Category: Texts

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparion and Kontakion
Troparion, Tone 1: Assuring us before Your Passion of the general resurrection,* You raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God:* and so, like the children we also carry signs of victory* and cry to You, the conqueror of death:* Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2: Christ, the joy of all, the truth, the light,* the life, the resurrection of the universe,* in His goodness has revealed Himself to those on earth;* He Himself has become the pattern of the Resurrection,* granting divine forgiveness to all.

Instead of “Holy God…”
All you who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ! Alleluia!

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
The Lord is my light and my Saviour;* whom shall I fear?
verse: The Lord is the protector of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Epistle
Hebrews 12:28-13:8

Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: The Lord is King; He is robed in majesty.
verse: For He has established the world which shall not be shaken.

Gospel
John 11:1-45

Hymn to the Mother of God
Let us honour with glory the pure Mother of God;* though she received the Divine Fire within her womb she was not consumed.* With never ceasing hymns, O people,* we magnify her.

Communion Hymn
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies* You have perfected praise.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.

 

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Тропар (глас 1): Спільне воскресіння перед твоїми страстями запевняючи,* з мертвих воздвигнув ти Лазаря, Христе Боже,* тим-то й ми, як отроки, знамена перемоги носячи, тобі,* переможцеві смерти, воскликуємо:* Осанна в вишніх,* благословен, хто йде в ім’я Господнє.

+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові. І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.

Кондак (глас 2): Всіх радість, Христос, істина, світло,* життя і світу воскресіння,* з’явився тим, що на землі, своєю добротою* і став образом воскресення,* всім даруючи божественне відпущення.

Замість Трисвятого: Ви, що в Христа хрестилися, у Христа зодягнулися. Алилуя!

Прокімен (глас 3): Господь просвіщення моє і спасйтель мій,* кого убоюся? (Пс 26,1)
Стих: Господь захисник життя мого, кого устрашуся? (Пс 26,1)

Апостол: (Євр 12,28-13,8): Браття, тому що ми приймаємо непохитне царство, зберігаймо благодать, то й служімо нею довподоби Богові з побожністю й острахом. Бо Бог наш – вогонь, що пожирає. Братня любов нехай перебуває! Гостинности не забувайте, бо нею деякі, не відаючи, ангелів були вгостили. Про в’язнів пам’ятайте, немов би ви самі були в кайданах з ними, та про тих, що страждають, оскільки й ви самі в тілі. Подружжя хай у всіх буде в пошані й ложе хай буде без плями, бо Бог буде судити блудників та перелюбців. У вашій поведінці не будьте грошолюбні, задовольняйтеся тим, що маєте, сам бо говорив: «Я тебе не зоставлю, я тебе не покину», так що ми сміло можемо сказати: «Господь – мій помічник: я не боюся. Що може мені людина зробити?» Пам’ятайте про наставників ваших, які звіщали вам слово Боже, і дивлячись уважно на кінець їхнього життя, наслідуйте їхню віру. Ісус Христос учора й сьогодні – той самий навіки.

Алилуя (глас 5): Алилуя, aлилуя, aлилуя!
Стих: Господь воцарився, в красу зодягнувся, зодягнувся Господь у силу і перепоясався (Пс 92,1).
Стих: Він бо утвердив вселенну, вона не порушиться (Пс 92,1).

