Event Information:
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Mon23Dec2024
Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ; The Ten Holy Martyrs of Crete.
Nativity Fast.
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no psalms chanted this evening.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
With uprightness of mind let us chant the hymns of the forefeast of the nativity of Christ;* for, though equal in honour to the Father and the Spirit,* in His lovingkindness He has clothed Himself in our matter* that He might be born in the city of Bethlehem.* His ineffable nativity have the shepherds and angels hymned.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us shout to the sound of cymbals, let us cry aloud in hymns:* The advent of Christ has come!* The predictions of the prophets have been fulfilled!* For Him of whom they foretold that He would appear to men in the flesh* is born in the holy cave and lies as a babe in the manger;* He is wrapped in swaddling-bands as a babe.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Prepare yourself, O Bethlehem!* O Eden, be now opened!* The most holy one comes to give birth!* Let the heavens be glad! Let men leap for joy!* He who is our rich Life comes in the magnitude of His mercy* to the manger and the cave,* assuming the poverty of Adam without change or confusion.
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With sacred laudations let us praise aloud today* the ten divinely called, the lamps ten times radiant,* illumining the fullness of the Church with divine effulgence,* the unshakable pillars, the luminous stars, who have rendered the earth heavenly* by the splendours of their magnificent struggles.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Let Theodulus be praised with Zoticus and Pompey,* Basilides, Euporus, Agathopus and Satorninus,* Gelasius and the divine Evaristus,* and with them also let Eunician be honoured with hymns:* the right calm havens for the tempest-tossed,* who denounced falsehood and have received the crown of victory.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let us render honour to the ten holy passion-bearers, the offspring of Crete,* the foundations of the Church, the imperishable adornments of the faithful,* the precious and fragrant flowers of paradise,* the beautiful sacrifices acceptable to Christ,* the offerings of the temple of heaven.
Tone 3, Glory…
On this day of festal preparation has the feast of the martyrs dawned,* preparing us for the day of the nativity of the Sun who shines forth from the Son,* heralding God who has appeared from the Virgin in the flesh.* The ten martyrs who suffered mightily in Crete have received crowns from heaven.* To them let us cry aloud: O holy martyrs, O choir elect in holiness,* entreat Christ in behalf of those who with faith celebrate your most honoured memory!
Now…
Adorn yourself well, O Bethlehem, for Eden has been opened!* Prepare yourself, O Ephratha, for Adam has been restored, and Eve with him:* for the curse has been annulled, salvation has blossomed forth,* and the souls of the righteous are adorned,* offering hymnody instead of myrrh as their gift,* and receiving salvation of soul and incorruption.* For, lo! He who lies in the manger* orders those who cry out to chant unceasingly in spirit:* Glory be to You, O Lord!
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 6
In manner past understanding the boundless wisdom of God* has made Himself a house from the Virgin,* and incomprehensibly desires to be born in the flesh in the cave,* and laid in a manger of dumb beasts.
God shall come forth out of Teman, and the Holy One out of a mountain overshadowed and densely wooded.
You revealed Yourself to the prophets* as far as they were able to behold You, the Creator, O Christ;* but in latter times You showed Yourself to all men,* becoming man in the city of Bethlehem.
O Lord, I have heard Your report, and I was afraid; O Lord, I considered Your works, and I was amazed.
The star made its transit, heralding Christ, the Sun of righteousness,* to those who observed the stars,* and in the city of Bethlehem the angels now announce glad tidings to the shepherds.* With them let us also hasten. O divinely wise.
Tone 2, Glory…
Today Crete celebrates the forefeast of the nativity of Christ* at the memorial of the passion-bearers.* Wherefore, through their supplications, O Lord, save our souls!
Now…
Behold, the time of our salvation has drawn nigh!* Make ready, O cave: the Virgin comes to give birth!* O Bethlehem, land of Judah, adorn yourself and be glad,* for from you has our Lord shone forth!* Hearken, mountains and hills, and lands of Judea round about, for Christ comes forth,* that He might save man whom He created, in that He loves mankind.
Troparia
Tone 3
Let us express our great admiration for Crete which brought forth these precious Christians,* pearls of Christ and offspring of martyrs, and in particular, these blessed Ten.* Although they were few, they overcame all the guile of powerful demons.* Therefore, these valiant martyrs of Christ have been crowned.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
Bethlehem, make ready, for Eden has been opened for all.* Ephrathah, be alert, for the Tree of life has blossomed forth from the Virgin in the cave.* Her womb has become a spiritual paradise* wherein the divine Fruit was planted,* and if we eat of it we shall live and not die like Adam.* Christ is coming forth to bring back to life* the likeness that had been lost in the beginning.
DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Bethlehem, make ready, for Eden has been opened for all.* Ephrathah, be alert, for the Tree of life has blossomed forth from the Virgin in the cave.* Her womb has become a spiritual paradise* wherein the divine Fruit was planted,* and if we eat of it we shall live and not die like Adam.* Christ is coming forth to bring back to life* the likeness that had been lost in the beginning.
Troparion, Tone 1: Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today, the Virgin is on her way to the cave* where she will give birth in a manner beyond understanding* to the Word who is in all eternity.* Rejoice, therefore, O universe, when you hear it heralded.* With the angels and the shepherds, glorify Him who chose to be seen as anew born babe* while remaining God in all eternity.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Appearing as radiant lights, O godly martyrs,* you illumine all creation with the brilliance of your miracles,* healing infirmities, always dispelling deep darkness* and praying unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
James 2:14-26
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Mark 10:46-52
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)