour you with faith and love.

Now…

Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?
Who would not sing a hymn of praise
to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?
The Only-begotten Son Himself,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
was made flesh out of you in a manner
that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!
And for our sake, He Who is God by nature
assumed the nature of a man.
He is not divided into two persons;
He is understood to have two natures
without commixion or confusion.
O noble and blessed Woman,
intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.

Readings
(1) Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15

Aposticha

In Tone 5

Rejoice, truly precious vessel of the fragrance of ascetic struggles,
as you took your cross upon your shoulder and offered yourself to Christ the Master!
Blessed Father, you trampled the base presumption of the flesh,
enlightening your soul with virtues
and taking flight towards desire for God.
Now as we stand around your most holy shrine, all-blessed  Sabbas,
we ask that by your prayers we may receive God’s love for mankind,
and that the world be granted great mercy.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

God-bearing Sabbas,
in your godly wisdom, O venerable Father,
you approached the fire of the Spirit,
revealing yourself in the world as a divinely glowing ember,
enlightening the souls of those who faithfully come to you
and leading them to the unfading light.
Moistened from on high with the dew of divine grace,
you quenched the burning fire of the desert.
Therefore, Christ, the Lord of divine righteousness,
has openly granted you a crown of victory, O blessed one.
Entreat Him to grant our souls great mercy!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; who delights in His commandments.

Divinely wise Sabbas,
your life was manifested as a ladder,
spanning the gulf between earth and the heavens.
You ascended the heights and were counted worthy to converse with Christ the Master;
having enlightened your mind with this radiance, most blessed one,
you received a splendour equal to that of the Angels.
Now as you stand before Him, O venerable one,
pray that we who celebrate your divine and most holy memory may stand with you,
and that He will grant the world great mercy!

In Tone 8, Glory…

We honour you, O Sabbas our Father,
the instructor of a multitude of monks.
We have indeed learned to walk rightly in your footsteps.
You are blessed, for having laboured for Christ,
you denounced the  power of the Enemy.
You were a converser with the Angels
and a companion of the venerable and righteous ones.
Together with them, entreat the Lord that He may grant mercy to our souls!

Now…

Unwedded Virgin,
you ineffably conceived God in the flesh.
O Mother of God most high,
accept the cries of your servants, O blameless one!
Grant cleansing of transgressions to all!
Receive our prayers and pray to save our souls!

Troparia

In Tone 8
With streams of your tears you cultivated the barren desert,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hundredfold.* You became a beacon, shining throughout the world by your wonders,* our venerable Father, Sabbas.* Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Glory… Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.** O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: With the streams of your tears you cultivated the barren desert,* with deep sighs your toils bore fruit a hundredfold.* You became a beacon, shining throughout the world by your wonders,* our venerable Father, Sabbas.* Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: In your virtue,* O blessed Sabbas,* you offered yourself to God from childhood* as an unblemished sacrifice,* becoming a gardener* in the garden of godliness.* Thus you became the adornment of monastics,* a praiseworthy citizen of the desert.* And so we cry to you:* Rejoice, most wealthy Sabbas.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord* is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:6,3)

Epistle
Galatians 5:22-6:2

Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)

Gospel
Matthew 11:27-30

Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6-7)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

When he who is called the Morning Star,
the splendour of the glory of the eternal Father,
in His great mercy took up his abode on earth,
you, glorious Andrew, were the first to meet him
for your heart was enlightened with the perfect brightness of His divinity.
We bless you as the herald of the apostles of Christ our God!
Pray that He may enlighten and save our souls

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

When he who is called the Morning Star,
the splendour of the glory of the eternal Father,
in His great mercy took up his abode on earth,
you, glorious Andrew, were the first to meet him
for your heart was enlightened with the perfect brightness of His divinity.
We bless you as the herald of the apostles of Christ our God!
Pray that He may enlighten and save our souls

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

When He who was proclaimed by the voice of the Forerunner,
the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
bringing life and salvation to all the earth,
you, holy Andrew, were the first to follow Him.
You were offered to Him as the first-fruits of the human race.
You proclaimed to Peter your brother: we have found the Christ!”
Pray that He may save our souls.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

When He who was proclaimed by the voice of the Forerunner,
the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
bringing life and salvation to all the earth,
you, holy Andrew, were the first to follow Him.
You were offered to Him as the first-fruits of the human race.
You proclaimed to Peter your brother: we have found the Christ!”
Pray that He may save our souls.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

When He who clothed Himself in human flesh,
taking our nature from the fruitful womb of the Virgin,
appeared on earth as the Teacher of Righteousness,
your heart was made glad, Andrew, lover of purity!
He raised you from earth to the ineffable glory of God!
Pray that He may enlighten and save our souls..

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

When He who clothed Himself in human flesh,
taking our nature from the fruitful womb of the Virgin,
appeared on earth as the Teacher of Righteousness,
your heart was made glad, Andrew, lover of purity!
He raised you from earth to the ineffable glory of God!
Pray that He may enlighten and save our souls..

Glory…

Leaving behind your fishnets, apostle Andrew,
you caught men with the net of your preaching.
Throwing to us the bait of righteousness,
you delivered all nations from the depths of error.
Apostle Andrew, brother of Peter the Primate,
all-glorious and never-failing intercessor,
may the celebration of your memory
enlighten all who dwell in darkness.

Now…

O Mother of God, because of you David the Prophet
became an ancestor of God;
he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise
and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:
“The Queen stood at your right hand.”
God revealed you as a life-giving mother,
when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.
He renewed in man His image which the passions had corrupted.
He found the lost sheep in the mountains, carried it on His shoulders,
offered it to the Father, generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,
and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.

Readings
(1) 1 Peter 1:1-2:6; (2) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9; (3) 1 Peter 4:1-11

Aposticha

In Tone 5

Rejoice, O heaven!
Proclaim everywhere the glory of God!
Today the first-called apostle stands in our midst.
He was the first to obey the Lord with fervour!
United to Him, he was enkindled by His love.
He is the reflection of the Saviour’s love for mankind,
for his rays enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death!
We rejoice in his holy memory,
for through his prayers health and blessing are given to us!

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe.

Rejoice, Andrew, the first-called apostle!
You are the imitator of the passion of Christ.
With the cross as your hook you drew us up from the sea of ignorance,
offering us to the Lord of glory.
Therefore we the faithful, delivered from evil, cry out to God:
merciful Lord, through the prayers of Your apostle,
grant peace to our lives and salvation to our souls!

The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!

Your preaching gives light to godless nations,
glorious vessel of the ruler of the sea!
Your wisdom calms the stormy waves.
You are the salt of the earth, seasoning us with incorruption,
silencing the ravings of clever orators!
By his prayers, deliver us from the proud ones of the earth, O Lord,
grant purity to our hearts and salvation to our souls.

In Tone 3, Glory…

Apostle Andrew, we honour you in songs,
brother of Peter and disciple of Christ, fisherman and fisher of men,
you shaped all dogmas with the wisdom of Christ.
As fish are lured into a net, so you caught transgressors with the bait of truth.
Through his prayers, O Christ, grant us peace and great mercy.

Now…

O Virgin Mother, you conceived the Son of God without seed
by the will of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
He was begotten by the Father, without a mother, from all eternity.
Yet for our sake, He was born of you in the flesh without a human father,
and you nursed Him as an infant with your milk.
Therefore, never cease to entreat Him to deliver our souls from affliction.

Troparia

In Tone 4
As the First-called of the Apostles* and full brother of their leader,* implore the Master of all,* to give peace to the world,* and to our souls great mercy.

Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,** and saved our souls from death.

 

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FESTAL MATINS

Hexapsalm

Great Ekteny

The Lord is God, Tone 4

Troparia, Tone 4
As the First-called of the Apostles* and full brother of their leader,* implore the Master of all,* to give peace to the world,* and to our souls great mercy. (twice)

Glory… Now…

The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels* is manifested to those on earth through you, O Theotokos!* God being incarnate of you by union without confusion,* and of His own will freely enduring the cross for us,* and raising the first-formed man,* has saved our souls from death!

Kathisma & Little Ekteny

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 1
As a godly Disciple and First-called of all the Disciples of Christ,* with love we praise you, Apostle Andrew,* and faithfully we cry out to you:* Deliver your flock, with which you were entrusted by God,* from every tribulation, from constraints and stumblings, and every evil.

Glory…
As a godly Disciple and First-called of all the Disciples of Christ,* with love we praise you, Apostle Andrew,* and faithfully we cry out to you:* Deliver your flock, with which you were entrusted by God,* from every tribulation, from constraints and stumblings, and every evil.

Now…
As you now stretch out your hands in pity, holy Lady,* grant us your help from the Holy Place,* and may they complete their lives without danger,* those who glorify your all-holy Offspring,* and claim you, Lady and Maiden,* as their hope and boast.

Kathisma & Little Ekteny

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 3
Christ found you first, blest Andrew, as you came, a noble initiate,* and one who proclaimed his commandments clearly to the inhabited world like a soaring bird,* illumining the companies of the nations.* Implore him as God to grant us his great mercy.

Glory…
Christ found you first, blest Andrew, as you came, a noble initiate,* and one who proclaimed his commandments clearly to the inhabited world like a soaring bird,* illumining the companies of the nations.* Implore him as God to grant us his great mercy.

Now…
You became the divine tabernacle of the Word, Mother of God alone all-pure,* surpassing the Angels in purity.* With the divine waters of your prayers purify me,* who am befouled more than all by offences of the flesh,* granting me God’s great mercy.

Polyeleos

Exaltation
We extol you,* O first-called Apostle, Andrew,* and we venerate the pain and labour of your work* to spread the Gospel of Christ!

verses:
From the rising of the sun to its setting the Name of the Lord is to be praised!
Glory…Now…
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3 times)

Sidalen, Tone 5
Let us all sing the praise of the Apostle as eye-witness and godlike herald of the Word,* and truly spiritual fisher of nations;* because Andrew inspired of God brought us to knowledge of Christ,* and now he intercedes without ceasing that our souls may be saved.

Glory… Now…

Immaculate Virgin, you are the protection of those who have their hopes unquestioningly in you.* Free us from trials of every kind, calamities and dire troubles,* as with the Apostles you intercede with your Son,* and save all who sing your praise.

Gradual Hymn
Tone 4, Antiphon 1

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
His sound has gone out into all the earth; and his words to the end of the world.
verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims the work of his hands.

Let Everything That Has Breath, Tone 4

Gospel
Matthew 4: 18-24

After Psalm 50
In Tone 6, Glory…
Through the prayers of the apostle Andrew, O merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions!

Now…
Through the intercession of the Mother of God, O Merciful One, remit our many sins..

In Tone 1, Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion, blot out my offense.
The First-called Disciple and imitator of your passion,* the Apostle Andrew, conformed to you, O Lord,* having drawn out with the fish-hook of your Cross* those once gone astray in the deep of ignorance, brought them to you.* At his prayers, O supremely Good, make our lives peaceful and save our souls.

Canon

ODE 1

Irmos Guiding Israel with a pillar of fire and of cloud, as God He divided the sea and overwhelmed the chariots of Pharaoh in the deep! Let us sing a hymn of victory, for He alone is glorified!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

You fished with the rod of the Gospel, all-praised Andrew, drawing men out from the sea of falsehood, as Christ promised. He taught you to seek men instead of fish!

