Event Information:
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Sun15Dec2024
Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. Octoechos Tone 5. Our Holy Father Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh; The Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius. Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra.
Father Paul of Latra.
Nativity Fast.
GREAT VESPERS ON SATURDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
Blessed is the man... is sung.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
With Your precious cross, O Christ,* You have put the Devil to shame.* With Your resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin,* and have saved us from the gates of death.* We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Christ, who granted resurrection to mankind,* You were led like a lamb to the slaughter.* Then the princes of Hades were struck with terror* as they saw the gates of their tearful domain being lifted up;* for Christ, the King of Glory, entered therein* and exclaimed to those in chains: Go forth from here!* And to those in darkness: Go forth into the light!
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
What a great wonder!* The Creator of invisible beings suffered in the flesh for mankind,* and rose from the dead as immortal.* Come, therefore, all you nations and adore Him;* for through His compassion we have been freed from the snares of the Devil,* and we have learned to praise the one God in three Persons.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We offer to You our evening worship,* O Light whom the darkness of night can never extinguish.* For in these latter days Your radiance has appeared to the world,* shining in Your flesh as light reflected from a mirror.* Your brilliance has descended even to the depths of Hades and dissolved its gloom.* O Lord, Giver of Light, glory to You;* for You have shown the radiance of Your resurrection to all the nations.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our Salvation;* for by His resurrection from the dead,* the world has been delivered from the deception of Satan.* The choirs of angels rejoice as the treachery of evil spirits vanishes.* Fallen Adam arises, and the devil is vanquished.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Those who guarded the tomb of Christ* were told by the evil men who hired them:* Take this silver and keep silent.* Tell no one of the resurrection of Christ;* rather tell everyone that while you were sleeping His body was stolen.* But who has ever heard of a body being stolen,* a body which had already been anointed?* Why would anyone take a body from the grave naked,* and leave the burial shroud in the tomb?* Do not deceive yourselves, O people of Judea.* Study the teachings of the prophets,* and you will come to understand that Jesus Christ is Almighty God,* and truly the Saviour of the world.
Tone 8
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Today we commemorate the Forefathers of Christ.* Sing with fervour a hymn of praise to Christ the Saviour* who exalted them among the nations.* He is the Lord who does wondrous deeds* because He is powerful and almighty.* From them He brought forth a royal sceptre,* the Immaculate Maiden of God and Virgin Mary.* From her, Christ our God came forth* to give life and eternal salvation for all.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Lord and Master,* You rescued the three holy youths from the fire.* You saved Daniel from the mouths of the lions;* You blessed Abraham, Isaac Your servant, and Jacob his son.* You willed to be like one of us by choosing to be born from them* in order that You might save our Forefathers who had fallen.* By Your Cross and Resurrection You tore apart the bonds of death.* You raise up all those who for ages had been among the dead* and who bow to You, O Christ, the eternal King.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The three holy youths were refreshed by the Holy Spirit* when they walked in the fire as though in a cool place.* In them the Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ* were prefigured in a mystical manner.* By their wisdom and faith* they overcame the power of fire.* As for the just Daniel, he stopped the mouths of lions.* Through their intercession, we beseech You:* O Saviour and Lover of Mankind,* protect us from eternal fire* and make us worthy of Your heavenly Kingdom.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
When the three holy youths stood in the flaming furnace* as if covered with dew,* they mystically prefigured Your coming from the Virgin,* giving light to us without being consumed.* And Daniel, the just and wondrous prophet,* clearly saw in a vision Your second divine coming.* He said: “I saw thrones set up and the Judge seated* and the river of fire flowing in His presence.”* Through their intercession* deliver us from this fire, O Lord.
Tone 6, Glory…
O believers, let us give praise today* to all the fathers who lived before the Law:* Abraham who was beloved by God,* Isaac who was born according to the promise,* Jacob and the Twelve Patriarchs,* the very meek David and the favoured prophet Daniel.* Let us also glorify with them the three youths* who changed the fiery furnace into a place of refreshing dew.* Let us beg forgiveness of our sins from Christ our God* who is glorified in His Saints.
Tone 5, Now…
A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
The Lord reigns,* He is clothed in majesty.
verse: Robed is the Lord and girt about with strength.
verse: For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
verse: Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
Aposticha
Tone 5
O Christ our Saviour,* we lift up our voices in song to glorify You.* For, in Your love for mankind,* You became incarnate without leaving heaven;* You accepted the cross and death;* You cast down the gates of Hades;* and on the third day You arose from the dead* for the salvation of our souls.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
O Giver of Life,* streams of forgiveness, life, and salvation* poured forth from Your pierced side upon us all.* By accepting physical death, You granted us immortality;* by lying in the tomb, You freed us from Hades,* and as God, by rising from the dead,* You raised us with Yourself in glory.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Lover of mankind,* Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are most wondrous.* For, as God, You thereby conquered the power of Hades,* and raised up in glory, with Yourself, those who were long imprisoned there.* You reopened Paradise and enabled them to enter.* Grant forgiveness of sins to us* who glorify Your resurrection on the third day,* for You alone are all-merciful.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lover of mankind,* You accepted suffering in the flesh* and rose from the dead on the third day.* Therefore, heal the passions of our flesh,* raise us from our dreadful iniquities, and save us.