Євангеліє: (Ів 11,1-45): В той час був один недужий, Лазар з Витанії, села Марії та її сестри Марти. Марія ж, брат якої Лазар слабував, була ота, що миром помазала Господа і волоссям своїм обтерла йому ноги. Отож послали сестри до нього сказати йому: «Господи, той, що любиш ти його, слабує.» Зачувши те Ісус, мовив: «Недуга ця не на смерть, а на славу Божу: щоб Син Божий ним прославився.» Любив же Ісус Марту і її сестру, і Лазаря. Тож як зачув, що той хворіє, ще два дні лишився на тому місці, де перебував. Щойно по тому мовив до учнів: «Ще раз до Юдеї вирушаймо.» Учні ж йому казали: «Учителю, оце недавно юдеї тебе каменувати хотіли, а ти знов туди ідеш?» Відрік Ісус: «Чи не дванадцять годин дневі? Коли хтось удень ходить, то не спотикається, бачить бо світло світу цього. Коли ж хтонебудь ходить уночі, то спотикається: у такому нема світла!» Сказав ото, а тоді мовив до них: «Лазар, приятель наш, заснув. Піду, проте, і розбуджу його.» А учні йому: «Господи, коли заснув, то й одужає.» Про його смерть говорив Ісус, вони ж собі гадали, що про спочинок у сні мова його була. Тож Ісус і каже їм одверто: «Лазар упокоївся, і радію я за вас, що мене там не було, – щоб ви увірили! Ходім, однак, до нього.» Тоді Тома, на прізвисько Близнюк, сказав до співучнів: «Ходімо й ми з ним, щоб разом умерти.» Прибувши, застав Ісус його вже чотириденним у гробі. Була ж Витанія недалеко Єрусалиму, стадій з п’ятнадцять, і багато з юдеїв посходилося до Марти та Марії, щоб розважити їх по братові. Почувши ж Марта, що Ісус наближається, метнулась йому назустріч, тоді як Марія сиділа в хаті. Отож заговорила Марта до Ісуса: «Господи, якби ти був тут, – мій брат не вмер би! А й тепер знаю, що все, що попросиш ти в Бога, Бог тобі дасть.» І каже їй Ісус: «Твій брат воскресне.» «Знаю, – каже до нього Марта, – що воскресне у воскресіння, дня останнього.» А Ісус їй: «Я – воскресіння і життя. Хто в мене вірує, той навіть і вмерши – житиме! Кожен, хто живе і в мене вірує, – не вмре повіки. Віриш тому?» «Так, Господи, – каже йому, – вірую, що Христос єси, Божий Син, який гряде у світ цей.» Те сказавши, пішла й покликала свою сестру Марію та й каже пошепки: «Учитель прийшов і тебе кличе.» Ледве та вчула це, підвелася притьмом та й подалась до нього. Ісус ще не ввійшов у село; був він на тому місці, де його зустріла Марта. Юдеї ж, що були в хаті з нею та її розважали, побачивши, що Марія встала похапцем і вийшла, пішли слідом за нею, бо думали, що до гробу подалась, аби там поплакати. Та Марія, прийшовши туди, де був Ісус, і побачивши його, впала йому до ніг і сказала йому: «Господи, якби ти був тут, то мій брат не вмер би!» Побачив Ісус, що вона плаче, а й юдеї, що прийшли з нею, плачуть і собі, тож відчув жалощі в дусі і, зворушений, запитав: «Де поклали ви його?» Кажуть йому: «Іди, Господи, і поглянь.» Заплакав Ісус. І заговорили юдеї: «Бач, як він його любив!» А деякі з них мовили: «Чи ж оцей, що сліпому очі зрячими вчинив, не міг так учинити, щоб і отой не помер?» І знову жалощі відчув Ісус у собі і подався до гробу. А була то печера, і камінь лежав зверху. «Відкотіть камінь», звелів Ісус. Марта ж, сестра померлого, каже йому: «Господи, відгонить уже: четвертий бо день.» «А хіба я тобі не казав, – озвавсь Ісус, – що коли віруєш, то побачиш славу Божу?» Відкотили отже камінь. І звів Ісус очі вгору й мовив: «Отче, тобі подяку складаю, що вислухав єси мене! Я добре знаю, що повсякчас вислуховуєш мене, тож тільки з-за люду, який ото стоїть навколо, сказав я: щоб вони увірили, що ти мене послав.» А промовивши те, кликнув на ввесь голос: «Лазарю, вийди сюди!» І мертвий вийшов із зав’язаними в полотно руками й ногами та обличчям, хусткою обмотаним. І сказав їм Ісус: «Розв’яжіть його і пустіть, нехай ходить.» І бачивши, що вчинив Ісус, увірували в нього численні юдеї, які зійшлися були до Марії.

Замість Достойно: Ірмос (глас 8): Люди, чистую славно почитаймо Богородицю, що вогонь божества в утробі неопалимо прийняла, і піснями невмовкаючими величаймо.

Причасний: Із уст младенців і немовлят* учинив Ти хвалу (Пс 8,3). Алилуя (х3).

 

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Epistle (Hebrews 12:28-13:8): Brethren, we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire. Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’ Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