The divinely inspired Andrew, the pillar of the faith and seat of the true teachings of Christ, today summons all the ends of the earth to celebrate his yearly festival. Faithful, let us quickly gather!

You pursued the seamonster with nets; with the skill of a fisherman you fish for nations tribes and peoples with the net of the Spirit! You openly and plainly show us through that same Spirit, great heights and depths, most wondrous one!

You solemnized the mysteries of heaven and were an eyewitness and preacher of the ineffable knowledge of Christ. You received the Holy Spirit from on high who teaches and dwells among the nations distributing gifts with fire. Pray, Andrew, that we may be saved.

Glory…

I worship in faith the supernatural unity of the all-unoriginate Trinity, not dividing the divinity. For it is of a single substance, simple and indivisible. I unite it by essence and distinguish by faith the three Persons.

Now…

God is born to the Virgin as an infant and He renews that which through Adam, had become corrupt. He breaks down the dividing wall and chamber of enmity with His flesh. Coming forth from His all-pure Mother, He abolishes the curse of eve.

Katavasia Christ is born, glorify Him; Christ is from heaven, receive Him! Christ is on earth, be lifted up. Sing to the Lord all the earth and praise Him with joy all people, for He has been glorified!

 

ODE 3

Irmos May my heart be made steadfast in your will, O Christ God, who established the second heaven upon the deeps and founded the earth upon the waters, almighty one!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

Cephas and Andrew immediately followed Christ, who called them, saying: come, follow me! They left their father, their boat and their nets, for they were given a vision of the faith.

Transforming pagan temples into churches, most honoured one, you sanctified there the sons of baptism whom grace had renewed through water and the spirit.

You mystically set before the world the pearl of great price which was hidden within the field of your heart, apostle. The gentiles found it and treasured it with faith!

Taking up the gospel in your hands as a treasure, greatly praised one, you enriched all the earth with your divine preaching. Therefore, it honors your memory and your sufferings.

Glory…

Let us all sing hymns in an orthodox manner to the one power of the unoriginate, uncreated God, in Trinity, consubstantial and equally enthroned, three in persons and in lights!

Now…

Every mother that bears a child can no longer be a virgin, but you, Virgin Mother, remained so, after giving birth to Christ, nourishing our life with milk and remaining pure!

Katavasia To the Son, begotten of the Father, before all ages and incarnate of the Virgin without seed in these latter days – let us cry out to Christ our God: you have raised our horn; holy are you, O Lord!

 

LITTLE EKTENY

SESSIONAL HYMN
(Tone 8) We fittingly honour you, apostle Andrew, as the first-called of all the disciples;* an eyewitness and minister of the Word.* You followed the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world with fervor and unwavering faith!* You later showed yourself to be a sharer in the sufferings of Him who willingly endured death for our sake.* Therefore we cry to you: pray to Christ our God, that He may grant remission of sins to those who celebrate your holy memory with love!

Glory…

Destroying the boldness of the idols and yearning for the sufferings of Christ,* you revealed yourself to be an apostle, blessed one,* raining down wonders from heaven and teaching the nations, most blessed one!* Therefore, fittingly honouring your memory in hymns,* we glorify and magnify you, apostle of the Lord, in faith.* Pray to Christ God that He may grant remission of sins to those who celebrate your holy memory with love!

Now…

Rejoice, fiery throne of God! Rejoice, O Maiden!* The royal seat and richly provided couch, the chamber hung with gold-embroidered purple,* the cloak of scarlet, adorned temple and light-bearing chariot!* Rejoice, most radiant candlestick, the twelve-walled city, the gate cast of God,* the radiant bridal chamber, magnificent banquet hall and divinely adorned tabernacle!* Rejoice, glorious bride, radiant as the sun!* Rejoice, the only splendour of my soul!

 

ODE 4

Irmos Habbakuk the prophet, you foresaw in spirit the incarnation of the Word and you prophesied, crying out: when the years draw near, you shall be acknowledged! When the season comes, you shall be revealed! Glory to Your power, O Lord!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

You cast aside your nets and took up the cross; you followed after Christ who called you. Stretching out the net of the Spirit, you caught men instead of fish. Glory to Him who gave you the Spirit!

You received the fiery tongue of the Spirit and became a man well-pleasing to God, apostle. You traversed the glories of the heavens recognizing their spiritual beauty and revealing it to us.

You watered the parched desert with your divine words and showed it to be fertile, O wise one, bearing fruit, the children of the church, through the spreading of the seed. Glory to Him who gave you the Sspirit!

Perceiving your ineffable goodness, O Jesus, Andrew summoned his kinsman, saying to Peter: my blood kinsman, we have found the Messiah who was proclaimed in the Law and the Prophets! Come, let us truly join ourselves to life!

Glory…

Faithful, let us hymn the Trinity in unity, the Father, Son and Divine Spirit, one in divinity, essence and nature, indivisible, inseparable and undivided, for He is one God in three Persons.

Now…

You ineffably conceived one of the Trinity in your womb; you gave birth to Him without corruption as a Son, yet the Trinity was never added to in time! As you were pure before you gave birth, you were kept whole, O Mother of God!

Katavasia Rod of the stem of Jesse and flower that budded from a Virgin, O most lauded Christ! From the mountain covered with darkness You have come, made flesh from her that knew no wedlock. O God not formed from matter, glory to Your might, O Lord!

 

ODE 5

Irmos Enlighten our minds with the light of Your commandments and with the splendour of Your grace, O God. Grant us Your mercy, for Your precepts are light and peace, O Good One!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

You yearned for the cross, disciple of Christ, and through your cross you obtained the incorruptible kingdom into which you draw all the initiates of God with the cross. As we proclaim God’s own words about the cross, you grant an inheritance to us!

You truly sought for Christ our life, and having searched, you were the first to find Him. Having found Him, you mystically embraced Him! You received incorruptible life from the giver becoming a treasury of this life.

The proclamation of your divine thunder went out and encompassed all the ends of the earth! As David said, your lightning has appeared to all the world.

Remember us, disciple of Christ, as we celebrate your memory and venerate your relics. Ever pray with fervour on behalf of the flock which you have preserved and saved from the beginning!

Glory…

Faithful, let us together glorify God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the indivisible Trinity, the tri-personal Kingdom, glorifying Him in faith with eternal theology.

Now…

You gave birth to the Light beyond understanding; you bear the Lamp of the Light of the Sun! You were a new tabernacle of divine Light, sending rays of divine knowledge out to all the world.

Katavasia God of peace and Father of mercies, You have sent us the angel of great council who grants us peace. So we are guided to the light of the knowledge of God. Waking early from the night, we praise You, O Lover of mankind!

 

ODE 6

Irmos I reflect the prophet Jonah and I cry out: free me, Good One, from corruption! Saviour of the world, save me as I cry out: glory to You, O God!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

The one who was called from Bethsaida summons us to keep the feast! He sets before us in splendour the commemoration of his struggles.

By trade a fisherman, by faith a disciple, he plumbed the depths of the heart of the faithful. He lowers the hook of the word and catches us!

Spreading the fire of the love of Christ within your heart, you went out to the gentiles, disciple. Your flame burns for Christ, who has truly appeared!

You seasoned your mind with the salt of Christ; your wages have sweetened the heavenly teachings bringing us unfading delight.

Glory…

Faithful, let us worship the Father, Son and true Spirit, the tri-personal, indivisible Essence. Let us cry out: glory to God in Trinity!

Now…

The Son was incarnate in your womb, O Pure One, by the good pleasure of the Father and through the Holy Spirit. He openly saved mankind that had been created in his image.

Katavasia The seamonster cast out Jonah unharmed as it had received him, like a babe from the womb. And when the Word came to dwell in the Virgin and was made flesh, He came forth preserving her incorrupt, for He Himself was not subject to decay and He kept His mother free from harm!

 

KONTAKION
(Tone 2) Let us praise for his courage the divinely inspired Andrew,* the first apostle of the Saviour and brother of Peter,* for as he drew his brother to Christ, he is crying out to us:* come, for we have found the One whom the world desires!

IKOS
In days of old, David, a sinner like myself, was compelled to declare the maxims of God with honour. And again, He teaches and proclaims with many tears: today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts as Israel was once embittered. And He leads all in psalmody: sing hymns to the Lord, all lands! Come, for we have found the One whom the world desires!

 

ODE 7

We the faithful perceive you to be a spiritual furnace, O Theotokos, for as the highly exalted one saved the three children, the praised and most glorified God of our fathers has wholly renewed the world in your womb!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

The fire of the Holy Spirit, descending from on high, commanded you, apostle of Christ, to proclaim His mighty works in new languages which you had never spoken before to the ends of the earth!

Initiates of the mysteries of Christ and beholders of exalted things, as the Twelve, you have enlightened the darkness of the earth, astonishing the minds of all by the proclamation you trumpeted out to all the world!

Wondrous was your grace, O Master Christ, in Your divinely wise disciples. As simple and humble men, they travelled through all the ends of the earth!

Who taught you to speak as you do, apostle? Who enlightened your mind to behold clearly the radiance of unapproachable glory which shines the light of truth into our hearts?

Glory…

Faithful, let us sing hymns to the Trinity, glorifying the unoriginate Father, the Son and the righteous Spirit: the single Essence! Let us chant: holy, holy, holy are You forever!

Now…

We glorify you, O Christ, as one of the Trinity, for without change, You were incarnate of the Virgin. Jesus, You bore all things as a man, united to us, without departing from the essence of the Father!

Katavasia The children brought up together in godliness, despising the unrighteous command, were not afraid of the threat of fire, but standing in the midst of the flames they sang: blessed are you, O God of our fathers!

 

ODE 8

Irmos God who preserved the bush which burnt on Sinai unconsumed and delivered the youths in the midst of the burning flame: let us hymn, bless and highly exalt You forever!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

You drew fish from the sea, most wise one, by the craft of fishing. Now by faith, you draw men to Christ from the deception of the enemy! For deception is an abyss drowning the nations in a storm of impiety.

You sailed the spiritual sea of life by faith in Christ and were not capsized, O apostle. You were propelled by the sail of the spirit and rejoicing, you have reached the eternal harbour of life!

After the spiritual Sun set of His own will upon the tree, the great Andrew, the lamp of the Church and beacon of the Sun, sought to end his own life with Christ and set in Him. He, too, was hung upon the wood of a cross.

Disciple and beloved friend of Christ and one of his apostles: when the Judge sits upon His throne with you, His Twelve, to give judgment as He has promised, be a fortress for us of love for mankind.

Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord!

Let us glorify the three-fold radiance of Unity, the equally enthroned Trinity. Let us not separate It, but unite it consubstantially, as one Essence, united in three Persons without confusion!

Now…

Pure One, you conceived and gave birth to one of the Trinity, who, incarnate of you, renews the laws of nature by your childbearing! Theotokos, never cease to pray to Him as God on our behalf.