Tone 3, Glory…
Come, O lovers of the feast,* let us sing a hymn of praise to the assembly of the Forefathers:* Adam, the father of mankind,* Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.* Let us also honour those who came after the Law:* Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, and David;* together with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel,* Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets;* likewise Elijah, Elisha, and all the others;* also Zechariah and the Baptist,* and all those who preached Christ, the Life and Resurrection of our race.
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 of 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
Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Tone 2, Glory… Now…
By faith you justified Your ancestors* and through them in advance you betrothed the Church taken from the nations.* The saints exult in glory;* from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.
GREAT MATINS ON SUNDAY MORNING
Usual Beginning
Hexapsalm
Great Litany
God the Lord, Tone 5
Troparia, Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. (2)
Tone 2, Glory… Now…
By faith you justified Your ancestors* and through them in advance you betrothed the Church taken from the nations.* The saints exult in glory;* from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Psalter Reading
Stasis I: Psalms 9, 10
Stasis II: Psalms 11, 12, 13
Stasis III: Psalms 14, 15, 16Small Litany
Sessional Hymn I, Tone 5
Let us celebrate the Cross of the Lord,* let us honour His holy Burial with hymns,* and let us exulting, glorify His Resurrection.* For with Himself He has raised the dead from their graves,* and as God having despoiled the dominion of death* and the might of the devil,* He has shone forth light upon those in Hades.
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hands be lifted on high; forget not Your poor to the end.
O Lord, You who put death to death, was called dead;* You who have emptied the tombs was placed in a tomb;* above, the soldiers stood guarding the grave,* below, You raised the dead from all ages.* O Lord, All-powerful and Incomprehensible,* glory be to You!
Glory… Now…
Rejoice holy mountain upon which God has walked;* Rejoice! living bush unconsumed by fire;* Rejoice! O only bridge of creation to God, who leads mortals to eternal life;* Rejoice! Maiden undefiled, who has born without wedlock* the salvation of our souls.
Psalter Reading
Stasis I: Psalm 17
Stasis II: Psalms 18, 19, 20
Stasis III: Psalms 21, 22, 23Small Litany
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 5
O Lord, after Your Resurrection on the third day,* and after the worship of the Apostles, Peter cried to You;* The women had courage, and I was afraid;* the Thief confessed You as God, and I denied You:* will You no longer call me a disciple,* or will You once again declare me a fisher of the deep?* Receive me in my penitence, O God, and save me!’
I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all You wonders.
O Merciful Lord, the lawless Ones nailed You between two condemned thieves* and pierced Your side with a lance,* but You, who destroyed the gates of Hades,* suffered burial and arose on the third day;* The women ran to see You and announced the Resurrection to Your Apostles.* O supremely exalted Saviour whom the Angels hymn,* O blessed Lord, glory be to You.
Glory… Now…
The Bride who knew not wedlock, the Birthgiver of God,* who turned Eve’s grief to joy,* we the faithful hymn and worship,* for you have redeemed us from the ancient curse.* And now, O All-hymned most holy one,* cease not to make intercession for the salvation of our souls.
Polyeleos
Evoglitaria
Small Litany
Hypakoe, Tone 5
The Myrrh-bearing women, amazed in their minds by the vision of the Angel* yet enlightened in their souls by the divine Resurrection,* announced the glad tidings to the Apostles:* Proclaim among the nations the Resurrection of the Lord,* who works in us through wonders,* and who grants us great mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone 8
With hymns let us all praise Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,* the meek David, Joshua, and the twelve patriarchs,* together with the three youths that quenched the fiery flame with the power of the Spirit.* And let us cry out to them: Rejoice, you that bravely denounced the deception of the mad king!* Pray y to Christ that He grant remission of offenses* to them that celebrate your holy memory with love.
Glory… Now…
Like the widow who gave two mites as an offering,* I offer you the praise of thanksgiving which is your due, O Mistress, for all your gifts;* for you are shown to be a shelter and aid, ever rescuing me from temptations and tribulations.* Wherefore, delivered from that which causes me grief,* as from the midst of a burning furnace, I cry out to you with all my heart:* O Theotokos, help me by entreating Christ God to grant me remission of transgressions,* for I, your servant, have you as my hope.