Gospel (John 11:1-45): At that time a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.’ Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’ When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Isaac the Syrian I, is commemorated on January 28. St. Gregory the Dialogues writes about this Isaac II. He came to Italy at the time of the Goths and entered a church to pray in the city of Spoleto. He implored the verger to allow him to remain locked in the church overnight. And so, he spent the entire night in prayer, remaining in the same place. The same thing happened the next day and even the second night. The verger called him a hypocrite and struck him with his fist. Instantly, the verger went insane. Seeing that the verger was bitterly tormented, Isaac leaned over him and the evil spirit departed from him and the verger was restored to health. Upon hearing of this incident, the entire populace of the city thronged around this amazing foreigner. They offered him money and property, but he declined all and accepted nothing and withdrew into the forest where he built a cell for himself, which was rapidly transformed into a large monastery. Isaac was known for working miracles and especially for his special “gift of discernment.” On one occasion, he ordered the brethren to carry all the hoes into the vineyard and to leave them there. The next day Isaac, along with the brethren, went out into the vineyard and brought along lunch. The brethren were puzzled. Who was this lunch for, since there were no laborers? Upon arriving at the vineyard, there were as many men digging as there were hoes. This is what happened: these men came as thieves to steal the hoes, but by the power of God, they were detained to dig all night. On another occasion, two partly-clad men came to Isaac and sought clothes from him. Isaac sent a monk to a hollow tree along the road to retrieve what he would find there. The monk departed, found some clothing and brought it to the monastery. The abbot took these clothes and gave them to the beggars. The beggars were extremely ashamed when they recognized their own clothes which they had hidden in this tree. Once, a man sent two beehives to the monastery. The monk hid one along the way and the other he brought to the monastery and turned it over to the abbot. The saint said to him: “Be careful upon your return. For in the beehive that you left along the way, a poisonous snake had slithered into it. Be careful, therefore, that it does not bite you.” (Prologue of Ohrid)

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LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. Having come to the end of the forty days,
we beseech You, O Lord and Lover of humankind:
May we also behold the holy week of Your passion,
and glorify in it Your lofty deeds
and Your ineffable work of salvation,
as we sing with one voice:
O Lord, glory to You.

9. Having come to the end of the forty days,
we beseech You, O Lord and Lover of humankind:
May we also behold the holy week of Your passion,
and glorify in it Your lofty deeds
and Your ineffable work of salvation,
as we sing with one voice:
O Lord, glory to You.

8. O martyrs of the Lord,
we entreat you to beseech our God,
and ask great mercy for our souls
and forgiveness of our many offences.

In Tone 6

7. Desiring to see the tomb of Lazarus, O Lord,
since You were soon going to dwell willingly in the tomb,
You asked: Where have you placed him?
And, when You learned that which You already knew,
You called to the one whom You loved:
Lazarus, come forth from the tomb!
And Death obeyed the Giver of life,
the Saviour of our souls.

6. Desiring to see the tomb of Lazarus, O Lord,
since You were soon going to dwell willingly in the tomb,
You asked: Where have you placed him?
And, when You learned that which You already knew,
You called to the one whom You loved:
Lazarus, come forth from the tomb!
And Death obeyed the Giver of life,
the Saviour of our souls.

5. Having arrived at the tomb of Lazarus on the fourth day,
You wept for Your friend, O Lord.
You gave life to the one who had been dead four days;
Death was bound up by Your voice,
and the grave-clothes were unbound by Your hands.
Therefore, the company of apostles were filled with joy,
and all the choirs sang with one voice:
Blessed are You, O Saviour; have mercy on us.

4. Having arrived at the tomb of Lazarus on the fourth day,
You wept for Your friend, O Lord.
You gave life to the one who had been dead four days;
Death was bound up by Your voice,
and the grave-clothes were unbound by Your hands.
Therefore, the company of apostles were filled with joy,
and all the choirs sang with one voice:
Blessed are You, O Saviour; have mercy on us.

3. The kingdom of Hades was demolished at the sound of You voice, O Lord;
Your powerful word awakened from the tomb one who had been dead for days.
Lazarus becomes a saving prelude of our regeneration.
Nothing is impossible for the King of the universe;
O Lord, grant to Your servants forgiveness and great mercy.

2. Desiring to assure Your disciples of Your own Resurrection from the dead,
You came to the tomb of Lazarus.
And when You called him, Hades was despoiled,
and it gave up the one who had been dead four days;
and he cried out to You, O Saviour:
Blessed are You, O Lord, glory to You!

1. Taking Your disciples with You, O Lord,
You came to Bethany to awaken Lazarus from the dead;
and, weeping over him in accordance with your human nature,
as God, You raised the one who had been dead four days;
and he cried out to You, O Saviour:
Blessed are You, O Lord, glory to You!

In Tone 8, Glory…

You have come to the tomb of Lazarus, O Lord,
and You called the dead one to awaken as from his sleep.
He shook off the dust of the tomb at Your immortal words;
and, still bound by the grave-clothes,
he came forth at the sound of Your voice.
For You have power and lordship over all things,
and You are the Master of the whole world, O Lover of humankind:
O Lord, glory to You.