We praise, bless and worship the Lord, singing and exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia The furnace moist with dew was the image of a wonder beyond nature, for it did not burn the children whom it had received! Just as the fire of divinity did not consume the Virgin’s womb when it entered there. So, let us raise the song: let the whole creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all forever!

MAGNIFICAT

ODE 9

Irmos Let us all magnify the radiant cloud upon whom the unoriginate Master of all descended like dew on the fleece, the pure Mother of God from whom He was incarnate, becoming man for our sake!

Refrain: Holy apostle Andrew, pray to God for us!

You spread out the net of the mystical knowledge of God. You caught fish with the beauties of heavenly thoughts! Entreat the holy Trinity, holy one, to pour out a cleansing stream on us.

The nations who are enlightened by you and led up from earth to heaven, give thanks to you, for wrested from the service of the enemy, they have become companions of the holy angels and partakers of the glory of the Lord!

Apostles and witnesses of ineffable things and ministers of the Word, performers of the mysteries and beholders of hidden things, pray that we may become heirs of the kingdom of Christ and partakers of His divinity.

You received the power from Christ to bind and loose: free us all from the bonds of our many transgressions when Christ shall come and you Twelve will be seated upon thrones to judge all the tribes of Israel!

Glory…

We unceasingly glorify in heaven and on earth the incomprehensible Trinity: the tri-personal Essence, the indivisible Glory hymned in one divinity. With devotion, we worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Now…

We run with faith to your loving kindness, worshiping your son with devotion, Virgin Theotokos! Entreat Him as the God and Lord of the world, that He may deliver us from corruption, misfortune and all temptation.

Katavasia I behold a strange, most glorious mystery! Heaven — the cave! The cherubic throne — the Virgin! The manger — the place where Christ lay, the uncontainable God whom we magnify in song!

 

Hymn Of Light, Tone 3
The Word without beginning having found you, O all-blessed,* declared you the First-called of all the Apostles, revered Andrew;* and following in his footsteps you were revealed as guide of those who had gone astray,* bringing up the divine path to heaven.

Glory…

Let us give glorious praise to Peter’s brother, the first-called of the Disciples,* who became an eye-witness and servant of the Word, the Apostle Andrew;* for he enlightened the nations, and was crucified, dying like a Disciple of the Master.

Now…

All-blameless Virgin, implore God, to whom you gave birth,* for all who devoutly honour you, with the glorious Apostle,* to obtain the divine radiance of your Son* and the place of the elect and of the Saints;* for you have strength to do whatever you wish.

 

At The Praises, Tone 1
Bethsaida now be glad;* for in you there flowered from a mystic pool two sweet scented lilies, Peter and Andrew,* who spread the fragrant proclamation of the faith to the whole world by the grace of Christ,* whose sufferings too they imitated.

Andrew rejoice and leap for joy,* because in the radiance of the Word you clearly received the Sun of glory, Christ the giver of life,* whom you held fast and by the faith proclaimed;* implore him without ceasing on behalf of us* who sing your praise with faith.

Chosen initiate of the divine dispensation of Christ,* chosen first of all to be a disciple of the Word,* Andrew who saw God cried out and said, when he saw his brother Peter,* ‘We have found the Messiah* whom the Scripture and Prophets proclaimed of old’.

The city of Patras has gained you as Shepherd and divine defender,* deliverer from dangers of every kind and guardian, wise Andrew,* as with thanksgiving it honours you.* But implore without ceasing that it may be preserved unharmed.

In Tone 8, Glory…
Let us all sing the praise of Andrew, the herald of the faith and servant of the Word;* for he fishes men from the deep,* grasping in his hands the Cross for a rod,* and lowering power like a line he brings souls up from the error of the foe* and offers them as an acceptable gift to God.* Let us the faithful ever sing his praise with the choir of Christ’s Disciples,* that he may intercede with him so that he may be merciful to us* on the day of judgement.

Now…
Bethlehem receive the Mother City of God;* for she has come to give birth in you to the unwaning Light.* You Angels, marvel in heaven; mankind give glory upon earth,* Magi from Persia bring your triple glorious gift,* Shepherds abiding in the fields sing the thrice-holy hymn.* Let everything that has breath praise the Maker of all.

 

Troparion, Tone 4
As the First-called of the Apostles* and full brother of their leader,* implore the Master of all,* to give peace to the world,* and to our souls great mercy.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: As the First-called of the Apostles* and full brother of their leader,* implore the Master of all,* to give peace to the world,* and to our souls great mercy.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Let us praise God’s herald, whose name is “courage,”* Peter’s kinsman who leads those in the Church who follow the chief apostle,* for as then to Peter so now to us he cries aloud:* “We have found the One so longed for.”

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word 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
1 Corinthians 4:9-16

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
John 1:35-51

Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 2

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Come, let us adore God the Word,
Who was born of the Father before all ages,
and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;
for of His own free will He suffered the Cross
and submitted Himself to burial,
and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,
by nailing it to the Cross;
and He abolished the dominion of Death.
Let us glorify His Resurrection on the third day.

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;
for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.
He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power
to judge the world which He has fashioned.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Although You died and were buried,
the angel yet declared You as Master.
He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;
for He is risen as He foretold,
because He is almighty.
Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,
and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O Christ, You have abolished the curse of the tree by Your Cross;
You have destroyed the power of Death by Your burial,
and You enlightened the human race by Your Resurrection.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
O God and Benefactor, glory to You!

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

O Lord, the gates of death opened before You in fear,
and the gatekeepers of Hades were filled with dread at the sight of You.
You smashed the gates of brass and crushed the posts of iron.
Then You burst our chains asunder,
and led us out from the darkness, away from the shadow of death.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Let us all come and prostrate ourselves in the house of the Lord,
singing this hymn of salvation:
O Christ, You were crucified on the tree and rose from the dead;
and You now abide in the bosom of the Father.
Please cleanse us of our sins.

In Tone 4

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Manifestly illumined by the brightness of the Spirit of God,
most blessed Paramon,
you despised the total darkness of idolatry.
When your time had come, most blessed one,
you approached the suffering before you with a courageous mind!
Revealed as victorious, you cast down the prideful enemy of all mortals,
as you magnified Christ!
Entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls!

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Witnessing a great multitude slaughtered for the King and God of all,
you burned with divine zeal, Paramon, crying out:
I am ever a true servant of Christ!
Understand, evil tyrants,
for behold, I was summoned and now I come
to be slain like an innocent lamb!
Therefore, do not be deceived:
I am forced to become an acceptable sacrifice to Him
Who for my sake was freely slain in the flesh!

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

The honoured choir of athletes,
three hundred seventy in number,
with faith cast down the falsehood of the evil-doers’ idolatry.
You also were crowned with them,
having struggled with a courageous mind, Paramon,
and rejoicing, you joined the choirs of the bodiless hosts!
Ever pray with them that we who honour and bless you
may be delivered from all sorrow and dangers!

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.
Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.

Aposticha

In Tone 2

Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,
has enlightened the whole universe;
and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.
Almighty God, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,
You have abolished the curse of the tree;
by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;
and by Your Resurrection You enlightened the human race.
We, therefore, cry out to You:
O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,
the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.
The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,
and the people showed their ignorance of Your power
by asking that Your tomb be sealed.
But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial
and then arose on the third day.
O Lord, glory to You!

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Christ, Giver of Life,
You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.
In Your power You descended into Hades;
and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,
You placed them in Paradise.
Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your Resurrection,
and cleanse our souls.

Glory… Now…

We now behold a new wonder,
greater than the wonders of old.
For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?
Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?
It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;
and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.
Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.
Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him
to have mercy on us and save our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”

In Tone 1, Glory…
Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.

Now…
O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and an unfailing hope of patronage,* for as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14, 18)

Epistle
Ephesians 6:10-17

Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2, 10)

Gospel
Luke 13:10-17

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,
and grant us forgiveness of sins,
for You alone manifested the Resurrection to the world.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O you people, walk around Zion and encompass her.
And there give glory to Him Who is risen from the dead.
For He is our God
Who delivers us from our sins.

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Come you people, praise and worship Christ.
Glorify His Resurrection from the dead;
for He is our God Who delivered the world
from the deceit of the enemy.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Rejoice, O you heavens;
sound the trumpets, you foundations of the earth;
cry out with joy, O you mountains.
For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross;
the Giver of Life has put Death to death;
and the Lover of Mankind
has raised up Adam.

In Tone 8

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O wonder most glorious!
The Ineffable One is now prefigured.
She is known today in visible images
because the Divine Light shone forth for the world.
The betrothed is led into the holy temple.
Let us exalt her as the splendid and holy One,
the light-radiating Temple of Christ the Light-Giver.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

The wise Joachim and Anne
offered up a truly acceptable first fruit,
the heavenly fruit that God clearly desired to give to them,
the handmaiden of God, the Virgin Mary.
Her tribulations took away the debt.
Let us praise her and devoutly rejoice
because she is the mediatrix of joy for the whole world.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Come let us mystically gather together.
Adorned with the light of faith,
let us walk before the Virgin
who now gloriously enters the temple of God.
She is betrothed to Christ, the King of all.
We celebrate the beautiful feast of her entrance
which is a delight to everyone.

In Tone 2

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O glorious Philemon,
as a branch of the Living Vine,
you have rained the joy of the knowledge of God
upon those who have anguish of soul.
You made happy the hearts that were ensnared
and possessed by the darkness of idol worship.
Therefore, we rejoice and celebrate your God-loving memory.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

O blessed one, the city of Gaza venerates you,
since It beheld the light of knowledge through you.
The Colossians hold onto your holy body as a rich possession
which overflows with the grace of healing.
Therefore, O glorious Philemon, we observe your memory
and are protected from dangers by your prayers.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

In faith let us praise the wise ones,
the hierarchs Archippus and the precious Apphias.
Let us honour the priestly preachers
and honourable teachers, Philemon and Onesimus.
They rooted out the cunning of idol worship by preaching
and planted the knowledge of truth
for all who devoutly honour them.

In Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Today let the heavens above greatly rejoice
and let the clouds pour down gladness
at the mighty and marvellous acts of our God.
For behold, the gate that looks towards the East,
born from a fruitless and barren womb according to the promise,
and consecrated to God as his dwelling,
is now being brought into the temple as a spotless offering.
Let David greatly rejoice and play on his harp, saying:
Virgins shall be brought to the King after her;
her companions shall be brought into the ark of the Lord
to be nourished with the life of the incorruptible One
who was begotten from eternity
for the salvation of our souls.

Now…

Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,
glory of the whole world!
She was herself formed by human seed,
yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,
the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.
She was seen as being heavenly
and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.
She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,
and brought peace in its place, she opened up the kingdom of heaven.
Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,
and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.
Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,
for He will fight our enemies for us, He is all-powerful!

Aposticha

In Tone 1

O Christ, by Your Passion we have been freed from suffering;
and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.
O Lord, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,
let the nations clap their hands with joy.
For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,
has nailed our sins to the Cross;
He has put Death to death,
and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,
He has given life to all mankind.

