Saint with Six Stichera. Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 2
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
When Julianna saw the blessed martyr Barbara during her terrible trial* suffering from her many wounds,* her body painfully torn in many places,* she cried out with tears of compassion:* Word of God and Lover of mankind* grant this day that I may be her companion in martyrdom!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Saints Barbara and Julianna,* you are of those who alone have a true vocation for righteous living,* for you attacked the enemy and gravely wounded him!* Thus you are worthy of glorification by Christ God* for you trampled underfoot the destroying passions and their evil,* giving the means of healing to all the faithful!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Most pure martyr Barbara,* when you were sentenced to die you faced sweet death with joy!* You swiftly fulfilled the act of martyrdom slain by the hand of your most evil parent.* You were offered up as fruit to God!* Therefore with the wise virgins you truly rejoice* as you behold the light of Christ, your Bridegroom!
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
What shall we call you, holy theologian John?* Another David, for your hymns are as the psalms for us?* You are the temple of the Spirit and the pipe of the Good Shepherd.* You sweeten our ears and gladden our minds.* You cause the ranks of the Church to rejoice!* Your teachings are a river of honey, flowing to the ends of the earth.* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
What shall we call you, Father John, the messenger of God?* Shining star of the Holy Trinity?* You enlighten our eyes with delightful teaching.* You have entered into the cloud of divine knowledge* Like Moses you behold mysteries beyond words or speech.* You proclaim the music of His wisdom.* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
What shall we call you, blessed one?* A shining lampstand? A faithful minister of divine mysteries?* A joyful star for the Church, enlightening those who dwell in darkness?* A well-tuned organ and sweet-sounding harp?* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Tone 6, Glory…
You abandoned your home, your people and earthly riches.* You fled the hatred of an evil father, Barbara;* you were wedded to God in a bond of love,* therefore He took you to Himself rejoicing.* Pray that he may save our souls.
Now…
I lift the eyes of my heart to you, O Lady;* despise not my small sigh,* but in the hour when your Son shall come to judge the earth,* be my helper and deliverer!
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.
verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.
Aposticha
Tone 8
All-wise father John, you enlighten the Church with song inspired by God.* Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, God our Father made you another David.* Your hymns lead us to the Lord, blessed one.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; who greatly delights in His commandments!
Glorious father John, in the midst of worldly tumult,* you attained the peace of Christ, righteous one.* By godly action and contemplation you were enlightened with His wisdom.* You were made rich in heavenly things,* with which you enlighten the faithful, all-blessed one!
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints!
Come, let us assemble in the temple of God today,* praising the righteous John with joyful song.* He is truly a divine lamp; he enables us to see the true Light.* How great is Your goodness, compassionate Lord!* Through him we have learned to glorify You, only Good One!
In Tone 6, Glory…
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth, venerable father John!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons and reached the ranks of angels* whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,* entreat peace for our souls!
Now… Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion:
Theotokos, you are the true vine* who blossomed for us the fruit of life:* implore Him we pray you, Lady,* together with the apostles and all the saints,* that He may have mercy on our souls!
Troparia
Tone 8
Let us honour the holy martyr Barbara,* for as a bird she escaped the snares of the enemy,** and destroyed them through the help and defense of the cross!
Tone 8, Glory…
Champion of orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,* the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of the hierarchs:* all-wise father John, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.** Intercede before Christ our God to save our souls!
Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
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.
Troparion, Tone 8: Guide of orthodoxy, teacher of piety and purity,* luminary of the world, inspired adornment of hierarchs (or: monks), O wise John,* you have enlightened all by your teachings, O spiritual trumpet.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 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.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You took delight in self-control, O wise one,* and you put the desires of the flesh to sleep.* You were seen to have grown in faith;* and, like the Tree of Life in Paradise, you flourished, O holy father, John.
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
Hebrews 5:11-6:8
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
Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)