Now…

Having come to the end of the forty days, we cry out:
Rejoice, O city of Bethany, the home of Lazarus.
Rejoice, Martha and Mary, for Christ shall come to you tomorrow;
by His word, He shall give life to your departed brother.
Hearing His voice, the cruel and insatiable Hades will give up Lazarus after four days.
Struck with admiration, the Hebrew people will carry palms and branches,
and they shall go before Him.
The children shall praise the One whom their parents looked upon with envy:
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 6
Our help is in the name of the Lord,* who made heaven and earth.
verse: “If the Lord had not been on our side,” this is the song of Israel.

Reading I
Genesis 49:33-50:26

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
Those who put their trust in the Lord* are like Mount Sion.
verse: They cannot be shaken, for it stands unmoved forever.

Reading II
Proverbs 31:8-31

They all suffered for Christ and were crowned with the wreaths of glory during the reign of Emperor Decius. By order of the emperor, the governor of Africa announced to the people that everyone must offer sacrifices to the idols. To those who resisted, the governor threatened with cruel tortures. Upon hearing about these threats many fell away from the Faith and worshipped the idols. However these forty remained unwavering in their faith and were exposed to torture. St. Terentius (Terence) encouraged his companions saying: “Brothers, let us be on guard that we do not deny Christ our God, lest He deny us before His Heavenly Father and Holy Angels.” The governor divided them into two groups. Thirty-six of them, after flogging, scrapping of the skin and pouring salt into their open wounds, were all beheaded. The first four they cast into prison with heavy iron chains around their necks, their hands and their feet. An angel of God appeared in the prison, touched the chains of the shackled and the chains fell off. After that, the angel prepared a bountiful table for them and fed them. Once again, they were brought out and tortured and, again, they were imprisoned. Then the governor ordered the soothsayers to gather as many poisonous, loathsome creatures as possible, such as snakes and scorpions and to lock them up in the same cell with the martyrs. The loathsome creatures did not want to touch those chosen by God but rather lay compressed in the corner where they remained for three days. On the third day, when the door of the cell was opened, the repulsive creatures rushed out and bit the soothsayers. Finally, the governor pronounced the death penalty upon the four martyrs. When they were brought out to be beheaded, they rejoicefully chanted Psalms and praised God, Who made them worthy of a martyr’s death. They suffered honourably in the year 250 A.D., and were found worthy of the Kingdom. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 5

10. I am rich in all sorts of passions,
and I am clothed in a garment of hypocrisy,
as I revel in the intemperance of sin.
My lack of mercy is beyond measure,
and I disregard my spirit lying before the gates of repentance.
Starved of every good thing, I suffer from illness.
But You, O Lord, make me like Lazarus who was poor in sin,
so that I will not have to beg for a drop of water
for my tongue suffering from thirst in the eternal fire.
Make me dwell in the bosom of the patriarch Abraham, O Lover of humankind.

9. I am rich in all sorts of passions,
and I am clothed in a garment of hypocrisy,
as I revel in the intemperance of sin.
My lack of mercy is beyond measure,
and I disregard my spirit lying before the gates of repentance.
Starved of every good thing, I suffer from illness.
But You, O Lord, make me like Lazarus who was poor in sin,
so that I will not have to beg for a drop of water
for my tongue suffering from thirst in the eternal fire.
Make me dwell in the bosom of the patriarch Abraham, O Lover of humankind.

8. With your souls filled with unquenchable love, O holy martyrs,
you endured the most terrible sufferings without ever denying Christ;
and you laid low the impudence of the torturers.
You kept the faith unwavering and unharmed
and have gone to dwell in heaven.
Therefore, having the boldness to approach the Lord,
beg Him to grant us His great mercy.

7. As You walked in the flesh, O Jesus,
in the land beyond the Jordan,
You said to those who were with You:
Our friend Lazarus has died and has been placed in the tomb.
But I rejoice for you, my friends,
for you will learn that I know all things,
and that with God, I am one,
even though by nature I appear in human form.
Therefore, let us go and give life to Lazarus
so that Death may recognize this victory,
and the perfect consummation I shall bring about
by granting great mercy to the world.

6. O faithful, let us imitate Martha and Mary,
and offer virtuous deeds as ambassadors before the Lord,
that when He comes, He may uplift our minds full of misery which now lie dead in the tomb.
Without life, they have no sense of what they are neglecting,
and they are unaware of the awesomeness of God.
Behold, O Lord, now give life to all and grant us Your great mercy,
as once You had pity on Your friend Lazarus,
and by Your awesome power, You raised him from the dead.

In Tone 6

5. Now Lazarus has been in the tomb for two days,
and he sees all generations of the dead.
He beholds such strange and awesome things
and a countless number held within the power of death.
His relatives weep bitterly before his tomb;
but Christ is on His way to give life to His friend,
that He may stir up the same joy in the hearts of all.
Blessed are You, O Saviour; have mercy on us.