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O God, You are above all understanding;
You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.
Yet of Your own free will,
You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.
When You descended below,
Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;
but the souls of the just received You with great joy.
Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.
What a wonder this is!
You are the life of all and have tasted death
in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.
O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief
as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;
but they did not find Your most pure body.
Instead, they found an angel
who proclaimed Your unique and glorious Resurrection,
and commanded them to announce to Your Apostles:
The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Today the all-Immaculate Virgin
is being escorted into the temple
to become the abode of God, the King of all.
Today, as a three year old child,
the most pure holy One is being led into the Holy of Holies.
With the angel, let us cry out to her:
Rejoice, for you alone are blessed among women.

Troparia

In Tone 1
Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!** O only Lover of Mankind.

In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:** Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans,* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day,* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan,* O only Lover of mankind.

Troparion, Tone 4: Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 1: You arose in glory from the tomb* and with Yourself You raise the world.* All humanity acclaims You as God.* and death has vanished.* Adam exults, O Master,* and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy:* “You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: The Saviour’s pure temple,* the precious bridal chamber and Virgin,* the sacred treasury of the glory of God,* is brought today into the house of the Lord;* and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit.* God’s angels sing in praise of her:* She is indeed the heavenly dwelling-place.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22, 1)

Epistle
Ephesians 5:9-19

Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued people under me.
verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48, 51)

Gospel
Luke 12:16-21

Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the entrance of the pure one, angels marvel in wonder how the Virgin could enter the holy of holies.
And the Irmos, Tone 4: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark,* but instead let the lips of those who are believers* sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel,* crying out with great joy to the Mother of God:* O pure Virgin,* you are truly higher than all.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

GREAT VESPERS

Beginning of Vespers with Litiya: Glory be to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating and undivided Trinity, now and ever and for ages of ages. Amen.

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

O faithful, let us leap for joy today,
singing psalms and hymns of praise
in honour of Mary, his mother,
the holy Tabernacle and Ark that contained the Word
whom nothing can contain.
She is offered to God as a child in a marvellous way,
and Zechariah the high priest receives her with great joy,
for she is the dwelling place of the Most High.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

O faithful, let us leap for joy today,
singing psalms and hymns of praise
in honour of Mary, his mother,
the holy Tabernacle and Ark that contained the Word
whom nothing can contain.
She is offered to God as a child in a marvellous way,
and Zechariah the high priest receives her with great joy,
for she is the dwelling place of the Most High.

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Today the living Temple of the holy glory of Christ our God,
Mary, the pure and blessed One,
is being brought into the temple according to the Law
to live in its holy precincts.
Joachim and Anne and all the virgins
rejoice with her in spirit.
They sing hymns of praise to the Lord
and honour his Mother.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Today the living Temple of the holy glory of Christ our God,
Mary, the pure and blessed One,
is being brought into the temple according to the Law
to live in its holy precincts.
Joachim and Anne and all the virgins
rejoice with her in spirit.
They sing hymns of praise to the Lord
and honour his Mother.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

O Virgin Mother of God,
you are the One foretold by the prophets.
You are the glory of the apostles
and the pride of martyrs
and the cause of renewal for the entire human race.
Through you we have been reconciled with God.
Therefore, we honour your entrance into the temple of the Lord.
Together with the angels, all of us who are saved by your prayers sing to you:
Rejoice, O most holy One.

In Tone 4

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

The holy and immaculate One
is being led into the Holy of Holies by the Holy Spirit.
She is being nourished by angels,
since she is the holy Temple of our holy God.
He has sanctified all creation because of her entrance,
and He has deified our fallen human nature.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Today the maidens rejoice.
Carrying lamps, they piously escort Mary,
the spiritual lamp, into the Holy of Holies.
This is a foreshadowing of the splendid Light
that will shine forth from her,
the Light that will enlighten all
who sit in the darkness of ignorance.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

The most praiseworthy Anne cries out in great joy:
O Zechariah, receive the One whom the prophets of God
foretold through the Spirit.
Escort her into the holy temple,
since she is to be the sublime Temple,
the palace, throne, and wondrous abode of our God.

Glory… Now…

O Lady and Bride of God,
you entered the temple of God in your infancy
to be brought up in the Holy of Holies,
for you are holy.
The archangel Gabriel was sent to serve you and bring you food.
All the heavenly powers were amazed
at the sight of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.
Therefore, O most pure and immaculate Mother of God,
since you are glorified in heaven and on earth,
through your prayers save our human race.

Readings
(1) Exodus 40:1-5,9-10,16,34-35; (2) I Kings 7:51-8:1, 3-7, 9-11; (3) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4

Litiya

In Tone 1

Today let the heavens above greatly rejoice
and let the clouds pour down gladness
at the mighty and marvellous acts of our God.
For behold, the gate that looks towards the East,
born from a fruitless and barren womb according to the promise,
and consecrated to God as his dwelling,
is now being brought into the temple
as a spotless offering.
Let David greatly rejoice and play on his harp, saying:
Virgins shall be brought to the king after her;
her companions shall be brought into the ark of the Lord
to be nourished with the life of the Incorruptible One
who was begotten from eternity
for the salvation of our souls.

In Tone 4

Today the Theotokos, the Temple that is to contain God,
is being escorted into the temple of the Lord,
and Zechariah receives her.
Today the Holy of Holies greatly rejoices,
and the choir of angels mystically celebrates this feast.
Let us also celebrate with them today
and cry out with Gabriel:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you,
and He grants us great mercy.

Come all you people,
and let us praise the only Immaculate One
who was foretold by the prophets
and is being led into the temple.
She was chosen from eternity to be the Mother;
and in time she was revealed as the Theotokos.
O Lord, by her prayers grant us your peace and great mercy.

In Tone 5, Glory… Now…

A day of joy has truly dawned.
It is a most precious feast for us,
because she who was virgin before and after childbirth,
today is offered in the temple.
The aged Zechariah, father of the Forerunner, cries aloud, rejoicing:
The intercessor of those in affliction
comes into the holy temple, since she herself is holy.
She will be sanctified in the abode of the King of all.
Let her father, Joachim, be glad
and let Anne rejoice exceedingly,
because they have offered to God
the immaculate Queen as a three year old child.
Rejoice with them, all you women;
all you virgins and barren ones, dance for joy
and celebrate with them,
for the Queen of all has opened the kingdom of heaven for us.
Let all people be glad and rejoice.

Aposticha

In Tone 5

Heaven and earth today rejoice together
at the sight of the mystical heaven;
the immaculate and pure Virgin is coming into the holy temple
to be brought up in honour. Zechariah, rejoicing in her and leaping for joy,
cried out in awe: O Door of the Lord,
I open the doors of the temple to you,
because I know and believe that the salvation of Israel is already coming,
that the Word of God will be born from you,
and that He will grant great mercy to the world.

She is led to the King with her maiden companions.

When Anne, which means grace,
was graced with the pure and ever-Virgin Mary,
she presented her into the temple of God.
She called maidens to carry candles and walk before her as she said:
O child, go to be an offering
and a fragrant incense for the One who sent you to me.
Enter into the veiled places and learn the mysteries of God.
Prepare yourself to be a delightful dwelling place for Jesus
who will give great mercy to the world.

They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the King.

The all-holy Virgin is handed over into the temple.
Maidens carrying candles go before her.
Her parents, the devoted couple, Joachim and Anne, joyfully celebrate,
for they have given birth in the flesh to the One who will bear the Creator.
She will dance for joy in the temple of God
and will be fed by the hand of an angel.
The all-immaculate Mother of Christ has appeared,
and He will grant great mercy to the world.

In Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O assembly of the faithful,
let us celebrate this day as a spiritual feast.
With great love, let us honour the maiden of God,
the Virgin and Theotokos,
as she is presented into the temple of the Lord;
for she has been chosen from among all generations
to be the dwelling place of Christ our God
who is the King of all.
O virgins, carry candles and lead the way
for the entrance of the ever-Virgin.
Follow after her who is the Mother of God
and mediatrix for the joy of the world.
Therefore, let us all cry out together with the angels:
Rejoice, for you are full of grace,
and you continually pray for our souls.

Troparion

In Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:** Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan. (3 times)

 

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FESTAL MATINS

Hexapsalm

Great Ekteny

The Lord Is God, Tone 4

Troparion, Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan. (twice)

Glory… Now…

Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s plan.

Kathisma & Little Ekteny

Sessional Hymn I
In Tone 1: The fruit of righteous Joachim and Ann* is brought as an offering to God in the holy sanctuary,* she who sustains our life, a young child in the flesh;* and she receives the blessing of Zacharias the priest.* Let all of us in faith call her blessed, for she is the Mother of the Lord.

Glory… Now…

The fruit of righteous Joachim and Ann* is brought as an offering to God in the holy sanctuary,* she who sustains our life, a young child in the flesh;* and she receives the blessing of Zacharias the priest.* Let all of us in faith call her blessed, for she is the Mother of the Lord.

Kathisma & Little Ekteny

Sessional Hymn II
In Tone 4: Before your conception, O pure Virgin,* you were consecrated to God;* and now after your birth you are offered as a gift to Him* in fulfillment of your parents’ promise.* To the divine temple you are brought,* yourself a Temple truly divine, innocent from the time you were a babe;* you have appeared in the sanctuary accompanied by brightly burning lamps,* who are the Receiver of the Divine Light that no man can approach.* Magnificent in truth is your entry,* O only Bride of God and ever-Virgin.

Glory… Now…

Before your conception, O pure Virgin,* you were consecrated to God;* and now after your birth you are offered as a gift to Him* in fulfillment of your parents’ promise.* To the divine temple you are brought,* yourself a Temple truly divine, innocent from the time you were a babe;* you have appeared in the sanctuary accompanied by brightly burning lamps,* who are the Receiver of the Divine Light that no man can approach.* Magnificent in truth is your entry,* O only Bride of God and ever-Virgin.

Polyeleos

Exaltation
We extol you,* O most holy Virgin!* Maiden chosen of God!* And we honour your entry into the temple!
verse:
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised:
in the city of our God and in His holy mountain!…
Holy is Your temple, and wonderful in righteousness!…
Glory…Now…
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3 times)
Sidalen
In Tone 8: Let David the Psalmist greatly rejoice,* let Joachim and Ann be glad,* for a holy child has come forth from them,* Mary the Lamp that bears the Divine Light;* and she rejoices as she enters the temple.* The son of Zarachias, beholding her, gave her his blessing and cried out in joy:* “Hail, you wonder of the all the world!”

Glory… Now…

Let David the Psalmist greatly rejoice,* let Joachim and Ann be glad,* for a holy child has come forth from them,* Mary the Lamp that bears the Divine Light;* and she rejoices as she enters the temple.* The son of Zarachias, beholding her, gave her his blessing and cried out in joy:* “Hail, you wonder of the all the world!”

Gradual Hymns

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear.
verse: My heart is overflowing with noble words.

Let Everything That Has Breath, Tone 4

Gospel
Luke 1:39-49, 56

After Psalm 50
In Tone 2, Glory…
Today the living Temple of the great King* enters the temple to be prepared as a divine dwelling-place for Him.* O people, rejoice exceedingly.

Now…
Today the living Temple of the great King* enters the temple to be prepared as a divine dwelling-place for Him.* O people, rejoice exceedingly.

