Event Information:
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Sat28Dec2024
Saturday after the Nativity of Christ. The Two Thousand Martyrs who were burned in Nicomedia; Blessed Hieromartyr Hryhoriy (Gregory) Khomyshyn, Bishop of Stanyslaviv.
VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
As One most perfect, You bear the guise of Adam in the image of God,* and desire to be held in my arms, O You who in Your power hold all things in Your hand.* And the pure and most immaculate one declared, saying:* “How is it that I have wrapped You in swaddling bands as a babe?* How is it that I nurture You with milk, You who feed all?* How is it that I marvel at Your poverty, which passes understanding?* How can I call You my Son, if I am now Your handmaiden?* I hymn and bless You who grant the world great mercy!”
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Seeing the pre-eternal God incarnate from her as a babe,* holding Him in her arms and kissing Him often,* full of joy, the most immaculate one declared to Him:* “O God Most High, invisible King, how is it that I see You,* but cannot understand the mystery of Your boundless poverty?* For this least and strangest of caves contains You who was born therein without violating my virginity,* but preserving my womb as it was before birth-giving,* and granting great mercy to all.”
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Declaring these things in awe as a servant,* the pure one heard the magi standing together before the cave, and said to them:* “Whom do you seek? For I see that you have come from a faraway land:* having Persian dress and wisdom, you have made a strange departure and journey.* With haste you have come to worship Him* who has journeyed from the highest and within me has strangely made His abode,* granting the world great mercy.”
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.
Enlivened by strength,* fortified mightily and endowed with the power of Christ the Master,* in the weakness of your nature* you were shown to be invincible, O athletes,* vanquishing the enemy amid your struggles.* Pray for those who celebrate your holy and luminous memory,* O glorious great martyrs.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Theophilus, Dorotheus and Mygdonius,* together with Gorgonius and Secundus, Peter and Indes,* who were valorous in word and deed,* rejoicing, have vanquished the hordes of the enemy;* and they pray that those who faithfully celebrate their most honoured memory* be delivered from all misfortunes.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Youths and virgins, elders and children,* together showed forth the same valour.* As peers they have received their rewards through grace,* abiding with God, the King of all.* Let us honour them with sacred hymns as radiant beacons of the whole world,* twenty thousand in number.
Tone 5, Glory… Now....
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!* For today angels and men have truly become a single flock.* O the wonder! The Invisible One becomes visible;* the Word becomes flesh; the Son of God become the Son of the Virgin!* And the Virgin who knew not man is seen to be the Mother of God,* and, a Mother after giving birth, she is found to be a virgin!* The incarnate Word of the Father lies in a manger,* and shepherds are become his heralds, sharing in the mystery.* Magi from the East have brought gifts, guided by the star,* and have worshiped the newborn Saviour.* And, fervently opening the treasuries of our hearts,* with them we who love the feasts of the Church* also offer Him good works—faith, hope, and love—like gold, frankincense and myrrh,* crying out to Him with the words of the incorporeal ones:* Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men!* For He has come to save our whole race from deception!
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 2
Divinely assuming all of the first Adam from the Virgin, O Christ,* You were born in the cave* and laid, swaddled, in the manger.
From the womb before the morning star have I begotten You. The Lord has sworn and will not repent.
Sing out prophetically, O David, striking your harp,* for from your loins, from whence the Theotokos sprung,* is Christ born today.
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand.
O faithful, let us offer praise fit for God with the shepherds and magi,* and glory with the angels,* to God who sprung forth from the Virgin.
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
“Glory to God in the highest!” is heard from the incorporeal ones in Bethlehem today,* addressed to Him who was well pleased to become Peace on earth.* Now the Virgin is become more spacious than the heavens,* for Light has shone forth upon the benighted* and lifted up the lowly who chant with the angels:* Glory to God in the highest!
Troparia
Tone 2
O victorious martyrs of the Lord,* blessed is the earth that received your blood,* and holy are the heavenly places that opened to your souls.* You have vanquished the enemy in battle and proclaimed Christ with courage.* We beg you to intercede with Him, the all-good One,* that He may save our souls.
Tome 4, Glory… Now…
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Antiphon 1
I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart,* I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
In the council of the just and the congregation,* great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
His work is filled with praise and majesty,* and His righteousness endures forever.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: The Virgin today gives birth to Him who is above all being;* the earth offers the cave to Him whom no one can approach;* Angel with shepherds give Him glory,* while Magi make their way with a star,* for to us is born a little Child – the pre-eternal God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
I will remember your name throughout all generations.
verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear. (Psalm 44:18,11)
Epistle
1 Timothy 6:11-16
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Rise up, Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of You holiness.
verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)
Gospel
Matthew 12:15-21
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King born in a manger.
and the 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.
Communion Hymn
I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)
Instead of Blessed is He who comes… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (3)