In Tone 4

4. The many-personed unity of martyrs
endured various tortures with firmness.
they went rejoicing to the one God,
celebrating with a host of holy angelic powers!
They overcame many thousands of snakes with firm resistance
and the grace of the Spirit.

3. The many-personed unity of martyrs
endured various tortures with firmness.
they went rejoicing to the one God,
celebrating with a host of holy angelic powers!
They overcame many thousands of snakes with firm resistance
and the grace of the Spirit.

2. Let us honour with hymns the most-glorious Maximus,
the great Terence, the most-wise Pompeius,
the divine Macarius and Africanus
and with them the whole company of martyrs.
By their own blood they purchased the highest kingdom
and were filled with eternal glory!

1. Neither starvation nor misfortune,
nor life nor death
was able to separate you, glorious ones,
from the love you have towards Him Who created you!
Therefore you inherited the Kingdom of heaven,
inexhaustible sweetness and unending joy!
Pray for cleansing and mercy for us.

In Tone 5, Glory… Now…

Come, all faithful, and rejoice in the Holy Scriptures!
Rejoice in the preaching of the apostles!
Rejoice in the Virgin who gave birth to God!
She is the Queen of Heaven.
In her we exult with hymns and songs,
for she is our fervent intercessor before God.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
I walk in the presence of the Lord* in the land of the living.
verse: I love the Lord, for He has heard the cry of my appeal.

Reading I
Genesis 43:26-31 and 45:1-16

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
I will pay my vows to the Lord,* in the presence of all His people.
verse: I trusted, even when I said: I am sorely afflicted.

Reading II
Proverbs 21:23-22:4

We are tempted to think of the saints as perfect people, who never did anything wrong, Since we are not like that, we might decide that we cannot become saints ourselves. This is, as I have just called it, a temptation, a deceit of the devil, the father of lies. There is no sinner who cannot repent, and become a great saint. To encourage us, on the fifth (and last) Sunday of Lent, the Church remembers Saint Mary of the Desert, Mary of Egypt as she is also called. Continue reading April 6, 2014 Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast – St. Mary of Egypt, Octoechos Tone 5 Falling Asleep of Methodius

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

10. Departing from Your divine precepts as from Jerusalem,
and going down to the passions of Jericho,
travelling by way of the cares of this life
on the pathways of dishonour,
I fell prey to the thievery of thoughts;
they stripped me of my noble garment,
which You gave me by the grace of adoption.
I was left half-dead and covered with wounds;
a priest passed by and saw my misfortune, but he paid no attention;
a Levite felt nothing but disgust, and so he turned away from me;
but You, O Lord, who were born ineffably from the Virgin,
You poured as oil and wine,
the blood and water which flowed freely from Your life-giving side,
to dress and bind up my wounds.
In Your compassionate love, O Christ our God,
grant me a place in Your Kingdom.

9. Departing from Your divine precepts as from Jerusalem,
and going down to the passions of Jericho,
travelling by way of the cares of this life
on the pathways of dishonour,
I fell prey to the thievery of thoughts;
they stripped me of my noble garment,
which You gave me by the grace of adoption.
I was left half-dead and covered with wounds;
a priest passed by and saw my misfortune, but he paid no attention;
a Levite felt nothing but disgust, and so he turned away from me;
but You, O Lord, who were born ineffably from the Virgin,
You poured as oil and wine,
the blood and water which flowed freely from Your life-giving side,
to dress and bind up my wounds.
In Your compassionate love, O Christ our God,
grant me a place in Your Kingdom.

8. Your martyrs did not reject You,
nor did they renounce Your commandments.
Through their prayers, have mercy on us.

7. Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

6. Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

5. Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin,
and revealed the pre-eternal plan to you.
He greeted you and announced:
Rejoice, O earth that had not been sown!
Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed!
Rejoice, O unsearchable depth!
Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven;
O high ladder which Jacob saw!
Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna!
Rejoice, O invocation of Adam!
The Lord is with you.

4. The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:
You appear to me as a mortal,
and your words go beyond human thought.
You have said that God is with me,
and that He shall take up abode in my womb.
Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the infinite One,
the Lord who rides on the Cherubim?
Do not mislead me with deceit,
for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.
Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

3. The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts:
You appear to me as a mortal,
and your words go beyond human thought.
You have said that God is with me,
and that He shall take up abode in my womb.
Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the infinite One,
the Lord who rides on the Cherubim?
Do not mislead me with deceit,
for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock.
Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?