In Tone 4,Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion, blot out my offense.
Today the Theotokos, the Temple that is to hold God,* is led into the temple of the Lord,* and Zacharias receives her.* Today the Holy of Holies rejoices greatly,* and the choir of angels mystically keeps feast.* With them let us also celebrate the festival today,* and let us cry aloud with Gabriel:* Hail, O you who are full of grace: the Lord is with you,* He who has great mercy.

Canon

ODE 1
First Canon – Tone 4
Irmos I shall open my mouth and the Spirit will inspire it, and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Mother: I shall be seen radiantly keeping feast and joyfully praising her entry.
We know that you, O All-Undefiled, are a treasury of wisdom and a never-failing fountain of grace. We therefore pray: O Lady, let fall some drops of knowledge upon us, that we may sing your praises for ever.
You who are honoured, O Most Holy, far above the heavens, you who are both Temple and Palace, you are dedicated in the temple of God, to be prepared as a divine dwelling-place for His coming.
She who made the light of grace shine forth, the Theotokos, has illuminated all men and brought them together to adorn with songs her most radiant triumph. O come, let us join them and hasten to her.
Having opened the gates of the temple of God, the Glorious Gate’ through which human thoughts cannot pass now urges us to enter with her and to delight in her divine marvels.

Second Canon – Tone 1
Irmos Let us all sing a triumphant song unto God who has done wondrous things with His mighty arm, and has saved Israel: for He has been glorified.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Let us this day hasten together to the Theotokos, honouring her in songs, and let us keep spiritual feast. For she is offered in the temple as a gift to God.
Let us praise in songs the glorious advance of the Theotokos. For today as a precious gift she is prophetically offered in the temple, who is herself a Temple of God.
Ann without reproach greatly rejoiced, offering her child in the temple as a precious gift to God, while Joachim, bright with joy, kept feast with her.
David the forefather praised you of old in hymns, O Virgin Bride of God, calling you Daughter of Christ the King: Him you have borne as Mother and you have fed Him as your child.
The Theotokos, when she was three years old after the flesh, was led to the Lord; and Zacharias, the priest of God, received her in the temple with rejoicing and established her there.
You virgins carrying lamps, be of good cheer today and begin the song; you mothers, join them in praises to the Queen and Mother, as she enters the temple of Christ the King.
Glory…
O Trinity, one in essence, Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, with faith we glorify You as Maker of all, and in reverence we cry: Save us, O God.
Now…
The King and God goes forth wearing the purple dyed from your blood, O All-Undefiled. He has renewed all mankind in His compassion.
Katavasia (Tone 1) Christ is born, give glory. Christ comes from heaven, meet Him. Christ is on earth, be exalted. O all the earth, sing unto the Lord, and sing praises in gladness, O people, for He has been glorified.

ODE 3
First Canon
Irmos O Mother of God, living and plentiful fount, give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to you: and on this day of your venerable entry, vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Today has the temple become a wedding adornment and a fair chamber for the Virgin, as it receives the living Bridal Chamber of God, pure and without spot, she who shines more brightly than all the creation.
David, leading the dance, leaps in gladness and rejoices with us, and you, O undefiled and all-pure Virgin, he calls the Queen, clad in raiment of many-coloured needlework, standing in the temple before the King and God.’
From Eve of old the transgression came upon mankind, and now from Eve’s stock has flowered forth our restoration and incorruption, even the Theotokos, who is brought today into the house of God.
The hosts of angels and the multitude of all mankind dance today before your face, O all-pure Lady, and carrying lamps they go before you, proclaiming your greatness in the house of God.

Second Canon
Irmos Let my heart be established in Your will, O Christ my God, who has established the second heaven above the waters, and has founded the earth upon the floods, in Your almighty power.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O You who love the feasts, celebrate and be glad in spirit, exulting today in the holy feast of the Daughter of the King and the Mother of our God.
Be glad today, O Joachim, and rejoice exceedingly in spirit, O Ann, who now present unto the Lord your daughter, as a three-year old victim of sacrifice, holy and utterly without spot.
Dwelling-place of God, the Theotokos Mary, three years old after the flesh, is offered in the holy temple, and the virgins her companions, carrying lamps, go before her.
The ewe-lamb of God without spot, the dove without blemish, the tabernacle that is to hold God, the sanctuary of the glory, has chosen to dwell in the holy temple.
Three years old in the flesh and many years old in spirit, more spacious than the heavens and higher than the powers above, let the Bride of God be praised in song.
Celebrating the coming of the Theotokos into the sanctuary, let us too, carrying lamps today in spirit, go in joy with the virgins to the temple.
Priests of God, clothe yourselves by grace in righteousness, going in joy to meet the Daughter of the King and God as she enters the Holy Place.
Glory…
The Father is Light, His Son is Light, and the Spirit, the Comforter, is Light: for, shining forth as from one sun, the Trinity divinely illuminates and preserves our souls.
Now…
The prophets proclaimed you in ages past, speaking of you as ark of holiness, golden censer, candlestick, and table; and we sing your praises as the Tabernacle that held God.
Katavasia To the Son who was begotten of the Father without change before all ages, and in the last times was without seed made flesh of the Virgin, to Christ our God let us cry aloud: You have raised up our horn, holy are You, O Lord.

LITTLE EKTENY

SESSIONAL HYMN
(Tone 4) Cry out, O David, what is this present feast?* Is it for her of whom you have sung in the Book of Psalms,* calling her Daughter, Child of God and Virgin, saying:* ‘Her companions the virgins that follow her shall be mystically led unto the King?’* Make this feast to be held in honour throughout all the world by those who cry:* The Theotokos is come among us, mediator of salvation.
Glory… Now… [Repeat]

ODE 4
First Canon
Irmos Perceiving the unsearchable purpose of God concerning Your Incarnation from a Virgin, O Most High, the prophet Habakkuk cried: Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Today the house of God receives the Gate through which none may pass; so it has brought an end to the worship commanded by the shadow of the Law, and it cries aloud: ‘Verily the truth has appeared to those on earth.’
The overshadowed mountain that Habakkuk foresaw and announced prophetically in days of old, has come to dwell within the sanctuary of the temple; there she has put forth flowers of virtue and with her shadow she covers the ends of the earth.
Let us, with all the earth, look upon these marvellous, strange, and wonderful events: how the Virgin, receiving food from an angel, offers us an image of the divine dispensation.
Appearing as a Temple and a Palace and living Heaven, you are dedicated today in the temple of the Law, to be kept therein, O undefiled Bride of God.

Second Canon
Irmos O prophet Habakkuk, you have foreseen in spirit the Incarnation of the Word, and have proclaimed crying: ‘You shall be acknowledged when the years draw nigh; You shall be made manifest when the times come. Glory to Your power, O Lord.’
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O prophet Isaiah, prophesy to us: who is the Virgin that shall conceive? ‘It is she who has come forth from the root of Judah and who was born of David the King, glorious fruit of a holy seed.’
O virgins, begin your songs, and with lamps in hand praise the advance of the pure Theotokos, who now enters the temple of the Lord, and keep feast with us.
Be glad, O Joachim and Ann, who now present unto the Lord in the temple, as a three-year old victim of sacrifice, your daughter that shall be the pure Mother of Christ our God, the King of all.
O venerable Holy of Holies, you love to dwell in the holy temple; and you abide, O Virgin, in converse with angels, receiving bread most marvellously from heaven, O you who sustains our life.
When all hope was gone, Joachim and Ann gave birth to the undefiled Virgin, and in piety they promised to offer her to God. Today they fulfil their promise, giving their child as a sacrifice in the house of God.
The rod of Aaron once put forth shoot, prefiguring, O undefiled Virgin, your divine childbirth. For without seed shall you conceive and not suffer corruption; and after bearing child shall you remain Virgin, giving suck to a babe who is God of all.
Virgins, with piety hasten to the Virgin, and mothers to the Mother: together let us honour the Child born to Joachim and Ann, as a blameless Sanctuary, and the Mother that bore Christ, as a holy Tree bringing forth fruit to God. Let us all joyously keep feast.
Glory…
Three in Persons, One in nature, in reverence we glorify the true God whose praises the hosts of angels and archangels sing as Master of the Creation; and in faith we all worship Him for ever.
Now…
O pure and undefiled Virgin, pray without ceasing to thy Son and God, whom you have conceived in the flesh, that He may deliver all thy servants from the manifold snares of the devil and from every temptation that assails us.
Katavasia Rod of the root of Jesse, and flower that blossomed from his stem, O Christ, You have sprung from the Virgin. From the Mountain overshadowed by the forest You have come, made flesh from her that knew not wedlock, O God who are not formed from matter. Glory to Your power, O Lord.’

ODE 5
First Canon
Irmos The whole world was amazed at your venerable entry. For you, O Virgin who have not known wedlock, yourself a Temple most pure, have gone within the temple of God, bestowing peace upon all who sing your praises.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Glorious sanctuary and holy offering, today the most pure Virgin is dedicated in the temple of God; and in ways which He alone understands, she is kept as a dwelling-place for our God, the King of all.
Seeing the beauty of thy soul, O undefiled Virgin, Zacharias cried out with faith: ‘You are our deliverance, you are the joy of all. You are our restoration, through whom the Incomprehensible appears comprehensible to me.’
O Virgin all-undefiled, past understanding are your wonders! Strange is the manner of your birth: strange is the manner of your growing. Strange and most marvellous are all things concerning you, O Bride of God, and they are beyond the telling of mortal man.
O candlestick with many lights, O Bride of God, you have shone forth today in the house of the Lord, and you give us light through the holy gifts of grace from your wonders, O pure and far-famed Theotokos.

Second Canon
Irmos O Christ our Master and God who loves man, cause the radiant and everlasting light to shine upon us, who ponder early in the morning upon the judgements of Your commandments.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Let us, the Orthodox, all hasten together with our lamps and glorify the Mother of God, for today she is offered to the Lord as an acceptable sacrifice.
Let the forefathers rejoice exceedingly today, O Lady, and let her that bore you make glad with your father: for their fruit is led unto the Lord.
Let us all, keeping feast in faith, sing the praises of the undefiled Maiden, most glorious and of many names, for she conceived in the flesh the divine Victim and sacrificial Offering.
The contract of your betrothal, the divine tokens of your Motherhood past understanding, O pure Virgin, are written today by the Holy Spirit in the house of God.
Let the forecourt of the glory of our God be opened and let it receive, as a victim of sacrifice three years old and without blemish, the Mother of God who was never to know wedlock.
Let us sing the praises of that greatly venerated and overshadowed mountain, the ever-Virgin who became the Mother of God. For she has made light shine to the ends of the earth.
Glory…
Let us glorify and worship the one Godhead in three Persons, undivided by nature and equal in glory, that was before the beginning and ever shall be.
Now…
We have your intercession, O Mother of God, as a fair haven and an unassailable rampart in times of trouble, and we are ever delivered from danger and affliction.
Katavasia As You are God of peace and Father of mercies, You have sent unto us Your Angel of great counsel, granting us peace. So are we guided towards the light of the knowledge of God, and watching by night we glorify You, O Lover of mankind.