Gradual Hymns, Tone 5
Antiphon 1
When I am troubled I sing to You like David,* O my Saviour:* Deliver my soul from a deceitful tongue.
Blessed is the life of those* who dwell in the desert places,* Divine love gives them wings.
Glory… Now…
By the Holy Spirit all things are unshaken,* both visible and invisible;* for He has sovereign power,* being undeniably one of the Trinity.
Antiphon 2
Lift up yourself to the mountains,* O my soul;* go to that place from whence comes our help.
Let Your right hand hover over me,* O Christ,* and guard me from every misfortune.
Glory… Now…
Let us sing to the Holy Spirit, as we contemplate God:* You are God, life, love, light, and intellect,* You are goodness,* and You reign to the ages.
Antiphon 3
Filled with great joy at the words of those who say to me:* “Let us go into the courts of the Lord,”* I offer up my prayers.
Fearful things are accomplished in the house of David;* for a fire is found there,* burning every shameful thought.
Glory… Now…
To the Holy Spirit belongs the lordship of life,* for from Him every living being hath its breath,* as also from the Father* together with the Son.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Your hand*, for You shall reign forever.
verse: I will confess to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will recount all Your marvellous works.
Let everything that lives, Tone 5
Gospel
John 20:11-18
Hymn of Resurrection
Psalm 50
Verses at Psalm 50
Canon, Tone 5
Ode 1
Irmos: Christ, who breaks the battles,* with uplifted arm shook horse and rider into the Red Sea,* but Israel he saved,* singing a song of victory.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
The congregation of the Hebrews preserved no mother’s love for you who gave them every good; they crowned you with thorns, O Christ, you who had loosed from the punishing thorns the first ancestor of man.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Giver of life, you bent down to the pit without danger of falling and raised me up who had fallen; you bore with my evil-smelling corruption, O Christ, yourself untouched, and made me fragrant with the sweet oil of the divine nature.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The curse is lifted, sorrow has ceased; O blessed one and full of grace, you have caused joy to spring up for the faithful for from you Christ has flowered, our blessing for ever.
Canon of the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land* and escaped the land of Egypt,* the Israelites cried aloud:* Let us chant to our Deliverer and God!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Let us glorify the unoriginate Word, Who in godly manner was born of the Father before all ages and was visible as a figure to the youths in the furnace.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The right noble youths, resolutely spitting upon the words of the impious tyrant, did not wish to defile themselves with the food of the iniquitous like the Chaldeans.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Nourished in soul by the word of God and in body with foods which grew of themselves, they showed themselves to the king as more comely of countenance than them that were fed with coarse foods.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The venom of the serpent, which was bitterly poured into the ears of Eve, you heal, O Maiden, who did spring forth from David and gave birth to the Deliverer.
Canon of the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: Christ is born; let us glorify Him.* Christ comes down from heaven; let us go out to meet Him.* Christ lives on earth; let us exalt in joy.* All you faithful, sing to the Lord, for He has been glorified.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us offer up a hymn to the fathers that shone forth before the Law and under the Law, that, by their upright will, were pleasing to the Lord and Master Who shone forth from the Virgin, and that now delight in unwaning enlightenment.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us honour the first Adam who was honoured by the hand of the Creator, and who is the forefather of us all and rests with all the elect in the mansions of heaven.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
The Lord and God of all accepted the gifts of Abel, who offered them with a most noble soul; and when he was slain by his brother’s murderous hand, He received his soul into light as that of a divine martyr.
Glory… Now…
Let us hearken to the divine sayings which declare the appearance of Christ; for, lo! of a Maiden that knew not man is He born in a cave, Whose awesome nativity the star which appeared to the astrologers proclaims.
Katavasia: Christ is born; let us glorify Him.* Christ comes down from heaven; let us go out to meet Him.* Christ lives on earth; let us exalt in joy.* All you faithful, sing to the Lord, for He has been glorified.
Ode 3
Irmos: Your command fixed firm the earth upon nothing* and sovereignty poised its vast bulk;* make firm your Church on the immovable rock of your commandments,* O Christ, alone good and Lover of man.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Those who sucked honey from the rock brought you gall for your wonders in the wilderness, O Christ. Vinegar for manna the ungrateful sons of Israel gave you in exchange for your deeds of goodness.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Covered of old by a light-radiant cloud they laid life, O Christ, in the grave: but, you rose of your own power, and you granted mystically to all the faithful the Spirit’s overshadowing shining from above.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Mother of God, virginally and without a mother’s pain you bore him, the outshining of the untouched Father; therefore, since you conceived the Word made flesh, in true faith we proclaim you Bearer of God.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: You are the confirmation of them that have recourse to You, O Lord;* You are the Light of the benighted, and my spirit hymns You.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Having acquired divinely imparted understanding, the children of David kept the laws of their fathers in divinely wise fashion, O Master.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The fire did not consume the most pure bodies of the pious youths, for they had been watered with a spiritually nourishing fast.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Wondrously bedewed in the midst of the furnace, the three children chanted the universal and oft chanted hymn of praise.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
O Master, You show us a birthgiving from a Virgin’s body and save the bodies of the virginal youths in the furnace.