2. The Archangel then said to her:
Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome,
and that which is beyond human power is accomplished.
Therefore, O most pure and ever-holy One, believe my true words.
She then cried out, saying:
Let it now be done to me according to you word,
and I will give birth to the One who is without flesh.
He will take flesh from me,
so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity,
for He alone is all-powerful.

1. The Archangel then said to her:
Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome,
and that which is beyond human power is accomplished.
Therefore, O most pure and ever-holy One, believe my true words.
She then cried out, saying:
Let it now be done to me according to you word,
and I will give birth to the One who is without flesh.
He will take flesh from me,
so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity,
for He alone is all-powerful.

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

That mystery which is from all eternity
is being revealed today.
The Son of God becomes the Son of Man.
He accepted the lowliest in order to give us the highest.
In times of old, Adam was deceived;
he desired to become like God and did not.
Now God becomes human that He may make Adam God.
Let all creation be happy:
let nature dance with joy
because the Archangel stands in awe before the Virgin and greets her.
He brings the greeting which changes our grief into joy.
Through the mercy of Your compassion, You became incarnate;
O our God, glory to You!

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
The Lord is compassion and love,* slow to anger and rich in mercy.
verse: My soul, give thanks to the Lord; all my being, bless His holy name.

Reading
Genesis 22:1-18

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord;* You have made all things in wisdom.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are exceedingly great.

Reading II
Proverbs 17:17-18:5

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 3

10. Even more than all others, I have sinned of my own will,
and for that, I am condemned;
the arrogance of my flesh is the enemy of my soul.
O guide for those who have lost their way
and light for those without hope,
save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

9. For the Prophet says,
my soul shall live and shall praise You, O Lord.
I am the lost sheep;
call me back and number me among Your flock.
Give me time to repent that I may sigh and cry out to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

8. Greatly despising You commandments,
I have sinned, O Christ our God.
Spare me, O Benefactor,
that my inner eye may be freed from darkness;
and in fear I shall cry out to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

7. Having been encircled by wild beasts,
I beseech You to deliver me from their clutches, O Lord.
You wish that all be saved
and come to the knowledge of the truth;
save all Your people, O Creator,
that I may be saved with them;
save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

6. I am lying here in sin;
heal me, O Redeemer and Benefactor;
be not far from me, O Saviour.
Raise me up, O almighty One,
that I may confess all my sins and cry to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

5. Just as the foolish servant,
I have hidden the talent You gave me;
I have buried it in the ground.
I have been condemned as useless,
and I dare not ask for anything more.
In Your goodness, spare me,
that I may also cry to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

4. Kindly, You dried up the marsh of her passions,
when the woman with the flow of blood touched Your garment.
I have received the forgiveness of my sins
by drawing near to You in complete faith;
receive me, as You accepted her, and heal me of my grief;
save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

3. Lord, Your word has made heaven and earth,
and You shall come to sit upon a throne;
and we shall all stand in Your presence and confess our sins.
Before that day comes, receive my repentance;
save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

2. Mercifully look upon me and spare me, O Saviour;
pour out the streams of healing upon my poor and afflicted soul.
Purify it from all stain
so that I may sing to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

1. Now my soul has been quickly assailed by the sword that the devil prepared;
he has made me a stranger to the light of Your face, O Lord.
But, by the power of Your arm,
draw me up from his jaws;
save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

Glory…

Your love is beyond expression, O merciful and good Lord!
You alone are without sin!
Do not reject me far from Your face,
that, with thanksgiving and with joy,
I may sing and cry out to You:
Save me, O Lord, before I completely perish.

Now…

Zealously, we sing of the ineffable condescension of God!
It is a miraculous and wondrous birth!
How has the Virgin carried You in her arms as a child,
for You are her Creator and her God?
O Benefactor, who willed to become incarnate from her,
save me before I completely perish, O Lord.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
O Lord, God of vengeance,* show Yourself.
verse: Rise up, O Judge of the earth; give the proud what they deserve!

Reading I
Genesis 17:1-9

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O sing to the Lord a new song,* sing to the Lord all the earth!
verse: O sing to the Lord; bless His name.

Reading II
Proverbs 15:20-16:9

Saint John, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine, on Mount Sinai, who died in 603 AD, wrote an ascetic book called The Ladder of Divine Ascent. This book became one of the greatest classics of Christian spirituality. It has been translated into innumerable languages, both ancient and modern; one of the first books printed in the Western Hemisphere was a Spanish translation of the Ladder: For several centuries there has been a Church Slavonic translation which our monks and nuns made use of; unfortunately, there is as yet no translation into modem Ukrainian. Continue reading March 30, 2014 Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast – St. John Climacus, Octoechos Tone 4

Venerable Father Hilarion the New

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 7

10. I have enslaved the dignity of my soul to the passions,
and have become like the beasts;
I can no longer raise my eyes to You, O God most high.
But, like the Publican I bow to the earth,
and I cry to You in supplication:
Forgive me, O Lord, and save me.