ODE 6
First Canon
Irmos As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of God, let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord, and give glory to God who was born of her.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
He who supports all things with His word, in His mercy has hearkened unto the prayer of righteous Joachim and Ann: He has loosed them from the disease of barrenness and given them her that is the cause of our joy.
The Lord, wishing to make known to the Gentiles His salvation, has now chosen from among men her that knew not wedlock, to be a sign of reconciliation and renewal.
Being yourself, O Undefiled, a house of grace, in which are laid the treasures of the ineffable dispensation of God, you partake of boundless joy in the temple.
Having received you as a royal diadem, O Bride of God, the temple shone with beauty and gave place to better things, seeing in you the fulfilment of the prophecies.

Second Canon
Irmos With the prophet Jonah I shout: O You who are good, deliver my life from corruption and save me, O Saviour of the world, as I cry: Glory to You.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O faithful, let us feast in spirit the Mother of God, singing her praises with piety. For she is indeed more holy than the heavenly powers.
O faithful, let us praise in spiritual songs the Mother of the Light, for today has she been manifested to us as she enters the temple of God.
The ewe-lamb without blemish, the pure dove, is brought as an offering to dwell in the house of God: the undefiled Virgin who was foreordained to become the Mother of God.
The Temple of God, the heavenly Tabernacle, accomplished her entry into the temple of the Law, and from her the Light has shone on us in darkness.
A child in the flesh but perfect in soul, the holy Ark enters into the house of God, there to feed upon divine grace.
By your intercessions set us free from every temptation and danger of soul, for we run to you, O far-famed Mother of Christ our God.
Glory…
Father, Son, and Spirit of righteousness, Unity in three persons and undivided Trinity, have mercy upon those who worship Your divine power.
Now…
He whom nothing can contain was contained in your womb, O undefiled Mother of God, and from you He has come forth double in nature, God and Man.
Katavasia The sea monster spat forth Jonah as it had received him, like a babe from the womb: while the Word, having dwelled in the Virgin and taken flesh, came forth from her yet kept her uncorrupt. For being Himself not subject to decay, He preserved His Mother free from harm.

KONTAKION
(Tone 4) The Saviour’s pure temple,* the precious bridal chamber and Virgin,* the sacred treasury of the glory of God,* is brought today into the house of the Lord; * and with her she brings the grace* of the divine Spirit.* God’s angels sing in praise of her:* She is indeed the heavenly dwelling place.

IKOS
Seeing the grace of the secret mysteries of God made manifest and clearly fulfilled in the Virgin, I rejoice; and I know not how to understand the strange and secret manner whereby the Undefiled has been revealed as alone chosen above all creation, visible and spiritual. Therefore, wishing to praise her, I am struck dumb with amazement in both mind and speech. Yet still I dare to proclaim and magnify her: She is indeed the heavenly Tabernacle.

ODE 7
First Canon
Irmos The Holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, preferring not to worship created things rather than the Creator, and they sang in joy: ‘Blessed are You and praised above all, O Lord God of our fathers.’
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Lo, a glad springtime has shone now to the ends of the earth, making our soul and understanding and mind bright through grace: for today is the feast of the Theotokos. Let us rejoice mystically.
Today let all things, heaven and earth, the ranks of angels and the multitude of mortal men, attend the Queen and Mother, and let them cry aloud: ‘Joy and deliverance is led into the temple.’
The written Law has passed away and vanished as a shadow, and the rays of grace have shone forth at your entry into the temple of God, O undefiled Virgin Mother, who are for ever blessed.
O undefiled Lady, heaven and earth and the things beneath the earth have been brought into subjection to your Son as Maker and God, and all mortal tongues confess that the Lord has appeared, the Saviour of our souls.’

Second Canon
Irmos The furnace was sprinkled with dew, O Saviour, and the Children danced for joy as they sang: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed are You.’
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Let us exult today in the joy of the feast; let us honour, as is meet, Joachim and Ann, and let us sing the praises of the undefiled Virgin.
Let David prophesy, who said in the spirit: ‘Virgins shall be brought after you; they shall be brought into the temple to the Queen and Mother.’
The ranks of angels rejoiced exceedingly and spirits of the righteous were glad, when the Mother of God was led into the sanctuary.
Mary without spot rejoiced in body and spirit, dwelling as a sacred vessel in the temple of the Lord.
Receiving heavenly food, she who was to become the Mother of Christ the Saviour according to the flesh, increased in wisdom and grace.
Your wise parents led you to the innermost part of the temple, O undefiled Virgin, there to be brought up in strange fashion and prepared as dwelling-place for Christ our God.
Glory…
Let us glorify the undivided Trinity, let us sing the praises of the one Godhead, the Father, the Word, and the Most Holy Spirit.
Now…
Pray the Lord whom you have borne, for He is compassionate by nature, to save the souls of those that sing your praises, O Mother of God.
Katavasia Scorning the impious decree, the Children brought up together in godliness feared not the threat of fire, but, standing in the midst of the flames, they sang: ‘O God of our fathers, blessed are You.’

ODE 8
First Canon
Irmos Hearken, O pure Virgin Maid: let Gabriel tell you the counsel of the Most High that is ancient and true. Make ready to receive God: for through you the Incomprehensible comes to dwell with mortal men. Therefore I cry rejoicing: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
As Ann led the undefiled Temple into the house of God, she cried aloud and said with faith to the priest: ‘Take the child given to me by God and lead her into the temple of thy Creator, and sing unto Him with joy: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’
When he saw Ann, Zacharias said to her in spirit: ‘You lead here the true Mother of life, whom the prophets of God heralded from afar as the Theotokos: and how shall the temple contain her? Therefore in wonder I cry: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’
‘I stand here as the suppliant of God,’ answered Ann to him, ‘calling upon Him with faith and prayer to receive the fruit of my travail. For I promised that after childbirth I would present my child to Him who gave her to me. Therefore, leaping for joy, I cry: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’
‘Truly this act is in accordance with the Law’, said the priest to her. ‘I perceive that this is a thing wholly strange: for I see led into the house of God her who wondrously surpasses the sanctuary in grace. Therefore I cry in joy: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’
‘Hearing your words,’ said Ann to him, ‘I am filled with new strength. For you understand these things by the Spirit of God, and hast clearly announced what shall come to pass in the Virgin. Take, then, the Undefiled into the temple of your Creator, and sing unto Him in joy: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’
‘A Lamp that gives light has been kindled for us,’ cried the priest, ‘and has made mighty joy shine in the temple. Let the souls of the prophets make glad with me, as they see strange wonders accomplished in the house of God, and let them now cry out: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.’

Second Canon
Irmos Him before whom the angels and all the hosts of heaven are afraid, their Creator and Lord, O priests praise, O children glorify, O people bless and exalt above all for ever.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Bright with joy today, Joachim makes glad; and Ann, without reproach, offers unto the Lord God the sacrifice given to her according to the promise, her holy daughter.
The saints David and Jesse exult today and Judah is filled with pride. For from their root a branch has sprung, the pure Virgin from whom pre-eternal God is to be born.
Today Mary, the undefiled and living Tabernacle, is offered up in the house of God, and Zacharias receives her in his hands as a holy treasure of the Lord.
As a Gate of salvation and a spiritual Mountain, as a living Ladder, let us, the faithful, honour the true Virgin and Mother of God, who is blessed by the hands of the priests.
Prophets, apostles and martyrs of Christ, ranks of angels and all the dwellers upon earth, let us honour with hymns the pure Virgin, for she is the blessed Mother of the Most High.
They that divinely bore you, O Undefiled and Pure, offered you in the temple as a spotless sacrifice; and in strange fashion you lodge in the sanctuary of God, there to be prepared as a dwelling-place for the Word.
We bless the Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Let ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ be sung to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, indivisible Unity, one Godhead, that holds all creation in the hollow of the hand unto all ages.
Now…
He who is without beginning, begins: from a Virgin Maid the Word is born in the flesh according to His good pleasure, God and mortal man, and in His extreme compassion He refashions us who had fallen.
We praise, bless, and worship the Lord; we extol and exalt Him above all for ever.
Katavasia The furnace moist with dew was the image and figure of a wonder past nature. For it burned not the Children whom it had received, even as the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s womb into which it had descended. Therefore in praise let us sing: Let the whole creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

ODE 9
First Canon
Beholding the entry of the All-Pure,
the angels were struck with amazement,
seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies.
Irmos Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, but let the lips of the faithful, singing without ceasing the words of the Angel to the Theotokos, cry aloud in great joy: O pure Virgin, thou art truly high above all.
Beholding the entry of the All-Pure,
the angels were struck with amazement,
seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies.
O pure Theotokos, you have a clean and shining beauty of soul, and are filled from heaven with the grace of God. You ever enlighten with eternal light those who cry aloud in gladness: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.
Beholding the entry of the All-Pure,
the angels were struck with amazement,
seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies.
Your wonders, O pure Theotokos, surpass the power of words. For in you I see something beyond speech: a body that was never subject to the taint of sin. Therefore in thanksgiving I cry to you: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.
Angels and men, let us honour the entry of the Virgin,
for in glory she has gone into the Holy of Holies.
The Law prefigured thee most wonderfully as tabernacle, jar of manna, strange ark, veil of the temple, rod of Aaron, temple never to be destroyed, and gate of God;’ and so it teaches us to cry to you: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.
Beholding the entry of the All-Pure,
the angels were struck with amazement,
seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies.
David sang in honour of you, calling you the daughter of the King, for he saw you in the beauty of the virtues, in raiment of many-coloured needlework, at the right hand of God; therefore in prophecy he cried aloud: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.
O angels, dance with the saints: O virgins, make glad with them.
For the Child of God has entered into the Holy of Holies.
Solomon, foreseeing how you were to receive God, spoke of you in dark sayings as the gate of the King and the living fountain sealed, from which came forth untroubled waters unto us who cry aloud with faith: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.
Angels and men, let us magnify the Virgin in hymns,
for she has entered into the Holy of Holies, as was divinely fit.
Grant to my soul, O Theotokos, the calm peace that comes from your gifts of grace. You are a fountain of life unto those that honour you as is due; you surround, protect, and preserve us that we may cry aloud to you: O pure Virgin, you are truly high above all.