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: To Christ our God,* who is the only-begotten Son of the Father from before all ages,* and in these latter times* has become flesh of the Virgin without seed,* let us cry aloud:* You are our strength; glory to You, O Lord!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
The zeal of Seth for his Creator is hymned throughout the world, for in his blameless life and spiritual love he was truly pleasing to Him, and now cry out in the land of the living: Holy are You, O Lord!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
The wondrous Enos trusted in the Spirit and with divine wisdom began to call upon the God and Master of all with mouth, tongue and heart; and having lived on earth in a God-pleasing manner, he received glory.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us bless Enoch with sacred utterances, for, having been well pleasing to the Lord, he was translated in glory, being shown to be greater than death, as it hath been written, since he had been a most earnest servant of God.
Glory… Now…
Now the expectation of the nations comes forth from the Virgin, and Bethlehem radiantly opens the shut gates of Eden, receiving the incarnate Word, Who, in the flesh, is laid in a manger.
Katavasia: To Christ our God,* who is the only-begotten Son of the Father from before all ages,* and in these latter times* has become flesh of the Virgin without seed,* let us cry aloud:* You are our strength; glory to You, O Lord!
Sessional Hymn, Tone 2
The fire was transformed into dew for the children,* and the lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women was changed into joy;* and an angel ministered in both wonders, transforming the furnace into a place of rest for the former,* and announcing the Resurrection on the third day to the latter.* O Lord, Author of our life, glory be to You!
Ode 4
Irmos: Habakkuk in prophecy, O Christ, apprehending your divine emptying, in trembling awe cried out to you: For the salvation of your people, to make safe your anointed, you have come.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
O Good One, the most bitter streams of Meribah you sweetened by a tree, and thus in sign prefigured your pure cross which slays the bitter taste of sin.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You accepted a cross for the tree of knowledge, my Saviour, gall for sweet food, and for the corruption of death you shed the blood of God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Untouched, you conceived incorruptibly in your womb; a Virgin, guarded to bring forth God in the flesh, you bore a child without pain and were virgin after the birth.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Your dispensation;* I have considered Your works, and have glorified Your divinity.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The most wise Daniel, divinely enlightened of mind, interpreted the dreams of the rulers by divine grace.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The suffering of the youths in the furnace shines forth with wonders, for they brought the tyrant to acknowledge You, O Almighty One.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The harmonious organs and melodious hymns of music did not distract the valorous ones, and they did not bow down before the golden image.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
O all-hymned one, with hymns do the children in Babylon honour your most divine Son, Whom they came to know in the furnace.
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: O Christ, You have come forth from the Virgin* as the rod of the root of Jesse and the flower that blossomed from his stem.* You became flesh from her that knew not wedlock,* from the Mountain overshadowed by the forest;* O God, You are not formed from created substance.* Glory to Your power, O Lord!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us offer up praise unto God, honouring with hymns Noah, who is truly righteous; for he has been shown to be adorned in all the divine commandments, having been well pleasing to Christ, to Whom we, the faithful, chant: Glory to Your power, O Lord!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Beholding your nobility and simplicity of character, God clearly showed you forth, O Noah, as perfect in all respects and the leader of the new world, who saved for it, from the deluge, the seed of every species, even as He Himself commanded.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
With hymns let us piously bless Noah, who preserved the Law of God intact; who, alone among all his generation, was found to be righteous, and of old saved the species of the animals with an ark of gopher wood at the command of Him that accomplishes all things.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
O blessed Noah, your memory pours forth upon us that honour you, the wine of compunction, which sever make glad the hearts and souls of them that, in a pure manner, bless your honourable and divine life.
Katavasia: O Christ, You have come forth from the Virgin* as the rod of the root of Jesse and the flower that blossomed from his stem.* You became flesh from her that knew not wedlock,* from the Mountain overshadowed by the forest;* O God, You are not formed from created substance.* Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Ode 5
Irmos: To you, clothed with light as a garment,* early I rise and cry out.* Lighten my darkened soul,* O Christ, only compassionate.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
In dishonour and inglorious form, of his own will the Lord of glory hung upon the cross, and inconceivably thus procured for me divine glory.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You have changed my clothing for the garment of incorruption, O Christ, for uncorrupted you tasted the corruption of death in the flesh, and on the third day rose from the tomb.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Mother of God, you set free our first father’s nature from the curse, for without seed you gave birth to Christ our righteousness and redemption.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: Wherefore have You thrust me from Your countenance, O never waning Light?* And why has a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am?* But turn me, and guide my steps* to the light of Your commandments, I entreat You!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Your favoured ones, the great Daniel and the three divinely wise youths, having learned Your Law, O Saviour, were not rejected; but, having received strength of You, their Benefactor, they manfully vanquished the tyrants.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Daniel noetically learned Your mysteries, O Lover of mankind, for, with purity of mind, he beheld You as the King and Judge of all nations, coming as the Son of man upon a cloud.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Your unity is adorned more than with sapphire, O children, who burned like a golden ray with zeal for piety, and joyfully walked about in the furnace, forming a universal chorus.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The divine Daniel clearly described you as a mountain, O Virgin, and the three youths, beholding the dew-bearing flame, praised with hymns your divine Offspring as Saviour, Creator and Lord.
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: Since You are a God of peace and a Father of mercies,* You have sent your angel of great counsel to us to bring us peace.* Thus, we are directed towards the light of the knowledge of God,* and at the night vigil we glorify You, O Lover of mankind.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
With divine praises let Shem, who received the blessing of his father, be honoured; for, shown to be well pleasing before the Lord, he has joined the choir of the forefathers and joyously rests in the land of the living.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
As the friend of God, Abraham was vouchsafed to behold the day of his Creator and has become full of spiritual joy; wherefore, honouring his uprightness of mind, we all bless him as a divine forefather of Christ.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
You beheld the Trinity, insofar as it is possible for man to do; and as a true servant you offered it hospitality, O most blessed Abraham. Wherefore, for your strange hospitality you received a reward: to be, through faith, the father of countless nations.
Glory… Now…
He that is full empties Himself into the flesh for our sake; the Unoriginate One receives a beginning; He that is rich beggars Himself; He that is the Word of God lies like a babe in a manger of dumb beasts, accomplishing the restoration of all who have existed throughout the ages.
Katavasia: Since You are a God of peace and a Father of mercies,* You have sent your angel of great counsel to us to bring us peace.* Thus, we are directed towards the light of the knowledge of God,* and at the night vigil we glorify You, O Lover of mankind.
Ode 6
Irmos: Lord Christ, calm the soul-destroying waves of the raging sea of passions* and, O compassionate, lead me up from corruption.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Our first ancestor fell into corruption, Lord Christ, tasting forbidden fruit; and he was brought back to life by your Passion.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You, the life, came to Hell and to the corrupter became corruption; thus, Lord Christ, through corruption you brought, as fountain springing, resurrection.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The Virgin bore a child and after bearing still was pure; holding him up in her arms who supports the whole creation she is truly Virgin Mother.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: The abyss of my sins and the tempest of my transgressions discomfit me* and thrust me down into the depths of violent despondency.* But stretch forth Your mighty arm to me, as You did to Peter,* and save me, O my Guide.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Having mastered the passions of the soul by the power of the Word, you became governors in the lands of the Chaldean peoples, for virtue knows to give honour to them that have acquired her, O wise descendants of David.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Daniel of old, vested in life-bearing mortality, slew with food the most wicked serpent, which the Chaldeans impiously held to be a god; and wisely did he also slay the impious priests.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
O Theotokos, Virgin and Mother, implore the Judge, your Son, the Deliverer from evils, that by your supplications He be merciful to me on the Day of Judgment; for on you alone do I place all my trust.
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: Jonah had dwelt like a babe in the womb before the sea monster spew him forth;* the Word dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, taking flesh from her.* Although born from her, He kept her all-pure.* Since Christ Himself was not subject to incorruptibility, He kept His Mother free from the same.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Led up by thy father’s obedience to be sacrificed, you were plainly an image of the Passion of Christ, O most blessed Isaac. Wherefore, you were blessed and did truly show yourself to be a close friend of God, rejoicing now with all the righteous.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Jacob was shown to be the most faithful of all of God’s favoured ones. Wherefore, he wrestled with an angel, beheld a celestial intelligence, was called a god, and, sleeping, saw a divine ladder, whereon God, Who put on our flesh in His goodness, established Himself.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Loving obedience to his father, and cast into a pit, Joseph was sold, thus becoming an image of Christ, Who was slain and placed in a tomb. And he became dispenser of the grain of Egypt, being chaste and righteous, and a most true governor of the passions.
Glory… Now…
He that is ever with the Father and the Spirit is known on earth as a little Child; and He that wraps the earth in darkness is wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger of dumb beasts. Rejoicing now, we celebrate the forefeast of His seedless nativity.
Katavasia: Jonah had dwelt like a babe in the womb before the sea monster spew him forth;* the Word dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, taking flesh from her.* Although born from her, He kept her all-pure.* Since Christ Himself was not subject to incorruptibility, He kept His Mother free from the same.
Kontakion, Tone 4
O thrice-blessed ones, who did not honour an image wrought by hands,* but were defended by the indescribable Essence,* you were glorified in your ordeal by fire;* and standing in the midst of unbearable flame, you called upon God, saying:* Speed and make haste to our aid, O Compassionate One,* in that You are merciful;* for what Thou will, You can do!
Ikos
Stretch forth Your hand whereby of old the warring Egyptians and the embattled Hebrews were tested. Forsake us not, that death, which thirsts after us, not swallow us up; and spare our souls, as you once spared Your three children in Babylon, who glorified You unceasingly and were cast for Your sake into a furnace, from whence they cried out to You: Speed and make haste to our aid, O Compassionate One,* in that You are merciful;* for what Thou will, You can do!
Ode 7
Irmos: The Lord of the fathers, most highly exalted,* quenched the fire and rained his dew* on the young men in unison singing:* Blessed are you, O God.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Clothed with flesh as bait for the hook, by your divine power you dragged the serpent down, and brought back those who cried: Blessed are you, O God.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
He, the unbounded, who brought into being and knitted together the boundless immensities of earth, in the flesh was concealed in the grave; and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
All-holy, you bore one person in two natures, God has taken bodily form and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths
Irmos: The pious children did not worship the golden image in Babylon;* but, bedewed in the midst of the fiery furnace,* they chanted a hymn, saying:* Blessed are You, O supremely exalted God of our fathers!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
A pious voice sounded forth to the Almighty from the midst of the fire, for the divine Azariah, forming a choir, chanted a hymn, saying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The harp of the youths theologizes concerning the Almighty, the God of all, and to Him that appeared to them openly in the furnace they chanted a hymn, saying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The king, seeing the three children who had been cast into the furnace, beheld, as it were, the form of a Fourth, and he called Him the Son of God and cried out to all: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Possessed of a mind illumined with divine radiance, O divinely blessed Daniel, you clearly foresaw the Offspring of the Virgin formed by divine images; and you cried out: Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: The youths who had been raised to fear God were not threatened by the fiery torments.* They denounced the wicked decree of the tyrant,* and standing in the midst of the flames,* they sang: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let Ananiah, Azariah, and Misael, who quenched the fiery furnace, be hymned, together with Daniel, who stopped the mouths of the lions, for together they chanted to Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed are You!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Having lawfully suffered amid temptations and unmitigated tribulations, Job was called the favourite of God, most faithful, meek, guileless, righteous, perfect, blameless, crying aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed are You!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
With faith let us honour Moses, Aaron, and Hur, praising Joshua and the most sacred Levi, Gideon and Samuel, and let us cry out: O God of our fathers, blessed are You!
Glory… Now…
Behold! as the prophet has foretold, she that knew not wedlock has conceived in her womb and manifestly comes to Bethlehem to give birth to God. To Him let us chant: O God of our fathers, blessed are You!
Katavasia: The youths who had been raised to fear God were not threatened by the fiery torments.* They denounced the wicked decree of the tyrant,* and standing in the midst of the flames,* they sang: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers.
Ode 8
Irmos: The young men in the furnace devised a chorus of all creation for you, the Creator of all,* and in song they proclaimed it:* All you his works, sing to the Lord,* and highly exalt him throughout all the ages.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
As if it were against your will, of that so longed for cup of your saving Passion you prayed that it might not be: two wills to two natures corresponding you bear, O Christ, throughout all the ages.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
At your descent, Creator of all, Hell the fool gave up all those who of old had been slain by deceit, and who now, O Christ, highly exalt you throughout all the ages.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
O Virgin, beyond thought, in divine and human manner, by the word you bore the Lord, while remaining virgin; we, his creatures, bless and highly exalt you throughout all the ages.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: Madly did the Chaldean tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones;* but seeing them saved by a greater power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer:* You children, bless; you priests, hymn;* you people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Striving to preserve the nobility of Abraham, you acquired the foundation of faith and hope which was his very own, O venerable ones, and his patience and endurance of temptations, crying out: Bless the Master, O priests! You people, exalt Him supremely forever!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Having shone forth like beacons and made the earth heavenly, and having been illumined with the radiance of piety, forming a universal chorus, they chant to the Master Who saved them from temptations: You children, bless; you priests, hymn; you people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
The descendants of David, having youthfully extinguished the fiery furnace and shut the jaws of the lions, rejoicing, now hymn You, the Benefactor and King of all, saying: You children, bless; you priests, hymn; you people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
O all-pure one, the most wise Daniel gives instruction in the mysteries, and the three divinely wise youths prefigure your birth giving, beholding through symbols Him that has come forth ineffably from your womb. Him do the children bless, the priests hymn and the people exalt supremely for all ages!
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: The dew-moistened furnace was the image of an incomprehensible wonder.* It did not burn the youths entrapped there,* just as the fire of the Godhead did not consume the Virgin’s womb in which He dwelt.* Therefore, let us praise God, saying: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all forever.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us celebrate today the divine memory of the honoured fathers of all ages past: Adam, Abel, Seth, Noah, Enos, Enoch and Abraham, Melchizedek and Job, Isaac, and the faithful Jacob, crying out: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
Let us praise the divinely beauteous phalange of the divine fathers: Barak, Nathan and Eleazar, Josiah and David, Jephthah and Samuel, who honourably beheld things which were to come and cried out: Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him supremely forever!
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
With hymnody let us offer praise to the prophets of God, praising Hosea and Micah, Zephaniah and Habakkuk, Zechariah and Jonah, Haggai and Amos, Malachi and Obadiah, Nahum, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, together with Daniel, Elijah and Elisha.
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord.
With threefold utterances let us hymn the all-holy Trinity: the unoriginate Father, the Son and the right holy Spirit, the Unity of three Hypostases, which every breath glorifies, crying out: Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
O Christ, You have appeared incarnate of the Virgin’s blood by Your ineffable word, being born in a cave as a perfect Babe in the abundance of Your loving-kindness, O Jesus. And the star heralds You from afar to the astrologers, who cry with faith: hymn and exalt Christ supremely forever!
We praise, bless, and worship the Lord, singing and exalting Him throughout all ages.
Katavasia: The dew-moistened furnace was the image of an incomprehensible wonder.* It did not burn the youths entrapped there,* just as the fire of the Godhead did not consume the Virgin’s womb in which He dwelt.* Therefore, let us praise God, saying: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him above all forever.
Magnificat
Ode 9
Irmos: Rejoice and sing, Isaiah,* the Virgin has conceived and bears a son, Emmanuel,* God and man, his name the Dayspring;* we magnify him and we call the Virgin blessed.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Fallen man, Lord Christ, you assumed; wholly joined to him in a virginal womb, sin alone excepted, wholly you have freed him from corruption by your pure sufferings.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Your pure and life-giving side, Lord Christ, was emptied of the blood which flowed from God, and sacrifice to idols ceased; and all we of the earth bring to you the sacrifice of praise.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Not God bodiless, nor yet mere man, the pure and honourable Maid bore to us, but perfect man and perfect God, in very truth; we magnify him, together with the Father and the Spirit.
Canon to the Three Holy Youths and Daniel
Irmos: Saved by you, O pure Virgin, we truly confess you to be the Theotokos,* magnifying you with the bodiless choirs.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
You have attained your desired end, O most blessed youths, and you stand in the mansions of heaven before Him that is the greatest of all desires.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Rejoicing, you have received a sheaf as the reward of the good husbandry of your tears, having brought forth the grain of incorruption.
O Three Holy Youths and Daniel pray to God for us
Radiance has now shone upon you as is meet, and gladness of heart has blossomed forth, for from whence grief has fled away have you made your abode.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
O Virgin, you halted the spread of death, having given birth to the Lord, the Bestower of life, Who imparts life to them that magnify you with faith.
Canon to the Holy Forefathers
Irmos: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold:* the cave is heaven;* the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim;* the manger, a dwelling place* in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain.* Singing His praises, we magnify Him.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
By Your might, O Lord, You made powers of old: Your daughters Hannah, Judith, Deborah, Huldah, Jael and Esther, Sarah, Miriam the sister of Moses, Rachel, Rebecca and Ruth the exceedingly wise.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
In a sacred manner let us honour the holy children that quenched the furnace, and with them, Daniel the prophet and all that were clearly righteous, who shone forth well before the Law, and under the Law were pleasing to the Lord.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
The most wise and divine prophets, being descendants of Abraham, proclaimed through the Spirit the Word of God, born of Abraham and Judah. By their prayers, O Jesus, have compassion on us all.
O holy Forefathers, pray to God for us!
All creation is sanctified by your memory and, keeping festival, doth callout, crying aloud as befits a servant: Ever offer entreaty to the Lord, O blessed ones, that they that praise you may receive eternal blessings!
Glory… Now…
The Word of the Father, Who has robed Himself in me, comes forth from the Virgin and is born in the cave in unconfused manner. Dance, O creation, magnifying, with thankful voices His all-holy condescension which He has shown forth in His lovingkindness.
Katavasia: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold:* the cave is heaven;* the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim;* the manger, a dwelling place* in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain.* Singing His praises, we magnify Him.
Small Litany
Holy is the Lord
Hymn of Light
When Mary saw two angels inside the grave,* she was seized with fright.* She did not recognize Christ but thought that He was the gardener;* she said to Him: “Sir, where have You placed the body of Jesus?”* She knew from His voice that He was the Saviour,* and she obeyed Him when He said:* “Touch Me not for I am going to My Father.* Tell this to My disciples.”
Glory…
Let us praise Adam, Abel, Seth and Enos, Enoch and Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Job and Aaron, Eleazar and Joshua, Barak, Sampson and Jephthah, David, and Solomon.
Now…
The great Sun, the Creator, Who shall come forth from the Virgin who knew not man, makes haste to Bethlehem to enlighten all that are descended from Adam. Wherefore, the most radiant memory of the forefathers proclaims the wonder.
Praises
Stichera of the Praises, Tone 5
You came forth from the grave, O Lord, which had been sealed by the transgressors of the law,* just as You were born of the Theotokos.* For the bodiless angels did not know how You were incarnate.* Likewise, the guardian soldiers did not see the moment of your Resurrection;* for these two marvels were concealed from the curious minds* but were revealed to those who worshiped the mystery in faith.* Therefore, grant joy and great mercy to us who offer You praise.
O Lord, You demolished the gates of everlasting damnation,* and You broke asunder the chains of the grave.* You rose from the tomb leaving your wrappings in the grave* in testimony of your three-day burial;* and leaving the guards watching at the tomb,* You preceded your disciples into Galilee.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, who suffered for us,* the women hastened to your tomb to behold You.* When they arrived, they saw an angel sitting on the stone of the grave.* He said to them: The Lord is risen!* Go and tell the disciples that the Saviour of our souls is risen from the dead.
O Lord and Saviour,* You came into the midst of your disciples though the doors were closed* just as You came out of the sealed tomb,* showing the sufferings of the flesh which You accepted;* for You submitted to suffering patiently since You are of the seed of David.* But since You are the Son of God, You saved the world.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy on us.
Tone 2
Let us all now celebrate the memory of the forefathers,* hymning their life which was pleasing to God,* for Whose sake they have been magnified.
Let us all now celebrate the memory of the forefathers,* hymning their life which was pleasing to God,* for Whose sake they have been magnified.
Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name unto the ages.
The children quenched the power of the fire,* dancing in the midst of the furnace,* and hymning God the Almighty.
For righteous are You in all which You have done for us.
Daniel the prophet, who, imprisoned in a pit,* dwelt with wild beasts,* was shown forth as one who did not partake of their ferocity.
Tone 7, Glory…
Come all, let us faithfully celebrate* the annual commemoration of Abraham and them that are with him,* the fathers that lived before the Law.* Let us honour the tribe of Judah as is meet;* let us praise the youths in Babylon,* who, as an image of the Trinity, quenched the flame of the furnace,* together with Daniel;* and holding fast to the prophecies of the prophets,* let us cry aloud with Isaiah:* Behold, a Virgin shall conceive in her womb,* and shall bear a Son, Emmanuel, God with us!
Tone 2, Now…
You are truly most blessed, O virgin Mother of God.* Through the One who was incarnate of you,* Hades was chained, Adam revived, the curse wiped out,* Eve set free, Death put to death,* and we ourselves were brought back to life.* That is why we cry out in praise;* Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who finds in this your good pleasure. Glory to You!
Great Doxology
Trisagion Prayers
Troparion, Tone 2
Today salvation has come to the world.* Let us sing to Him who is risen from the tomb,* the Author of Life who has crushed Death by his death* and bestowed on us victory and great mercy.
Insistent Litany
Litany of Supplication
Great Dismissal
DIVINE LITURGY ON SUNDAY MONRING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 5: Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 2: By faith You justified Your ancestors* and through them in advance You betrothed the Church taken from the nations.* The saints exult in glory;* from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: Armed by the Being that defies description,* you defied the man-made idol, O thrice blessed youth.* In the midst of the unbearable flames you stood and cried out to God:* “In Your mercy, O gracious One, hasten and come to our aid,”* for You can do whatever You will.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)
Epistle
Colossians 3:4-11
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: They called on the Lord and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)
Gospel
Luke 14:16-24
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1).* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous (Psalm 32:1).* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.