9. I have enslaved the dignity of my soul to the passions,
and have become like the beasts;
I can no longer raise my eyes to You, O God most high.
But, like the Publican I bow to the earth,
and I cry to You in supplication:
Forgive me, O Lord, and save me.

In Tone 3

8. Great is the power of Your martyrs, O Christ.
For, lying in their tombs, they drive out evil spirits
and fight in defence of godliness;
they subdued the power of the enemy by faith in the Trinity.

7. The prophets, apostles, and the martyrs of Christ
taught us to sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.
They enlighten the nations that had gone astray,
and made us companions of the angels.

6. Your martyrs, O Lord, have been confirmed by faith
and strengthened by hope.
By the love of Your Cross they have been spiritually fortified,
and so have overcome the anguish of suffering.
They have obtained the crowns,
and, together with the angels, they pray for our souls.

5. Great is the power of Your Cross, O Lord,
for though it was set in one place, it acts throughout the world.
It made apostles of fishermen,
and martyrs of Gentiles.
We beg them to intercede for our souls.

In Tone 4

4. Father, you lived as an angel on earth in the flesh.
You acquired a life of chastity,
with patience, meekness and impartial love;
great abstinence, watchfulness, divine compunction;
faith, true hope, and compassion,
blessed Hilarion, intercessor for our souls!

3. Father, you lived as an angel on earth in the flesh.
You acquired a life of chastity,
with patience, meekness and impartial love;
great abstinence, watchfulness, divine compunction;
faith, true hope, and compassion,
blessed Hilarion, intercessor for our souls!

2. Venerable one, you were an earthly angel and heavenly man,
a fountain of compunction, a stream of compassion, a deep well of miracles!
You are surety for sinners:
an olive tree of God with the fruit of your labours
fitting to anoint the head!
We praise you in faith, wondrous Hilarion!

1. Your mind was illumined with the knowledge of God,
overcoming the passions of the flesh.
You did not participate in the things of this earth;
you bore the true imprint of divine goodness;
you were known to all to be like God
through cooperation with the Holy Spirit,
our Father Hilarion, the adornment of the monastic life!

In Tone 3, Glory…

All human things are vain.
They do not remain after death.
Neither riches endure nor does glory survive;
for with the coming of death all these are destroyed.
Let us exclaim to Christ, the Immortal:
Grant rest to the departed servants
in the abode of those who rejoice in You.

Now…
O Lady most honourable,
how could we but be rapt in wonder at your giving birth
to the incarnate God who without a mother was born of a Father before all ages.
You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,
without a man’s 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 profess in true faith that you are the Mother of God.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 6
O Shepherd of Israel, hear us,* You who lead Joseph’s flock.
verse: Shine forth from Your Cherubim throne.

Reading I
Genesis 12:1-7

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
Ring out your joy to God, our strength,* shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
verse: Raise a song and sound the timbrel, the sweet-sounding harp and lute.

Reading II
Proverbs 14:15-26

Holy Mother Matrona of Thessalonica

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

10. The Fast that brings integrity has now run half its course.
These past days have proved acceptable,
and now we see the need of the days to come.
Our perception of their value will make them yield more abundant fruit.
Therefore, let us beseech Christ our Benefactor
who fasted and endured the Cross for us:
Grant that we might share in Your divine Pascha without condemnation
and pass our lives in peace,
worthily glorifying You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Tone 5

9. Those who do good deeds in secret
and receive a spiritual reward,
do not boast in public about their deeds,
but they carry them in their hearts;
and He who sees the secret deeds of all
grants us the reward of self-control.
Let us then complete this Great Fast without putting on a gloomy face;
but while praying in the secrecy of our souls,
let us cry out unceasingly:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
lead us not into temptation, we pray,
but deliver us from evil.

8. With your souls filled with unquenchable love, O holy martyrs,
you endured the most terrible sufferings without ever denying Christ;
and you laid low the impudence of the torturers.
You kept the faith unwavering and unharmed
and have gone to dwell in heaven.
Therefore, having the boldness to approach the Lord,
beg Him to grant us His great mercy.

In Tone 1

7. Let us all wash our souls in the water of the Fast
and approach the precious and all-praiseworthy Cross of the Lord.
Let us faithfully bow to it,
drawing divine illumination from it
and reaping the fruit of eternal salvation,
which is peace and great mercy.