Second Canon
Megalynarion (sung before the irmos and the troparia):
O my soul,
magnify her who was led into the temple of the Lord
and blessed by the hands of the priests.
Irmos Let us all magnify the radiant cloud, in which the Master of all descended, as dew from heaven upon the fleece,’ and for our sake took flesh and was made man, He who is without beginning: for she is the pure Mother of our God.
From the righteous Joachim and Ann a fruit came forth according to the promise, Mary the Child of God. A young girl after the flesh, as acceptable incense she is offered in the holy temple, that she who is herself holy may dwell in the Holy Place.
Let us praise in hymns the child by nature who was shown forth as Mother beyond nature. For today she is offered to the Lord in the temple of the Law as a sweet-smelling savour, the spiritual fruit of her righteous parents.
O faithful, offering to the Theotokos the salutation of the angel, let us raise our cry: Hail! O Bride most beautiful. Hail! bright cloud; from thee the Lord has shone forth upon us as we sat in the darkness of ignorance. Hail! you Hope of all.
All the creation joins the angel Gabriel, crying out to the Theotokos in fitting song: Hail! undefiled Mother of God. Through you we have been delivered from the ancient curse and have become partakers of incorruption.
O Holy of Holies and pure Mother of God, Mary, from the snares of the enemy and from every heresy and affliction, at your intercessions set us free who venerate with faith the ikon of your holy form.
Far greater than the cherubim, high above the seraphim, and more spacious than the heavens, are you shown forth, O Virgin, for you have contained in your womb our God whom nothing can contain, and have ineffably borne Him: entreat Him earnestly on our behalf.
O my soul, magnify the power of the indivisible Godhead in three Persons.
Let us glorify the one Nature in three Persons, the one indivisible glory, the undivided Trinity in one Godhead that is praised without ceasing in heaven and on earth; in piety let us worship the Father, with the Son and the Spirit.
O my soul, magnify her who is greater in honour and more glorious than the hosts above.
O Virgin Mother of God, intercede for those who with faith seek refuge beneath thy compassion, and who piously worship thy Son as God and Lord of the world, that they be delivered from corruption and danger and manifold temptations.
Beholding the entry of the All-Pure, the angels were struck with amazement, seeing how the Virgin entered into the Holy of Holies.
Katavasia A strange and most wonderful mystery do I see: the cave is heaven; the Virgin the throne of the cherubim; the manger a room, in which Christ, the God whom nothing can contain, is laid. Him do we praise and magnify.

Hymn Of Light, Tone 3
Let us praise in faith Mary the Child of God,* whom long ago the assembly of prophets foretold,* speaking of her as jar of manna and Aaron’s rod,* tablet of the Law and uncut mountain.* For she is led today into the Holy of Holies, there to be brought up to the Lord.

Glory…

Let us praise in faith Mary the Child of God,* whom long ago the assembly of prophets foretold,* speaking of her as jar of manna and Aaron’s rod,* tablet of the Law and uncut mountain.* For she is led today into the Holy of Holies, there to be brought up to the Lord.

Now…

Let us praise in faith Mary the Child of God,* whom long ago the assembly of prophets foretold,* speaking of her as jar of manna and Aaron’s rod,* tablet of the Law and uncut mountain.* For she is led today into the Holy of Holies, there to be brought up to the Lord.

At The Praises, Tone 1
The virgins bearing lamps, who with their light accompany the ever-Virgin,* verily prophesy the future in Spirit.* For the Temple of God, the Theotokos, with virginal glory enters* as a little child into the temple.

The Theotokos, glorious fruit of a sacred promise,* is truly revealed unto the world as higher than all creation.* Piously led into the house of God,* she fulfils the vow of her parents* and she is preserved by the Holy Spirit.

O Virgin, fed in faith by heavenly bread in the temple of the Lord,* you have brought forth unto the world the Bread of life that is the Word;* and as His chosen Temple without spot, you were betrothed mystically through the Spirit,* to be the Bride of God the Father.

Let the gate of the temple wherein God dwells be opened:* for Joachim brings within today in glory the Temple and Throne of the King of all,* and he consecrates as an offering to God* her whom the Lord has chosen to be His Mother.

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

Today the Virgin without blemish is led to the temple,* to become the habitation of God the King of all, who sustains our life.* Today as a three-year-old victim of sacrifice the most pure Sanctuary is led into the Holy of Holies.* To her let us cry out with the angel:* Hail! you who alone are blessed among women.

Troparion, Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: The Saviour’s pure temple,* the precious bridal chamber and Virgin,* the sacred treasury of the glory of God,* is brought today into the house of the Lord;* and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit.* God’s angels sing in praise of her:* She is indeed the heavenly dwelling-place.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Epistle
Hebrew 9:1-7

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear.
verse: The rich among the people shall entreat your countenance. (Psalm 44:11,13)

Gospel
Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the entrance of the pure one, angels marvel in wonder how the Virgin could enter the holy of holies.
And the Irmos, Tone 4: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark,* but instead let the lips of those who are believers* sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel,* crying out with great joy to the Mother of God:* O pure Virgin,* you are truly higher than all.

Communion Hymn
I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is taken.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

The searcher of the hearts of men
inspired your mind, Apostle, with His divine knowledge:
He called you to Himself, ransoming you from the world’s deceit:
for He is the light whose rays shine to the ends of the earth.
He commanded you to proclaim His Word.
He made you worthy to write His Holy Gospel:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

The searcher of the hearts of men
inspired your mind, Apostle, with His divine knowledge:
He called you to Himself, ransoming you from the world’s deceit:
for He is the light whose rays shine to the ends of the earth.
He commanded you to proclaim His Word.
He made you worthy to write His Holy Gospel:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

The searcher of the hearts of men
inspired your mind, Apostle, with His divine knowledge:
He called you to Himself, ransoming you from the world’s deceit:
for He is the light whose rays shine to the ends of the earth.
He commanded you to proclaim His Word.
He made you worthy to write His Holy Gospel:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Once a publican, now a disciple, you accepted the urgent call of the Eternal Word.
You abandoned the collection of the taxes,
eager for the promise of communion in His Kingdom;
you cast away the raging tumult of this life.
Now you behold His glory face to face:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Once a publican, now a disciple, you accepted the urgent call of the Eternal Word.
You abandoned the collection of the taxes,
eager for the promise of communion in His Kingdom;
you cast away the raging tumult of this life.
Now you behold His glory face to face:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Once a publican, now a disciple, you accepted the urgent call of the Eternal Word.
You abandoned the collection of the taxes,
eager for the promise of communion in His Kingdom;
you cast away the raging tumult of this life.
Now you behold His glory face to face:
pray that He may enlighten and save our souls.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

In days of old, as the earth lay waste in evil,
the prophet Daniel was endowed with clearness of sight.
He beheld a stone, cut without human hands from a mountain:
a stone which ground the riches of earthly kingdoms to dust.
In the fullness of time this all-wise Lord came down to earth:
passing by the customs-house, He chose you to be His herald,
He called you, who once served an earthly kingdom,
to serve Him, the Light of the world,
pray to Him, blessed Matthew, that He may enlighten and save our souls.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

In days of old, as the earth lay waste in evil,
the prophet Daniel was endowed with clearness of sight.
He beheld a stone, cut without human hands from a mountain:
a stone which ground the riches of earthly kingdoms to dust.
In the fullness of time this all-wise Lord came down to earth:
passing by the customs-house, He chose you to be His herald,
He called you, who once served an earthly kingdom,
to serve Him, the Light of the world,
pray to Him, blessed Matthew, that He may enlighten and save our souls.

Glory…

You were called by Christ to heavenly discipleship;
you followed Him eagerly, chosen one of God.
He delivered you from subjection to earthly cares;
abandoning the vain collection of tribute,
you faithfully kept the accounts of the heavenly King.
Blessed evangelist, you are a light for those who dwell in darkness,
a guide to salvation for those who wander astray,
Matthew, the herald of glad tidings, pray for those who honour you!

Now…

O Mother of God, because of You David the Prophet
became an ancestor of God;
he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise
and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:
“The Queen stood at your right hand.”
God revealed you as a life-giving mother,
when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.
He renewed in man His image which the passions had corrupted.
He found the lost sheep in the mountains, carried it on His shoulders,
offered it to the Father, generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,
and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.

Readings
(1) 1 Peter 1:1-2:6; (2) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9; (3) 1 Peter 4:1-11

Aposticha

In Tone 4

All-praised Matthew, your words are a trumpet
drawing men to the knowledge of God.
They have delivered the inhabitants of the earth from enslavement to evil,
leading us into the true faith, the unity of righteousness:
Pray to Christ our God to deliver us from corruption and danger.

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

By a fiery tongue you were armed mightily with the spirit;
apostle, your words overthrew the deceitful enemy.
Christ our God whom you proclaimed to be the fulfilment of the prophets,
adorned you with the resplendent crown of His love:
Pray to Christ our God to deliver us from corruption and danger.

The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

The publican in a single moment becomes an apostle,
the tax collector seizes riches from the fount of joy;
abundantly blessed with the fullness of the Spirit,
He made you to be the bearer of glad tidings for us.
Pray to Christ our God to deliver us from corruption and danger.

In Tone 6, Glory…

The full stature of goodness is made manifest in you, blessed Matthew:
in the fullness of time you abandoned the occupation of an evil age,
soaring as an eagle to the heights of righteousness,
you have filled the earth with the wisdom hidden from all eternity,
following fervently in the footsteps of Christ,
you have borne the Gospel of peace, life, and salvation to men,
filling with divine commandments those who hunger after righteousness,
blessed guide, well-pleasing to the Creator,
pray for us who bless your memory.

Now…

Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,
came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.
He clothed Himself in our human flesh
to set us free from the original curse of Adam.
Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,
as the true Virgin Mother of God,
and we sing with the angels:
Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 3
O Matthew, proclaimer of God’s word,* you earnestly turned from the tax collector’s booth* and followed the Master, who our His love* appeared to us on earth and summoned you.* You shone to the world as chosen apostle and loud herald of the Good News.* Because of this we feast your memory;* pray to God all-merciful* for the forgiveness of sins.

Glory… Now…
We sing your praises, O Virgin;* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and Your Son took flesh. * Then, by suffering the passion on the Cross,** and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: O Matthew, proclaimer of God’s word,* you earnestly turned from the tax collector’s booth* and followed the Master, who our His love* appeared to us on earth and summoned you.* You shone to the world as chosen apostle and loud herald of the Good News.* Because of this we feast your memory;* pray to God all-merciful* for the forgiveness of sins.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Casting off the yoke of the custom house* you yoked yourself to justice;* revealed as an excellent merchant* you gained wisdom— wealth from on high.* From whence you preached the word of truth,* arousing sluggish souls by describing the hour of judgment.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word 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
1 Corinthians 4:9-16

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
Matthew 9:9-13

Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Christ, during this spiritual service,
we sing to You these evening prayers,
commemorating the mercy You have shown us
by Your resurrection.

9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;
but in Your kindness have mercy on us
through Your resurrection.

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Rejoice, O holy Zion,
the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;
for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins
through the resurrection.

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;
yet in these latter times,
He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection,
He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection;
for by rising from the dead
You freed the race of Adam from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted eternal life
and great mercy to the world.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Glory to You, O Christ our Saviour,
the only-begotten Son of God;
for You were nailed to the cross,
and then arose from the dead on the third day.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

We glorify You, O Lord;
for of Your own free will You suffered crucifixion for our salvation.
Almighty Saviour, we worship You.
We implore You not to cast us away from Your face;
but hear our prayer and save us by Your resurrection,
for You truly love mankind.

In Tone 4

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

The most wise Abibus, the wondrous Samonas, and the glorious Gurias,
the three passion-bearers who have formed a common choir for the faithful,
now join our chorus and rejoice with us;
for God has granted to the souls of the martyrs
to behold spiritually the things that are taking place.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

You endured pain and unbearable torments,
you suffered valiantly, O Samonas, Abibus, and blessed Gurias,
martyrs who are equal in number to the Trinity.
Now you enjoy the bliss of the eternal delight of Christ,
Who grants you the reward of your labours.
Entreat Him fervently that our souls may be saved!

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Having gone over to the serene harbour,
to the quiet life and to the all-tranquil haven,
you have exchanged your pains for abiding dispassion.
You have received fitting honours from God
as a reward from God for your labours,
O blessed passion-bearing martyrs.

In Tone 2, Glory…

Edessa rejoices, for she is enriched with the shrine of the three martyrs,
holy Abibus, Samonas and Gurias.
She cries out, summoning the Christ-loving flock:
“Come, all who love the martyrs,
be illumined on their splendid memorial!
Come and rejoice, all who love the feasts of the Church!
Come and behold the heavenly lights who lived on earth!
Come and hear what a bitter death the valiant and steadfast ones
endured for the sake of everlasting life!
As guarantors of the Truth they saved the virgin who was thrown alive in a grave,
committing the pitiless murderer who reviled them to condemnation.
They pray earnestly to the Holy Trinity
that those who celebrate their memory in faith
may be delivered from corruption, temptations and all evil.

In Tone 8, Now…

Out of his love for mankind
the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,
for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin
and was seen in the flesh He received from her.
He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.
Wherefore we profess and declare the truth
that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.
O Mother, who knew not carnal union,
intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Aposticha

In Tone 8

O Jesus, You descended from heaven
so that You might ascend the cross.
O immortal Life, You came to die.
You are the true light to those who live in darkness,
and You are the resurrection of the fallen.
Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls
Who arose from the dead.
For He took upon himself a soul and a body,
and during His passion He separated the one from the other.
His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,
while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.

For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.
For by Your victory over death
You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.

O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,
You are above all understanding.
Through Your passion on the cross
You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.
And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;
and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.
O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;
for by Your resurrection on the third day
You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.

In Tone 2, Glory…

Come, O lovers of the martyrs,
let us honour with hymns Christ’s most excellent martyrs,
Gurias, Abibus, and Samonas.
They most wonderfully worked miracles,
for they did not refuse to respond to the oath of the maiden,
but, fulfilling her request, they saved the daughter,
and requited the lawless Goth.
Through their supplications, O Christ our God,
save our souls, as You are good and the Lover of man!

Now…

We now behold a new wonder,
greater than the wonders of old.
For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?
Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?
It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;
and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.
Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.
Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him
to have mercy on us and save our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

In Tone 1
Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.

Now…
O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from oh high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 8: To you, O Mother of God,* the invincible leader,* we, your servants, ascribe these victory hymns* in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil.* With your invincible power free us from all dangers* that we may cry out to you:* “Hail, O bride, and pure Virgin!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:12, 2)

Epistle
Ephesians 4:1-6

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 95:1, 2)

Gospel
Luke 10:25-37

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!

7. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

God-seer Philip, you proclaimed with divine inspiration
and the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
sounding the Saviour’s heavenly Gospel in the world with a fiery tongue.
You burned all deceit to ashes like dried grass.
You proclaimed the Lord Christ in the universe,
Who is master over all.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

God-seer Philip, you proclaimed with divine inspiration
and the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
sounding the Saviour’s heavenly Gospel in the world with a fiery tongue.
You burned all deceit to ashes like dried grass.
You proclaimed the Lord Christ in the universe,
Who is master over all.

Glory…

You burn with the brilliance of a great light, O Philip,
shining as a light of the universe.
Seeking the light of God you found illumination in the Son,
whose image is equal to the first image.
Implore Him, Apostle, to save those sealed by divine blood.

Now…

Who would not call you blessed,
O Virgin most holy?
Who would not sing a hymn of praise
to the glory of your giving birth
without pain or travail?
The Only-begotten Son Himself,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
was made flesh out of you in a manner
that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!
And for our sake, He Who is God by nature
assumed the nature of a man.
He is not divided into two persons;
He is understood to have two natures
without commixion or confusion.
O noble and blessed Woman,
intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.

Readings
(1) 1 Peter 1:1-2:6; (2) 1 Peter 2:21-3:9; (3) 1 Peter 4:1-11

Aposticha

In Tone 6

Your heavenly proclamation, O blessed one,
has resounded throughout the world,
filling it with divine dogmas,
mystically blessing the Father, Son and Spirit!
apostle, we glorify the one essence.
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the universe!

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!

Thrice-blessed Philip,
as the light-bearer of Christ’s apostles,
you possess the bright light of the honourable church.
Our souls, all-praised one, are enlightened by your prayers,
and delivered from fierce calamities.

The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork!

Worthy Philip,
having finished your task by suffering on the cross,
you were given the crown of victory.
Therefore you have entered the heavenly kingdom!
Apostle, as you stand before Christ, implore him to save us!

In Tone 2, Glory…

Apostle Philip, your mouth is a vessel of sweet spices,
pouring out a life-giving drink for the faithful.
Entering by action into vision, you welcomed and followed Christ.
You adorned the barren and childless church of the pagans,
by teaching and increasing her children.
You can do much since you are near to God:
pray that the church may be saved from need and distress!

Now…

O wondrous event exceeding every miracle that ever happened!
who has ever heard that a mother could conceive without a man,
and that she would hold in her arms the One who contains the whole universe
This was the will of the One who was born of you.
Woman most pure,
Never cease to intercede for those who honour you,
Together with the One you carried in your arms as a child.
You have the power of a Mother:
Therefore intercede with Him that
He may have mercy on us
And save our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 3
O holy apostle Philip,* pray to the merciful God* that he may grant to our souls* remission of our transgressions!

Glory… Now…
We sing your praises, O Virgin;* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and Your Son took flesh. * Then, by suffering the passion on the Cross,** and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: O Philip, proclaimer of God’s word,* the world is adorned and Ethiopia dances for joy* for it is arrayed in beauty as with a crown.* Enlightened by you it feasts your memory.* For you taught all to believe in Christ,* finishing the course of the Gospel as is right.* And so, Ethiopia boldly lifts up its hands to God.* Pray to Him to grant great mercy to us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: The God-inspired Philip,* Your friend, disciple and imitator of the Passion,* proclaimed You as God to the whole world,* O Christ, all merciful.* By his intercessions* and those of the Mother of God* guard Your Church and every city* from lawless enemies.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word 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
1 Corinthians 4:9-16

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
John 1:43-51

Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Let us praise in song
the God-inspired instrument and golden-forged trumpet,
the boundless depth of dogma,
the affirmation of the Church and the heavenly mind,
the depth of wisdom and the chalice of purest gold
that poured forth sweet rivers of learning
and nourished all creation.

5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Let us praise in song
the God-inspired instrument and golden-forged trumpet,
the boundless depth of dogma,
the affirmation of the Church and the heavenly mind,
the depth of wisdom and the chalice of purest gold
that poured forth sweet rivers of learning
and nourished all creation.

4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Let us worthily honour John of the golden words,
the never-setting star which enlightens everything under the sun
with his rays of teaching.
He is the preacher of penance
and the sponge of purest gold
which removes the cruel dampness of ignorance.
He gives life to hearts that are torn by sin.

3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Let us worthily honour John of the golden words,
the never-setting star which enlightens everything under the sun
with his rays of teaching.
He is the preacher of penance
and the sponge of purest gold
which removes the cruel dampness of ignorance.
He gives life to hearts that are torn by sin.

2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Let Chrysostom be exalted,
for he is the earthly angel and the heavenly man,
the eagle of great and good speech
and the treasury of virtues.
He is the firm rock and the example of the faithful,
the one who is like the martyrs
and who stands equal with the angels,
for his teaching was the same as the apostles.

1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Let Chrysostom be exalted,
for he is the earthly angel and the heavenly man,
the eagle of great and good speech
and the treasury of virtues.
He is the firm rock and the example of the faithful,
the one who is like the martyrs
and who stands equal with the angels,
for his teaching was the same as the apostles.

In Tone 6, Glory…

O thrice-venerable and most holy Father,
you are the good shepherd and the student of Christ the chief Shepherd
who gave his life for his flock.
Now, ever-praised John Chrysostom,
grant that through your prayers we may receive great mercy.

Now…

Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?
Who would not sing a hymn of praise
to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?
The Only-begotten Son Himself,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
was made flesh out of you in a manner
that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!
And for our sake, He Who is God by nature
assumed the nature of a man.
He is not divided into two persons;
He is understood to have two natures
without commixion or confusion.
O noble and blessed Woman,
intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.

Readings
(1) Proverbs 10:6-8; 8:6-21; (2) Wisdom 8:17-21; 9:1-4; (3) Wisdom 4:1, 6-20

Aposticha

In Tone 5

Rejoice, O golden, glittering, and beautiful God-inspired instrument of the Church.
Rejoice, O orator who with loving-kindness
prescribed for us various examples of penance.
Rejoice, O golden-formed mind,
golden-tongued swallow, and dove who radiated virtues on green pastures.
Rejoice, most golden stream which pours firth the waters of divine speech,
the stream entrusted with the divine love for the human race.
Ask Christ to send great mercy to our souls.

My lips will speak words of wisdom. My heart is full of insight.

Rejoice, father of orphans and quick helper of the needy.
Rejoice, benefactor of the poor,
food of the hungry, and corrector of those who sin.
Rejoice, most honourable and most pleasing healer of souls.
Rejoice, sublime knowledge of theology
and narrator of spiritual writings.
Rejoice, keeper of the law and retainer of the most just order.
Rejoice, O sublime wisdom of visions and deeds.
Ask Christ to send great mercy to our souls.

The mouth of the just utters wisdom, and his lips speak what is right.

O Chrysostom, the Church sings to you:
Rejoice in Christ, your Bridegroom.
For by your virtues and your words,
you have enlightened the world more than the rays of the sun.
Rejoice, O wisest of men, greater than all other orators.
Rejoice, defender of the true faith.
You are the one who uncovered falseness, O teacher of penance.
Rejoice, quiet depth of knowledge,
who like the great Paul followed Christ completely.
Now ask Christ to send great mercy to our souls.

In Tone 6, Glory…

O Chrysostom, you spoke most purely
and showed yourself to be the golden-sounding trumpet.
You purified the hearts of the faithful
by your true and dedicated teaching.
The message of your teaching
has gone forth prophetically, O venerable Father,
and you have enlightened the ends of the earth.

Now…

Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,
came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.
He clothed Himself in our human flesh
to set us free from the original curse of Adam.
Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,
as the true Virgin Mother of God,
and we sing with the angels:
Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.

Troparia

In Tone 8
Grace shone forth from your mouth like a fiery beacon* and enlightened the universe,* bestowing on the world not the treasures of greed,* but rather showing us the heights of humility.* As you teach us by your words, O John Chrysostom, our father,** intercede with the Word, Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls.

Glory… Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.** O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: Grace shone forth from your mouth like a fiery beacon* and enlightened the universe,* bestowing on the world not the treasures of greed,* but rather showing us the heights of humility.* As you teach us by your words, O John Chrysostom, our father,* intercede with the Word, Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6: From heaven you received divine grace;* your lips have taught us all to worship the Triune God,* O blessed John Chrysostom.* It is fitting that we praise you;* for you are a teacher clarifying things divine.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.
verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear al you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 48:4,2)

Epistle
Hebrews 7:26-8:2

Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgement.
verse: The law of God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:3-31)

Gospel
John 10:9-16

Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)