6. O precious Cross, the boldness of the apostles,
You are revered by the Archangels, Powers and Principalities.
Save from all evil those who bow before You,
and make us worthy to pass through the course of the Fast in a holy way,
that we may see Your salvation and holy Resurrection.

In Tone 7

5. Bowing before the Cross of the Lord on this day, let us sing:
Rejoice, O Tree of Life;
You are the joy of the world who destroy Hades and Death;
Your strength puts the demons to flight.
You are the invincible weapon and support of believers;
preserve and sanctify those who bow before You.

In Tone 4

4. You opposed with reason
the harsh threats and naked savagery of unbelievers,
for you were both divinely and humanly wise!
You foresaw the delight of things to come
which remain unchanged throughout the ages.
You received this unchanging delight
as you departed from earth to the mansions of heaven;
to the choir of unending voices, glorious one!

3. You opposed with reason
the harsh threats and naked savagery of unbelievers,
for you were both divinely and humanly wise!
You foresaw the delight of things to come
which remain unchanged throughout the ages.
You received this unchanging delight
as you departed from earth to the mansions of heaven;
to the choir of unending voices, glorious one!

2. You were adorned with the wounds of your patient suffering;
it was given you to behold the splendour of the kingdom
and the fair beauty of your Bridegroom!
You drew near to the Source of good things,
from where, as is fitting,
you richly received the fruit of divine gladness and unending glory!

1. The yoke of slavery did not prevent you, most glorious one,
from following the patience of the martyrs,
nor did feminine weakness, starvation, or beatings!
You endured torture with fervent strength of soul!
Therefore you have received a heavenly dwelling place:
Standing before your Creator, you are adorned with the crown of grace.

In Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Today the inaccessible Lord draws me close to Him.
He endures His Passion to free me from my passions.
He who gives light to the blind, receives spitting from impure lips
and permits Himself to be scourged to save the captives.
When His Mother, the Virgin, saw Him on the Cross, she sighed and said:
Alas, O my beloved Child!
You surpass every mortal in beauty; yet You are now without charm or attraction,
having neither grace, nor form, nor life.
Alas! O Light of my eyes,
a sword pierces my hear, and I suffer inwardly to see You so.
I sing and praise Your Passion,
I venerate Your infinite mercy,
O long-suffering Lord, glory to You.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,* who alone does wondrous things.
verse: O God, give Your judgment to the king, and to the king’s son Your justice.

Reading I
Genesis 9:18-10:1

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
To be near God is my happiness.* I have made the Lord God my refuge.
verse: How good God is to Israel, to those who are pure of heart.

Reading II
Proverbs 12:23-13:9

When the All-Holy Virgin completed the fourteenth year after her birth and was entering her fifteenth year, after having spent eleven years of living and serving in the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests informed her that, according to the Law, she could not remain in the Temple but was required to be betrothed and enter into marriage. What a great surprise to the priests was the answer of the All-Holy Virgin that she had dedicated her life to God and that she desired to remain a Virgin until death, not wanting to enter into marriage with anyone! Then, according to Divine Providence, Zacharias, the high priest and father of the Forerunner, under the inspiration of God, and in agreement with the other priests, gathered twelve unwed men from the Tribe of David to betroth the Virgin Mary to one of them to preserve her virginity and to care for her. She was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth who was her kinsman. In the house of Joseph, the All-Holy Virgin continued to live as she did in the Temple of Solomon, occupying her time in the reading of Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in Godly-thoughts, in fasting and in handiwork. She rarely went anywhere outside the house nor was she interested in worldly things and events. She spoke very little to anyone, if at all, and never without special need. More frequently she communicated with both of Joseph’s daughters. When the fullness of time had come, as prophesied by Daniel the Prophet, and when God was pleased to fulfill His promise to the banished Adam and to the Prophets, the great Archangel Gabriel appeared in the chamber of the All-Holy Virgin and, as some priestly writers wrote, precisely at that same moment when she held open the book of the Prophet Isaiah and was contemplating his great prophecy: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son!” (Isaiah 7:13). Gabriel appeared in all of his angelic brightness and saluted her: “Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you” (St. Luke 1:28), and the rest in order as it is written in the Gospel of the saintly Luke. With this angelic annunciation and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin, the salvation of mankind and restoration of all creation began. The history of the New Testament was opened by the words of the Archangel Gabriel: “Rejoice, highly favored one” This is to imply that the New Testament was to signify joy to mankind and to all created things. It is from this that the Annunciation is considered not only a great feast, but a joyful feast as well. (Prologue of Ohrid) Continue reading March 25, 2014 Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary