September 8. The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos....................3
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
September 14. The Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross....................19
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
September 21. The Conclusion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.
The Finding of the Relics of St. Demetrius of Rostov....................35
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
October 1. The Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God....................51
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
November 21. The Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Temple....................62
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
Week of the Holy Forefathers....................81
• At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
The Week Before Christmas, the Holy Fathers....................91
• At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
December 24. The Eve of the Nativity of Christ....................107
• At Vespers • At Compline • At Matins
December 25. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ....................119
• The First Hour • The Third Hour • The Sixth Hour • Ninth Hour • Liturgical Services
• At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
December 26. Feast of the Holy Mother of God....................155
• At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
The Week after the Nativity of Christ....................160
• At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
January 1. The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ
and the commemoration of St. Basil the Great....................172
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
January 5. The Eve of the Feast of the Epiphany,
and of the Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theona, and of the Holy Venerable Syncletica....................189
• At Vespers • At Compline • At Matins
January 6. The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ....................202
• First Hour • Third Hour • Sixth hour • Ninth period • Art
• At Great Vespers • At the Blessing of the Water • At Matins • At the Liturgy
February 2. The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ....................244
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
March 25. The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos....................258
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
June 24. The Nativity of St. John the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist....................274
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
June 29. Saints Peter and Paul, the First-Called Apostles....................290
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
August 1. The Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord....................305
• At Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
August 6. The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ....................319
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Divine Liturgy
August 15. The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God....................334
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
August 29. The Beheading of John the Forerunner and Baptist....................348
• At Small Vespers • At Great Vespers • At Matins • At the Liturgy
Joachim and Anna rejoice, / having given birth to the Beginning of our salvation, / the one and only Mother of God. / Celebrating with them on this day, / we glorify the pure Virgin / who sprang from the glorious root of Jesse.
From Anna on this day, the Rod, / the Planting given by God, /—the Mother of God sprang forth, the salvation of mankind, / from Whom the Creator, having been born beyond all thought, / purifies, as the Good One, / all the defilement of Adam through His goodness.*
Who can adequately / sing the praises / of the infant—the Virgin—born in an ineffable manner from Anna? / Pour forth, then, O mountains and hills, / sweet drops on this day: / for all life and purification are nourished by milk /—the pure Mother of God.*
The once barren land / gives birth to a fruitful earth, / and having brought forth a holy fruit from a barren womb, / nourishes it with her milk. / A miracle that fills us with awe: / the Nourisher of our Life, / who received the Heavenly Bread in her womb, / is nourished by milk from her breasts!
Your all-holy Nativity, / Most Holy and Pure Virgin, / is glorified by the multitude of angels in heaven / and by us, the human race, on earth, / for You have become the Mother of the King of all, Christ our God. / Do not cease to intercede for us, we pray, / for we have placed our hope in You after God, / O Mother of God, praised by all and who knew no marriage!
“A joyful light:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Rejoice, Joachim and Anna! / Rejoice, for the Virgin—the Giver of joy and salvation— / is born to us from barrenness!
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Ps 44:11a
You alone among those on earth / have revealed salvation in Yourself, / having given birth to the Word / who is beyond word and nature; / therefore we call You blessed.
Verse: The wealthy among the people will seek Your favor. Ps 44:13b
Cast aside, Adam and Eve, / all sorrow, / for the Mother of Joy, though barren, / gloriously gives birth on this day.
The Temple of God—the one and only Mother of God—comes forth from the barren one who had never given birth, and Adam rejoices, exclaiming.
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / has brought joy to the entire universe, / for from You the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone forth; / and, having abolished the curse, He has bestowed a blessing, / and, having abolished death, He has granted us eternal life.
Also the litany and dismissal.
On this day, God, who rests upon the thrones of wisdom, / has prepared for Himself a holy throne on earth; / having established the heavens with wisdom, / He fashioned the Living Heaven out of love for mankind; / for from a barren root He has brought forth for us / the life-giving plant—His Mother. / You are the God of wonders and the hope of the hopeless, / O Lord, glory to You!
This is the day of the Lord; rejoice, O people; / for the bridal Chamber of Light / and the Book of the Word of Life have come forth from the womb; / and the One Who Was Born—the door facing the east— / awaits the entrance of the great High Priest— / the One and Only, who brings the one Christ into the universe / for the salvation of our souls.
Though, by divine will, / glorious barren women also bore children, / yet Mary shone divinely more than all who were born; / for She, having Herself been miraculously born of a childless mother, / gave birth in the flesh to the God of all, / who is above nature, from a seedless womb— / the one and only Door of the only-begotten Son of God; / passing through her, He kept her sealed / and, having arranged all things wisely, as He Himself knows, / brought about salvation for all people. (2)
On this day, the barren gates are opened, / and the virginal Divine Door emerges; / on this day, grace begins to bear its first fruits, / revealing to the world the Mother of God, / through Whom the earthly is united with the heavenly / for the salvation of our souls. (2)
This day marks the dawn of universal joy, / on this day the winds, harbingers of salvation, have blown; / the barrenness of our nature comes to an end, / for the barren one is revealed as the mother / of She Who remains a virgin even after giving birth to the Creator, / from Whom God, by His very nature, takes what is foreign to Himself / and through the flesh brings salvation to the deluded— / Christ, the Lover of mankind and Redeemer of our souls.
On this day, the barren Anna gives birth to the Virgin of God, / chosen from among all generations / as the dwelling place of the King of all and the Creator, Christ God, / to fulfill the Divine plan, / by which we, born on earth, are recreated / and renewed from corruption / to everlasting life.
Glory, and now: On this day, God, who dwells upon the thrones of wisdom:
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
Jacob set out from the Well of the Oath and went to Haran; he came to a certain place and lay down there to sleep, for the sun had set. He took one of the stones of that place, placed it under his head, and fell asleep in that place. He had a dream: and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above it and said, “I am the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac; do not be afraid. The land on which you are lying, I will give it to you and to your descendants; and your descendants will be as numerous as the sand of the earth; and they will spread out toward the sea, and toward the south, and toward the north, and toward the east; and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants; and behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “The Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Genesis 28:10–17
Thus says the Lord: “From the eighth day onward, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you with favor,” says (Adonai) the Lord. Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faced east, and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “These gates shall remain shut; they shall not be opened, and no one shall pass through them, for the Lord, the God of Israel, will pass through them, and they shall remain shut. Therefore, the ruler—he shall sit there to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of these gates, and by the same way he shall go out.” Then he led me along the way to the gate of the sanctuary, the one on the north side opposite the temple, and I looked—and there, the house of the Lord was filled with glory.
Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1–4
Wisdom has built herself a house and set up seven pillars; she has slaughtered her sacrifices and mixed her wine in her cup, and prepared her feast; she has sent out her servants, calling out with a loud proclamation to the cup: “Let everyone who is simple turn to me!” And to the simple-minded she said: “Come, taste my bread and drink the wine I have mixed for you; forsake folly, and you will live, and seek understanding, that you may live and attain wisdom in knowledge.” He who instructs the wicked will bring disgrace upon himself, and he who rebukes the wicked will bring shame upon himself. Do not rebuke the wicked, lest they hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you; give the wise a reason, and he will become even wiser; speak to the righteous, and he will pay attention. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the counsel of the saints is understanding; to know the Law is the attribute of a good mind: for in this way you will live a long time, and the years of your life will be increased.
Proverbs 9:1–11
On this day, O people, / the first fruit of our salvation has appeared. / For behold, the Mother and Virgin, / destined from ancient generations, / and the dwelling place of God, / appears, being born of a barren woman. / The Branch has sprung from Jesse, and the Shoot from his root. / May our forefather Adam rejoice / and may Eve exult with joy, /—for behold, she who was created from Adam’s rib / clearly praises her Daughter and Granddaughter. / “For me,” she says, “salvation has been born, / through which I shall be freed from the bonds of hell!” / Let David rejoice, strumming his lyre, / and let him bless God, /—for behold, the Virgin springs from the barren rock / for the salvation of our souls!
Come, all who love virginity / and are zealous for purity; / come, receive with love the Praise of the Virgin, / the Spring of Life flowing from the solid rock, / and from the childless one—the Thorn Bush of incorporeal Fire, / which purifies and enlightens our souls!
What is this festive noise we hear? / Joachim and Anna are mysteriously celebrating, proclaiming: / “Rejoice with us on this day, Adam and Eve, / for you, who in ancient times were shut out of paradise by the transgression of , / we have been granted the most glorious fruit— / the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, / who opens the entrance to it for all!”
Destined to be the Queen of all, the dwelling place of God / came forth on this day from the barren womb of the glorious Anna, / the Divine Heritage of the eternal Being. / Through her, insolent hell is trampled underfoot, / and Eve, the mother of all generations, / is led into eternal life. / To her we rightly proclaim: / “Blessed are you among women, / and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
On this momentous day of our feast / let us play the spiritual lyre with a resounding voice. / For from the seed of David / on this day the Mother of Life is born, dispelling darkness, /—the re-creation of Adam and the call of Eve to salvation, / the source of incorruption, the end of decay. / Through Her we have attained deification / and been delivered from death. / Let us therefore cry out to Her with Gabriel, O faithful ones: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / bestowing upon us through you great mercy!”
Universal joy has shone upon us from the righteous— / from Joachim and Anna—the all-glorified Virgin, / Who, through the abundance of her purity, / becomes the living temple of God / and is truly the Mother of God alone. / Through her intercessions, O Christ our God, / grant peace to the world, / and great mercy to our souls.
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Ps 44:11a
According to the Angel’s prophecy, the all-holy Child / was born on this day to the righteous Joachim and Anna, O Virgin— / heaven, the throne of God, and the repository of purity, / bringing joy to the whole world; / Intercessor of our lives, the lifting of the curse, / the gift of blessing in its place! / Therefore, on the day of Your Nativity, O Virgin called by God, / implore peace for the world, / and great mercy for our souls.
Verse: The wealthy among the people / will implore Your face. Ps 44:13b
May barren Anna, who bore no children, / clap her hands with joy on this day; / may all the earth shine forth, may kings rejoice, / may priests rejoice in blessings, / may the whole world celebrate. / For behold, the Queen and the Father’s spotless Bride / has sprung from the root of Jesse. / Women will no longer give birth in pain, / for joy has blossomed / and human life is coming into its own in the world. / The gifts are no longer returned to Joachim, / for Anna’s weeping has turned to joy. / “Rejoice with me,” she says, “all the chosen people of Israel; / for behold, the Lord has given me a living Temple / of His divine glory / for the common joy and gladness / and for the salvation of our souls!”
Come, all you faithful, let us hasten to the Virgin. / For behold, the Mother of our God, predestined before conception, is being born— / the treasure of virginity, Aaron’s rod that sprouted from the root of Jesse, / the proclamation of the prophets, / and the offspring of the righteous Joachim and Anna. / And behold, She is born, and the world is renewed through Her; / She is born, and the Church is clothed in her splendor; / She is the holy temple, the dwelling place of the Godhead, / the virginal vessel, the royal palace, / in which the unheard-of mystery of the ineffable union / of the natures united in Christ was accomplished. / Worshiping Him, we sing / of the Nativity of the All-Pure Virgin.
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / has brought joy to the entire universe, / for from You the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone forth; / and, having abolished the curse, He has bestowed a blessing, / and, having abolished death, He has granted us eternal life. (3)
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / has brought joy to the entire universe, / for from You the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone forth; / and, having abolished the curse, He has bestowed a blessing, / and, having destroyed death, He has granted us eternal life. (3)
Proclaim, David, what did God swear to you? / “What He swore to me,” he says, / “Behold, He has already fulfilled, / by giving the Virgin from the fruit of my womb, / from whom was born Christ the Creator, the New Adam, / King upon my throne; and He reigns now, / possessing an unshakable kingdom.” / The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God and the Nourisher of our Life!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From the root of Jesse and from the loins of David, / the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, / is born to us on this day, / and appears to us entirely renewed and deified. / Rejoice together, heaven and earth, / praise Her, you nations of the earth! / Joachim rejoices and Anna exults, crying out: / “The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God / and the Nourisher of our Life!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, Most Holy Virgin, / and honor Your holy parents / and glorify Your all-glorious / Nativity.
1 Chorus: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. 2 How he swore to the Lord and made a vow to the God of Jacob. 1 Behold, we have heard of her in Ephrathah; we have found her in the wooded plains. 2 Glorious things are spoken of you, O City of God. 1 God is in her midst, and she shall not be moved. 2 The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it. 1 “I will set one of the offspring of your womb on your throne.” 2 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has selected it as His dwelling place. 1 The Most High has sanctified His dwelling place. 2 Holiness and splendor are in His sanctuary. 1 Holy is Your temple, wonderful in truth. 2 Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. 1 I will make Your name memorable from generation to generation. 2 Blessed be the Lord forever and ever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 131:1; 131:2; 131:6; 86:3; 45:6a; 131:11a; 131:11b; 131:13; 45:5b; 95:6b; 64:5d; 92:5b; 44:18a; 88:53a
Let heaven rejoice, let the earth be glad, / for God’s Heaven is upon the earth, / this Bride of God has been born according to the promise. / The barren one, Mary, nurses the infant at her breast, / and Joachim rejoices at this birth and proclaims: / “A rod has been born to me, from which the Flower—Christ— / has sprung from the root of David. / Truly, a wondrous miracle!”
Glory, and now, the same voice: Be renewed, Adam; rejoice, Eve; / rejoice, David; be glad, Anna: / for the Mother of your Creator is born in glory. / Renewed, the whole earth rejoices / and is glad, clothed in festive garments; / let every people, rejoicing, cry out to Mary: / “Blessed is the house of David, / which nurtures the Nourisher of our Life!”*
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, my Savior, / protect and save me.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
I will make Your name memorable / throughout every generation and every family. Verse: My heart has poured out a word of goodness. Ps 44:18a, 2a
In those days, Mary set out and went in haste to the hill country, to a town of Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb; and blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
Glory: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our sins.
And now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy / and according to the multitude of Your kindnesses / blot out my iniquity.
This is the day of the Lord; rejoice, O people; / for the bridal Chamber of Light / and the Book of the Word of Life have come forth from the womb; / and the One Who was born—the door facing the east— / awaits the entrance of the great High Priest, — / the One and Only, who brings the one Christ into the universe / for the salvation of our souls.
The first is by St. John of Damascus, tone 2, and the second is by St. Andrew of Crete, tone 8; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, while the troparia are sung 12 times.
Canon 1. Irmos: Come, people, / let us sing a hymn to Christ God, / who parted the sea and led the people, / whom He brought out of Egyptian bondage, / for He has been glorified.
Come, faithful ones, / rejoicing in the Divine Spirit, / let us honor with hymns / the Ever-Virgin and Maiden, / who on this day came forth from the barren one / for the salvation of mortals.
Rejoice, most holy Mother / and handmaid of Christ the God, / Giver of ancient bliss to the human race; / we all, as is fitting, / glorify You with hymns.
On this day, the Bridge of Life is born, / through which mortals, having found the opportunity to return / from their fall into hell, / glorify Christ, the Giver of Life, / with hymns.
Canon 2. Irmos: To Him who crushed the enemy in battle with His mighty arm / and led Israel through the Red Sea, / let us sing to Him as our Deliverer, God, / for He has been glorified.
Let all creation rejoice, / let David also rejoice, / that from his tribe and his seed / a branch has sprung forth, bearing fruit— / the Lord and Redeemer of all.
The Holy of Holies / is established as an infant in the holy temple / to be nourished by the hand of an angel: / let us all celebrate together with faith / at Her birth.
Anna, barren and unable to bear children, / is nevertheless not childless before God; / for she was predestined from all generations / to be the mother of the Pure Virgin; / and from her the Creator of all creation / was born in the form of a servant.
You, the spotless lamb, / who from Your womb brought forth / the fleece of Christ—our nature— / You, born of Anna, / we all honor with hymns.
Trinitarian: I glorify the Three Without Beginning, / I sing of the Three Holy Ones, / I proclaim the Three equally eternal in one essence; / for in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit / the one God is glorified.
Theotokos: Who has seen the Child, nourished by milk, / who came not from the seed of a father? / Or where has the Virgin Mother been seen? / Truly, both are beyond understanding, / O pure Mother of God!
Katavasia: Making the sign of the cross, Moses / split the Red Sea right down the middle with his staff / for Israel as they walked on foot, / and with a single blow across it / brought the sea back together against Pharaoh’s chariots, / thus demonstrating an invincible weapon; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God: / for He has been glorified.
Canon 1. Irmos: Strengthen us in You, O Lord, / You who put sin to death through the Tree, / and instill Your fear / in the hearts of us who sing Your praises.
Having lived blamelessly for God, / the godly parents / of the One who gave birth to our Creator and God / brought about the salvation of all.
The Lord, the Source of all life, / brought forth from the barren Virgin, / in whom He deigned to dwell, / preserving her immaculate after childbirth.
The fruit of Anna—Mary, / who bore the life-giving Cluster, / on this day we sing of her as the Mother of God, / and for all—Protection and Help.
Canon 2. Irmos: My heart has taken firm hold in the Lord; / my horn has been exalted in my God; / my mouth has opened wide against my enemies; / I have rejoiced in Your salvation.
Having been raised in the Holy of Holies, / O Most Pure Virgin, Mother of God, / You have been revealed as the highest of all creation, / having given birth to the Creator in the flesh.
Blessed is Your womb, / chaste Anna; / for it bore the fruit of virginity— / She who gave birth without seed to the Nourisher of all creation / and the Redeemer Jesus.
All creation calls / You blessed, Ever-Virgin, / born of Anna on this day, / the spotless branch from the root of Jesse, / which bore forth the Flower—Christ.
Your Son, O Most Pure Mother of God, / revealing You as the highest of all creation, / glorifies Your birth from Anna / and brings joy to all today.
Trinity Hymn: We worship You, / Father, the beginningless Being; / we sing of Your timeless Son, / and we honor the equally eternal Spirit: / the Three—as one God in essence.
Theotokos: Having given birth to the Giver of light / and the Source of human life, / You, Most Pure Mother of God, / have become the treasure of our life / and the gate to the inaccessible Light.
Katavasia: The staff is taken as a symbol of the sacrament: / for by its growth it signifies the priest; / and for the Church, once barren, the tree of the Cross has now blossomed / for her strength and confirmation.
Mary, truly the Virgin and Mother of God, / has shone upon us on this day like a bright cloud / and appears from among the righteous for our glory. / Adam is no longer condemned, / and Eve is freed from her bonds. / Therefore, we too cry out, / exclaiming with boldness to the One Pure One: / “Your birth proclaims joy to the entire universe!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
[According to the Greek rite—ipakoï, tone 2.)
The prophet called the Holy Virgin / an impenetrable door, / guarded by our One God, / through whom the Lord passed, / from whom the Most High was born, / and left her sealed as before, / delivering our lives from corruption.]
Canon 1. Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / the news of Your plan / and have glorified You, / the only Lover of mankind.
We sing Your praises, O Lord, / who have granted all the faithful a saving haven— / She who bore You in her womb.
You, the Bride of God, / Christ has revealed as a source of praise and strength for all / who sing of Your mystery with faith.
O Lady, who knew no marriage! / Delivered from our sins through Your intercessions, / we all gratefully glorify You.
Canon 2*
Irmos: The prophet Habakkuk / foresaw with the eyes of his mind / Your coming, O Lord, / and therefore exclaimed: / “God will come from Teman; / glory to Your power, / glory to Your mercy!”
Patriarch Jacob, clearly foreseeing / the great works of Your salvation, Savior, / cried out in the Spirit, mysteriously proclaiming to Judah: / “You have come forth from my branch, O son!”— / announcing You, / the God born of the Virgin.
Now the rod of Aaron, / sprung from the root of David, / now the pure Virgin descends from Anna, / and heaven and earth rejoice together, / and all the tribes of the nations, / and Anna with Joachim in a mysterious way.
Now let heaven rejoice, / let the earth be glad, / and let Joachim and David exult: / one as Your father, / You who truly gave birth to God, / and the other as Your ancestor, and let them proclaim / Your greatness, O Pure One.
With you, God-wise Anna, / the universe rejoices today: / for you have brought forth the Mother of its Savior, / the rod of strength, sprung from the root of David, / bringing forth for us the flower—Christ.
Trinity Hymn: I glorify the God without beginning— / the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the consubstantial, uncreated Trinity, / before whom the Seraphim stand, crying out reverently: / “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God!”
Theotokos: The Beginning without a beginning / from You, Mother of God, / takes its origin in earthly time / and, having become incarnate, abides / as the Word, co-eternal with the Father / and as eternal as the Spirit, / preserving His divine dignity.
Katavasia: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence, / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.
Canon 1. Irmos: Having dispelled the mist of mysteries, obscure as a shadow, / and having illuminated the hearts of the faithful with the coming of truth / through the Mother of God, / guide us also, Christ, with Your light.
Let us sing, O people, of the One who is the Cause / that the Author of all things became like us; / She whose image the prophets rejoiced to behold, / receiving from Her the fruit—unfailing salvation.
The Offspring of the withered rod / was pointed out to Israel by the choice of the priest; / and now, gloriously conceived of the barren one, / the radiance of those who gave birth to Her is wondrously multiplied.
Canon 2. Irmos: O Lord our God, / grant us peace; / O Lord our God, take us to Yourself; / O Lord, apart from You we know no other, / we call upon Your name.
Your most pure Nativity, O spotless Virgin; / both Your conception and Your pregnancy are beyond words; / Your birth is also beyond expression, / O Bride who knew no marriage: / for He was God, / Who clothed Himself wholly in me.
On this day, let the angelic hosts rejoice, / let those descended from Adam exult with songs: / for the rod that has blossomed—Christ—has been born, / the sole Deliverer of Adam.
Today Eve is freed from condemnation; / Adam, too, is freed from the ancient curse, / crying out to You at Your birth, Most Pure One: / “In You we are delivered from corruption!”
Glory to You, who on this day have glorified the barren one; / for she gave birth, according to the promise, / to the ever-blooming Branch, from which sprang forth / Christ, the flower of our life.
Trinity: Glory to You, Holy Father, God unbegotten! / Glory to You, Timeless Son, Only-Begotten! / Glory to You, Divine Spirit, co-enthroned, / proceeding from the Father and dwelling in the Son! *
Theotokos: Your womb became a holy banquet; / Your purity remained, as before, unbroken, / for the Sun—Christ—appeared, O Virgin, from You / like a Bridegroom from the bridal chamber.
Katavasia: O thrice-blessed Tree, / upon which Christ, King and Lord, was crucified, / through which the deceiver was brought down by the tree, / himself caught by God, / who was nailed to you in the flesh, / granting peace to our souls!
Canon 1. Irmos: Jonah cried out to the Lord from the belly of the whale: / “Deliver me from the depths of hell, I beseech You, / so that with a voice of praise and a spirit of truth / I may offer a sacrifice to You, my Savior!”
In their sorrow over their childlessness, / the godly parents of the Mother of God cried out to the Lord, / and they gave birth to Her for all generations of people, / for the common salvation and praise of all.
The godly parents of the Mother of God received a heavenly gift worthy of God: / the Chariot, surpassing even the Cherubim themselves, / the Mother of the Word and the Creator.
Canon 2. Irmos: Like the waters of the sea, O Lover of Mankind, / the stormy waves of life carry me away; / but as You delivered Jonah from the whale, deliver my life from destruction, / O merciful Lord!
Your most holy parents, O Most Pure One, / placed you, the holiest of the holy, / in the house of the Lord, / so that you might be raised in reverence / and prepared to be His Mother.
Barren women and mothers, rejoice, / take heart and celebrate, you who are childless; / for the childless and barren one brings forth the Mother of God, / She who will deliver Eve from the pangs of childbirth / and from the curse of Adam.
I hear David singing to You: / “Virgins will follow in Your wake, / they will be led into the King’s temple!” / With him, I too sing Your praises, Daughter of the King.
We sing of Your holy Nativity, / we honor the seedless conception of Christ / from You, the Bride chosen by God and the Virgin; / and with us rejoice the hosts of angels / and the souls of the saints.
Trinity Hymn: In You, O Pure One, the mystery of the Trinity / is sung and glorified: / for the Father was pleased—and the Word dwelt within You, / and the Divine Spirit overshadowed You.
Theotokos: You have become a golden censer, / O Pure Mother of God, / for the Fire dwelt in Your womb— / the Word from the Holy Spirit—and was made visible / in the form of a man.
Katavasia: In the belly of the sea beast, / Jonah spread his arms in the shape of a cross, / clearly foreshadowing the saving Passion; / and having emerged from there after three days, / he foreshadowed the supernatural Resurrection / of Christ God, who was crucified in the flesh / and, by His resurrection on the third day, enlightened the world.
Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, / and Adam and Eve were freed from mortal decay / through Your holy Nativity, Most Pure One. / Your people also celebrate it, / having been delivered from condemnation for their sins, exclaiming to You: / “The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God / and the Nourisher of our Life!”
Ikos: The prayer, accompanied by lamentation, / of Joachim—like that of Anna—regarding his barrenness and childlessness / proved fruitful, / and reached the ears of the Lord, / and brought forth the Life-giving Fruit for the world. / For one offered prayer on the mountain, / while the other endured reproach in the garden. / But now, with joy, the barren one gives birth to the Mother of God / and the Nourisher of our Life.
Canon 1. Irmos: The thornbush on the mountain, / unconsumed by fire, / and the Chaldean furnace that poured forth dew, / clearly foreshadowed You, Bride of God; / for You received the Divine, incorporeal Fire / into Your corporeal womb without being consumed; / therefore we cry out to Him born of You: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Through immaterial manifestations, the Lawgiver / was once unable to comprehend / Your great mystery, Most Holy One, / being instructed by symbols not to think in an earthly manner; / therefore, struck by wonder, he proclaimed: / “Blessed is the God of our fathers!”
Just as a mountain and a heavenly gate / and a ladder of the mind, / the Divine choir foretold You: / for a stone was hewn from You / without the touch of a human tool; / and through that gate passed the Lord, / the God of wonders, the God of our fathers.
Canon 2. Irmos: The Chaldean furnace, kindled by fire, / was watered by the Spirit through God’s providence; / and the youths sang: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
We celebrate and worship with faith, O Most Pure One, / Your holy Nativity, which came to pass according to the promise, / through which we were delivered / from the original curse / by the coming of Christ.
Now Anna rejoices and, in praise, cries out: / “I, who was barren, have given birth to the Mother of God, / through whom Eve’s condemnation has been abolished / and the sorrows of childbirth in labor!”
Adam is set free, and Eve rejoices, / and they cry out to You in the Spirit, O Mother of God: / “Through You we are delivered from the original curse / by the coming of Christ!”
(O womb that held God’s Dwelling! / O womb that bore the Vastest of the Heavens, the Holy Throne, / the incorporeal Ark of the Holy!)*
[You barren souls, who do not give birth, / you childless ones, hasten, / for now Anna is the mother of many and rejoices. / Mothers, rejoice with the Mother of God / and all together be glad!]
Trinity: Let us glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the Most Holy Trinity in the unity of the Godhead, / indivisible, uncreated, / equal in eternity, and consubstantial.
Theotokos: You alone gave birth to God, / a Virgin even after His birth; / You renewed nature through Your birth, Mary; / You delivered Eve from the original curse, / O pure Mother of God.
Katavasia: The mad decree of the ungodly tyrant, / reeking of threats and blasphemy abhorrent to God, / threw the nations into confusion; / yet the three youths were not intimidated / by either savage wrath or the roaring fire; / but, standing in the fire, / against which a dew-bearing wind blew, they sang: / “O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: In the furnace of the youths / You once prefigured Your Mother, O Lord, / and this image saved them from the fire, / as they walked within it without being scorched. / We sing of her and exalt her for all ages, / she who was revealed through You to the ends of the earth on this day.
The predestined Tabernacle / of our reconciliation with God / now begins its existence, / to give birth to the Word for us, / who appears in material flesh; / we sing His praises, / having attained existence from non-existence through Him, / and we exalt Him for all ages.
The end of barrenness / has also brought an end to the world’s barrenness in goodness, / and has clearly revealed the miracle— / Christ who came to mortals. / We sing of Him, / having through Him attained existence from non-existence, / and we exalt Him for all ages.
Canon 2. Irmos: You who hide Your heavenly palaces in the waters, / who set the sand as the boundary of the sea / and sustain all things! / The sun sings of You, the moon glorifies You, / all creation offers You a song, / as to the Creator and Maker forever!
You who worked wonders through a barren womb, / who opened the childless womb of Anna / and gave her a child! / You are the Holy God, You are the Son of the Virgin, / from her You took flesh /—the ever-blooming Virgin and Mother of God.
You who seal up the abyss and open it, / who raise the waters in the clouds and send down rain! / It is You, O Lord, / who caused the rod to flourish from a barren root /—so that holy Anna might bear the most pure Fruit—the Mother of God.
Cultivator of our thoughts / and sower of our souls, / You who revealed the barren earth to be fruitful, / You made the once-dry field / productive, full of ears of grain, and fruitful— / Saint Anne, so that she might bring forth / the most pure Fruit—the Mother of God.
(Come, all of you, let us see / how, as it were, from a small chamber / the City of God is now being born, / She who emerged from the door of the womb, / yet knew not the entrance to marital union, / for the one and only Creator / passed through this wondrous path.)*
[You, who have broken the unbreakable bonds of childlessness, / You who have given the barren the ability to bear a child and the glorious Fruit— / She whose Son You became and, like a sprout, arose, / making Her Your Mother according to the flesh / at Your coming to us, O Merciful One.]
Trinitarian Hymn: O Trinity, supreme over all nature, / Unity equally without beginning! / The multitude of angels, heaven, and earth / sing Your praises and tremble before You. / The abysses are filled with dread, people bless You, / fire serves You humbly, /—all creation obeys You, / Holy Trinity, with awe.
Theotokion: O wondrous news: God is the Son of a woman! / And the birth is without seed: the Mother without a husband / and the One born is God! / O sight that fills one with awe! / O Virgin’s extraordinary conception! / O ineffable Nativity! / Truly, all this is beyond the mind and contemplation!
Katavasia: Bless, O youths, / the God the Father, Creator, equal in number to the Trinity; / sing of the Word who descended / and turned fire into dew; / and exalt the All-Holy Spirit, who grants life to all, / forever and ever!
We do not sing the 9th ode, “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” but we sing the feast’s refrain: Magnify, O my soul, / the glorious Nativity of the Mother of God.
And the irmos: “God, the light that shone before the sun.” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos.
Canon 1. Irmos: O God, the light that shone before the sun, / who came to us in the flesh, / who was ineffably incarnated from the virginal womb, / Blessed, All-Pure One! / We magnify You, Mother of God.
Who brought forth streams from the rock for the rebellious / and grants to the peoples obedient to Him / fruit from barren depths for our joy— / You, Most Pure Mother of God, / Whom we rightly honor.
Deliverer from the severe ancient sentence / and the restoration of our foremother, / the one who brought reconciliation between our race and God, / the Bridge leading to the Creator— / we extol You, Mother of God.
Canon 2
Refrain: Praise, O my soul, / the barren Virgin Mary who gave birth.
Irmos: Virginity, foreign to mothers, / and childbirth, uncharacteristic of virgins— / both were accomplished in You, Mother of God: / therefore all of us, the peoples of the earth, / ceaselessly extol You.
A birth worthy of Your purity / You inherited, O Mother of God, according to the promise; / for You were once granted to the barren one / as the fruit brought forth by God; / therefore, all of us, the peoples of the earth, / ceaselessly magnify You.
The prophecy of the one who cried out has been fulfilled: / “I will restore,” he says, “the fallen tabernacle of David’s sanctuary,” / for this type has been fulfilled in You, Most Pure One, / through Whom all human dust / has been recreated into the body of God.
We worship Your swaddling clothes, O Mother of God; / we glorify Him who gave fruit to the one who was once barren / and miraculously opened the womb of the one who had never borne a child; / for He does whatever He wills, / being the almighty God.
(To You, Mother of God, born of Anna, / we offer this hymn as a gift with faith, / glorifying the Mother as Mother, / and the Virgin as the only Virgin; / we worship You, sing to You, and glorify You.)*
[You, O Mother of the Bride, Anna the God-wise, / brought forth from your womb, beyond all hope and according to the promise, / the Flower planted in virginity, / the Beauty of purity brought forth by God; / therefore we all call you blessed, / as the root of our life.]
Trinity Hymn: It is foreign to the lawless to glorify / the beginningless Trinity, / the Father, as well as the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / the uncreated omnipotence, / by which the whole world is sustained / at the wave of Her power.
Theotokos: You bore in Your womb, O Virgin Mother, / One of the Trinity—Christ the King, / Whom all creation extols / and before Whom the heavenly Thrones tremble. / Pray to Him, O Most Holy One, / for the salvation of our souls.
You, O Mother of God, are the mysterious paradise, / which brought forth Christ without seed, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship it and magnify You.
The death that befell our race / through eating from the tree / is abolished on this day by the Cross; / for the universal curse due to our foremother’s sin / is destroyed by the Branch of the pure Mother of God, / Whom all the Heavenly Powers magnify.
From barren Anna on this day / a Flower has sprung forth—the Mother of God, / filling the ends of the world with divine fragrance / and filling all creation with joy. / We worthily praise her in song, / as one who truly surpasses those born of earth. (2)
[According to the Greek rite:
On this day, the ends of the universe rejoice / at Your birth, Mary, Virgin Mother, / who bore God in Your womb / and, as Bride, knew no marriage: / You put an end to the grievous reproach of Your childless parents, / and to the curse of our foremother Eve to give birth in pain.]
Glory, and now: Adam, be renewed; Eve, be exalted; / prophets, rejoice with the Apostles and the righteous; / universal joy in the world, both for the Angels and for mankind: / from the righteous Joachim and Anna / the Mother of God is born on this day.
O wondrous miracle! / The source of life is born of the barren one / and grace begins to bear its first fruits / with splendor. / Rejoice, Joachim, / having become the father of the Mother of God. / There is none like you, divinely inspired, / among earthly parents. / For the Virgin who conceived God, the dwelling place of God, / the all-holy mountain, has been granted to us through you. (2)
O wondrous miracle! / The Fruit that shone forth from the barren one / by the will of the Creator of all things and the Almighty / powerfully broke the barrenness of the world for the good. / O mothers, rejoice / with the Mother of God, exclaiming: / “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / bestowing upon the world / through you great mercy.”
Glorious Anna, / having appeared as a living pillar of chastity, / a radiant dwelling place, shining with grace, / truly gave birth to the Bulwark of Virginity, / the Divine Blossom, / a Gift to all virgins and those who desire virginity, / clearly rewarding them with the beauty of virginity / and bestowing great mercy upon all the faithful.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: This is the day of the Lord; rejoice, O people; / for the bridal Chamber of Light / and the Book of the Word of Life have come forth from the womb; / and the One Born is the door facing the east, / awaiting the entrance of the great High Priest— / the only One, who brings the one Christ into the universe / for the salvation of our souls.
The Great Doxology, the troparion of the feast, the ektenia, and the dismissal.
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
And the First Hour.
With musical accompaniment; the blessed verses: Ode 3 of the 1st Canon in 4-part, and Ode 6 of the 2nd Canon in 4-part. If the rector so desires, we sing the antiphons of the feast.
Verse 1: Remember, O Lord, David / and all his meekness. Ps 131:1
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 2: Behold, we have heard of her in Ephrathah, / we have found her in the wooded plains. Psalm 131:6
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, / save us.
Verse 3: Glorious things are spoken of you, / O City of God. Psalm 86:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 4: God is in its midst, / and it shall not be moved. Psalm 45:6a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 1: The Lord swore to David in truth / and will not go back on it. Ps 131:11a
Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: From the fruit of your womb / I will set on your throne. Ps 131:11b
Save us, O Son of God, / glorious among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: There I will restore the horn of David; / I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one. Psalm 131:17
Save us, O Son of God, / glorious among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: For the Lord has chosen Zion; / He has chosen it as His dwelling place. Psalm 131:13
Save us, O Son of God, / O wondrous One among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: Here I will dwell, / for I have chosen it. Ps 131:14b
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / has brought joy to the entire universe, / for from you the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone forth; / and, having abolished the curse, He has bestowed a blessing, / and, having abolished death, He has granted us eternal life.
Verse 2: The Most High / has sanctified His dwelling place. Ps 45:5b
Troparion: Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God:
Stanza 3: Holy is Your temple, / wondrous in truth. Ps 64:5d
Troparion: Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God:
Verse 4: Holiness and splendor / are in His sanctuary. Ps 95:6b
Troparion: Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God:
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ.
Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints who sing to You: / Alleluia.
Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, / has brought joy to the entire universe, / for from You the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, has shone forth; / and, having abolished the curse, He has bestowed a blessing, / and, having abolished death, He has granted us eternal life.
Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, / and Adam and Eve were freed from mortal decay / through Your holy Nativity, Most Pure One. / Your people also celebrate Him, / having been delivered from condemnation for their sins, exclaiming to You: / “The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God / and the Nourisher of our Life!”
The Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Verse: For He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; henceforth all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Brothers, let the same mindset be in you that was in Christ Jesus: Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness and appearing as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:5–11
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear.
Verse: The wealthy among the people will seek Your favor. Ps 44:11a, 13b
At that time, Jesus entered a certain village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations for the meal, and she came up to Him and said: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” But Jesus replied , “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” While He was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You!” But He said, “Truly, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 10:38–42; 11:27–28
Rejoice, my soul, / at the glorious Nativity of the Mother of God.
Irmos, Tone 8: Virginity, foreign to mothers, / and childbirth, uncharacteristic of virgins— / both were fulfilled in You, Mother of God: / therefore all of us, the peoples of the earth, / ceaselessly magnify You.
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Psalm 115: 4
The Cross is exalted—and the demons are driven away, / while the thief opens the gates of Eden; / death is vanquished and has now been rendered powerless, / and Christ is glorified. / Therefore, rejoice, all who are born on earth: / the curse has been lifted! (2)
Come, all who love God, / seeing the holy Cross being raised, / let us together exalt and give glory / to the one Redeemer and God, crying out: / “Crucified on the wood of the Cross, / do not despise us who pray to You!”
Transforming bitterness into sweetness, / Moses delivered Israel in ancient times, / thus foreshadowing the Cross. / We, too, all the faithful, with divine reverence, / mystically depicting it in our hearts at all times, / are saved by its power.
On this day, the life-giving plant / springs forth from the inaccessible depths of the earth, / revealing the resurrection of Christ, who was crucified upon it, / and, raised up by the hands of the priests, / proclaims His ascension into heaven. / Thanks to it, our nature, after falling to the earth, / has citizenship in heaven. / Therefore, let us cry out in thanksgiving: / “O Lord, who was exalted upon it / and through it has exalted us as well, / grant us a share in Your heavenly joy / as the Lover of mankind!”
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
With water that sanctifies / and with Your blood, O Word, / the Church is joyfully adorned, / like a bride, / singing the glory of the Cross.
Verse: Exalt the Lord, our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet, / for it is holy. Ps 98:5
Lifting up the spear with the Cross, / the nails, and all else / by which Christ’s life-giving Body / was nailed, / let us worship Him!
Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, / has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. Psalm 73:12
When Moses defeated Amalek, / stretching out his hands upward in the shape of a cross, / he foreshadowed / Christ’s most pure suffering.
On this day the Tree appeared, / on this day the Jewish people perished, / on this day faithful kings manifest their faith. / And Adam fell because of the tree, / and at the sight of the Tree the demons trembled. / Almighty Lord, glory to You!
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Also, the litany and the dismissal.
The Cross, when exalted, / moves all creation / to sing of the most pure suffering of Him who was raised upon it. / For He who put to death our slayer upon it / has brought the dead back to life, / and made them beautiful, / and has deemed them worthy of citizenship in heaven, as the Merciful One, / out of the abundance of His goodness. / Therefore, rejoicing, let us exalt His name / and magnify His utmost condescension. (3)
Moses foreshadowed you, / stretching out his hands toward heaven, / and putting Amalek the tormentor to flight, / O precious Cross, praise of the faithful, / strength of the afflicted, / adornment of the Apostles, / defender of the righteous, / salvation of all the holy ones. / Therefore, all creation, / seeing you exalted, rejoices / and celebrates, glorifying Christ, / who through you has reconciled what was divided / by His utmost goodness. (3)
O Cross, revered with all reverence, / whom the hosts of angels joyfully surround, / you, raised up on this day, / by divine command lift up all / who were cast out for stealing food / and who have fallen into death. / Therefore, kissing you with faith in our hearts and with our lips, / we draw sanctification, proclaiming: / “Exalt Christ, the Most Blessed God, / and bow down before His divine footstool!” (2)
Glory, and now, Tone 2: Come, all nations, / let us worship the blessed Tree, / through which eternal righteousness has come. / For the one who deceived our forefather Adam through the tree / is captured by the Cross; / and, having been cast down, he falls with an unstoppable fall— / he who had forcibly taken possession of the royal creation. / The serpent’s venom is washed away by the Blood of God, / and the curse of righteous condemnation is destroyed, / when the Righteous One was condemned by an unjust judgment. / For it was fitting that the Tree should heal the tree / and, through the Passion of the Passionless One on the Tree, / destroy the passions of the condemned. / But glory, O Christ the King, / to Your awe-inspiring providence for us, / through which You have saved all, / as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
Moses led the children of Israel away from the Red Sea and brought them into the wilderness of Shur; and they traveled for three days in the wilderness and found no water to drink. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah, for it was bitter; therefore that place was called “Bitter.” And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and when he cast it into the water, the water became sweet.
There God established for him the statutes and ordinances, and there He tested him, and said: “If you truly obey the Lord your God, do what is right in his sight, heed his commandments, and keep all his decrees, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”
They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters. They set out from Elim, and the whole assembly of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which lies between Elim and Sinai.
Exodus 15:22–27; 16:1
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He corrects you; for the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He chastises every son He accepts. Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who has gained understanding—for it is better to acquire it than treasures of silver and gold. It is more precious than precious stones; nothing evil can stand against it; it is well known to all who love it, and nothing precious is worthy of it. For the length of days and the years of life are in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor; truth comes from her lips; justice and mercy are on her tongue; her ways are ways of beauty, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to all who hold fast to her, and she is a refuge for those who trust in her as in the Lord.
Proverbs 3:11–18
Thus says the Lord: Your gates, O Jerusalem, shall be open continually, day and night; they shall not be shut, so that the strength of the nations and their kings may be brought into you. For the nations and kings who do not serve you shall perish, and such nations shall be utterly desolate. And the glory of Lebanon will come to you—the cypress, the pine, and the cedar together—to glorify My holy place; and I will glorify the place of My feet. And the sons of those who humbled you and provoked you will come to you in awe, and all who provoked you will bow down at your feet; and you will be called the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Because you were forsaken and despised, and had no one to help you, I will make you an everlasting joy, a delight for all generations. You will be nourished by the milk of the nations, and you will feast on the wealth of kings; and you will know that I am the Lord, your Savior, and the God of Israel who delivers you.
Isaiah 60:11–16
All day long, David’s holy utterance / has truly been fulfilled! / For behold, we clearly worship / the footstool of Your most pure feet / and, hoping for the shelter of Your wings, / O All-Merciful One, we cry out to You: / “May the light of Your face shine upon us, / and may the horn of Your righteous people be exalted / through the raising of Your Cross, / O Most Merciful Christ!”
Planted at Golgotha / The Tree of True Life, / upon which the King of the Ages / accomplished salvation in the midst of the earth, / raised up on this day, / sanctifies the ends of the world, / and the Temple of the Resurrection is renewed. / The angels rejoice in heaven / and people rejoice on earth, / as David cried out and proclaimed: / “Exalt the Lord our God / and worship at His feet, / for holy is He who bestows great mercy upon the world!”
Prefiguring Your Cross, O Christ, / Patriarch Jacob, / when he blessed his grandsons, / laid his hands upon their heads. / And we, raising this Cross today, exclaim: / “Grant victory to the Christ-loving king, / just as You granted Constantine the defeat of his enemies!”
The divine treasure, hidden in the earth— / the Cross of the Giver of Life— / appeared in heaven to the pious king, / and its inscription, clear to the mind, promises victory over enemies. / He, rejoicing, with faith and love, / hastening with God’s help to exalted contemplation, / brings it forth from the depths of the earth with the greatest zeal / for the deliverance of the world and the salvation of our souls.
The laying on of hands by Patriarch James / with the blessing of the children / foreshadowed the mighty sign of Your Cross. / And we, possessing it as an indestructible guardian, / all-powerfully drive away the hosts of demons; / and by casting down the pride of Belial with it, / we put the most hostile Amalek’s all-destructive power to flight. / This very Cross, now reverently raised, / we, the faithful, offer to Your goodness as an atonement for our sins, / crying out again and again: “Lord, have mercy!” / You who were incarnate of the Virgin, have mercy, O Good One, / upon the wise creation of Your hands!
You are my mighty shield, / the three-part Cross of Christ, / sanctify me with Your power, / so that with faith and love / I may worship and glorify You!
Let us begin to applaud today’s festive celebration / and with joyful faces and voices let us cry out clearly: / “Christ, who for our sake accepted condemnation, / and spitting, and wounds, / and was clothed in scarlet and ascended the Cross, / at the sight of Whom the sun and moon hid their light, / and the earth trembled with fear, / and the veil of the temple was torn in two! / Make Your holy Cross now our protector, / guardian, and expeller of demons, / so that we may all, kissing it, cry out to it: / ‘Save us, O Cross, by Your power! / Sanctify us with Your radiance, Holy Cross! / And strengthen us by Your exaltation, / for You have been given to us as light / and the salvation of our souls!”
Your image, O Cross, sparkling with stars, / foreshadowed the glorious victory / of the renowned and pious king; / and his mother, Helena, having discovered you, / made you known to the whole world; / and today, as we raise you up, / we, the choirs of the faithful, exclaim: / “Enlighten us with your radiance, Life-giving Cross! / Sanctify us with your strength, All-Holy Cross! / Strengthen us by your raising up, / raised up against the host of enemies!”
Moses, having foreshadowed the work of the holy Cross, O Christ, / put the hostile Amalek to flight in the Sinai Desert; / for when he stretched out his hands, forming the image of the Cross, / the people were strengthened; / now, however, the fulfillment of these events has come upon us: / today the Cross is raised—and the demons flee; / today all creation has been freed from corruption; / for through the Cross, all the gifts of grace have shone upon us; / therefore, all of us, rejoicing, / fall down before You and proclaim: / “How majestic are Your deeds, O Lord! Glory to You!”
Rejoice, life-giving Cross, / the invincible sign of the victory of piety, / the gate of paradise, the strength of the faithful, / the protection of the Church, / through which the curse has been destroyed and abolished, / and the power of death has been swallowed up, / and we have been lifted up from earth to heaven; / invincible weapon, adversary of demons, / glory of the martyrs, / true adornment of the saints, / haven of salvation, / bestower of great mercy upon the world!
Verse: Exalt the Lord, our God, and worship at His feet, / for they are holy. Psalm 98:5
Rejoice, O Cross of the Lord, / by which humanity was freed from the curse, / true sign of joy, / casting down enemies when you are raised up, most reverently honored; / our help, the might of kings, / the strength of the righteous, the splendor of priests; / depicted—and thereby delivering us from calamities; / the rod of strength, by which we are shepherded; / the weapon of peace, surrounded by Angels with awe; / the divine glory of Christ, / who bestows great mercy upon the world.
Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, / has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. Ps 73:12
Rejoice, guide of the blind, / healer of the sick, / resurrection of all the dead, / you who have lifted us up, who had fallen into perdition, / precious Cross, / by which corruption has been destroyed and incorruption has blossomed, / and we, mortals, have been deified, / and the devil has been cast down forever! / Seeing you lifted up today by the hands of the bishops, / we exalt the Ascended One in you and worship you, / drawing abundantly upon your great mercy.
To that which Moses foreshadowed in ancient times / and, having overthrown Amalek, put to flight, / and to which David the psalmist, calling it Your footstool, commanded us to bow down— / Your precious Cross, Christ our God, / we sinners, worshiping it today, / and singing of You with unworthy lips, / You who deigned to be nailed to it, we cry out to You: / “Lord, grant us, together with the thief, a share in Your Kingdom!”
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians* over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross. (3)
* Greek: kings
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to the Orthodox Christians* over the barbarians / and preserving Your people by Your Cross. (3)
* Greek: to the kings
No sooner was the wood of Your Cross erected, O Christ, / than the foundations of death were shaken, O Lord: / for He whom hell had greedily devoured, / it released with trembling. / You have shown us Your salvation, O Holy One, / and we glorify You: / “Son of God, have mercy on us!”
We worship the Wood of Your Cross, Lover of mankind, / for on it You were nailed, the Life of all; / You opened paradise, Savior, / to the thief who approached You in faith, / and he was granted bliss, confessing You: / “Remember me, O Lord!” / Accept us, as You did him, as we cry out: / “We have all sinned; / by Your mercy, do not despise us!”
On this day the prophetic word was fulfilled: / for behold, we worship the place / where Your feet stood, O Lord; / and having tasted of the Tree of Salvation, / we have received freedom from sinful passions / through the prayers of the Mother of God, O One who loves mankind.
In ancient times, Joshua / mysteriously foreshadowed the image of the Cross, / when he stretched out his arms in the shape of a cross, / and the sun stood still, / until he had destroyed the enemies / who resisted You, O God. / But now it has faded, / seeing You on the Cross, my Savior, / destroying the power of death / and laying waste to hell.
We magnify You, / Christ, the Giver of life, / and we honor Your holy Cross, / by which You have saved us / from the bondage of the enemy.
1 Chorus: Judge, O Lord, my adversaries; fight against those who wage war against me. 2 Take up Your weapon and shield, and rise up to help me. 1 The light of Your face has marked us, O Lord. 2 You have shielded us with the weapon of Your favor. 1 You have given those who fear You a sign to flee from the face of the archer. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, and Your salvation among all nations. 1 All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 2 Let us worship the place where His feet have stood. 1 Then all the trees of the forest will rejoice. 2 But God, our King from of old, has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. 1 Exalt the Lord our God and worship at the footstool of His feet, for it is holy. 2 Bless us, O God, our God; may God bless us. 1 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance. 2 And shepherd them and exalt them forever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 34:1; 34:2; 4:7b; 5:13b; 59:6; 66:3; 97:3c; 131:7b; 95:12b; 73:12; 98:5; 66:7b–8a; 27:9a; 27:9b
In paradise, a tree once stripped me bare, / the fruit of which the enemy uses to bring death; / but the tree of the Cross, bringing the garment of life to mankind, / was planted on earth, / and the whole world was filled with every joy. / Seeing it lifted up, let us, O people, / cry out to God in faith: / “Your house is full of glory!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, O my Savior, / defend and save me.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
All the ends of the earth have seen / the salvation of our God. Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song, for the Lord has done marvelous things. Ps 97:3, 1a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
The Lord said, “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!” The crowd standing there who heard it said, “It was thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice was not for my sake, but for yours. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever; yet how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; for whoever walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light!”
John 12:28–36a
We also sing: Having seen the Resurrection of Christ:
[Glory: You are my mighty shield, / the three-part Cross of Christ, / sanctify me with Your power, / so that with faith and love / I may worship and glorify You!
And now: we repeat the same.]
Have mercy on me, O God:
The Cross of Christ, the hope of Christians, / guide of those who have strayed, / haven for those tossed by storms, / victory in battles, safety of the universe, / healer of the sick, / resurrection of the dead, / have mercy on us!
Irmos: Making the sign of the Cross, Moses / split the Red Sea right down the middle with his staff / for Israel walking on foot, / and with a single blow across it / brought the sea back together against Pharaoh’s chariots, / thereby portraying the invincible weapon; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God: / for He has been glorified.
Moses revealed within himself / the image of the most pure suffering in ancient times, / standing among the consecrated ones: / taking on the form of the Cross, he raised with outstretched arms / the sign of victory, / destroying the power of Amalek, the all-destroyer; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God, / for He has been glorified.
Moses placed the remedy on a pole, / which delivered from the deadly and poisonous wound, / and across the tree, the image of the Cross, / he fastened the serpent that crawled upon the ground, / and thereby triumphed over the calamity; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God, / for He has been glorified.
Heaven revealed to the pious ruler / and the God-wise king / the victorious sign of the Cross, / by which the arrogance of the wicked enemies was cast down, / deception was destroyed, and the divine faith / spread to all the ends of the earth; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God, / for He has been glorified.
Irmos: The staff is taken as a symbol of the sacrament: / for by its growth it signifies the priest; / and for the Church, once barren, the tree of the Cross has now blossomed / for her strength and confirmation.
When the rock poured forth water from the blow / for the rebellious and hard-hearted people, / it revealed the mystery to the Church called by God, / for whom the Cross is her strength and foundation.
When His most pure side / was pierced by a spear, / water and blood flowed forth, / renewing the covenant and cleansing from sin; / for the Cross is the praise of the faithful / and the strength and foundation of kings.
In honor of you, thrice-blessed / Giver of life, the Cross, / people celebrate with feasting / together with the incorporeal choirs; / multitudes of bishops reverently sing your praises, / while countless monks and ascetics worship you, / and we all glorify Christ crucified.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence, / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.
In ancient times, Moses, by means of a tree, / transformed the naturally bitter springs in the desert, / foreshadowing the conversion of the pagans / to piety through the Cross.
Jordan, having concealed the axe in its depths, / restored it with the aid of a tree, / signifying the end of error / through the Cross and baptism.
The fourfold people / are sanctified, / having marched before the prototypical tabernacle of testimony, / glorified by its cross-shaped structure.
The Cross, miraculously outstretched, / emitted rays of sunlight, / and the heavens proclaimed / the glory of our God.
Irmos: O thrice-blessed Tree, / upon which Christ, King and Lord, was crucified, / through which the deceiver who used the tree fell, / himself caught by God, / who was nailed to you in the flesh, / granting peace to our souls!
You, the glorified Tree, / the Cross upon which Christ was stretched out, / struck fear into the flaming sword that guarded Eden, / and the fearsome Cherubim retreated / before Christ nailed to you, / who grants peace to our souls.
The hostile forces of the underworld / tremble at the sign of the Cross, / traced in the air / in which they hover; / and the host of heavenly beings and those born on earth / bow their knees before Christ, / who grants peace to our souls.
The Divine Cross, / having appeared in pure rays / and illuminated with divine light / the peoples darkened by deceptive error, / brings them to Christ, who is nailed to it, / who grants peace to our souls.
Irmos: In the belly of the sea beast, / Jonah spread his arms in the shape of a cross, / clearly foreshadowing the saving suffering; / and having emerged from there after three days, / he foretold the supernatural resurrection / of Christ God, who was crucified in the flesh / and, by His resurrection on the third day, enlightened the world.
Bent over by old age and weighed down by illness, / Jacob straightened up when he laid his hands on Joseph’s sons, / thereby revealing the power of the life-giving Cross; / for God, nailed to it in the flesh, / renewed the antiquity of the shadow of the written Law / and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error.
Laying his hands in the shape of a cross upon the young men’s heads, / Divine Israel made it clear / that the people honored by the elders were those who served under the Law; / therefore, though suspected of having erred in this, / he did not alter the life-giving sign: / “For,” he proclaimed, “the advantage / will be given to the newly established people of Christ God, / protected by the Cross!”
Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people(*) with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Ikos: Exalted to the third heaven in paradise / and having heard the ineffable and divine words, / which cannot be recounted in human languages— / what does he write to the Galatians, / as you, lovers of Scripture, have read and learned? / “Let me not boast,” he says, “except in the Cross of the Lord, / on which, having suffered, He put the passions to death.” / So let us all firmly hold fast to it, / the Cross of the Lord, as our boast; / for to us this saving Tree is / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
* Greek: our kings
Irmos: The mad command of the ungodly tyrant, / reeking of threats and blasphemy abhorrent to God, / has thrown the nations into confusion; / yet the three youths were not intimidated / by either savage wrath or the roaring fire; / but, standing in the fire, / against which a dew-bearing wind blew, they sang: / “Most Praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
The first of mortals, / having tasted of the tree, fell into ruin, / for, condemned to the most ignominious loss of life, / he passed on to his entire race / a disease, like some corruption destructive to the body; / but we, born on earth, having found restoration / through the tree of the Cross, cry out: / “O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Disobedience violated God’s command / and the tree brought death to mankind / through eating from it before the appointed time; / and therefore the tree of precious life / was closed off for safety’s sake; / but it was opened to the thief who had died a violent death, / as he wisely cried out: / “O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Israel, beholding the future, / embraces the top of Joseph’s staff, / foretelling that the glorious Cross / will possess royal power; / for it is the victorious praise of kings / and the light for those who cry out in faith: / “O God of our fathers, most praiseworthy, blessed are You!”
Irmos: Bless, O youths, / the God the Father, the Creator, / who is co-eternal with the Trinity; / sing of the Word who descended / and turned fire into dew; / and exalt the All-Holy Spirit, / who grants life to all, forever!
At the raising of the Tree, / sprinkled with the blood of the incarnate Word of God, / sing, Heavenly Powers, / celebrating the restoration of mortals; / people, worship the Cross of Christ, / through which the resurrection of the world is for ever.
Earthly stewards of grace! / Lift up with your hands, in holy reverence, / the Cross upon which Christ God stood, / and the spear that pierced the body of God the Word; / that all nations may see God’s salvation, / glorifying Him forever.
Rejoice, you faithful Christian kings, chosen by the divine will: / having received the holy Cross from God, / boast of this victorious weapon: / for by it the tribes that boldly seek war / are scattered forever.
At the 9th ode, we do not sing “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” even on Sunday, but we sing the feast’s refrain:
Exalt, O my soul, / the all-holy Cross of the Lord.
And the irmos: You, Mother of God, are a mysterious paradise: Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And for the remaining six stanzas, we sing the same refrain.
Irmos: You, O Mother of God, are a mysterious paradise, / who bore Christ without labor, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship Him and magnify You.
May all the trees of the oak groves rejoice; / for their nature has been sanctified / by the One who planted them in the beginning— / Christ, stretched out on the Tree; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship Him and magnify Him.
The sacred horn of the Head of all / has been raised up for the godly— / the Cross, against which / all the horns of the incorporeal sinners are shattered; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship Him and magnify Him.
Another refrain of the feast:
Exalt, O my soul, / the raising of the life-giving Cross of the Lord.
And the irmos: Death, which has befallen our race: Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And to the remaining six stanzas we sing this same refrain.
Irmos: Death, which befell our race through the eating from the tree, / is abolished on this day by the Cross; / for the universal curse due to the sin of our foremother / is destroyed by the Branch of the pure Mother of God, / Whom all the Heavenly Powers magnify.
By preventing the deadly bitterness of the tree, O Lord, / You have utterly destroyed it by the Cross; / for once the tree / put an end to the bitterness of the waters of Merra, / foreshadowing the work of the Cross, / which all the heavenly powers extol.
You, O Lord, have exalted our forefather, who was constantly plunged into darkness, on this day through the Cross: / for just as our nature was once utterly and irrepressibly cast down by delusion, / so now the light of Your Cross has wholly restored us, / which we, the faithful, extol.
To show the world the venerated image of the Cross / in all its glory, O Lord, / You have depicted it in heaven / shining with boundless light, / an invincible armor for the King, / which all the heavenly powers extol.
The Cross—guardian of the entire universe, / The Cross—the beauty of the Church, / The Cross—the might of kings, / The Cross—the strength of the faithful, / The Cross—the glory of the angels / and the defeat of demons. (2)
Today the Cross is raised / and the world is sanctified; / for You, Christ, seated with the Father and the Holy Spirit, / having stretched out Your arms upon it, / have drawn the whole world to know You. / Grant, then, to those who hope in You / divine glory.
O wondrous miracle! / The life-giving plant, the All-Holy Cross, / is raised high on this day. / All the ends of the earth give praise, / all demons tremble. / O, what a gift bestowed upon mortals! / By it, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is merciful! (2)
O wondrous miracle! / Like a life-giving cluster of grapes / that the Most High has lifted upon Himself, / on this day the Cross is seen, raised from the earth: / through it we are all drawn to God / and death is swallowed up forever. / O spotless Tree, / through which we enjoy / that food of immortality found in Eden, / glorifying Christ!
O wondrous miracle! / The breadth and length of the Cross are equal to the heavens, / for by divine grace it sanctifies all things. / Through it, barbarian nations are conquered; / through it, the sceptres of kings are strengthened. / O divine ladder, / by which we ascend to heaven, / exalting Christ the Lord in song!
Glory, and now, Tone 6: On this day the Lord’s Cross is brought forth, / and the faithful receive it with love, / and receive healing / of soul, body, and every infirmity. / Let us greet it with joy and fear: / with fear—because of sin, as unworthy ones; / but with joy—for the sake of the salvation which Christ the Lord, / nailed to it, bestows upon the world, / He who is full of great mercy.
And they sing the Great Doxology quietly and in unison. At this time, the censing of the Holy Altar takes place, upon which the Holy Cross is placed. At the end of the Doxology, the abbot, having made three prostrations before the altar, carries the Holy Cross out through the north doors. Upon reaching the Royal Doors, at the conclusion of the Doxology, he proclaims: “Wisdom! Let us stand in reverence!” And he proceeds to the center of the church to the prepared table, upon which a dish containing the Holy Cross is placed, after which the Cross is incensed three times.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross. (Three times.)
[Next, if the Rite of the Exaltation of the Cross is being performed, the abbot, after making three prostrations, takes the Holy Cross with fragrant basil branches and stands facing east, while the deacon proclaims:
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us, O Lord, and have mercy; let us all say:
The choir begins to sing the first hundred of “Lord, have mercy.” The rector first makes the sign of the Cross three times, and then, during the singing of the first half of the stichera, bows with the Cross toward the ground, stopping just a span short of it; during the second half of the stichera, he rises, raising the Holy Cross, and at the end of the singing, he again makes the sign of the Cross three times.
In the same manner, the raising of the Cross is performed four more times, toward the four cardinal directions.
Toward the west: Let us also pray for our Most Holy Patriarch (name), and for our Most Reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop) (name), and for all our brotherhood in Christ, for their health and salvation; let us all proclaim:
Toward the south: Let us also pray for our God-protected Russian land, for all its people and authorities, that we may lead a peaceful and tranquil life in all piety and purity; let us all say:
Toward the north: We also pray for every Christian soul who is grieving and in distress, seeking health, salvation, and the forgiveness of sins; let us all say:
Toward the east: We also pray for all our fathers and brothers who serve or have served in this holy monastery (or: this most holy church), for their health, salvation, and the forgiveness of their sins; let us all say:
After the fifth hundred, we sing the Kondak to the Cross:
Having been raised upon the Cross of Your own free will, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people with Your strength, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.]
And then we sing the troparion in tone 6 with three prostrations:
We bow before Your Cross, O Lord, / and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.
According to custom, the troparion is sung three times, alternately by the rector with the clergy and the choir. Then all those present in the church kiss the Holy Cross.
Come, faithful ones, / let us worship the Life-giving Tree, / upon which Christ, the King of Glory, / willingly stretched out His arms / and raised us to our former bliss— / we whom the enemy, having ensnared through delusion, / had made exiles from God. / Come, faithful ones, let us worship the Tree, / through which we have been deemed worthy / to crush the heads of invisible enemies. / Come, all tribes of the nations, / let us honor the Cross of the Lord with hymns. / Rejoice, O Cross, the perfect redemption of fallen Adam! / Our most faithful kings boast of you, / for by your power / they mightily subdue the Ishmaelite people. / Now, kissing you with reverence, / we Christians glorify / the God nailed to you, crying out: / “O Lord, crucified upon it, have mercy on us, / as the Good and Lover of Mankind!”
Come, people, / beholding this extraordinary miracle, / let us bow down before the power of the Cross; / for the tree in Paradise brought forth death, / but this one has blossomed with life, / having the sinless Lord nailed to it. / Reaping from it the fruits of incorruption, / we, all nations, exclaim: / “You who abolished death by the Cross / and set us free, glory to You!”
The voice of Your prophets, O God, / Isaiah and David, has been fulfilled, proclaiming: / “All nations shall come, O Lord, / and worship before You.” / For behold, a people filled with Your grace / stands in Your courts, O Good One, in Jerusalem. / You who endured the Cross for us / and give us life through Your Resurrection, / preserve and save us!
The four-cornered world is sanctified today / at the raising of Your four-parted Cross, Christ our God, / and at the same time the horn of our faithful kings is exalted, / as they crush the horns of our enemies. / You are great, O Lord, / and wondrous in Your deeds. Glory to You!
The voices of the prophets foretold the holy Tree, / through which Adam was freed / from the ancient curse of death; / and creation itself, on this day of its exaltation, / also lifts up its voice, / asking God for abundant mercy. / But, O Lord, the only One immeasurable in mercy, / be our propitiation / and save our souls!
The words of Your prophet, O God, Moses, have been fulfilled, proclaiming: / “You will see your life hanging before your eyes.” / On this day the Cross is raised— / and the world is freed from error; / on this day Christ’s Resurrection is renewed / and the ends of the earth rejoice, / offering You a hymn on cymbals, according to David, and proclaiming: / “You have wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O God— / the Cross and the Resurrection, / through which You have saved us, O Good and Lover of Mankind. / Almighty Lord, glory to You!”
On this day, the Ruler of creation and the Lord of glory / is nailed to the Cross / and pierced in the side; / the Delight of the Church tastes gall and vinegar; / a crown of thorns is placed / upon Him who covers the heavens with clouds; / they clothe Him in garments of mockery / and strike the face of the One created from the earth / with the hand of the One who created man with His own hand; / they scourge the back / of Him who clothes the heavens with clouds; / He receives spittle and wounds, / insults and blows, / and endures it all for my sake, the condemned, / my Redeemer and God, / so that He might save the world from error / through His mercy!
Glory, and now, the same voice: On this day, He who is essentially unapproachable / becomes accessible to me / and endures suffering— / He who frees me from passions; / He who gives light to the blind / is reviled by lawless lips / and offers His back to be wounded for the captives. / Seeing Him on the Cross, / the pure Virgin and Mother cried out in anguish: / “Alas for me, My Child, why have You done this? / You who blossom with beauty more than all people, / now appear lifeless and unremarkable, / possessing neither form nor beauty. / Woe is me, My Light, / I cannot bear to see You as if asleep; / I am torn within, and a terrible sword pierces My heart. / I sing of Your sufferings, / I worship Your mercy; / O long-suffering Lord, glory to You!”
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of mankind.
Verse 1: O God, my God, hear me; / why have You forsaken me? Ps 21:2a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 2: The guilt of my sins / has separated me from salvation. Ps 21:2b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 3: My God, I cry out to You by day—and You do not hear; / and by night—and this is not in vain for me. Psalm 21:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, / save us.
Verse 4: But You dwell in the sanctuary, / O Praise of Israel! Psalm 21:4
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 1: Why, O God, / have You rejected us forever? Ps 73:1a
Save us, Son of God, / crucified in the flesh, we who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: Remember Your people, / whom You have acquired from the beginning. Ps 73:2a
Save us, O Son of God, / crucified in the flesh, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: This Mount Zion, / where You have taken up residence. Ps 73:2b
Save us, O Son of God, / crucified in the flesh, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: But God, our King from before the ages, / has brought salvation to the earth. Ps 73:12
Save us, O Son of God, / crucified in the flesh, we who sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: The Lord has reigned: / let the nations rage! Ps 98:1a
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Verse 2: The Lord has ascended the throne: let the nations rage! / He who sits upon the cherubim: let the earth tremble! Psalm 98:1
Troparion: Save, O Lord, Your people:
Verse 3: The Lord is great in Zion / and exalted above all nations. Psalm 98:2
Troparion: Save, O Lord, Your people:
Verse 4: Worship the Lord / in His holy court. Psalm 95:9a
Troparion: Save, O Lord, Your people:
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool, for it is holy. Ps 98:5
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people with Your strength, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
We worship Your Cross, O Lord, / and we glorify Your holy Resurrection.
Exalt the Lord, our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet, / for it is holy.
Verse: The Lord has reigned; let the nations rage! Ps 98:5, 1a
Brothers, the message of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will reject.” Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not come to know God through its own wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the folly of the message. For the Jews demand signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Greeks ; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Cor 1:18–24
Verse: Remember Your people, whom You acquired from the beginning.
Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. Ps 73:2a, 12
At that time, the chief priests and the elders held a council against Jesus to put him to death. They went to Pilate, shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jews replied, “We have a law, and according to our law He must die, because He has made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to Him, “Do You not speak to me? Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You and the power to release You?” Jesus replied, “You would have no power over Me at all unless it had been given to you from above.” So when Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Stone Pavement,” in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was the day before the Passover, the day of Preparation, about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” But they shouted, “Take him, take him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place called Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha, where they crucified him, along with two others, one on either side of him; and Jesus was in the middle. Pilate also wrote a notice and had it placed on the cross. It read: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the daughter of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Since it was Friday, the Jews, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath—for that Sabbath was a high day—asked Pilate to have their legs broken and their bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with him. When they came to Jesus, however, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true.
Matt. 27:1–2; John 19:6b–11a, 13–20, 25–28a, 30b–35a
O my soul, praise / the all-holy Cross of the Lord.
Irmos, Tone 8: You, O Mother of God, are the mysterious paradise / that bore Christ without labor, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship Him and magnify You.
The light of Your face has shone upon us, O Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 4:7b
You were faithful in little things, Demetrius, / the Lord has set you over many, / and you have entered into the joy of your Lord, / where, standing before Him, / you pray for our souls.
Though you labored only until the eleventh hour, / you receive the same reward as those who began first: / for, having written the lives of the saints for us, / you yourself were inscribed in the Book of Eternal Life / alongside them.
You devoted your childhood to learning, / your youth to monastic deeds, / and your manhood to the good of all; / for this we now / honor you among the saints.
Just as you renounced the world and all its beauties, / so too, having relinquished your leadership over the brotherhood, / you settled once more in Kyiv near the caves, / from which, through your labors, you unearthed for us / the pearls of the saints’ lives.
Glory, same tone: Be glorified, / our Triune God, / for in these last days / You have granted Russia / a new miracle-worker, Demetrius.
And now, on this feast day.
If there is no “Commemoration,” “O Mother of God,” same tone: “Joy of the heavenly hosts:
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Rejoice, city of Rostov, / for you have received from Kiev / this shepherd, Demetrius, / who is now honored among the saints / along with those who have previously rested in you.
Verse: Your priests shall be clothed in righteousness, / and Your saints shall rejoice with gladness.
Psalm 131:9
Rejoice, holy order, / for within you has shone forth the holy hierarch Demetrius, / upon whom incorruptibility has been poured out, / like dew upon Aaron’s beard.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord / is the death of His saints. Ps 115:6
Rejoice, Demetrius, / praise of the holy fathers, glory of the priests, / rule of the monks, / strength of the Church.
Glory, same tone: Give glory to your God, Russia, / for He who once glorified you through the saints / does not cease to glorify you even now.
And now, on this feast day.
If there is no Dedication, Theotokos, same tone: All my hope:
Now You grant: the troparion of the saint. Glory, and now, of the feast. If there is no commemoration, O Mother of God, tone 8: Born of the Virgin for our sake:
Blessed is the man: 1st antiphon.
At “O Lord, I have cried out,” the stichera of the feast in tone 6 and of the saint in tone 4.
On this day, the testimony of the Son of Thunder / has been fulfilled in you, Saint Demetrius, / for truly you have received testimony from all / and from the Truth Itself, / since through your prayers the infirm are healed, / the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, / demons are cast out, and all sorrows cease. / That is why we all honor you, / our new Russian miracle-worker.
Newly revealed Saint Demetrius! / At the hour of death, and even more so throughout your life, / you girded your loins with love / and, having shod your feet with hope in Christ, / you anointed the lamp of faith with the oil of good deeds. / Therefore, together with the wise virgins, you entered the Heavenly Palace, / where, standing before the Lord Christ, pray / that when the cry rings out at midnight, / we may go out to meet Him, ready.
O, the depth of God’s judgments! / O, the abyss of His inexhaustible blessings! / Just as you received the righteous man’s reward for your righteousness, / so you found courage for your children, / whom the Lord protects for your sake, / O righteous one of God, Demetrius! / In the seventh month you began to labor on writing the lives of the saints, / and in the seventh you received your reward through the appearance of your relics. / Pray for the salvation of all who honor you, newly revealed Demetrius!
Tone 6: In your life, Saint Demetrius, / you girded your loins with love / and, having shod your feet with hope in Christ, / you anointed the lamp of faith with the oil of good deeds. / Therefore, together with the wise virgins, you entered the Heavenly Palace, / where, standing before the Lord Christ, pray / that when the cry sounds at midnight, / we may go out to meet Him, ready.
Glory, Tone 8: Beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel of peace, / who bring good tidings; / truly beautiful are your feet as well, O Demetrius, / or rather, you yourself are entirely beautiful, / for when you ascended your throne, / you immediately proclaimed peace to all: / peace to the Churches and cities, / peace to homes and every family. / “The peace of God,” as you proclaimed, following Paul, / “may dwell in your hearts, / and may you have peace and holiness in your fellowship with all, brothers!” / So now, having visited us with the appearance of your relics, / proclaim to the world this great mercy.
And now, on this feast day, Tone 2: Come, all nations, / let us worship the blessed Tree, / through which eternal righteousness has come. / For he who deceived our forefather Adam through a tree / is captured by the Cross; / and, having been cast down, he falls with an unstoppable fall— / he who had forcibly taken possession of the royal creation. / The serpent’s venom is washed away by the Blood of God, / and the curse of righteous condemnation is destroyed, / when the Righteous One was condemned by an unjust judgment. / For it was fitting that the Tree should heal the tree / and, through the Passion of the Passionless One on the Tree, / destroy the passions of the condemned. / But glory, O Christ the King, / to Your awe-inspiring providence for us, / through which You have saved all, / as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
The Heavenly King / appeared on earth out of love for mankind / and dwelt among men; / for, having taken flesh from the pure Virgin / and being born of her in this flesh, / He remains the one Son, / dual in nature but not in Hypostasis. / Therefore, proclaiming Him truly / as perfect God and perfect man, / we confess Christ as our God. / Pray to Him, O Mother who knew no marriage, / for the mercy of our souls.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
The memory of the righteous is with praise, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who has attained understanding—for it is better to acquire it than treasures of silver and gold. It is more precious than precious stones; nothing evil can stand against it; it is well known to all who love it, and all that is precious is not worthy of it. For the length of days and the years of life are in its right hand, and in its left hand are riches and honor; truth comes from its lips, and justice and mercy are on its tongue. Therefore, listen to me, O children, for I will speak what is important, and blessed is the man who keeps my ways, for my ways are the ways of life, and the will of the Lord is prepared through them. Therefore, I urge you and send my voice to the sons of men. For I, Wisdom, have established counsel, and I have summoned knowledge and understanding. Mine is counsel and safety; mine is understanding, and mine is strength. I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find favor. Therefore, you who are free from malice, devise a plan; and you who have not been instructed, apply your hearts. Listen to me again, for I will speak what is important, and with my lips I will reveal what is right; for my throat will teach truth, and lying lips are an abomination to me. All the words of my mouth are true; there is nothing crooked or distorted in them; they are all straight for those who reflect and sound for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, so that your hope may be in the Lord, and you may be filled with the Spirit.
Cf. Proverbs 10:7A–5A; 3:13–16; 8:34A, 35A–36A; 8:12, 14, 17; 8:5–10; 22, 19A 1, 23B (?)
The mouth of the righteous pours out wisdom, but the tongue of the wicked will perish. The lips of the righteous pour out grace, but the mouths of the wicked are perverse. Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, but a fair weight is pleasing to Him. Where arrogance enters, there is dishonor; but the lips of the humble are taught wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the deceit of those who break their word will consume them. Wealth will be of no avail on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. The righteous man who has died is mourned, but the destruction of the wicked is near and brings joy. The righteousness of the blameless guides one’s steps, but wickedness leads to falsehood. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the lawless are ensnared by their own folly. When a righteous man dies, hope does not perish, but the boast of the wicked comes to an end. The righteous man escapes the snare, but the wicked man is ensnared in its place. In the mouths of the wicked lies a trap for the people, but the heart of the righteous prospers. A city is strengthened by the righteousness of the righteous, but in the downfall of the wicked there is rejoicing. A city is exalted by the blessing of the righteous, but by the words of the wicked it is destroyed. The foolish mock their fellow citizens, but the wise bring peace.
Proverbs 10:31–32; 11:1–2, 4, 3, 5–12
The righteous, even if he dies prematurely, will rest in peace, for honorable old age is not measured by longevity or the number of years: rather, prudence is the gray hair of men, and the age of old age is a blameless life. Having become pleasing to God, he was beloved, and though he lived among sinners, he was taken away; he was snatched away so that malice might not corrupt his mind, nor deceit deceive his soul. For the allure of vice obscures what is good, and the fantasies of lust corrupt a mind free from malice. Having quickly attained perfection, he lived a long life; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, and so he hastened away from the midst of deceit. But when people saw this and did not understand it, they did not even consider that such was the grace and mercy toward His saints and His care for His chosen ones.
Wisdom 4:7–15
Great are You, O Lord, / and wondrous in Your saints, / for even after his repose, Samuel’s bones prophesy in the tomb, / and the dead body of Elisha raises the dead, / while the mercy of Elijah divides the waters here and there. / This is truly wondrous and marvelous, / but even more wondrous are the shadow of Peter and the handkerchiefs of Paul, / which cast out unclean spirits and healed every sickness and affliction. / Marveling at all these wonders, / let us glorify God, who works miracles even now / through the holy wonderworker Demetrius.
Voice 6: You who accept the prayers of Your saints in heaven / and have promised, for the sake of the righteous, not to destroy the sinners on earth, / You have commanded us to call upon them in our prayers to You, O Lord; / for You say: “Go to My servant Job, / and he will offer a sacrifice and pray for you.” / But Your own servant Moses, / and the three youths in the furnace, / when they interceded with You for those who had sinned, / first presented to You the holy forefathers who had already departed. / So now, as we pray to You, Christ our God, / we invoke in our prayers Your servant Demetrius, who lived a holy life, / that for his sake, the righteous one, You may have mercy on us sinners / and save our souls.
Tone 5: Come, O hosts of the Orthodox, / let us sing of the holy hierarch, who through his teaching guided us to the knowledge of God, / the wondrous fountain of miracles, / the most radiant light of the Church, / the most wise teacher of Rostov / and the beautiful adornment of all Russia, / for he delivers us from every evil temptation and misfortune / and prays for our souls.
Christ’s flock of spiritual sheep / you shepherded so well on the fertile pasture of piety, O hierarch, / therefore, even after your passing, / do not forsake your spiritual children, but visit them, / and, standing before the Holy Trinity with the bishops, / pray for the salvation of all, / and for those who lovingly venerate the discovery of your holy relics, / O praiseworthy Demetrius.
The Lord has glorified you with signs and wonders, / Saint Demetrius, / for you cast out evil spirits and heal passions, / enlightening the souls of the faithful who come to you, / equal to the angels, / co-seated with the bishops, / united in character with the apostles, / champion of the true faith.
Glory, Tone 6: The city has been sanctified, the people have received a blessing, / The Church of the Firstborn rejoices in spirit / at the discovery of your precious relics, Hierarch Demetrius, / crying out with all the people: / “You are my strength and my support, / you are my beauty, and in you I take pride!” / Pray for the salvation of all, / with love for the universal discovery of your holy relics / which we always glorify.
Moses, having foreshadowed the power of the Holy Cross, O Christ, / put the hostile Amalek to flight in the Sinai Desert; / for when he stretched out his hands, forming the image of the Cross, / the people were strengthened; / now, however, the fulfillment of these events has come upon us: / today the Cross is raised—and the demons flee; / today all creation has been freed from corruption; / for through the Cross, all the gifts of grace have shone forth upon us; / therefore, all of us, rejoicing, / fall down before You and proclaim: / “How majestic are Your works, O Lord! Glory to You!”
My Creator and Redeemer, O All-Pure One, / Christ the Lord, / came forth from Your womb, / taking on human form, / and freed Adam from the ancient curse. / Therefore, O All-Pure One, / as Mother of God and true Virgin, / we proclaim “Rejoice” with the Angel without ceasing: / “Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, our defense, our shelter, / and the salvation of our souls!”
Hearing the voice of the Lord calling you to Himself, / you were ready, Demetrius, to depart from this life. / In the evening, at midnight, / at the crowing of the rooster, and in the morning, you did not slumber, / awaiting the Lord’s coming, / until, having met Him, you entered into His eternal joy, / where, standing before Him, you pray / that He may grant us also a holy life / and a Christian death.
Verse: Your priests shall be clothed in righteousness, / and Your saints shall rejoice with gladness.
Psalm 131:9
Having now been clothed in the likeness of the saints for your deeds, / you have also been clothed in holiness for your lack of malice. / As upon a chaste bridegroom, He has placed upon you the crown of miracle-working, / and, as a bride, the Lord has adorned you with incorruptibility for your purity. / He has granted you imperishable treasures in heaven, / for you observed monastic poverty until your death on earth, / believing that it is more pleasing to God / if anyone remembers that you left nothing behind. / Remember us, then, ever-memorable Demetrius, / we who have many sins / but perform no good deeds.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord / is the death of His saints. Ps 115:6
To deter prying hands from seeking out your estates, / you, Dimitri, who loved the poor, made this clear in your will, / writing that even if someone were to go to great lengths to do so, they would gain nothing. / From him, brothers, we too shall learn / that it is better to have nothing or to give it all to the poor / than to hoard it and keep it for ourselves. / For in this way we may purchase the Kingdom of Heaven from Christ.
Glory, Tone 4: Let us rejoice, O Russian hosts, / extolling the glory of Rostov, / the miracle-worker Dimitri, / for he labored greatly in writing books beneficial to our souls, / by which those who have strayed from the path of true piety / are guided to the truth, / and the hearts of the Orthodox are strengthened in the true faith. / To him, too, let us cry out: / “O most wise teacher, pray to Christ, / that we, instructed by your teaching, / may receive eternal life!”
That which Moses foreshadowed in ancient times / by defeating Amalek and putting him to flight, / and to which David the psalmist, calling it Your footstool, commanded us to bow down— / Your precious Cross, Christ our God, / we sinners, worshiping it today, / and singing of You with unworthy lips, / You who deigned to be nailed to it, we cry out to You: / “Lord, grant us, together with the thief, a share in Your Kingdom!”
Bend down to the supplications of Your servants, O All-Pure One, / putting an end to the troubles that arise against us, / delivering us from every sorrow: / for You alone are our firm and sure support, / and in You we have found protection. / May we not be put to shame, O Lady, as we call upon You! / Hasten to grant the prayer of those who call upon You with faith: / “Rejoice, O Lady, help of all, / joy, protection, and salvation of our souls!”
Zealot for Orthodoxy and eradicator of schism, / Healer of Russia and new intercessor before God, / Through your writings you have made the unwise wise, / Spiritual lyre, Blessed Demetrius, / Pray to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls. (2)
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people by Your Cross. (1)
If there is no commemoration, the troparion of the saint is sung twice, and that of the Theotokos, the Virgin, once.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over the barbarians / and preserving Your people by Your Cross. (2)
Zealot of Orthodoxy and eradicator of schism, / Healer of Russia and new intercessor before God, / Through your writings you have made the unwise wise, / Spiritual lyre, Blessed Demetrius, / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls. (1)
And now, the feast.
Born of the Virgin for our sake / and having endured the crucifixion, / having overthrown death by death / and revealed the Resurrection as God, / do not despise, O Good One, those created by Your hand; / show Your love for mankind, O Merciful One, / accept the Mother of God who gave birth to You, interceding for us, / and save, O our Savior, those who have lost all hope.
Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, / one sat at Jesus’ feet, listening to His word, / while the other attended to Christ’s feast. / You, however, following their example, / bore Christ’s sweet yoke in various acts of obedience; / and, hearing and fulfilling God’s word yourself, / taught others to do the same. / For just as on earth you received various honors from kings and rulers, / so in heaven you were granted an inalienable reward from Christ for this. / Pray to Him that He may grant our souls Mary’s godliness, / and our bodies Martha’s diligence.
We worship the Wood of Your Cross, Lover of Mankind, / for on it You were crucified, the Life of all; / You opened the gates of Paradise, Savior, / to the thief who approached You in faith, / and he was granted bliss, confessing You: / “Remember me, O Lord!” / Accept us, as You did him, as we cry out: / “We have all sinned; / by Your mercy, do not despise us!”
When the Impartial Judge takes His seat on the throne of His glory, / then, O Bride of God, Lady Mary, / intercede for me through Your all-powerful intercession, / for I have acquired neither the attentiveness nor the diligence of Lazarus’s sisters, / but have spent my entire life serving my own pride and the vanities of this world. / Therefore, before the appointed time, I take refuge under Your shelter and cry out: / “Protect me, O my All-Gracious Protectress, on that Day of Judgment!”
Just as the superstitious Pharisees have taken their seats among us, / presenting themselves as teachers of the law before the ignorant, / yet understanding neither what they themselves assert nor what they say before others. / Seeing their insolent frenzy upon your arrival among your flock, / you immediately, zealous for piety, were stirred to action / and, like Elijah, brought all the secret teachings of the schismatics to light, / put them to shame, and left us your expository instruction so that we might recognize their lies. / Therefore, we now honor you as our true guide and teacher, / O godly Dimitri.
In ancient times, Joshua / mysteriously foreshadowed the image of the Cross, / when he stretched out his arms in the shape of a cross, / and the sun stood still, / until he had destroyed the enemies / who resisted You, O God. / But now it has been darkened, / seeing You on the Cross, my Savior, / destroying the power of death / and laying waste to hell.
Every day and every hour, through Moses and the prophets, / Your Son calls me to repentance, O Lady and Sovereign; / but I am not quick to heed them—nor even if someone were to rise from the dead. / What then will become of me, and what hope do I have, wretched as I am? / I cry out to You alone with tears: / “Turn my ear and my mind toward Your Son who calls me, / so that He, by ways known to Him, may lead me onto the path of repentance!”
We magnify you, / Holy Father Demetrius, / and we honor your holy memory, / for you intercede for us / before Christ, our God.
1st Chorus: Hear this, all nations; listen, all who dwell in the universe. 2 My lips shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart—understanding. 1 Come, O you who are awake from the dawn, / we cry out to You, O Lord: / “Save us, for You are our God; / besides You we know no other!” Listen to me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 2 I have proclaimed the truth in the great assembly. 1 I have declared Your truth and Your salvation. 2 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praises. 1 So that I may hear the sound of Your praise and tell of all Your wonders. 2 O Lord, I love the beauty of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells. 1 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. 2 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not strayed into wickedness from my God. 1 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue proclaims justice. 2 His righteousness endures forever and ever. 1 Your priests will be clothed in righteousness, and Your saints will rejoice with gladness. 2 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will praise You forever and ever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 48:2; 48:4; 33:12; 39:10a; 39:11b; 21:23; 25:7; 25:8; 25:5; 17:22; 36:30; 110:3b; 131:9; 83:5
Like a palm tree, you flourished incorruptibly from the earth, / and, like the cedar of Lebanon, you multiplied through miracles, / you were exalted by your appearance, like a city standing on a height, / and you shone forth with your memory, like a lamp emerging from darkness into the light. / Seeing that all this is fulfilled in you, / we thus glorify Him who has exalted you among His saints. / And you, having boldness before Christ the Lord, / pray, O Dimitri, radiant with holiness, / that He may save and enlighten our souls.
You shone forth through your virtuous life, Saint Demetrius, / adorned with the beauty of character, self-control, and mercy, / and you adorned the Church of Christ with your golden-tongued teachings. / Therefore, ever-memorable one, standing before the Throne of the Almighty, / pray to Christ God to grant forgiveness of sins / to those who celebrate your all-holy memory with love.
In paradise, a tree once stripped me bare, / the fruit of which the enemy uses to bring death; / but the tree of the Cross, bringing the garment of life to mankind, / was planted on earth, / and the whole world was filled with every joy. / Seeing it lifted up, we, O people, / shall cry out to God in faith: / “Your house is full of glory!”
The prophets foretold You, the apostles preached of You, / the martyrs glorified You, and the holy fathers called You blessed. / Therefore, together with them, as we confess You through the Mother of God, we reverently extol You.
Stepenna, first antiphon of the 4th tone.
My lips shall utter wisdom, / and the meditation of my heart—understanding.
Verse: Hear this, all nations; listen, all who dwell in the universe. Ps 48:4, 2
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a robber; but the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice; he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; instead, they will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.”
John 10:1–9
Grace has poured forth from your lips, / Saint Demetrius, / for with your teachings you have adorned the Church, / clarified the truth of Orthodoxy, / and put to shame the pernicious schismatic reasoning. / Therefore, just as during your lifetime, / so too after your departure, strive / that those who have departed from us but are not of us / may, at least by being convinced by your miracles, / come to their senses and, together with us, glorify / the Triune God.
The feast canon with an irmos in tone 8 and the saint’s canon in tone 6. If there is no commemoration, the canon of the Theotokos with an irmos in tone 6 and the saint’s canon in tone 8.
Irmos: Just as Israel walked on dry land / through the abyss with their feet, / and cried out, seeing Pharaoh the persecutor drowning: / “Let us sing a song of victory to God!”
I became like the proud Pharaoh in my stubbornness / and was subjected to drowning for my unrepentance; / but you, Saint Demetrius, be my guide to repentance, / so that I too may receive from Christ entry / into the Promised Land.
I have spared neither myself nor my neighbor, / but, always serving my belly as if working for Egypt, / I myself am fainting from hunger and thirst, / and I forbid others from being satisfied by the crumbs that fall. / Therefore, forsaken by all, I have taken refuge in you, O good Shepherd Dimitri, / that you may nourish me with your words as with manna / and quench my thirst with tears of compassion.
I have grown fat and indulgent; I have forgotten You, O God, my Savior, for I scarcely hear with my ears or understand with my heart, / even though You call me to Yourself through the Law and the prophets. / Therefore, O my Creator and Redeemer, / correct and save me through the life and teaching of Your servant Demetrius.
To the Theotokos: What good is my blood as I head toward destruction, / or what good is it to me / if I gain the whole world but lose my soul? / But You, O Lady, help me, / that I may receive from Christ the Savior, Your Son, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Katavasia: Making the sign of the cross, Moses / parted the Red Sea with his staff / for Israel as they walked on foot, / and with a single stroke / brought the same sea back together / to trap Pharaoh’s chariots, / thus demonstrating an invincible weapon; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God: / for He has been glorified.
Irmos: There is none holy / like You, O Lord my God, / who have exalted the dignity of those faithful to You, O Good One, / and established us upon the rock / of Your confession.
My heart has become set on malice, / my mouth has opened wide in mockery and condemnation; / I rejoice at the downfall of my neighbor, / yet I pay no heed whatsoever to your godly teaching, O Saint. / But at least, through your miracles, transform me from now on / and make me an imitator of your life.
Some nations boast of their wisdom, / others of their strength and wealth; / but we, O miracle-worker Demetrius, boast / of the holy ones of God and of your life-giving relics, / from which we receive bodily health / and saving healing for our souls.
You who grant prayers to those who pray / and bless the memory of Your righteous one, Demetrius, in our time, / grant us, through his prayers, intercession against enemies / both visible and invisible.
To the Mother of God: You who defend us, O Victoress, / and are our steadfast Intercessor in our temptations! / Do not refuse to hasten to our aid because of our sins, / and deliver us from our troubles, O only Pure One, only Blessed One.
Katavasia: The staff is taken as a symbol of the sacrament: / for by its growth it signifies the priest; / and for the Church, once barren, the tree of the Cross has now blossomed / for her strength and confirmation.
Imitating the piety of the ancients, / you dedicated your life to the service of God at the age of eighteen. / Therefore, you became a great monk, / a priest, a teacher, a hierarch, / and now a miracle-worker and intercessor for our souls.
In honor of you, thrice-blessed / Giver of Life, the Cross, / people celebrate with a feast / together with the incorporeal choirs; / multitudes of bishops reverently sing your praises, / while countless monks and ascetics worship you, / and we all glorify Christ crucified.
The ark, bound in gold, / in ancient times held within itself / the law written by God and the heavenly manna. / But you, Mother of God, having conceived, / gave birth in the flesh to the Son of God / for the renewal and salvation of our souls.
Irmos: “Christ is my strength, / God and Lord,” / —the Holy Church sings reverently, / proclaiming with a pure mind, / rejoicing in the Lord.
The ox knows its master’s manger, and the donkey knows its owner’s; / but I, driven by reckless passions, have strayed from my Creator. / But you, good shepherd Dimitri, seek me out as a lost sheep / and count me among Christ’s flock.
It is easier to gather grape clusters from a thornbush and figs from a shrub / than to draw forth the oil of mercy from my hard heart. / Therefore, Dimitri, cultivator of Christ’s vineyard, / surround me with the fear of the Lord and quench my thirst with the water of contrition.
You who command Your sun to shine upon the good / and send rain upon the righteous, / so that not even a hair on my head may perish—You preserve me, a sinner. / All the elements, for my sake—I who am wicked—remain in their proper order, / yet I alone remain insensitive. / But grant me, O Lord, for the sake of Your servant Demetrius, / to understand Your works and, hearing Your word, to fear You.
To the Mother of God: When the time of the Incarnation came, / Your Son was made known between two animals. / When the time of our salvation drew near, / He appeared between two thieves, O Mother of God. / In both of these wondrous deeds, the Word is incomprehensible, / so that we, worshiping Him who became incarnate and suffered for us, / may exalt You, Mother of God, in song.
Katavasia: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence; / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.
Irmos: With Your divine light, O Good One, / illuminate with love the souls that strive toward You from the dawn—I pray— / so that they may know You, the Word of God, the true God, / who calls them from the darkness of sin / to Yourself.
The law of the Lord is a lamp to my feet, / and His commandments are a light to my path; / but I, groping and stumbling in the darkness of ignorance, / do not wish to obtain a lamp along with the wise virgins. / But you, radiant Demetrius, stand before me as my guide, / so that I too may hasten in spirit toward God from night into dawn.
I am sick in body and sick in soul: / for I have harmed one through gluttony and drunkenness, / and the other I have led into moral laxity through sin. / My illness is all the more severe and grievous! / But you, O new miracle-worker, implore Christ, the Physician of all, / that He may deign to heal both.
Lord, our God, grant us peace in our days; / Lord, our God, increase love within us, / so that we may all, with one voice and one heart, / confess You, the One God glorified in the Trinity.
Theotokos: I did not accept the fear of the Lord in my womb, / nor did I grieve in my heart over my negligence; / but, always committing and giving birth to sin upon sin, / I am tormented by my conscience because of their multiplication. / Therefore, in this abundance of iniquities, I cry out to You, O Lady: / help me to be reborn into eternal life through repentance.
Katavasia: O thrice-blessed Tree, / upon which Christ, King and Lord, was crucified, / through which the deceiver was brought down by the tree, / himself caught by God, / who, nailed to you in the flesh, / grants peace to our souls!
Irmos: Seeing the sea of life / churning with waves of temptation, / I, having taken refuge in Your peaceful harbor, cry out to You: / “Deliver my life from destruction, / O Most Merciful One!”
From the whale, O Jonah, and from the marshy land by the lake, the Lord brought you, Saint Demetrius, into the light: / he suffered no harm in the belly of the whale for three days, / but you remained incorrupt in the depths of the earth for forty years. / A great miracle! But even greater is God’s gift, / for through miracles He glorified you as a prophet.
Those ancient Ninevites, who were unbelieving pagans, / repented at a single sermon of the prophet. / But I, though I have so many divine teachings / and hear them read every day, remain unrepentant. / But you, Holy One, through your prayers, / guide me to put them into practice.
The abyss of sin has engulfed me, / and the turmoil of my passions is drowning me. / Therefore, before my soul sinks into hell, / I cry out to You, Lord God, in my sorrow, / that for the sake of Your righteous one, Demetrius, You may hear me and save me.
Theotokos: Swift Helper in times of trouble, / a ready refuge for those tossed by the storm! / Preserve me, Mother of God, from the flood of this life / and do not let me be dashed against the rock of spiritual ruin.
Katavasia: In the belly of the sea beast, / Jonah spread his arms in the shape of a cross, / clearly foreshadowing the saving suffering; / and having emerged from there after three days, / he foreshadowed the supernatural resurrection / of Christ God, who was crucified in the flesh / and, by rising on the third day, enlightened the world.
Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, / Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people(*) with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Ikos: Exalted to the third heaven in paradise / and having heard the ineffable and divine words, / which cannot be recounted in human languages— / what does he write to the Galatians, / as you, lovers of Scripture, have read and learned? / “Let me not boast,” he says, “except in the Cross of the Lord, / on which, having suffered, He put the passions to death.” / So let us all firmly hold fast to it, / the Cross of the Lord, as our boast; / for to us this saving Tree is / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
* Greek: our kings
The Star of Russia, which shone forth from Kyiv, / and reached Rostov via Novgorod the Northern, / illuminating this entire land with teaching and miracles, / let us glorify the eloquent teacher Demetrius. / For he wrote for all that which serves as instruction, / so that, like Paul, he might win all to Christ, / and save our souls through the true faith.
Ikos: To the righteous in heaven—to those who repent— / and to us sinners on earth—to you, righteous Dimitri— / it is fitting to rejoice, / for in you we have found a new intercessor before God on our behalf. / As we honor you with worthy praises, / we cry out in joy: / “Rejoice, the praise of Rostov and the glory of all Russia!”
Irmos: The Angel made the furnace dew-filled / for the pious youths, / and God’s command, which scorched the Chaldeans, / compelled the tormentor to cry out: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Just as the three youths in the Babylonian furnace / quenched the power of the fire with their prayer, / so you, Dimitri, revealed by God, / have extinguished the fire of self-immolation, which flared up in the hermitages, through your teachings. / Therefore, for the salvation of perishing souls, / the Lord has glorified you with miracles and incorruptibility; / and we, in turn, honor you with hymns befitting a saint.
How many blessings have you, wretched schismatics, been deprived of: / for you have neither a spiritual leader, nor a true guide to salvation, / nor do you partake of the Bloodless Sacrifice or the other sacraments! / But at least now recognize your ruinous delusion, / and if you do not believe in the deeds and teachings of the angel-like Demetrius, / then believe, like those Chaldeans, in the miracles he performs, / so that together with us you may pray to the God of our fathers with one voice.
Truly, our God, / You alone are the God of gods and the Lord of lords, / and apart from You there is no other, / nor apart from Your Holy Catholic Church is there any other / in heaven or on earth where one might find salvation. / Therefore, grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify / You, who wondrously reveal all Your desires in the saints.
To the Mother of God: The prophet Daniel beheld You / as a mountain, O Virgin who knew no man; / and our ever-memorable Saint Demetrius, / like Gideon, called You “the One Watered by the Fleece.” / We, confessing both of these truths, pray / that the Church may be established upon the Rock who has separated Himself from You—Christ— / and that the hearts of the faithful / may be watered by the dew of Your grace.
Katavasia: The mad decree of the ungodly tyrant, / reeking of threats and blasphemy abhorrent to God, / plunged the nations into confusion; / yet the three youths were not intimidated / by either savage wrath or the roaring fire; / but, standing in the fire, / against which a dew-bearing wind blew, they sang: / “O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Irmos: From the flame You poured forth dew for the pious, / and You quenched the righteous one’s sacrifice with water: / for You accomplish all things, Christ, by Your sole will. / We exalt You for all ages.
You have employed every means, O Holy One, to bring the strayed back, / quenching with the water of repentance the flame spreading through the hermitages, / calling those who starved themselves to the immortal banquet, / and persuading both the enlightened and the apostates, so that, being baptized a second time, they might not crucify Christ anew, / to hold fast to the one baptism. / Everywhere you taught the true faith / and now, through your writings, you continue to teach it. / Therefore, as a true teacher, we honor you together with the saints.
Like those ancient builders of the Tower of Babel—the enemies of our piety—they dared to build the edifice of their folly upon the sand of superstition. But when the waters of your teachings, O Holy One, came upon them, they were immediately shaken from their foundations, and their fall was great; for us, the pious, however, it brought strengthening and correction.
Eternal Father, co-eternal Son, / Good Comforter, Righteous Spirit; / Parent of the Word of God, / Eternal Word of the Father, / Living and Creative Spirit, / Trinity-One, have mercy on me.
The Theotokos Hymn: Like a thornbush, blazing with fire yet not consumed, / but striking fear into the seer of God and bringing him to reverence, / so You, the Bride who knew no marriage, / having received the Fire of the Godhead into Your womb, / remained spotless during childbirth. / What a wondrous mystery! / You scorch those who are rebellious against piety with shame, / while You lavishly shower Your orthodox worshippers with miracles.
Katavasia: Bless, O youths, / the God the Father, Creator, / equal in number to the Trinity; / sing of the Word who descended / and transformed fire into dew; / and exalt the All-Holy Spirit, / who grants life to all, forever and ever!
Irmos: It is impossible for people to see God, / Whom even the hosts of angels dare not gaze upon; / but through You, All-Pure One, / the Incarnate Word has become visible to mortals. / Glorifying Him, / we, together with the heavenly hosts, / praise You.
Blessed be our Lord, who has visited us in these years / and raised up for us in the Russian Church a new wonderworker, Demetrius, / for just as he performed his ministry in holiness and righteousness during his lifetime, / so too after his passing he guides those who have strayed / to find the paths of salvation.
Glory to You, Chief Shepherd, / for in our days You have set the vigilant shepherd Demetrius as a guardian, / who drives away the foul-smelling goats / from Your spotless flock.
Glory to You, Christ our God, / the praise of the pious and the joy of the faithful, / for You confirm the preaching of Your holy Dimitri / with certain miracles.
Theotokos: To You, who received joy from the Angel, / we too, according to Your prophecy, / calling You blessed with all generations, cry out according to the Gospel: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
Katavasia: You, O Mother of God, are the mysterious paradise / that bore Christ without labor, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship Him and magnify You.
The Cross—guardian of the entire universe, / The Cross—the beauty of the Church, / The Cross—the might of kings, / The Cross—the strength of the faithful, / The Cross—the glory of the Angels / and the defeat of demons. (2)
By establishing the boundaries of the nations according to the number of Your angels / and gathering Your Church from among the scattered sons of Adam, / You multiply Your saints within it, our God, as the stars in the heavens; / and among them shines the memory of Your holy one, Demetrius. / For his sake, enlighten the souls darkened by divisive superstition, / so that together we may sing to You a threefold hymn: Alleluia.
Today the Cross is raised / and the world is sanctified; / for You, Christ, seated with the Father and the Holy Spirit, / having stretched out Your arms upon it, / have drawn the whole world to the knowledge of You. / Grant, then, to those who hope in You / divine glory.
Following in the footsteps of Saint Demetrius, who has departed from us to the heavenly abodes, / we cry out to You, O Lady, with hope: / just as we see You depicted on earth / on Your most pure icon with the Eternal Infant, / so grant that we may also see You standing at the right hand of Your Son and God / in the inaccessible light of heaven.
From your youth, you devoted yourself / to the pursuit of wisdom and the fear of God; / and having attained them, you did not hide them in the ground like a lazy servant, / but, teaching and acting in accordance with the will of the One who gave you your talent, / you multiplied it a hundredfold through your labors, / and you were a great merchant, / bringing to light both the old and the new, / and, revealing the depths of meaning in the divinely inspired books, / you also taught virtue. / Therefore, Dimitri, good and faithful servant of God, / for the many treasures you have revealed to us, / you have entered into the joy of your Lord.
You devoted your entire mind to obedience to the faith, / so that you might adorn it with good deeds; / therefore, you proved yourself a skilled worker in Christ’s vineyard, / for every branch that bore no fruit / you cut away with the fear of the Lord / and preserved only piety within it; / from without, you protected it with the Church’s dogmas, / within, you fortified it with the tower of orthodoxy, / digging out the thorns of heretical teachings everywhere. / So now, industrious Saint Demetrius, / visit your vineyard, which the right hand of the Most High has planted, / that it may bear fruit—the clusters of salvation.
You placed your hope in God to the very end: / as you crossed the depths of this world, O blessed one, / you were not overwhelmed by the turmoil of life, / and, enduring the storm of temptations, you did not crash against the rocks of seduction, / but, guided gently at all times, / you reached a peaceful harbor. / And, having taken the helm of the ship of Christ’s Church, / you set it once more on a safe course, / you once again turned the winds of heresy to naught / and anchored it with the anchor of your teachings, / so that we marvel and ask of God, / that you may continue to calm the adverse winds of heresy / through your prayers.
You were wholly devoted to God and your neighbor, / for, having taken pastoral care of your flock, / you labored with your soul in contemplation of God and in teaching, / while with your body you served those who sought your help: / strengthening those who were faltering in faith, / healing those whose souls were afflicted through repentance, / binding up the contrite with firm hope, / turning those who had strayed from the truth back to the right path, / and seeking out those lost in heresy for the sake of piety. / Therefore, O our most gracious shepherd, Saint Demetrius, / pray to Christ God, the Chief Shepherd of your flock, / that He Himself may shepherd it in unity of mind, love, and orthodox faith.
Glory, Tone 6: Sing to the Lord a new song, O Russia, / praise your God, O city of Rostov, / for the Most High has been pleased to grant us a new wonderworker, Demetrius, / who has received testimony from all and from the Truth Itself. / As we honor his memory among the saints, / let us also, elders and youth alike, / praise and exalt our God, / who has allowed such a great servant of His to shine among us / with the incorruptibility and miracle-working power befitting the saints.
And now, on this feast day, Tone 6: On this day the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord is celebrated, / and the faithful receive it with love, / and are healed / in soul, in body, and from every infirmity. / Let us greet it with joy and fear: / with fear—because of sin, as unworthy ones; / but with joy—for the sake of the salvation which Christ the Lord, / nailed to it, bestows upon the world, / He who is full of great mercy.
The beauty of Your virginity is indescribable, / Your splendor, O Mother of God, is beyond words, / for You are chosen, like the sun, / full, like the moon and the rainbow at their fullest, / like a Lebanese cedar during the harvest in the mountains / and like a cypress rising from the valley to the heavens. / There is much beauty and majesty in You, Ever-Virgin, / but above all—that You bear the One who bears all things. / Pray to Him together with Saint Demetrius, / that He may save and enlighten our souls with orthodox faith.
The Great Doxology. The Saint’s Troparion. Glory, and now, of the feast or of the Theotokos. And the Dismissal.
The Blessed of the Feast, Ode 9 on the 4th mode, and of the Saint, Ode 6 on the 4th mode.
If there is no Dedication, the Blessed ones from the canon of the saint, cantos 3 and 6 on tone 8.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Zealot of Orthodoxy and eradicator of schism, / Healer of Russia and new intercessor before God, / Through your writings you have made the unwise wise, / Spiritual lyre, Blessed Demetrius, / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
The Star of Russia, which shone forth from Kiev, / and reached Rostov via Novgorod-Seversky, / illuminating this entire land with teaching and miracles, / let us glorify the eloquent teacher Demetrius. / For he wrote for all that which serves as instruction, / so that, like Paul, he might win all to Christ, / and save our souls through the true faith.
Having been raised upon the Cross of Your own free will, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, / O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Prokeimenon, Alleluia, and Communion Hymn for the Feast and the Saint.
Exalt the Lord, our God, and worship at His feet, / for they are holy.
Verse: The Lord has ascended the throne; let the nations rage! Ps 98:5, 1a
My mouth shall speak wisdom, / and the meditation of my heart—understanding. Verse: Hear this, all nations; listen, all who dwell in the world. Psalm 48:4, 2
Brethren, such a one was fitting for us High Priest: holy, innocent of evil, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens—who has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people; for He did this once for all when He offered Himself as a sacrifice. For the Law appoints high priests who are subject to weakness, but the word with the oath that came after the Law has appointed the Son, who is perfect forever. The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a High Priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in heaven, as minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man. Heb 7:26–8:2
Verse: Remember Your people, whom You acquired from the beginning. Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, has brought salvation to the earth. Ps 73:2a, 12
Verse: The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue proclaims justice. Verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his feet do not stumble. Psalm 36:30–31
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him: “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But the hired hand—who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep—sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock.” The hired hand runs away because he is a hired hand and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me. Just as the Father knows me, so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd.” John 10:9–16
The light of Your face has shone upon us, O Lord!
The righteous will be remembered forever; they will not fear slander. Alleluia. (3) Ps 4:7b; 111:6b–7a
After the dismissal of the Liturgy, the priest exits through the Royal Doors with a censer, preceded by a deacon carrying a candle, and censes the Holy Cross on the analogion three times; according to tradition, the choir sings the troparion of the feast at this time, followed by “Glory, and now”—the kontakion of the feast. Then the priest places the Holy Cross on his head and, preceded by a deacon carrying a candle and a censer, carries the Cross through the Royal Doors into the sanctuary, places it on the altar, and censes around the altar. After the Royal Doors and the veil are closed, the Cross is reverently carried to its place of safekeeping.
October 1
The one God, who dwells on the highest thrones, / has granted His servant a vision of the highest things on earth— / you, O Sovereign Lady, who stretch out your most divine hands in prayer, / interceding for the city and its people. / Cover us now as well, O Lady, / with the omophorion of Your mercy. (2)
The city that honors You and glorifies You as it ought, / You cover, O Sovereign Lady, with Your sacred omophorion / from the invasion of enemies, from famine and earthquake and civil war, / O Virgin who knew no marriage, Bride of God, / a shield and intercessor for the people.
The living temple of Christ, / and for the faithful—a wall, a shield, and strength! / Through You, Mother of God, Your city is saved; / those who always boast in You / win victories over the pagans, / for You cover them with the omophorion of Your mercy.
Come, all who love feasts, / let us sing to the Most Holy Virgin: / for on this day the Angels and the saints celebrate / the sacred Protection of the Mother of God / and summon us, the earthly ones, to praise her, / that we may exclaim with an unceasing voice: / “Rejoice, wondrous adornment of the Church / and marvelous protection of the whole world! / Rejoice, help of the faithful in battles and preservation of warriors! / Rejoice, our protection and defense, / for the Christian race / ceaselessly calls You blessed!
“Light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Glory in heaven and joy on earth, / – for the Queen, together with all the saints, / prays for us in the temple!
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Ps 44:11a
Come, faithful ones, to the holy church, / for there the Mother of God covers the people with her omophorion / from all the enemy’s attacks.
Antiphon: The wealthy among the people / will implore Your face. Ps 44:13b
Most Pure Mother of God, / do not forget us, Your servants, / but pray for us who sing Your praises with faith.
Come, all who love to celebrate, / let us glorify the holy Protection of the Mother of God: / for She has mercifully stretched out Her hands to Her Son, / and the world has been shielded by Her holy protection. / Therefore, with our lips and hearts, / and with hymns and spiritual songs, / together with all who take refuge in Her, / let us celebrate solemnly.
On this day, we, the faithful, solemnly celebrate, / blessed by Your coming, O Mother of God; / and, gazing upon Your most pure image, we cry out with devotion: / “Cover us with Your holy Protection / and deliver us from all evil, / beseeching Your Son, Christ our God, / to save our souls.”
Also, the litany and dismissal.
O Pure Mother of God! / You are the great Intercessor for the afflicted, / the swift Helper, / the salvation and strength of the world, / the abyss of mercy, the source of divine wisdom, the Protection of the world. / Let us sing, then, O faithful, of Her radiant omophorion, / proclaiming ineffable praises: / “O Rejoicing One, rejoice, for the Lord is with You, / bestowing through You great mercy upon the world!” (2)
The wondrous Isaiah foretold, proclaiming: / “And it shall come to pass in the last days— / the mountain of the Lord shall be revealed, / and the house of the Lord on the top of the mountain.” / And now we have seen in You, O Lady, / the true fulfillment of his prophecy: / for the mountains and hills have been adorned / with the many-named churches of Your feasts. / Therefore, with joy we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O Full of Joy, for the Lord is with You, / bestowing through You great mercy upon the world!”
O wondrous Beauty of all the faithful! / The true fulfillment of prophecies, / the glory of the Apostles and the adornment of the martyrs, / the praise of virginity and the wondrous protection of the whole world. / Cover, then, O Lady, with the omophorion of Your mercy / all people who cry out: / “Rejoice, O Full of Joy; the Lord is with you, / bestowing through you great mercy upon the world!”
Like a paradise planted by God / and the place where the Tree of Life grows, / watered by the Holy Spirit, /—this is how we know You, Mother of God, / who gave birth to the Creator of all, / who nourishes the faithful with the Bread of Life. / Pray to Him for us, together with the Forerunner, / covering the Orthodox faithful with your sacred omophorion / from every calamity.
Heaven and earth are sanctified, / the Church shines, / and all people rejoice: / for behold, the Mother of God, with the angelic hosts, / with the Forerunner and John the Theologian, / with the prophets and apostles, having entered invisibly, / prays to Christ for the Christians, / for mercy upon the city and its people, / who celebrate the feast of Her Protection.
You are the Beauty of Jacob / and the Heavenly Ladder, / by which the Lord descended to earth: / these images once revealed / Your honor and glory, Mother of God. / You, who gave birth to the God of all, / are called blessed by the heavenly angels / and by people born on earth, / for You pray for the whole world, covering with Your mercy / those who celebrate Your holy feast.
Today the joyful feast / of the Most Holy Protection of the Mother of God has dawned: / for on this day the Queen and Mistress of all, / stretching out Her hands to Her Son, prays earnestly, / asking for peace for the world, / shielding people from the invasion of foreign tribes with the omophorion of Her mercy. / And those who boast of victories over their enemies through You / seek refuge under the omophorion of Your love for mankind.
Glory, and now, Tone 8: All the incorporeal hosts rejoice with us, / having gathered our earthly choir in spirit, / seeing the Queen and Sovereign of all, / glorified in countless ways by the faithful; / and the souls of the righteous also rejoice, / having become witnesses to a wondrous vision: / how the Mother of God , in the air, / prayerfully stretching out Her most pure hands, / asks for peace and reconciliation for the world, / for the strengthening of Orthodox Christians, / and for the salvation of our souls.
Entrance. The Prokeimenon of the day and the common readings to the Mother of God.
On this day has come the most radiant feast / of Your holy Protection, O Most Pure Virgin. / Brighter than the sun, You illuminate the people, / who with faith from a pure heart / who confess You as the true Mother of God / and cry out to Your Son: / “Christ God, through the prayers of the Ever-Virgin, / who gave birth to You in purity and without blemish, / do not deliver us to the enemies who wage war against Your inheritance, / but, as the Merciful One, save our souls in peace!”
The people of Your Son, Most Pure Lady, / desire to sing Your worthy praise, but cannot. / For You always protect all the faithful, / and cover them with Your sacred Veil, / and pray for the salvation of all / who, with faith, honor You, O Pure One, / as the true Mother of God.
The Immaculate Queen of all, / the Most Pure Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, / let us, the faithful, gathered on this day, glorify her, / for she always extends her hands in mercy toward her Son. / Even the wondrous Andrew beheld her in the air / covering people with her sacred veil. / To her, too, we shall cry out with devotion: / “Rejoice, our shield and intercessor, / and the salvation of our souls!”
Glory, and now, Tone 2: Having purified our thoughts and minds, / let us also rejoice with the Angels, / joyfully beginning David’s song to the Virgin, / the Bride of the King of all, Christ our God: / “Arise, O Lord,” we proclaim, “to Your place of rest, / You and the ark of Your holiness!” / For You have adorned Her as a beautiful dwelling / and set Her over Your city, O Lord, / to order it and defend it from hostile pagans / with Your mighty power, through Her prayers.
You, the Most High of all things in heaven and on earth, / more glorious than the Cherubim and more honorable than all creation, / Christ has granted to the Christian race as an Intercessor and a mighty protection, / to cover and save sinful people who take refuge in You. / Therefore, as a refuge for all, we sing Your praises, O Lady, / and joyfully celebrate the holy feast of Your Protection, / praying to Christ to grant us His great mercy.
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Ps 44:11
Let us joyfully sing, O people, the Song of David / about the Virgin, the Bride of God, / the Mother of Christ the King of all: / “The Queen stands at Your right hand, O Lord, / clothed in golden borders / and adorned with divine beauties. / For You, having adorned her—chosen among women—/ more than all the world, / were pleased to be born of her / through Your great mercy, / and You granted her, the one and only blessed one, / as a Helper to Your people, / to protect and shield Your servants from every calamity.
Verse: The wealthy among the people / will seek Your favor. Ps 44:13
You are a great and most glorious mountain, / greater than Mount Sinai, O Mother of God: / for that mountain, unable to endure the descent of God’s glory in images and shadows, / was consumed by fire, and thunder and lightning appeared there. / But You bore in Your womb Him Who is Himself entirely Divine Fire, / without being consumed—the Word of God, Who by His gesture sustains all things! / And having a mother’s boldness toward Him, / help, O Sovereign Lady, those who celebrate Your holy feast with faith, / and do not forget to visit them mercifully. / For You have received from God the gift to care for and protect / Your flock—Your servants—who bear the name of Christ.
Glory, and now, Tone 2: Like a most radiant crown, O All-Pure Mother of God, / the Church of God is covered by Your sacred veil, / and shines with joy on this day, / and mysteriously rejoices, O Lady, proclaiming to You: / “Rejoice, precious garment and crown of God’s glory; / Rejoice, the sole perfection of glory and eternal joy; / Rejoice, refuge of those who flee to You, / and our deliverance and salvation!”
On this day, we, the faithful, solemnly celebrate, / blessed by Your coming, O Mother of God; / and, gazing upon Your most pure image, we cry out with devotion: / “Cover us with Your sacred Protection / and deliver us from all evil, / beseeching Your Son, Christ our God, / to save our souls.”
On this day, we, the faithful, solemnly celebrate, / blessed by Your coming, O Mother of God; / and, gazing upon Your most pure image, we cry out with devotion: / “Cover us with Your holy Protection / and deliver us from all evil, / beseeching Your Son, Christ our God, / to save our souls.” (3)
Surrounded by the divine radiance of the angelic hosts, / and together with the prophets and apostles / worthily receiving this ministry as the Mother of God, / visit us, Your servants, / praying to Christ our God / to grant us great mercy.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
You are truly the strength of the helpless, / Most Pure Mother of God; / therefore, through You, we are humbled and exalted; / with Your help, we hold fast to the heights of a godly life, / for You are the Protection of all / and the Intercessor before God.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin, / and honor Your holy Protection, / for Saint Andrew saw You in the air / praying to Christ on our behalf.
1 Chorus: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. 2 How he swore to the Lord and made a vow to the God of Jacob. 1 Behold, we have heard of her in Ephrathah; we have found her in the wooded plains. 2 Glorious things are spoken of you, O City of God. 1 God is in her midst; she shall not be moved. 2 The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it. 1 “I will set one of the offspring of your womb on your throne.” 2 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has selected it as His dwelling place. 1 The Most High has sanctified His dwelling place. 2 Holiness and splendor are in His sanctuary. 1 Holy is Your temple, wonderful in righteousness. 2 Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. 1 I will make Your name memorable from generation to generation. 2 Blessed be the Lord forever and ever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 131:1; 131:2; 131:6; 86:3; 45:6a; 131:11a; 131:11b; 131:13; 45:5b; 95:6b; 64:5d; 92:5b; 44:18a; 88:53a
Truly more precious than the ancient Ark / is Your holy omophorion, / shining brighter than gold and silver! / Held aloft not physically, but spiritually, incorruptible and most pure by Your hands, / it graciously preserves for those who celebrate / the beautifully adorned feast of Your Protection, O Lady; / having gathered here today for its sake, / we celebrate it with all our hearts.
Glory, and now: Accept, O Lady, those who with faith take refuge under Your shelter / and do not reject me, / do not despise, O Good One, the repentance of one who is suffering; / accept the supplication from the lips of many unworthy ones / and by Your intercession deliver me from the snares, / so that I may boldly cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace!”
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
I will make Your name memorable / throughout every generation and age. Verse: The wealthy among the people will seek Your face. Ps 44:18a, 2a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
In those days, Mary set out and hurried to the hill country, to the town of Judah, and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb; and blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
All the incorporeal hosts rejoice with us, / having gathered our earthly choir in spirit, / seeing the Queen and Mistress of all, / glorified in countless ways by the faithful; / and the souls of the righteous also rejoice, / having become witnesses of a wondrous vision: / as the Mother of God, in the air, / prayerfully outstretching Her most pure hands, / asks for peace and reconciliation for the world, / for the strengthening of Orthodox Christians, / and for the salvation of our souls.
Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her wonders.
With the hosts of the holy Angels / and the multitudes of prophets and apostles, / in great glory, as the Mother of God, / entering the temple on this day, You intercede for Christians, / and deliver all from misfortunes and sorrow, / covering them with Your mercy.
Moses called You the Tabernacle / and the Rod of Aaron, / for You brought forth the Tree of Life—Christ; / having boldness before Him, / pray for us, O Queen, who honor You, / that we may be delivered from all evil, / so that we may celebrate the feast of Your Protection.
Now it is not a celebration like in ancient times, / but a greater one: / it is not David who, having gathered a choir, plays before the Ark, / but the faithful, together with the hosts of the saints, / hastening to the temple before You, / worshiping You, proclaim: / “Pray for those who honor You, / so that, glorifying Your Protection, / we may celebrate this feast worthily!”
The angelic hosts sing Your praises, O Mother of God, / and the patriarchs and holy fathers glorify You, / hastening into the temple before Your face. / Once, along with them, Saint Andrew / saw You praying to God on behalf of us sinners /—for the mercy of those / who celebrate the feast of Your Protection.
Irmos: O Mother of God, / living and abundant spring, / strengthen Your singers / who have prepared this spiritual feast, / and in Your divine glory / grant them the crowns of glory.
You have clearly brought forth the divine ear of grain, / like an untilled field! / Rejoice, living meal, / containing the Bread of Life; / rejoice, inexhaustible spring / of living water, O Lady!
We, Your servants, O Lady, / now standing with faith in Your temple, / await Your mercy; / visit our humility / and with Your holy Protection / defend people from all evil.
O Virgin, called by many names, / reverently foreshadowed by the prophets, / who now serve You together with the Angels! / Pray to God for us with them, / so that we may all joyfully and brightly celebrate / the holy day of Your Protection.
Gideon foreshadowed You with the fleece, / for Christ God descended upon You like dew; / pray to Him, O Mother of God, / that He may grant our army victory over our enemies, / so that, just as You once defeated the Midianites, / we may glorify Your holy feast.
Shining brighter than the sun’s rays / with Your omophorion, You illuminate / the church and the people, / and You dispel the darkness of our sins / by Your presence, O Mother of God, / interceding for us before Your Son and God.
O fervent and invincible Intercessor, / O steadfast and unashamed Hope, / O wall, shield, and refuge for those who flee to You, / O Ever-Virgin! / Pray to Your Son and God, together with the Angels, / that He may grant peace to the world, / and salvation, and great mercy.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Irmos: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by an immaculate hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory to You, Christ, for Your power!”
With resounding hymns and in faith / we cry out to You, All-Glorious Virgin: / “Rejoice, fruitful mountain, nourished by the Spirit; / rejoice, lamp and vessel containing manna, / which delights the senses of all the pious!”
More than the Ark of Aaron, / God has sanctified You entirely with the Holy Spirit, O Mother of God, / and has commanded the Angels to serve You. / Pray with them for the city and its people, / who celebrate Your holy feast.
Come now in glory / into Your temple, O Mother of God, / with the hosts of all the saints, / just as Saint Andrew once saw You in the air / in radiance, praying for the Christians, / and grant us Your mercy!
Strengthen, O Lady, our army that glorifies You / to repel our enemies, / as David did against Goliath, / so that we may joyfully cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Holy Protection and Intercessor of our city!”
We cast ourselves before You in faith, O Lady, / and, bowing in gratitude, we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O Virgin favored by God, / our protection and shield, / and Helper of those in distress! / Save us who take refuge in You, / for we place our hope in You!”
Irmos: The whole world marveled / at Your divine glory: / for You, the Virgin who knew no marriage, / bore the Most High God in Your womb / and gave birth to the eternal Son, / who grants peace to all who sing Your praises.
In ancient times, Solomon depicted You / as the inner repose of the Heavenly King, / surrounded by seraphim— / which is what is proclaimed of You, Mother of God. / Therefore, we now pray to You, / Most Holy Mother of God: / “Deliver us from all misfortunes!”
The princes of the angels, / and the holy prophets with the apostles, / reverently serve You as the Mother of God, / seeing You offering prayer for peace. / And heeding Your supplications, the Lord / saves the city and the people / who place their hope in You.
Isaiah, the great among the prophets, / foretold of You, proclaiming / that You would give birth to God without having known a husband. / And truly, You, Pure Mary, / have been revealed as the holiest of all, / for You carried God in Your womb and in Your arms. / Pray to Him for us, sheltering with Your Protection / those who glorify You with faith.
Soaring on spiritual wings, / the hosts of saints mysteriously came / to serve You, Mother of God, / seeing You on a light cloud of glory / praying to Christ the Savior / to grant victory to our army / and to strike down those who wage war against us.
Irmos: On this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O godly ones, / let us begin to clap our hands, / glorifying the God born of her.
The godly priests, together with the devout people, / standing before You in Your temple, / await Your mercy, O Mother of God; / turn our sorrow into joy, / for You have given birth to Joy— / He who has forgiven the sins of all people.
The whole earth brings You gifts, / as to a Queen, the Mother of God: / kings and princes bow down before You, / while all people rejoice, / protected from every evil / by Your prayers, O Mother of God.
Daniel prophetically described You as a great mountain, / for Christ was born of You without seed, / and He crushed all demonic deception / and filled the whole earth with faith in Himself. / Pray to Him, O Mother of God, for us, / who celebrate the feast of Your Protection!
We direct the angelic cry / to You, Most Pure One: / “Rejoice, Throne of God, / upon which Ezekiel saw the Lord, / in the likeness of a man, borne by the Cherubim!” Pray with them for us, O Mother of God, / that He may save our souls.
Today the Virgin stands in the temple / and, with the hosts of the saints, prays invisibly to God for us. / Angels and bishops bow down in worship, / while the Apostles and prophets rejoice: / for the Mother of God prays for us / to the Eternal God.
Ikos: Come, people, let us rejoice / in Her glorious wonders: / for through Her, Adam was delivered from corruption; / for She is the ark, not made by Noah, but by God. / In ancient times, Moses, standing before the burning thornbush, / could not behold God; / but now the whole earth knows the Son of God / born of Her, / to Whom She prays for us. / Therefore we glorify Her as the Mother of God, / for the Mother of God prays for us / to the Eternal God.
Irmos: The godly-wise did not honor / the creatures more than the Creator, / but, bravely overcoming the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Though not fully described by many prophets, / You were not known, O Virgin, / even by the heavenly angels who serve God; / but now we all know You as the Mother of God, / and we ask for Your help and intercession, O Blessed One!
O mountain, enriched by the Spirit, / which Habakkuk beheld, / pouring forth healing sweetness to the faithful! / Virgin Mother of God, heal us, / we who cry out to Your Son: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
He who bowed the heavens toward You, O Virgin, has taken up residence / and now looks upon Your prayer, O Pure Mother of God, / fulfilling, O Queen, Your petitions. / Pray earnestly to Him on our behalf, / for we place our hope in You, O Blessed One!
Our Creator and Savior, Christ our God! / Accept the prayer of Your Mother, / which she offers to You on behalf of us sinners, / so that we may joyfully sing to You: / “Most Praiseworthy God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Irmos: The Child of the Mother of God saved / the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He calls the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, all creation, / and exalt Him for ever and ever!
With the hosts of angels, O Lady, / with the holy and glorious prophets, / with the supreme Apostles and with the holy martyrs / and bishops—pray to God for us sinners, / who have glorified the feast of Your Protection / in the Russian land.
Cast down pride and turmoil, / and thwart the schemes of unrighteous rulers, / destroy those who wage war, / O Mother of God, most honored Queen; / and exalt the strength of the Orthodox, / so that we may glorify Your feast, / Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, crying out: / “Sing to the Lord, all creation, / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
As we offer You songs with our lips, / we also worship You with our souls in faith, / for our hearts burn within us. / Mother of God, Most Pure One, have mercy on us, / who pray to You, sing praises to the Lord, / and exalt Him forever and ever!
Burdened by many sins, / I am unable to compose a praise worthy / of Your Protection, Mother of God; / but, as the Mother of God, adorn Your feast with miracles, / so that we may all sing to the Lord with joy / and exalt Him forever and ever!
Irmos: Let everyone born on earth / rejoice, enlightened by the Spirit; / let the nature of the incorporeal Minds also rejoice, / honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, / and let them cry out: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One, / Pure Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!”
O Heavenly King, seated with the Father / and praised by the Seraphim! / Look upon the prayer of Your Mother, / which she offers to You on behalf of us sinners, / and cleanse our sins, / save our city and multiply its people, / grant us bodily health and victory over the pagans / through the prayers of the One who gave birth to You!
We raise the angelic cry to You, / O Virgin, chosen by God: / “Rejoice, You who have restored Adam to paradise; / rejoice, for Your name drives out demons; / rejoice, hope of Christians; / rejoice, sanctification of souls; / rejoice, Guardian of our city!”
Remember us in Your prayers, / O Lady, Virgin Mother of God, / that we may not perish because of the multiplication of our sins! / Protect us from all evil and fierce calamities, / for we place our hope in You / and, as we celebrate the feast of Your Protection, / we magnify You.
As the Mother of God, You have received a gift from God / to heal the infirmities of all Christians, / to deliver them from misfortune, to forgive their sins, / and to save them from captivity and all violence. / But do not despise us either, O Lady, / for You know what we need: / bodily health and the salvation of our souls!
O Most Holy Lady, Virgin Mother of God! / Cover us with Your miraculous omophorion, / preserving the city and its people from all evil, / just as the wondrous Andrew once saw You / praying in the Church of Blachernae. / And now, Lady, / send us Your great mercy. (3)
We take refuge in You, O Lady, / and, bowing down with reverence, we pray to You: / “Rejoice, O God-blessed Sovereign, / O Virgin glorified by many names, / reverently foreshadowed by the prophets! / For in You, like dew, Christ God descended, / and You, the Pure One who knew no marriage, gave birth, / and carried in Your arms the Creator and Lord of all, / to Whom we now pray for us, / as we faithfully celebrate the feast of Your Protection!” (2)
The angelic hosts sing Your praises, O Virgin Mother of God, / and the patriarchs and bishops glorify You, / as do the holy Apostles: / they faithfully serve You as the Mother of God, / seeing that You offer prayer for the world / to Christ God, the Savior of all. / Pray to Him to deliver the city and its people, / who faithfully glorify You / and celebrate the feast of Your Protection.
More than the Ark of Aaron, / God has sanctified You entirely / with the Holy Spirit, Mother of God, / and brighter than the sun’s rays / with Your radiant omophorion / You illuminate the Church and the people, / and drive away the darkness of our sins, / delivering from misfortunes and sorrows / those who faithfully celebrate the feast of Your Holy Protection.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: Just as the wondrous Andrew once saw You in the air, / with a multitude of Archangels, / with the apostles and prophets, / and a host of martyrs, / O Lady, who prays to Your Son, “ ,” and to our God for the city and its people, / and who covers them with Your holy Protection, / so now, too, do not withhold Your prayers, O Most Pure One, / for the salvation of Your Son’s chosen inheritance— / those who celebrate Your most holy feast, Most Honored One!
We sing the figurative hymns; blessed are: the 3rd and 6th songs of the canon.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ.
Save us, O Son of God, / most wonderful among the saints who sing to You: / Alleluia.
On this day, we, the faithful, solemnly celebrate, / blessed by Your coming, O Mother of God; / and, gazing upon Your most pure image, we cry out with devotion: / “Cover us with Your holy Protection / and deliver us from all evil, / beseeching Your Son, Christ our God, / to save our souls.”
Today the Virgin stands in the temple / and, with the hosts of the saints, prays invisibly to God for us. / Angels and bishops bow down in worship, / while the Apostles and prophets rejoice: / for the Mother of God prays for us / to the Eternal God.
The Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Verse: For He has looked upon the humility of His handmaid, for from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Brothers, the first covenant also had regulations concerning the ministry and the sanctuary belonging to this world. For the first tabernacle was set up, in which there was the lampstand, the table, and the display of the bread; this is called the “Holy Place.” Behind the second curtain was a tent called the “Holy of Holies,” containing a golden censer and the ark of the covenant, overlaid with gold on all sides, in which were a golden jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it are the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the place of atonement, about which it is not worth speaking in detail at this time. And with this arrangement, the priests constantly enter the first tabernacle to perform their service, but the second is entered only once a year by the high priest alone, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people’s ignorance.
Heb 9:1–7
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear.
Verse: The wealthy among the people will entreat Your face. Psalm 44:11a, 13b
At that time, Jesus entered a certain village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations for the meal, and she came up to Him and said: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” In reply, Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” While He was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You!” But He said, “Truly, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 10:38–42; 11:27–28
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 115:4
Joachim and Anna, having received from the Lord / the Fruit of the Promise—the Mother of God— / brought Her into the temple on this day as a pleasing offering, / and Zechariah, the great high priest, / blessed Her and received Her.
The Holy of Holies was brought forth in accordance with her dignity, / as an offering pleasing to God, / to dwell in the sanctuary. / And the virgins, adorned with virtues, / carrying lamps before her, / led her to God as the most sacred vessel.
May the door of the temple that has received God be opened: / for, having taken the Temple of the King of all and His throne, / Joachim on this day places Her within the sanctuary with glory, / consecrating to the Lord the One He has chosen as His Mother.
David proclaimed of You, O Most Pure One, / foreseeing the sacred solemnity of Your entry into the temple, / which the ends of the earth, celebrating today, / glorify You, O All-Glorified One, /—truly a Virgin before childbirth, / and remaining unblemished after childbirth, / Mother of the Word of Life, entering the temple on this day. / Zechariah rejoices, having received You, O Lady, / and the Holy of Holies rejoices, / having received You, the Nourisher of our life. / Therefore, we too cry out to You in song: / “Pray for us to Your Son and our God / that He may grant us great mercy!”
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
O doors of the sanctuary, let the Virgin—the spotless Tabernacle / of God the Almighty—enter the Holy of Holies.
Verse: Virgins will be led to the King in her wake; / her companions will be brought before You. Ps 44:15
O virgins, escort the Holy Virgin, / joyfully bearing lamps, into the Holy of Holies, / as the Bride of the King of all.
Verse: They will be led in joy and gladness, / brought into the King’s temple. Psalm 44:16
The bread of wisdom from the hand of the divine Angel / the Palace of the Word of God receives, / dwelling in the Holy of Holies.
The Triune Light, / having kindled You, O Mother of God, in the temple of glory, / sends You heavenly food, exalting You.
On this day—a sign of God’s favor / and a harbinger of humanity’s salvation: / the Virgin appears openly in God’s temple / and proclaims Christ to all. / To her we too shall cry out with a loud voice: / “Rejoice, / fulfillment of what was ordained by the Creator!”
Also the litany and dismissal.
On this day, let us rejoice, O faithful, / singing to the Lord in psalms and hymns, / honoring His sanctified Tabernacle, / the living Ark that has contained the ineffable Word; / for She is brought before the Lord /—an extraordinary child according to the flesh, / and the great high priest Zechariah / receives Her with joy, / as the Dwelling Place of God. (2)
On this day, the Living Temple / of the holy glory of Christ our God, /—the only one among women who is blessed and pure— / is brought into the lawful temple / to dwell in the Holy of Holies; / and with her, Joachim and Anna rejoice in spirit, / and the virgins sing in chorus to the Lord, / extolling and honoring His Mother with psalms.
You are the proclamation of the prophets, / the glory of the Apostles, and the praise of the martyrs, / and the renewal of all who are born on earth, / Virgin Mother of God: / for through You we have been reconciled to God. / Therefore, we all, saved through Your intercession, / honor Your entry into the Lord’s temple / and, together with the Angel, proclaim in song: “Rejoice!” / to You, Most Holy One.
In the Holy of Holies, the Holy and Immaculate One / is indwelt by the Holy Spirit / and nourished by an angel, / She who is truly / the holiest temple of our Holy God, / who sanctified all things by Her entrance / and gave life to mortal nature that had stumbled. (2)
The virgins, rejoicing and holding their lamps, / on this day precede the spiritual Candle / and solemnly lead Her into the Holy of Holies, / revealing in advance the ineffable Radiance, / Which is to blaze forth from Her / and, through the Spirit, enlighten those sitting in the darkness of ignorance.
In joy, the all-praised Anna exclaimed: / “Receive, Zechariah, She / of whom God’s prophets proclaimed through the Spirit, / and bring Her into the holy temple for sacred upbringing, / so that She may become for the Lord of all / a divine throne, a palace, a bed, / and a radiant dwelling!”
Glory, and now, Tone 8: After Your birth, O Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, / You came to the temple of the Lord, / to be raised in the holy midst of the saints, as one who is sanctified. / Then Gabriel was sent to You, O All-Pure One, / to bring You food. / All of heaven was amazed, / seeing that the Holy Spirit had dwelt within You. / Therefore, Most Pure, Unstained, / glorified in heaven and on earth, / Mother of God, save our race!
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the Day. And the readings for the feast:
The Lord said to Moses, “On the first day of the first month, you shall set up the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and place the Ark of the Testimony there, and cover it with the veil; and you shall bring in the table and the lampstand; and you shall set the golden censer for burning incense before the Ark of the Testimony, and place the veil at the entrance to the Tabernacle of the Testimony. You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and everything in it— —and consecrate it and all its furnishings, so that it may be holy. You shall consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.
And Moses did everything the Lord (God, the Holy One of Israel) had commanded him; [he did just as he was told]. Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle of Testimony, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. And Moses could not enter the Tabernacle of Testimony because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.
Exodus 40:1–5, 9–10, 16, 34–35
When Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord, he summoned all the elders of Israel to Zion to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion. So the priests carried the ark of the Lord’s covenant, the Tent of the Testimony, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent of the Testimony; and the king and all Israel went before the ark. The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the innermost part of the temple, the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim; for the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its holy objects from above.
And there was nothing in the ark except the two [stone tablets], the tablets of the Covenant, which Moses had placed there at Horeb, as the Lord had commanded. And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the Holy Place, that a cloud filled the house [of the Lord]; and the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory [of the Lord] filled the house of the Lord (God Almighty).
3 Kings 7:51; 8:1, 3–7, 9–11
Thus says the Lord: From the eighth day onward, the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you with favor, says (Adonai) the Lord. Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faced east, and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “These gates shall remain shut; they shall not be opened, and no one shall pass through them, for the Lord, the God of Israel, will pass through them, and they shall remain shut. Therefore, the ruler—he shall sit there to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of these gates, and by the same way he shall go out.” Then he led me along the way to the gate of the sanctuary, the one on the north side opposite the temple, and I looked—and there, the house of the Lord was filled with glory.
Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1–4
Let heaven rejoice today from on high / and let the clouds sprinkle with joy / because of the most extraordinary / and great deeds of our God: / for behold, the Door, facing east, / born of the barren one who had never given birth, according to the promise, / and consecrated to God as a dwelling place, / is brought today into the temple as a pure offering. / Let David rejoice, strumming his lyre: / “They will be brought,” he says, “to the King, virgins following Her, / Her companions will be led into the tabernacle of God, / into His sanctuary,” /—to be nurtured by Her in the dwelling place / of Him who was born of the Father before the ages, not according to earthly laws, /—for the salvation of our souls.
On this day, the temple that has received God—the Mother of God—/ is brought into the temple of the Lord, / and Zechariah receives Her. / On this day, the Holy of Holies rejoices / and the choir of angels mysteriously celebrates. / Together with them, as we celebrate today, / let us cry out with Gabriel: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / He who is rich in mercy!”
Come, all nations, / let us praise the one Immaculate One, /—foretold by the prophets / and brought into the temple: / the Mother destined before the ages / and revealed in the last days as the Mother of God. / O Lord, through her intercession, / grant us Your peace and great mercy!
A joyful day has dawned / and a most holy feast, / for on this day the Virgin before childbirth / and the Virgin after childbirth is brought into the temple. / And the elder Zechariah, father of the Forerunner, rejoices / and cries out joyfully: / “The Hope of all who mourn / has drawn near to the holy temple, as a holy one, / to be consecrated and become the dwelling place of the King of all!” / Let the forefather Joachim rejoice, and let Anna be glad, / for they have brought to God, like a three-year-old heifer, / the spotless Lady. / Rejoice with them, mothers; exult, virgins; / exult together, barren women; / for the predestined Queen of all / has opened the Kingdom of Heaven to us. / Rejoice, people, and be glad!
Heaven and earth rejoice, / seeing the heavenly Virgin entering the divine house, / to be raised in reverence— / the one and only immaculate Virgin, / to whom Zechariah cried out in amazement: / “The Door of the Lord! I open the doors of the temple to You; / rejoice joyfully within it, /—for I have come to know and believe / that the salvation of Israel will surely come, / and the Word of God will be born of You, / bestowing great mercy upon the world!”
Verse: Virgins will be led to the King in her wake, / her companions will be brought to You. Ps 44:15
Anna—divine grace—/ joyfully leads into God’s temple / the pure Ever-Virgin, given to her by grace, / calling upon the young maidens with lamps to walk before her / and proclaiming: / “Go, Child, be both an offering / and fragrant incense to Him who gave You. / Enter the inaccessible place and know the mysteries, / and prepare to become a pleasant and beautiful dwelling for Jesus, / who bestows great mercy upon the world!”
Verse: They will bring her in with joy and gladness; / they will lead her into the King’s temple. Ps 44:16
Within the temple of God / the temple that has received God—the All-Holy Virgin—takes her place, / and the young maidens with their lamps now walk before Her. / Her most excellent parents—/ Joachim and Anna—rejoice, / celebrating / that they gave birth to the One who conceived the Creator—/ She who, rejoicing in the divine abodes / and nourished by the hand of an Angel, / appeared as the all-pure Mother of Christ, / who bestows great mercy upon the world.
Gathered together on this day, we, the faithful assembly, / shall celebrate spiritually / and reverently praise the Mother of God, the Virgin and Theotokos, / as she is led into the temple of the Lord— / she who was chosen from among all generations / to be the dwelling place of Christ, the King of all and God of all. / O Virgins, bearing lamps, go before her, / honoring the sacred procession of the Ever-Virgin. / Mothers, having cast aside all sorrow, / joyfully accompany her together, / singing the praises of She Who Became the Mother of God / and the Giver of joy to the world. / Let us all joyfully exclaim with the Angel: “Rejoice!” O Full of Grace, / who ever intercedes for our souls.
On this day—a sign of God’s favor / and a harbinger of humanity’s salvation: / the Virgin appears openly in the temple of God / and proclaims Christ to all. / To her, too, let us cry out with a loud voice: / “Rejoice, / fulfillment of what the Creator has ordained!” (3)
On this day—a sign of God’s favor / and a harbinger of humanity’s salvation: / in the temple of God, the Virgin appears openly / and proclaims Christ to all. / To her we too shall cry out with a loud voice: / “Rejoice, / fulfillment of what was ordained by the Creator!” (3)
The fruit of the righteous Joachim and Anna / is presented to God in the holy sanctuary— / the infant in the flesh, the Nourisher of our Life, / whom the holy Zechariah blessed. / We all, with faith, will glorify her / as the Mother of God.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Before Your conception, O Pure One, / You were consecrated to God, / and, having been born on earth, / You are now offered to Him as a gift / in fulfillment of Your father’s promise. / And having been entrusted to the divine temple, / as a truly divine temple, / from infancy in purity with bright lamps, / You appeared as the receptacle / of the inaccessible and divine Light. / Truly great is Your procession, / O unique Bride of God and Ever-Virgin.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, / Most Holy Virgin, / God-chosen Maiden, / and we honor Your entry / into the temple of the Lord.
1 Chorus: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise in the city of our God, on His holy mountain. 2 Beautifully established, the joy of the whole earth. 1 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. 2 City of the great King. 1 As we have heard, so we have seen. 2 In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God. 1 God has established it forever. 2 The Most High has sanctified His dwelling place. 1 Holiness and splendor are in His sanctuary. 2 Holy is Your temple, wonderful in righteousness. 1 These are the gates of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through them. 2 The Queen stands at Your right hand. 1 Clothed in gold-embroidered garments, adorned. 2 The nobles of the people will seek Your favor. 1 The daughters of kings are honored before You. 2 All the glory of the King’s Daughter is within. 1 She is clothed in gold-embroidered garments, adorned. 2 Virgins will be led to the King in her wake. 1 Her companions will be brought to You. 2 They will be led in joy and gladness; they will be brought into the King’s palace. 1 Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear. 2 And forget Your people and Your father’s house. 1 For the King has desired your beauty. 2 I will make your name memorable throughout all generations. 1 We have received, O God, your mercy among your people. 2 Therefore the nations will glorify you forever and ever.
Glory, even now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 47:2; 47:3a; 86:3; 47:3b; 47:9a; 47:9b; 47:9c; 45:5b; 95:6b; 64:5d; 117:20; 44:10b; 44:10c; 44:13b; 44:10a; 44:14a; 44:14b; 44:15a; 44:15b; 44:16; 44:11a; 44:11b; 44:12a; 44:18a; 47:10; 44:18b
Let the psalmist David rejoice, / and let Joachim and Anna celebrate, / for the Holy Child has come forth from them— / Mary, the light-bearing divine Lamp; / and now She rejoices as She enters the temple; / and Barachiah’s son, upon seeing Her, blessed Her / and joyfully exclaimed: / “Rejoice, wonder of the whole world!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, O my Savior, / defend and save me.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Hear, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Verse: My heart has poured out a good word; I declare my deeds to the King. Ps 44:11a, 2a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
In those days, Mary set out and traveled in haste to the hill country, to a town in Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb; and blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
Glory: On this day, the living Temple of the great King / enters the temple, / that He may be prepared His divine dwelling. / Rejoice, O people!
And now: we repeat the same.
On this day, the temple that has received God—the Mother of God—/ is brought into the Lord’s temple, / and Zechariah receives her. / On this day, the Holy of Holies rejoices / and the choir of angels mysteriously celebrates. / Together with them, as we celebrate today, / let us cry out with Gabriel: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / He who is rich in mercy!”
The first—of George, Metropolitan of Nicomedia, tone 4, and the second—of Basil Pagariotes, Archbishop of Caesarea, tone 1; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, while the troparia of each canon are sung in tone 6.
Canon 1. Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her entry.
We know You, All-Pure One, / as the treasure of wisdom / and as an inexhaustible fountain / that pours forth grace; / water us, we beseech You, O Lady, / with drops of knowledge, / so that we may sing Your praises always.
Called the highest temple of heaven / and a palace, / they consecrate you, All-Pure One, / as the temple of God; / may you be prepared for Him / as a divine dwelling / at His coming.
Shining with the light of grace, / the Mother of God has illuminated all and summoned us / to adorn with songs / Her most radiant feast. / Come, let us gather before Her!
The Glorious Gate, / impenetrable to the mind, / having opened the doors of God’s temple, / now invites us / to enter with Her and delight / in Her divine wonders.
Canon 2. Irmos: Let us all sing a song of victory / to God, / who performed wondrous miracles / with His mighty arm / and saved Israel: / for He has been glorified.
Let us gather on this day / to honor the Mother of God with songs / and solemnly celebrate this spiritual feast, / for She is presented / as a gift to God’s temple.
Let us sing / of the glorious procession of the Mother of God; / for on this day She, the Temple of God Herself, / is brought into the temple as a precious gift / according to the prophecies.
The immaculate Anna / rejoiced with a mother’s joy, / offering a precious gift to God in the temple; / and Joachim rejoices with her.
Your forefather David / sang of You in ancient times, / O Virgin, Bride of God, / calling You the daughter of Christ the King, / Whom, having given birth to Him, / You nursed at Your breast, as a mother nurses her infant.
The Mother of God, three years old in body, / is brought before the Lord; / and Zechariah, the priest of God, / having received her joyfully, / placed her in the temple.
Rejoice, virgins bearing lamps, / begin your song today; / and you, mothers, sing to the Queen of Mothers, / who comes to the temple of Christ the King.
Trinity Hymn: The consubstantial Trinity— / the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit! / With faith we glorify You as the Creator of all, / and reverently we cry out to You: / “Save us, O God!”
Theotokos: Clothed in purple— / the color of Your blood, O Most Pure One— / through You, the King and God who has come / has renewed the entire human race / through His mercy.
Katavasia: Christ is born—praise Him! / Christ comes from heaven—welcome Him! / Christ is on earth—rejoice! / Sing to the Lord, all the earth, / and sing with joy, O people, / for He has been glorified!
From today onward, this katavasia is sung until January 1.
Canon 1. Irmos: O Mother of God, /—living and abundant fountain— / of Your singers who have prepared this spiritual feast, strengthen them, / and for the sake of Your holy entrance, / grant them the crowns of glory.
The temple has appeared on this day / as the bride’s most beautiful adornment / and as the peace of the wedding, / having received the living palace of God— / the Pure One, the Immaculate One, / and the Most Radiant of all creation.
David, leading the rejoicing, / celebrates and rejoices with us, / and proclaims You, O Immaculate One, / the adorned Queen, standing in the temple / before the King and God, O All-Pure One.
From her sprang forth in ancient times / the sin of the human race, / and from her, too, did redemption and incorruptibility flourish: / she is the Mother of God, / who is brought today into the house of God.
The hosts of angels rejoice / along with the multitude of people, / and before Your face, O All-Pure One, / they hasten on this day with lamps, / proclaiming Your greatness / in the house of God.
Canon 2. Irmos: May my heart be established in Your will, Christ God, / You who established the second heaven above the waters / and founded the earth upon the waters, Almighty One.
Let us rejoice, you who love to celebrate, / and let us rejoice together in spirit, / feasting today on this holy feast / of the King’s Daughter and Mother of our God.
Joachim, rejoice on this day, / and Anna, be glad in spirit, / as you present to the Lord the Three-Year-Old, born of you, / like a sacred, all-pure heifer.
The dwelling place of God / is brought into the holy temple— / the Mother of God, Mary, three years old in the flesh, / and virgins with candles hasten before Her.
The spotless Lamb of God, / the unblemished Dove, / the Tabernacle containing God, the Sanctuary of glory, / has chosen for herself / to dwell in the holy tabernacle.
Three years old in body / yet ageless in spirit, / the most vast of the heavens and highest of the heavenly Powers— / may the Bride of God be glorified in songs.
Celebrating the Mother of God’s entry / into the holy of holies, / we too shall approach the temple on this day with the virgins, / bearing incorporeal lamps in joy.
Priests of God! / Clothe yourselves in the righteousness of grace / and joyfully welcome the Daughter of the King and God, / opening for Her the entrance into the Holy Place.
Trinity Hymn: Light is the Father, Light is His Son, / Light is the Comforter, the Holy Spirit: / for, shining forth from the one Sun, / the Trinity divinely illuminates / and preserves our souls.
Theotokos: O Holy One, / the prophets foretold of You / as the ark of the sanctuary, the golden censer, / the lampstand, and the table; / and we sing of You, / as the tabernacle that has received God.
Katavasia: To the Son, born of the Father before the ages, / not according to earthly laws, / and in the last days incarnate of the Virgin / without seed, / we cry out to Christ God: / “You who have exalted our dignity, / holy are You, O Lord!”
Proclaim, David, that today is a feast / in honor of Her whom you once sang of in the Book of Psalms, / as the Daughter—the Virgin of God and the Virgin: / “They will be brought,” you said, “to the King in secret / virgins following Her and Her companions.” / Make this feast wondrous and universal for those who exclaim: / “The Mother of God has drawn near to us /—the Giver of salvation!”
Glory, and now, the voice is the same: The Immaculate Lamb and the sanctuary free from defilement— / the Mother of God, Mary, is brought in with great joy / into the house of God. / She is faithfully accompanied / by the spear-bearers—the Angels of God, / and all the faithful constantly glorify her / and, in gratitude, sing to her ceaselessly with a loud voice: / “You are our glory and salvation, All-Immaculate One!”*
Canon 1. Irmos: Contemplating God’s inscrutable counsel / concerning Your, O Most High, Incarnation from the Virgin, / the prophet Habakkuk exclaimed: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
The House of God, receiving today the impassable Door, / has put an end to all legalistic observances and shadows, / for, as he proclaims, the truth has truly appeared / to those living on earth.
The shadowed mountain, which Habakkuk foresaw in ancient times, / foreshadowed Her who dwelt within / the inaccessible chambers of the temple: / how She flourished with virtues / and overshadows the ends of the world.
The whole earth! We shall witness incredible, / strange, and wondrous deeds: / how the Virgin, receiving food from the Angel, / receives the signs of God’s plan for the establishment of the Church.
Appearing as a temple, a palace, / and a living heaven, / Bride of God and the King, / on this day you are consecrated in the temple of the Law / to be kept for Him, All-Pure One.
Canon 2. Irmos: Foreseeing by the Spirit the Incarnation of the Word, / you, the prophet Habakkuk, proclaimed, crying out: / “When the years draw near, you will be known; / when the time comes, you will appear.” / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Prophet Isaiah, tell us, / who is this Virgin who bears a child in her womb? /—“She is the one who has sprung from the root of Judah / and was born of King David, / the glorious fruit of the holy seed.”
Begin and sing songs, virgins, / holding lamps in your hands, / praising and celebrating with us / the procession of the pure Mother of God, / who now enters the temple of the Lord.
Joachim and Anna, rejoice now, / as you bring to the temple before the Lord / the pure future Mother of Christ God, the King of all, / who was born of you, / — like a three-year-old heifer.
Being the holiest of the saints, Most Honorable One, / You desired to dwell in the holy temple / and abide, O Virgin, in conversation with the Angels, / miraculously receiving bread from heaven, / Nourisher of Life.
Having given birth, beyond all hope, to the spotless and pure One, / Joachim and Anna piously / vowed to God to offer Her; / and today they fulfill this vow, / presenting the child born of them / as a sacrifice in the house of God.
Once Aaron’s rod sprouted, / foreshadowing, O Pure One, the divine birth— / that You would conceive without seed and remain immaculate, / and appear as a virgin after giving birth, / nursing the Infant—the God of all.
Gather with us to reverently honor / the Virgin among virgins, and the Mother among mothers, / born as a spotless offering, / and after birth offered to God as fruit; / let us all celebrate joyfully!
Trinity Hymn: We reverently glorify the Trinity in Persons and the One in essence: / the true God, whom, as the Lord of all creation, / the leaders of the angelic and archangelic hosts sing of, / all worshipping Him with faith at all times.
Theotokos: Intercede ceaselessly, O All-Pure and Immaculate One, / for Your Son and God, / Whom You bore according to the flesh, / that He may deliver all Your servants / from the manifold snares of the devil / and from every temptation that befalls them.
Katavasia: A branch from the root of Jesse / and a flower from it, / from the Virgin You came forth, Christ; / You came, O Praiseworthy One, / from the mountain shaded by thickets, / having been incarnated from the one who knew no man, / the Incorporeal One and God. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Canon 1. Irmos: The whole world was amazed / at Your sacred entrance; / for You, O Virgin who knew no husband, / entered the temple of God, / as the purest temple, / bestowing peace / upon all who sing Your praises.
A glorious sanctuary and a holy offering, / the All-Pure Virgin, / brought as a gift to the temple of God on this day, / is kept in the dwelling place of the King of all, / our one God, / as He Himself knows.
Beholding once / the beauty of Your soul, Most Pure One, / Zechariah exclaimed with faith: / “You are our redemption, You are the joy of all, / You are our calling to life; / through You, the Inconceivable will be / made conceivable to me!”
O, Your wonders surpass all thought, All-Pure One! / Your birth is extraordinary, / the manner of Your growth is extraordinary; / everything in You, Bride of God, is extraordinary, incomprehensible, and inexplicable to mortals!
You, the radiant lamp, Bride of God, / have shone forth on this day in the house of the Lord / and enlighten us, O Pure One, / with the sacred gifts of Your wonders, / O All-Praised Mother of God.
Canon 2. Irmos: Shine upon us with Your bright, eternal light, / as we keep watch over the judgments of Your commandments, / O Christ, the Lover of Mankind, our God.
Let us clothe ourselves in light, O Orthodox believers, / as we all gather to glorify the Mother of God, / for on this day she is presented to the Lord / as a pleasing sacrifice.
May the forefathers rejoice today, O Lady, / and may she who bore You with Your Father rejoice, / that their fruit is offered to the Lord.
Let us all sing of the many-named and most glorious Immaculate Cow, / who gave birth in the flesh to the Divine Calf, / celebrating with faith.
That You are the Bride, the pure Virgin, / on this day divine signs—beyond human understanding—/ of Your conception by the Holy Spirit / are recorded in the house of God.
May the gates of the glory of our God be opened, and may they receive the Mother of God, who knew no husband, as a three-year-old heifer untouched by defilement.
Let us sing of the venerable and shadowy mountain— / the Ever-Virgin, who became the Mother of God, / for She has illuminated / the ends of the world with Her light.
Trinity Hymn: Glorifying the highest of all beginnings / and the eternal, one Godhead, / let us worship Him in three Persons, indivisible in essence / and equally honored in glory.
Theotokos: Like a peaceful harbor and an unbreakable wall / in times of trouble we have found / Your intercession, Mother of God, / always delivered by You from misfortunes and sorrows.
Katavasia: You, God of peace and Father of mercy, / have sent us the Herald of Your great plan, / the Giver of peace. / Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, / greeting the dawn after the night, / we glorify You, Lover of mankind.
Canon 1. Irmos: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, / let us begin to clap our hands, / glorifying the God born of her.
He who sustains all things by His word / has heard the prayer of the righteous; / therefore, putting an end to the affliction of barrenness, as the Merciful One, / He has granted them the Source of Joy.
Desiring to reveal His salvation to the nations, / the Lord has now accepted from among men / the one who knew no marriage as a sign / of reconciliation and renewal.
Appearing, as it were, as a house of grace, / in which are laid the treasures / of God’s ineffable house-building, / You, the All-Pure One, have partaken in the temple / of imperishable delight.
The temple, having received You, the Bride of God, / as a royal diadem, / was illuminated and advanced toward what is best, / seeing in You the fulfillment / of what had been foretold.
Canon 2. Irmos: Imitating the prophet Jonah, I cry out: / “O Good One, deliver my life from destruction / and save me, Savior of the world, / as I cry out: Glory to You!”
Let us celebrate, faithful ones, this spiritual feast, / reverently singing the praises of the Mother of God, / for She is holier than the Heavenly Minds.
Let us extol in spiritual songs, / O faithful, the Mother of Light, / for on this day She appeared to us / as She made her way into the house of God.
The Lamb, free from defilement, / and the pure Dove, / has been brought to dwell in the house of God, / destined to become, as the Immaculate One, / the Mother of God.
The Temple of God, the heavenly Tabernacle, / makes its entrance into the earthly temple, / from which light has shone forth / upon us who dwell in darkness.
Infant in the flesh / yet perfect in spirit, / the holy Ark enters the house of God / to partake of Divine grace.
From every temptation / and danger to the soul, / deliver us who take refuge in You, / through Your intercession, O all-praised / Mother of Christ our God.
Trinitarian: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— / Unity in three Persons and the indivisible Trinity! / Have mercy on those who worship / Your divine power.
Theotokos: Uncontainable by the whole world, / yet made containable by Your womb, O Mother of God, / He was born of You, O All-Pure One, / dual in nature—God and Man.
Katavasia: From Jonah’s belly, the sea monster spewed forth the infant / just as it had received him; / but the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken on flesh, / passed through her, preserving her incorrupt; / for just as He Himself was not subject to ordinary conception, / so He kept her who gave birth to Him unharmed.
The purest temple of the Savior, / the priceless palace and the Virgin, / the sacred treasure of God’s glory, / on this day is brought into the house of the Lord, / bringing grace with Her, / that which is in the Divine Spirit. / The Angels of God sing Her praises; / She is the Heavenly Tabernacle.
Ikos: Beholding the grace of God’s ineffable and sacred mysteries, / revealed and clearly fulfilled in the Virgin, / I rejoice and am filled with wonder, / striving to comprehend the wondrous and inexpressible manner / by which the Chosen One and the One Who Is Pure / has been exalted above all creation— / both the visible and that which is comprehensible to the mind. / Therefore, desiring to praise Her, / I am greatly perplexed by my own mind and words. / Yet, taking courage, I extol Her and proclaim: / “She is the heavenly tabernacle!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The godly-wise / did not honor creation more than the Creator, / but, bravely overcoming the fire that threatened them, / joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Behold, today a joyful spring has dawned / to the ends of the universe, / enlightening our soul, our thoughts, and our mind / with grace—the feast of the Mother of God. / Let us, then, partake mysteriously on this day!
Let all today pay / homage to the Queen and Mother: / heaven and earth, the hosts of angels, / and the multitude of mortals—and let them cry out: / “Joy and Salvation are brought into the temple!”
The written law has passed away, vanished like a shadow, / and the rays of grace have shone forth / in the temple of God with Your entry into it, / O Pure Virgin Mother, / blessed forever.
To Him born of You, All-Pure One, / heaven, earth, and the underworld / submitted as to the Creator and God; / and every tongue of mortals confesses / that the Lord has appeared, / the Savior of our souls.
Canon 2. Irmos: The furnace was doused, O Savior, / while the youths, rejoicing, sang: / “Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!”
Let us rejoice on this day, O lovers of feasts, / and sing to the All-Pure Lady, / while we honor Joachim and Anna as they deserve.
Prophesy, O speaker by the Spirit: / “Virgins will follow in Your footsteps, / and be led into the temple to You, O Queen and Mother.”
The hosts of angels rejoiced, / the spirits of the righteous were glad, / that the Mother of God was being brought into the sanctuary.
Receiving heavenly nourishment, / she flourished in wisdom and grace— / she who became the Mother according to the flesh / of Christ the Savior.
Both in body and spirit, / the immaculate Mary rejoiced, / spending her time in the temple of God, / as the most sacred vessel.
Your chaste parents, O Most Pure One, / brought You into the innermost part of the temple— / for an extraordinary upbringing / in the dwelling place of Christ God.
Trinitarian: Let us glorify the indivisible Trinity, / let us sing of the one Godhead: / the Word and the All-Holy Spirit, together with the Father.
Theotokos: Intercede, Mother of God, with the Lord, / Whom You gave birth to, / Who is merciful by nature, / to save the souls of those who sing Your praises.
Katavasia: The youths, raised in piety, / disregarding the command of the wicked, / were not afraid of the threatening fire, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, sang: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Listen, O Pure Virgin Maiden— / let Gabriel proclaim / the eternal and true plan of the Most High: / “Be ready to receive God; / for through You the Inconceivable One will dwell with mortals; / therefore I joyfully exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
Having once brought the Most Pure Temple into the house of God, / Anna, crying out in faith, said to the priest: / “Having now received the Child, / given to me also by God, / bring Him into the temple of your Creator / and joyfully sing to Him: / ‘Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!’”
Zachariah once said to Anna, / beholding her in the Spirit: / “You are bringing in the true Mother of Life, / whom God’s prophets have clearly proclaimed to be the Mother of God; / how then can the temple contain Her? / Therefore, I cry out in wonder: / ‘Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!’”
“I began to ask God,” / Anna replied to him, / “calling upon Him with faith and prayer / that I might receive the fruit of my suffering / and, after giving birth, bring the Newborn to the One who gave Her. / Therefore, I cry out in joy: / Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
“Truly, this is a righteous deed,” / the priest said to her, / “but it seems to me a most wondrous thing / to see that the One brought into the house of God / surpasses the sanctuary itself in grace; / therefore, I too cry out in joy: / Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
“I am encouraged,” Anna said to him, / “as I ponder what you say, / for you have understood by the Spirit of God / what I have clearly proclaimed about the Virgin; / so receive the Most Pure One into the temple of your Creator / and sing joyfully to Him: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
“The light-bearing lamp,” the priest proclaimed, “/ has kindled for us the greatest joy, shining in the temple; / may the souls of the prophets rejoice with me, / beholding how wondrous deeds / are being accomplished in the house of God, / and may they now exclaim: / ‘Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!’”
Canon 2. Irmos: He whom the angels and all the heavenly hosts revere / as Creator and Lord, / sing to Him, O priests; glorify Him, O youths; / bless Him, O people; / and exalt Him for all ages!
Today Joachim rejoices with joy, / and the immaculate Anna offers to the Lord God / the holy Daughter / given to her according to her promise.
The saints David and Jesse rejoice, / and Judah is exalted, / for from their root has sprung forth the fruit— / the pure Virgin, from whom the eternal God was born.
Mary, the most pure and living tabernacle, / is brought on this day into the house of God, / and Zechariah receives her with his hands, / as the Lord’s consecrated treasure.
As a saving door and a spiritual mountain, / as a living ladder, let us, the faithful, truly honor / the Virgin and Mother of God, / blessed by the hands of the priests.
Prophets, Apostles, and martyrs of Christ, / hosts of angels and all who are born on earth, / let us honor the pure Virgin with songs, / as the blessed Mother of the Most High.
They brought You into the temple, O All-Immaculate, Pure One, / having divinely given birth to You as a pure offering, / and You dwell in an extraordinary way in the inaccessible places with God— / to prepare a dwelling for the Word.
Trinity Hymn: Let the Most Holy Trinity be praised: / the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / an indivisible Unity, a single Divinity, / holding all creation in His hand for all ages.
Theotokos: The Word without beginning takes on flesh, / being born, as He Himself willed, / both God and man from the Virgin-Maiden, / recreating us, who had fallen, / through His boundless mercy.
Katavasia: The furnace, sprinkled with dew, / presented the image of a supernatural miracle: / for it does not scorch the youths it has taken in, / just as the fire of the Divinity does not scorch the Virgin’s womb, / into which He descended. / Therefore, let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all ages!”
We do not sing the 9th canticle, “The Highest Honor of the Cherubim,” even on Sunday, but we sing the refrain of the feast:
The angels, witnessing the entry of the All-Pure One, marveled at how / the Virgin entered the Holy of Holies.
And the irmos: “Let the living Ark of God:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And for each troparion, we sing the feast’s refrains, with each choir taking turns.
Canon 1. Irmos: May the living Ark of God / never be touched by the hand of the uninitiated, / but may the lips of the faithful, without ceasing, / singing the Angel’s cry, / call out to the Mother of God in joy: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
The angels, seeing the entry of the All-Pure One, marveled at how / she entered the Holy of Holies in glory.
Possessing the most radiant / beauty of spiritual purity / and filled from heaven with God’s grace, / You, O Pure Mother of God, ceaselessly illuminate / with eternal light those who joyfully cry out: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
The angels, seeing the Virgin’s entry, marveled at how / she miraculously entered the Holy of Holies.
Your miracle, O Pure Mother of God, / soars beyond the power of words; / for I acknowledge in You, beyond all reason, / a body inaccessible to the flow of sin, / and so I cry out to You in gratitude: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
Angels and people! Let us honor the Virgin’s entry, / for She has entered the Holy of Holies in glory.
The Law has wondrously prefigured / You, O Pure One, as the tabernacle, / the divine vessel of manna, / the marvelous ark, the veil, and the rod, / the indestructible temple and the door of God; / through these, it teaches us to exclaim to You: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
The angels, seeing the Virgin’s entry, marveled at how / she entered the Holy of Holies in a manner pleasing to God.
In songs from of old, David proclaimed to You, / calling You the King’s daughter / because of the beauty of Your virtues, when he beheld You / standing adorned at the right hand of God; / therefore he cried out prophetically: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
Angels, rejoice with the saints; virgins, rejoice together: / for the Virgin of God has entered the Holy of Holies.
Solomon, foreseeing / that You would receive God within Yourself, / likened You, O Mother of God, to the King’s bed, / and to a living, sealed spring, / from which flowed unclouded water / for us who cry out in faith: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
Angels and men, let us exalt the Virgin in song; / for she has entered the Holy of Holies in a manner befitting God.
Grant my soul, among Your gifts, / Your peace, O Mother of God, / bestowing life upon those who rightly honor You, / caring for them Yourself, sheltering and protecting them, / so that they may cry out to You: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
Then the first choir sings the festive refrain of the second canon:
Praise, O my soul, / the one brought into the Lord’s temple / and blessed by the hands of the priests.
And the irmos: “Light-bearing cloud:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And for each troparion we sing the same festive refrain.
Canon 2. Irmos: Light-bearing cloud, in which the Lord of all / descended from heaven like rain upon the fleece / and, the Beginningless One, became incarnate, / becoming man for our sake; / we all magnify / the pure Mother of our God.
From the righteous Joachim and Anna / the fruit of their promise came forth— / Mary, the Virgin of God; / and, like sweet incense, / she, still an infant in the flesh, / is brought into the holy temple, / so that, as a saint, she may dwell in the sanctuary.
Let us praise with songs the One who, though an infant by nature, / was revealed as the supernatural Mother of God, / for on this day / she is brought to the temple of the Lord / as a sweet-smelling fragrance, / as the spiritual fruit of the righteous.
With the Angel, let us exclaim, “Rejoice,” O faithful ones, / to the Mother of God, as is fitting: / “Rejoice, O beautiful Bride; / rejoice, O luminous Cloud, / from which the Lord shone forth / upon us who dwell in the darkness of ignorance; / rejoice, O Hope of all!”
Holy of Holies and Mother of God, O Pure Mary, / deliver us by Your intercessions from the snares of the enemy, / and from every heresy and sorrow, / we who worship with faith the image / of Your holy face.
All creation / sings a most worthy hymn / to the Mother of God / together with the Angel Gabriel, crying out: / “Rejoice, all-immaculate Mother of God, / through whom we have been delivered from the ancient curse, / having become partakers of incorruption!”
Surpassing the Cherubim, / higher and more vast than the Seraphim of the heavens, / You appeared, O Virgin, /—having conceived and given birth in an ineffable manner to our God, / whom the whole world cannot contain: / pray earnestly to Him for us.
O my soul, extol / the power of the undivided Godhead in three Persons.
Trinity: The Nature in three Persons / and the indivisible glory, / ceaselessly celebrated in the unity of the Godhead / in heaven and on earth—the inseparable Trinity: / with the Son, the Father, and the Spirit, / let us glorify Him, worshiping Him reverently.
Praise, O my soul, / the highest honor and glory of the Heavenly Hosts, / (the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.)
Theotokos: Pray, O Virgin Mother of God, / for deliverance from destruction, misfortune, / and all manner of temptations / for those who with faith take refuge in Your mercy / and reverently worship Your Son, / as God of the whole world and Lord.
Then both choirs come together and sing the refrain of the first canon:
The angels, beholding the entry of the All-Pure One, marveled at how / the Virgin entered the Holy of Holies.
Katavasia: I behold a mystery / extraordinary and wondrous: / the cave is heaven, the throne of the Cherubim is the Virgin, / the manger is the receptacle / where the ineffable Christ God lay, / Whom we extol in our hymns.
Let us praise with faith Mary, the Virgin of God, / Whom in ancient times the host of prophets foretold / as a vessel of manna, and a rod, / and a tablet, and an unsplit mountain: / for on this day She is brought into the Holy of Holies / to be raised by the Lord. (3)
The virgins with their lamps, / lighting the way for the Ever-Virgin, / truly prophesy in the Spirit of things to come, / for the Mother of God, being the temple of God, / is brought into the temple with the glory of a virgin / from her infancy.
As the fruit—and indeed the most glorious fruit—/ of the holy promise, / the Mother of God appeared to the world, / as truly the highest of all. / She, reverently brought into the house of God, / fulfills the prayerful vow of her parents, / preserved by the Divine Spirit.
O Virgin, truly nourished / by the heavenly bread in the Lord’s temple! / You gave birth to the bread of life for the world—the Word, / to Whom, as a chosen and all-pure temple, / you were mysteriously destined by the Spirit, / betrothed to God the Father.
May the door of the temple that has received God be opened: / for on this day, having taken the Temple and the Throne of the King of all, / Joachim, with glory, places / within the sanctuary as a gift, having consecrated to the Lord / the One He chose to be His Mother.
On this day, the All-Pure Virgin is brought into the temple / to be the dwelling place of the King of all, God, / and the Nourisher of our whole life; / on this day, the purest sanctuary, like a three-year-old heifer, / is led into the Holy of Holies. / Let us cry out to Her, as the Angel did: / “Rejoice, O blessed one, unique among women!”
The Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
Iconographic; blessed: Song 3 of the 1st canon in tone 4, and Song 6 of the 2nd canon in tone 4. If the rector so desires, we sing the antiphons of the feast.
Verse 1: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise / in the city of our God, on His holy mountain.
Ps 47:2
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, / save us.
Verse 2: Glorious things are spoken of you, / O City of God. Ps 86:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, / save us.
Verse 3: God is known in His sanctuaries, / when He helps him. Psalm 47:4
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 4: As we have heard, so we have seen / in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God. Psalm 47:9a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 1: The Most High has sanctified / His dwelling place. Ps 45:5b
Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: Holiness and splendor / are in His sanctuary. Ps 95:6b
Save us, O Son of God, / glorious among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: These are the gates of the Lord; / the righteous shall enter through them. Ps 117:20
Save us, O Son of God, / glorious among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: Holy is Your temple, / wonderful in righteousness. Ps 64:5g
Save us, O Son of God, / glorious among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: The wealthy among the people / will seek Your face. Ps 44:13b
On this day—a sign of God’s favor / and a foretaste of humanity’s salvation: / the Virgin appears openly in God’s temple / and proclaims Christ to all. / To her we too shall cry out with a loud voice: / “Rejoice, / fulfillment of the Creator’s plan!”
Verse 2: All the glory of the King’s Daughter is within. / She is clothed in golden fringe, adorned. Ps 44:14
Troparion: This day is a sign of God’s favor:
Verse 3: Virgins will be led to the King in her wake, / her companions will be brought to You. Psalm 44:15
Troparion: On this day—a sign of God’s favor:
Verse 4: They will be brought in joy and gladness; / they will be led into the King’s temple. Psalm 44:16
Troparion: On this day—a sign of God’s favor:
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ; / save us, O Son of God, wondrous among the saints, / who sing to You: Alleluia.
On this day—a sign of God’s favor / and a foretaste of the salvation of mankind: / in the temple of God, the Virgin appears openly / and proclaims Christ to all. / To her, let us also cry out with a loud voice: / “Rejoice, / fulfillment of what was ordained by the Creator!”
The purest temple of the Savior, / the priceless palace and the Virgin, / the sacred treasure of God’s glory, / is brought into the house of the Lord on this day, / bringing grace with Her, / that which is in the Divine Spirit. / God’s angels sing Her praises; / She is the Heavenly Tabernacle.
The Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Verse: For He has looked with favor on the humility of His handmaid, for from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Brothers, the first covenant also had regulations concerning the ministry and the sanctuary belonging to this world. For the first tabernacle was set up, in which there was the lampstand, the table, and the display of the bread; this is called the “Holy Place.” Behind the second curtain was a tent called the “Holy of Holies,” containing a golden censer and the ark of the covenant, overlaid with gold on all sides, in which were a golden jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it are the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the place of atonement, about which it is not worth speaking in detail at this time. And with this arrangement, the priests constantly enter the first tabernacle to perform their service, but the second is entered only once a year by the high priest alone, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people’s ignorance.
Heb 9:1–7
Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear.
Verse: The wealthy among the people will seek Your favor. Psalm 44:11a, 13b
At that time, Jesus entered a certain village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations for the meal, and she came up to Him and said: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” In reply, Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” While He was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You!” But He said, “Truly, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 10:38–42; 11:27–28
The angels, seeing the entry of the All-Pure One, marveled at how / the Virgin entered the Holy of Holies.
Irmos, Tone 4: May the living Ark of God / never be touched by the hand of the uninitiated, / but may the lips of the faithful, without ceasing, / singing the Angel’s cry, / call out to the Mother of God in joy: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
And until the Communion.
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 115: 4
As we commemorate the faithful Forefathers on this day, / let us sing of Christ the Redeemer, / who exalted them among all nations / and who faithfully performed glorious miracles, the Lord, / as mighty and powerful, / and who through them revealed to us the rod of strength— / the Virgin Mary, who knew no man, and the Daughter of God, the pure Mary, / from whom sprang the Flower—Christ, / who brought forth life for all, / and inexhaustible bliss, and eternal salvation.
You who delivered the holy youths from the fire, O Lord, / and Daniel from the lions’ mouths; / You who blessed Abraham, and Isaac, Your servant, / and his son Jacob; / who deigned to become like us from their seed, / so that You might save our forefathers who had previously stumbled / through Your Cross and Resurrection / and, having broken the bonds of death, raise up with You all / who have dwelt among the dead from of old, / that they may worship You, Christ, King of the ages.
Like those in the rain, sprinkled with the dew of the Spirit, / rejoicing in the midst of the flames, the youths of God walked, / mysteriously foreshadowing in it the Trinity / and the Incarnation of Christ; / and, as the wise, they quenched the power of the fire by their faith; / while the righteous Daniel appeared as the tamer of the lions. / Hearing their prayers, O Savior who loves mankind, / deliver us also from the unquenchable eternal fire / and grant us to attain Your Heavenly Kingdom.
As if dwelling amid the dew, / Your faithful and holy youths / mysteriously foreshadowed in the flames of the fiery furnace / Your coming from the Virgin, / which shone upon us unburned; / and Daniel the righteous, wondrous among the prophets, / clearly revealing Your second divine coming, exclaims: / “I watched,” he says, “until thrones were set in place, / and the Judge took His seat, and a river of fire flowed!” / May we be delivered from it, O Christ, / through their prayers, O Lord!
Glory, Tone 6, Anatolius: Let us praise on this day, O faithful ones, / all the fathers who lived before the Law: / Abraham, the God-loving, / and Isaac, born of the promise, / and Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs; / David, the meekest, / and Daniel, the prophet of desire; / and with them, glorifying the three youths, / who turned the furnace into dew, / asking forgiveness from Christ God, / who is glorified in His saints.
And now, the first tone of the Theotokos.
Glory, Tone 1: Illuminated by the rays of divine revelation, / the prophets, renowned by name, / are always called blessed; / and, multiplying the fruit of the Spirit’s utterances, / they proclaimed to all the ineffable birth of Christ God; / and they lived a wondrous life, / bringing it to a righteous conclusion at their passing.*
And now, O Mother of God: Behold, the prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled, / for You, O Virgin, gave birth and remained after childbirth as You were before: / for He who was born was God, / and therefore He changed the laws of nature. / But, O Mother of God, do not despise the prayers of Your servants, / offered to You in Your sanctuary, / but, as You who carried the Merciful One in Your arms, / have mercy on Your servants / and intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Glory, Tone 3, by Herman: Come, all who love to celebrate, / let us praise the host of our forefathers with psalms: / Adam our forefather, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, / Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; / who lived according to the Law: Moses and Aaron, / Jesus, Samuel, and David, / along with them—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, / and Daniel, and the twelve prophets; / Elijah, Elisha, and together with them all: / Zechariah, John the Baptist, and the others who preached Christ /—the life and resurrection of our race!
And now, O Mother of God: Without seed, by the Holy Spirit / and by the Father’s will, You conceived the Son of God. / He who had His beginning from the Father before the ages, without a mother, / but who for our sake came forth from You without a father, / You bore in Your womb according to the flesh / and nourished as an infant with milk. / Therefore, do not cease to intercede / for the deliverance of our souls from afflictions.
Through the faith of the forefathers You have justified them, / and through them You have betrothed to Yourself the Church from all nations. / The saints rejoice in glory, / for from their seed comes a glorious fruit— / She who gave birth to You without seed. / Through their prayers, Christ our God, save our souls.
Through the faith of the forefathers You have justified them, / and through them You have pre-betrothed to Yourself the Church of all nations. / The saints rejoice in glory, / for from their seed comes a glorious fruit—/ She who gave birth to You without seed. / By their prayers, Christ our God, save our souls.
After the Sunday sedalniks with their Theotokos hymns.
Let us all praise Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in song, / the meek David, Jesus, and the twelve patriarchs / together with the three youths who quenched the fiery flame by spiritual power, / “Rejoice,”—proclaiming to them—“/ who valiantly exposed the folly of the mad king, / and pray to Christ to grant forgiveness of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love!” (2)
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: I offer You, O Lady, due thanksgiving, / like the widow who gave her two mites, / for all Your gifts: / for You have been both a shield and a help, / always delivering me from calamities and sorrows. / Therefore, as if from the midst of a burning furnace, / having been delivered from those who persecute me, / I cry out to You from my heart: / “Mother of God, help me, beseeching Christ God / to grant me forgiveness of my sins; / for I have You as my hope, Your servant!”
Three canons: the Sunday Canon in the 4th tone, the Canon of the Three Holy Youths in the 4th tone, and the Canon of the Forefathers in the 6th tone. The Canon of the Three Holy Youths, in the 8th tone, has an acrostic: “I sing of the Three Youths and of the great Daniel.” Composed by St. Theophan.
Canon 1. Irmos: Walking on the water as on dry land, / and having escaped the corruption of Egypt, / the Israelite cried out: / “Let us sing to our Savior and God!”
Let us glorify the Word without beginning, / begotten of the Father before all ages, / as befits God, / who figuratively appeared to the youths in the furnace.
Bravely defying the command of the wicked tyrant, / the noble youths / refused to defile themselves / with the food of the lawless, / according to the Chaldean custom.
You nourished your souls with the Word, / while for your bodies you were content with wild plants, / yet you appeared before the king / more beautiful in appearance than those living in luxury.
Theotokos: The serpent’s poison, which entered Eve’s ears with bitterness, / is healed by the Virgin, descended from David, / as she bears the Redeemer in her womb.
Another canon, of the holy forefathers, tone 1, with the acrostic: “To the Fathers I now offer praise, as is fitting.” A composition by St. Joseph.
Irmos: Christ is born—praise Him:
Let us offer praise to the Fathers, / who shone forth before the Law and under the Law, / and who served the Lord and Master, / who shone forth from the Virgin, / with righteous thought, / and who now rejoice / in unfading radiance.
Let us honor Adam the first, / honored by the hand of the Creator, / who has now become the forefather of us all, / and who rests in the heavenly tabernacles / with all the elect.
Abel, who offered gifts with a most noble soul, / was accepted by God, the Lord of all; / and though he was slain in ancient times by a wicked hand, / He brought him into the light, / as a divine martyr.
Theotokos: Let us hear the God-inspired words / proclaiming the coming of Christ: / for behold, He is born in a cave / of the Virgin who knew no man, / and His awe-inspiring Nativity / is revealed to the Magi by the star that appeared.
Katavasia: Christ is born—praise Him! / Christ from heaven—welcome Him! / Christ on earth—rejoice! / Sing to the Lord, all the earth, / and sing with joy, O people, / for He has been glorified!
Canon 1. Irmos: You are the refuge / of those who flee to You, O Lord, / You are the Light to those in darkness, / and my spirit sings of You.
Having attained wisdom, / taught by God, O Lord, / the youths, the sons of David, / preserved their fathers’ laws with divine wisdom.
The fire did not scorch / the purest bodies of the pious: / for they were nourished / by fasting that sustains the soul.
The three youths in the midst of the furnace / sing universal and manifold praise, / miraculously sprinkled with dew.
Theotokos: To show us the birth / from a virgin body, You, O Lord, / save the virgins’ bodies in the furnace.
Another Canon. Irmos: To Him born of the Father before the ages:
The fiery longing of Sif for the Creator / is sung throughout the world, / for with a blameless life and a devout soul / he truly served Him, / and now in the land of the living he cries out: / “Holy are You, O Lord!”
With his lips, tongue, and heart / to call upon the Lord God with hope / the wondrous Enoch, godly and wise, resolved in the Spirit / and, having lived a life pleasing on earth, / attained glory.
With the most sacred hymns of praise / let us exalt the blessed Enoch, / for, having pleased the Lord, / he was taken up in glory, / proving himself stronger than death, as it is written, / for he became God’s most sincere servant.
Theotokos: Now the One awaited by the nations is born of the Virgin, / and in Bethlehem, in a fitting manner, opens / the Eden once closed, / having received the Word who became incarnate / and desired to lie in a manger in the flesh.
Katavasia: To the Son, born of the Father before the ages, / not according to earthly laws, / and in these last days, born of the Virgin / without seed, / let us cry out to Christ God: / “You who have exalted our dignity, / holy are You, O Lord!”
Fire was transformed into dew for the youths, / and weeping was turned into joy for the women. / And the Angel was the minister of both miracles: / turning the furnace into a place of rest for some, / and announcing the Resurrection on the third day to others. / Ruler of our life, O Lord, glory to You!
Canon 1. Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence, / I have understood Your works / and glorified Your Divinity.
Daniel, the wisest of all, / enlightened by divine wisdom, / interpreted the dreams of the rulers / through divine grace.
The feat of the youths in the furnace / shines with miracles: / for they captured the tyrant, leading him / to the knowledge of You, the Almighty.
Harmonious instruments / and the melodious strains of music / did not enchant the valiant ones / nor did they cause them to bow before the golden image.
Theotokos: With hymns, the youths who were in Babylon / honor, O All-Praised One, / Your Most Divine Son, / Whom they came to know in the furnace.
Another canon. Irmos: A shoot from the root of Jesse:
Let us offer praise to God, / honoring with hymns / Noah, who was truly righteous: / for, boasting in the fulfillment of all the divine commandments, / he proved pleasing to Christ, / to Whom we sing with faith: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
God, having seen your nobility, / the purity of your character, and your perfection in all things, / clearly reveals you, Noah, as the progenitor of the second world, / having saved for it from the flood of the flesh / the seed of every kind, / as He Himself commanded.
Let us reverently glorify with songs Noah, who preserved God’s law intact, / who was once found righteous among his people, / and who, in ancient times, saved in a wooden ark / the species of speechless creatures by His almighty command.
Your memory, blessed Noah, pours forth / the wine of tenderness upon us who honor you, / always gladdening both the souls and hearts / of those who sincerely extol your devout virtues / and your God-inspired way of life.
Theotokos: Now our Redemption lies in a manger / and is swaddled in swaddling clothes like an infant. / And the Magi, the kings of the East, come / to see Him as God and King, born on earth, / and to serve Him faithfully with their gifts.
Katavasia: A branch from the root of Jesse / and a flower from it, / from the Virgin You were born, Christ; / You came, O Praiseworthy One, / from the mountain shaded by thickets, / having been incarnated from the one who knew no man, / the Incorporeal One and God. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Canon 1. Irmos: Why have You cast me away / from Your presence, O Unquenchable Light, / and why has foreign darkness covered me, the wretched one? / But turn me back to the light of Your commandments / and direct my paths, I beseech You.
Your servants, taught the Law, / did not renounce it, Savior, /—the great Daniel with the three godly youths; / but, having received strength from You, our Benefactor, / they changed the ways of the tyrants through their courage.
In his mind, Daniel was taught / Your mysteries, O Lover of Mankind: / for he beheld You, as the Son of Man, / King and Judge of all nations, / with a pure mind / coming on a cloud.
More beautiful than sapphire stone / have your bodies become, O children: / like the radiance of gold, you blaze with zeal for piety, / walking joyfully into the furnace / and gathering universal rejoicing.
Theotokos: Daniel, inspired by God, / clearly foretold You, O Virgin, as a Mountain; / and the three youths, seeing the life-giving flame, / praise Your Divine Son with hymns / as Savior, Creator, and Lord.
Another Canon. Irmos: You, God of peace:
May he be honored with divinely inspired praises, / he who received the fruit—his father’s blessing, / and appeared pleasing before God, / and was numbered among the ranks of the forefathers, / and rests joyfully in the land of the living.
As a friend of God, Abraham was deemed worthy to behold / the day of his Creator / and was filled with spiritual joy; / let us therefore, honoring him with righteous thoughts, / all glorify him as a faithful servant of God.
You beheld, as far as it is possible for a human to see, the Trinity / and welcomed Her hospitably, / as a closest friend, most blessed Abraham; / therefore you receive your reward / for your extraordinary hospitality, / having been deemed worthy to become the father of countless nations through faith.
Theotokos: He who possesses all fullness / humbles Himself in the flesh for our sake, / and the Beginningless One receives a beginning; / the Rich One becomes poor, / and He who is Himself the Word of God / lies as an infant in the manger of speechless creatures, / accomplishing the renewal of all who have lived from of old.
Katavasia: You, God of peace and Father of mercy, / have sent us the Herald of Your great plan, / the Giver of peace. / Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, / and greeting the dawn after the night, / we glorify You, Lover of mankind.
Canon 1. Irmos: The storm of the abyss of sins and transgressions troubles me / and drives me with force into the depths of despair; / but You Yourself stretch out Your strong hand to me, as You did to Peter, / and lift me up from the depths of perdition.
Having gained dominion over the passions of the soul through the power of the Word, / you became rulers in the lands of the Chaldean tribes; / for virtue knows how to bestow honor upon those who have earned it, / O wise descendants of David!
Clothed in life-giving death, / in ancient times Daniel destroyed / the most wicked serpent, which the Chaldeans wickedly worshiped as a god, / and he wisely exterminated the hostile priests.
Theotokos: Intercede with Your prayers, O Mother, / that on the Day of Judgment He may be merciful to me / and deliver me from grievous torments— / the Judge, Your Son, O Virgin Mother of God; / for I place my hope in You alone.
Another Canon. Irmos: From the womb of Jonah:
You became a clear image / of Christ’s death, most blessed Isaac, / led by your father’s obedience to the sacrifice. / Therefore you attained blessedness, / and truly appeared as God’s closest friend, / dwelling with all the righteous.
Jacob appeared as God’s most faithful servant; / therefore he wrestled with the Angel, / was called “the one whose mind beholds God,” / and saw in a dream the divine ladder, / upon which God was established, / having united Himself with the flesh through His goodness.
Joseph, who loved obedience to his father, / was cast into a pit and sold / as a foreshadowing of Christ, who was slain and cast into a pit; / yet he became the distributor of bread to all of Egypt, / being chaste and righteous, / and the truest ruler over the passions.
Theotokos: The Infant is revealed on earth—/the One who exists eternally with the Father and the Spirit;/wrapped in swaddling clothes, /He who truly shrouded the earth in darkness, /and lies in a manger among speechless animals./Let us now joyfully celebrate in advance /His seedless birth.
Katavasia: From Jonah’s womb, the sea monster spewed forth the infant / just as it had received him; / but the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken on flesh, / passed through her, preserving her incorrupt; / for just as He Himself was not subject to ordinary conception, / so He kept her who gave birth to Him unharmed.
Refusing to worship the man-made image, / but taking refuge in the Indescribable Nature, O thrice-blessed ones, / you were glorified by your feat in the fire / and, standing amid the unbearable flames, you called upon God: / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid, as the Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Ikos: Stretch forth Your hand, / whose power was tested in ancient times / by the persecuting Egyptians and the persecuted Jews. / Do not forsake us, lest death, which craves us, consume us, / and Satan, who hates us, / but draw near to us and have mercy on our souls, / just as You once had mercy on Your youths who were in Babylon, / who sang Your praises unceasingly and were cast into the furnace for Your sake, / and from within it cried out to You: / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid, O Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The God-fearing youths in Babylon / did not worship the golden image, / but, though bathed in the flames of the furnace, / they sang a hymn, crying out: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
A pious voice rang out / from the midst of the fire to the Almighty; / for Azariah, having formed a divine choir, / sang a hymn, exclaiming: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
The youths’ lyres proclaimed / the divinity of the God of all and the Almighty, / who appeared clearly to them in the furnace, / and they sang a song, exclaiming: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
The ruler knew that three had been cast into the furnace, / and when he saw the form of the Fourth, / he called Him the Son of God and proclaimed to all: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Theotokos: Possessing a mind radiant with divine splendor, / Daniel, blessed by God, / you clearly foresaw the birth from the Virgin, / signified by mysterious images, and cried out, / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Another Canon. Irmos: Youths raised in piety:
Let Ananias, Azarias, and Misael be praised / along with Daniel, who quenched the fiery furnace / and subdued the lions’ fury, / and who sing in harmony with Christ: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Job, who lawfully endured misfortunes / in trials and unceasing sorrows, / meek, gentle, upright, / perfect, blameless, / was named a most true servant of God / and exclaims: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
With the faith of Moses and Aaron, let us honor them with joy, / praising Jesus and the most holy Levi, / as well as Gideon and Samson, and crying out: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Theotokos: Behold, as the prophet foretold, / she who knew no husband conceived God in her womb / and hastens indeed to give birth in the cave of Bethlehem / to Him to whom we all sing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Katavasia: The youths, raised in piety, / disregarding the command of the wicked, / were not afraid of the threatening fire, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, sang: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Seven times the Chaldean ruler / raged and set the furnace ablaze / for those who honored God; / but seeing them saved by a higher power, / he cried out to the Creator and Savior: / “You youths, bless Him; you priests, sing His praises; / you people, exalt Him for all ages!”
Seeking to preserve Abraham’s nobility, / you acquired the foundation most fitting for him— / faith and hope, O reverend ones, / as well as patience and steadfastness in trials, / crying out unyieldingly: “Priests, bless; / people, exalt Christ forever!”
Like luminaries that shone / and made the earth like heaven, / and blazed with the light of piety, / forming a universal chorus, they sing / to the Lord who saved them from their trials: / “You youths, bless Him; you priests, sing His praises; / O people, exalt Christ forever!”
The descendants of David, who in their youth quenched the blazing furnace / and bound the lions’ fangs, / now joyfully sing / to the Lord who saved them from their trials: / “You youths, bless Him; you priests, sing His praises; / you people, exalt Him forever!”
Theotokion: Daniel, the wisest, is initiated into the mystery, / and the three God-wise youths foreshadow / the Birth from You, Most Pure One, / beholding in images from Your womb the One Who has come in an inexpressible manner, / Whom the youths bless, the priests sing praises to, / and the people exalt for all ages.
Another Canon. Irmos: The furnace sprinkled with dew:
On this day we celebrate the divine commemoration / of the venerable fathers who lived from of old: / Adam and Abel, Seth and Noah, / and Enos, and Enoch, and Abraham, / Melchizedek and Job, Isaac and faithful Jacob, crying out: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
Let us praise the godly company of the divine fathers: / Baraka, Naphan, and Eleazar, / Josiah and David, Jephthah and Samuel, / who reverently contemplate what is to come and cry out: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
Let us offer praise through hymns / to God’s prophets, extolling / Hosea and Micah, Zephaniah and Habakkuk, / Zechariah and Jonah, Aggeus and Amos, / and along with Obadiah, Malachi and Nahum, / Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, / and together with them—Daniel, Elijah, and Elisha.
With threefold hymns, O faithful ones, / let us sing of the All-Holy Trinity: / the Father without beginning and the Son, / and the Holy Spirit— / the One in Three Persons, / whom every living creature glorifies, exclaiming: / “May all of the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
Theotokos: You appeared, O Christ, from the Virgin’s blood, / becoming incarnate through the ineffable Word, / and as a perfect infant / born in a cave through the abundance of Your mercy, O Jesus. / And the star pointed You out from afar / to the Magi, who cried out in faith: / “Sing and exalt Christ forever!”
Katavasia: The furnace, sprinkled with dew, / presented the image of a supernatural miracle: / for it does not scorch the youths it has taken in, / just as the fire of the Divinity does not scorch the Virgin’s womb, / into which He descended. / Therefore, let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Truly we confess You as the Mother of God / we who have been saved by You, O Pure Virgin, / magnifying You with the hosts of incorporeal beings.
You have reached the longed-for end / and stood before the Goal of all aspirations / in the heavenly palaces, all-blessed youths.
With joy you gather the sheaves—the fruit of your beautiful labor, which was accomplished with tears and bore an imperishable harvest.
Now a worthy radiance has dawned for you, / and the joy of the heart has blossomed: / for you have taken up residence / in the place from which sorrow has departed.
Theotokos: You have halted the spread of death, O Virgin, / by giving birth to the Giver of Life and the Lord, / who gives life to those who magnify You with faith.
Another Canon. Irmos: I behold the mystery:
By Your strength in days of old / Your daughters, O Lord, / performed mighty deeds: / Anna, Judith, and Deborah, / Olda and Jael, Esther, Sarah, / Miriam, the sister of Moses, and Rachel, / and Rebekah, and Ruth, great in spirit.
Let us openly honor with reverence / the holy youths who quenched the furnace, / together with the prophet Daniel and all the righteous, / who shone brilliantly before the Law / and served the Lord within the Law.
Having become the wisest, God-inspired prophets, / the descendants of Abraham / foretold with fervent zeal in the Spirit / the Word of God born of Abraham and Judah; / through their intercession, Jesus, have mercy on all.
All creation has been sanctified by your memory / and, rejoicing, cries out, proclaiming with supplication: / “Always offer prayers to the Lord, O blessed ones, / so that those who praise you / may attain eternal blessings!”
Theotokion: Clothed in me, He comes forth from the Virgin, / and in a cave the unconfused Word of the Father is born; / rejoice, creation, extolling with voices of thanksgiving / His all-holy descent, wrought by mercy.
Katavasia: I behold a mystery / extraordinary and wondrous: / the cave is heaven, the Virgin is the throne of the Cherubim, / the manger is the receptacle / where the ineffable Christ God lay, / Whom we extol in our hymns.
Let us praise Adam, / Abel, Seth, and Enosh, / Enoch and Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, / Moses, Job, and Aaron, / Eleazar and Jesus, / Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, / David and Solomon.*
And now: The great Sun—the Creator— / rising from the Virgin who knew no man, / to enlighten those descended from Adam, hastens to Bethlehem. / And now the most radiant memory of the forefathers / proclaims this miracle.*
Let us commemorate all the venerable forefathers of today, / singing of their (God-pleasing) lives, / for which they were exalted. (2)
Verse: Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, / and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Dan 3:26
The youths quenched the power of the fire, / rejoicing in the midst of the furnace / and singing to the Almighty God.
Verse: For You are righteous in all / that You have done to us. Dan 3:27
Imprisoned in the den, / dwelling among the beasts, the prophet Daniel / suffered no harm from them.
Glory, Tone 7, by Herman: Come, all of you, let us solemnly celebrate with faith / the annual commemoration of our forefathers who lived before the Law— / Abraham and those with him. / Let us honor the tribe of Judah— / the youths who quenched the flames of the furnace in Babylon; / let us praise them, along with Daniel, as an image of the Trinity. / Holding fast to the prophetic predictions, / let us cry out loudly with Isaiah: / “Behold, the Virgin shall conceive in her womb / and bear a Son—Emmanuel, / which means: God is with us!”
And now, O Mother of God: Most Blessed are You, O Virgin Mother of God:
The Great Doxology. The Ektenia, the Dismissal, and the Gospel Sticheron. The First Hour and the Final Dismissal.
The Blessed Octoechos, Tone 6, and the 3rd Song of the Forefathers, Tone 4.
Through the faith of the Forefathers You have justified them, / having betrothed the Church of all nations to Yourself through them. / The saints rejoice in glory, / for from their seed comes a glorious fruit— / She who gave birth to You without seed. / Through their prayers, Christ our God, save our souls.
Refusing to worship the man-made image, / but taking refuge in the Indescribable Nature, O thrice-blessed ones, / you were glorified by your feat in the fire / and, standing amid the unbearable flames, you called upon God: / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid, as the Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, / and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Verse: For You are righteous in all that You have done to us.
Dan 3:26, 27a
Brethren, when Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your earthly members: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed— , which is idolatry—for which God’s wrath comes upon the sons of disobedience, in which you also once walked when you lived among them. But now, put all these things aside: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to one another, since you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Col 3:4–11
Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among those who call upon His name. Verse: They called upon the Lord, and He answered them. Psalm 98:6
The Lord told this parable: A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many. And he sent his servant at the hour of the banquet to tell the guests, “Come, for everything is now ready.” And they all began to make excuses, one after another. The first said to him, “I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” Another said, “I have bought five pairs of oxen, and I am going to test them. Please excuse me.” And a third said, “I have gotten married, and so I cannot come.” When the servant returned, he reported this to his master. Then, becoming angry, the master of the house said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the servant said, “Sir, it has been done as you commanded, and there is still room.” And the master said to the servant, “Go out into the highways and along the hedgerows and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my supper; for many are called, but few are chosen.”
Luke 14:16–24
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. And another: Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1; 32:1
At Small Vespers, the Sunday stichera and those for the Mother of God are sung according to custom. At Great Vespers, after the introductory psalm, we sing “Blessed is the man:”—the entire kathisma.
At “O Lord, I have cried out,” on December 18 and 19, we sing 3 Sunday stichera, 3 Eastern stichera, and 4 stichera to the Fathers.
From December 20 through 23, we sing the third Sunday stichera, the first Eastern stichera, the third pre-feast stichera, and the third stichera for the Fathers.
On December 24, we sing the stichera of the Fathers in Tone 6 and the pre-feast stichera in Tone 4.
The Unset Sun / is coming to shine forth from the Virgin’s womb / and to enlighten all under the sun. / With pure eyes and pure deeds / let us hasten to meet Him / and prepare ourselves now in spirit / for the coming of the One whose extraordinary birth is at hand, as He Himself has willed. / So that He may lift us up to Himself, having strayed from the life of Eden, / He, being merciful, / is born in Bethlehem.
Carried upon the shoulders of the Cherubim, / God the Word, having united with the flesh according to His Hypostasis, / dwelt in the all-pure womb and became Man, / and comes to earth to be born of the tribe of Judah. / O holy cave, adorn yourself for the King of all, / like the greatest palace; / and the manger—like a throne of fire— / is where the Virgin Mary lays / the Boundless Infant / for the renewal of all creation.
The Virgin lays You in the manger of irrational creatures, / the Beginningless Word of God, / whose origin is beyond the mind. / For You come / to put an end to my folly, / into which I fell through the serpent’s envy; / and to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / so that You might tear apart the rags and bonds of my sins, / O Only Good One and Lover of Mankind. / Therefore I glorify You, / I sing Your praises, and I worship with great joy Your coming in the flesh, / through which I have found freedom.
The memory of the forefathers has appeared to the ends of the earth, / truly filled with light and shining with the dawn of grace: / for Christ, the radiant Sun, / shining from on high from afar, / leads the host of stars, which have shone forth with Him; / and the Nativity of the God-Man is revealed, / taking place within the borders of Bethlehem. / And we all, with faith in honor of His Nativity, / clap our hands reverently and rejoice, / proclaiming pre-feast praise. (2)
On this day, Adam is adorned with the glory of communion with the Godhead, / rejoicing / as the foundation and confirmation of the wise forefathers; / Abel also rejoices with him, and Enoch exults, / and Seth and Noah rejoice together; / and with the patriarchs, the all-praised Abraham sings, / and Melchizedek now beholds from on high the birth without a father. / Therefore, as we celebrate the divine commemoration of Christ’s forefathers, / we pray / for the salvation of our souls.
The assembly of the godly youths / shone joyfully in the furnace / and proclaims Christ’s Nativity upon the earth. / For, like sacred dew descending, the Lord / preserves His Mother unburned, / keeps her spotless, / and enriches her with divine gifts. / Therefore, Daniel, beloved of God, / rejoices with gladness: / for having clearly foreseen the Stone, hewn from the Mountain not by human hands, / he prays with boldness / now for our souls.
Glory, Tone 6: Daniel, the man of desire, having seen the stone, / cut off without the aid of a hand—You, O Lord— / foretold the seedless birth of the Infant— / You, the Word incarnate from the Virgin, / the unchanging God and Savior of our souls.
And now, on the eve of the feast, the same tone, Byzantine: O cave, adorn yourself, / for the Lamb is coming, bearing Christ in her womb; / and you, manger, receive / Him who by His word has freed us, born on earth, from foolish deeds. / Shepherds, playing your flutes, / bear witness to this wondrous miracle; / and the Magi from Persia, / bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the King, / for the Lord has appeared from the Virgin Mother. / And before Him, bowing as a servant, the Mother worshiped / and addressed Him who lay in her arms: / “How were You sown within me? / Or how did You grow within me, / my Redeemer and my God?”
If it is December 18 or 19: And now, the Theotokos of the current tone.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
When Abram heard that Lot, his nephew, had been taken captive, he mustered his own household—three hundred eighteen men—and pursued them as far as Dan. He attacked them by night, he and his young men with him, and struck them down, and pursued them as far as Hoval, which is to the left of Damascus; and he brought back all the cavalry of Sodom, and he brought back his nephew Lot, along with all his possessions, his women, and his people. The king of Sodom went out to meet him upon his return from defeating Hodol-Logomor and the kings who were with him in the Valley of Shaveh—that is, the Plain of the Kings. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine—for he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Genesis 14:14–20
In those days, Moses said to the Israelites: “Look, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and to their descendants after them.” And I said to you at that time, ‘I cannot lead you by myself; the Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousandfold from what you are now, and may He bless you, just as He has promised you.’ So I chose from among you men who were wise, knowledgeable, and discerning, and appointed them to lead you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, of tens, and as scribes to serve as your judges. And I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly—between one man and his brother, and between the foreigner who is with him. Do not show partiality in judgment; whether the person is small or great, you shall judge him equally. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for this is God’s judgment.’
Deut. 1:8–11; 15–17
In those days Moses said to the people of Israel: “Behold, the heavens and the heavens of the heavens, the earth, and everything on it belong to the Lord your God. Yet the Lord set your fathers apart, loving them, and chose you, their descendants, after them from among all the nations, to this very day. So circumcise your hardened hearts and do not stiffen your necks any longer; for the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, a great, mighty, and awesome God, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes, but executes justice for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow; and He loves the foreigner, providing him with bread and clothing. You, too, shall love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Fear the Lord your God, serve Him alone, cling to Him, and swear by His name: He is your praise , and He is your God, who has done for you those great and glorious deeds that your eyes have seen.
Deut. 10:14–18, 20–21
Illuminated by the rays of divine revelation, / the prophets, glorious in name, / are ever called blessed; / and, multiplying the fruit of the Spirit’s utterances, / they proclaimed to all the ineffable birth of Christ God; / and they lived a wondrous life, / bringing it to a lawful end.*
Glory, Tone 3, by Herman: Come, you who love to celebrate, / let us praise the host of the forefathers with psalms: / Adam the forefather, Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, / Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; / those who lived according to the law: Moses and Aaron, / Jesus, Samuel, and David, / along with them—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, / and Daniel, and the twelve prophets; / Elijah, Elisha, and together with them all: / Zechariah, John the Baptist, and the others who preached Christ /—the life and resurrection of our race!
And now, in the days leading up to the feast, the same voice: Adorn yourself, Bethlehem, / for Eden has been revealed. / Prepare yourself, Ephrathah, / for Adam and Eve are being renewed with him: / for the curse has come to an end, / salvation has flourished for the world, / and the souls of the righteous are adorned, / like an offering presented as a gift, / offering song in place of incense, / and receiving spiritual salvation and incorruptibility. / For behold, He who lies in the manger already commands / those who cry out unceasingly to offer spiritual song: / “Lord, glory to You!”*
And now, O Mother of God, Tone 3: Without seed, by the Holy Spirit / and by the Father’s will, You conceived the Son of God. / He who has His origin from the Father before the ages, without a mother, / but who for our sake came forth from You without a father, / You bore in Your womb according to the flesh / and nourished as an infant with milk. / Therefore, do not cease to intercede / for the deliverance of our souls from misfortune.
Sunday stichera from the Octoechos.
O House of Euphrates, / holy city, / glory of the prophets! / Adorn the house / in which the Divine One is born.
Stich: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Hab 3:3a
Vowels: Bethlehem, land of Judah! / Prepare for the One Who Is a bright dwelling place in the flesh, / a divine cave, / in which God is born in the flesh / of the holy Virgin who knew no man, / to save our race.
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and trembled; / I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Hab 3:2a
Come, all of you, let us celebrate the Nativity of Christ / with faith in advance / and offer our mental hymns like a star; / let us proclaim the praises of the Magi and the shepherds: / Salvation has come to mankind from the Virgin’s womb, / calling the faithful to Himself.
Glory, the same tone, self-sung, by Cyprian: Rejoice, venerable prophets, / who beautifully established the Law of the Lord / and through faith proved yourselves to be unshakable and steadfast pillars; / for you have become mediators / of Christ’s New Covenant. / And, having ascended into heaven, intercede with Him / to bring peace to the world and save our souls.
And now, in the days leading up to the feast, the same voice of Cyprian: Behold, the time of our salvation is at hand, / prepare yourself, O cave: / the Virgin is coming to give birth. / Bethlehem, land of Judah, rejoice and be glad, / for from you our Lord has shone forth. / Hear, O mountains and hills, / and the surrounding regions of Judea, / for Christ is coming / to save the man whom He created, / as the Lover of Mankind.
And now, O Mother of God, Tone 2: O new wonder, surpassing all ancient wonders! / For who knew of a mother who gave birth without a husband, / and who carried in her arms the One who embraces all creation? / God’s plan is this conception. / But you, Most Pure One, who held Him as an infant in your arms / and gained maternal boldness toward Him, / do not cease to intercede for those who honor you, / that He may have mercy and save our souls.
If the All-Night Vigil is being celebrated: Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God: (2)
Great are the works of faith! / In the fountain of fire, as on the waters of rest, / the three holy youths rejoiced. / And the prophet Daniel appeared to the lions as one who tends sheep. / Through their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls!
Great are the works of faith! / In the furnace of fire, as on waters of rest, / the three holy youths rejoiced. / And the prophet Daniel appeared to the lions, tending them as sheep. / Through their intercessions, Christ our God, save our souls! (2)
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for her to stay the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore in us / His image, which had previously fallen.
Great are the works of faith! / In the fountain of fire, as on the waters of rest, / the three holy youths rejoiced. / And the prophet Daniel appeared to the lions, tending them as sheep. / By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!
And now, O Mother of God, the same tone: All are beyond understanding, all are glorious / are Your mysteries, O Mother of God: / sealed with purity and having preserved Your virginity, / You appeared as the true Mother who gave birth to the true God. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Prepare yourself, Bethlehem: / Eden has been opened to all. / Adorn yourself, Ephrathah, / for the Tree of Life has blossomed in a cave from the Virgin. / And truly, her womb has appeared as a spiritual paradise, / in which— —the divine Branch dwells. / Having tasted of it, we shall live, / and we shall not be subject to death, as Adam was. / Christ is born to restore in us His image, which had previously fallen.
And the usual kathismas, and the Sunday sedalns with their Theotokos hymns, and the reading from the Exegetical Gospel.
If it is December 24, we sing the following sedalnia:
Through the fathers, O God, You mysteriously foreknown / the mystery of God’s coming manifestation on earth— / Your eternal Son from the Virgin; / through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Judah and the others, / Jesse, David, and all the prophets, / foretelling by the Spirit Christ appearing in Bethlehem, / who calls all who live in the world to salvation.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Let us celebrate this feast, faithful ones, / joyfully honoring our divine forefathers: / Honoring Adam and Abel, glorifying Seth and Enosh, / Let us sing of Enoch, Noah, Shem, and Japheth, / Abraham, who shone with faith before the Law, / and the divine Isaac, Jacob, and Judah, / Levi and the chaste Joseph—we will praise them and proclaim with faith: / “God-bearing forefathers, pray to Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love!”
Glory, and now: And we repeat the same.
After the “Immaculate Ones,” their troparia, the Ipakoia in tone 8, and the sedalnia for the fathers.
Let us all praise in song Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, / the meek David, Jesus, and the twelve patriarchs, / together with the three youths who quenched the fiery flames by spiritual power, / “Rejoice,”—proclaiming to them—“/ who valiantly exposed the folly of the mad king, / and pray to Christ to grant forgiveness of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love!” (2)
Glory, now and ever, the voice is the same: From the Father’s bosom You descended / and through unspeakable self-emptying took upon Yourself our poverty, / beyond nature, Lover of mankind; / You deigned to dwell in a cave, O Lord, / and as an infant You are nourished at the breast, Creator and Lord. / Therefore, guided by a star, the Magi bring gifts to You, / as Lord of all creation, / while the shepherds and the Angels marvel, crying out: / “Glory to God in the highest, who comes to earth / to be born as a man!”
I offer You, O Lady, a fitting song of thanksgiving, / like the widow who gave her two mites, / for all Your gifts: / for You have appeared as both a shield and a help, / always delivering me from calamities and sorrows. / Therefore, as from the midst of a burning furnace, / having been delivered from those who persecute me, / I cry out to You from my heart: / “Mother of God, help me, beseeching Christ God / to grant me forgiveness of my sins; / for I have You as my hope, Your servant!”
The stichera and prokimen of the tone, the Sunday Gospel.
If the Week of the Holy Fathers falls on December 18 or 19, we sing the Sunday Canon from the Octoechos with the irmos in tone 4, the Cross-Resurrection Canon in tone 2, the Canon to the Mother of God in tone 2, and the Canon to the Fathers (without the Sunday troparia) in tone 6.
From December 20 through 23, we sing the Sunday Canon with an irmos in tone 4, the pre-feast canons in tone 4, and the Canon to the Fathers (without the Sunday troparia) in tone 6.
On December 24, we sing the Canon to the Fathers in Tone 8, the irmoses twice each, the troparia (including the Sunday ones) in Tone 6, and the pre-feast canons in Tone 6.
Irmos: With a wave of the sea / He who in ancient times / covered the persecutor-tyrant / was hidden beneath the earth / by the children He saved; / but we, like young virgins, / will sing to the Lord: / for He has been glorified in splendor.
In fear of You / the gates of death are opened / and the eternal bolts are broken: / for at Your holy descent / those who had died of old arose, / singing with joy, O Christ, / of Your Resurrection.
He stands before Pilate’s tribunal of His own free will / on an unlawful charge, as a Judge on trial, / and from the hand of the lawless He receives / blows to the face—God, / before Whom the earth / and the heavenly hosts tremble.
On this day, the assembly of the Divine Fathers / joyfully celebrates the Nativity of Christ in advance / and affirms its wondrous grace: / for Abraham and the youths appear / as a type of the Law.
In ancient times, the holy Abraham / greeted the Godhead, one in three Persons; / but now the Word, equal in throne to the Father / and to the Divine Spirit, comes to the children, / gloriously praised.
By the number of the Divine Trinity / and by faith in It, having cast down godlessness, / the children revealed to the world, in the furnace, / the future mysteries of God.
Abraham was once delivered / from the hand of the wicked, / and from the flames of the furnace /—the divine youths, / and the prophet Daniel was saved from the beasts and the pit. / Therefore, they now celebrate the Nativity of Christ in advance.
To the Mother of God: O Gracious Mother, who knew no marriage, / O incorruptible Virgin, we call you blessed: / for from the line of Abraham and the tribe of David / you flourished and gave birth to Christ, / whom the prophets had foretold.
Irmos: Christ is born:
Christ, who became an infant in the flesh, / Christ, who willingly became poor, / Christ, who made Himself visible, / now the Virgin goes to Bethlehem to give birth, / let heaven and earth rejoice.
Mountains and hills, rejoice, / prophets of God, exult, / nations and peoples, begin to clap your hands: / Salvation and Enlightenment have drawn near to all, / as He is born in the city of Bethlehem.
The Theotokos: The Rich One becomes poor, / enriching those who have been impoverished by malice; / God, born of the Virgin who knew no marriage, / reveals Himself as a mortal without changing; / let us all sing His praises, / for He has been glorified.
Katavasia: Christ is born—praise Him! / Christ comes from heaven—welcome Him! / Christ is on earth—rejoice! / Sing to the Lord, all the earth, / and sing with joy, O people, / for He has been glorified!
Canon 1. Irmos: You, who suspended the whole earth without support / upon the waters, / when creation saw You hanging on the place of the skull, / seized with great terror, cried out: / “There is no Holy One but You, O Lord!”
Having remained in the tomb for three days, / You raised the dead from of old with life-giving resurrection, / and they, being freed from condemnation, / rejoiced with gladness and cried out: / “Behold, You have come as our Deliverer, O Lord!”
Glory to Your Resurrection, our Savior, / for You have delivered us from hell, corruption, and death, / as the Almighty. / And we exclaim in song: / “There is no one holy but You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind!”
Canon to the Fathers
O glory of that which is within us in the image / and likeness of God—contemplating this, / the youths, with the fire of the Spirit, / heroically extinguished the golden image, singing with faith: / “We know no Lord but You!”
By their superior wisdom and the power of the Spirit, / the youths put the wise men of Babylon to shame, taking them captive, / and boldly exclaimed: / “There is no Holy One but You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind!”
The Law rejoices and exults / together with the youths and the prophets, / and on this day it celebrates in advance / the divine coming of the Lord; / and Abraham rejoices, for he beheld the Lord / incarnate from his seed.
Theotokos: The conception of the One born of You / took place without passion; / His assumption of our nature— / is beyond words and nature; / for the supernatural mystery foretold by the prophets / has been revealed to us: / the Word of God, the true Lord.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: To Him born of the Father before the ages:
Born of the Father before all ages, beyond all thought, / at the end of time He was incarnated of the Virgin, as He Himself knows, / desiring to renew humanity, / which had been destroyed by the counsel of the wicked serpent.
He who sits on high / together with the Father and the Spirit— / the Beginningless Son of God— / seeing human nature humbled, takes on a beginning / and intends to be born in the flesh, / as a man.
Theotokos: Most Holy among the angels and all creation, / now, by the Great Council of the Angels, / gives birth in the flesh without seed / for the restoration of all who ceaselessly sing to Him: / “Holy are You, O Lord!”
Katavasia: To the Son, born of the Father before the ages, / not according to earthly laws, / and in these last days, incarnate of the Virgin / without seed, / let us cry out to Christ God: / “You who have exalted our dignity, / Holy are You, O Lord!”
Once an angel sprinkled water on the youths’ oven; / now he has silenced the women’s weeping, proclaiming: / “What do you bring to the tomb? / Whom do you seek in the tomb? / Christ God has risen: / for He is the life and salvation / of the human race!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Beholding Your divine humiliation on the Cross, / Habakkuk cried out in amazement: / “You have cut off, O Good One, the power of rulers, / by uniting Yourself with those in Hades, / as the Almighty!”
Through Your divine descent into Hades, / life was revealed to the dead, Christ God: / for You, O Good One, have bound the enemies in the underworld / and opened the way to Heaven for mankind.
The most pure body of the Redeemer, / lying in the tomb, did not decay, / but with great strength, O Christ, You shattered the gates of hell / and rose in glory on the third day.*
Canon to the Fathers
Let us honor the forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, / for from their seed Christ shone forth, / having been incarnated of the Virgin as the Almighty.
Foreseeing Christ’s future coming, / Daniel clearly revealed to all the beasts likened to sheep: / for he foresaw the future as a prophet of God.
Not lured by the poison of sin, / the children were delivered from the flame: / for, being truly more precious than gold, / they were not melted in the furnace of error.
Theotokos: The expectation of the nations is proclaimed with a mighty voice / and the salvation of the world—the One supernaturally Born / of You, Most Pure, Most Honorable; / the host of the fathers sings of Him today.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: A Branch from the Root of Jesse:
A Branch from the root of Jesse / You, O Virgin, have brought forth, / producing the unfading Flower—the Creator of all, / who, like God, adorns with flowers / the whole earth, which cries out to Him: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
So that I, robbed by the evil temptation / and having lost my way in reason, / and having once again become like irrational creatures, might be restored to You, / You came, O Word of God, becoming an infant / and were laid in the manger of irrational animals. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Theotokos: From the shadowy mountain—the Virgin—Abacuc foresaw You, Jesus, / as You were becoming incarnate, / crushing the evil mountains and hills / and delivering the pride of the wicked / and the exaltation of the demons to destruction.
Katavasia: A branch from the root of Jesse / and a flower from it, / from the Virgin You were born, Christ; / You came, O Praiseworthy One, / from the mountain shaded by thickets, / having been incarnated of the Virgin who knew no man, / the Incorporeal One and God. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Canon 1. Irmos: At Your Epiphany to us, Christ, / which came forth from compassion, / Isaiah, beholding the unfading light, / watching through the night, exclaimed: / “The dead shall rise, / and those in the tombs shall arise, / and all who dwell on earth shall rejoice!”
Shining brightly and openly revealing joy, / the light-bearing Angel appears at the tomb, / proclaiming the Resurrection to the women; / and they, ceasing their weeping, rejoiced that Christ had risen, / and announced to the Apostles: “Rejoice!”
Through Your mercy, O Good One, / having taken on our human form, / You were willingly nailed to the Cross for my sake, / I who had previously rejected, for the sake of food, / Your holy commandment in Paradise; / and You die, as is proper for a human being, / granting me life.*
Canon to the Fathers
The forefathers—Patriarch Abraham, / as the forerunner of the Law and Grace, / and the Divine Daniel—gathered on this day; let us honor them with faith: / for, as a prophet of God, he foretold Christ’s birth of the Virgin / and was the first to welcome / His Divine Nativity.
Clearly foreshadowing / the Lord’s coming to us, / the children of Abraham, at the Angel’s appearance, quenched the furnace / and, likening the fire to a cloud of dew, / melted away the glory of the golden idol / within it by their faith.
Daniel, by the power of the Spirit, / sealed the mouths of the beasts in the den, / while the children of Abraham extinguished / the power of fire through grace. / And, saved from destruction, / they foretell Christ born of the Virgin, / asking of Him, as our Redeemer, / salvation for us.
Theotokion: Manifesting in the Divine Spirit, O Lord, / Your dispassionate acceptance of our nature, / Isaiah, keeping watch according to the Law of grace, cried out: / “The Virgin is coming, giving birth without seed / to Him who is of the line of Abraham / and of the tribe of Judah according to the flesh!”
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: You, God of peace and Father of mercy:
Lord by nature, You count Yourself among Your servants, / the all-perfect Son of God, / deigning in Your mercy to be called / the Son of Man, the All-Merciful. / Therefore, having voluntarily become poor, You, the Most Blessed, / go to be born in a cave.
Christ, King who is beyond comprehension by nature, / how will a small cave receive You? / How will a manger be able to hold You, / who, for our sake, came in the flesh from a Mother who knew no man / to Your own people, / to save the exiles, O Lord?
Theotokion: The Shepherd’s Lamb has come to be born: / prepare yourself, holy cave; / shepherds, hasten to behold the Shepherd and the Lamb who has been born; / Magi with gifts, prepare yourselves / to worship Him as King in the flesh.
Katavasia: You, God of peace and Father of mercy, / have sent us the Herald of Your great plan, / the Giver of peace. / Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, / greeting the dawn after the night, / we glorify You, Lover of mankind.
Canon 1. Irmos: Seeing the sea of life / churning with waves of temptation, / I, having taken refuge in Your peaceful harbor, cry out to You: / “Deliver my life from destruction, / O Most Merciful One!”
You have vanquished death, O Good One, / and destroyed hell / through Your three-day burial, / and You have poured out life upon those living in the world, / having risen, as befits God, / Jesus, King. (2)
Canon to the Fathers
The spirit of hospitality / and the exalted faith of our forefather Abraham; / therefore he rejoiced, having figuratively received the Divine Mystery; / and, having preceded Christ, he now rejoices.
Faith has now subjected all creation to the youths / by the gift of the Spirit: / for the all-consuming and fierce fire was put to shame / before those who honor the Creator of fire, Jesus Christ.
The prophet Daniel once showed, / by sealing the lions’ mouths in the den, / how the wildness of the world, with the coming of Christ, / will be reconciled to the divine order / in a manner worthy of God.
Theotokos: From your virginal womb you gave birth to Christ, / Mary, Mother who knew no husband: / The prophets beheld Him in divine contemplation, / and now the Fathers rejoice / before the day of His birth.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: From the womb of Jonah:
You are the New Heaven, O Lady: / You hasten from Your womb, as from a Cloud, / to reveal Christ, the Sun of Glory, in the flesh within the cave, / so that He might clearly illuminate / all that fills the earth with His radiance, / through Your boundless mercy.
You saw our anguish and suffering, / merciful Christ, and did not despise us, / but humbled Yourself, without departing from Your Mother, / and dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, / who goes forth to give birth to You in the flesh / painlessly in the cave.
Theotokos: Mountains and hills, plains and ravines, / nations and tribes, peoples and all that breathes, / exult, filled with divine joy: / “The redemption of all has come and arrived— / the Timeless Word of God / has appeared in time through His mercy!”
Katavasia: From Jonah’s belly, the sea monster spewed forth the infant / just as it had received him; / but the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken on flesh, / passed through her, preserving her incorrupt; / for just as He Himself was not subject to ordinary conception, / so He kept her who gave birth to Him unharmed.
Refusing to worship the man-made image, / but taking refuge in the Indescribable Nature, O thrice-blessed ones, / you were glorified by your feat in the fire / and, standing amid the unbearable flames, you called upon God: / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid, as the Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Ikos: Stretch forth Your hand, / whose power was tested in ancient times / by the persecuting Egyptians and the persecuted Jews. / Do not forsake us, lest death, which craves us, consume us, / and Satan, who hates us, / but draw near to us and have mercy on our souls, / just as You once had mercy on Your youths who were in Babylon, / who ceaselessly sang Your praises and were cast into the furnace for Your sake, / and from within it cried out to You: / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid as the Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Rejoice, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, prepare yourself: / for behold, the Lamb, borne in the womb of the great Shepherd, is hastening to be born. / Seeing her, the God-bearing fathers rejoice, / singing with the shepherds to the Virgin who nourishes with milk.
Ikos: Beholding the radiant splendor / of Your pregnancy, O Virgin, / Abraham the God-loving, Isaac the glorious, / Jacob, and the entire host of saints gathered by God rejoice. / And they have brought all creation to meet You / with words of joy: / for You have appeared as the Giver of Joy to all, / having conceived in Your womb the One who once appeared in Babylon, / and who, beyond all understanding, preserved the youths / unjustly cast into the furnace, unharmed. / That is why they glorify / Him who is seen in the Virgin’s arms, / singing the praises of the Virgin who nurses with milk.
Canon 1. Irmos: An ineffable wonder! / He who delivered the pious youths from the flames in the furnace / is buried in a tomb as a dead man, lifeless, / for our salvation, as we sing: / “O God, our Redeemer, blessed are You!”
O unheard-of miracle! / The Lord, seated on His throne on high, / having Himself taken on flesh, endured death, / but rose again by divine power, / raising with Him those who had been dead from the beginning of time.
You have shaken the power of death / and risen, granting resurrection / to those who glorify You, the true Lord, / and who, with orthodox faith, cry out to You: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”*
Canon to the Fathers
Having given birth to Christ in the flesh, / you, the progenitor of the faith, Father Abraham, / have undoubtedly become, by the Spirit, the father of the nations, / for our salvation, as we sing: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”
The sounds of lifeless instruments, / resounding in vain, / were silenced by the inspired song: / for trampling down the fire of the burning furnace with their bodies, / the unharmed youths cried out: / “God, blessed are You!”
Gazing in spiritual contemplation, / the prophet Daniel of old / depicts Christ’s second coming / and foretells the terrible events accompanying it, / crying out: “God, blessed are You!”
Theotokos: An unheard-of miracle, / clearly handed down in ancient times / among the prophets and fathers— / the Pure Virgin, who is to give birth, appeared / for the salvation of us who sing: / “God, our Redeemer, blessed are You!”
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: Young men, raised in piety:
The Divine Vine, / who has brought the clusters to immaculate ripeness, / draws near, coming to give birth / to Him who pours forth the wine of joy / and quenches our thirst as we cry out to Him: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Divine Mother of Myro, / bearing the fragrant Myro within, / goes to pour Him out in the cave of Bethlehem, / filling those who sing with a mysterious fragrance: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Theotokos: The tongs that the prophet Isaiah / beheld in ancient times are coming, / bearing in their belly the Divine Coal—Christ, / who consumes all the substance of sin, / and enlightens the souls of the faithful.
Katavasia: The youths, raised in piety, / disregarding the command of the wicked, / were not afraid of the threatening fire, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, sang: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Be amazed with awe, O heaven, / and let the foundations of the earth be shaken; / for behold, He who dwells on high / is numbered among the dead / and is laid in a narrow tomb; / bless Him, O youths, / sing His praises, O priests, / and exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
O, Your ineffable condescension, Christ, / for our sake, we who are lowly! / For behold, having tasted death, though You are the immortal God, / You, the Word, were laid in a tomb as a mortal; / but You rose again, raising with You those on earth / who exalt You for all ages.
Everyone was astounded to hear / how the Most High voluntarily came to earth, / to destroy the stronghold of hell / through the Cross and burial; / and He raised all up with Himself, inspiring them to cry out: / “You young people, bless Him; you priests, sing His praises; / you people, exalt Him forever and ever!”
Canon to the Fathers
Foreseeing Your sacrifice, O Christ, / Abraham, obedient to You, O Lord, / went up in faith to offer his son, whom he had begotten, / as a lamb on the mountain; / but Isaac and the old man returned joyfully, / extolling You for all ages.
The unquenchable flame was completely extinguished, / when Your holy youths / clothed themselves in You, Christ, the Divine Fire, / as in a garment, / and the dew, by Your descent, murmured to those who sang: / “Priests, sing; / people, extol Him forever and ever!”
The prophet Daniel was given as food to the lions / by ineffable providence; / but, thanks to the rules of abstinence, / the beasts began to fast with him / reverently in the depths of the pit. / Through his prayers, save Abraham and the youths / in peace, O Christ, who sing Your praises.
Theotokion: Whom the prophetic voices faithfully foretold—Jesus, Emmanuel—the coming Son of God and the Father in human form, and the Word co-eternal with Him, the Virgin Mary, by the Holy Spirit, gives birth to Him, having known no man, in the city of Bethlehem.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: The furnace sprinkled with dew:
“Glory to God in the highest!”— / Let us proclaim with the angels in joy— / “The Savior is born, the Lord is coming; / a star guides the Magi to Him, / as they hasten to see Him in the manger. / May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
You, O Lord, were registered with the slaves, / willingly obeying Caesar’s law, O Most Merciful One, / so that, as God, You might free humanity / from the bondage of the evil one. / Therefore, we joyfully sing: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
The Theotokos: “I bear a young Child—/You, the Word without beginning,/yet I know nothing of union with a man,”/—the Virgin proclaimed in wonder./—“Whom on earth shall I call Your Father?—I do not know. / Therefore, with all, I sing to You: / May all the Lord’s creation bless / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Katavasia: The furnace, sprinkled with dew, / presented the image of a supernatural miracle: / for it does not scorch the youths it has taken in, / just as the fire of the Divinity does not scorch the Virgin’s womb, / into which He descended. / Therefore, let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Do not weep for Me, Mother, / seeing Your Son in the tomb, / Whom You conceived in Your womb without seed, / for I shall rise again and be glorified, / and in glory I shall exalt, as God, / those who ceaselessly, with faith and love, / magnify You.
Why do you weep, O creation, / seeing on the Cross and in the tomb / the Lord and God of life? / For He will rise, joyfully renewing you, / having crushed Hades by His resurrection on the third day / and raising with Him the dead / who praise Him.
Though You descended into the tomb / as a mortal, O Giver of Life, / You destroyed the power of hell, O Christ, / raising with You the dead whom it had swallowed up, / and granting resurrection to all, as God, / to those who extol You with faith and love.
Canon to the Fathers
As we celebrate the feast of the fathers who lived before the Law, / let us honor Jesus, who descended from them, / with praises worthy of God: / for Abraham, and Isaac with him, and Jacob, / were the foundation of the prophets and the Law / and, through faith, the spiritual beginnings of grace.
God, who revealed to Moses—/the beholder of the divine—/the mystery beyond human understanding in the burning bush, /He Himself, descending into the fire to the youths, /transformed the furnace’s flame into dew /with the fire of His divine nature.
Gathered with Abraham, the all-holy youths / and Daniel, the wondrous prophet of God, / Isaac, Jacob, and Aaron with Moses / rejoice faithfully before Christ’s Nativity, / praying unceasingly for our salvation.
Theotokion: All creation rejoices / at the birth wrought by You, O Virgin: / for Bethlehem has opened Eden to us. / And now, feasting with faith upon the tree of life, / we all fervently cry out: / “Grant our petitions, O Lady!”
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: I behold a mystery:
Mysteries extraordinary, / awe-inspiring and unheard of: / the Lord of glory has come to earth / and, having become poor, entered a cave in the flesh, / seeking to call Adam to salvation / and to deliver Eve from the pangs of childbirth.
With Your swaddling clothes You loose / the bonds of the Fall, / and through Your great poverty You enrich all, O Merciful One; / laid in the manger of irrational creatures, / You deliver us from the senseless malice of men, / O Eternal Word of God!
To the Mother of God: The prophecies of the prophets have been fulfilled: / for He whose coming at the end of time they prophesied / has come and appeared, being born of the pure Virgin. / Let us receive Him with a pure heart.
Katavasia: I behold a mystery / extraordinary and wondrous: / the cave—heaven, the throne of the Cherubim—the Virgin, / the manger—the receptacle, / where the ineffable Christ God lay, / Whom we extol in our hymns.
The chosen ones among the patriarchs / and the fathers who lived before the Law— / Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— / were the first to shine with faith like the heavenly bodies: / for all the prophets and the righteous were kindled by them, / like luminous lamps, / and they illuminated all of creation, which lay in darkness, / with the rays of sacred prophecy.
And now: (December 18 and 19) The Lamb, untouched by defilement, / gave birth in a most worthy manner in these last days / to the Lamb, the Word without beginning, / the descendant of Adam and of David. / This was a wondrous / and ineffable birth from Her, / which many fathers worthily celebrate in advance.*
From the seed of Abraham / and the divine David, the Father of God, / the Eternal Word is brought into the world, / before the Three Holy Children, equal in number to the Trinity, / whom an angel miraculously saved from the flames / and transformed women’s weeping into joy.*
Glory: The Chosen Ones from Among the Patriarchs: (See above)
And now: (December 20–24) Rejoice, Bethlehem, and you, Ephrathah, prepare: / for the Mother of God is coming / to give birth to God in a cave and manger in an ineffable manner. / O, awe-inspiring mystery! / Now His divine Nativity / is joyfully celebrated in advance by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, / all the patriarchs and prophets, / and mortals together with the Angels.
Lift up your voice in truth, / O Zion of God, divine city, / and proclaim the divine memory of the Fathers, / honoring the glorious Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / Behold, together with Judah and Levi, we extol / the great Moses and the wondrous Aaron, / and with David we glorify Jesus and Samuel. / Proclaiming aloud the divine praise of Christ’s coming feast / with songs inspired by God, / we ask to share in the goodness that flows from Him, / who bestows great mercy upon the world. (2)
Verse: Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, / and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Dan 3:26
Come, Elijah, who once sat / upon the fiery divine chariot, / and the godly Elisha, together with Hezekiah! / Rejoice also with Josiah / and the venerable twelve prophets, inspired by God: / celebrate together the birth of the Savior / and sing, all you righteous ones! / O all-blessed youths, / who quenched the furnace’s flame with the dew of the Spirit, / intercede for us, beseeching Christ / to grant our souls His great mercy!
Verse: For You are righteous in all / that You have done for us. Dan 3:27
The Virgin Mother of God, foretold from ages past / in the words of the prophets, has appeared on earth, / of Whom the wise patriarchs / and the hosts of the righteous proclaim; / with them the splendor of women rejoices: / Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel with Anna, / and together—the glorious Miriam, sister of Moses. / The ends of the earth rejoice with them: / all creation celebrates, / for the Creator of all and God comes to be born in the flesh / and to bestow great mercy upon the world.
Glory: The Law’s teachings:
The word of Isaiah is fulfilled: / for behold, the Virgin of the Incomprehensible One, / who is now made visible in the flesh, bears Him in her womb / and comes to give birth to Him in glory. / O cave that receives God, adorn yourself; / O Bethlehem, prepare yourself: / for the King has chosen you as His dwelling place. / Receive, O manger, / the Christ Child who is being swaddled, / who desires to break the bonds of human sin / through His goodness.
You were registered with the servants in the census, O Lord, / desiring to tear up the record of sins / and to inscribe all in the book of life, / those slain by the serpent’s deceit. / The Virgin bears You, the One who bears all, / clothed in mortal flesh / and deigning to dwell in a humble cave. / The heavenly hosts of angels / praised You at Your birth, together with the godly shepherds, / marveling at Your power.
A bright and living Cloud, / bearing Heavenly rain, / now comes to pour it out upon the earth, / to water the face of the earth. / Spring of grace, the spiritual Swallow, / carrying Him within her womb, / gives birth to Him in an inexpressible way, / putting an end to the winter of godlessness. / A pure sanctuary, untouched by defilement, / brings the incarnate King into the cave.
Glory, Tone 8: The assembly of lawful teachings / reveals Christ’s Divine Nativity in the flesh, / to those who previously proclaimed the Gospel of grace before the Law, / for, having surpassed the Law, they abided in faith; / therefore they also foretold to the souls held captive in Hades / the true path / to deliverance from corruption through the resurrection. / O Lord, glory to You.
And now: Most Blessed are You:
The Great Doxology. The Sunday Troparion, the Ektenia, and the Dismissal. We sing the Gospel Sticheron in the narthex, followed by the First Hour and the final Dismissal.
The “Blessed Are” hymns in Tone 6 and the 3rd Hymn of the Fathers in Tone 4.
Prepare, Bethlehem: / Eden has been opened to all. / Adorn yourself, Ephrathah, / for the Tree of Life has blossomed in a cave from the Virgin. / And truly, her womb has appeared as a spiritual paradise, / in which is the divine Branch. / Having tasted of it, we shall live, / and we shall not be subject to death, as Adam was. / Christ is born to restore in us His image, which had previously fallen.
Great are the works of faith! / In the fountain of fire, as on the waters of rest, / the three holy youths rejoiced. / And the prophet Daniel appeared to the lions, tending them as sheep. / By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!
Refusing to worship the man-made image, / but taking refuge in the Indescribable Nature, O thrice-blessed ones, / you were glorified by your feat in the fire / and, standing amid the unbearable flames, you called upon God : / “Hasten, O Compassionate One, / and turn to our aid, as the Merciful One, / for whatever You will, You can accomplish!”
Rejoice, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, prepare yourself: / for behold, the Lamb, borne in the womb of the great Shepherd, hastens to be born. / Seeing her, the God-bearing fathers rejoice, / singing with the shepherds to the Virgin who nourishes with milk.
Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, / and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Verse: For You are righteous in all that You have done for us.
Dan 3:26, 27a
Brothers, by faith Abraham lived as a stranger in the land of promise, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to a city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac your offspring will be named,” reasoning that God is able even to raise people from the dead—and so he received him back as a sign. By faith, Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau for the future. By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped God, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, at the time of his death, reminded the people of the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, for they saw that the child was beautiful and were not afraid of the king’s command. And what more shall I say? For there is not enough time for me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, David and Samuel, and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, fulfilled promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. There were women who received their dead raised to life. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might attain a better resurrection. Still others endured insults and beatings, as well as chains and imprisonment; they were stoned, sawed in two, and subjected to torture; they died, slain by the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, suffering want, hardship, and affliction: those whom the world was not worthy of wandered through deserts and mountains, through caves and the crevices of the earth. And all of them, having received a good testimony through their faith, did not enter into the rest that was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.
Heb 11:9–10; 17–23; 32–40
O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us. Verse: For You have saved us from those who oppressed us and put to shame those who hated us. Psalm 43:2a, 8
The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac was the father of Jacob; Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers; Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar; Perez was the father of Hezron; Hezron was the father of Aram; Aram begot Aminadab; Aminadab begot Naasson; Naasson begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab; Boaz begot Obed by Ruth; Obed begot Jesse; Jesse begot King David; King David begot Solomon by the wife of Uriah; Solomon begot Abijah; Abijah begot Asa; Asa begot Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat begot Jehoram; Jehoram begot Uzziah; Uzziah begot Jotham; Jotham begot Ahaz; Ahaz begot Hezekiah; Hezekiah begot Manasseh; Manasseh begot Amon; Amon begot Josiah; Josiah begot Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah begot Salaphiel; Salaphiel begot Zerubbabel; Zerubbabel begot Abiud; Abiud begot Eliakim; Eliakim begot Azor; Azor begot Zadok; Zadok begot Achim; Achim begot Eliud; Eliud begot Eleazar; Eleazar begot Matthan; Matthan begot Jacob; Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Thus, the total number of generations is as follows: from Abraham to David, fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian Exile, fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian Exile to Christ, fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, decided to divorce her quietly. But while he was considering this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him: Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, who says: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which translated means, “God with us.” When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife, yet he did not know her until she had given birth to her firstborn Son; and he named Him Jesus.
Matthew 1:1–25
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. And another: Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1; 32:1
“You bear the likeness of Adam, / Who exists in the image of God, All-Perfect, / and You are pleased to be held in arms, / You who hold all things in Your hand by Your power,” – / The Pure and All-Immaculate One proclaimed, exclaiming, – / “How shall I swaddle You in swaddling clothes, as if You were an Infant? / How shall I nourish You with my breasts, O Nourisher of all, / how shall I marvel at Your poverty, which surpasses the mind? / How shall I call You My Son, / when I Myself am now Your handmaid? / I sing Your praises and bless You, / O Giver of great mercy to the world!”
Seeing the Infant incarnate from her— / the eternal God—the All-Pure One, / holding Him in her arms and kissing Him often, / and filled with joy, she turned to Him: / “O Most High God, Invisible King, / how is it that I see You and yet cannot comprehend / the mystery of Your immeasurable poverty? / For this narrowest of caves, and one that is not even my own, / holds within itself You, who were born, / yet did not violate my virginity, / who preserved my womb as it was before Your birth, / and who bestows great mercy!”
Thus the Pure One, speaking with trembling as a servant, / heard the Magi standing together before the cave, / and turned to them: / “Whom are you seeking? / For you, as I see, have come from a distant, foreign land, / and have the appearance and manner of Persians. / You have undertaken an extraordinary journey and pilgrimage / and have come with zeal to worship Him / who, having come down from on high, became a stranger / and in a wondrous way dwelt within Me, as He Himself knows, / bestowing great mercy upon the world!”
Leaving behind the beauty of the world, / you illuminated the nobility of the soul / with the beauty of heavenly nobility, / all-praised Eugenia, / preserving the unclouded grace of the image of God / through your life, / invincible martyr, / God-like bulwark of virginity / and the most noble flower of the human race.
Adorned with word, life, grace, / and the patience of the soul, / you led the army of the afflicted / and the assembly of virgins to Him who shone forth from the Virgin, / and clearly revealed to all the path of witness to Him, / all-wise Eugenia. / Together with them, implore Him now / to save your flock.
The Architect of Truth / has adorned you, as a pure maiden / and as a glorious martyr, / with two crowns in splendor, / granting you a beautiful abode, / illuminated by the radiance of light. / And having taken up residence there, / you, the Bride of Christ, / have now been enriched with eternal bliss.
Glory, and now, on the eve of the feast, Tone 2, Cyprian: Behold, the time of our salvation has drawn near; / prepare yourself, O cave: / the Virgin is coming to give birth. / Bethlehem, land of Judah, rejoice and be glad, / for from you our Lord has shone forth. / Hear, O mountains and hills, / and the surrounding regions of Judea, / for Christ is coming / to save the man whom He created, / as the Lover of Mankind.
“To bring You gifts, My Son, / the kings from the East have come, / having heard of Your birth, O King— / frankincense, myrrh, and gold; / and now they stand at the door. / Allow them to see You, O Infant, / Whom I hold in My arms, / the ancient Adam, the first of all!”
Verse: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Hab 3:3a
“Come, enter quickly,” / – the Virgin once said to the Magi, / “and behold the Invisible One, / who has appeared visibly and become a Child.” / They entered eagerly, / and worshiped, and offered gifts, / fulfilling the divine prophecy.
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and been filled with awe; / I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Habakkuk 3:2a
“I carry You in my arms like a Child, / who bears the whole world, and I marvel,” /—proclaimed she who had never known marriage—/ “how can I nurse You with milk, You who nourish all, / my Son and my Creator? / I praise Your boundless mercy toward mankind, / through which You save / the perishing world.”
Glory, and now, on the eve of the feast, Tone 6: Zion, rejoice; Jerusalem, be glad; / O city of Christ God, receive the Creator, / who takes His place in a cave and a manger! / Open the gates to me, / and, entering through them, I will see the Infant, / wrapped in swaddling clothes, yet holding all creation in His hand, / Whom the angels sing of with unceasing voices, / the Lord, the Giver of life, / who saves our race.
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / carrying in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore in us / His image, which had previously fallen.
Your Lamb, Jesus, Eugenia / cries out with a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, / and, seeking You, I suffer, / and I am crucified and buried with You in Your baptism, / and I endure torments for Your sake, that I may reign in You, / and I die for You, that I may live with You; / but accept me as a spotless sacrifice, / offered to You with love!” / Through her intercession, O Merciful One, save our souls.
Its acrostic: “And on this day I sing of the Great Sabbath.” We sing the irmoses twice, and the troparia in tone 6. At the end of each song, both choirs sing the irmos together.
Irmos: With a wave of the sea / that in ancient times / covered the tyrant who pursued / the One hidden in the manger, / Herod seeks to kill Him; / but we will raise our song with the Magi: / “Let us sing to the Lord: / for He has been glorified!”
O Lord, my God! / I will sing to You a Christmas hymn / and a pre-feast song, / to You who, through Your divine birth, grant me rebirth / and restore me to my former nobility.
On high—on the throne / and below—in the manger, / beings both heavenly and earthly, / beholding You, my Savior, / marveled at Your power: / for beyond all understanding You appeared / in a dual nature, God-man.
That You might fill all things / with Your glory, / You stooped from heaven and came down to earth: / for like rain upon fleece, You descended into the Virgin’s womb; / now, desiring to be born of it in a dual manner, / You come, God-Man.
Then both choirs sing the irmos together.
Irmos: You, who suspended the whole earth without support upon the waters, / when creation saw You being born in the cave, / seized with awe, exclaimed: / “There is no Holy One but You, O Lord!”
Revealing the images of the ineffable Incarnation, / O Merciful One, / You multiplied the visions and inspired the prophecies; / You have now fulfilled them by coming, being born in the flesh / of the pure Virgin in the city of David.
The earth has spread out its back / and receives the Creator, / who receives glory from the angels, / a star from Heaven, praise from the shepherds, / gifts from the Magi, / and knowledge from the whole world.
For the prophet Balaam, the seer, / his prophecies are now fulfilled: / for a star has risen from Jacob / and has guided toward the Sun of Glory / the Magi bearing gifts— / the kings from Persia.
Irmos: Foreseeing Your coming from the Virgin, / Habakkuk cried out in amazement: / “You, the Redeemer, have come from Teman, taking on human form, / to call Adam, who was cast out, / back to Yourself once more!”
The Lord is drawing near, He is coming now— / the hope of the nations and the salvation of the world; / prepare a cave, O city of Bethlehem, / and you shepherds, together with the Magi, / be the first to come running!
In the power of the Godhead, / having united with mortals in an indivisible union, / in the likeness of flesh, You, O Savior, / grant Adam incorruptibility / and save him through what You have taken upon Yourself.
The Word, having become flesh, takes on a material form / and dwells among us by an ineffable providence. / Come, faithful ones, let us behold His glory, / the glory of the Only-Begotten of God and the Father.
Irmos: At the manifestation of Your coming to us, Christ, / which arose from compassion, / Isaiah, beholding the unfading light, / cried out as he kept watch through the night: / “Behold, the Virgin shall conceive in her womb, / and give birth to the Incarnate Word, / and all who are born on earth shall rejoice!”
You renew those born on earth, O Creator, / having Yourself appeared as one created from dust: / for the manger, the swaddling clothes, and the cave / are symbols of Your humility. / The betrothed of Your Mother, / and Your putative father according to the flesh, / now represents the plan / of the Father who begot You.
With myrrh—symbolizing mortal nature, / with gold—symbolizing royal power, / and with frankincense—symbolizing the supremacy of the Godhead— / the kings of the nations offer these gifts to You, / born in the cave of Bethlehem / of a Mother who knew no man.
Descending from the Virgin, / You, the Word co-eternal with the Father, / dwelt in the flesh within the cave, / using the manger as Your throne. / And by Your awe-inspiring plan / You astonish the Magi and the shepherds; / You have also amazed the Angels, / who exclaim, “Glory!”
Irmos: Jonah was swallowed but not held captive by the depths of the whale; / for, bearing the image of You, who were born and appeared in the flesh, / he emerged from the beast as from a palace: / for You, who are now born in the flesh / and are approaching burial and death, / are to rise again on the third day.
Now the partition of ancient enmity / has been removed and destroyed / by Your coming in the flesh, O Christ; / and the flaming sword is turned back, / while I partake by faith of the life-giving tree of Eden, / having been appointed anew to cultivate the immortal plants.
Hell reigns with sin / from Adam to You, / but the arrogance of its tyranny comes to an end / when You are born in the flesh, Redeemer, / of the house of David, / and You take Your seat openly on the throne of His kingdom, / and reign forever.
The wicked Herod became a child-slayer, but not a Christ-slayer: / for though he sorrowfully mowed down the infants like grass, / he could not seize or kill the Ear of Life: / for the true Giver of Life, as God, / bound the persecutor with divine power.
Irmos: An ineffable miracle! / He who delivered the pious youths from the flames in the furnace / now lies as an Infant in a humble manger, / for our salvation, we who sing: / “O God, our Redeemer, blessed are You!”
The deceiver-enemy is struck down, / seeing God as an Infant lying in a humble manger, / and groans, slain by the divine hand, / for the salvation of us who sing: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”
How rich is the manger! / For, having received within itself / the Creator as a Child, / it is, as it were, a cherubic throne / for the salvation of us who sing: / “God, our Redeemer, blessed are You!”
According to human law, You accept, / having appeared as an Infant, the state of being swaddled, / with which You loosen the bonds of my sins, / granting freedom to those who cry out: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”
[Your Divinity, O Christ, was one with the Father and the Spirit, / both in Your eternal birth / and in Your incarnation, / for the salvation of us who sing: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”]
Irmos: Be amazed with awe, O heaven, / and let the foundations of the earth be shaken; / for behold, He who bears all things in the palm of His hand / is swaddled in swaddling clothes / and laid in a humble manger; / bless Him, O young men, / sing His praises, O priests, / and exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
Adam was set free, / and freedom was granted to all the faithful, / when You, Savior, were wrapped in swaddling clothes / and laid in a cramped cave / and in a manger among irrational creatures. / Therefore, we joyfully offer You this pre-feast hymn / in faith, in anticipation of Your Nativity.
The Persian delusion has come to an end: / for the astrologers, the kings of the East, / bring gifts to the newborn—Christ, King of all: / gold, myrrh, and frankincense. / Bless Him, O youths; sing His praises, O priests; / exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
O wondrous miracles! O goodness! / O ineffable patience! / For behold, He who dwells on high / is regarded as a Child, / and God, by His own will, flees from Herod. / Bless Him, O young men; sing His praises, O priests; / exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
Irmos: Do not be amazed now, O Mother, / seeing Him as a Child, / He who was born of the Father before the morning star: / for, clearly, I have come / to restore and glorify with Me / the fallen human nature / that magnifies You / with faith and love.
At Your wondrous birth, / having supernaturally escaped torment, / I was glorified, O Son without beginning; / but now, seeing You fleeing from Herod, / my soul is pierced by the sword of sorrow; / yet live and save those who honor You.
I have entered the land of Egypt, / but the man-made idols of Egypt, / O Mother, I have overthrown by an earthquake; / and the enemies who seek My soul in vain, / I send to hell, as the One who is mighty, / but I will exalt and save those who honor You.
Let creation rejoice, / for the Creator is being revealed, / and the God who existed from eternity / is now made known anew; / let the Magi greet Him with gifts; / let the shepherds, seeing the miracle, clap their hands in faith, / and let the people rejoice together with the Angels!
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore in us / His image, which had previously fallen.
The words of the prophets have now been fulfilled: / for tomorrow our God is born of the Virgin Mary in a way beyond human understanding, / and she remains as she was before the Nativity. / The Magi gather, bringing gifts; / the shepherds play their flutes, and we too sing: / “Born of the Virgin, O Lord, / glory to You!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
As the shepherds’ flutes ceased their song, / the host of angels cried out, addressing them: / “Cease playing, you who preside over the flocks! / Proclaim in song that Christ the Lord is born, / who, as God, was pleased to save the human race!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
The Canon of the Forefeast with an irmos in tone 8 and a holy verse in tone 4. The Canon of the Forefeast, tone 2: contains an acrostic based on the alphabet. Composition by the Venerable Joseph. Katavasia after the 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 9th odes—the irmoses of the canon to the holy martyr.
Canon 1. Irmos: Once, in the depths, / the supreme power destroyed all Pharaoh’s army; / but the Word, having become flesh, destroyed the wicked sin— / the most glorified Lord; / for He has been glorified in splendor.
You were enrolled in the census, / O King of all, by Caesar’s decree, / desiring to inscribe humanity in the book of life; / as a stranger You came to Your own, / calling to heaven those living in misery outside of paradise in a foreign land.
Bethlehem, receive Christ, / for He who is becoming incarnate comes to you, / opening Eden for me; / O cave, prepare to behold the Inconceivable One, / who marvelously dwells within you, / having now become poor / through the riches of His mercy.
Christ is coming to be born, / a wondrous rebirth, as a blessing, / bestowed upon those descended from Adam. / Rejoice, barren wilderness— / all mortal nature— / for the Lord has come / to make you fruitful.
Canon of the Saint, same tone, composed by the Venerable Theophanes. Its acrostic: “I sing of Eugenia’s great glory earnestly in my songs.”
The same irmos
Eugenia, martyr of Christ, / now rejoicing joyfully with the angelic hosts, / as a spotless virgin / and as a martyr, the all-blessed crowned one, / intercede for the gift of grace / for those who sing of you with love.
Hearing the Divine Hymn, / you were inspired, Bride of Christ, / to exalted nobility: / for the theology of the Spirit shone like light in your heart / through song, / driving away all godlessness.
Forgetting your feminine nature, / your mind ascended to manly deeds, / having been strengthened by grace / and providentially directed toward God, Martyr Eugenia, / who shares the name of divine nobility.
Enlightened by the light that the mind can comprehend, / you have made very many partakers of this enlightenment, / O God-wise one; / grant this grace now to those who sing your praises, / delivering them from sin through your intercessions, / O all-blessed Martyr Eugenia.
Theotokos: Slain by the plant of knowledge, / we, the faithful, were called back to life by the Tree of Life, / which sprang from you, O Pure Theotokos, / beyond all thought—Christ God; / intercede boldly before Him / for the salvation of our souls.
Canon 1. Irmos: The desert has blossomed like a lily, O Lord, /—the barren, pagan church—with Your coming; / in it my heart has found its rest.
Delivering me from the bonds of evil, O Lord, / You come, O Lover of mankind, / to be swaddled in swaddling clothes like an infant. / I worship Your divine descent.
You, who shone forth from the Father before time began, / the Virgin comes to give birth to You, / now appearing in time to put an end / to the long-standing passions of our souls.
Seeking me, who wandered because of my sin, / You dwelt in a cave as if in heaven, / preparing for me the dwellings there, / O Compassionate and Most Merciful One!
Canon 2. Irmos: Having established me on the rock of faith, / You have opened my mouth wide against my enemies, / for my spirit rejoiced, singing: / “There is none holy like our God, / and there is none righteous but You, O Lord!”
Like a spotless sacrifice to the Lord, / you were offered up with the most perfect intention / and rejected worldly riches, proclaiming, O all-wise one: / “You are our God, and there is no one holy / greater than You, O Lord!”
Your purity, O All-Pure One, became known, / the strength of your deeds shone forth, / for you made your deeds an ascent to contemplation, / exclaiming: / “You are our God, / and there is no one holy / greater than You, O Lord!”
Enchanted by love for chastity, / you upheld the praise of purity, / became skilled in wisdom, exclaiming to Christ: / “You are our God, / and there is no one holy / greater than You, O Lord!”
Theotokos: Let us sing of Mary, the All-Immaculate Mother of God, / who appeared as the Giver of salvation, / O God-wise ones, and let us cry out: / “There is none as immaculate as You, O Most Pure One, / and there is none as blameless as You, O Lady!”
The Lord, who adorned you with a noble character and bestowed upon you divine honor, and who, in the form of a servant, was born of the Virgin and united Himself with us, has numbered you among the host of virgins with their lamps and united you with the martyrs, Eugenia, for you have truly won the crown of the nobility of divine glory.
Having excelled in ascetic labors, / you were glorified also through your martyr’s struggles, / leading many who were to be saved to your Creator: / for, out of divine love, having forsaken the temporal, / you performed deeds worthy of a man, O glorious one. / Therefore, upon your passing, you have attained eternal life, / abiding forever with your Bridegroom, Eugenia, equal to the angels. / Intercede before Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
Glory, and now: On this day, the earth has appeared to me as heaven, / for upon it the Creator is born / and lies in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea. / Together with the angels, the shepherds sing unceasingly: / “Glory in the highest, and peace on earth!” / For they saw the star traveling with the Magi, / who hurried to bring Him gifts: / gold, myrrh, and frankincense, as to the true God of all, / and the eternal King, and the Creator of the whole world, / who was born in a cave through His mercy.*
Canon 1. Irmos: You came from the Virgin—not as a messenger, / nor as an angel, but as the Lord Himself in the flesh, / and You saved me, a human being, entirely. / Therefore I cry out to You: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Creation, cast off all decay now, / seeing the Creator who creates and renews you, / who became an infant and raises you / to your original beauty.
Marveling at the wondrous birth, the Magi stood, / guided by the divine star, / and, seeing the Sun rising from the virginal Cloud, / brought gifts to Him.
Behold, the Virgin comes, like a heifer, / bearing in her womb the well-fed Calf, / who abolishes the sins of the world: / let creation rejoice and celebrate!
The prophecies of the prophets, / announcing Christ’s coming, / have found their saving fulfillment on this day: / for He has appeared in the flesh / to those suffering in darkness.
Canon 2. Same Irmos
You have come, incarnate of the Virgin, / betrothing to Yourself, O Most High, / the hosts of virgins who have loved You alone, / the Bridegroom of the virgins known to all.
You cast off the veil of your earthly birth, / O all-glorious martyr, / and in baptism you clothed yourself / in the incorruptible garment of rebirth, radiant as the light.
The light-bearing dawn rose in your heart, / dispelling the spreading darkness of deception / with the radiance of grace, / Martyr of Christ Eugenia, most beautiful virgin.
You purified your life with modesty and beauty, / first extinguishing the passions of the flesh through self-restraint, / and then shining gloriously through suffering, Eugenia.
Theotokos: You have become higher than the angels, All-Praised One, / having given birth to the Angel of the Father’s Great Council, / the Lover of Mankind, who became man / through His great mercy.
Canon 1. Irmos: You have become the Mediator between God and mankind, / Christ our God; / for through You, O Lord, from the night of ignorance / we have gained access to the Source of light—Your Father.
May the people, who once sat in darkness, / behold the shining, Unfading Light: / He whom a star pointed out in ancient times / to the Persian kings who worshiped fire.
The great King, the Most Divine, / hastens to enter the cramped cave, / to exalt me, the lowly one, / and to enrich the impoverished with immeasurable riches.
Now, as Balaam foretold, / Christ is born of Jacob, / and He will reign over the nations, / and His Kingdom, abiding unchanged, / will be exalted by His grace.
Canon 2. Irmos: Light for those lying in darkness, / salvation for the despairing, Christ, my Savior! / I long for You from the break of day, King of the world: / enlighten me with Your radiance, / for I know no other god but You.
Seeing your journey toward salvation, / the deadly serpent raises / various temptations against you, ascetic, / seeking to weaken your zeal; / but you, godly and pure, have trampled him underfoot.
You have appeared before the Giver of all beauty, the Benefactor, / and the Bridegroom of souls, Christ, / shining among the ascetics through your self-control / and radiant through your martyr’s suffering, / Martyr Eugenia, Christ’s beautiful virgin.
A crown of gifts has been placed upon your head: / for you honored divine wisdom, / spurning your father’s wealth and glory, / and with zeal, all-wise one, / you followed your beloved Bridegroom.
Theotokos: Life, which has come forth to the world / from You, Mother of God, / calls back to the communion of eternal life / those who were once held captive by death, / as they exclaim with faith: / “We know no other God but You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Carried away in the abyss of sin, / I call upon the unfathomable depths of Your mercy: / O God, deliver me from destruction!
In a wondrous way, Christ comes to His own; / let us turn away from sin and receive Him, / who dwells in meek souls.
You will by no means be, Bethlehem, / the least among the cities: / for in you a King and Lord is born, / to shepherd His chosen people.
How will a small cave / receive You, O Incomprehensible One, whom the whole world cannot contain? / How will You become a Child, visible to the eye, / contemplated by the mind, as co-eternal with the Father?
Canon 2. Same Irmos
You did not allow your senses to slumber, / until you had put all sensuality to death / and made yourself a pure dwelling place / for your Creator.
Envious of the ways of the Egyptian woman, / black in both deeds and name, / she dares to slander your venerable / life, O All-Wise One.
Having demonstrated steadfast character / and enriched by the grace of healing, / thanks to your abundant faith, / you became a mentor to the host of nuns.
Theotokos: All the prophets were mysteriously instructed, / comprehending the ineffable birth from You, All-Pure One, / spiritually foreshadowing and foretelling the future to all.
On this day the Virgin goes forth to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / Him who deigned to appear for our sake— / the infant Child, the Eternal God.
Ikos: The sacred words of the prophets / have been fulfilled: / for behold, the Virgin gives birth to the All-Perfect One / in the city of Bethlehem, within a cave. / All creation, be renewed, rejoice and exult: / the Lord of all has come to dwell with His servants, / delivering us, who have been brought low into corruption, / from foreign dominion. / And He is seen as a Babe in a manger, / swaddled in swaddling clothes /—the young Child, the Eternal God.*
Canon 1. Irmos: The godless decree of the lawless ruler / kindled a raging flame; / but Christ poured out the dew of the Spirit upon the pious youths, / the blessed and most glorified One.
May the clouds above sprinkle water: / He who performs / His sacred ascent upon the clouds is coming, / carried by the Virgin as by a Cloud, / to shine with Unfading Light / upon those who were previously in darkness and distress.
O heavenly host of angels, prepare / to sing of the Lord’s ineffable descent; / Magi, come quickly; shepherds, hasten: / He has come, the One for whom it was ordained, Christ, / the hope and redemption of the nations.
“What is this greatest and unprecedented wonder? / How shall I bear You, who sustain all things by Your word, / You who were born in an ineffable manner, My Son without beginning?” / —cried out the All-Pure One, / holding Christ in her arms with trembling.
Canon 2. Same Irmos
You revealed to all the truth of the divinely inspired Scriptures, / concealing your feminine nature within the masculine, / and by that incredible deed, O Most Honorable One, you astonished everyone; / you also led them brilliantly / to faith in Christ, O All-Blessed One.
You wisely exposed the folly of idolatry / through your divine teachings, O All-Praised One, / betrothing to Christ, who reigns over all, / an innumerable host of virgins / radiant with the blood of martyrdom.
Seeing your God-bearing life, the glorious Vassila / began to imitate you with love: / for she is betrothed to Christ, / having forsaken all carnal pleasures, / and is now deemed worthy of the martyrs’ joy.
Theotokos: You halted the spread of death, / bearing the Incarnate Life in your womb without seed, / O Ever-Virgin, Pure Mother of God. / Therefore, rejoicing, we call You / the source of immortality.
Canon 1. Irmos: The fiery furnace in Babylon of old / displayed various wonders, / scorching the Chaldeans by divine command, / while sprinkling the faithful with dew as they sang: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
At the height of the truly ineffable mystery / of Him whose knowledge encompasses the heavens, / the Immaculate Lady marveled and exclaimed: / “The heavenly throne burns as it holds You— / how then shall I bear You, My Son?”
“You bear, My Son, the likeness of the Father; / and how did You take on the likeness of a servant, becoming poor? / How shall I lay You—who deliver all from folly— / in the manger of senseless creatures? / I sing of Your mercy!”
Rejoice, all the earth: / behold, Christ is drawing near, born in Bethlehem; / O sea, rejoice; O host of prophets, exult, / seeing the fulfillment of your words on this day; / and rejoice, all you righteous ones!
Canon 2. Irmos: To the God who descended / into the fiery furnace with the Jewish youths, / and turned the flame into dew, / sing, all creation, as to the Lord, / and exalt Him for all ages.
In the river with youthful courage, and in the fire with patience, / you endured the trial: / for you passed steadfastly through the hostile elements, / singing of Christ and exclaiming with faith: / “I bless You, Christ, forever!”
Appearing in a wondrous way / to you, who remained under guard, / Christ nourishes you abundantly / and, before His Nativity, unites you with the heavenly hosts, / who glorify Him forever, O Venerable One.
Your Bridegroom magnificently adorns / you with two crowns, O God-wise Eugenia, / and justly grants you a radiant dwelling, as one who is righteous. / We exalt Him for all ages.
The grace of God, which shone upon you like light, / now illuminates you in the heavenly mansions. / Pray unceasingly, that through your intercession / those who celebrate / your God-bearing memory may be filled with it.
Theotokos: We acknowledge you, O Mother of God, / as the transparent fountain of immortality, / for you gave birth to the Word of the immortal Father, / who delivers from death all those / who exalt Him forever.
We sing: With the highest honor of the Cherubim:
Canon 1. Irmos: The Son of the Beginningless Father, God and Lord, / having been incarnated of the Virgin, appeared to us / to enlighten those in darkness and gather the scattered. / Therefore, we magnify the Mother of God, whom all sing of.
Let all the kingdoms of the earth sing with joy, / and let the tribes of the nations rejoice; / mountains, hills, and valleys, / rivers, the sea, and all the creation / of the Lord, now born, magnify Him.
You were seen by the prophets, / as much as it was possible / to see You; but in these last days, / having become mortal, You appeared to all people / in Bethlehem, the city of Judea, / when the star pointed You out / to the Magi, O Incomprehensible One.
“O Sweetest Child, / how do I nourish You, who nourish the whole world? / How do I hold You, / who hold all things by Your mere gesture? / How do I swaddle You in swaddling clothes, / You who swaddle the whole earth in mist?” /—cried out the All-Pure Lady, / whom we ceaselessly extol.
Canon 2. Same Irmos
Having taken up residence in the heavenly abode, O glorious one, / you have now clearly been deemed worthy of the delights of paradise / with the virgins—as a truly faithful martyr, / and with the martyrs—as an ever-immaculate virgin, / O all-blessed Eugenia.
You have attained the highest aspiration of mind and thought, / joyfully standing before the Most High, the Exalted One, / and shining brightly with the radiant rays of the Ruling Trinity, / O God-wise, / all-blessed Eugenia.
Holding aloft the lamp of virginity, O glorious one, / you were adorned with the martyr’s crown; / and now do not cease to intercede, / that through your intercession / those who reverently and lovingly honor you may be saved, / Eugenia, praised by all.
You have now departed / to the Divine Joy, all-virtuous one, / having passed through the fire of unbearable torments / and the insurmountable waters of temptation, Martyr Eugenia. / Entreat Christ, then, to save our souls.
Theotokos: Like the fleece, O All-Pure One, / having conceived the Heavenly Rain in your womb, / you gave birth to the Giver of the food of immortality for us, / whom we reverently sing of / and proclaim you, O All-Pure One, / as the Mother of God.
After the 9th canticle, “It is Truly Meet” is not sung.
He who dwells in unapproachable light and holds all things / is born of the Virgin through ineffable mercy / and is swaddled in swaddling clothes as an Infant, / lying in a cave and in the manger of speechless creatures. / Let us hasten to Bethlehem to worship Him with the Magi, / offering the fruits of our finest deeds as gifts.
Glory, and now: Let us, the faithful, sing to the Virgin Mary: / for behold, she is now on her way to give birth / to Christ the Savior in the city of Bethlehem; / therefore, Magi, follow the star with your gifts, / to worship Him with us; / and you, shepherds, hasten with the Angels to proclaim to the One being born: / “Glory to You, lying in a cave and in a manger!”
A star has shone forth from Jacob in the cave; / let us also come to celebrate the pre-feast festivities; / let us hasten with the Magi, let us join the shepherds, / let us see God in swaddling clothes, let us see the Virgin nursing Him. / O, a sight that fills one with awe! / The King of Israel, Christ, is coming.*
With hymns, the angelic choir now honors You, / O radiant Mother who knew no man. / It rejoices with gladness / at the birth of Christ from You, Most Pure One: / “Rejoice, hope of the Orthodox, / rejoice, Protector of those who sing to You!” / Therefore, let us cry out: / “Blessed is our God who has come; glory to You!”*
“A Branch will spring from the root of Jesse,” / as proclaimed by the God-inspired prophet; / and behold, we see the Virgin who supernaturally gave birth / to the Beloved Rose in a cave, / He who sits on the same throne as the Father in heaven. / Let us cry out, O people: / “Blessed is our God who has come; glory to You!”*
On this day, Adam is delivered from temptation / and from the enemy’s dark lies, / for Christ is incarnated as Man from the Virgin— / He, having renewed Adam, has abolished the curse through the Virgin. / People, let us cry out: / “Blessed is our God who has come; glory to You!”*
Glory, voice, and the same melody: Hurry, Bethlehem! / Prepare everything for the Nativity. / Go, Joseph, register with Mary. / Most holy manger, God-bearing swaddling clothes! / Life, wrapped within them, will break the bonds of death, / drawing mortals to incorruption, /—Christ our God!
And now, in the same manner: O blessed womb of the Virgin chosen by God: / it appeared to the mind as greater than the heavens! / For You hold within Yourself / that which heaven cannot contain. / O, blessed breasts of the Virgin, / from which Christ, the Nourisher of all that breathes, is nourished, / He who formed flesh for Himself / in the womb of the unwed Virgin!
You have become the dwelling place of the Creator of all things, O Virgin! / For the Lord of glory, who dwelt within You, / now comes to be born.
Stichos: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Hab 3:3a
The infant Child—the eternal God—/ is born in Bethlehem of the Virgin; / in the manger of speechless animals / He was laid—O wonder!
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and trembled; / I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Hab 3:2a
The incorporeal hosts of angels in heaven / together with the shepherds and the Magi / proclaim to the newborn God: / “Glory to You!”
Glory, similar to the same: Glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, / He through whom was accomplished / the awe-inspiring mystery / for the renewal of mankind.*
And now, in the same manner: Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, / who gave birth by the Holy Spirit / to the Life of the world for the salvation of all.*
And the usual conclusion of Matins. We do not join the First Hour to Matins, but sing the Great Hours in due time.
December 25
Priest: Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who dwells everywhere and fills all things, Treasure of all good things and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every defilement, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Lord, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for the sake of Your name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
And after the acclamation, the priest censes the Gospel on the analogion, the icons, the entire church, and the clergy in order.
Hear my words, O Lord; understand my cry; give ear to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God, for to You I pray, O Lord. Hear my voice early in the morning; early in the morning I will stand before You and watch. For You are a God who does not desire iniquity; the one who does evil shall not dwell with You, nor shall the wicked abide before Your eyes; You hate all who practice iniquity. You will destroy all who speak lies; the Lord detests the bloodthirsty and the treacherous. But I, by the abundance of Your mercy, will enter Your house; I will bow down before Your holy temple in reverence for You. O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness for the sake of my enemies; direct my path before You. For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are vain; their throats are open graves; with their tongues they have deceived. Judge them, O God, that they may be turned back from their schemes; drive them out because of the multitude of their iniquities, for they have grieved You, O Lord. May all who hope in You rejoice; may they be glad forever; may You dwell among them, and may those who love Your name boast in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You have shielded us with Your favor as with a weapon.
My heart has poured out a word of grace; I speak of my deeds to the King; my tongue is the reed of a scribe. You are resplendent in beauty among the sons of men! Grace flows from Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever. Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, in Your perfection and Your beauty; be strong, prosper, and reign for the sake of truth, meekness, and righteousness, and may Your right hand lead You in wondrous ways! Your arrows are sharp, O Mighty One—the nations will fall before You—they pierce the hearts of the King’s enemies. Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever; the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore, O God, Your God has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions. Myrrh, balsam, and cassia—from Your garments, from the chambers of ivory, from which they rejoice before You. The daughters of kings are honored before You; the Queen stands at Your right hand, clothed in gold-embroidered garments, adorned. Listen, O daughter, and look; incline your ear; forget your people and your father’s house, for the King desires your beauty—for He is your Lord. You will bow down to Him, and the daughter of Tyre with her gifts; the wealthy among the nations will seek your favor. All the glory of the King’s daughter is within; she is clothed in gold and adorned. Virgins will be led to the King in her wake; her companions will be brought to you; they will be led in joy and gladness, brought into the King’s palace. Your sons have taken the place of your fathers; you will appoint them as princes throughout the land. I will make your name memorable from generation to generation, so that the nations will praise you forever and ever.
God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the troubles that have come upon us. Therefore we will not fear, even when the earth is shaken and the mountains are set ablaze in the heart of the seas. Their waters roar and surge; the mountains quake at His might. The streams of the river gladden the city of God—the Most High has sanctified His dwelling place. God is in its midst, and it shall not be moved; God will help it at the break of dawn. The nations are in turmoil, the kingdoms are brought low; the Most High has uttered His voice—the earth trembles. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge! Come and see the works of God, the wonders He has performed on the earth: He puts an end to wars to the ends of the earth; He shatters the bow and breaks the weapons, and burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our defender.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore within us / His image, which had previously fallen.
And now, O Mother of God: How shall we call You, O Full of Grace? / Heaven? For through You the Sun of Righteousness has shone forth. / Paradise? For You have brought forth the Flower of incorruption. / Virgin? For You remained incorrupt. / The Pure Mother? For You held in Your holy embrace the Son, who is God of all. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Then we sing the stichera, composed by Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, repeating each one twice.
Bethlehem, prepare yourself, / let the manger be set up; / cave, receive: the Truth has come. / The shadow has passed, and God has appeared as a man from the Virgin, / taking on a form like ours and deifying what He took on. / Therefore, Adam is renewed, exclaiming with Eve: / “God’s favor has appeared on earth to save our race!” (2)
Verse: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain shrouded in autumnal foliage. Hab 3:3a
Now the prophetic prediction is mysteriously hastening to be fulfilled, which says: / “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, / by no means the least among the rulers, / you who have prepared a cave; / for from you will come forth for me, in the flesh from the Virgin, / the Leader of the tribes, Christ God, / Who will shepherd His people, the new Israel.” / Let us give Him all glory!
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your word and trembled; / I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Hab 3:2a
Now a mystery is hastening to be fulfilled:
Glory, Tone 8: Thus says Joseph to the Virgin: / “Mary, what is this that I see has happened to you? / I am perplexed, astonished, and my mind is bewildered; / so depart secretly from me at once.” / Mary, what is this that I see has happened to you? / Instead of honor—shame; instead of joy—sorrow; / instead of praise, you have brought me reproach! / I can no longer bear the reproach from people, / for I took you from the priests of the Lord’s temple as a virgin, / and now, what is this sight?”
And now: Thus says Joseph to the Virgin:
The Lord said to Me: / “You are My Son; today I have begotten You.”
Verse: Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession. Ps 2:8b, 9
Thus says the Lord: “And you, Bethlehem, house of Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you shall come forth for Me (the Ruler—) the One who is to be Prince in Israel, and His origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Therefore He will deliver them until the time when the woman in labor gives birth; and then the remnant of His brothers will return to the sons of Israel. He will stand and watch, and the Lord will shepherd His flock in strength; and they will dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their God, for He will now be exalted to the ends of the earth.
Micah 5:2–4
God, who in times past spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us through His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ages. He, being the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His being, and upholding all things by the word of His power, having by Himself accomplished the purification of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”? And again, when He introduces the Firstborn into the universe, He says: “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” And concerning the angels He says, “He who makes His angels spirits and His servants a flaming fire”—but concerning the Son: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore, O God, God has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You will remain; and they will all wear out like a garment; like a robe, You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.”
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, it was found that she was with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to expose her to public disgrace, decided to divorce her quietly. But while he was considering this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, who says: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which translated means, “God with us.” When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife, yet he did not know her until she had given birth to her firstborn Son; and he named Him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25
Guide my steps according to Your word, and let no iniquity take hold of me.
Deliver me from the slander of men, and I will keep Your commandments.
Let the light of Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your decrees. Psalm 118:133–135
May my mouth be filled with praise to You, O Lord, so that I may sing of Your glory all day long—Your splendor. Psalm 70:8
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
On this day, the Virgin sets out to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / the One who deigned to appear for our sake— / the infant Child, the Eternal God.
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth—long-suffering, most merciful, most compassionate, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and suffering. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
Priest: Christ, the true Light, who enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world! Imprint upon us the light of Your face, that we may behold in it the unapproachable light, , and direct our steps toward the fulfillment of Your commandments, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and be gracious to us, so that on earth they may know Your way, and among all nations—Your salvation. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations rejoice and be glad, for You will judge the peoples with justice and guide the nations on earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. The earth has yielded its fruit: Bless us, O God, our God. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him.
His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. I will mention Rahab and Babylon to those who know me. And behold, the foreigners, Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia—they were there. “Zion is the mother!”—a man will say; and a Man was born in it, and the Most High Himself established it. The Lord will declare this among the nations and the rulers who were in it. For all who rejoice have their dwelling in you.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions; wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother bore me in sin. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will place young bulls on Your altar.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore within us / His image, which had previously fallen.
And now, to the Mother of God: O Mother of God, You are the True Vine, / who has brought forth for us the Fruit of Life; / we beseech You: intercede, O Sovereign Lady, / with the Apostles and all the saints / for the mercy of our souls.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
This is our God, / there is none like Him, / born of a Virgin and having lived among men; / The Only-Begotten Son is seen lying / in a humble manger like mortals, / and the Lord of Glory is swaddled in swaddling clothes; / and the star guides the Magi to worship Him; / and we sing: / “Holy Trinity, save our souls.” (2)
Tone 8. Verse: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Hab 3:3a
Before Your birth, O Lord, / the incorporeal hosts were amazed, / beholding the mystery with awe; / for You deigned to take the form of a newborn Infant, / You who adorn the vault of heaven with stars; / and in a manger among speechless animals You lie / You who hold all the ends of the earth in Your hand. / Truly, through such providence of Yours / Your mercy has become known, Christ. / Great is Your mercy; glory to You!
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and been filled with awe; / I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Hab 3:2a
Before Your birth, O Lord:
Glory, Tone 3: “Joseph, tell us: / how do you bring the Virgin, whom you took from the Holy Place, / pregnant, to Bethlehem?” / “I,” he says, “have studied the prophets / and, having received a revelation through an angel, have ascertained / that Mary will give birth to God in an inexpressible way; / the Magi from the East will come to worship Him, / offering precious gifts in service.” / O Lord, who became incarnate for our sake, / glory to You!
And now: Joseph, tell us:
A Child has been born to us, / a Son has been given to us.
Verse: The government shall rest upon His shoulder. Isaiah 9:6a
This is our God; no one else can compare to Him. He devised every path of knowledge and gave it to Jacob, His servant, and to Israel, His beloved. After that, He appeared on earth and dwelt among people. This is the book of God’s commandments and the law that endures forever. All who hold fast to it will enter into life, but those who forsake it will die. Turn, Jacob, and take hold of it; walk toward the radiance by its light. Do not give your glory to another, nor what is beneficial to you to a foreign people. Blessed are we, Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.
Baruch 3:36–38; 4:1–4
Brothers, before we came to faith, we were held captive under the Law, waiting for the future revelation of faith, so that the Law became our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith ; but now that faith has come, we are no longer under the guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus for a census of the entire world. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. So Joseph also went from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son; she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in that region, living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” And it came to pass that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger. When they saw Him, they made known the message that had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1–20
Blessed be the Lord God; blessed be the Lord day after day; may God, our Savior, grant us success. Our God is a God of salvation. Ps 67:20, 21
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
On this day the Virgin goes forth to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / the One who deigned to appear for our sake— / the infant Child, the Eternal God.
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth—long-suffering, most merciful, most compassionate, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O God, Almighty Father, Lord, Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit! One Godhead, one Power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and save me, Your unworthy servant, in ways known to You, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
O God, grant Your judgment to the King, and Your righteousness to the King’s Son, that He may judge Your people with righteousness and Your poor with justice. May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills—righteousness. He will judge the poor among the people and save the children of the needy; He will subdue the slanderer and endure as long as the sun, and before the moon, throughout all generations. He will come down like rain upon the fleece, and like a drop falling upon the earth. His righteousness and abundant peace will shine forth in His days, until the moon is no more. And He will reign from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the universe. The Ethiopians will bow down before Him, and His enemies will lick the dust; the kings of Persis and the islands will bring gifts; the kings of Arabia and Sheba will present offerings; and all the kings of the earth will worship Him; all nations will serve Him as slaves. For He has rescued the needy from the hand of the ruler, and the poor who had no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and the needy, and He will save the lives of the poor; He will deliver their souls from oppression and injustice, and His name will be honored before them. He will live, and they will give Him the gold of Arabia; they will pray for Him unceasingly and bless Him all day long. He will be a stronghold on the earth, on the mountaintops; His fruit will be exalted above Lebanon, and the people of the city will flourish like the grass of the earth. His name will be blessed forever; His name endures before the sun, and all the tribes of the earth will be blessed in Him; all nations will call Him blessed. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, the One who performs wonders; and blessed be the name of His glory forever and ever, and the whole earth will be filled with His glory. So be it, so be it!
Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness, how he swore to the Lord and made a vow to the God of Jacob: “I will not enter the tent of my house, nor lie on my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, nor rest to my head, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the God of Jacob!” Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the plains of the oak groves; we will enter His sanctuary and worship the place where His feet once stood. Arise, O Lord; enter Your resting place—You and the ark of Your holiness. Your priests will be clothed in righteousness, and Your saints will rejoice with gladness. For the sake of David, Your servant, do not turn away the face of Your anointed one. The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it: “I will set one of the offspring of your loins on your throne; if your sons keep My covenant and these My testimonies, which I will teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever.” For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has appointed it as His dwelling place: “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have chosen it. I will bless his spoil with a blessing; I will satisfy his poor with bread; I will clothe his priests with salvation, and his saints will rejoice with joy. There I will restore the horn of David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one; I will clothe his enemies with shame, but my holiness will flourish upon him.”
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord, “You are my shield and my refuge, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will hide you under His wings, and you will take refuge under His wings—His truth will surround you like a shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that strikes at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. For You, O Lord, are my hope! You have made the Most High your refuge. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your tent; for He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways—they will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the asp and the viper; you will trample the lion and the dragon. “For he has trusted in Me, and I will deliver him; I will protect him, for he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him; I will satisfy him with long life and show him My salvation.”
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore within us / His image, which had previously fallen.
And now, O Mother of God: We lack the courage because of our many sins, / but implore Him who was born of You, O Virgin Mother of God! / For the Mother’s intercession holds great power before the gracious Lord. / Do not despise the supplications of sinners, All-Pure One, / for He who took upon Himself our suffering is merciful and has the power to save.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
Come, faithful ones, inspired by God, let us lift up our hearts / and clearly behold in Bethlehem / the Divine descent to us from on high; / and, having purified our minds, / let us offer virtues in our lives instead of fragrant incense, / preparing in faith from the treasures of our souls / for the coming of the Christmas feasts, crying out: / “Glory to God in the highest, in the Trinity, / through Whom favor has appeared among men / for the redemption of Adam from the original curse, / for He is the Lover of mankind.” (2)
Tone 4. Verse: God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Habakkuk 3:3a
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; / let her foundations be shaken, / let the underworld be seized with trembling: / for God and the Creator has entered into the forming flesh, / and He who created all creation with a mighty hand / is now beheld as the fruit of the womb. / O, the depth of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge! / How unsearchable are His judgments / and His ways beyond tracing!
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and been filled with awe; / I have understood Your works and been amazed.
Hab 3:2a
Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth:
Glory, Tone 5: Come, Christ-bearing people, let us behold the miracle, / which astounds and captivates every mind, / and, worshiping reverently, let us sing with faith. / On this day, the Virgin, bearing Him in her womb, / comes to Bethlehem to give birth to the Lord, / while choirs of angels hasten ahead. / And seeing this, Joseph, her betrothed, cried out: / “What wondrous mystery is being accomplished in you, O Virgin? / And how are you to give birth, / you who have not known a husband?”
And now: Come, Christ-bearing people, let us behold the miracle:
“From the womb before the morning star, I have begotten You,” / —the Lord has sworn, and He will not repent.
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand.” Ps 109:3b–4a, 1
The Lord continued His conversation with Ahaz, saying, “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God, whether in the depths or in the heights.” And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I put the Lord to the test!” And Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to trouble the people? And how do you trouble the Lord? Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel. He will eat butter and honey; before He is old enough to know or to choose between good and evil, He will choose the good—for before this Child knows good or evil, He will not yield to evil in order to choose the good.” And the Lord said to me: “Take for yourself a new, large scroll, and write on it with a human pen that the plundering of the spoils will soon take place—for it has come. And appoint as My witnesses these faithful men: Uriah the priest and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah.” So I went to the Prophetess, and she conceived and bore a Son. And the Lord said to me, “Call His name ‘Take Swiftly, Plunder Quickly,’ for before the Child learns to call ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ He will take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria before the face of the king of Assyria.” God is with us—know this, you nations, and submit; listen, all to the ends of the earth. You mighty ones, submit: for if you strive again, you will be defeated again. And whatever plan you devise, the Lord will bring to ruin; whatever word you speak will not stand, for God is with us!
Isaiah 7:10–16; 8:1–4, 8–10
In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You will remain; and they will all wear out like a garment; like a robe, You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. To which of the angels did God ever say: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore, we must pay close attention to what we have heard, lest we be swept away by the current. For if the word spoken through angels proved to be binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation—which began by the Lord’s own speaking and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?”
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, behold, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the King of the Jews who has been born? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. So he gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people and asked them, “Where is the Christ to be born?” They replied, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what is written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly summoned the Magi and carefully inquired of them about the time the star had appeared. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” So, after hearing the king, they set out. And behold, the star they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His mother, and falling on their faces, they worshiped Him; and opening their treasures, they presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another route.
Matthew 2:1–12
May Your compassion soon meet us, O Lord, for we have become very poor.
Help us, O God, our Savior; for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us, and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. Ps 78:8b, 9
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
On this day the Virgin goes forth to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / the young Child, the Eternal God, / who deigned to appear for our sake.
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth—long-suffering, most merciful, most compassionate, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O God and Lord of the Powers, Creator of all creation, through the incomparable mercy of Your grace, You sent Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race, and through His holy Cross You tore up the record of our sins and, by the same Cross, triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness! You Yourself, O philanthropic Lord, accept these prayers of thanksgiving and supplication from us sinners, and deliver us from every destructive and dark sin and from all visible and invisible enemies who seek to harm us. Nail our flesh to the fear of You, and do not let our hearts stray toward wicked words or thoughts; but pierce our souls with love for You, so that we, always gazing upon You and guided by the light that proceeds from You, as we contemplate You, the inaccessible and eternal Light, may we offer unceasing praise and thanksgiving to You, the Father without beginning, together with Your Only-Begotten Son and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will send You the scepter of power from Zion—and You shall rule among Your enemies! With You is power on the day of Your might, in the splendor of Your holy ones. “I have begotten You from the womb before the morning star,” the Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord at your right hand has crushed kings on the day of his wrath; he will execute judgment among the nations, he will complete the number of the slain, he will crush the heads of many on the earth. He will drink from the stream along the way; therefore, he will lift up his head.
I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, accomplished according to all His desires: His works are glorious and magnificent, and His righteousness endures forever and ever. He has made His wonders memorable; the Lord is gracious and compassionate: He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever. He has made known the might of His deeds to His people, to give them the inheritance of the nations. The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His commandments are faithful, established forever and ever, perfect in truth and righteousness. He has sent salvation to His people; He has established His covenant forever; His name is holy and awesome. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding is for all who do His commandments. Praise to Him endures forever and ever.
Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am righteous; save Your servant, O my God, who trusts in You. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You I have lifted up my soul. For You, O Lord, are good, and gentle, and abounding in mercy toward all who call upon You. Hear, O Lord, my prayer, and give ear to the voice of my supplication. On the day of my distress I called to You, and You heard me. There is none like You among the gods, O Lord, nor is there anyone comparable to You in Your works. All the nations You have created will come and worship before You, O Lord, and glorify Your name. For You are great and perform wonders; You are the one and only God. Guide me, O Lord, in Your way, and I will walk in Your truth. May my heart rejoice in the fear of Your name. I will confess to You, O Lord, my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever, for Your mercy toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from the deepest hell. O God, lawbreakers have risen up against me, and a band of the mighty has sought my soul, and they have not set You before them. And You, O Lord, my God, who are generous and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and faithful—look upon me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your handmaid. Work a sign of good upon me, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, for You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once, Mary was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, / as a descendant of the house of David, / bearing in her womb the One conceived without seed. / The time came for her to give birth, / and there was nowhere for them to stay for the night; / but, like a pleasant palace, / a cave was shown to the Queen. / Christ is born to restore within us / His image, which had previously fallen.
And now, O Mother of God: He who was born of the Virgin for our sake and endured the cross, / who by death overthrew death and revealed the resurrection as God, / do not despise, O Good One, those created by Your hand; / show Your love for mankind, O Merciful One, / accept the Mother of God who gave birth to You, interceding for us, / and save, O our Savior, those who have lost all hope.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
Herod was astonished, / seeing the piety of the Magi, / but, overcome by anger, / he calculated as if time had already passed; / mothers were deprived of their children, / and infants, not yet of age, were sorrowfully cut down, / nipples withered, / and streams of milk dried up— / the horror was great! / But we, the faithful, having gathered in reverence, / let us worship the Nativity of Christ. (2)
Tone 2. Verse: God will come from the south, and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket. Habakkuk 3:3a
When Joseph, journeying toward Bethlehem, was pierced with sorrow, / You, O Virgin, cried out to him: / “Why, seeing what I bear in my womb, / do you grow gloomy and troubled, / completely failing to understand the awesome mystery taking place within Me? / Cast aside, at last, all fear, as you comprehend this extraordinary event: / for now God, in My womb, descends to earth out of mercy and takes on flesh— / He whom, when born visibly as He Himself has willed, / you will worship, filled with joy, as your Creator, / whom the angels sing of unceasingly / and glorify together with the Father and the Holy Spirit!”
Verse: O Lord, I have heard Your message and been filled with awe; I have understood Your deeds and been amazed.
Habakkuk 3:2a
When Joseph was on his way to Bethlehem:
Then the canonarch, standing in the center of the church, proclaims the following stichera in a loud voice, tone 6:
On this day, He is born of the Virgin—/He who holds all creation in His hand;/wrapped in swaddling clothes like a mortal—/He who is by nature incorporeal;/God lies in a manger—/He who established the heavens by His word in the beginning;/He is nourished by milk from the breasts—/He who poured manna upon the people like rain in the wilderness; / the Bridegroom of the Church calls the Magi; / the Son of the Virgin receives their gifts. / We worship Your Nativity, Christ; / we worship Your Nativity, Christ; / we worship Your Nativity, Christ: / show us also Your Divine Theophany!
And we make three bows . Then the priest or deacon proclaims the “Many Years” blessing:
To the Most Holy Orthodox Patriarchs: of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and to the primates of all other autocephalous Churches, many years.
To our great lord and father, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (name), many happy returns.
To our Most Reverend (name), Bishop of (name of his diocese), and his God-protected flock, many happy returns.
To the Most Reverend Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops, to the rector of this holy church, and to the entire clergy, many happy returns.
To the zealots of Christian piety and the defenders of Christ’s Church, and to all Orthodox Christians, grant, O Lord, peace and prosperity, an abundance of earthly fruits, and many happy returns.
In the monasteries: Save, O Christ our God, our reverend father, the abbot (or archimandrite, – name), together with the brethren in Christ; preserve this holy monastery in peace, and establish this holy church for ever and ever. Amen.
Choir: Save, O Christ our God. (3)
During the Divine Hours, the festive “Many Years” is chanted only in monasteries. In cathedral and parish churches, however, it is chanted at the conclusion of the Liturgy (or Vespers, if the eve of the feast falls on a Saturday or Sunday).
Then both choirs sing the same stichera:
Glory, and now, Tone 6: On this day is born of the Virgin / He who holds all creation in His hand:
At the ninth hour, the deacon censes the entire church.
“Mother of Zion!”—a man will say; / and the Man was born within him.
Verse: His foundations are on the holy mountains. Ps 86:5a, 1a
A child has been born to us, a Son has been given to us; the government will rest upon His shoulder, and His name will be called: Angel of the Great Council, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the Age to Come; for I will bring peace to the rulers: peace and health to Him! (And) His dominion will be great, and His peace will have no end on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this!
Isaiah 9:6–7
Brothers, both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from the same Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” Therefore, just as children share in flesh and blood, so He also became a partaker of flesh and blood, so that through death He might destroy the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free all those who, through fear of death, were subject to slavery all their lives. For He certainly did not take on the nature of angels, but He took on the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
After the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and he remained there until the death of Herod, so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, who says, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was greatly enraged and sent out orders to kill all the male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding region, from two years old and under, according to the time he had ascertained from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, who says: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and wailing and great lamentation; Rachel weeps for her children, and refuses to be comforted, because they are no more.” When Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; yet, having received a revelation in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. And when he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: that He would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:13–23
Do not forsake us to the end for the sake of Your name, and do not break Your covenant.
Do not take Your mercy away from us for the sake of Abraham, whom You love, for the sake of Isaac, Your servant, and for the sake of Israel, Your holy one. Dan 3:34,35
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
On this day the Virgin goes forth to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / the young Child, the Eternal God, / who deigned to appear for our sake.
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth—long-suffering, most merciful, most compassionate, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from all sorrow, misfortune, and suffering. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, long-suffering toward our sins and who has brought us even to this very hour, when, hanging on the life-giving Tree, You showed the wise thief the way to the gates of paradise and destroyed death by death. Be merciful to us, Your sinful and unworthy servants, for we have sinned and committed iniquity, and we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look toward the heights of heaven, for we have forsaken the path of righteousness and have begun to walk according to the desires of our hearts. But we implore Your incomparable goodness: have mercy on us, O Lord, according to the abundance of Your mercy, and save us for the sake of Your holy name, for our days have grown short in this vanity. Deliver us from the hand of the enemy, forgive us our sins, and put to death our carnal thoughts, so that, having cast off the old man, we may put on the new and live for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And so, following Your commandments, may we reach the place of eternal rest, where all who rejoice dwell. For You are truly the joy and gladness of those who love You, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquities, heals all your diseases, rescues your life from destruction, crowns you with mercy and kindness, and satisfies your desire with good things—your youth will be renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord shows mercy and justice to all who are oppressed. He revealed His ways to Moses, His purposes to the children of Israel. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; He will not always be angry, nor will He harbor His wrath forever. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor has He repaid us according to our sins; for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the Lord’s mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our iniquities from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Man is like grass; his days are like the flower of the field—it withers; for the breath in him ceases—and he is no more, and he no longer remembers his place. But the Lord’s mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting toward those who fear Him, and His faithfulness toward the children’s children of those who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to obey them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all His angels, mighty in strength, who carry out His word as soon as they hear the sound of His words. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His servants, who carry out His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation: when his spirit departs, he returns to his earth; on that day all his plans come to nothing. Blessed is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry; The Lord sets the captives free; the Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the sojourner; He takes in the orphan and the widow, but He brings the way of the wicked to nothing. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion—from generation to generation.
Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Only-begotten Son and Word of God! / Immortal One, who deigned for our salvation / to be incarnated of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, / who became man without change and was crucified at , Christ God, / who by death has destroyed death, / One of the Holy Trinity, / glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
Remember us, O Lord, in Your Kingdom, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.
Glory, even now:
Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Remember us, O Holy One, when You come into Your Kingdom.
The heavenly choir sings Your praises and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Verse: Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame.
The heavenly choir sings Your praises and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Glory: The choir of holy angels and archangels, together with all the heavenly hosts, sings to You and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
And now: [If the Liturgy is being celebrated, the Creed is not read, but we proceed immediately to: “Forgive, overlook, and pardon, O God, our sins”:
1. I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten, born of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were made.
3. Who for us humans and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.
4. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.
5. And He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
6. And ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. And who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.
9. In the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
10. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
12. and the life of the world to come. Amen.]
Forgive, overlook, and pardon, O God, our sins—whether voluntary or involuntary, committed in deed or word, knowingly or in ignorance, by night or by day, in mind or in thought—forgive us all, as You are Good and Lover of mankind.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
On this day the Virgin goes forth to give birth to the Eternal Word / in a cave, in a manner beyond words. / Rejoice, O universe, upon hearing this, / and glorify, together with the angels and shepherds, / the young Child, the Eternal God, / who deigned to appear for our sake.
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial power, indivisible Kingdom, Source of all good things, be gracious also to me, a sinner; strengthen and enlighten my heart, remove from me every defilement, and enlighten my mind, so that I may always glorify, sing praises to, worship, and exclaim: One Holy One, One Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
If the Liturgy is being celebrated, the priest proclaims: “Wisdom.” And we sing:
It is truly fitting / to glorify You, O Mother of God, / ever-blessed and immaculate, / and Mother of our God.
Priest: Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
We respond: We magnify You, who are more honorable than the Cherubim / and more glorious than the Seraphim, / who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ God: and so on, and we conclude the dismissal.
[If there is no Liturgy, we say: May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3) Glory, and now:
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be on my lips. My soul shall exult in the Lord—may the humble hear this and rejoice. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my troubles. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good—blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The rich have become poor and are starving, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the person who desires to live, who wants to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; He delivered them from all their troubles . The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and will save those who are humble in spirit. The righteous have many sorrows—and the Lord will deliver them from all of them. The Lord preserves all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Death is the lot of the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will stumble. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, and all who trust in Him will not stumble.]
Patriarch Germanus: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, / explaining the present Mystery: / the wall that separated us from God has been torn down, / the flaming sword is turned back, / and the Cherubim withdraw from the Tree of Life, / and I partake of the blessings of Paradise, / from which I was cast out for disobedience. / For the unchanging Image of the Father / and the Imprint of His eternity / takes on the form of a servant, / having come forth from a Mother who knew no marriage / without thereby undergoing any change. / For He remained what He was—the true God— / and took upon Himself what He was not, / becoming man out of love for mankind. / Let us cry out to Him: / “God, born of the Virgin, have mercy on us!” (2)
Anatolius: With the birth of the Lord Jesus from the Holy Virgin, / the whole world was enlightened: / shepherds played their flutes and the Magi worshiped, / angels sang—but Herod was troubled, / that God had appeared in the flesh, / the Savior of our souls. (2)
Thine is the Kingdom, Christ God, /—the Kingdom of all ages, / and Thine is the dominion throughout every generation and age. / Having been incarnated by the Holy Spirit / and made man of the ever-virgin Mary, / Thou hast kindled a light for us, Christ God, through Thy coming. / Light from Light, the radiance of the Father, / You have illuminated all creation. / Everything that breathes praises You, / the Image of the Father’s glory. / He who is and who was before all things / and who shone forth from the Virgin, have mercy on us! (2)
What shall we offer You as a gift, Christ, / for the fact that You appeared on earth as a man for our sake? / For every creature You have created / offers thanks to You: / the angels—a song, the heavens—a star, / the Magi—gifts, the shepherds—wonder, / the earth—a cave, the desert—a manger, / and we—the Virgin Mother. / Eternal God, have mercy on us! (2)
Glory, and now, the same voice of Cassius: When Augustus became the sole ruler on earth, / the multiplicity of rulers among men ceased; / and with Your Incarnation from the pure Virgin, / idolatrous polytheism was abolished. / The nations submitted to a single earthly kingdom, / and the peoples believed in the single dominion of the Godhead. / The peoples were registered by decree of Caesar, / and we, the faithful, were also recorded in the name of the Godhead /—You, our God who became incarnate. / Great is Your mercy, O Lord; glory to You!
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings of the feast with troparia and stichera.
If the eve of the Nativity of Christ falls on a Friday, the prokeimenon “Who is a God as great as our God?” is sung with its stichera; the prokeimenon for the day itself is omitted.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And so it was. And God made the firmament, and God separated the waters that were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament. And God called the firmament “heaven.” And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And so it was. The waters under the heavens were gathered together into their places, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathered waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation—grass bearing seed according to its kind, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed in them, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And so it was. The earth brought forth vegetation—grass bearing seed according to its kind, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed in them, each according to its kind on the earth. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning: the third day.
Genesis 1:1–13
The Spirit of God came upon Balaam, and, beginning his oracle, he said: “How beautiful are your dwellings, O Jacob, your tents, O Israel—like shady valleys, like gardens by rivers, like tents set up by the Lord, (and) like cedars by the waters. A Man will come forth from his seed and take possession of many nations; his kingdom will be exalted [above Gog] and will grow [his kingdom]. God brought him out of Egypt; his glory is like that of a unicorn: he will devour the nations of his enemies, consume their fat, and strike down the enemy with his arrows. He lies down and rests like a lion and a young lion—who can rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you! A star will rise out of Jacob, and a Man will arise out of Israel; He will crush the rulers of Moab and destroy all the sons of Ziph. Edom will become His inheritance, and Esau, His enemy, will become His inheritance, but Israel has shown its strength!”
Numbers 24:2–3, 5–9, 17–18
“In those days,” says the Lord, “I will gather the broken ones and take in the outcasts, and those whom I have rejected. I will turn the broken ones into a remnant and the outcasts into a strong nation, and the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion from now on and forever.” Thus says the Lord: “And you, Bethlehem, the house of Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you shall come forth for Me One who is to be Ruler in Israel, and His origin is from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore, He will deliver them until the time when the Mother gives birth; and then the remnant of His brothers will return to the sons of Israel. He will stand and watch over His flock in the strength of the Lord; and they will dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their God, for He will now be exalted to the ends of the earth.
Micah 4:6–7; 5:2–4
You were born in secret in a cave, / yet heaven proclaimed You to all, as if with its own voice, / sending a star, O Savior; / and it led the Magi to You, / who worshiped You with faith. / Have mercy on us through them!
The choir sings the same troparion.
Reader: His foundations are on the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O City of God. I will mention Rahab and Babylon to those who know me.
Psalm 86:1–4a
Choir: And He led the Magi to You, / who worship You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them.
Reader: And behold, the foreigners , Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia—they were there. “Mother Zion!”—a man will say; and a Man was born in her, and the Most High Himself established her.
Psalm 86:4b–5
Chorus: And the Magi were led to You, / who worship You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them.
Reader: The Lord will make this known among the nations, and to the rulers who are among them. For all who rejoice find their dwelling in You. Psalm 86:6–7
Chorus: And the Magi were led to You, / who worship You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them.
Reader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Choir: And You brought the Magi to You, / who worship You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them.
Reader: Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: And You led the Magi to You, / who worshiped You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them.
Reader: You were born in secret in a cave, / but heaven proclaimed You to all, as it were with its own voice, / sending a star, O Savior;
And he himself sings the end of the troparion: “And You led the Magi to You, / who worship You with faith. / Have mercy on us with them!”
And he continues with the readings for the feast:
Thus says the Lord: A shoot shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a branch shall spring from his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; the Spirit of the fear of the Lord will fill Him: He will not judge by appearances, nor condemn by hearsay, but will judge the humble with righteous judgment, and will condemn the mighty of the earth with uprightness; and He will strike the earth with the word of His mouth, and with the Spirit of His mouth He will destroy the wicked. His loins will be girded with righteousness, and His sides with faithfulness. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid; the calf, the lion, and the fatling will feed together, and a little child will lead them. The ox and the bear will graze together, and their young will lie down together; and the lion and the ox will eat straw together. And a little child will put his hand on the den of vipers and on the nest of vipers; they will do no harm, nor will they destroy anyone on My holy mountain, for the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the nations; the nations will hope in Him, and His rest will be glorious!
Isaiah 11:1–10
This is our God; no one else can compare to Him. He devised every path of knowledge and gave it to Jacob, His servant, and to Israel, His beloved. After that, He appeared on earth and dwelt among people. This is the book of God’s commandments and the law that endures forever. All who hold fast to it will enter into life, but those who forsake it will die. Turn, Jacob, and take hold of it; walk toward the radiance in its light. Do not give your glory to another, nor what is beneficial to you to a foreign people. Blessed are we, Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.
Baruch 3:36–38; 4:1–4
Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, you were watching, and behold, a statue—a great statue, and its appearance was magnificent. It stood before you, and its appearance was terrifying. The statue had a head of pure gold, arms, chest, and thighs of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched until a stone was cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and shattered them completely into dust. Then immediately the clay, iron, bronze, silver, and gold turned to dust, and became like the dust of a summer threshing floor; the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them; but the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king: The God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and His kingdom will not be left to another people ; and it will crush and scatter all the kingdoms, but it itself will stand forever—just as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without human hands and crushed the clay, iron, bronze, silver, and gold. The Great God has made known to the king what is to come after this. And this dream is true, and its interpretation is certain!
Dan 2:31–36, 44–45
You shone forth, O Christ, from the Virgin, / the incorporeal Sun of Righteousness, / and a star pointed to You, / the Inconceivable One who dwells in a cave, / leading the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
The choir sings the same troparion.
Reader: The Lord has reigned; He has clothed Himself with splendor; the Lord has clothed Himself with strength and girded Himself, for He has established the universe, and it shall not be shaken. Since then, Your throne has been established; You are from of old
. Ps 92:1, 2
Choir: Having brought the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
Reader: The rivers have lifted up their voices, O Lord; the rivers have lifted up their voices; the rivers will lift up their currents from the roar of many waters. Ps 92:3
Chorus: Having brought the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
Reader: The waves of the sea are mighty; the Lord is mighty on high. Your testimonies are very sure; holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. Psalm 92:4b, 5
Choir: Having brought the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
Reader: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Choir: Having led the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
Reader: Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: Having brought the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
Reader: You shone forth, O Christ, from the Virgin, / the incorporeal sun of righteousness, / and a star pointed to You, / the Inconceivable One, who dwells in a cave.
And he himself sings the end of the troparion: Having brought the Magi to worship You. / With them we magnify You: / “Giver of Life, glory to You!”
And he continues with the readings for the feast:
A Child is born to us, a Son is given to us, whose dominion rests upon His shoulder; and His name is called: Angel of the Great Council, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the Age to Come; for I will bring peace to the rulers: peace and health to Him! (And) His dominion will be great, and His peace will have no end on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this!
Isaiah 9:6–7
The Lord continued His conversation with Ahaz, saying, “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God—whether in the depths or in the heights.” And Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test!” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to trouble the people? Why do you also trouble the Lord? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel. He will eat butter and honey; before He is old enough to know or to choose between good and evil, He will choose what is good—for before this Child knows what is good or evil, He will not yield to evil in order to choose what is good.” And the Lord said to me: “Take for yourself a new, large scroll, and write on it with a human pen that the plundering of the spoils will soon take place—for it has come. And appoint as My witnesses these faithful men: Uriah the priest and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah.” So I went to the Prophetess, and she conceived and bore a Son. And the Lord said to me, “Call His name ‘Take Swiftly, Plunder Quickly,’ for before the Child learns to call ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ He will take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria before the face of the king of Assyria.” God is with us—know this, you nations, and submit; listen, all to the ends of the earth. You mighty ones, submit: for if you strive again, you will be defeated again. And whatever plan you devise, the Lord will bring to ruin; whatever word you speak, it will not stand against you, for God is with us!
Isaiah 7:10–16; 8:1–4, 8–10
After the 8th parimia, the Small Ektenia, and after the priest’s exclamation, the Trisagion.
The Lord said to Me: “You are My Son; / today I have begotten You.”
Verse: Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession. Ps 2:8b, 9
God, who in times past spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us through His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ages. He, being the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His being, and upholding all things by the word of His power, having by Himself accomplished the purification of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”? And again, when He introduces the Firstborn into the universe, He says: “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” And concerning the angels He says, “He who makes His angels spirits and His servants a flaming fire”—but concerning the Son: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You will remain; and they will all wear out like a garment; like a robe, You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.”
Reading 303: Hebrews 1:1–12
[On Saturday, during the Liturgy celebrated separately from Vespers, Reading 207.]
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Verse: The Lord will send you the scepter of power from Zion—and you shall reign among your enemies!
Verse: “I have begotten you from the womb, before the morning star,”—the Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind. Psalm 109:1, 2, 3b
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus for a census of the entire world. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. So Joseph also went from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son; she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in that region, living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” And it came to pass that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger. When they saw Him, they made known the message that had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1–20
[On Saturday, during the Liturgy celebrated separately from Vespers, the Gospel of Matthew, reading 53.]
All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace: / the host of angels and the human race. / You are the sanctified temple and the spiritual paradise, / the glory of virginity, from whom God was incarnated and became a Child— / our God, who existed before all ages. / For He has made Your womb a throne / and Your womb vaster than the heavens. / All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace, / glory to You!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1
After the dismissal of the Liturgy, the assistant deacon lights the processional candle and places it in the center of the church, while the clergy and both choirs together sing the troparion of the feast, “Glory,” and “Now”: the kondakion, and “Many Years.”
The All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, with the singing of “God Is with Us,” and instead of the usual troparia—“Enlighten my eyes”—the troparion of the feast is sung. Instead of “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us,” the kondakion of the feast is sung. After the Great Doxology, the Litany is performed.
On this day, according to the prophecy, let heaven and earth rejoice. / Angels and people! Let us rejoice spiritually, / for God appeared in the flesh / to those who sat in darkness and shadow, born of the Virgin; / a cave and a manger received Him. / The shepherds proclaim the miracle; / the Magi from the East bring gifts to Bethlehem; / and we, with unworthy lips, / like the angels, will offer Him praise: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / for the One awaited by the nations has come, / He has come and saved us from the bondage of the enemy!”
Heaven and earth were united on this day / at the birth of Christ. / On this day God came down to earth, / and a man ascended to heaven. / Today, for the sake of humanity, / we behold the One who is by nature Invisible, made flesh. / Therefore, we too, giving praise, cry out to Him: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace: / Your coming has granted this to us; / Our Savior, glory to You!”
“Glory to God in the highest,” /—in Bethlehem I hear from the incorporeal ones on this day, /—“who was pleased to establish peace on earth!” / Now the Virgin is vaster than the heavens, / for light has shone upon the darkened, / and He has exalted the humble, who sing like the angels: / “Glory to God in the highest!”
Created in His own image and likeness, / seeing humanity lost because of sin, / Jesus descended, bending the heavens, / and dwelt, unchanged, in the Virgin’s womb, / so that in her He might renew the decayed Adam, who cries out: / “Glory to Your manifestation, my Savior and God!”
The Magi, the kings of Persia, having clearly recognized / that the Heavenly King was born on earth, / guided by a bright star, reached Bethlehem, / bearing choice gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh; / and falling down, they worshiped Him: for they saw the Eternal One in the cave / lying as an Infant.
All the angels in heaven rejoice, / and people rejoice on this day, / and all creation celebrates / for the sake of the Savior and Lord born in Bethlehem: / for all the delusion of idolatry has ceased, / and Christ reigns forever!
A great and wondrous miracle has been accomplished on this day: / The Virgin gives birth, and her womb remains unharmed. / The Word becomes flesh and is not separated from the Father. / The angels and the shepherds give praise, / and we, together with them, shall cry out: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!”
Verse: “From the womb of the morning star I gave birth to You,” / — the Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind. Ps 109:3b–4a
On this day, the Virgin gives birth to the Creator of all things. / Eden offers Him a cave / and a star reveals Christ, / the Sun, to those dwelling in darkness. / The Magi, enlightened by faith, worshiped Him with their gifts, / and the shepherds beheld the miracle: / angels singing and proclaiming: / “Glory to God in the highest!”
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: / “Sit at My right hand.” Ps 109:1a
When the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, / the Magi who came from the East / worshiped God made man, / and opening their treasure chests / brought precious gifts: / pure gold—as to the King of the ages / and frankincense—as to the God of the whole world; / and myrrh—as to the Immortal One who lay dead for three days. / All nations, come, let us worship the One who was born / for the salvation of our souls.
Rejoice, Jerusalem, / and exult, all who love Zion. / On this day, the ancient bonds of Adam’s condemnation are loosed, / and paradise is opened to us. / The serpent has been rendered powerless: / for she— whom he first deceived— / is now seen to have become the Mother of the Creator. / O depth of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge! / Death, the instrument of sin that brought ruin to all flesh, / has become the beginning of the salvation of the whole world through the Mother of God. / For the Infant is born of her, the All-Perfect God, / and by His birth He seals her virginity, / loosening the bonds of sin with His swaddling clothes, / and by His infancy He heals / Eve from the painful torments of childbirth. / Therefore, let all creation rejoice and be glad, / for Christ has come to restore it / and to save our souls!
And now, the same voice: You dwelt in a cave, Christ God, / the manger received You, / and the shepherds, together with the Magi, worshiped You. / Then the prophecy of the prophets was fulfilled, / and the angelic hosts marveled, crying out and proclaiming: / “Glory to Your coming down, O One and Only Lover of Mankind!”
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Rising Light from on high. / O Lord, glory to You! (3)
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Light rising from on high. / O Lord, glory to You! (3)
In the manger of speechless animals / You were laid for our sake, / long-suffering Savior, / having become an Infant of Your own will. / But the shepherds sang Your praises, crying out together with the Angels: / “Glory and praise on earth to Him Who was Born / and Who has quickened the nature of those born of the earth, / to Christ our God!”*
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Why are you amazed, Mary? / Why are you astonished at the One who is within you? / “Because,” she says, / “I have given birth to the eternal Son in time, / without knowing how the One to be born was conceived. / I have no husband; how can I give birth to a Son? / Who has ever seen a birth without a seed?” / But where God wills, / the law of nature yields, as it is written. / Christ was born of the Virgin in Bethlehem of Judea.]
The Eternal and Incomprehensible One, / who exists eternally with the invisible Father, / You bore in Your womb, O Mother of God, / the Only-begotten of the unconfused Trinity in Divinity. / Your grace has shone forth in the world, praised by all; / therefore we cry out unceasingly: / “Rejoice, O Pure Virgin—Mother!”*
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
How did He, who is too vast for the whole world to contain, fit within the womb? / He who dwells in the bosom of the Father—how is He carried in the Mother’s arms? / Truly, as He Himself knows, as He willed, as He de ed. / For He, being incorporeal, voluntarily became incarnate, / and the Existent became what He was not, for our sake. / And without changing His own nature, / He united Himself with our nature. / Christ was born in two natures, / desiring to fulfill the heavenly world.]
We magnify You, / Giver of life, Christ, / who for our sake were born in the flesh / of the all-pure Virgin Mary, who knew no man.
1 Chorus: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to His name; give Him glory with praise! 1 Tell of all His wonders. 2 Say to God: “How awesome are Your works!” 1 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. 2 Sing to God; sing to His name. 1 Glory and majesty are His work. 2 He has sent salvation to His people. 1 Holy and awesome is His name. 2 From Zion comes the splendor of His beauty. 1 Our God is in heaven; He has done whatever He pleased on earth. 2 I will sing of Your lovingkindness, O Lord, forever. 1 He will call Me, “You are My Father.” 2 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest among the kings of the earth. 1 And all the kings of the earth will worship him. 2 Who is a great God like our God? You are the God who performs wonders. 1 With Your mighty arm You have scattered Your enemies. 2 I gave birth to You before the morning star. 1 The Lord has sworn, and He will not change His mind. 2 You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. 1 The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son.” 2 Today I have begotten You. 1 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance. 2 And the ends of the earth shall be Your possession. 1 It is written about Me at the beginning of the book. 2 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. 1 The scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 2 Therefore, O God, Your God has anointed You with the oil of gladness. 1 For You will receive a portion among all the nations. 2 Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen, amen.
Glory, even now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 65:1; 65:2; 104:2b; 65:3a; 95:11a; 67:5a; 110:3a; 110:9a; 110:9b; 49:2a; 113:11; 88:2a; 88:27a; 88:28; 71:11a; 76:14b–15a; 88:11b; 109:3c; 109:4a; 109:4b; 2:8b; 2:9a; 2:8b; 39:8b; 44:7a; 44:7b; 44:8b; 81:8b; 88:53
Come, faithful ones, let us see where Christ was born; / let us then follow where the star leads, / with the Magi, the kings from the East. / Angels sing there unceasingly, shepherds play on their flutes a fitting song: / “Glory in the highest,” they proclaim, / “to Him born in a cave of the Virgin Mother of God / in Bethlehem of Judea!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
“From the womb before the morning star I begot You,”— / the Lord has sworn, and He will not repent.
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Ps 109:3b–4a, 1
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, it was found that she was with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to expose her to public disgrace, decided to divorce her quietly. But while he was considering this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you shall name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet, who says: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which translated means, “God with us.” When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife, yet he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to her firstborn Son; and he named Him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25
Glory: Today all is filled with joy: / Christ is born of the Virgin.
And now: Today is filled with joy: / Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Stichera, Tone 6: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! / On this day, Bethlehem receives Him who sits eternally with the Father. / On this day, the angels glorify the newborn Infant as God: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / goodwill toward men!”
The first—by St. Cosmas of Maiuma, tone 1, and the second—by St. John of Damascus, tone 1; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, and all the troparia are sung in tone 12.
Canon 1. Irmos: Christ is born—praise Him! / Christ comes from heaven—welcome Him! / Christ is on earth—rejoice! / Sing to the Lord, all the earth, / and sing with joy, O people, / for He has been glorified!
He who was created in the image of God, / who perished because of sin, who was entirely corrupted, / and who was deprived of the best, divine life, / is restored anew by the wise Creator, / for He has been glorified.
The Creator, seeing man perishing— / whom He created with His own hands— / bends the heavens and descends / to take upon Himself his entire being, / having truly become incarnate from the divine and pure Virgin: / for He has been glorified.
Wisdom, Word, and Power, / Son by nature and Radiance of the Father, Christ God, / in secret from the powers—all those above the world / and those on earth— / having become incarnate, has redeemed us anew: / for He has been glorified.
Canon 2. Irmos: O Lord, Savior of the people who works wonders, / who once dried up the surging waves of the sea, / and being born of the Virgin by His own will, / He paves for us an easy path to heaven: / Him, equal in nature to the Father and to mortals, / we glorify.
The consecrated womb gave birth to the Word, / clearly symbolized by the burning bush, /—God, united with mortal form, / who delivers Eve’s ill-fated womb / from the ancient, bitter curse: / Him we, mortals, glorify.
The star clearly pointed out to the Magi / the Word who existed before the sun, / who came to subdue sin— / You, wrapped in swaddling clothes in a humble cave out of compassion for us, / in Whom they joyfully beheld / both a mortal and, at the same time, the Lord.
Katavasia: first chorus—the irmos of the first canon; second chorus—the irmos of the second canon.
Canon 1. Irmos: To the Son, born of the Father before the ages / not according to earthly laws, / and in the last days incarnate of the Virgin / without seed, / let us cry out to Christ God: / “You who have exalted our dignity, / holy are You, O Lord!”
Mortal Adam, partaker of the highest breath, / yet led to ruin by his wife’s deception, / seeing Christ, born of a woman, cries out: / “You who became like me for my sake, / holy are You, O Lord!”
Having become conformed to the lowly form of clay / and, through participation in the weakest flesh, / having bestowed upon it, O Christ, a portion of Your divine nature, / having become mortal and yet remained God, / and having exalted our dignity, / holy are You, O Lord.
Rejoice, Bethlehem, / royal city of the rulers of Judah: / for the Shepherd of Israel, / He who rides upon the shoulders of the Cherubim, Christ, / who clearly came forth from you / and exalted our dignity, / has reigned over all.
Canon 2. Irmos: Hear the hymns of Your servants, / O Benefactor, as You humble the enemy’s raised brow, / and lift the singers above sin, O All-Seeing One, / having firmly established them, O Blessed One, / on the foundation of faith.
The choir of flute players marveled, / having been granted, in an extraordinary way, / to behold that which is beyond the mind: / the all-blessed birth from the Most Pure Bride / and the host of incorporeal beings who sang / of Christ the King, incarnate without seed.
The Word, reigning in the heights of heaven, / out of mercy accomplishes all things for us— / He who was once incorporeal, but in these last days / clothed in flesh from the Virgin who knew no marriage, / so that He might draw the fallen first-created to Himself.
Heaven brought the leaders of the Gentiles to You, / O Infant lying in a manger, / having summoned the Magi by a star. / And it was not sceptres or thrones that amazed them, / but utter poverty. / For what is poorer than a cave? / And what is more humble than swaddling clothes? / Yet in them the riches of Your Divinity shone forth; / O Lord, glory to You!
Canon 1. Irmos: A shoot from the root of Jesse / and a flower from it, / from the Virgin You were born, Christ; / You came, O Praiseworthy One, / from the mountain shaded by thickets, / having been incarnated from the Virgin who knew no man, / the Incorporeal One and God. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
You, whom Jacob of old / foretold as the hope of the nations, / shone forth from the tribe of Judah, O Christ, / and came to take away the might of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria, / introducing godly faith in place of error. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Shining forth like a star from Jacob, O Lord, / You filled with joy those initiated into the mysteries of the words / of Balaam, the ancient prophet, / and the wise observers of the stars, / who were led to You as the firstfruits of the pagan nations, / and You openly received them, / as they offered gifts pleasing to You.
You descended into the virgin’s womb, / like rain upon the fleece, Christ, / and like drops of dew falling upon the earth; / the Ethiopians and the Persians, as well as the Arabian islands, / Sheba and the Medes ruling over all the earth / have bowed down before You, Savior: / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
Canon 2. Irmos: The restoration of the mortal race is foretold / by the prophet Habakkuk in his hymn, having been granted / in ancient times to behold its prototype in an ineffable manner: / for a young Child—the Word—has come forth / from the Mountain—the Virgin—for the restoration of mankind.
You came as one equal to mortals, Most High, / voluntarily taking flesh from the Virgin, / to destroy the venom of the serpent’s head, / leading all, by Your divine nature, / to the life-giving light from the gates deprived of the sun.
Nations, once plunged into corruption, / having completely escaped the destruction of the evil enemy, / lift up your hands in praise and applause, / honoring the one Christ as your benefactor, / who came out of compassion / into our human condition.
O Virgin, sprung from the root of Jesse! / You have transcended the limits of mortal nature, / giving birth to the eternal Word of the Father, / as He Himself was pleased / to pass through your sealed womb / in extraordinary self-humiliation.
Canon 1. Irmos: You, God of peace and Father of mercy, / have sent us the Herald of Your great plan, / the Giver of peace. / Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, / greeting the dawn after the night, / we glorify You, Lover of mankind.
Obeying Caesar’s decree, / You were numbered among the slaves, / and You freed us, the slaves of the enemy and of sin; / having become poor in all things, Christ, like us, / through this very union and communion / You deified even mortal Adam.
Behold the Virgin—as was said in ancient times—who, having conceived in her womb, / gave birth to God made man, and remains a Virgin: / having been reconciled to God through her, we sinners / will sing with faith to the true Mother of God, / as is just.
Canon 2. Irmos: To us, who are in darkness after a night of straying, / and who now joyfully sing Your praise as our Benefactor, / come, Christ, granting us Your mercy and a smooth path, / so that we may attain Your glory by following it.
Having forever put an end, through Your incarnation, / to our bitter enmity toward You, O Lord, / in order to crush the power of the soul-destroying ruler, / You have united us in peace with the incorporeal beings, / making the Father accessible to creation.
The people, once in darkness, have finally beheld / the sign—the light of heavenly radiance; / and the Son brings the Gentiles to God as an inheritance, / bestowing ineffable grace there / where sin once flourished most.
Canon 1. Irmos: From Jonah’s womb, like an infant, the sea monster cast him forth / just as it had received him; / but the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken on flesh, / passed through her, preserving her incorrupt; / for just as He Himself was not subject to ordinary conception, / so He kept her who gave birth to Him unharmed.
Christ, our God, has come in the flesh, / Whom the Father brings forth from the womb before the morning star; / and He Who holds the reins of government over the most pure Powers, / lies down in the manger of speechless creatures / and is swaddled in rags, yet thereby breaks / the tangled bonds of sin.
Born of Adam’s lineage / and given to the faithful, the Son, a young child, / yet He Himself is the Father and Ruler of the age to come, / and is called the Angel of the Great Council; / He is the mighty God / who holds all creation in His power.
Canon 2. Irmos: Jonah, while in the depths of the sea, / prayed for You to come and calm the storm; / but I, wounded by the tormentor’s arrow, / call upon You, Christ, the Destroyer of evil, / that You may come quickly to me, the careless one.
God the Word, who was with God in the beginning, / having discerned how to preserve our inherent nature, / now strengthens it—which has been feeble from time immemorial— / by condescending Himself to enter into a new communion with it / and revealing it anew as free from passions.
For us, who have fallen miserably into the darkness of sin, / to raise up the children of our forefathers, who had fallen deeply, / He who dwells in the light came from the loins of Abraham / and, contrary to His own dignity, was now pleased / to lie in a manger for the salvation of mortals.
On this day, the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible One; / Angels and shepherds give praise, / while the Magi journey following the star, / for on our behalf a young Child has been born, / the pre-eternal God!
Ikos: Bethlehem has revealed Eden; / come, let us see this— / in secret we have found delight. / Come, let us receive heavenly bliss within the cave: / there appeared the Root, which was not watered, bringing forgiveness; / there was found the Well that was not dug, from which David longed to drink in ancient times. / There the Virgin, having given birth to the Infant, / immediately quenched the thirst of Adam and David. / Therefore, let us hasten there, / where the young Child, the eternal God, was born.
Canon 1. Irmos: The youths, raised in piety, / disregarding the command of the wicked, / were not afraid of the threatening fire, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, sang: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
The shepherds, while in the field, were graced / with a wondrous, radiant vision; / for the glory of the Lord shone upon them, and the Angel cried out: / “Sing, for Christ is born, / God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Suddenly, along with the Angel’s words, / the heavenly hosts began to exclaim: / “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, / goodwill toward men: Christ has shone forth; / God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
“What is this talk?” said the shepherds, / “Let us go and see what has happened, the divine Christ.” / And when they reached Bethlehem, together with the Mother, / they worshiped Him, singing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The youths, seized by love for the King of all, / spurned the godless slander / of the terribly enraged tyrant, / and the boundless fire submitted to them, who proclaimed to the Lord: / “Blessed are You forever!”
It fiercely consumes the servants, / but the roaring furnace—stoked sevenfold— / saves the youths, / those whom the flame crowned by the Lord’s will, / who lavishly bestowed dew upon them for their piety.
Christ the Intercessor! You have put the enemy to shame before mortals, / having made Your Incarnation an inexpressible shield, / having now taken on our likeness, bringing us the riches of deification, / for the sake of which we once / descended from the heights into the gloomy abysses.
With a wild gaze, unbridled in arrogance, / sin, which raged unseemly / like a sting wounding the world, / You cast down with Your omnipotence; / and those whom it had previously ensnared, / on this day You save from its snares, / having willingly taken flesh, O Benefactor.
Canon 1. Irmos: The furnace, sprinkled with dew, / presented the image of a supernatural miracle: / for it does not scorch the youths it has taken in, / just as the fire of the Divinity did not scorch the Virgin’s womb, / into which He descended. / Therefore, let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
The daughter of Babylon draws from Zion / the captive youths of David to herself, / yet she herself sends the Magi, bearing gifts, / to entreat the Daughter of David who has received God within herself; / therefore let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Sorrow caused the instruments of song to be set aside, / for the children of Zion did not sing in foreign lands— / but Christ, who shone forth from Bethlehem, / destroys all delusion / and the musical harmony of Babylon; / therefore let us sing a song: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Babylon took possession of the spoils / and the captured riches of the Kingdom of Zion; / but Christ draws its treasures to Zion / and guides the star-gazing kings with a guiding star; / therefore let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The Old Testament youths, enveloped by unconsumed fire, / represent the Virgin’s womb, / supernaturally giving birth, sealed; / but accomplishing both by a single wondrous act, / it raises grace to the singing of the people.
Having escaped the ruin—of being mistakenly deified— / all creation, like the youths, with trembling / ceaselessly sings of the Word who humbled Himself, / fearing to offer Him an unworthy supplication, / as a nature that is fickle, though wise in its zeal.
You come, Awakener of the Nations, / bringing back the strayed human nature / from the desert hills to the flower-filled pasture, / having appeared as a man and at the same time as God according to Your providence, / to subdue the violent power of the murderer of mankind.
In the 9th ode, we do not sing “The Highest Honor of the Cherubim,” but we sing the refrain of the feast:
Exalt, O my soul, / with the highest honor and glory of the Heavenly Hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
And the irmos: “I behold the mystery:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And we sing the other refrains once for each troparion.
Canon 1. Irmos: I behold a mystery / extraordinary and wondrous: / the cave—heaven, the throne of the Cherubim—the Virgin, / the manger—the receptacle, / where the ineffable Christ God lay, / Whom we extol in our hymns.
Exalt, O my soul, / God, born of the Virgin in the flesh.
Praise, O my soul, / the King born in a cave.
The Magi, seeing the extraordinary movement / of an unknown new star that had recently appeared, / shining brighter than the heavenly bodies, / realized that Christ the King had been born on earth / in Bethlehem for our salvation.
Praise Him, my soul, / God, who accepted the adoration of the Magi.
Praise, O my soul, / the One announced to the Magi by the star.
“Where is the newborn Child?” the Magi asked, / “the King whose star has appeared? / For we have come to worship Him.” / Then the mad Herod, the enemy of God, grew anxious / and in his fury intended to kill Christ.
Praise, O my soul, / the Pure Virgin and the One and Only Mother of God, / who gave birth to Christ the King.
The Magi and the shepherds came to worship Christ, / born in the city of Bethlehem.
Herod had accurately ascertained the time of the star’s appearance, / by whose guidance the Magi, bearing gifts, / came to worship Christ in Bethlehem; / guided by it back to their homeland, / they left the cruel infanticide to be mocked.
The first choir sings the refrain of the second canon:
On this day, the Virgin gives birth to the Lord / within a cave.
Canon 2. Irmos: Out of fear, it would be easier for us to remain silent, / as a safe course of action, / but out of love, O Virgin, / it is difficult to compose hymns crafted with zeal; / but You, O Mother, grant us the strength / in accordance with our natural calling.
The second choir then sings the refrain:
On this day the Lord is born as a Child / of the Virgin Mother.
And the same irmos: It would be easier for us to remain silent out of fear:
Likewise, the other refrains with the troparia:
On this day, the shepherds see the Savior, / wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
On this day, the Lord is swaddled in rags: / Invisible—like a baby.
On this day, all creation rejoices and exults, / for Christ was born of the Virgin Mother.
Having seen the dim images and shadows of past / Words, and honoring the light of truth as He appeared anew from behind closed doors, / O Pure Mother, / we worthily bless Your womb.
The heavenly powers proclaim to the world the newborn Savior, / as Lord and Master.
Instead of “Glory”: Praise, O my soul, / the power of the undivided Godhead in three Persons.
Instead of “And now”: Praise Him, my soul, / Who has delivered us from the curse.
Having attained what we desired / and been deemed worthy of God’s coming, / the Christ-loving people now await / rebirth, for it is life-giving; / grant us, then, O Most Pure Virgin, / the grace to worship heavenly glory!
Then both choirs, coming together, sing the first refrain of the feast and the irmos: “I behold the mystery:”
Then the refrain and irmos of the second canon: “It would be easier for us to remain silent out of fear:” And a bow.
Our Savior has visited us from on high, / the Light that rose before the sun; / and we, who dwelt in darkness and shadow, have found the truth, / for the Lord was born of the Virgin. (3)
Rejoice, you righteous ones; rejoice, heavens; / exult, O mountains, for Christ is born! / The Virgin sits, like the Cherubim, / bearing in her womb God—the Word made flesh. / Shepherds glorify the Newborn, / the Magi bring gifts to the Lord. / Angels proclaim their praise: / “O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”
The Father was pleased— / the Word became flesh, / and the Virgin gave birth to God made man. / The star proclaims it, the Magi worship, / the shepherds marvel, and all creation rejoices.
O Virgin Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior, / You have abolished Eve’s ancient curse, / for You became Mother by the Father’s good pleasure, / bearing in Your womb God—the Word made flesh. / This mystery cannot be fathomed; / by faith alone we all glorify it, / exclaiming with You and proclaiming: / “O ineffable Lord, glory to You!”
Come, let us sing to the Mother of the Savior, / who remained a Virgin even after His birth: / “Rejoice, living City of the King and God— / Christ, having dwelt within You, accomplished salvation.” / With Gabriel we sing to You, / with the shepherds we glorify You, exclaiming: / “Mother of God, intercede before Him who was incarnated from You / for our salvation!”
When the time came for Your coming to earth, / the first census of the universe was conducted; / then You intended to record the names of those / who believed in Your birth. / Therefore, such a decree was proclaimed by Caesar: / for Your beginningless, eternal Kingdom was renewed. / That is why we, in addition to material tribute, offer You / the riches of Orthodox theology, / as to God and Savior of our souls.
On this day Christ is born of the Virgin in Bethlehem, / on this day the Beginningless One begins / and the Word is incarnated. / The heavenly powers rejoice, / and the earth rejoices with mankind. / The Magi bring gifts, / the shepherds proclaim the miracle, / and we will cry out unceasingly: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / goodwill toward men!”
Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, who was born in a cave and laid in a manger for our salvation, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
Verse 1: I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; / I will proclaim all Your wonders. Ps 9:2
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 2: In the council of the upright and in the assembly. / Great are the works of the Lord. Psalm 110:1b–2a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 3: His desires are perfect in every way. Ps 110:2b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 4: Glory and splendor are His work, / and His righteousness endures forever and ever.
Psalm 110:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 1: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, / for he will love His commandments with all his heart. Psalm 111:1
Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: His descendants will be mighty on earth; / the generation of the righteous will be blessed. Psalm 111:2
Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin; we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: Glory and riches are in his house, / and his righteousness endures forever and ever. Psalm 111:3
Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin, to whom we sing: Alleluia.
Verse 4: A light has dawned in the darkness for the righteous; / he is gracious, merciful, and just. Psalm 111:4
Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin, to whom we sing: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: The Lord said to my Lord: / “Sit at My right hand.” Psalm 109:1a
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Rising Light from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
Verse 2: Until I make Your enemies / a footstool for Your feet. Psalm 109:1b
Troparion: Your Nativity, O Christ our God:
Verse 3: The Lord will send You the scepter of power from Zion— / and You shall reign among Your enemies!
Psalm 109:2a
Troparion: Your Nativity, Christ our God:
Verse 4: With You is power on the day of Your might, / in the splendor of Your saints. Psalm 109:3a
Troparion: Your Nativity, Christ our God:
“I have begotten You from the womb before the morning star,” the Lord swore, and He will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 109:3b–4
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Rising Light from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
On this day, the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible One; / Angels and shepherds give praise, / while the Magi journey following the star, / for a young Child, the eternal God, / has been born for our sake!
However many of you have been baptized into Christ, / you have all been clothed in Christ. Alleluia. (3)
Let all the earth bow down to You and sing to You, / let them sing to Your name, O Most High!
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth; sing to His name; give Him glory with praise! Ps 65:4, 1b–2
Brothers, when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son (the Only-Begotten), born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And since you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through (Jesus) Christ.
Gal 4:4–7
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.
Verse: Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Ps 18:2, 3
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the King of the Jews who has been born? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. So he gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people and asked them, “Where is the Christ to be born?” They replied, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what is written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you will come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly summoned the Magi and carefully inquired of them about the time the star had appeared. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” So, after hearing the king, they set out. And behold, the star they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His mother, and falling on their faces, they worshiped Him; and opening their treasures, they presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another route.
Matthew 2:1–12
Exalt, O my soul, / with the highest honor and glory of the Heavenly Hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
Irmos, Tone 1: Out of fear, it would be easier for us to remain silent, / as a safe course of action, / but out of love, O Virgin, / it is difficult to weave hymns composed with zeal; / yet You, O Mother, grant us the strength / in accordance with our natural calling.
Let us sing this until the Communion.
The Lord has sent salvation to His people. Alleluia. (3) Ps 110:9a
December 26
There is no stichera, except on Sunday.
Patriarch Germanus: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, / as we contemplate this present Mystery: / the wall that separated us from God has been torn down, / the flaming sword is turned away, / and the Cherubim step back from the Tree of Life, / and I partake of the bliss of Paradise, / from which I was cast out for disobedience. / For the unchanging Image of the Father / and the Imprint of His eternity / takes on the form of a servant, / having come forth from a Mother who knew no marriage / without thereby undergoing any change. / For He remained what He was—the true God— / and took upon Himself what He was not, / becoming man out of love for mankind. / Let us cry out to Him: / “God, born of the Virgin, have mercy on us!” (2)
Anatolius: With the birth of the Lord Jesus from the Holy Virgin, / the whole world was enlightened: / shepherds played their flutes and the Magi worshiped, / angels sang—but Herod was troubled, / that God had appeared in the flesh, / the Savior of our souls. (2)
Thine is the Kingdom, Christ God, /—the Kingdom of all ages, / and Thine is the dominion throughout every generation and age. / Having been incarnated by the Holy Spirit / and made man of the ever-virgin Mary, / Thou hast kindled a light for us, Christ God, through Thy coming. / Light from Light, the radiance of the Father, / You have illuminated all creation. / Everything that breathes praises You, / the Image of the Father’s glory. / You who are and who were before all things / and who shone forth from the Virgin, have mercy on us!
What shall we offer You as a gift, Christ, / for the fact that You appeared on earth as a man for our sake? / For every creature You have created / offers thanks to You: / the angels—a song, the heavens—a star, / the Magi—gifts, the shepherds—wonder, / the earth—a cave, the desert—a manger, / and we—the Virgin Mother. / Eternal God, have mercy on us!
Glory, and now, Tone 6: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! / On this day, Bethlehem receives Him who sits eternally with the Father. / On this day, the angels glorify the newborn Infant as God: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / goodwill toward men!”
Who is a God as great as our God? / You are the God who works wonders.
Verse 1: You have revealed Your power among the nations; You have saved Your people with Your mighty arm.
Verse 2: And I said, “Now I have come to understand: this change comes from the right hand of the Most High.”
Verse 3: I recalled the works of the Lord; for I will remember Your wonders from the beginning.
Ps 76:14b–15a; 76:15b–16a; 76:11; 76:12
On Saturday, at Great Vespers, we sing the prokeimenon: “The Lord has reigned:” with its verses.
An unheard-of mystery is accomplished on this day: / nature is renewed, and God becomes man. / He remained what He was, / and took on what He was not, / without undergoing either mixture or division.
Stich: “From the womb of the Morning Star I have begotten You,” / —the Lord has sworn, and He will not repent. Ps 109:3b–4a
O Lord, having come to Bethlehem, / You dwelt in a cave; / having heaven as Your throne, / You were laid in a manger; / He whom the hosts of angels surround / came down to the shepherds / to save our race, as the Merciful One. Glory to You!
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: / “Sit at My right hand.” Ps 109:1a
How shall I proclaim this great mystery? / The incorporeal becomes incarnate, / the Word becomes flesh, / the Invisible is beheld, / and the Inaccessible is touched, / and the Beginningless begins. / The Son of God becomes the Son of Man: / Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
Glory, and now, the same tone: Shepherds gathered in Bethlehem, / proclaiming the true Shepherd, / seated upon the Cherubim and lying in a manger, / who took the form of a Child for our sake. / O Lord, glory to You!
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Light rising from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
Most Pure Mother of God, Theotokos! / Your holy assembly is adorned with manifold beauties; / many people of this world bring gifts to You, O Lady. / Break the bonds of our sins by Your mercy / and save our souls.*
[Carrying the Infant in Your arms, O Pure One, / the Ruler of all, / who took flesh from You, / You appeared as the Giver of Joy. / Therefore, all creation joyfully sings on this day / of Your awe-inspiring birth, O Mother of God, / for You have given birth to the source of immortality for the world. (From the Greek.)]
The Canon to the Holy Martyr Euthymius is sung at Vespers on another day.
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Light rising from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, / all creation was enlightened, having come to know its Creator; / the choirs of angels marveled, / seeing the Lord on earth, having taken the form of a servant / and abiding inseparably with the Father. / Glory to God incarnate! / Glory to Him born on earth! / Glory to Him who deigned to save our race!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
And we read the words of Epiphanius of Cyprus, a hymn in praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, dividing it into three parts.
“Why are you amazed, Mary? / Why are you astonished at the One within you? / ‘Because,’ she says, / ‘I have given birth to the eternal Son in time, / without knowing how the One to be born was conceived. / I have no husband; how can I give birth to a Son? / Who has ever seen a birth without a seed?” / But where God wills, / the law of nature yields, as it is written. / Christ was born of the Virgin in Bethlehem of Judea.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Canons of the Feast. We sing the irmoses of both canons twice, and the troparia 12 times. The katavasia consists of the irmoses of both canons. After the 3rd ode—the kontakion of the feast: “On this day, the Virgin:” followed by the ikos and the ipakoí.
Born of the Father before the morning star, without a mother, / on this day He appeared in the flesh from You on earth, without a father. / Therefore, the star brings good news to the Magi, / while the angels, together with the shepherds, sing / of Your immaculate birth, O Full of Grace.
Ikos: O mysterious Vine, who bore the Unpruned Cluster, / carried Him in Your embrace as on Your branches and proclaimed: / “You are My Fruit, / You are My Life. / From now on I have come to know / that even now I remain what I was.” / You are My God: / for seeing the seal of My virginity unbroken, / I proclaim You the unchanging Word made flesh. / I know no seed; I know You, the Deliverer from corruption: / for I am pure, though You came forth from Me, / for just as You entered, so You left My womb. / Therefore all creation rejoices together, crying out to Me: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace!”
And we read the prologue. We do not sing the 9th ode, “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” but we sing the refrains, as on a feast day.
Our Savior has visited us from on high, / the Light that rose before the sun, / and we, who dwelt in darkness and shadow, have found the truth, / for the Lord was born of the Virgin. (3)
Rejoice, you righteous ones; rejoice, heavens; / exult, O mountains, for Christ is born! / The Virgin sits, like the Cherubim, / bearing in her womb God—the Word made flesh. / The shepherds glorify the Newborn, / the Magi bring gifts to the Lord. / The angels proclaim their praise: / “O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”
The Father was pleased— / the Word became flesh, / and the Virgin gave birth to God made man. / The star proclaims it, the Magi worship, / the shepherds marvel, and all creation rejoices.
O Virgin Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior, / You have abolished Eve’s ancient curse, / for You became Mother by the Father’s good pleasure, / bearing in Your womb God—the Word made flesh. / It is impossible to fathom this mystery; / only by faith do we all glorify it, / exclaiming with You and proclaiming: / “O ineffable Lord, glory to You!”
Come, let us sing to the Mother of the Savior, / who remained a Virgin even after His birth: / “Rejoice, living City of the King and God— / Christ, having dwelt within You, accomplished salvation” / With Gabriel we sing to You, / with the shepherds we glorify You, exclaiming: / “Mother of God, intercede before Him who was incarnated from You / for our salvation!”
On this day, the invisible Nature / is united with mortals through the Virgin. / On this day, the boundless Being / is swaddled in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem. / On this day, God leads the Magi to worship Him through a star, / foreshadowing with gold, myrrh, and frankincense / His three-day stay in the tomb. / Therefore, we sing: / “Christ God, who was incarnate of the Virgin, save our souls!”
On this day Christ is born of the Virgin in Bethlehem, / on this day the Beginningless One begins / and the Word is incarnated. / The heavenly powers rejoice, / and the earth rejoices with mankind. / The Magi bring gifts, / the shepherds proclaim the miracle, / and we will cry out unceasingly: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / goodwill toward men!”
The Great Doxology. After the Trisagion, the troparion of the feast, the ektenia, and the dismissal. The First Hour and the final dismissal. During the Hours, the troparion of the feast and the kondakion of the Theotokos: “Before the morning star:”
The Blessed One from the canons of the feast, songs 3 and 6. After the Entrance: Save us, O Son of God, born of the Virgin, as we sing to You: Alleluia. We sing this verse until the conclusion of the feast.
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Rising Light from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
Born of the Father before the morning star, without a mother, / on this day You appeared on earth in the flesh, without a father, from You. / Therefore, the star brings good news to the Magi, / while the angels, together with the shepherds, sing / of Your immaculate birth, O Blessed One.
Then the Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. Verse: For He has looked with favor on the humility of His handmaid; for from now on all generations will call me blessed.
Brethren, both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from the same Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” Therefore, just as children share in flesh and blood, so He too became a partaker of flesh and blood, so that through death He might destroy the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and set free all those who, through fear of death, were subject to slavery all their lives. For He certainly does not take on the nature of angels, but rather the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Excerpt 306: Hebrews 2:11–18
Arise, O Lord, and enter into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. Verse: The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it.
After the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and he remained there until the death of Herod, so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, who says, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was greatly enraged and sent out orders to kill all the male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding region, from two years old and under, according to the time he had ascertained from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, who says: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and wailing and great lamentation; Rachel weeps for her children, and refuses to be comforted, because they are no more.” When Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; yet, having received a revelation in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. And when he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: that He would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:13–23
The Lord has sent salvation to His people. Alleluia. (3)
After the introductory psalm, we sing the entire first kathisma.
of Patriarch German: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, / explaining the present Mystery: / the wall that separated us from God has been torn down, / the flaming sword is turned back, / and the Cherubim retreat from the Tree of Life, / and I partake of the blessings of Paradise, / from which I was cast out for disobedience. / For the unchanging Image of the Father / and the Imprint of His eternity / takes on the form of a servant, / having come forth from a Mother who knew no marriage / without thereby undergoing any change. / For He remained what He was—the true God— / and took upon Himself what He was not, / becoming man out of love for mankind. / Let us cry out to Him: / “God, born of the Virgin, have mercy on us!”
Anatolius: With the birth of the Lord Jesus from the Holy Virgin, / the whole world was enlightened: / shepherds played their flutes and the Magi worshiped, / angels sang—but Herod was troubled, / that God had appeared in the flesh, / the Savior of our souls.
Thine is the Kingdom, Christ God, /—the Kingdom of all ages, / and Thine is the dominion throughout every generation and age. / Having been incarnated by the Holy Spirit / and made man of the ever-virgin Mary, / Thou hast kindled a light for us, Christ God, through Thy coming. / Light from Light, the radiance of the Father, / You have illuminated all creation. / Everything that breathes praises You, / the Image of the Father’s glory. / You who are and who were before all things / and who shone forth from the Virgin, have mercy on us!
What shall we offer You as a gift, Christ, / for the fact that You appeared on earth as a man for our sake? / For every creature You have created / offers thanks to You: / the angels—a song, the heavens—a star, / the Magi—gifts, the shepherds—wonder, / the earth—a cave, the desert—a manger, / and we—the Virgin Mother. / Eternal God, have mercy on us!
Let us all praise the Father of God, King David, / for from him came forth the rod—the Virgin. / And from her sprang forth the flower—Christ, / who, delivering Adam and Eve from corruption, recreated them, / as the Merciful One.
Joseph, the betrothed, saw clearly in his old age the prophecies of the prophets being openly fulfilled, / having received by lot an extraordinary betrothal, / having accepted instructions from above through the angels, / who proclaimed, “Glory to God, / for He has sent peace to the earth!”
Let us all praise the Brother of God, / as a true hierarch, / who also shone valiantly through his martyrdom. / By his prayers, O Jesus, our God, / wrapped in swaddling clothes in a cave and in a manger, / save all who sing Your praises!
Glory, Tone 6: We commemorate the pious David and James, / the king-prophet and the apostle, the first bishop: / for, having been delivered from error by their teachings, / we glorify Christ, who shone forth from the Virgin / and became incarnate to save our souls.
And now, the Theotokos in tone.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the Day. [And readings]
On this day, according to the prophecy, let heaven and earth rejoice. / Angels and people! Let us rejoice spiritually, / for God appeared in the flesh / to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being born of the Virgin; / a cave and a manger received Him. / The shepherds proclaim the miracle; / the Magi from the East bring gifts to Bethlehem; / and we, with unworthy lips, / like the angels, will offer Him praise: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, / for the One awaited by the nations has come, / He has come and saved us from the enemy’s bondage!”
Heaven and earth were united on this day / at the birth of Christ. / On this day God came down to earth, / and a man ascended to heaven. / Today, for the sake of humanity, / we behold the One who is by nature Invisible, made flesh. / Therefore, we too, giving praise, cry out to Him: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace: / Your coming has granted this to us; / Our Savior, glory to You!”
“Glory to God in the highest,” /—in Bethlehem I hear from the incorporeal ones on this day, /—“who was pleased to establish peace on earth!” / Now the Virgin is vaster than the heavens, / for light has shone upon the darkened, / and He has exalted the humble, who sing like the angels: / “Glory to God in the highest!”
Created in His own image and likeness, / seeing humanity lost because of sin, / Jesus descended, bending the heavens, / and dwelt, unchanged, in the Virgin’s womb, / so that in her He might renew the decayed Adam, who cries out: / “Glory to Your manifestation, my Savior and God!”
The Magi, the kings of Persia, having clearly recognized / that the Heavenly King was born on earth, / guided by a bright star, reached Bethlehem, / bearing choice gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh; / and falling down, they worshiped: for they saw the Eternal One in the cave / lying as an Infant.
Glory, Tone 6: To the priests—a memorial, and to the kings—power / and joy has become Your Nativity; / and boasting of them, we proclaim: / “Our Father Who art in heaven, / hallowed be Thy name, Lover of mankind!”
And now, in the same tone: On this day, He who is invisible by nature / is born of the Virgin and unites with mankind; / on this day, the immeasurable Being / is swaddled in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem; / on this day, God leads the Magi to worship Him by means of a star, / foreshadowing His three-day burial, / with gold, myrrh, and frankincense. / To Him we sing: / “Christ God, who was incarnate of the Virgin, / save our souls!”*
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by the star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Rising Light from on high. / O Lord, glory to You! (2)
Proclaim the Good News, Joseph, / of the wonders to David, the Father of God: / you saw the Virgin bearing in her womb, / you gave praise with the shepherds, you worshiped with the Magi, / having received the message through the Angel. / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls!
And where the All-Night Vigil is not celebrated, the Sunday troparion, “Glory”: of the saints, and “Now”: of the feast.
At Vespers, after the Trisagion, the kontakion of the God-bearers. “Glory,” and “Now,” of the feast.
Proclaim, Joseph, / the wonders of David, the Father of God: / you saw the Virgin bearing in her womb, / you gave praise with the shepherds, you worshiped with the Magi, / having received the message through the Angel. / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls!
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Light rising from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
After the Sunday sedalnik kathismas with their Theotokos hymns and the reading from the Exegetical Gospel: from Matthew, the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ; or the homily of Gregory of Nyssa on the Holy Trinity and on Abraham—divided into two parts. And we sing the “Immaculate Ones” and their troparia. The ipakoia of the tone. The stichera and prokimen of the tone. The Sunday Gospel. “Having seen the Resurrection of Christ:” After Psalm 50, the Sunday stichera.
The Sunday canon with an irmos in tone 4, and to the Theotokos in tone 2, and for the feast in tone 4 [Greek: St. Joseph the Betrothed], and the present canon [to Sts. David and James] in tone 4, tone 4, composed by the Venerable Cosmas of Maium.
Irmos: Christ is born:
O blessed disciple of Christ, / servant of Christ made flesh, / honored as the father of Christ! / Standing boldly before Him, / ask for peace and deliverance from grievous afflictions / for those who praise you.
Obeying the divine words, / a minister of wondrous deeds, / betrothed to the Virgin, the Mother of God, / righteous in all things and true, / you appeared, Joseph, / and found rest in the abodes of the righteous.
You were deemed worthy to see Christ, / who became an infant in human form like us, / and you were called His father. / Your glory is truly the greatest! / Great, above all, is your dignity! / Therefore, we praise you.
Theotokos: You, O Pure One, who knew no marriage, / gave birth in Bethlehem to Christ according to the flesh, / swaddling Him in swaddling clothes; / struck with awe at His coming, / Joseph, with reverence, magnifies / and worships His power.]
Irmos: I will sing to You, O Lord my God, / for You brought the people out of Egyptian bondage / and covered / Pharaoh’s chariots and army with water.
[I will sing to You, O Lord my God, / for You, having been incarnated in an ineffable manner / from the womb of the pure Virgin, / have recreated man in Your goodness.]
[On this day, the shepherds meditate on the divine, / clearly singing a hymn with the incorporeal ones, / and the Magi bring gifts / to the One who became a babe in the flesh.]
Choirs of angels appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem, / proclaiming, “Glory in the highest!” / Let us sing with them / to Him who deigned to become incarnate.
All of us, celebrating the Christmas festivities / in honor of Him who became incarnate for our sake, / let us joyfully sing of James, the brother of God, / and David, the Father of God.
David, the Father of God, sing with your lyre / of the Word who is becoming incarnate from the root of Jesse, / drawing in the righteous James as well.
Theotokos: I will sing to You, O Lord my God, / for You were born of a mother—the Holy Virgin— / and through Her You have revealed Yourself as the hope of our souls.*
Katavasia: Christ is born—glorify Him! / Christ from heaven—welcome Him! / Christ on earth—rejoice! / Sing to the Lord, all the earth, / and sing with joy, O people, / for He has been glorified!
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: Born of the Father before the ages:
Born of the Father before all ages, who shone forth in an ineffable manner / and in the last days became incarnate from the Virgin in an inexpressible way / you are called “father,” O glorious one, / and proclaimed a witness to the awe-inspiring mystery, / O blessed one.
Him before whom the heavenly hosts tremble, / as before the boundless God, / Him, born of the Virgin, / you hold in your arms, wise Joseph, / being sanctified by the awe-inspiring touch; / therefore we honor you.
The loftiness of the mystery, / unknown to former generations, / was entrusted to you, / who revealed the purity of your heart; / through it we have all been saved, / as we celebrate your luminous and divine memory / with faith.
Theotokos: Having seen God, who took on flesh / from your pure blood, O Immaculate Virgin, / and who was born in a cave and laid in a manger, / becoming visible like us, / Joseph the Righteous magnified Him with songs.]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: You are the strength of those who hope in You, Christ God! / Strengthen us in Your Orthodox faith, / O Lover of Mankind.*
Born without seed according to the flesh / of the Virgin Mary—Christ God— / let us all sing with the Angels: / “Glory in the highest!”—proclaiming.
[The faithful shepherds, playing their flutes, / heard the good news from the Angels / about the true Shepherd—Christ— / and exclaimed, “Glory in the highest!”]
[Let the heavens rejoice, / let the whole earth exult, / singing: “Glory in the highest!” / to Christ the God, born on this day.]
Let us worthily honor with hymns / the One who humbled Himself for our sake, / together with David and James, the faithful, / in this great feast.
David declared that, like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber, / the Lord will now come forth from His mother’s womb, / Whom we, together with James, will sing of.
Hymn to the Mother of God: Let us honor Mary, the Mother of God, who knew no marriage, / for through her the Sun of Righteousness has shone upon us.*
Katavasia: To the Son, born of the Father before all ages / not according to earthly laws, / and in these last days incarnate of the Virgin / without seed, / let us cry out to Christ God: / “You who have exalted our dignity, / holy are You, O Lord!”
On this day the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible One; / Angels and shepherds give praise, / while the Magi journey following the star, / for on our behalf a young Child was born, / the pre-eternal God!
Ikos: Bethlehem has revealed Eden; / come, let us see this— / in secret we have found delight. / Come, let us receive heavenly bliss within the cave: / there appeared the Root, which was not watered, bringing forgiveness; / there was found the Well that was not dug, from which David longed to drink in ancient times. / There the Virgin, having given birth to the Infant, / immediately quenched the thirst of Adam and David. / Therefore, let us hasten there, / where the young Child, the eternal God, was born.
Let us sing as is fitting of the righteous Joseph, the Virgin’s betrothed, / and of David—the son of Jacob: / for they, having walked in righteousness, / have attained the heavenly dwellings, / and rejoicing with the Angels according to their worthiness, / they ask for the forgiveness of our sins.*
The Virgin gave birth to the Creator of all, / and the Magi come to worship Him in the flesh; / people, together with the angels, give Him praise; / while the cave and the manger offer themselves as gifts, / singing of the One Who was born— / the infant Child, the eternal God.*
The company of prophets celebrates with divine inspiration / the miracle accomplished in You, O Virgin! / For You gave birth to God, who became incarnate on earth. / Therefore, the angels sing with the shepherds, / while the Magi, together with Joseph, proclaim with faith / the wonders to David, the Father of God.
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: A Branch from the Root of Jesse:
Possessing a mind submissive to divine commands, / and having become wholly pure, / you were betrothed, blessed Joseph, / to the one who is pure and spotless among women, / to guard the pure Virgin / until she received the Creator.
To Gabriel alone in heaven / and to you alone, O glorified one, / the one and only mystery that inspires supreme awe— / that of the one who knew no marriage— / was entrusted, O blessed Joseph, / putting to flight / the sole destroyer, the prince of darkness
Being a living, luminous / temple of your Creator, / you, through your zeal for divine matters, / blessed Joseph, were deemed worthy to receive / from the holy temple the Holy Temple /—the Ever-Virgin, unique among women.
Theotokos: Dispelling clearly / all doubt from your mind, / the Invisible One appeared, proclaiming to you: / “Do not be afraid, Joseph, to receive the most pure Mary / now, for she bears in her womb / the One who bears all things by His divine power!”]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: Proclaiming the coming of Your manifestation on earth, / O Christ God, / the prophet cried out with joy: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”*
[Beholding with the eyes of the mind / the ineffable condescension of the Word of God, Habakkuk / exclaimed, “From Teman,”—he cried out—“/ God, our Savior, will come!”]
[The manger that received You, O God, / was surrounded by the incorporeal hosts, / who, with awe and wonder, glorified / Your birth, O Son of God, which surpasses understanding.]
Let us worship the Newborn with the Magi / and rejoice with the angels and shepherds, / proclaiming in a manner worthy of God: / “Glory in the highest to Christ God!”
Christ, who reigns above all kings— / born according to the flesh of the seed of David— / accepted the chosen one, James, as His brother, / as He Himself was pleased.
The Lord, who appeared in the flesh from the Virgin, / has thereby glorified your memory, O saints: / James, chosen among the Apostles, / and David, the all-blessed.
Theotokos: Surpassing the cherubim / and bearing God in the flesh in your arms, / Rejoice, Mother of God, who knew no marriage.*
Katavasia: A branch from the root of Jesse / and a flower from it, / from the Virgin You were born, Christ; / You came, O Praiseworthy One, / from the mountain shaded by thickets, / having been incarnated from the one who knew no man, / the Incorporeal One and God. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: You, God of peace and Father of mercy:
Shining with meekness, wise Joseph, / you dwelt among the meek on earth, / named the father in the Word of the Meek—Christ. / Holding Him in your arms, you were sanctified / and glorified, having seen Him / clothed in mortal flesh.
Like a divine Cloud, / hiding the Sun within its depths, / you led the one who is Pure / from the city of David to Egypt, / so that there you might dispel the darkness / of senseless idolatry, Joseph, / minister of the highest mysteries.
Being righteous, you walked / in the righteous ways of the Righteous Lord, / who righteously ordained you, O all-blessed one, / to faithfully serve such a wondrous mystery / of the ineffable birth, / by which we mortals have been justified.
Theotokos: She proved to be, as the prophet Isaiah said, / the Virgin who conceived in her womb / God of boundless nature—Emmanuel; / and Joseph, the godly one, who did not comprehend this, / was instructed by the Angel / during the night’s sleep, O glorious one.]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: You who have shone upon us, who dwell in darkness, / with the light of Your Epiphany, / glory to You, glory to You, / Jesus, Son of God.
You who deigned to be born of the pure Virgin, / God made flesh! / Glory to You, glory to You, / Jesus, Son of God!
Born of the Virgin and having glorified / the memory of David and Jacob! / Glory to You, glory to You, / Jesus, Son of God!
Whom the prophet David, inspired by God, / called “rain falling on the fleece,” / That One Jacob proclaimed— / Jesus, the Son of God.
[The Word, who took the form of a servant / from the womb of the All-Holy One! / Glory to You, glory to You, / Jesus, Son of God!]
Theotokos: The Angel’s voice, without ceasing, / brings creation to You, O Virgin: / “Rejoice, pure Mother / of Jesus, the Son of God!”
Katavasia: You, God of peace and Father of mercy, / have sent us the Herald of Your great plan, / the bringer of peace. / Therefore, having been brought to the light of the knowledge of God, / greeting the dawn after the night, / we glorify You, Lover of mankind.
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: From the womb of Jonah:
Through an extraordinary birth / from the Virgin, the Maiden of God, / He who came to us, strangers to Him— / God, the eternal Word of the Father— / having received Him, O all-blessed Joseph, / you joyfully undertook an extraordinary journey / with Him to Egypt, / obeying divine commands.
You served like an angel, wise Joseph, / God, who became an infant in the flesh, / and gazed upon Him openly without mediation, / receiving the incorporeal rays, O blessed one, / and becoming the most radiant / in both soul and heart.
Having been wholly sanctified by the divine touch / in soul and body, you, all-praised one, / passed into the incorporeal dwellings, / now sanctifying those who celebrate your memory, / truly righteous Joseph, all-holy, / betrothed to the all-holy Mother of God.
Theotokos: You beheld the Infant on earth, /—born of the pure Virgin, the Perfect One, / and proceeding from the Father before all ages, / and you heard the Angels singing His praises, / as He lay in a manger within a cave, / Joseph, all-praised.]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: Foretelling the three-day burial, / the prophet Jonah, praying within the whale, cried out: / “Deliver me from destruction, / Jesus, King of the Powers!”
[The choirs of angels exclaimed in wonder, beholding / Your awe-inspiring Nativity, O Lord: / “Glory to God in the highest, / for now He is born on earth!”]
[In these last days, You were pleased / to be born of the Virgin as a man, / You who were begotten of the Father before the ages as God, / to restore the fallen Adam, / as the Lover of Mankind.]
The heavenly hosts stood in awe in the cave / and sang ceaselessly of the most pure Nativity: / “Glory to God in the highest, who is born!”
You sat upon the throne, O Lord, / as You swore to Your prophet David, / having come forth from the fruit of his womb, O Christ; / and You entrusted the throne to Jacob for the Church.
David, the wondrous king and prophet, / appeared as the forefather of the One divinely Incarnate, / and the first bishop was James, / a disciple of Jesus.
To the Mother of God: We pray to You, Virgin Mother of God: / intercede for Your servants on behalf of Him who was Incarnate from You, / for You, and You alone, / we acknowledge as our Protectress.
Katavasia: From Jonah’s womb, the sea monster spewed forth the infant / just as it had received him; / but the Word, dwelling in the Virgin and taking on flesh, / passed through her, preserving her incorrupt; / for just as He Himself was not subject to ordinary conception, / so He kept her who gave birth to Him unharmed.
On this day, the divine David is filled with joy, / while Joseph and Jacob offer praise. / For, having received the crown of kinship with Christ, they rejoice, / and they sing of and cry out to Him who was born in an ineffable manner on earth: / “O Merciful One, save those who honor You!”
Ikos: By an ineffable plan, / the Incorporeal One is born in the flesh; / the Boundless One is now confined to a body, / and preserves both natures unchanged. / The Beginningless One / and the One who is beyond time / takes on a beginning by nature; / the All-Perfect One is beheld as an infant; / the One who bears all things is carried in their arms. / Therefore, those honored by kinship with Him / He crowns as God through His Nativity. / Glorifying them, we cry out with faith, without ceasing: / “O Merciful One, save those who honor You!”
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: Youths raised in piety:
You beheld the fulfillment of the prophecies / of the God-inspired prophets: / for Him of whom they proclaimed—Christ, / Who was to come from the pure Virgin, / you touched and recognized Him in His infancy, / as a servant of Christ, pure in soul.
Adorned with an immaculate life, glorious Joseph, / you truly became the guardian of the Immaculate Virgin’s virginity, / and were named the father of the Child to be born, / exalted by this sacred title.
He who created heaven, / earth, and the sea by His Word is called the Son of the carpenter— / you, all-blessed one, worthy of wonder; / and the Father without beginning has truly glorified you, / as a sacred servant / of Him who is beyond words.
Having brought your life to a holy end, / O most excellent Joseph, / you have now found rest in the radiance of the saints, / sanctifying those who, with faith, ever celebrate / your all-holy and divine memory.
Theotokos: Knowing that sacred images foreshadow You, / O God-blessed, Pure One, / the righteous Joseph, by lot and with the help of the rod, / receives the right to a sacred betrothal to You / and recalls the holy rod of Aaron / that once sprouted.]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: The children of Abraham in Babylon / once trod out the flames of the furnace, / exclaiming in their hymns: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
[In Bethlehem, they glorified the Child of the Virgin; / the shepherds recognized in Him the Savior and Lord, / who appeared on earth / to save the human race.]
Amazed at the birth that surpasses understanding / from the Theotokos Mary, / the choirs of angels exclaimed: / “Glory to God in the highest, / and on earth peace!”
[You appeared as the highest of the Cherubim, O Virgin, / carrying in Your arms the One borne by them. / Never cease to intercede with Him / for our salvation.]
David, having become a bridegroom, / and Jacob, a divine minister / of the Church’s sanctuary, proclaimed: / “You who became incarnate for our sake, / Christ, blessed are You!”
Among the prophets, the Lord, / and among the kings, the prophet, / sing to us with the godly Jacob: / “You who became incarnate for our sake, / Christ, blessed are You!”
Theotokos: Foretold in the unburned thornbush / and the furnace of dew, O Immaculate Mother, / You conceived the incarnate God without seed, / O Pure One, O Blessed One.
Katavasia: Youths raised in piety, / having disregarded the command of the wicked, / were not afraid of the threatening fire, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, sang: / “God of our Fathers, blessed are You!”
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: The furnace sprinkled with dew:
Truly precious was your death / in the sight of the Lord, O all-blessed Joseph, / for you were wholly purified by the Infant, / became the sacred guardian of the Blessed One, / and with her you sing: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
God and Creator, before Whom all the choirs of angels tremble, / Joseph the righteous, with boldness and reverence, / embraces and kisses the Infant, / and receives the light beyond comprehension, crying out: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Moved by the sweetest desire, O blessed one, / and standing before the Incarnate One like an angel, / you obey the divine commands, / receiving instruction through an angel / to return from Egypt to the land of Israel, “ ” / with the Infant Himself and His Mother; / with Them you returned, glorifying the Lord.
Theotokos: You saw the shadows of the Law / dispelled by the radiance of grace, / and you beheld the Virgin—a luminous cloud— / revealing the sunrise of the One comprehensible in the flesh, / and you enlightened, like a star, O wise Joseph, / all who cry out ceaselessly: / “We exalt You, Christ, forever!”]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: Christ the King, / Whom the captive youths confessed, / crying out loudly in the furnace, / let all creation sing His praises as Lord!*
[Christ the King, / who came in the form of a servant, / of whom the shepherds in Bethlehem proclaimed / and whom the star revealed, / all creation, sing His praises / and exalt Him for all ages!]
[Christ, who was born, / to whom the Magi bowed down with gifts, / and about whom the host of angels sang in praise, / all creation, sing / and exalt Him for all ages!]
Christ, who became incarnate, / whom the heavenly powers have glorified / and whom the many-eyed ones ceaselessly sing of, / all creation, sing / and exalt Him for all ages!
Christ, who became incarnate, / of whom David, the Father of God, prophesied / and whom James proclaimed to the nations, / all creation, sing / and exalt Him for all ages!”
Christ, born of the Virgin, / and who exalted the holy memory of David and Jacob / as His friends, / all creation, sing His praises / and exalt Him for all ages! *
Theotokos: Christ the King, / whom the Theotokos Mary bore for us, / and who remained a pure Virgin after giving birth, / all creation, sing His praises / and exalt Him for ever and ever.
Katavasia: The furnace, sprinkled with dew, / presented the image of a supernatural miracle: / for it does not burn the youths it has taken in, / just as the fire of the Divinity did not burn the Virgin’s womb, / into which He descended. / Therefore, let us sing the hymn: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
We sing Song 9, “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim:”
[To St. Joseph the Betrothed. Irmos: I behold a mystery:
You have become equal in honor to all the Angels, / to the prophets and martyrs, O blessed one, / and a true companion to the wise Apostles; / therefore, together with them, O wise Joseph, / calling you blessed, / we honor your sacred memory.
As one descended from a royal line, / you were betrothed, O wise one, to the pure Queen, / who was to give birth in an ineffable manner to Jesus the King, / and on earth you were preferred / above all those born of the earth, O most blessed one.
Strengthened by the power of the Spirit, / you were adorned with virtues, O Blessed One, / and in your deepest old age you passed gloriously / to your fathers, Joseph, / honored as the greatest father / by God the Father Who Shone Forth.
Your memory summons the ends of the earth / to joy and praise, / for the Word, O blessed one, has glorified you. / Standing before Him always with boldness, / intercede ceaselessly for the deliverance from temptations / of us who praise you.
Theotokos: You preserved the Pure One, / the One who kept her spotless virginity, / from whom God the Word became incarnate, / preserving her after childbirth / as a Virgin in an ineffable way. / Together with her, Joseph, God-bearer, / remember us. ]
To Sts. David and James. Irmos: Moses on the mountain / beheld the burning bush that was not consumed, / while Joseph in the cave / heard of the ineffable Nativity. / O Immaculate Virgin, / Mother who knew no husband, / we extol You, O Mother of God, / with hymns.*
[The Word and the Son, who from before the ages was ineffably / begotten of the Father, / was born of the Virgin in the flesh on this day at the end of time; / the shepherds sing His praises, / and the angels cry out: / “Glory to Christ God in the highest!”]
[The Magi, seeing the star, / followed its extraordinary movement / in search of the One who was born; / and finding Him, they honored Him with gifts: / gold, frankincense, and myrrh, crying out: / “Glory in the highest to God who is born!”]
Rejoice now, Bethlehem, / having become the city of the New David, / and rejoice, Zion, stronghold of the Churches, / now that you have gathered within yourself / a new feast—the King of all and His servants.
All creation served Him who was born of the Virgin / with awe: / the heavens with a star, the earth with a manger, / the mountain with a cave, the Magi with gifts, / the shepherds with their amazement, / and the angels brought Him a song.
David became a king from among the shepherds / in ancient times, / and you, Jacob, from the royal tribe of Judah, / appeared as a shepherd / of the flock of the Incarnate One—the Lamb of the Most High / and the Son of God.
Theotokos: The hosts of angels glorify You, Mother of God, / and the human race ceaselessly honors You in song, / for through Your divine birth / You have united mortals with the heavenly ones. / Therefore, we glorify You.
Katavasia: I behold a mystery / extraordinary and wondrous: / the cave is heaven, the throne of the Cherubim is the Virgin, / the manger is the receptacle / where the ineffable Christ God lay, / Whom we extol in our hymns.
With James, the glorious brother of God, / let us sing of David, the Father of God, / and of Joseph, the divine betrothed of the Mother of God. / They served the divine Nativity of Christ in the city of Bethlehem in a manner worthy of God, / together with the angels, the Magi, and the shepherds, / singing a hymn to Him, / as to God and Lord.
Our Savior has visited us from on high, / the Light that rose before the sun; / and we, who dwelt in darkness and shadow, have found the truth, / for the Lord was born of the Virgin.
Rejoice, you righteous ones; rejoice, heavens; / exult, O mountains, for Christ is born! / The Virgin sits enthroned, like the Cherubim, / bearing in her womb God—the Word made flesh. / The shepherds glorify the Newborn, / the Magi bring gifts to the Lord. / The angels proclaim their praise: / “O incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!”
The Father was pleased— / the Word became flesh, / and the Virgin gave birth to God made man. / The star proclaims it, the Magi worship, / the shepherds marvel, and all creation rejoices.
Verse: “From the womb of the morning star I have begotten You,” / —the Lord has sworn, and He will not repent. Ps 109:3b–4a
O Virgin Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior, / You have abolished Eve’s ancient curse, / for You became Mother by the Father’s good pleasure, / bearing in Your womb God—the Word made flesh. / This mystery cannot be fathomed, / but by faith we all glorify it, / exclaiming with You and proclaiming: / “O ineffable Lord, glory to You!”
Verse: The Lord said to my Lord: / “Sit at My right hand.” Ps 109:1a
Come, let us sing to the Mother of the Savior, / who remained a Virgin even after His birth: / “Rejoice, living City of the King and God— / Christ, having dwelt within Her, accomplished salvation ” / With Gabriel we sing to You, / with the shepherds we glorify You, exclaiming: / “Mother of God, intercede before Him who was incarnated from You / for our salvation!”
Glory, Tone 8: Blood, fire, and smoke— / miracles on earth foretold by Joel: / blood—the Incarnation; fire—the Divinity; / and smoke—the Holy Spirit, / who descended upon the Virgin and perfumed the world. / Great is the mystery of Your Incarnation, / O Lord, glory to You!
And now: Most Blessed are You, Virgin Mother of God:
Great Doxology. Sunday Troparion and Dismissal. Gospel Sticheron, Hour 1, and Final Dismissal. At the Hours, the Sunday Troparion. Glory: of the feast and the saints, alternately. And now, to the Theotokos; after the Lord’s Prayer: Kondakia of the feast and the saints, alternately.
The “Blessed Are” hymns in tone 4, the feast’s hymns in tone 4, and the 6th hymn of the saints in tone 4.
Your Nativity, Christ our God, / has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge, / for through it those who serve the stars / were taught by a star / to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, / and to know You, the Light rising from on high. / O Lord, glory to You!
Proclaim, Joseph, / the wonders of David, the Father of God: / you saw the Virgin bearing in her womb, / you gave praise with the shepherds and worshiped with the Magi, / having received the message through the Angel. / Pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls!
On this day, the divine David is filled with joy, / while Joseph and James offer praise. / For, having received the crown of kinship with Christ, they rejoice, / and they sing of and cry out to Him who was born in an ineffable manner on earth: / “O Merciful One, save those who honor You!”
On this day, the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, / and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible One; / Angels and shepherds give glory to Him, / while the Magi journey following the star, / for a young Child, the eternal God, / has been born for our sake!
God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.
Brothers, I declare to you: The Gospel that I preached is not of human origin; for I neither received it from a human source nor was I taught it by a human being, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and how I advanced in Judaism more than many of my contemporaries among my people, being exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go to Jerusalem to those who had been apostles before me, but I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then, three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
Gal 1:11–19
Verse: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. Ps 131:1
After the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and he remained there until the death of Herod, so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, who says, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was greatly enraged and sent out orders to kill all the male children in Bethlehem and its surrounding region, from two years old and under, according to the time he had ascertained from the Magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, who says: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and wailing and great lamentation; Rachel weeps for her children, and refuses to be comforted, because they are no more.” After Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the Child and His Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So he arose, took the Child and His Mother, and came to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; yet, having received a revelation in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee. And when he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: that He would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:13–23
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. And another: Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1; 32:1
January 1
by Germanus: Christ, the source of life, having dwelled in your soul / through your pure life, Basil, the Theophany, / you poured forth upon the universe rivers of pious teachings, / from which, being watered, the faithful people of the Church / bear the fruit of lips that confess grace / to Him who glorifies your memory forever and ever.
The outpouring of grace upon you / anointed you to minister the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, / Basil, revealed by God. / For, having become the fragrance of Christ, / you filled the universe with the aroma of knowledge of Him. / Therefore, graciously accepting the voices of your ministers, / intercede for us who honor you, that we may receive great mercy.
Byzantine: Clothed in the robes of a saint, / Basil, defender of the Trinity, / you stood before the judge’s seat, / facing danger for your faith. / And, showing ascetic resistance, / you put the eparch to shame—he who, emboldened by the power of wickedness, / threatened you with merciless torture. / You, however, willingly chose this path, / and, becoming a martyr of your own free will, / were crowned with the victory wreath by Christ, / who possesses great mercy.
Glory, Tone 2: Having examined all of creation / and perceived impermanence in all things, / you found One who is unshakable: / He who, by nature, is above all creation, the Creator of all. / Reaching out even further to Him, / and rejecting all desire for what does not exist, / intercede that we too may attain divine love, / Most Holy Basil.
And now, Tone 8: O Savior, descending to the human race, / You deigned to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / You did not disdain fleshly circumcision— / eight days old according to Your Mother, without beginning according to Your Father. / To Him, O faithful, let us cry out: / “You are our God; have mercy on us!”
Being a temple, all-luminous / as the three-sun dawn, / you illuminate the souls / of those who are nourished / by your words, Basil.
Verse: My lips shall utter wisdom, / and the meditation of my heart—understanding. Ps 48:4
A trumpet from Heaven /—the sound of your voice, Basil, / and the fire by which / all heretical teachings are consumed.
Verse: The lips of the righteous speak wisdom, / and his tongue proclaims justice. Ps 36:30
O One Light, Three-Personed, / divided in Persons, / yet united in essence, / you have overthrown Arius / and Sabellius, Basil.
Glory, and now: Celebrating the physical circumcision / of the incarnate Word of God / and the memory of Basil the Great, / we honor the Mother of God.
After the “Our Father”: the saint’s troparion. Glory, and now, of the Circumcision. The Litany and the Dismissal.
We sing “Blessed is the man:” 1st antiphon.
Savior, descending to the human race , / deigned to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / did not disdain bodily circumcision— / eight days old according to the Mother, without beginning according to the Father. / To Him, O faithful, let us cry out: / “You are our God, have mercy on us!” (2)
The All-Good God was not ashamed / to undergo physical circumcision, / but gave Himself to all / as a model and example for salvation: / for the Creator of the Law fulfills the Law / and what was foretold about Him by the prophets. / You who hold all things in Your hand and are swaddled in swaddling clothes, / O Lord, glory to You! (2)
When you, Father, a royal priest, / named after the Kingdom, / with wise discernment and skill / shepherded Christ’s holy people, / then the King of kings and Lord of all, / who reigns above all rulers and is known with His Father, / the eternal Son, equally without beginning. / Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls. (2)
Adorned with the vestments of holiness, / you joyfully proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom, Basil, / pouring forth the teachings of the Orthodox Church. / Now enlightened by them, / we confess and glorify the One Godhead in the Father Almighty, / and in the Only-Begotten Word of God, / and in the Divine Spirit, / indivisible in Three Persons. / Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
Dwelling and reigning with the heavenly choirs, / Father Basil, / together with those whose lives you emulated / with the most radiant purity of your own life, / while still in the flesh yet living as if incorporeal among those on earth, / implore Christ, our God, / to save us from misfortune and the darkness of ignorance, / and to enlighten our souls, who delight in your God-inspired teaching.
Glory, Tone 8, Anatolius: Having become a zealous defender of Wisdom, O Venerable One, / and preferring communion with God to all that exists, / for the sake of preparing for the hour of death, / you rightly left behind worldly life; / for, through the labors of self-denial, / having cast aside the passions of the flesh, / and through instruction in the divine law, / having preserved the dignity of the soul unenslaved, / you subjugated every carnal thought to the spirit / through an abundance of virtue. / Therefore, having hated the flesh, the world, and the prince of this world, / and now standing before Christ, / intercede for our souls to receive His great mercy.
And now, in the same tone: The Savior, descending to the human race, / was pleased to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / did not disdain bodily circumcision— / on the eighth day according to His Mother, without beginning according to His Father. / To Him, O faithful, let us cry out: / “You are our God; have mercy on us!”
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the Day. And the readings for the feast:
The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him: “I am your God; walk before Me in righteousness and be blameless; and I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly. You will be the father of many nations, and you will no longer be called by your name Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have appointed you to be the father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly, exceedingly fruitful, and I will bring forth nations from you, and kings will come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and between your descendants after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, and I will be their God.” And Abraham fell on his face and bowed down to the Lord.
And God said to Abraham: “You, too, shall keep My covenant—you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. And this is the covenant [of Mine] that you shall keep, between Me (and you) and your descendants after you throughout their generations: [every male among you shall be circumcised.] You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and this shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you (and between your descendants after you throughout their generations). And every male child among you shall be circumcised on the eighth day throughout your generations. [But any] male who is uncircumcised—who does not have his foreskin cut off on the eighth day—that person shall be cut off from his people, for he has broken My covenant.”
Genesis 17:1–2, 4–7, 3, 9–12, 14
The Lord made me the beginning of His ways for His works. He established me before the ages, at the beginning, before He created the earth, before He created the deeps, before the springs of water came into being, before the mountains were set in place, and before all the hills—He brought me forth. The Lord created the nations, the desolate places, and the ends of the inhabited earth under the heavens. When He prepared the heavens, I was there with Him; and when He established His throne upon the winds, when He made the high clouds firm, when He gave stability to the springs of the heavens, when He set a boundary for the sea so that the waters would not cross its limits, and when He made the foundations of the earth firm, I was there with Him, helping to bring everything into being; I was the delight of His heart, and I rejoiced before Him day after day, at all times.
Proverbs 8:22–30
The mouth of the righteous pours out wisdom, but the tongue of the wicked will perish. The lips of the righteous pour out grace, but the mouths of the wicked are perverse. Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is pleasing to Him. Where arrogance enters, there is disgrace; but the lips of the humble are taught wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the deceit of those who break their word will consume them. Wealth will be of no avail on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. The righteous man who has died is mourned, but the destruction of the wicked is near and brings joy. The righteousness of the blameless guides one’s steps, but wickedness leads to falsehood. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the lawless are ensnared by their own folly. When a righteous man dies, hope does not perish, but the boast of the wicked comes to an end. The righteous man escapes the snare, but the wicked man is ensnared in its place. In the mouths of the wicked lies a trap for the people, but the heart of the righteous prospers. A city is strengthened by the righteousness of the righteous, but in the downfall of the wicked there is rejoicing. A city is exalted by the blessing of the righteous, but by the words of the wicked it is destroyed. The foolish mock their fellow citizens, but the wise bring peace.
Proverbs 10:31–32; 11:1–2, 4, 3, 5–12
Germanus: By instilling Christ, the source of life, into your soul / through your pure life, Basil the Theophany, / you poured forth upon the universe rivers of pious teachings, / from which, , the faithful people of the Church, being watered, / bear the fruit of lips that confess grace / to Him who glorifies your memory forever and ever.
The outpouring of grace upon you / anointed you to minister the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, / Basil, revealed by God. / For, having become the fragrance of Christ, / you filled the universe with the aroma of knowledge of Him. / Therefore, graciously accepting the voices of your ministers, / intercede for us who honor you, that we may receive great mercy.
Byzantine: Clothed in the robes of a saint, / Basil, defender of the Trinity, / you stood before the judge’s seat, / facing danger for your faith. / And, showing ascetic resistance, / you put the eparch to shame—he who, emboldened by the power of wickedness, / threatened you with merciless torture. / You, however, willingly chose this path, / and, becoming a martyr of your own free will, / were crowned with the victory wreath by Christ, / who possesses great mercy.
Glory, Tone 6: Grace flowed from your lips, venerable father, / and you became a shepherd of Christ’s Church, / teaching the rational flock / to believe in the Consubstantial Trinity / in one Godhead.
And now, Tone 8: The Savior, descending to the human race, / was pleased to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / did not disdain bodily circumcision— / eight days old according to His Mother, without beginning according to His Father. / To Him, O faithful, let us cry out: / “You are our God; have mercy on us!”
By a Byzantine: O divine and sacred bee of Christ’s Church, / Basil the All-Blessed! / For you, arming yourself with the sting of divine love, / pierced the blasphemies of godless heresies, / and gathered the sweetness of piety for the souls of the faithful. / And now, as you pass through the imperishable pastures / of the divine meadow, / remember us also, standing before the consubstantial Trinity.
Verse: My lips shall utter wisdom, / and the meditation of my heart—understanding. Ps 48:4
Basil the Monk: You have united all the virtues of the saints, / our father Basil: / the meekness of Moses, the zeal of Elijah, / the confession of Peter, the theology of John, / and, like Paul, you never ceased to cry out: / “Who is weak, that I should not be weak with him? / Whoever is led astray—would I not be inflamed with zeal?” / Therefore, dwelling with them, / pray for the salvation of our souls!
Verse, Tone 2: The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, / and his tongue proclaims justice. Ps 36:30
St. John the Monk: Having studied all of creation / and perceived impermanence in all things, / you found One who is unshakable: / He who by nature is above all creation, the Creator of all. / Having drawn even closer to Him, / and having rejected the desire for what does not exist, / intercede that we too may attain divine love, / Most Holy Basil.
Glory, Tone 6: Having received the grace of miracles from heaven / and exposed the deception of idolatry through your teachings, / you are the glory and confirmation of the bishops, / all-blessed Basil, / and the model of the teaching of all the Fathers. / Having boldness before Christ, / pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
And now, Tone 8: The all-good God was not ashamed / to be circumcised with a physical circumcision, / but gave Himself to all / as a model and example for salvation: / for the Creator of the Law fulfills the Law / and what was foretold about Him by the prophets. / Holding all things in His hand and wrapped in swaddling clothes, / O Lord, glory to You!
Your voice has gone out across the whole earth, / for it has received your word: / through it you have set forth the truths of the faith in a manner worthy of God, / explained the nature of all that exists, / and adorned human customs— / O royal priest, venerable Father, / pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory, and now, on this feast day, in the same tone: Seated on the fiery throne / in heaven with the Father, the Beginningless One, and Your Divine Spirit, / You deigned to be born on earth of the Virgin, / Your Mother who knew no man, Jesus; / for You were a man and were circumcised on the eighth day. / Glory to Your all-good will; / glory to Your providence; / glory to Your condescension, O sole Lover of mankind!
And the dismissal.
At Vespers, the kontakion of the saint. Glory, and now: of the feast. We sing the Midnight Office, as is customary, with the kathisma. After the first “Holy, Holy, Holy,” the troparion of the feast. After the second—“Holy, Holy, Holy,” the kontakion of the feast. We do not read the “Remember, O Lord:” prayers, but only: “O Lord, have mercy:” (12), and the dismissal.
Seated on the fiery throne / in heaven with the Father, the Beginningless One, and Your Divine Spirit, / You deigned to be born on earth of the Virgin, / Your Mother who knew no man, O Jesus; / for You were truly human, and on the eighth day You were circumcised. / Glory to Your all-good will; / glory to Your providence; / glory to Your condescension, O sole Lover of mankind! (2)
Your voice has gone forth throughout the earth, / for it has received your word: / through it you have divinely expounded the truths of the faith, / elucidated the nature of all that exists, / and adorned human customs— / O royal priest, venerable Father, / pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
And now, on this feast day, in the same tone: Seated on the fiery throne / in heaven with the Father, the Beginningless One, and Your Divine Spirit, / You deigned to be born on earth of the Virgin, / Your Mother who knew no man, O Jesus; / for You were a man, and on the eighth day You were circumcised. / Glory to Your all-good will; / glory to Your providence; / glory to Your condescension, O sole Lover of mankind!
As the royal adornment of Christ’s Church, / let us all praise Basil, / the inexhaustible treasury of teachings: / for through them he instructed us / to honor the Holy Trinity, / united in Essence, yet distinct in Persons.
Basil the All-Wise! Standing before the Trinity, / pray that we, who sing your praises / and honor your memory / on the Day of Judgment, may receive grace, / mercy, and purification from our sins, / so that with our lips and hearts we may glorify / the One who loves mankind.
And now: Creator and Lord of the world, / Who dwells with the Father and the Spirit on high, / on earth, as an infant, receives / circumcision on the eighth day. / Truly divine and wondrous are Your works: / for You are circumcised for our sake, O Lord, / as the true fulfillment of the Law.
And we read from the Gospel the instructive sermon of Basil the Great to the monks.
Through contemplation of the divine, / you drew forth the mysterious riches of ineffable wisdom; / you poured out the waters of orthodoxy upon all, / divinely rejoicing the hearts of the faithful, / while drowning the teachings of the unfaithful according to their deeds. / For the sake of both, / through your labors of piety, you proved yourself / an invincible champion of the Trinity. / Saint Basil, intercede before Christ our God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
You have watered the entire universe, / as with waters, with your instructions, / with the collected teachings of piety: / for the Source of Life truly dwelt within you, Basil. / Pray to Him, you who have attained boldness, inspired by God, / that He may grant us great mercy.
And now, Tone 4: Invisible by nature, / now we see Him in the flesh: / the uncreated Word / is now being created, born of the pure Virgin. / Therefore, and according to the Law for our sake, we humans, / He receives circumcision as an eight-day-old infant. / Let us worship Him, then, as our Savior.*
We magnify You, Christ, Giver of life, / and we honor the lawful circumcision / of Your most pure flesh.)
We magnify you, / Holy Father Basil, / and we honor your holy memory, / for you pray for us / to Christ, our God.
We magnify you, / Saint Basil, the saint of Christ, / who preserved the Church of Christ in piety.
1 Chorus: Hear this, all nations; listen, all who dwell in the universe. 2 My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart—understanding. 1 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 2 I have proclaimed the truth in the great assembly. 1 I have declared Your truth and Your salvation. 2 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will sing of You in the midst of the assembly. 1 So that I may hear the sound of Your praise and tell of all Your wonders. 2 O Lord, I love the beauty of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells. 1 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. 2 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not strayed into wickedness from my God. 1 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue proclaims justice. 2 His righteousness endures forever and ever. 1 Your priests will be clothed in righteousness, and Your saints will rejoice with gladness. 2 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will praise You forever and ever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 48:2; 48:4; 33:12; 39:10a; 39:11b; 21:23; 25:7; 25:8; 25:5; 17:22; 36:30; 110:3b; 131:9; 83:5
By the power of divine words / you overthrew the dark heresies, / you drowned all of Arius’s arrogance, / for you proclaimed the Spirit to be God to the people; / and by raising your hands, you put your enemies to death, / you banished all of Sabellius’s teachings, / and you abolished all of Nestorius’s fabrications. / Saint Basil, intercede before Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
Glory: The grace of your divine words / and the mysterious height of your teachings / have become for us a ladder of divine ascent: / for having acquired, Father, the spiritual trumpet, / you proclaimed divine instructions through it. / Therefore, you have taken up residence in a place of joy, / having received your reward for your labors, O Venerable One. / Saint Basil, intercede before Christ our God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
And now: O Lord and Creator of all, / having taken flesh from Your most pure womb, / You have revealed You as the Protector of mankind, O All-Pure One. / Therefore, we all take refuge in You, / asking for atonement for our sins, O Lady, / and deliverance from eternal torment, / and from every oppression of the fierce ruler of this world. / For this reason we cry out to You: / “Intercede before Your Son and God / to grant the forgiveness of sins / to those who worship with faith / His all-holy birth from You!”
And we read the eulogy of Gregory the Theologian on Basil the Great, dividing it into four parts.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, O my Savior, / defend and save me.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
My lips will speak wisdom, / and the thoughts of my heart—understanding. Verse: Hear this, all nations; listen, all who dwell in the universe. Ps 48:4, 2
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him: “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it in abundance. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But the hired hand—who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep—sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me. Just as the Father knows me, so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd.
John 10:9–16
Grace flowed from your lips, venerable Father, / and you became a shepherd of Christ’s Church, / teaching the wise sheep / to believe in the Consubstantial Trinity / in the one Godhead.
Irmos: Come, people, / let us sing a hymn to Christ our God, / who parted the sea and led the people, / whom He brought out of Egyptian bondage, / for He has been glorified.
The Octoechos, / bearing the image of the age to come, / shines and is sanctified / by Your voluntary poverty, O Christ: / for on this day You, according to the Law, / underwent circumcision of the flesh.
Christ is circumcised / on the eighth day after His birth, / and on this day the shadow ceases, / revealing the dawn of the light of new grace.
We ought to have your voice, Basil, / for those who wish to sing your praises; / but you, Father, filled with mercy, / grant us grace generously.
Having walked the arduous path of virtue, / you attained a smooth and unhindered / ascent to heaven / and became an example to all, Basil.
The passionate rebellion of the self-willed flesh / you subdued with love for true philosophy; / therefore, in the imperishable royal palaces / you dwell, Father Basil.
The passions of the soul, / and along with them, those of the body, Basil, / you cut away with the sword of the Spirit, / and offered yourself / as a sacrifice to the Lord.
Having become a minister of the ineffable mysteries, / you have led the faithful into the mystical priesthood / of Christ’s Kingdom, Father Basil, / brilliantly revealing to us the light of the Trinity.
Theotokion: Who can worthily proclaim / Your conception, which is beyond words? / For You gave birth to God in the flesh, All-Holy One, / Who appeared to us, the Savior of us all.
Katavasia: The first choir sings the irmos: He has parted the depths of the sea / and leads His people across on dry land, / having overwhelmed His enemies within it, / the Lord, mighty in battle, / for He has been glorified.
The other choir, irmos: Israel passes through the sea, its waves surging, / which suddenly became dry land, / while the dark abyss completely engulfed / the Egyptian horsemen, like a watery grave, / by the mighty power of the Lord’s right hand.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: Establish us in You, O Lord, / You who put sin to death through the Tree, / and instill Your fear / in the hearts of us who sing Your praises.
The Word made flesh, the Transcendent One, / was circumcised to bring the Law to an end, / and gave us the beginnings / of divine grace and imperishable life.
Not as one opposed to God, / but as the fulfiller of the Law, / Christ, who became incarnate, appeared, / and willingly accepted circumcision / on the eighth day.
Canon to the Saint
Having mastered all teachings, / not only concerning the earthly and the trampled, / but far more—concerning the most perfect, / you appeared as a light to the world, Basil.
Strengthened by the fear of the Lord, / for it is the beginning of wisdom, / you were inspired by the highest love / for wisdom, O Basil.
You, Basil, wisely set about your deeds, / and through your deeds you demonstrated an ascent to the most divine contemplation, / and were initiated into the mystery of clear knowledge / of all that exists.
Your commemoration, Father, coincided with and shone forth / together with the Nativity of Christ, / whose ineffable mystery / you elucidated through your teachings.
Theotokos: Without seed, you conceived in your womb / and give birth to God, who is ineffably incarnate— / whom the heavenly Powers dare not gaze upon, / O pure Ever-Virgin.
Katavasia: The Lord, who grants strength to our kings / and exalts the dignity of His anointed ones, / is born of the Virgin and comes to be baptized. / Therefore, we, the faithful, cry out: / “There is none holy like our God, / and there is none righteous but You, O Lord!”
Inaya: All of us, having been freed from ancient bonds, / from the jaws of ravenous lions now crushed, / let us rejoice and open our mouths wide, / weaving a melody from words for the Word, / which is the most joyful of all the gifts given to us.
The Lord undergoes the circumcision of all / and, as the Good One, cuts away human sins, / granting salvation to the world on this day; / and in heaven rejoices the hierarch of the Creator / and the light-bearing divine minister of Christ’s mysteries, Basil.
Having learned the Wisdom of the Word / and set aside the written Law, / you proclaimed the teaching of grace to all / and, through your discourses, smoothly carved the tablets of the soul, / upon which you inscribed divine instructions. / Therefore, you passed through the darkness under the cloud—the veil of the body—/ and shone forth with the Spirit, Saint Basil. / Pray to Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who honor your holy memory with love.
As the true Abyss of love for mankind, / You took upon Yourself, O Lord, the form of a servant / and were circumcised in the flesh, / bestowing Your great mercy upon all people.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / the news of Your plan, / and I have glorified You, / the only Lover of mankind.
Circumcision has ceased, / ever since Christ was circumcised of His own free will, / saving multitudes of peoples through grace.
The eight days / symbolize the endless life to come, / on the last day of which / our Lord Christ was circumcised.
Canon to the Saint
The Bride—the Church—is adorned, / both by Christ’s Nativity / and by your memory, all-blessed one.
[Proud of the title “child of God,” / you, Basil, in accordance with piety, / did not equate the Divinity with creation.]
You proved yourself unyielding, / fighting for God, Basil, / submitting in all things to His command.
To the Church, God has given / a bulwark and a strong wall— / Basil, the All-Blessed.
To the enemies of God, you appeared / as a cutting axe and a fire, / destroying delusion, Father Basil.
Theotokos: We pray to You, O Pure One, / who conceived God without seed, / to intercede always for Your servants.
Katavasia: I have heard, O Lord, Your voice, / which You called the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: / when You thundered over the many waters, / bearing witness to Your Son, / he, filled with the Spirit who had appeared, cried out: / “You are the Christ, the wisdom and power of God!”
Another: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, / the prophet, singing of the renewal of mortals, / raises a thunderous voice in the Spirit, / revealing the incarnation of the ineffable Word, / by whom the power of the rulers is crushed.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: Giver of Light and Creator of the ages, O Lord, / guide us in the light of Your commandments, / for we know no other god but You.
You, O Lord, having come forth in an inexpressible manner from the Virgin Mother, / did not consider it beneath Your dignity / even to take on human form, / but as an infant, in accordance with the law, / You fulfilled the Law.
Israel, likened to the night, gave birth, / as a loving shadow of the Law; (Hos. 4:5, according to the LXX) / but from her, like a light shining upon the world, / Christ appeared.
Canon to the Saint
Today the Church truly / celebrates a double feast: / the circumcision, as an infant, / of the Lord who appeared on earth, / and the commemoration of His servant, / the wise and thrice-blessed one.
Christ, the incomprehensible Light, / dwelling within you, O Venerable One, / has revealed you as a shining lamp to the world; / therefore we sing of your memory, / Basil.
Neither Moses the Lawgiver, / nor Joseph, who lived before the Law, / were like you in the distribution of food: / for you yourself appeared as the one offering the Divine Flesh / as sustenance, Basil.
The origin of all things, / described obscurely by Moses on Mount Sinai, / you yourself, interpreting from the divine treasures, / revealed to all, most blessed Basil.
Theotokos: To you, who gave birth to Christ, the Creator of all, / we cry out: “Rejoice, O Pure One, / rejoice, O you who revealed to us the dawn of Light, / rejoice, O you who contained the Inconceivable God!”
Katavasia: Jesus, the Source of life, / comes to resolve the condemnation of the first Adam, / and though He is God, needing no purification, / for the sake of the fallen He is baptized in the Jordan, / in which, having put an end to enmity, / He grants peace that surpasses all understanding.
Inna: Washed clean by the Spirit’s purification / from the poison of the dark and defiled enemy, / we have set out on a straight and new path, / leading to an unattainable joy, / accessible only to those reconciled with God.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: Carried in the abyss of sin, / I call upon the unfathomable depths of Your mercy: / O God, deliver me from destruction!
The Law has come to an end, / ever since Christ, having become an infant, / and appearing as the fulfiller of the Law, / received circumcision and abolished the curse of the Law.
The Sabbath and circumcision /—the pride of the Jews— / were abolished by a wave of Christ’s hand at His appearance, / and the springtime of grace has dawned.
Canon to the Saint
You generously fed / the souls of the poor, who were fainting from hunger, / and filled the hearts of the hungry / with every kind of divine joy, Basil.
You nourished souls hungry for heavenly food: / for the Word is the bread of the angels: / and you became / its excellent distributor, Basil.
With the diligence of a bee, you gathered / the flower of every virtue, Basil, / and, having become skilled in this, / you are called blessed.
You hastened to part from the world and live with God, / and so, in exchange for the fleeting and perishable, / you, as a wise man, have acquired that which endures, / Father Basil.
Theotokos: Save Your servants from misfortune, O Mother of God, / for we all turn to You after God, / as to an unbreakable Wall and Protector.*
Katavasia: The Voice of the Word, the Lamp of Light, / the Morning Star—the Forerunner of the Sun— / calls out to all people in the desert: / “Repent and be purified in advance, / for behold, Christ is coming, / delivering the world from destruction!”
Inaya: The Father, with a voice full of joy, revealed / the Beloved One, Whom He brought forth from His womb: / “Truly,” He says, “This One who appears / is the Son of the same nature as Mine, / radiant with light, born of the human race, / My living Word and yet—mortal, by His providence!”
You appeared as the unshakable foundation of the Church, / bestowing upon all people an inviolable heritage / and sealing it with your teachings, / Basil the Venerable, opener of the heavens.
Ikos: The cup of chastity, / the mouth of wisdom, and the foundation of dogmas— / Basil the Great shines in the minds of all. / Come, then, and let us stand in the house of God, / gazing with fervent zeal, / delighting in his miracles; / and, illuminated by their light as by a radiance, / let us be set ablaze by the Spirit who grants purification / to imitate his life, his faith, / his fervent zeal, and his humility, / through which he / became the dwelling place of the true God. / Calling upon him, we sing: / “The one who opens the heavenly realm—the Venerable Basil!”
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: When they worshiped the golden idol in the field of Dura, / three of Your youths defied the godless command; / and, cast into the fire but sprinkled with dew, they sang: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
The glorious and most radiant Nativity of Christ, / and on this day it foreshadows / the mystery of the future renewal: / for the Savior undergoes circumcision according to the lawful order, / not as God, but as a mortal / and as the fulfillment of the Law.
Fulfilling the Law, the Creator of the Law / is circumcised in the flesh on this day of His own will, / performing the circumcision that cuts away the winter of sin / and granting everyone the opportunity to exclaim: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Canon to the Saint
The Son is the image of the Father, / and the Spirit is the image of the Son. / You, O Basil, are the Spirit, / the spotless mirror and dwelling place of the entire Trinity. / Blessed is your memory, and those who honor it / are glorified for it.
Having plunged your mind into the unfathomable depths of God / and gathered the precious pearls of knowledge, / you have enriched the world with wisdom and taught it to cry out: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
O, united mind and sacred union, / like one soul inseparably united in two bodies: / in Gregory—Basil, and in Basil—Gregory. / United by your striving toward the divine! / Now intercede with Christ for your flock.
Father of orphans, defender of widows, / wealth of the poor, / comfort to the sick and guide to those living in wealth, / you have appeared as the staff of old age, / the mentor of youth, / and the rule of virtue for monastics, Basil.
Having cleansed your mind of every defilement, like mud, / you explored that which pertains to the Spirit, Basil, / together with the Spirit Himself, whom you so desired. / Therefore, singing the praises of the Trinity, you boldly exclaimed: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Theotokos: You, O Pure One, were seen by Moses on Mount Sinai / as a burning bush, consumed by fire, / emitting, without being scorched, the unbearable radiance / of the ineffable Being, who united with material flesh / as one of the holy Hypostases existing within Him.
Katavasia: The pious youths, / who were in the fiery furnace, / were preserved unharmed by a gust of wind bearing dew / and by the descent of the Angel of God; / therefore, as they were refreshed amid the flames, / they sang with gratitude: / “Most Praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Another: He scorched the heads of the serpents with a torrent / and subdued the fierce flame of the furnace / that engulfed the pious youths; / and the impenetrable mist of sin / He washes away entirely with the dew of the Spirit.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: The Word of God, who created all things with ineffable wisdom / and brought them from non-being into being, / bless Him, O creation, as your Lord, / and exalt Him for all ages.
On the eighth day, the Lord is circumcised as an infant, / and takes the name Jesus, / for He is the Savior of the world and the Lord.
The eighth day is fittingly united / with the Nativity of Christ— / the all-glorious commemoration of the hierarch, / whom, honoring with faith, / we sing of the Lord (and exalt forever).
Canon to the Saint
Who, by His ineffable providence, bestowed upon the world / Basil, the light of piety / and the trumpet of theology, / bless the Lord, O works of the Lord.
He who, by His abundant power, / dwelt within the wise Basil / and through him taught theology with piety, / bless Him, O creatures of the Lord—the Lord!
Delighting ceaselessly in your divine words, / as we celebrate the day of your commemoration, Basil, we cry out: / “Bless the Lord, O works of the Lord!”
You sent forth the rays of your words, Basil, to the world, / instructing it with your light / to honor the single nature of the Trinity, / “Bless,”—exclaiming—“the Lord, O creatures!”
Theotokos: The Word of God, who proceeded from the Father, / the eternal and timeless God, / and who shone forth from the Virgin in these last days, / bless the Lord, O works of the Lord!
Katavasia: The Babylonian furnace, which poured forth dew, / revealed an extraordinary mystery— / that the Jordan was to receive into its waters the incorporeal Fire / and to contain the Creator, baptized in the flesh, / Whom people bless / and exalt for all ages.
Another: Creation is made free, / and those once darkened—sons of light; / the ruler of darkness alone laments. / Now let all the once-miserable heritage of the nations / bless the Author of this with fervor.
We do not sing the 9th ode, “With the Highest Honor,” but we sing the refrains of the Feast of the Circumcision: Praise, O my soul, / the Lord who was circumcised according to the Law.
Canon of the Feast. Irmos: O God, the light that shone before the sun, / who came to us in the flesh, / whom the Virgin bore in an ineffable manner from her womb, / Blessed, All-Pure One! / We magnify You, O Mother of God.
The second choir also sings the same refrain and irmos.
Exalt, O my soul, / Him who was circumcised on the eighth day. (Twice)
Christ, transcending the limits / of all human nature, / is supernaturally born of the Virgin, / and, as the letter of the Law commands, / undergoes circumcision in the flesh, / and becomes the fulfiller of the Law.
On this day, the Lord is circumcised in the flesh, as an infant, / fulfilling the Law. (Once)
On this day, the Lord was circumcised in the flesh / and named Jesus. (Once)
Come, let us celebrate the glorious feast of the Lord Christ / in the sanctuary, / for on this day He was divinely named Jesus. / At the same time, we also honor the memory of the holy one.
Likewise, the refrains of the saint to his troparia:
Be exalted, my soul, / among the hierarchs of the great Basil. (Twice)
As a faithful sheep of Christ’s Archpastor, / you, Basil, followed His life-giving footsteps: / for you surrendered your soul to the tyrant, Father, / valiantly exposing yourself to danger / for the Church, all-blessed one.
O most glorious one, my soul, / the radiant light of the universe. (Twice)
Beholding the most holy order of Christ’s Church, / adorned by your wise priestly leadership, / the all-destructive tyrant fell, as if struck by thunder: / for he could not endure the radiance of the Spirit, / who dwelt within you, Basil.
O my soul, praise / the great Basil who shone forth from Caesarea. (Twice)
You have been deemed worthy of the Apostolic See, / the rejoicing of Christ’s passion-bearers, / the abode of the patriarchs, the delight of the righteous, / and the joy of the prophets, Basil: / for you became a minister consecrated to the mysteries / of the Mother of God and the Trinity.
Instead of “Glory”: O greatest one, my soul, / who has adorned the Church of Christ.
Instead of “And now”: O my soul, praise / the highest honor of the Heavenly Hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
He who covers the heavenly palaces with waters—the one and only Lord, / who holds back the sea and dries up the abysses— / having taken flesh from you, O Pure One, / hastens from Bethlehem to the Jordan / to be baptized in the flesh.
Then both choirs, coming together, sing the first refrain of the feast:
Exalt, O my soul, / the Lord who was circumcised according to the Law.
And the irmos: No tongue is able to praise You as You deserve, / and even the highest mind in the world is at a loss— / how to sing Your praises, O Mother of God; / but as the All-Good One, accept this pledge of faithfulness, / for You know our divine love, / since You are the Protector of Christians; / we magnify You.
Also, the refrain: Exalt, O my soul, / the highest honor of the Heavenly Hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
And the irmos: O wonders of Your birth that surpass the mind, / All-pure Bride, Blessed Mother! / Having received complete salvation through You, / we worthily applaud You as our Benefactor, / offering a song of thanksgiving as a gift.
Through love for true philosophy / you cut away, O Father, the veil from your soul, / and appeared to the world like the sun, with miracles, / and enlightened the minds of the faithful, O God-enlightened one, / O minister of the Trinity, Basil the Wise, / and one initiated into the mysteries of the Mother of God.
Glory, and now, of the feast: The One who fulfilled the Law is circumcised in the flesh, / like an eight-day-old infant—the Creator of the ages, / and is swaddled in swaddling clothes, like a mortal, / and is nourished with milk, / all while sustaining everything with immeasurable power as God / and governing the world with a wave of His hand.
He undergoes circumcision in the flesh / from the Father without division or depletion /—He who was born ineffably as the Word / and as God from God, abiding in unchanging Divinity. / Therefore, having become above the Law according to the Law, / He delivers all from the curse of the Law / and bestows a blessing from on high. / Therefore, praising His most blessed descent, / we sing and gratefully glorify Him, / praying that He may bestow great mercy upon our souls. (2)
Having become a son of God through adoption, / reborn through divine baptism, / you, O Venerable One, confessed the Son of God and the Word, / consubstantial with the Father in nature and truth, / and pre-eternal, and just as without beginning; / but the unceasing mouths of the heretics / you silenced with the clarity of your words. / Therefore, you have entered the heavenly realms, / reigning with Christ, the One who reigns by nature, / who lavishly bestows great mercy upon the world.
You have entered the inner sanctuary of the heavenly temple / as a holy hierarch / through action and contemplation—the foundations of wisdom— / clothed in holy vestments; / and now, O Venerable One, as you officiate at the heavenly altar, / standing before God and performing the incorporeal service, / remember, most compassionate and all-blessed Basil, / those who celebrate your holy and venerable commemoration, / praying to Christ, / who bestows great mercy upon the world.
Entirely sanctified by God / and wholly dedicated to Him from childhood, / illuminated by the radiance of the most excellent wisdom, / you clarified the knowledge of all that exists, / explaining with brilliance and narrating wisely, / presenting the order of existence /—the foundation of the most divine knowledge. / Therefore, we proclaim you a theologian and divine teacher / and a radiant light of the Church, / as we sing of Christ, / who bestows great mercy upon the world.
Strengthened by the fear of God, / you comprehended the beginning of wisdom, Basil, / yet you surpassed that fear with wisdom / and a righteous life, Father; / and you were filled with love for God, / becoming His closest friend. / Therefore, instructed by divine commandments and judgments, / you studied human customs / and adorned the minds of the faithful, / enlightening their multitude with spiritual precepts. / Pray, then, to Christ / to grant great mercy to our souls.*
Glory, Tone 6: Grace flowed from your lips, venerable Father, / and you became a shepherd of Christ’s Church, / teaching the wise flock / to believe in the Consubstantial Trinity / in one Godhead.
And now, Tone 8: The Savior, descending to the human race, / deigned to be swaddled in swaddling clothes, / did not disdain bodily circumcision— / eight days old according to His Mother, without beginning according to His Father. / To Him, O faithful, let us cry out: / “You are our God; have mercy on us!”
The Great Doxology. After the Trisagion, the troparion to the saint. Glory, and “Now”: of the feast. The Ektenia and the Dismissal.
On the eighth day, Christ, our true God, who deigned to undergo circumcision in the flesh for our salvation, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, our holy Father Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, whose memory we now celebrate, the holy and righteous God-bearers Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
And, if the abbot so desires, the brethren are anointed with oil from the lamp before the icon of the saint, and we sing the stichera in the same tone. At the 1st Hour, the troparion of the feast. Glory: to the saint. And now: the “Of the Mother of God” of the hour. After the Trisagion, the kontakion of the feast. And the rest, and the final dismissal. During the hours, we read the kontakions of the feast and of the saint alternately.
Blessed Are: Ode 3 from the feast’s canon and Ode 6 from the saint’s canon.
Seated upon the fiery throne / in heaven with the Father, the Beginningless One, and Your Divine Spirit, / You deigned to be born on earth of the Virgin, / Your Mother who knew no man, O Jesus; / for You were truly human, and on the eighth day You were circumcised. / Glory to Your all-good will; / glory to Your providence; / glory to Your condescension, O sole Lover of mankind! (2)
Your voice has gone out across the whole earth, / for it has received your word: / through it you have set forth the truths of the faith in a manner worthy of God, / explained the nature of all that exists, / and adorned human customs— / O royal priest, venerable Father, / pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
You appeared as the unshakable foundation of the Church, / bestowing upon all people an inviolable heritage / and sealing it with your teachings, / Basil the Venerable, opener of the heavens.
The Lord undergoes the circumcision of all / and, as the Good One, cuts away human sins, / granting salvation to the world on this day; / and in heaven rejoices the hierarch of the Creator / and the light-bearing divine minister of Christ’s mysteries, Basil.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance. Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry out: My God, do not be silent, despising me.
My lips shall utter wisdom, / and the meditation of my heart—understanding.
Brothers, see to it that no one leads you astray with philosophy and empty deceit, based on human tradition and the elemental forces of the world, rather than on Christ; for in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and authority; in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, by the putting off of the body of the flesh, the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Col 2:8–12
Brethren, such a High Priest was fitting for us: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens—who does not need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people; for He did this once for all when He offered Himself as a sacrifice. For the Law appoints as high priests men who are subject to weakness, but the word with the oath that came after the Law has appointed the Son, who is perfect forever. The main point of what has been said is this: we have such a High Priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in heaven, as minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man.
Heb 7:26–8:2
Shepherd of Israel, listen, you who lead the flock of Joseph. Verse: The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue proclaims justice.
At that time the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as it had been told to them. And when eight days had passed, the time for the Child’s circumcision, He was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast, and after they had spent the prescribed days there, on their return journey the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother did not realize it. Thinking He was with the rest of the group, they traveled a day’s journey and began to look for Him among their relatives and acquaintances; and when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for Him. And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “My Child! Why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been searching for You in great distress.” And He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the meaning of what He was saying to them. Then He went down with them to Nazareth and was subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:20–21, 40–52
At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, and a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon—they had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; also, those tormented by unclean spirits—and they were healed. And the whole crowd was trying to touch Him, for power was coming out from Him and healing them all. And He, lifting His eyes to His disciples, said: “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are those who hunger now, for they will be filled. Blessed are those who weep now, for they will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and reject your name as an offense because of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.
Luke 6:17–23
And so on. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated.
All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace: / the host of angels and the human race. / You are the sanctified temple and the spiritual paradise, / the glory of virginity, from whom God became incarnate and became a Child— / our God, who existed before all ages. / For He has made Your womb a throne / and Your womb vaster than the heavens. / All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace, / glory to You!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Another: The righteous will be remembered forever; he will not fear slander. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1; 111:6b–7a
January 5
Let us sing of the wise Theona and Theopemptus: / for, obeying Christ’s teachings, / they openly abolished all ungodly service, / and reverently served the holy and venerable One, / fearlessly confessing the One Lord and God before the tyrants / and being crowned from on high.
Leaving behind earthly life, the enjoyment of luxury, / and fading glory as fleeting, / you, O all-praised ones, clung to Christ, / joyfully ablaze / with His perfect beauty, / and were offered to Him like fragrant roses, / and crowned with the crown of the imperishable Kingdom / crowned by divine power.
Having hated the world, / you have become higher than the world, / you have been united with the Church of the firstborn, / and with the Angels you sing an imperishable song, / standing before God face to face; / having rejected the ungodly delusion of idols, / you have overthrown the folly of tyrants through your martyrdom.
Truly desiring the glory of the fathers, / you set your sights on imperishable glory; / therefore, renouncing pleasures, / you subjected your body to every toil. / And now you receive your reward for those labors, / reigning with Christ.
Just as He yielded to Job’s request, / and, desiring to purify you like gold by fire, / He allowed your body to suffer at the hands of the wicked one; / therefore, having put the tempter to shame through your patience in affliction, / you are crowned with the victory wreath.
Longing for the perfect beauty of Christ, your Bridegroom, / and desiring to become His bride, / you adorned yourself with every kind of virtue / through your ascetic labors; / therefore you now reign with Him / in His bridal chamber.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: Prepare yourself, O River Jordan: / for behold, Christ God is coming to be baptized by John, / so that He may crush the invisible heads of the dragons / with His Divinity in your waters. / Rejoice, O Jordanian wilderness, / O mountains, exult with joy: / for Eternal Life is coming / to call Adam to Himself once more. / O John the Forerunner—Voice of the one who cries out, proclaim: / “Prepare the way of the Lord / and make His paths straight!”
Earth and all that is above the earth, / rejoice and be glad: / A stream of delight flows into the river, / drying up the outpouring of malice, / and pouring forth divine forgiveness.
Verse: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
Jesus, the true Giver of Light, / who has no need of baptism, / comes in the flesh to the waters of the Jordan, / desiring to enlighten those in darkness. / Let us meet Him with fervent faith.
Antiphon: The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
Taking upon Yourself the form of a servant, / You go forth, O Christ, to receive baptism from a servant, / delivering us in the waters of the Jordan / from the bondage of ancient sin, / and sanctifying and enlightening us.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: Let the wilderness of the Jordan rejoice / and blossom like a lily, / for the voice of one crying out was heard there: / “Prepare the way of the Lord!” / For He who set the mountains upright and measured out the valleys, / who fulfills all things as God, / receives baptism from a servant. / He who bestows rich gifts / has begun His own poverty. / Eve heard: “In pain you shall bring forth children.” / But now the Virgin has heard: “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / He who is rich in mercy!”
Once the Jordan River flowed backward / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and the path through the water became dry for him, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
Its acrostic: “And on this day I sing of the Great Sabbath.” We sing the irmoses twice, and the troparia in Tone 6. At the end of each song, both choirs sing the irmos together.
Irmos: Just as the waves of the sea / once covered / the tyrannical persecutor / in ancient times, / so now the waters of the Jordan clothe and conceal him, / He who now purifies all of me / through human purification, / for He has been glorified in splendor.
O Lord, my God! / I will sing to You a hymn of light / and a pre-feast song, / You who mysteriously renew me / through the divine Epiphany / and lift me up to divine radiance.
Beholding You, Savior—eternal on high / and newly revealed on earth— / both heavenly and earthly beings / were amazed and sang of Your descent, / which surpasses understanding.
In order to fill all things / with Your glory, / You humbled Yourself even to the likeness of a servant. / Now, like a servant, You bow Your head under the hand of a servant, / granting me renewal and purification.
Irmos: You, who established the whole earth upon the waters without any support, / when creation saw itself hidden by the waters in the flesh, / seized with great terror, cried out: / “There is no one holy but You, O Lord!”
You first revealed the images of Your Epiphany / to the prophets; / but now, through Your deeds, You have unveiled the hidden mysteries, / appearing to people on this day / and bestowing a new rebirth.
The Jordan spread its waters like a ridge, / trembling to receive the Creator, / who was being baptized in the flesh / and sanctifying all who cried out: / “There is no one holy but You, O Lord!”
Christ bestows baptism—a great aid to salvation—/ upon those who have perceived His divine radiance, / as they sing with joy: / “There is no one holy but You, O Lord, Lover of mankind!”
Irmos: Foreseeing Your coming at baptism, / Habakkuk cried out in amazement: / “You have led Your horses, O Savior, upon the sea, / stirring up the mighty waters!”
When You appeared in the flesh, / the earth was sanctified, / the waters were filled with blessings, / the heavens were illuminated, and the human race / was delivered from the bitter tyranny of the enemy.
At the command of God, the Forerunner / has now come from the wilderness to the Jordan, proclaiming: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” / and calling all to the glory of God.
He who once turned the sea into dry land, / and brought forth springs from the rock, / now prepares a crucible for sins / in the waters of the Jordan with the fire of the Spirit.
Irmos: When Your Epiphany came to us, O Christ, / born of compassion, / Isaiah, beholding the unfading light, / keeping watch through the night, exclaimed: / “O enlightened ones, come, be washed, / and through the divine water and the Spirit / purify your soul and body completely!”
You make those born on earth new, / Becoming the New Adam, O Creator, / through fire, Spirit, and water, / performing an extraordinary rebirth / and a wondrous re-creation, without destruction or crucible, / renewing them through the God-glorifying Baptism.
By the Spirit You renew souls, / and by water You sanctify the complex body, / recreating the living being—man: / for You offer, with wise care, / remedies suited to the dual nature, / as the Physician of bodies and souls.
Descending from the Virgin, / born of the Father before the ages, / You came to the one born of the barren woman, / asking for Baptism as a human being; / but from water, Savior, You mysteriously created through the Spirit / the Church, now fruitful, which had not previously given birth.
Irmos: The divine Baptist was seized by fear, yet not overcome by it: / for though he, like straw, was afraid to approach the fire, / yet upon hearing, “Let him come now,” he hastened, / obeying the command as a servant, / and heard from on high the divine voice, / bearing witness to the pre-eternal Son.
You were, obeying Caesar’s decrees, / registered in the census, yet not enslaved— / for You Yourself grant us relief from bondage; / You willingly submit and pay the didrachma, / yet You have now set us free—who were once sold under the law of sin— / and made us Your children.
You reign, but not in the worldly sense, / being King by nature: / for although You were born of the house of David according to the flesh / and received the throne of His kingdom, O Savior, / You possess eternal authority, reigning with the Father before the ages, / forever and ever together with the Spirit.
The prince of the world and of those who dwell in the waters / has been called king from time immemorial; / but by Your purification he is subdued / and destroyed, like a legion in a lake. / But the creation of Your hands, Savior, which had been enslaved by him, / You have granted freedom with Your mighty hand.
Irmos: An ineffable wonder! / He who delivered the pious youths from the flames of the furnace / bows His head and asks for baptism from His servant, / purifying those who cry out: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”
The waters of the Jordan are first parted by Your mercy, / foreshadowing Your Baptism, / by which the tunic of passions is torn asunder, / and the garment of incorruption itself is prepared for those who cry out: / [“Christ] God, blessed are You!”
O rich stream! / For having received the Creator within itself as it baptizes, / it is revealed as a source of life-giving water / for the salvation of us who sing: / “God, Redeemer, blessed are You!”
Symbolically representing the Divine Death / through threefold immersion in water, / we are buried with Christ in Baptism, / sharing in the resurrection on the third day / and crying out to Christ: “Blessed are You!”
The grace of the Father and the Son with the Spirit is one, / perfecting those who, with faith, desire / the gift of Divine Baptism, / having received the right of adoption, so that they may cry out: / “God, blessed are You!”
Irmos: Be amazed with awe, O heaven, / and let the foundations of the earth be shaken; / for behold, He is clothed in water, / He who before set ablaze the righteous man’s sacrifice with water in a wondrous way; / bless Him, O His servants, / sing His praises, O priests, / and exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
Christ comes to grant salvation / through Baptism to all the faithful: / for through it He cleanses Adam, / raises up the fallen, / puts to shame the tyrant who cast us down, / opens the heavens, sends down the Divine Spirit, / and grants communion with the incorruptible.
The enemy’s deception has ceased: / for the voice of one crying out in the wilderness / proclaims: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” / —and commands that all His paths be made straight: / for the lowland—the humbled nature of mortals—is exalted, / while the mountains and hills of the enemies are brought low.
O wondrous gifts! / O divine grace / and ineffable patience! / For behold, the Creator and Lord, now in the Jordan, / having taken on my nature, the Sinless One, / cleanses me with water, / enlightens me with fire, / and grants me perfection through the Divine Spirit.
Irmos: Do not weep in vain, / suffocating in the snares of despair, / you who are guilty of evil deeds; / but with contrite hearts, let us approach / the One who purifies all, / as the One who is pure / and grants forgiveness through Baptism.
First, in Your wondrous / birth from the Virgin, / You, the Word of God, supernaturally revealed Yourself as marvelous. / Now, however, You exalt the great mystery / by miraculously making the baptismal font / of the many children partake of it through the Divine Spirit.
The earth was sanctified / by Your holy Nativity, O Word, / when the heavens with their stars / proclaimed Your glory. / Now, too, the nature of water has received a blessing / through Your baptism in the flesh, / and the human race has once again ascended / to its former nobility.
Let the whole earth rejoice, / let the heavens be glad, / let the world celebrate, let the rivers clap their hands, / let the springs and lakes, the abysses, and the seas / all rejoice together: / for Christ comes to cleanse and save Adam / through divine Baptism.
Once the Jordan River flowed backward / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and a dry path was made for him through the water, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters. (3)
Rejoice, River Jordan, / for the Creator of all things has come of His own will / to receive baptism from His servant in you, as the Merciful One. / Rejoice and exult, Adam and Eve, the first parents: / the Salvation of all has come—the Most Blessed God!
Glory, and now, in the same tone: Being a stream of sweetness, the Lord / goes forth to be baptized in the river’s waters, / desiring to quench me with waters of incorruption. / Beholding Him, John cries out: / “How can I stretch out my hand toward Your head /—You before Whom the whole world trembles?”
Clothing Adam’s nakedness with the garment of glory, / You, the Merciful One, desire to be clothed in flesh in the Jordan River. / O wondrous miracle! / How will the water receive You, Lord and Master, / You who cover the heavenly palaces with waters, as it is written? / We all sing of Your manifestation, Jesus, our Benefactor!
Glory, and now: The Great Sun goes forth to shine upon the Jordan, / having risen from the Virgin as from a cloud—Christ our God, / dispelling the darkness of sin and illuminating the ends of the world. / Let us pray reverently to receive His radiance, / asking that we may receive His great mercy.*
There are three canons: the Pre-Feast Canon, Tone 1 with an irmos in the 6th mode; the Martyrs’ Canon, Tone 7 in the 4th mode; and the Canon of the Venerable One, Tone 2 in the 4th mode.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: Delivered from bitter bondage, Israel / crossed the impassable sea as if on dry land; / seeing the enemy drowned, / it sings a song to God as its Benefactor, / who works wonders with His mighty arm, / for He has been glorified.
Christ has come to His Baptism, / Christ draws near to the Jordan, / Christ now buries our sins in the water, as the Good One; / let us sing to Him with joy, / for He has been glorified.
May the clouds, rejoicing, sprinkle eternal joy: / Christ Jesus comes forth to flood / the rivers of sin with the waters of the Jordan, / bestowing enlightenment upon all.
Behold, the Light appears, / behold, the Atonement is revealed, / behold, the Savior stands before us, / to illuminate those dwelling in darkness / with divine radiance. / Let us joyfully receive Him with pure thoughts.
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: Sing to the Lord, / who cast all Pharaoh’s might into the sea, / a song of victory, / for He is glorified.]
Come, faithful ones, let us / celebrate in unison the glorious memory of the Passion-bearers, / praising Christ in spiritual hymns.
Christ’s passion-bearers / and steadfast defenders of the faith, / having armed themselves firmly against wickedness, / have defeated their enemies.
The wicked persecutor / and enemy of the Christian faith, / who raged against the Passion-bearers, / is stripped of his power by their faith, O wicked one.
Theotokos: The flock You have gathered, O Mother of God, / save it from every misfortune, / by interceding with our Savior and God.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Come, people, / let us sing a song to Christ our God, / who parted the sea and led the people, / whom He brought out of Egyptian slavery, / for He has been glorified.]
I intend to crown your memory with songs, / relying on you, though I am ignorant and wholly impure; / but grant me the word of wisdom and purity / through your intercessions.
Having lifted your whole mind to the divine heights, / and having come to know the depths of blessings / and the multitude of delights, / you endured all that befell you.
Soaring in spirit toward God the Most High, / you lightened your body, drawn to the earthly, / through self-restraint and toil, / desiring full glory.
Theotokos: He who remained as He was, / and was incarnated from Your womb, / granted us—who were originally formed from dust— / what we once were, / delivering us from our sins, O Mother of God.
Canon of the Pre-Feast. Irmos: Let not mortals boast of their wisdom / nor of their wealth, / but of their faith in the Lord, / calling upon Christ God in the orthodox manner / and singing unceasingly: / “Establish me upon the rock of Your commandments, / O Lord!”
He who sat with the Father and the Spirit before the ages, / now in these last days, / having become incarnate of the Virgin, as He Himself knows, / Christ came to the Baptism, / bestowing immortality upon all through the divine font.
Desiring to bury our sins in the waters / of the Jordan / through His compassionate mercy, / Christ God comes forth / and recreates us, who were lost, / through Baptism.
Covering the most shameful nakedness of our forefather Adam, / You willingly bare Yourself / and cover Yourself with the waters of the Jordan, / You who cover Your heavenly palaces with water, Christ, / the One, the Most Merciful.
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: My heart is steadfast in the Lord, / my horn is exalted in my God, / my mouth is wide open against my enemies, / I rejoice in Your salvation.]
Let us praise the champions of piety and faith, / the divine passion-bearers— / Theopemptus and the glorious Theon.
Having appeared as a rule, a model, and an example, / O great martyrs of Christ, / you have become guides for the saints on the path of suffering.
Eager to imitate their virtuous lives, / the martyrs, standing before the court as a crowd, / exclaimed: “We are all Christians!”
Theotokion: You were born of the Virgin in an inexpressible manner, / You appeared, as You willed, O Lover of Mankind, / and You renewed the world, O Lord!
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Strengthen us in You, O Lord:]
You spared not the flesh in the least, / though it was unceasingly afflicted by many wounds, / for the sake of your ascetic labors, / by which you repelled the tempter.
You chose the narrow path, / which brings imperishable and divine life, / spurning the broad one, / for which there is truly nothing worse / for one who has understanding.
You banished the flush from your cheeks / through exhaustion and the labors of self-restraint / and quenched the fire of your eyes / with springs of tears.
Theotokos: The Word, who became incarnate from you, O All-Pure One, / desiring to wash our defiled flesh, / as a symbol of purification, though He Himself is without defilement, / receives baptism in the waters.
Katavasia: Strengthen us in You, O Lord, / You who put sin to death through the Tree, / and instill Your fear / in the hearts of us who sing Your praises.
Delivering all from a multitude of sins, / Christ, the Merciful One, by Your boundless mercy, / You go to be baptized in the waters of the Jordan as a Man, / so that You may clothe me, wretchedly naked, / in the garment of ancient glory.*
Theopemptus, known as an earthly hierarch, / proved himself a heavenly hierarch through his sufferings. / Disobeying the tyrants’ command, / he endured torture, crying out joyfully: / “I honor the One who, in the waters of the Jordan, / buried the sins of mortals!”
You, having surpassed the ascetics in the endurance of suffering, / enjoy the most excellent dwelling in heaven / and are filled with the finest radiance: / for having walked the manly and arduous path, / you have overcome the present and become like the Angels, / and now you share in their glory.
Glory, and now, on the eve of the feast, Tone 1: The Great Rain comes to the river’s streams, / desiring to be baptized in the flesh. / To Him the divine Forerunner cried out in amazement: / “How shall I baptize You, who are utterly without blemish? / How shall I stretch out my right hand upon the head / of Him before whom all tremble?”
Canon of the Pre-Feast. Irmos: In ancient times, Habakkuk / heard the wondrous news about You, Christ, / and cried out in awe: / “God will come from the south, / and the Holy One—from the mountain overshadowing the thicket, / to save the anointed ones. / Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Draw from the Water of Life: / behold, now the River of Peace has truly appeared, / to dry up the murky waters of unbelief / and to pour forth enlightenment upon those who sing to Him: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Rejoice, O desert, which once thirsted— / all human nature: / now the Stream of Delight has appeared, / quenching the heat of sin with the waters of the Jordan. / To Him we sing with faith: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
The voice of the one who cries out resounded prophetically, / speaking to empty thoughts: / “Prepare straight paths for Christ who is coming, / so that through Baptism He may renew us, who have grown decrepit, / setting aside the ancient sentence.”
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: I heard Your message and was afraid, / I understood Your deeds / and was terrified, O Lord!]
Christ’s great martyrs / have watered the entire universe / with divinely inspired words / and have abolished delusion.
The passion-bearers have truly found / a wealth that cannot be plundered, / while they have despised / the wealth and splendor of glory / found on earth.
Armed with Christ’s weapons, the passion-bearers / overthrew / all the tyrant’s cruelty.
Theotokos: Immaculate, blessed Mother, / pure Virgin! Save those who sing Your praises / from every calamity.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: You came from the Virgin—not as a messenger, / nor as an Angel, but as the Lord Himself in the flesh, / and You saved me, a mere human, entirely. / Therefore I cry out to You: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”]
You, marked by physical beauty, / became a partaker of that which is invisible to the eye. / Therefore, having hidden yourself, / you were united with divine perfection.
Like Job, you endured bodily suffering, / did not utter a word of farewell, / but, submitting to time and nature, / departed to the divine dwelling.
You left behind your relatives and parents, / and your possessions, seeking Christ alone— / the imperishable and inexhaustible wealth; / with Him you became a partaker of the highest glory.
Theotokos: He who was born of you / delivered Adam from corruption: / for your conception took place without corruption, / free from the seed that begets mortals, / and was higher than that of man. / Therefore, deliver me from corruption and evil, / O Virgin.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: Kindle Your unwaning light, O Christ, / in the hearts of those who sing of You with faith, / granting us the peace that surpasses all understanding. / Therefore, striving from the night of ignorance toward the day / in Your light, / we glorify You, Lover of Mankind.
As King of the World, You, Christ, / have destroyed the dividing wall of hostility, / appearing on earth in the likeness of flesh. / Therefore, upon seeing Your coming, John / was struck with awe, / receiving the command to lay his hand upon You.
Hurrying to crush the heads of the dragons, / Christ now comes to the waters / and calls out to the trembling Baptist: / “Stretch out your hand and touch My head, / and overcome your fear, / fulfilling the command.”
The prophet once revealed / the grace of Baptism in the Divine Spirit, / striking the waters of the Jordan with mercy, / which parted, opening for us / the path to Divine rebirth /—Christ, who appeared within them.
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: Striving from dawn, O Word, / for Your glory and praise, / we ceaselessly extol the image of Your Cross, / which You have given us as a weapon of aid.]
Wise passion-bearers, warriors of the faith, / having valiantly overcome the torments of lawless enemies, / you have received your crowns together.
Neither flattery, nor deceit, nor earthly glory / could quell the zeal of your faith, O martyrs; / therefore you rejoice.
Standing before the throne of the Lord’s glory, / intercede ceaselessly with the Angels / for the gift of mercy and forgiveness of sins / for those who sing of you with faith.
Theotokos: All-Holy Virgin, Full of Grace, / who in due time gave birth to the Word beyond all words! / Entreat Him to save our souls.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Giver of Light and Creator of the ages, O Lord, / guide us in the light of Your commandments, / for we know no other god but You.]
You have become a temple, O wise one, / for the Word who dwells in pure spirits, / for through your ascetic struggles you have illuminated / the beauty of your soul, O all-glorious one.
You put to death the flesh, inflamed by its natural desires, / through many labors, / ever more illuminating with the light of virtues / the image of your soul, which shines brightly.
Having burned away the substance of the body / through the love of your soul for Christ, / you now, together with the incorporeal Angels, / rejoice in a truly incorporeal manner, / beholding God.
Theotokos: You have now crushed the heads / of the dragons nesting in the streams, / Head of the pious, All-Pure One, / —He who was truly born without seed from Your womb!
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: I am wholly engulfed by boundless passions, / and dragged into the depths by the whale of evil: / but lift me up from destruction, O God, as You did Jonah of old, / and grant me dispassion through faith, / so that with a voice of praise and a spirit of salvation / I may offer a sacrifice to You.
Showing the compassion of His heart, Christ / comes to a servant in the form of a servant, / the Unchanging One, seeking Baptism, / to deliver humanity from bondage; / yet the one struck by His coming fears / and is confounded with dread.
How will the river’s currents receive You, / O Unbearable Fire, who has now come? / How will the heavenly angels / behold Your manifestation? / How will John stretch out his hand / toward You, the Eternal Word of God, / who created him from the earth?
The sea, parting in two, / revealed to the new people the divine passage, / which He accomplished in the river, having come in the flesh, / wondrously bringing forth water from the rock. / Let us glorify Him as God / who has recreated us, the broken ones.
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: Jonah cried out from the belly of hell: / “Bring my life back from destruction!” / And we cry out to You: / “Almighty Savior, have mercy on us!”]
You have put an end to the delusion of idols, O martyrs, / by contending in the arena, / and you have eradicated all wickedness from the earth / through your heroic deeds.
The enemy and persecutor of the faith / sent forth his servants with swords, / to slaughter you cruelly, like lambs, / O glorious martyrs.
When you, the host of saints, saw / the tyrants armed with swords, / you cried out with fearless courage: / “We are Christ’s warriors, O tormentors!”
Theotokos: Do not cease to intercede, O Mother of God, for the deliverance from misfortune / of those who sing your praises, O Pure Ever-Virgin, / for the One born of you, our God, in a manner beyond explanation.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Carried away in the abyss of sin:]
Illuminated by the radiance of the Spirit, / you rejected every pleasure of carnal desires, / for you were captivated by love for all that is beautiful.
On this day, your radiant memory, / the adornment of striving nuns, / shone brilliantly, illuminating / the darkness of souls.
You preserved the sanctuary of purity, / loving the imperishable bridal chamber: / for you were inflamed with longing for Christ, / your wondrous Bridegroom.
Theotokos: That we might be filled with glory, / the Lord of glory came to inglorious humanity: / for, as a mortal, by being baptized, / Your Son glorified us, human beings.
Katavasia: Carried away in the abyss of sin, / I call upon the unfathomable depths of Your mercy: / O God, deliver me from destruction!
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first-created Adam!”
Ikos: “I do not ask you, Baptist, to overstep your bounds. / I do not say to you: Tell Me that / which you speak to the lawless and teach to sinners. / Only baptize Me in silence and await what comes from Baptism; / for you will receive for this an honor / that even the Angels did not receive, / for I will make you the greatest of all the prophets. / None of them saw Me clearly, / but in images, shadows, and dreams; / but you have clearly beheld Me standing before you: / for I have come to save the first Adam!”
Canon of the Pre-Feast. Irmos: Having once passed through the furnace’s unbearable flame / as if through a palace, for the sake of piety, / the holy youths stood firm, / and, singing in unison, they sang the hymn: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Christ—the Savior—has appeared, bestowing enlightenment. / Let heaven rejoice, and let the clouds truly shower / those who proclaim the truth, exclaiming: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
The fleece that Gideon saw long ago, / which poured out a full basin of water, / clearly foreshadowed, O Christ, Your Baptism, / which You, having been baptized, bestow upon those who sing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
By making the waters—which had brought barrenness—healthy with salt, / Elisha foreshadowed the fruitfulness of the holy font, / which will be mysteriously fulfilled in those who sing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: You sprinkled water on the burning furnace, Savior, / and saved the youths who sang and cried out: / “Blessed are You forever, O Lord, / God of our fathers!”]
You met the end of your martyrdom together, / slain by the sword along with your wives and children, / and crying out to Christ: “Blessed are You, O Lord, / God of our fathers!”
The saints rejoiced, / seeing themselves dying by the sword, / and exclaimed with faith: / “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers!”
The arrogance of the wicked vanished from the earth, / and their gods fell to the ground and were crushed / by the confession and divine steadfastness of the martyrs.
Theotokos: Save Your flock, O All-Pure and Immaculate One, / from every calamity, / as the sole Intercessor of our race, / the Blessed and All-Praised Mother of God.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: The godless decree of the lawless ruler / kindled a blazing flame; / but Christ poured out the dew of the Spirit upon the pious youths, / blessed and most glorified.]
Plotting evil, the adversary intended / to weaken the steadfastness of your soul through afflictions, / but he encountered Job, ready for martyrdom and wise, / and in his endeavor he suffered defeat, / crushed by your patience, O wise one.
Your soul, having weathered life’s storms, / has now docked at a peaceful harbor, / abounding in the most beautiful and divine blessings; / there, for your endurance of many sufferings, / rest has been prepared for you, O wise one.
You wisely instructed, / visiting those living in the communal life, / never to change your place: / for suffering brings a great reward; / and in words and deeds, you truly did not delay / in bringing benefit to the nuns.
Theotokos: The nature of water washes me clean of sin / through the action of the One born of you, which surpasses understanding, O Bride of God: / for the purification of God, the Creator of light, washes clean / those defiled by many sins, O Virgin.
Canon of the Forefeast. Irmos: An image of a supernatural miracle / was shown in ancient times by the furnace with fire and dew: / for the fire did not burn the young children, / revealing Christ from the Virgin / without seed the divine birth. / Therefore, let us proclaim in song: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for all ages!”
Let us raise our praise to the Lord with a loud voice: / He has come, He has appeared, He enters the waters, / and He is stripped bare, while He clothes Heaven with clouds, / and He receives baptism, purifying us who sing: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Let us journey in spirit to the Jordan, / to behold a great vision there: / for Jesus—the Light—is coming / and bows under the hand of the servant, / who sang with trembling: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
The coal that Isaiah once beheld, / having been kindled in the waters of the Jordan, / will consume all the substance of sin / and grant renewal to the contrite. / Therefore, let us sing in hymns: / “May all the Lord’s creation bless Him / and exalt Him for ever and ever!”
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: The One without beginning—the King of Glory, / whom the Heavenly Powers bless / and before whom the hosts of angels tremble, / sing of Him, priests, / and you, people, exalt Him forever.]
Confessing the One Merciful One—the King of Glory— / the wise passion-bearers received / their rewards for victory, crying out boldly: / “People, exalt Christ forever!”
Christ’s passion-bearers stood firm against the tyrants, / striving valiantly, / overcoming the allure of idols and crying out boldly: / “People, exalt Christ forever!”
Like diamonds, these valiant warriors, / having overcome the tyrants’ threats and torments, cried out in joy: / “Sing, priests, / people, exalt Christ forever!”
Theotokos: “The One Who Is All-Merciful—the Eternal Word, / born of the Virgin in the last days and who saved the human race, / sing His praises, priests, / people, exalt Him for all ages!”
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Into the fiery furnace:]
You, O Blessed One, truly longed to reach / the land of the meek, / where the hosts of angels, the holy ones, the ascetics, and the virgins / dwell eternally, singing the praises of Christ forever.
Surpassing all in natural beauty, / you cared for your soul, / so that you might wisely overcome all the passions of the soul; / therefore, having extinguished bodily beauty, / you set your soul ablaze with asceticism.
With a mind vigilant in its striving toward God, / having gained the soul through zeal, / you completely subdued the wiles of the deceiver, the inventor of evil, / O glorious one; / and now, after your passing, you live forever.
Theotokos: Desiring to renew mortals, / Your Son, O Pure One, hastens to the Jordan as a man, / out of His greatest love, / to receive baptism, being free from defilement, / and to drown all the filth of human evil.
Katavasia: Sing to God, O all creation, as Lord, / who descended into the fiery furnace / with the Jewish youths / and turned the flames into dew, / and exalt Him for all ages.
Canon of the Pre-Feast. Irmos: The mystery of the Virgin is ineffable: / for She appeared as heaven / and as the throne of the cherubim, / and as the luminous palace / of Christ—God the Almighty. / We reverently / honor Her as the Mother of God.
I behold a wondrous and marvelous mystery: / Jesus voluntarily approaches / the River Jordan, calling out to John: / “Lend Me your right hand, my friend, / as I perform this awesome deed / for the salvation of My people!”
May the deserts of the Jordan blossom; / you who dwell in darkness, / a great Light has appeared to you. / Seeing this, rejoice: / Christ, coming from Galilee, / receives Baptism in the flesh as a servant.
Rejoice, O Jordan, and exult now; / John, triumph; let the whole universe rejoice: / behold, Christ has appeared, and He strips Himself, and is baptized, / clothing humanity in the garment of incorruption.
Canon to the Martyrs. [Irmos: Supernaturally—Mother / and by nature—Virgin, / the one and only, blessed among women, / with hymns, O faithful, we magnify the Mother of God.]
Having refuted all idol-worshippers through faith, / Christ’s passion-bearers / completed their divine course in piety / and established the faith.
Having renounced all earthly things through faith, / the Passion-bearers of Christ, / who labored zealously together, / received the gift of healing from God.
The Passion-Bearers, courageously armed with faith, / with the Cross of the Lord defeated the enemy’s forces / and received their crowns.
Theotokos: You who conceived the incomprehensible Word in your womb / and bore Him to us without seed! / Pray earnestly for the salvation of our souls.
Canon of the Venerable One. [Irmos: Son of the Beginnerless Father:]
Shining with the beauties of virginity, O glorious one, / you adorned yourself with the diadems of an ascetic life; / therefore your wondrous Bridegroom crowns you with a double crown, / to Whom you have given yourself in love.
The hope for the future did not deceive / you, all-holy Syncletica, / which you held in your heart: / for now you enjoy the rewards from the Savior / for your labors, for having fulfilled / every form of asceticism.
You have clothed yourself, O venerable one, / in Christ as your strength and foundation, / and you have humbled to the ground the arrogance / of him who spoke falsehood from on high. / Therefore, the Giver of Victory—Jesus— / has adorned you with the crown of victory.
Theotokos: The fall of our forefather came to rest upon You, / having no strength to go further: / for through the Baptism of Your Son / all evil is now drowned. / Therefore we honor You as the Cause of Purification.
Katavasia: The Son of the Beginnerless Father, God and Lord, / having been incarnated of the Virgin, appeared to us / to enlighten those in darkness and gather the scattered. / Therefore, we extol the Mother of God, praised by all.
When the Jordan saw You naked, / it cried out in awe to the One born of the barren one: / “Allow, O John, the Lord to be baptized, / He who purifies all creation with fire and the Spirit: / for He has come for this very purpose— / to sanctify both the earthly and the aquatic natures!”*
Glory, and now: You, who shone forth in the flesh from the Virgin in Bethlehem, / now hasten to the Jordan to wash away the defilement of those born on earth, / bringing those dwelling in darkness to the light / through divine baptism.
Why are you perplexed, Baptist, by the decree / that I am fulfilling for the salvation of all? / Leave the old behind now, and think of the new. / Believe in God who has come down / and, drawing near, serve Me: / for I, God, have come out of mercy / to cleanse Adam from the fall!
Taking our sins upon Your shoulders, / You came, Jesus, to the waters of the Jordan, / while I was struck with fear at Your awe-inspiring coming. / How then do You command me to baptize You? / You Yourself have come to cleanse me— / how can You, the Cleanser of all, / seek baptism from me?
By nature I am the incomprehensible Word, / but having taken on the form of a servant, I came to the Jordan; / do not doubt Me in any way! / Come, do not be afraid; draw near to Me, / lay your right hand upon My head and proclaim: / “Blessed is He who has appeared, our God; glory to You!”
O, Your poverty, which surpasses the mind / and is immeasurable, Word of God! / I have come to know You, who for my sake, a fallen one, / out of mercy took on the form of Adam / and those descended from Adam, renewing them; / and, obeying Your command, I cry out to You with faith: / “Blessed are You who have appeared, our God; glory to You!”
Glory, the same voice: Serving the Lord with awe, John / rejoices in his soul and cries out with joy: / “Rejoice with me, all descendants of the forefather, / for our hope has come, / Christ has come to the Jordan, / to cleanse all from Adam’s sin, as the Merciful One!”
And now, the same voice: Let us sing, O people, to Him born of the Virgin / and baptized in the River Jordan, / and let us cry out to Him: / “King of all creation, / grant that we, without falling into condemnation, / may reach, with a clear conscience and faith, / Your holy Resurrection from the dead on the third day!”
Behold the King, / behold, the hope of Israel has come. / Rejoice, O people, / for the Light has appeared!
Verse: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
Now those who dwell on earth in the flesh / behold the Divine Light: / He has appeared to those dwelling in darkness, / and grace has dawned for all!
Verse: The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
The lamp—to the Light, / the dawn—to the Sun, / the forerunner—to the Word, / the friend—to the Bridegroom, / O prophet, serve.
Glory, and now, Tone 8, Anatolius: John the Baptist, / who knew Me, the Lamb, while still in the womb, / serve Me at the river, / perform your service to Me with the Angels: / stretch out your hand and touch My most pure head, / and when you see the trembling mountains / and the Jordan flowing backward, cry out with them: / “You who were incarnated of the Virgin for our salvation, / O Lord, glory to You!”
After the “Blessed Are”: the Trisagion; after the “Our Father”: the Troparion. Then the litany and the dismissal.
January 6
Priest: Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who dwells everywhere and fills all things, Treasure of all good things and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every defilement, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Lord, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for the sake of Your name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
And after the acclamation, the priest censes the Gospel on the analogion, the icons, the entire church, and the clergy in order.
Hear my words, O Lord; understand my cry; give ear to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God, for to You I pray, O Lord. Hear my voice early in the morning; early in the morning I will stand before You and watch. For You are a God who does not desire iniquity; the one who does evil shall not dwell with You, nor shall the wicked abide before Your eyes; You hate all who practice iniquity. You will destroy all who speak lies; the Lord detests the bloodthirsty and the treacherous. But I, by the abundance of Your mercy, will enter Your house; I will bow down before Your holy temple in reverence for You. O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness for the sake of my enemies; direct my path before You. For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are vain; their throats are open graves; with their tongues they have deceived. Condemn them, O God, that they may be turned back from their schemes; drive them out because of their many iniquities, for they have grieved You, O Lord. And may all who hope in You rejoice, ; may they be glad forever; and You will dwell among them, and those who love Your name will boast in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You have shielded us with Your favor as with a weapon.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
The Lord is my light and my Savior; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers drew near to devour my flesh—my persecutors and my enemies—they themselves grew weak and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His sanctuary on the day of my troubles; He kept me safe in His tabernacle; He set me high upon a rock. And now, behold, He has lifted up my head above my enemies; I have gone around His tabernacle and offered a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; I will sing and make music to the Lord! Hear, O Lord, my voice when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. My heart has said to You, “I will seek the Lord.” My soul has sought You; Your face, O Lord, I seek. Do not turn Your face away from me, and do not be angry with Your servant. Be my helper; do not cast me off or forsake me, O God, my Savior. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me in. Give me Your law, O Lord, in Your way, and lead me in the path of righteousness for the sake of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the souls of those who oppress me, for unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me—but falsehood has deceived itself. I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord! Be strong, and let your heart take courage; hope in the Lord!
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once the Jordan River turned back / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and a dry path was made for him through the water, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
And now, O Mother of God: How shall we call You, O Full of Grace? / Heaven? For through You the Sun of Righteousness has shone forth. / Paradise? For You have brought forth the Flower of incorruption. / Virgin? For You remained incorrupt. / The Pure Mother? For You held in Your holy embrace the Son, who is God of all. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Then we sing the stichera, composed by Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, repeating them twice.
On this day the nature of water is sanctified, / and the Jordan is divided, / and holds back the flow of its streams, / seeing the Lord being washed. (2)
Stich: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
As a man, You came to the river, Christ the King, / and hasten to receive baptism as a servant, O Good One, / from the hands of the Forerunner / for the cleansing of our sins, O Lover of Mankind.
Antiphon: The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
As a man, You came to the river, Christ the King:
Glory: At the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way of the Lord,” / You came, O Lord, having taken the form of a servant, / asking for baptism, though You knew no sin. / The waters saw You and were afraid; / the Forerunner came trembling and cried out, saying: / “How can the Light be illuminated by a lamp? / How can a servant lay his hand upon the Lord? / Sanctify me and the waters, Savior, who takes away the sin of the world!
And now: To the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
And the Lord thundered from heaven / and the Most High made His voice heard.
Verse: I will love You, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my fortress.
Ps 17:14, 2–3a
Thus says the Lord: Let the thirsty wilderness rejoice; let the desert be glad and blossom like a lily. It shall blossom and rejoice; all the wilderness around the Jordan shall be glad. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, and the honor of Carmel. My people shall see the glory of the Lord and the majesty of God. Strengthen the feeble hands and steady the tottering knees; speak to those who are fearful and say: “Be strong and do not fear; behold, our God will bring justice [and will vindicate us]; He Himself will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the speech of the tongue-tied will be clear; for waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and a stream in the parched land; and the parched wilderness will become a marsh, and in the thirsty land there will be a spring of water. There will be joy for the birds, [reeds,]* and marshes. And there will be a clear path there, and it will be called the Holy Way; (and) the unclean will not pass through it, nor will there be a path for the unclean; but those who are scattered will walk on it and will not go astray. And there will be no lion there, nor will any of the fierce beasts set foot on it; they will not be found there, but the redeemed and those gathered by the Lord will walk there. And they will return and come to Zion with joy and gladness; and everlasting joy will be upon their heads: [for upon their heads are] praise and rejoicing; and joy will encompass them: anguish, sorrow, and groaning have fled!
* In the Greek and Slavonic Mineya: [the dwelling places of the sirens, and the reeds].
Isaiah 35:1–10
In those days, as John was nearing the end of his ministry, he said, “Who do you think I am? I am not the One; but behold, the One is coming after me, the One whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God: the word of this salvation has been sent to you. For those living in Jerusalem and their rulers, not recognizing Him, fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning Him. And finding no fault in Him worthy of death, they urged Pilate to put Him to death. When they had fulfilled all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He appeared for many days to those who had come with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now His witnesses to the people. And we proclaim to you that the promise made to the fathers, God has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus.
Chapter 33: Acts 13:25–32
At that time, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Judean wilderness and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” For he is the one of whom it is written through the prophet Isaiah, who says: “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; his food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and the entire region around the Jordan went out to him. And they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who comes after me is mightier than I—the One whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Matthew 3:1–11
Guide my steps according to Your word, and let no iniquity take hold of me. Deliver me from the slander of men, and I will keep Your commandments. Let the light of Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. Psalm 118:133–135
May my mouth be filled with praise to You, O Lord, so that I may sing of Your glory all day long—Your splendor. Psalm 70:8
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first-created Adam!”
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth, long-suffering, most merciful, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
Priest: Christ, the true Light, who enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world! Imprint upon us the light of Your face, that we may behold in it the unapproachable light, and direct our steps toward the fulfillment of Your commandments, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
O sons of God, bring to the Lord young rams. Bring to the Lord glory and honor; bring to the Lord the glory of His name; worship the Lord in His holy court. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory has thundered; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic; the voice of the Lord shatters the cedars—the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon and grinds them to dust; Lebanon is like a calf, and the Beloved is like a young unicorn. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord strengthens the deer; He strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone proclaims His glory. The Lord will fill the flood, and the Lord will reign as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God. “When shall I come and appear before God?” My tears have been my bread day and night, while people say to me day after day, “Where is your God?” I remembered this and poured out my soul within me, for I will walk through the place of the wonderful sanctuary, to the house of God, amid the sounds of joy and praise, the clamor of the feast. Why are you downcast, O my soul, and why do you trouble me? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him; He is the salvation of my face and my God! My soul is stirred within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan and Hermon, from Mount Mizar. The deep calls to the deep amid the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and Your billows have swept over me. By day the Lord shows His mercy, and by night I have His song—a prayer to the God of my life. I will say to God: “You are my Defender; why have You forgotten me? And why do I walk about in distress when the enemy oppresses me?” When my bones were crushed, my enemies reviled me; they said to me day after day, “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul, and why do you disturb me? Trust in God, for I will yet praise Him; He is the salvation of my face and my God!
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions; wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will place young bulls on Your altar.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once the Jordan River flowed backward / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and a dry path was formed for him through the water, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
And now, to the Mother of God: O Mother of God, You are the True Vine, / who has brought forth for us the Fruit of Life; / we beseech You: intercede, O Lady, / with the Apostles and all the saints / for the mercy of our souls.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
The right hand of the Forerunner and Baptist, the prophet, / and the one honored above all the prophets, / now trembled / when he saw You, the Lamb of God, / who cleanses the world of its sins; / and, overcome with agitation, he cried out: / “I dare not touch Your crown, O Word; / Sanctify and enlighten me Yourself, O Merciful One, / for You are life, and light, and peace to the world!” (2)
Tone 4. Verse: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
The Trinity, our God, / has revealed Himself to us on this day as indivisible: / for the Father welcomed His own Son with clear testimony, / the Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove, / the Son bowed His most pure head before the Forerunner / and, having been baptized, delivered humanity from bondage, / as the Lover of Mankind.
Verse: The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
The Trinity, our God:
Glory, Tone 5: Going in the flesh to the Jordan, O Lord, / You desired to be baptized in the likeness of man, O Giver of Life, / so that, through Your mercy, You might deliver us who have gone astray / from every snare and trap of the serpent, and enlighten us. / Then You received testimony from the Father, / and the Divine Spirit appeared to You in the form of a dove; / but dwell in our souls, Lover of mankind!
And now: As You went in the flesh to the Jordan, O Lord:
The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid.
Verse: With my voice I cried out to the Lord, with my voice to God—and He heard me.
Ps 76:17a, 2
Thus says the Lord: Wash yourselves and be clean; remove your wickedness from your souls before My eyes. Refrain from your wickedness; learn to do good: investigate disputes, defend the oppressed, uphold the rights of the orphan, and vindicate the widow. Then come, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Even if your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow; even if they are like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you are unwilling and disobedient, the sword will devour you—for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
Isaiah 1:16–20
In those days, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having traveled through the hill country, came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So he asked them, “Then what baptism were you baptized with?” They replied, “With John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus Christ.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
Beginning 42: Acts 19:1–8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets: “Behold, I send My angel before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” John was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the region of Judea and the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were all being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “One mightier than I is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:1–8
Blessed be the Lord God; blessed be the Lord day after day; may God, our Savior, grant us success. Our God is a God of salvation. Ps 67:20, 21
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first Adam!”
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth, long-suffering, most merciful, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O God, Almighty Father, Lord, Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit! One Godhead, one Power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and save me, Your unworthy servant, in ways known to You, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
Why, O God, have You utterly rejected us? Why has Your anger flared up against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your people, whom You acquired from the beginning; redeem the rod of Your inheritance—this Mount Zion, where You have taken up residence. Lift up Your hands against their arrogance at last! How much evil has the enemy done in Your sanctuary! Those who hate You have boasted in the midst of Your festival; they have set up their own symbols and rejected all others—just as they did when they left the temple, up above. Like in a forest thicket, they hacked down its doors with axes; with an axe and a crowbar, they destroyed it. They have burned Your sanctuary with fire; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your name on the earth. Their kin have said together in their hearts, “Come, let us put an end to all the feasts of God on the earth.” We see none of our signs; there is no prophet anymore, and He will no longer know us. How long, O God, will the enemy revile You? Will the adversary continue to provoke Your name to the very end? Why do You withdraw Your hand and Your right hand from the midst of Your sanctuary to the very end? Yet God, our King from before the ages, has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. You have established the sea by Your power; You have crushed the heads of the serpents in the water; You struck down the head of the dragon; You gave it as food to the Ethiopian peoples. You opened up springs and streams; You dried up the mighty rivers. Yours is the day and the night; You established the dawn and the sun; You created all the ends of the earth; summer and spring—You have made them. Remember this: the enemy has reviled the Lord, and a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. Do not deliver the soul that confesses You to the beasts; do not forget Your poor ones forever. Look upon Your covenant, for the dark places of the earth are filled with houses of iniquity. May the humiliated not return in disgrace; may the needy and the poor praise Your name. Arise, O God, and settle Your dispute; remember how the foolish revile You all day long. Do not forget the voice of those who plead with You; the arrogance of those who hate You constantly rises up against You.
With my voice I cried out to the Lord; with my voice to God—and He heard me. On the day of my distress I sought God; at night I lifted up my hands to Him—and I was not disappointed. My soul refused to be comforted; I remembered God—and I rejoiced. I pondered—and my spirit grew faint. My eyes kept watch through the night; I was troubled and could not speak; I reflected on days of old and recalled the ages past, pondering them deeply. At night my heart pondered, and my spirit probed: “Will the Lord reject us forever, and will He no longer be gracious? Or will He cut off His mercy for all time, putting an end to His word from generation to generation? Or will God forget to have compassion, or will He withhold His compassion in His anger?” And I said, “Now I have come to understand: this change comes from the right hand of the Most High.” I recalled the works of the Lord; for I will remember Your wonders from the beginning, and ponder all Your works, and meditate on Your deeds. O God, Your way is holy. Who is a great God like our God? You are a God who performs wonders; You have displayed Your power among the nations; You have saved Your people with Your mighty arm—the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid; the depths were in turmoil, the roar of the waters was mighty. The clouds uttered a sound from afar, for Your arrows flew. The voice of Your thunder resounded throughout the heavens; Your lightning illuminated the universe; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path is in the sea, and Your ways are in the mighty waters, yet no one recognizes Your footprints. You led Your people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will hide you under His wings, and you will take refuge under His wings—His truth will surround you like a shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that strikes at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. For You, O Lord, are my hope! You have made the Most High your refuge. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your tent; for He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways—they will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the asp and the viper; you will trample the lion and the dragon. “For he has trusted in Me, and I will deliver him; I will protect him, for he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him; I will satisfy him with long life and show him My salvation.”
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once the Jordan River turned back / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and a dry path was made for him through the water, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
And now, O Mother of God: We have no boldness because of our many sins, / but implore Him who was born of You, O Virgin Mother of God! / For the Mother’s intercession holds great power before the gracious Lord. / Do not despise the supplications of sinners, All-Pure One, / for He who endured suffering for our sake is merciful and has the power to save.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
Thus says the Lord to John: / “Prophet, baptize Me quickly—I who created you, / and enlighten you with grace, / and purify all. / Touch My divine head and do not doubt. / Prophet, allow it now, / for I have come to fulfill all righteousness. / So do not doubt anything, / for I hasten to destroy the enemy hiding in the waters, / the prince of darkness, / delivering the world now from his snares, / granting eternal life as the Lover of Mankind!” (2)
Tone 6. Verse: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
On this day, the prophetic words of the psalm / hasten to be fulfilled. / For, as it says, the sea saw Him and fled, / and the Jordan turned back / from the presence of the Lord, from the presence of the God of Jacob, / who came to be baptized by His servant, / so that we, washed clean of the impurity of idolatry, / might be enlightened in our souls through Him.
Verse: The waters saw You, / O God; the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
On this day, the psalmic prophecy:
Glory, Tone 5: Why do you hold back your waters, O Jordan? / Why do you turn back your currents, / and not continue your usual flow? / “I cannot,” he says, “endure / the Fire that consumes me.” / I am struck with awe and tremble before such extreme mercy: / for I am not accustomed to washing the Pure One, / nor do I know how to wipe the Sinless One, / but only to cleanse defiled vessels. / Christ, who is baptized within me, teaches me / to burn away the thorns of sin. / John bears witness with me, he who is the voice of the Word, and cries out: / “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” / To Him we, the faithful, shall cry out: / “God, who appeared for our salvation, glory to You!”
And now: Why do you hold back your waters, O Jordan?
Your way is in the sea, / and Your paths are in the many waters.
Verse: The voice of Your thunder resounds throughout the heavens. Ps 76:20a, 19a
Thus says the Lord: “Draw water with joy from the springs of salvation!” And on that day you shall say: “Sing to the Lord and call upon His name; make known His glorious deeds among the nations; proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the name of the Lord, for He has done great things—proclaim this throughout the earth. Rejoice and be glad, you inhabitants of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel has been exalted in her midst!
Isaiah 12:3–6
Brothers, all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly be united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing that our old self was crucified with Him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, and we might no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is free from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died once for all to sin; but in that He lives, He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Reading 91: Romans 6:3–11
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My Beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” And immediately the Spirit led Him into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him. After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and saying, “The time has come; the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.”
Mark 1:9–15
May Your compassion, O Lord, soon meet us, for we are greatly impoverished. Help us, O God, our Savior; for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. Ps 78:8b, 9
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first-created Adam!”
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth, long-suffering, most merciful, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O God and Lord of the Powers, Creator of all creation, by the incomparable mercy of Your grace, You sent Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of our race, and through His holy Cross You tore up the record of our sins and, by the same Cross, triumphed over the principalities and powers of darkness! You Yourself, O philanthropic Lord, accept these prayers of thanksgiving and supplication from us sinners, and deliver us from every destructive and dark sin and from all visible and invisible enemies who seek to harm us. Nail our flesh to the fear of You, and do not let our hearts stray toward wicked words or thoughts; but pierce our souls with love for You, so that we, always gazing upon You and guided by the light that proceeds from You, may contemplate You, the inaccessible and eternal Light, may we offer unceasing praise and thanksgiving to You, the Father without beginning, together with Your Only-Begotten Son and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King, our God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.
The Lord has taken his seat on the throne; he is clothed in majesty. The Lord is clothed in strength and has girded himself, for he has established the world, and it shall not be moved. Your throne has been established from of old; You are from everlasting. The rivers have lifted up their voices, O Lord; the rivers have lifted up their voices; the rivers will lift up their waves with the roar of many waters. The waves of the sea are mighty; the Lord is mighty on high. Your testimonies are very sure; holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time.
When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign people, Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion. The sea saw it and fled; the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, and the hills like lambs among the flock. Why did you flee, O sea? Why did you turn back, O Jordan? O mountains, why did you leap like rams, and the hills like lambs among the flock? The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into pools of water and the cliff into springs of water. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, according to Your mercy and Your truth, so that the nations may never say, “Where is their God?” For our God is in heaven; He has done whatever He pleased on earth. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands: they have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, nostrils but cannot smell, hands but cannot feel, feet but cannot walk, nor can they make a sound with their throats. May those who make them be like them, and all who trust in them. The house of Israel has trusted in the Lord; He is their helper and defender. The house of Aaron has trusted in the Lord; He is their helper and defender. Those who fear the Lord have trusted in the Lord; He is their helper and defender. The Lord, remembering us, has blessed us; He has blessed the house of Israel, blessed the house of Aaron, blessed those who fear the Lord—both small and great. May the Lord increase your blessings, yours and your children’s: you are blessed by the Lord, who created heaven and earth. The heavens of the heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to the children of men. The dead do not praise You, O Lord, nor do all who go down to the grave, but we who are alive will bless the Lord, from now on and forever.
Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am righteous; save Your servant, O my God, who trusts in You. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to You all day long. Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You I have lifted up my soul. For You, O Lord, are good, and gentle, and abounding in mercy toward all who call upon You. Hear, O Lord, my prayer, and give ear to the voice of my supplication. On the day of my distress I called to You, and You heard me. There is none like You among the gods, O Lord, nor is there anyone comparable to You in Your works. All the nations You have created will come and worship before You, O Lord, and glorify Your name. For You are great and perform wonders; You are the one and only God. Guide me, O Lord, in Your way, and I will walk in Your truth. May my heart rejoice in the fear of Your name. I will confess to You, O Lord, my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever, for Your mercy toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from the deepest hell. O God, lawbreakers have risen up against me, and a band of the mighty has sought my soul, and they have not set You before them. But You, O Lord, my God, are generous and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and faithful; look upon me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your handmaid. Work a sign of good upon me, that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, for You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory:
Once the Jordan River flowed backward / by the grace of Elisha after Elijah’s ascension, / and the waters parted here and there, / and a dry path was made for him through the water, / as a true foreshadowing of baptism, / by which we cross the path of this fleeting life. / Christ appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
And now, O Mother of God: He who was born of the Virgin for our sake and endured the cross, / who by death overthrew death and revealed the resurrection as God, / do not despise, O Good One, those created by Your hand; / show Your love for mankind, O Merciful One, / accept the Mother of God who gave birth to You, interceding for us, / and save, O our Savior, those who have lost all hope.
Then we sing the stichera, repeating them twice.
It was a wondrous sight / to see the Creator of heaven and earth naked in the river, / receiving baptism from a servant / for our salvation, like a servant. / And the choirs of angels marveled / with awe and joy. / With them we worship You: / “Save us, O Lord!” (2)
Tone 2. Verse: Therefore I will remember You / from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. Ps 41:7b
When the Forerunner / saw the Lord of Glory coming toward him, he cried out: / “Behold, He who delivers the world from corruption has appeared. / Behold, He who delivers us from sorrow, / behold, He who grants forgiveness of sins on earth. / By His mercy He came from the Pure Virgin / (and instead of slaves, He creates sons of God), / and instead of darkness, He enlightens humanity / with the water of His divine baptism!” / From now on, let us all together glorify Him / with the Father and the Holy Spirit!
Verse: The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid. Ps 76:17a
When the Forerunner saw the Lord of Glory coming toward him:
Then the canonarch, standing in the center of the church, proclaims the following stichera in a loud voice, tone 5:
Lift up to Him for our sake, O Baptist, / the hand that touched the Most Pure brow of the Lord, / with which you pointed to Him, / as one who possesses great boldness, / for you even received testimony from Him, / as the greatest of all the prophets. / And your eyes, which beheld the All-Holy Spirit, / as if in the form of a descending dove, / turn once more toward Him, O Baptist, / having made Him merciful toward us. / And come, stand with us, / confirming our hymn as with a seal / and presiding over the celebration.
And we make three prostrations. Then the priest or deacon proclaims the “Many Years,” the same as on the eve of the Nativity of Christ (see p.131 ) [During the Hours, the festive “Many Years” is proclaimed only in monasteries. In cathedral and parish churches, however, it is proclaimed at the conclusion of the Great Blessing of Water.]
Then both choirs sing the same stichera:
Glory, and now, Tone 5: Your hand, which touched the most pure brow of the Lord:
At the Ninth Hour, the deacon censes the entire church.
The Lord is my light / and my Savior: whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 26:1
Thus says the Lord: “At the acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you; and I established you [and appointed you] as a covenant to the tribes, to restore the earth and to inherit the desolate lands, to say to those in bonds, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be opened.’ They shall graze along all the paths, and their pasture shall be along all the trails; they shall neither hunger nor thirst, nor shall the heat or the sun strike them; but the One who has mercy on them will comfort them and lead them beside the springs of water. And I will turn every mountain into a highway, and every path into a pasture for them. Behold, they will come from afar—some from the north and the sea, and others from the land of the Persians. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the mountains sing for joy, and the hills proclaim righteousness; for God has shown mercy to His people and comforted the humble of His people. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me!” Can a woman forget her child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even if she were to forget them, I will not forget you,” says the Lord [Almighty]!
Isaiah 49:8–15
My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, teaching us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly in this present age, as we await the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared—not because of any righteous deeds we might have done, but according to His mercy—He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs in the hope of eternal life.
Reading 302A: Titus 2:11–14; 3:4–7
At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” But Jesus replied to him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed Him to be baptized. And as soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Matthew 3:13–17
Do not forsake us to the end, for Your name’s sake; do not break Your covenant. Do not take Your mercy away from us, for the sake of Abraham, whom You love, for the sake of Isaac, Your servant, and for the sake of Israel, Your holy one. Dan 3:34,35
The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:
Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first-created Adam!”
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Christ God, who at all times and in every hour receives worship and glory in heaven and on earth, long-suffering, most merciful, loving the righteous and showing mercy to sinners, calling all to salvation with the promise of future blessings! You Yourself, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour and direct our lives toward Your commandments: sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our intentions, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, misfortune, and torment. Protect us with Your holy angels, so that, guarded and guided by their host, we may attain unity in faith and an understanding of Your ineffable glory, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:
With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparably greater glory of the Seraphim, / we magnify You, the Virgin who gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.
Priest: O God, have mercy on us and bless us; let the light of Your face shine upon us, and be gracious to us.
Reader: Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, You are long-suffering toward our sins and have brought us to this very hour, when, hanging on the life-giving Tree, You showed the wise thief the way to the gates of paradise and, through Your death, destroyed death. Be merciful to us, Your sinful and unworthy servants, for we have sinned and committed iniquity, and we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look toward the heights of heaven, for we have forsaken the path of Your righteousness and have begun to walk according to the desires of our hearts. But we implore Your incomparable goodness: have mercy on us, O Lord, according to the abundance of Your mercy, and save us for the sake of Your holy name, for our days have grown short in this vanity. Deliver us from the hand of the enemy, forgive us our sins, and put to death our carnal thoughts, so that, having cast off the old man, we may put on the new and live for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And so, following Your commandments, may we reach the place of eternal rest, where all who rejoice dwell. For You are truly the joy and gladness of those who love You, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Father without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
And we perform the Iconic Rites in the same manner as on the eve of the Nativity of Christ.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquities, heals all your diseases, rescues your life from destruction, crowns you with mercy and kindness, and satisfies your desire with good things—your youth will be renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord shows mercy and justice to all who are oppressed. He revealed His ways to Moses, His purposes to the children of Israel. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; He will not always be angry, nor will He harbor His wrath forever. He has not dealt with us according to our iniquities, nor has He repaid us according to our sins; for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the Lord’s mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our iniquities from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Man is like grass; his days are like the flower of the field—it withers; for the breath in him ceases—and he is no more, and he no longer remembers his place. But the Lord’s mercy endures from everlasting to everlasting toward those who fear Him, and His faithfulness toward the children’s children of those who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to obey them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, all His angels, mighty in strength, who carry out His word as soon as they hear the sound of His words. Bless the Lord, all His hosts, His servants, who carry out His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation: when his spirit departs, he returns to his earth; on that day all his plans come to nothing. Blessed is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry; The Lord sets the captives free; the Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the sojourner; He upholds the orphan and the widow, but He brings the way of the wicked to nothing. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion—from generation to generation.
Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Only-begotten Son and Word of God! / Immortal One, who deigned for our salvation / to be incarnate of the Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, / who became man without change and was crucified, Christ our God, / who by death has destroyed death, / One of the Holy Trinity, / glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit, save us.
Blessed are those who do not sing:
Remember us, O Lord, in Your Kingdom, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.
Glory, even now:
Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Remember us, O Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom.
Remember us, O Holy One, when You come into Your Kingdom.
The heavenly choir sings to You and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Verse: Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be put to shame.
The heavenly choir sings to You and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Glory: The choir of holy angels and archangels, together with all the heavenly hosts, sings to You and cries out: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
And now: [If the Liturgy is being celebrated, the Creed is not read, but we proceed immediately to: “Forgive, overlook, and pardon, O God, our sins”:
1. I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made.
3. Who for us humans and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.
4. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.
5. And He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
6. And ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. And who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.
9. In the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
10. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
12. and the life of the world to come. Amen.]
Forgive, overlook, and pardon, O God, our sins—both voluntary and involuntary, committed in deed and word, knowingly and unknowingly, by night and by day, in mind and thought—forgive us all, as You are Good and Lover of mankind.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.
Standing in the waters of the Jordan on this day, the Lord / proclaims to John: / “Do not be afraid to baptize Me, / for I have come to save the first-created Adam!”
Lord, have mercy. (40)
Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial power, indivisible Kingdom, Source of all good things, be gracious also to me, a sinner; strengthen and enlighten my heart, remove from me every defilement, and enlighten my mind, so that I may always glorify, praise, worship, and exclaim: One Holy One, One Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
If the Liturgy is being celebrated, the priest proclaims: “Wisdom.” And we sing:
It is truly fitting / to glorify You, O Mother of God, / ever-blessed and immaculate, / and Mother of our God.
Priest: Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
We respond: We magnify You, who are more honorable than the Cherubim / and more glorious than the Seraphim, / who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.
Priest: Glory to You, Christ God: and so on, and we conclude the dismissal.
[If there is no Liturgy, we say: May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. (3) Glory, and now:
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be on my lips. My soul shall exult in the Lord—let the humble hear and rejoice. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me; He delivered me from all my troubles. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be put to shame. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good—blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The rich have become poor and are starving, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the person who desires to live, who wants to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; He delivered them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are contrite in spirit. The righteous have many sorrows, but the Lord delivers them from them all. The Lord preserves all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Death is the lot of the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will stumble. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, and none who hope in Him will stumble.]
It is fitting: And the dismissal.
Our Enlightener, / who enlightens every person, / the Forerunner, seeing Him who had come to be baptized, / rejoices in his soul and trembles with his hand, / points to Him and proclaims to the people: / “Behold the Redeemer of Israel, / who delivers us from corruption!” / O sinless Christ, our God, glory to You! (2)
When our Redeemer received baptism from a servant / and was attested by the descent of the Holy Spirit, / the hosts of angels were awestruck at the sight, / and a voice came from heaven from the Father: / “This is the One upon whom the Forerunner lays his hand— / My Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” / Christ our God, glory to You! (2)
The waters of the Jordan received You, the Source, / and the Comforter descended in the form of a dove. / He who bowed the heavens bows His head, / and the clay cries out to the Potter: / “What do You command me that is beyond my strength? / I need baptism from You!” / O sinless Christ, our God, glory to You! (2)
Desiring to save lost humanity, / You did not disdain to take on the form of a servant— / for it was fitting for You, Lord and God, / to assume our nature for our sake; / for You, the Redeemer, having been baptized in the flesh, / have made us worthy of forgiveness. / Therefore we cry out to You: / “Benefactor Christ, our God, glory to You!” (2)
You bowed Your head under the hand of the Forerunner, / crushed the heads of the serpents; / You appeared in the waters and enlightened the whole world, / so that all might glorify You, Savior, / the Enlightenment of our souls.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings of the feast with troparia and stichera.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. And God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And it was so. And God made the firmament, and God separated the waters that were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament. And God called the firmament “sky.” And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. The waters under the heavens were gathered together into their places, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathered waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation—grass bearing seed according to its kind, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed in them, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And so it was. The earth brought forth vegetation—grass bearing seed according to its kind, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed in them, each according to its kind on the earth. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning: the third day.
Genesis 1:1–13
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to set out; and you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the sea on dry ground. And behold, I will harden the heart of Pharaoh, his servants, and all the Egyptians, and they will pursue you; and I will display My glory against Pharaoh, his entire army, his chariots, and his horsemen. And all the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I display my glory against Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back with a strong south wind all night long, turning the sea into dry land, and the waters parted. So the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, with the waters forming a wall on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued them and went after them—all of Pharaoh’s horsemen, chariots, and horsemen—into the midst of the sea. But Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and as day broke, the waters returned to their place; and the Egyptians fled toward the waters. And the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. When the waters returned, they covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all of Pharaoh’s army that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exodus 14:15–18, 21–23, 27–29
Moses led the Israelites away from the Red Sea and brought them into the wilderness of Shur; and they traveled for three days in the wilderness and found no water to drink. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water from Marah, for it was bitter; therefore that place was called “Bitter.” And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and when he cast it into the water, the water became sweet.
There God established for him the statutes and ordinances, and there He tested him, and said: “If you truly obey the Lord your God, do what is right in His sight, heed His commandments, and keep all His decrees, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”
They came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters. They set out from Elim, and the whole assembly of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which lies between Elim and Sinai.
Exodus 15:22–27; 16:1
After the third reading, the reader reads:
You appeared in the world, O Creator of the world, / to enlighten those sitting in darkness. / Lover of mankind, glory to You!
The choir sings the same troparion.
Reader: O God, have mercy on us and bless us, / let the light of Your face shine upon us and have mercy on us, / so that we may know Your way on earth, / and Your salvation among all nations. Ps 66:2, 3
Choir: Ch , to enlighten those who sit in darkness. / Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Reader: Let the nations praise You, O God, / let all the nations praise You. / Let the peoples rejoice and be glad, / for You will judge the nations with justice / and guide the peoples of the earth. Ps 66:4, 5
Chorus: To enlighten those who sit in darkness. / O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Reader: Let the nations praise You, O God; / let all the nations praise You. / The earth has yielded its fruit; / bless us, O God, our God. / May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him. Psalm 66:6–8
Choir: To enlighten those who sit in darkness. / O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Choir: To enlighten those who sit in darkness. / O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Reader: Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: To enlighten those who sit in darkness. / Lover of mankind, glory to You!
Reader: You appeared in the world, You who created the world.
And he himself sings the end of the troparion: To enlighten those sitting in darkness. / Lover of mankind, glory to You!
And continues with the readings for the feast:
The Lord said to Joshua: “On this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all the sons of Israel, so that they may know that just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Now command the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant, and say to them: ‘As soon as you set foot in the waters of the Jordan, you will stand firm in the Jordan.’
When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant set out for the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped into the waters of the Jordan from the bank, —and the Jordan was full to the brim throughout its entire course, as in the days of the wheat harvest—the waters flowing from upstream stood together in a single mass, extending a great distance from the town of Adamim to the border of Kiriath-Jearim; and the water flowing downstream went into the Sea of the Arabah, to the Salt Sea, and dried up completely.
And the people stood opposite Jericho; and the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, ready. And all the sons of Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire people had finished crossing the Jordan.
Joshua 3:7–8, 15–17
Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, shall I leave you?” So they both went on. Fifty men from the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it; and the water was divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha replied, “Let the Spirit that is upon you rest on me doubly.” Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. However, if you see me being taken from you, it will be so for you; but if you do not see it, it will not be so.”
And as they were walking and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared; and they separated the two from one another, and Elijah was taken up into heaven amid a great tremor all around. Elisha watched and cried out, “Father, father, the chariot of Israel and its driver!” And he saw him no more. Then Elisha took hold of his cloak and tore it in two. He picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen on top of him; and Elisha returned and stood on the banks of the Jordan; and Elisha took Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen on top of him, and struck the waters, but they did not part. Elisha said, “Where is the God of Elijah? Is He not here?” Elisha struck the water a second time, and the waters parted, and he crossed over on dry ground.
4 Kings 2:6–14
Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Assyria, arrived with his chariots and horses and stopped at the gate of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored to you, and you will be clean.”
But Naaman became angry and walked away, saying, “I thought he would surely come out to me, call on the name of the Lord his God, lay his hand on the leprous spot, and heal it from my flesh. Are not the Abana and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than the Jordan and all the waters of Israel? Could I not go and wash in them and be cleansed?” And he turned and went away in anger.
Then his servants approached him and said, “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All the more so since he has told you only, ‘Wash and be cleansed.’ So Naaman went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him; and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was cleansed.
2 Kings 5:9–14
After the 6th parimia, the reader recites:
To sinners and tax collectors / You appeared, our Savior, / through the abundance of Your mercy— / for where else could Your light shine / but upon those sitting in darkness? / Glory to You!
The choir sings the same troparion.
Reader: The Lord has taken His seat on the throne; He is clothed in splendor; / the Lord is clothed in strength and girded Himself, / for He has established the universe, and it shall not be shaken. / From of old Your throne has been established; You are from of old. Psalm 92:1–2
Choir: For where else could Your light shine, / except upon those who sit in darkness? / Glory to You!
Reader: The rivers have lifted up their voices, O Lord; the rivers have lifted up their voices; / the rivers will lift up their currents with the roar of many waters. Psalm 92:3
Chorus: For where else could Your light shine / except upon those who dwell in darkness? / Glory to You!
Reader: The waves of the sea are mighty; the Lord is mighty on high. / Your testimonies are very sure; / holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. Ps 92:4, 5
Chorus: For where else could Your light shine / except upon those who sit in darkness? / Glory to You!
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
Chorus: For where else could Your light shine / except upon those who dwell in darkness? / Glory to You!
Reader: Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: For where else could Your light shine / except upon those who sit in darkness? / Glory to You!
Reader: To sinners and tax collectors / You appeared, our Savior, / through the abundance of Your mercy.
And he himself sings the end of the troparion: For where else could Your light shine / except upon those sitting in darkness? / Glory to You!
And he continues with the readings for the feast:
Thus says the Lord: Wash yourselves and be clean; remove your iniquities from your souls before My eyes. Desist from your iniquities, learn to do good: investigate disputes, defend the oppressed, judge the orphan, and vindicate the widow. Then come, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Even if your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow; even if they are like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you are unwilling and disobedient, the sword will devour you—for the mouth of the Lord has spoken!
Isaiah 1:16–20
When Jacob looked up, he saw the army of God arrayed in battle formation. And the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s army.” And he named that place “Army.”
Then Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau, to the land of Seir, the region of Edom, and gave them this instruction: “Say to my lord Esau: ‘This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been living as a sojourner with Laban and have stayed there until now. I have acquired flocks, herds, donkeys, male and female servants. I have sent word to my lord Esau so that your servant may find favor in your sight.”
The messengers returned to Jacob and said, “We went to your brother Esau, and look, he himself is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; so he divided the people who were with him, along with the cattle and the sheep, into two camps. And Jacob said, “If Esau comes against one camp and attacks it, the other camp will be spared.”
And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Flee to the land of your birth, and I will deal well with you!’ It is enough for me to have all the kindness and faithfulness that You have shown to Your servant; for I crossed the Jordan with only this staff of mine!”
Genesis 32:1–10
Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the river to bathe, and her maids were walking along the riverbank with her. When she saw a basket floating in the current, she sent one of her maids to fetch it. Upon opening it, she saw a baby crying inside the basket; and Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.” Then the sister of Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Shall I call a wet nurse for you from among the Hebrew women, so that she may nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the young woman went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take care of this child for me and nurse him for me; I will pay you.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child had grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became like a son to her. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Exodus 2:5–10
Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, then here—I will spread out this fleece of shorn wool on the threshing floor; and if there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground all around is dry, then I will know that You are saving Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And so it came to pass. When Gideon rose at dawn the next day, he wrung out the fleece, and there was enough dew to fill a basin with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Please do not let Your anger be kindled against me, and let me speak just once more and perform one more test with the fleece: let it be dry only on the fleece, while there is dew on all the ground.” And God did so that night: it was dry only on the fleece, while there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36–40
Elijah said to the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel—as the Lord had told him, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” He set up the stones [in the name of the Lord], repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down, and dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two measures of grain. He placed the wood on the altar he had built, cut the burnt offering into pieces, laid them on the wood, and arranged them on the altar. Then Elijah said, “Bring me four buckets of water and pour them over the burnt offering and the wood.” He said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. He said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time. The water ran around the altar, and the trench was filled with water.
Then Elijah cried out to heaven and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! Hear me today through the fire! And may all this people know that You alone are the Lord, the God of Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all this for Your sake, and You have turned the heart of this people back to You!” Then fire from the Lord fell from heaven and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the water in the trench, and even the stones and dust. And all the people fell on their faces and said, “Truly, the Lord God—He is God!”
3 Kings 18:30–39
The men of Jericho said to Elisha, “As you can see, sir, the location of this city is good, but the water is bad, and the land is barren.” Elisha replied, “Bring me a new jar and put some salt in it.” So he took it, went out to the spring, and threw the salt into it, saying, “Thus says the Lord: I have healed these waters; from now on, no one will die or suffer from infertility because of them.” And the waters have been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
2 Kings 2:19–22
Thus says the Lord: “At a favorable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you; and I created you and appointed you as a covenant to the tribes, to restore the land and inherit the desolate inheritance, to say to those in bonds, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be opened.’ They shall graze along all the paths, and their pasture shall be along all the trails; they shall neither hunger nor thirst, nor shall the heat or the sun strike them; but the One who has mercy on them will comfort them and lead them beside the springs of water. And I will turn every mountain into a highway, and every path into a pasture for them. Behold, they will come from afar—some from the north and the sea, and others from the land of the Persians. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the mountains sing for joy and the hills proclaim righteousness; for God has shown mercy to His people and has comforted the humble among them. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me!” Can a woman forget her child, or show no compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she were to forget them, I will not forget you,” says the Lord [Almighty]! Isaiah 49:8–15
After the 13th parimia, the Small Ektenia, [the Trisagion], and, after the exclamation, we sing the Trisagion.
The Lord is my light and my Savior: / whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 26:1
Brothers, though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, so that I might win more people; and to the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews; to those under the Law, I became as one under the Law—though I myself am not under the Law—so that I might win those under the Law; to those outside the Law, I became as one outside the Law—though I am not outside the law of God but under the law of Christ—so that I might win those outside the Law; to the weak, I became weak, so that I might win the weak. To all I have become all things, so that I might save at least some. And I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things: they do so to receive a perishable crown, but we—an imperishable one. Therefore, I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as one beating the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Cor 9:19–27
Verse: My heart has poured out a good word; I declare my deeds to the King.
Verse: You are resplendent with beauty among the sons of men. Ps 44:2a, 3a
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip, his brother, was tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. And he went throughout the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight: every ravine shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” So he said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already laid to the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the people asked him, saying, “What then should we do?” And he replied to them, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the one who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized by him and asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than what is prescribed for you.” The soldiers also asked him, saying, “And what should we do?” And he said to them, “Do not oppress anyone, do not extort money, and be content with your pay.” While the people were waiting and everyone was wondering in their hearts about John—whether he might be the Christ himself— John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water; but one more powerful than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His shovel is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” He also preached many other things to the people with exhortation.
Luke 3:1–18
All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace: / the host of angels and the human race. / You are the sanctified temple and the spiritual paradise, / the glory of virginity, from whom God was incarnated and became a Child— / our God, who existed before all ages. / For He has made Your womb a throne / and Your womb vaster than the heavens. / All creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace, / glory to You!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights. Alleluia. (3) Ps 148:1
After the prayer behind the ambo, we all proceed through the Royal Doors to the holy font or to the spring. The abbot or the senior priest goes out, carrying the Holy Cross on his head, while the candlebearers and deacons walk ahead with censers. He places the Holy Cross on a beautifully decorated table, where a chalice of water and candles have been prepared. Candles are distributed to the brethren, and the abbot, accompanied by a deacon holding a candle, censes around the table and throughout the church, while the clergy sing the troparia.
The voice of the Lord cries out upon the waters, saying: / “Come, all of you, receive / the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, / the Spirit of the fear of God, / who has appeared as Christ!” (3)
On this day the nature of water is sanctified, / and the Jordan is parted, / and holds back the flow of its streams, / seeing the Lord being washed. (2)
As a man, You came to the river, Christ the King, / and hasten to receive baptism as a servant, O Good One, / from the hands of the Forerunner / for the cleansing of our sins, O Lover of Mankind. (2)
Glory, and now, the same voice: To the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way of the Lord,” / You came, O Lord, having taken the form of a servant, / asking for baptism, though You knew no sin. / The waters saw You and were afraid; / the Forerunner trembled and cried out, saying: / “How can a lamp illuminate the Light? / How can a servant lay his hand upon the Lord? / Sanctify me and the waters, Savior, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Thus says the Lord: Let the thirsty wilderness rejoice; let the desert be glad and blossom like a lily. It shall blossom, and all shall rejoice; the desert regions of the Jordan shall be glad. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, and the honor of Carmel. My people shall see the glory of the Lord and the majesty of God. Strengthen the feeble hands and steady the tottering knees; speak to those who are fearful and say: “Be strong and do not fear; behold, our God will bring justice [and will vindicate us]; He Himself will come and save you.”
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will hear. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the speech of the tongue-tied will be clear; for waters will burst forth in the wilderness, and a stream in the parched land; and the parched wilderness will become a marsh, and in the thirsty land there will be a spring of water. There will be joy for the birds, [reeds,]* and marshes. And there will be a clean path there, and it will be called the Holy Way ; (and) the unclean will not pass through it, nor will there be a path for the unclean; but those who are scattered will walk on it and will not go astray. And there will be no lion there, nor will any of the fierce beasts set foot on it, nor will any be found there; but the redeemed and those gathered by the Lord will walk there. And they will return and come to Zion with joy and gladness; and everlasting joy will be upon their heads: [for upon their heads are] praise and rejoicing; and joy will encompass them: anguish, sorrow, and groaning have fled!
* In the Greek and Slavonic Mineya: [the dwelling places of the sirens, and the reeds].
Isaiah 35:1–10
Thus says the Lord: “All you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and all you who have no silver, come, buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost. Why do you spend your silver on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to Me, and taste what is good, and let your soul delight in abundance. Give ear with your ears and follow My ways; listen to Me, and your soul will live in abundance; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, and I will give you the sure inheritance of David. Behold, I have set Him as a witness to the nations, as a ruler and commander among the peoples. Behold, the nations that do not know You will call upon You, and the peoples who do not know You will seek You—for the sake of the Lord, your God, and the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified You.
Seek the Lord; and when you find Him, call upon Him. When He draws near to you, let the wicked forsake his ways, and the man of iniquity—his thoughts. Turn to the Lord (your God), and you will be shown mercy; cry out, for He will quickly forgive your sins. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “But as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For just as rain or snow comes down from heaven and does not return there until it has watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, yielding seed to the sower and bread to the eater, —so shall My word be: once it goes out from My mouth, it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish all that I desire, and I will carry out My purposes and fulfill My commands. For you will go out with joy and be taught with gladness; for the mountains and the hills will break into song, welcoming you with joy, and all the trees of the field will clap their branches. And instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the nettle, the myrtle will grow; and this will be in the name of the Lord and as an everlasting sign, and it will not fail.
Isaiah 55:1–13
Thus says the Lord: “Draw water with joy from the springs of salvation!” And on that day you will say: “Sing to the Lord and call upon His name; make known His glorious deeds among the nations; proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the name of the Lord, for He has done great things—proclaim this throughout the earth. Rejoice and be glad, you inhabitants of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel has been exalted in your midst!
Isaiah 12:3–6
The Lord is my light and my Savior: / whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life—whom shall I fear? Ps 26:1
Brothers, I do not want you to be unaware that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them. And that rock was Christ.
1 Cor 10:1–4
Verse: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory has thundered; the Lord is upon the many waters. Psalm 28:3
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:9–11
Deacon: Let us pray for the world to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
For peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord for peace throughout the world, for the steadfastness of God’s holy Churches, and for the unity of all.
For this holy temple and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord for our most holy Patriarch (name), for our most reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop) (name), for the venerable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for the entire clergy and the people of God.
Let us pray to the Lord for our God-protected Russian land, for all its people and authorities.
Let us pray to the Lord for our city (or: our village, or: this holy monastery), for all cities and lands, and for those who live in them by faith.
Let us pray to the Lord for favorable weather, for an abundance of the earth’s fruits, and for times of peace.
Let us pray to the Lord for those at sea, those traveling, the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation.
Let us pray to the Lord for the sanctification of this water through the power, action, and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray to the Lord for the cleansing power of the Transcendent Trinity to come upon these waters.
Let us pray to the Lord for the gift of deliverance and the blessing of the Jordan through the power, action, and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Let Satan be crushed beneath our feet soon, and let every evil intent directed against us be destroyed; let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may deliver us from every slander and temptation of the enemy and make us worthy of the promised blessings, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may be enlightened by the light of knowledge and piety through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may bestow the blessing of the Jordan and sanctify these waters, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water of sanctification may become a gift, a deliverance from sins, a healing for soul and body, and suitable for every good work, let us pray to the Lord.
That this water may become a stream flowing into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.
That it may serve as a protection against every wile of visible and invisible enemies, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who draw and take it to consecrate their homes, let us pray to the Lord.
That it may serve to purify the soul and body of all who, with faith, draw and receive it, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may be deemed worthy of complete sanctification through the reception of this water by the invisible working of the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.
That the Lord God may hear the voice of our prayer, we sinners, and have mercy on us, let us pray to the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord that He may deliver us from all sorrow, anger, misfortune, and need.
Defend, save, have mercy on, and preserve us, O God, by Your grace.
Having commemorated our Most Holy, Most Pure, Most Blessed, and Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us entrust ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our God.
Chorus: To You, O Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-Begotten Son, Who dwells in the bosom of the Father, true God, Source of life and immortality, Light from Light, Who came into the world to enlighten it! Enlighten our minds with Your Holy Spirit and accept us as we magnify You and offer thanksgiving to You for Your wondrous and great deeds from of old and for Your saving plan accomplished in recent ages, when, having taken upon Yourself our frail and destitute nature, weak and destitute, and having humbled Yourself to the state of a servant, You, the King of all, were even baptized in the Jordan by the hand of a servant, so that, having sanctified the nature of water, O Sinless One, You might pave the way for us to be reborn through water and the Spirit and restore us to our original freedom. As we celebrate the commemoration of this divine mystery, we pray to You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, to sprinkle upon us, Your unworthy servants, according to Your divine promise, the purifying water, the gift of Your mercy, so that our supplication, as sinners, over this water may be pleasing to Your goodness, and Your blessing may be bestowed upon us and upon all Your faithful people, to the glory of Your Holy and worship-worthy Name. For to You be all glory, honor, and worship, together with Your Father without beginning, and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
And he says to himself: Amen.
Great are You, O Lord, and wondrous are Your works, and no words will suffice to sing of Your miracles! (3)
For by Your will You brought all things into being from nothing; by Your power You sustain creation, and by Your providence You govern the world. You formed creation from the four elements and crowned the cycle of the year with the four seasons. All spiritual powers tremble before You; the sun sings Your praises, the moon glorifies You, the stars converse with You, light obeys You, the abysses tremble before You, and the springs serve You humbly. You spread out the heavens like a canopy of skin; You established the earth upon the waters; You enclosed the sea with sand; You poured out the air for breathing. The angelic powers serve You; the choirs of Archangels worship You; the many-eyed Cherubim and the six-winged Seraphim, standing around and flying, take refuge in fear of Your unapproachable glory.
For You, O God, indescribable in Your essence, without beginning and ineffable, came to earth, taking the form of a servant, becoming like a human being; for You, O merciful Lord, out of Your mercy, could not bear to look upon the human race tormented by the devil, but You came and saved us. We confess Your grace, we proclaim Your mercy, we do not conceal Your beneficence, for You have set free the generations of our nature and sanctified the virgin’s womb by Your birth. All creation sings Your praises, O You who have appeared. For You, our God, appeared on earth and communed with people. You also sanctified the waters of the Jordan, sending down from heaven Your All-Holy Spirit, and crushed the heads of the serpents nesting there.
You Yourself, O philanthropic King, come now by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water! (3)
And grant it the grace of deliverance, the blessing of the Jordan; make it a source of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, deliverance from sins, protection from disease, destructive to demons, inaccessible to hostile forces, filled with angelic power, so that all who draw from it and receive it may use it for the purification of soul and body, for healing from passions, for the sanctification of homes, and for every useful purpose. For You, our God, have renewed our nature, which had grown corrupt through sin, with water and the Spirit. You, our God, drowned sin in the flood in the time of Noah. You, our God, delivered the Jewish people from slavery to Pharaoh through Moses by the sea. You, our God, split the rock in the wilderness, and waters flowed, and streams overflowed, and You quenched the thirst of Your people. You, our God, through Elijah, delivered Israel from the deception of Baal by water and fire.
Now also, O Lord, sanctify this water with Your Holy Spirit. (3)
Grant, then, to all—those who touch it, those who are anointed with it, and those who receive it—sanctification, health, purification, and blessing.
(And save, O Lord, Your servants, our faithful kings (names), and keep them under Your protection in peace; subdue every enemy and adversary beneath their feet; grant them all that they ask for, which serves their salvation and eternal life.)
Remember, O Lord, our most holy Patriarch (name), and our most reverend Metropolitan (or: Archbishop, or: Bishop) (name), and all the presbyters, and all other members of the clergy, and all the people standing here, and our brothers who have separated themselves for important reasons, and have mercy on them and on us through Your great mercy, so that Your all-holy Name may be glorified by the elements, by the angels, by people, and by all creation, both visible and invisible, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now, and always, and forever and ever.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Let us bow our heads before the Lord.
Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear us, You who deigned to be baptized in the Jordan and sanctified the waters! And bless all of us who, by bowing our heads, show You our servile submission, and grant that we may be filled with Your sanctification through the reception of this water and the sprinkling thereof, that it may be for us, O Lord, for the health of soul and body.
For You are the sanctification of our souls and bodies, and to You we send up glory, thanksgiving, and worship, together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Chorus: Amen.
And then, holding the Holy Cross with both hands, he blesses the water with it in the sign of the cross and immerses it in the water, while the following troparion is sung:
At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, / the worship of the Trinity was revealed: / for the voice of the Father testified of You, / calling You His beloved Son, / and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the infallibility of His words. / Christ God, who appeared / and enlightened the world, glory to You!
And he makes the sign of the Cross over the water two more times, while the troparion is sung by the abbot himself, together with the priests concelebrating with him and the choir. Then the rector, taking the chalice of holy water and turning to face west, holding the Holy Cross in his left hand and the sprinkler in his right, sprinkles in the shape of a cross in all directions, and then sprinkles all the brethren as they approach the Cross. During the sprinkling of the brethren with water, everyone sings the troparion. Then we enter the church and sing the stichera:
Glory, and now, Tone 6: Let us sing, O faithful, / of the greatness of God’s plan accomplished for our sake: / for having become Man because of our sin, / the One who is Pure and Blameless is purified in the Jordan / through our purification, / sanctifying me and the waters / and crushing the heads of serpents in the water. / Let us therefore draw water with joy, brothers: / for the grace of the Spirit is invisibly bestowed by Christ God / and Savior of our souls upon those who draw it with faith.
Then: “Blessed be the name of the Lord from now until forever” (3), and Psalm 33. After the dismissal of the Liturgy, the paraeecclesiarch lights the processional candle and places it in the center of the church, while the clergy and both choirs together sing the troparion of the feast, “Glory,” and “Now”: the kondakion, and “Many Years.”
The All-Night Vigil begins with Great Compline, with the singing of “God is with us”; and instead of the usual troparia, “Enlighten my eyes,” the troparion of the feast is sung. And instead of “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us,” the kondakion of the feast is sung. After the Great Doxology, the Litany is performed.
Clothed in light as in a garment, / He deigned to become like us for our sake; / On this day He plunges into the waters of the Jordan, / Not needing them Himself for purification, / But accomplishing our rebirth within Himself. / O, wonder! / Without fire He refines / and recreates without destruction / and saves those enlightened in His name, / Christ, God and Savior of our souls.
You, who purify the world’s sin by Spirit and fire, / when the Baptist saw You coming toward him, / cried out in awe and trembling, proclaiming: / “I dare not touch Your most pure head; / Sanctify me, O Lord, / by Your (divine) appearance, / O One and Only Lover of Mankind!”
Come, let us imitate the wise virgins; / come, let us welcome the Lord who has appeared; / for He came, like a Bridegroom, to John. / The Jordan, seeing You, was afraid and stood still; / and John cried out: / “I dare not touch the head of the Immortal One!” / The Spirit descended in the form of a dove to sanctify the waters, / and a voice resounded from heaven: / “This is My Son, / who has come into the world to save the human race!” / O Lord, glory to You!
Christ is baptized and emerges from the water, / to lead the world to salvation with Him; / and He beholds the heavens opening, / which Adam had closed to himself and his descendants; / and the Spirit bears witness to His Divinity, / for He comes to One Equal to Himself, and a voice from heaven declares: / “Truly, He who receives testimony from there— / is the Savior of our souls.”
The hand of the Baptist trembled / when he touched Your most pure head; / the Jordan River flowed backward, / not daring to serve You. / For she who feared Joshua, / how could she not be afraid of her Creator? / But You fulfilled all that was foreseen, our Savior, / to save the world through Your appearance, / O One and Only Lover of Mankind!
O Lord, desiring to fulfill / what You had ordained from eternity, / You chose ministers for Your mystery from all creation: / from the angels—Gabriel; from humankind—the Virgin; / from the heavens—a star; and from the waters—the Jordan, / in which You destroyed the iniquity of the world; / Our Savior, glory to You!
On this day, creation is enlightened, / on this day, all rejoice, / heaven and earth together, / angels and people are united, / for where the King comes, there order is established. / Let us hasten to the Jordan / and witness all that John does: / how he immerses the Head, not made by human hands and sinless. / Therefore, singing the apostolic word, let us cry out in unison: / “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, / enlightening the faithful and bestowing great mercy!”
John, seeing You, Christ God, / coming toward him by the Jordan River, proclaimed: / “Why have You appeared, O Lord, to Your servant, who is without impurity? / In whose name shall I baptize You? / The Father’s? But You bear Him within Yourself. / The Son’s? But You Yourself are the Incarnate One. / The Holy Spirit’s? / And You can bestow Him upon the faithful through Your lips.” / O God who has appeared, have mercy on us!
Verse: The sea saw—and fled, / The Jordan turned back. Psalm 113:3
The waters saw You, O God, / the waters saw You and were afraid. / For neither the Cherubim can look upon Your glory, / nor can the Seraphim gaze upon You, / but, standing in awe, / some bear You, while others glorify Your power. / With them, O Merciful One, we proclaim praise to You and cry out: / “O God who has appeared, have mercy on us!”
Verse: Why, O sea, did you flee, / and why, O Jordan, did you turn back?
Psalm 113:5
On this day, the Creator of heaven and earth / comes in the flesh to the Jordan, / asking to be baptized, the Sinless One, / to cleanse the world from the enemy’s deception. / And the Lord of all is baptized by the hand of a servant, / and through the water grants purification to the human race. / Let us cry out to Him: / “God who has appeared, have mercy on us!”
A radiant lamp, kindled from the barren one, / seeing the Sun shining forth from the Virgin, / seeking baptism in the Jordan, / cried out to Him with fear and joy: / “Sanctify me, O Lord, / by Your divine manifestation!”
At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, / the worship of the Trinity was revealed: / for the voice of the Father testified of You, / calling You His beloved Son, / and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the infallibility of His words. / Christ, God who has appeared / and enlightened the world, glory to You! (3)
At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, / the worship of the Trinity was revealed: / for the voice of the Father bore witness to You, / calling You His beloved Son, / and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the infallibility of His words. / Christ God, who appeared / and enlightened the world, glory to You! (3)
When You appeared, O Savior, at the Jordan, / and were baptized by the Forerunner, O Christ, / You accepted the testimony as the Only-Begotten Son, / and thus became known as co-eternal with the Father. / The Holy Spirit descended upon You, / and we, enlightened by Him, cry out: / “Glory to God, Who exists in the Trinity!”
You sanctified the waters of the Jordan, / You crushed the power of sin, Christ our God. / You bowed before the hand of the Forerunner / and saved the human race from error. / Therefore we implore You: / “Save Your world!”
The Word of God, clothed in glorious light, / You, having plunged into the waters of the Jordan, / renewed in them the nature of Adam, / which had been crushed by the devil’s disobedience. / Therefore we praise You / and all glorify Your holy manifestation.
What did you see that filled you with dread, O River Jordan? / “I beheld the Invisible One,” he says, “naked, and I trembled, / for how could I not fear Him and hide?” / The angels were filled with awe at the sight of Him, / heaven was terrified and the earth trembled, / the sea was subdued, along with all things visible and invisible: / Christ appeared at the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.
We magnify You, / Christ, Giver of life, / who for our sake were baptized in the flesh / by John / in the waters of the Jordan.
1 Chorus: O God, have mercy on us and bless us. 2 Show us the light of Your face and have mercy on us. 1 Come to Him and be enlightened. 2 And your faces shall not be put to shame. 1 The streams of the river gladden the city of God. 2 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. 1 The Lord is upon the many waters. 2 The rivers have lifted up their voices, O Lord; the rivers have lifted up their voices. 1 From the roar of many waters. 2 Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. 1 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we will see light. 2 The sea saw—and fled; the Jordan turned back. 1 You established the sea by Your power. 2 You crushed the heads of the serpents in the water. 1 You opened up springs and streams. 2 The waters saw You, O God— —the waters saw You and were afraid. 1 Your way is in the sea, and Your paths in the many waters. 2 How majestic are Your works, O Lord; You have made them all with wisdom.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 66:2a; 66:2b; 33:6; 45:5a; 28:3a; 28:3c; 92:3a, 4a; 41:7b; 35:10; 113:3; 73:13a; 73:13b; 73:15a; 76:17a; 76:20a; 103:24a
Come, faithful ones, let us see where Christ was baptized; / let us proceed further to the Jordan River, / to the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, / and there we shall see the Creator of Adam, / upon whom, by His inexpressible mercy, / the servant lays his hand. / And to Him we shall cry out with a loud voice: / “You came and appeared in the Jordan, / sanctifying the waters!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed, / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
The sea saw—and fled, / the Jordan turned back. Verse: Why, O sea, did you flee, and why, O Jordan, did you turn back? Ps 113:3, 5
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:9–11
Glory, Tone 2: Let all rejoice today: / Christ has appeared at the Jordan.
And now: we repeat the same.
God the Word has appeared in the flesh to the human race. / He stood in the Jordan, preparing to receive baptism, / and the Forerunner said to Him: / “How can I stretch out my hand / and touch the crown of Him who holds all things? / Though You are the Infant born of Mary, / I know You, the eternal God. / You walk upon the earth, praised by the Seraphim, / and I, a servant, have not yet learned to baptize the Lord.” / Incomprehensible Lord, glory to You!
The first—St. Cosmas of Maiuma, tone 2, and the second—St. John of Damascus, tone 2; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, while the troparia are sung 12 times. Katavasia: the first choir sings the irmos of the first canon, the second choir—that of the second canon.
Canon 1. Irmos: He has opened the depths of the sea / and leads His people across dry land, / having overwhelmed His enemies within it, / the Lord, mighty in battle, / for He has been glorified.
He restores Adam, who had perished, / through the waters of the Jordan, / and crushes the heads of the serpents nesting there— / the King of the ages, the Lord, / for He has been glorified.
The incorporeal Fire of the Godhead / clothed in material flesh / is clothed in the waters of the Jordan— / the Lord incarnate of the Virgin, / for He has been glorified.
The Lord, who washes away the impurity of mankind, / having received purification in the Jordan / for the sake of those whom He desired to become like, / while remaining what He was, / enlightens those who are in darkness, / for He has been glorified.
Canon 2. Irmos: Israel passes through the surging sea, / which suddenly became dry land, / while the dark abyss / completely engulfed the Egyptian horsemen, like a watery grave, / by the mighty power of the Lord’s right hand.
Now a light-bearing dawn has appeared to mortals / from the desert by the waters of the Jordan: / You, O King of the Sun, have bowed Your head, / to rescue our forefather from the land of darkness / and to cleanse creation from every defilement.
Word without beginning! You who were corrupted by delusion / create anew, burying with Yourself in the streams, / having inexpressibly received from the Father / this most powerful word: / “This one, beloved and equal to Me in nature, / is called My Son!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The Lord, who grants strength to our kings / and exalts the dignity of His anointed ones, / is born of the Virgin and comes for baptism. / Therefore, we, the faithful, cry out: / “There is none holy like our God, / and there is none righteous but You, O Lord!”
Once barren and utterly childless, / rejoice now, Church of Christ, / for through water and the Spirit sons have been born to you, / who exclaim with faith: / “There is none holy like our God / and none righteous but You, O Lord!”
With a loud voice in the wilderness the Forerunner cries out: / “Prepare the way for Christ / and make straight the paths for our God,” / exclaiming with faith: / “There is none holy like our God / and none righteous but You, O Lord!”
Canon 2. Irmos: All of us, having been freed from ancient snares, / from the jaws of ravenous lions now broken, / let us rejoice and open our mouths wide, / weaving a melody from words for the Word, / which is the most joyful of the gifts given to us.
He who originally planted mortality in creation, / appearing in the form of a malicious serpent, / is cast into darkness by the coming of the Lord in the flesh, / encountering Him as the dawn that has appeared / to crush his most hostile head.
The Lord draws to Himself the nature created by God, / buried within the tormentor’s womb, / and gives it new birth, / completing His greatest work / by restoring the human race; / for He came, desiring to protect it.
When You enlightened all things by Your appearance, / then the salty sea of unbelief fled, / and the Jordan, flowing downward, turned back, / lifting us up to heaven. / But by the height of Your divine commandments, Christ God, / preserve us through the intercession of the Mother of God and have mercy on us.
Canon 1. Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, Your voice, / which You called the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: / when You thundered over the many waters, / bearing witness to Your Son, / filled with the Spirit who had appeared, he cried out: / “You are the Christ, the wisdom and power of God!”
“Has anyone ever seen,” cries the forerunner, “/ the sun—which is by nature bright—being cleansed? / How then can I wash You with water, / O radiance of Glory, image of the eternal Father? / And how can I, a blade of grass, touch / the fire of Your Divinity? / For You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God!”
“Moses showed godly reverence, / which filled him when he met You: / for when he realized that You were speaking from the burning bush, / he immediately turned his eyes away; / how then can I look upon You openly, / or lay my hand upon You? / For You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God!”
“Possessing a rational soul and the noble gift of speech, / I fear inanimate things: / for if I baptize You, my accuser will be / the mountain smoking with fire, / and the sea parted in two, / and this Jordan, flowing backward, / for You are Christ, the wisdom and power of God!”
Canon 2. Irmos: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, / the prophet, singing of the renewal of mortals, / raises a resounding voice in the Spirit, / revealing the incarnation of the ineffable Word, / by Whom the power of the rulers is crushed.
All-radiant Word, sent forth from the Father! / You came to dispel the ruinous darkness of the night, / uprooting the sin of mortals, / and to bring forth with You, O Blessed One, through Your baptism, / the radiant sons from the waters of the Jordan.
Beholding the Most Glorious Word Himself, / the herald openly cries out to creation: / “He who existed before me took on flesh after me, / shining with divine power, like us, / to destroy our most hateful sin!”
Leading us to the life-giving pasture itself, / God the Word begins the hunt, / attacking the lairs of serpents, / overthrowing the impregnable walls / that struck the entire human race in the heel; / by binding him, He saves creation.
Canon 1. Irmos: Jesus, the Source of life, comes to resolve / the condemnation of the first Adam, / and as God, having no need of purification, / is baptized in the Jordan for the sake of the fallen, / in which, having put an end to enmity, / He grants peace that surpasses all understanding.
When countless crowds gathered / to be baptized by John, / he stood among them and addressed those present: / “Who, you disobedient ones, has taught you / to turn away from the coming wrath? / Bring worthy fruits to Christ; / for appearing now, He grants peace!”
The Farmer and Creator, standing in their midst, / as one among all, searches the hearts, / and taking in His hands the winnowing fork for purification, / wisely separates the grain on the universal threshing floor, / burning away the barren, and to the fruitful / granting eternal life.
Canon 2. Irmos: Washed clean by the Spirit’s purification / from the poison of the dark and defiled enemy, / we have set out on a straight and new path, / leading to an unattainable joy, / accessible only to those reconciled with God.
The Creator, seeing in the darkness of sins, / in the unbreakable bonds of the one / to whom He gives form with His fingers, / lifts him up and places him upon His shoulders, / now washing him in the deep waters / from the ancient shame of Adam’s infirmity.
With reverence let us eagerly turn / to the pure springs of the saving stream, / contemplating the Word, incarnate from the Immaculate One, / who offers the vessel that quenches the thirst for the divine, / graciously healing the world’s infirmity.
Canon 1. Irmos: The Voice of the Word, the lamp of Light, / the morning star—the Forerunner of the Sun— / calls out to all people in the wilderness: / “Repent and be purified in advance, / for behold, Christ is coming, / delivering the world from destruction!”
Christ, whose bond—the union of the Word / with that which He received from us— / as the Forerunner teaches, cannot be broken, / born of God the Father not according to earthly laws, / incarnate from the spotless Virgin, / delivering those born on earth from error.
In the final fire, Christ baptizes the disobedient / and those who do not acknowledge Him as God, / while in the Spirit He graciously renews with water / those who know His Divinity, / delivering them from their sins.
Canon 2. Irmos: The Father revealed with a voice full of joy / the Beloved One, whom He brought forth from His womb: / “Truly,” He says, “This One who appears / is the Son of the same nature as Mine, / radiant with light, born of the human race, / My living Word and yet—mortal, by His providence!”
On the third evening, from the sea lion / the Prophet, who had been dwelling within it in a wondrous way, / emerged once more, foretelling to all / salvation from the serpent, the murderer of mankind, / through rebirth in the last days.
When the transparent vaults of heaven were opened, / the mystic beholder saw the Spirit proceeding from the Father / and dwelling upon the all-pure Word, / descending like a dove in an inexpressible manner, / and he urged the multitudes to take refuge in the Lord.
You appeared on this day to the universe, / and Your light, O Lord, has been imprinted upon us, / in the fullness of knowledge of those who sing Your praises: / “You have come, You have appeared, / O Unapproachable Light!”
Ikos: In Galilee, the land of the Gentiles, the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, / as the prophet said, a great light has shone forth—Christ. / A bright radiance has appeared to the darkened world, / from Bethlehem, or rather, from Mary, resplendent: / the Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, sends forth His rays to the entire universe. / Therefore, all you who are naked, descendants of Adam, / come, let us all clothe ourselves in Him to be warmed, / for He is a covering for the naked and a radiance for those in darkness. / You have come, You have appeared, / O Unapproachable Light!
Canon 1. Irmos: The pious youths, / who were in the fiery furnace, / were preserved unharmed by the rushing wind and the dew / and by the descent of the Angel of God; / therefore, being refreshed amid the flames, / they sang with gratitude: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Just as in heaven, with awe and wonder, / the hosts of angels stood by the Jordan, / beholding such wondrous condescension of God— / how He, holding the waters of the heavens, / stood in the waters for those who had taken on flesh, / the God of our fathers.
Once, the cloud and the sea / foreshadowed the miracle of divine baptism: / through them, the ancient people, / as they journeyed, were baptized into the Lawgiver; / for the sea was a symbol of water, and the cloud—of the Spirit; / having received consecration through them, we cry out: / “Blessed are You, O God of our fathers!”
All of us, the faithful, as we reflect / on Him from whom we have received perfection, / will glorify without ceasing, together with the angels, / the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, / for this is the Trinity of consubstantial Persons, / yet one God, to Whom we sing: / “Lord and God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 2. Irmos: You scorched the heads of the serpents with a torrent / and subdued the fierce flame of the furnace / that engulfed the pious youths; / and the impenetrable mist of sin / You wash away entirely with the dew of the Spirit.
The dreadful Assyrian flame that symbolized You, / You stop, turning it into dew; / so now too, Christ, You have clothed Yourself in water, / scorching the most wicked hidden predator, / who leads us astray onto a slippery path.
In ancient times, when the Jordan was parted, / the people of Israel crossed on dry land, / foreshadowing You, the Mightiest One, / who now swiftly carries creation in the currents / toward the unchanging and best path.
We know that You once brought the all-destructive flood / in a lamentable manner to the destruction of all, / O You who accomplish the greatest and most wondrous things; / but now, Christ, You have drowned sin / out of mercy for the salvation of mortals.
Canon 1. Irmos: The Babylonian furnace, which poured forth dew, / revealed an extraordinary mystery— / that the Jordan was to receive into its waters the incorporeal Fire / and to contain the Creator, baptized in the flesh, / Whom people bless / and exalt throughout the ages.
“Cast aside all fear,” said the Redeemer to the Forerunner, “/ but obey Me, / come to Me as to Christ, / for I am such in essence; / submit to My command and baptize Me, Who have come down, / Whom people bless / and exalt for all ages!”
When the Baptist heard the Lord’s words, / he stretched out his hand with trembling, / yet, touching the crown of his Creator’s head, / he cried out to the One being baptized: / “Sanctify me, for You are my God, / Whom people bless / and extol throughout all ages!”
The manifestation of the Trinity took place at the Jordan, / for She is the Super-Divine Nature. / The Father proclaimed: “This one being baptized is My beloved Son,” / while the Spirit was present with Him Who is Equal to Himself, / Whom people bless / and extol for all ages.
Canon 2. Irmos: Creation is made known to the free, / and those once darkened—as sons of light; / the sole ruler of darkness groans. / Now let all the once-miserable heritage of the nations / bless Him who is the Cause of this with fervor.
The three godlike ones, bathed in fire, / clearly revealed the Supreme Nature, / shining most brightly with the Triune Holiness; / and through Their union with mortal nature, / they seem to burn away, as if with longed-for dew, / every pernicious delusion.
May all earthly nature be clothed in white, / now lifted from its fall to heaven, / for by the Word, by whom all things are preserved, / it, purified in flowing streams, / has escaped its former sins, having been washed in radiant light.
We do not sing the 9th ode, “With the highest honor of the Cherubim,” but we sing the refrain of the feast:
Exalt, O my soul, / the highest honor of the heavenly hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
And the irmos: “No tongue is able to praise:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And we sing the other refrains for each troparion once each.
Canon 1. Irmos: No tongue is able to praise You as You deserve, / and even the highest mind in the world is at a loss— / how to sing of You, Mother of God; / but as the All-Good One, accept this pledge of faithfulness, / for You know our divine love, / for You are the Protector of Christians, / we magnify You.
Praise, O my soul, / Him who sought baptism from the Forerunner.
Praise, my soul, / Him who came to be baptized in the Jordan.
David, come in spirit to those being enlightened and sing: / “Now approach God with faith, be enlightened; / this beggar—Adam in his fall—cried out, / and behold, when he came, the Lord heard him / and renewed the one who was lost in the waters of the Jordan!”
Praise, my soul, / Him who was attested by the Father’s voice.
Praise, my soul, / One of the Trinity, who bowed His head / and received baptism.
“Wash yourselves and be cleansed,” proclaims Isaiah, / “put away your wickedness before the Lord; / you who thirst, come to the living water, / for Christ will sprinkle with the water of renewal / those who turn to Him in faith, / and baptize them with the Spirit into an ageless life.”
Prophet, come to Me, / stretch out your hand and baptize Me quickly.
Prophet, come now and baptize Me, who desire it, / for I have come to fulfill all righteousness.
May grace and the seal of the Spirit preserve us, the faithful: / for just as the Jews of old escaped destruction / when the doorposts were anointed with blood, / so too will this divine font of rebirth be our deliverance, / and then we shall see the hidden light of the Trinity.
The first choir sings the refrain of the second canon:
On this day, the Lord / bows His head under the hand of the Forerunner.
And the irmos: “O wonders of Your birth, beyond all understanding:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And we sing the other refrains for each troparion once each.
Canon 2. Irmos: O wonders of Your birth that surpass the mind, / All-pure Bride, Blessed Mother! / Having received complete salvation through You, / we worthily applaud You as our Benefactress, / offering a song of thanksgiving as a gift.
On this day, John baptizes the Lord / in the waters of the Jordan.
On this day, the Lord / buries human sin in the waters.
We see here what was revealed to Moses in the burning bush, / accomplished here according to unprecedented laws, / when the fire-bearing Virgin was truly preserved, / she who gave birth to the Benefactor—the Light-bearing One / who appeared in the waters of the Jordan.
On this day, the Lord receives testimony from on high, / the Beloved Son.
On this day, the Lord / came to sanctify the nature of water.
On this day, the Lord / receives baptism at the hand of the Forerunner.
You anoint mortal nature with the Spirit through communion, / raising it to perfection, / having cleansed it with pure waters, O King without beginning, / and, having triumphed over the haughty power of darkness, / You now bestow upon it eternal life.
Then both choirs, coming together, sing the first refrain of the feast and the irmos: “No tongue can praise:”
Then the refrain of the second canon and the irmos: “O wonders of the Nativity from You, surpassing the mind:” And a bow.
The Savior has appeared—grace and truth in the waters of the Jordan, / and has enlightened those sleeping in darkness and shadow. / For the inaccessible Light has come and appeared. (3)
As Light from Light, Christ our Savior, God made manifest, shone upon the world. / Let us worship Him, O people!
How shall we, Your servants, / honor You, O Lord, as You deserve? / For You, O Christ, / have renewed us all in the waters.
You, having been baptized in the Jordan, our Savior, / sanctified its waters, / accepting the laying on of a servant’s hands / and healing the sufferings of the world. / Great is the mystery of Your economy! / Lover of mankind, glory to You!
The True Light has appeared, / and grants enlightenment to all. / Christ is baptized with us, / He who is above all purity. / He sends sanctification to the water, / and this becomes the sanctification of souls. / An earthly manifestation— / yet comprehensible by the mind even beyond the heavens. / Through ablution comes salvation, and through water comes the Spirit. / Through immersion is accomplished / our ascent to God. / Wondrous are Your works, O Lord! Glory to You!
He who clothes the heavens with clouds / is clothed on this day in the waters of the Jordan, / and through the fitting purification, / the sin that weighs down the world is cleansed. / And the Only-Begotten Son of the Most High Father / receives testimony from above from the Spirit who is of one essence with Him. / Let us cry out to Him: / “You who appeared and saved us, / Christ our God, glory to You!”
Glory, Tone 6, Anatolius: You were clothed in the waters of the Jordan, O Savior, / Clothed in light as in a garment, / and bowed Your head before the Forerunner, / You who measured the heavens with a span, / to turn the world away from error / and save our souls.
And now, Tone 2, by the same author: On this day Christ came to the Jordan to be baptized, / on this day John touches the Lord’s head. / The heavenly powers were awestruck, beholding the wondrous mystery. / The sea saw it and fled; / the Jordan, seeing it, turned back. / But we, having been enlightened, cry out: / “Glory to God who has appeared, / and been seen on earth, / and who has enlightened the world!”
Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, who deigned to be baptized in the Jordan by John for our salvation, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
Verse 1: When Israel came out of Egypt, / the house of Jacob from a foreign people. Psalm 113:1
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 2: Judah has become His sanctuary, / Israel His domain. Psalm 113:2
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 3: The sea saw it and fled; / the Jordan turned back. Psalm 113:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 4: Why, O sea, did you flee, / and why, O Jordan, did you turn back? Psalm 113:5
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 1: I rejoiced that the Lord / would hear the voice of my prayer. Psalm 114:1
Save us, O Son of God, baptized in the Jordan, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: For He has inclined His ear to me, / and I will call upon Him all the days of my life. Psalm 114:2
Save us, O Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: The pangs of death encompassed me; the troubles of hell overtook me; / I encountered sorrow and distress, and I called upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 114:3–4a
Save us, O Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: The Lord is merciful and righteous, / and our God is gracious. Psalm 114:5
Save us, O Son of God, who was baptized in the Jordan, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, / for His mercy endures forever! Psalm 117:1
At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, / the worship of the Trinity was revealed: / for the voice of the Father testified of You, / calling You His beloved Son, / and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the truth of His words. / Christ God, who appeared / and enlightened the world, glory to You!
Verse 2: Let the house of Israel say, / “He is good, and His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 117:2
Troparion: At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord:
Verse 3: Let the house of Aaron say, / that He is good, that His mercy endures forever. Psalm 117:3
Troparion: At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord:
Verse 4: Let all who fear the Lord say, / that He is good, that His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 117:4
Troparion: At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord:
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; / we have blessed you from the house of the Lord; / God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us! Psalm 117:26–27a
At Your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, / the worship of the Trinity was revealed: / for the voice of the Father testified of You, / calling You His beloved Son, / and the Spirit, in the form of a dove, / confirmed the infallibility of His words. / Christ God, who appeared / and enlightened the world, glory to You!
You appeared on this day to the universe, / and Your light, O Lord, has been imprinted upon us, / who sing of You in the fullness of knowledge: / “You have come, You have appeared, / O Unapproachable Light!”
However many of you have been baptized into Christ, / you have all been clothed in Christ. Alleluia. (3)
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; / God is the Lord, and He has appeared to us.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, / for His mercy endures forever. Ps 117:26a, 27a, 1
My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, teaching us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly in this present age, as we await the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared—not because of any righteous deeds we might have done, but according to His mercy—He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs in the hope of eternal life.
Reading 302A: Titus 2:11–14; 3:4–7
Verse: Offer to the Lord, O sons of God, offer to the Lord young rams.
Verse: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory has thundered; the Lord is upon the many waters. Psalm 28:1, 3
At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” But Jesus replied to him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed Him to be baptized. And as soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
Matthew 3:13–17
Exalt, O my soul, / the highest honor of the heavenly hosts, / the Most Pure Virgin, the Mother of God.
Irmos, Tone 2: No tongue can praise You as You deserve, / and even the highest mind on earth is at a loss—how to sing Your praises, O Mother of God; / but as the All-Good One, accept this pledge of faithfulness, / for You know our divine love, / for You are the Protector of Christians; we magnify You.
And until the Communion.
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. Alleluia. (3) Titus 2:11
The Word, boundless and transcendent / Bearing glory upon the heavenly thrones / Is embraced by Simeon, who cries out: / “Now let me depart in peace, O Savior, according to Your word, / The salvation and joy of the faithful!” (2)
Seeing You as an Infant, / the Word, begotten of the Father before all ages, / the wondrous Simeon cried out: / “I tremble and fear to embrace You with my hands, O Lord, / but let Your servant depart—for this is what I seek— / now in peace, O Merciful One!”
Now may the gates of heaven be opened: / the God-Word, born of the Father before all time, / was born of the Virgin, having taken on flesh, / desiring, as the Good One, to call mortal nature to Himself / and to seat it at the right hand of the Father.
On this day, the Holy Mother / and the Most High of sanctuaries / entered the sanctuary, revealing to the world / the Creator of the world and the Giver of the Law. / And, taking Him into his arms, the elder Simeon / joyfully exclaimed: / “Now You let Your servant depart in peace, / for I have seen You, the Savior of our souls!”
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
On this day the Savior, as an infant, / was brought to the temple of the Lord, / and with the hands of an elder / the elder receives Him.
Verse: Now You let Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, / according to Your word. Luke 2:29
The coal, previously shown / to the divine Isaiah—Christ— / is now given to the elder / by the hands of the Mother of God, as if with tongs.
Verse: A light for revelation to the Gentiles / and the glory of Your people Israel. Luke 2:32
With fear and joy, / holding the Lord in his arms, / Simeon asked to be released from this earthly life, / while singing the praises of the Mother of God.
“Receive, O Simeon,” /—the All-Pure One cried out—/ “in your arms as a babe / the Lord of glory and peace, our Savior!”
Rejoice, O grace-filled Virgin Mother of God, / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / who enlightens those in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who received into your arms the Deliverer of our souls, / who grants us the resurrection.
Also, the litany and the dismissal.
Tell us, Simeon, / Whom do you hold in your arms in the Temple and rejoice over? / To whom do you exclaim and cry out: / “Now I am set free, for I have seen my Savior!” / – “He is born of the Virgin, / He is God the Word from God, / who became incarnate for our sake and saved mankind!” / Let us worship Him! (3)
Take into your arms, Simeon, the Lawgiver, / Whom Moses beheld in the darkness on Sinai, / Who has become an Infant and obeys the Law. / He is the One who spoke through the Law, / He is the One foretold by the prophets, / Who became incarnate for our sake and saved mankind. / Let us worship Him! (3)
Let us, too, with divinely inspired hymns, / welcome Christ and receive Him, / whose salvation Simeon beheld. / It is of Him that David proclaims; / it is He who spoke through the prophets, / who became incarnate for our sake and spoke through the Law. / Let us worship Him! (2)
May the gates of heaven be opened on this day, / for the Eternal Word of the Father, / who took on a beginning in time / without losing His Divinity, / is voluntarily brought to the Temple as a forty-day-old Infant / by the Virgin Mother, / and the elder receives Him into his arms, / “Let me go,” he cries out, like a servant to his Master— / “for my eyes have seen Your salvation!” / You who came into the world to save the human race, / O Lord, glory to You!
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
The Lord said to Moses on the day He brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, “Consecrate to Me every firstborn—the first to open the womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal.” And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day, when you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of there with a mighty hand. And you shall observe this law. When the Lord your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord every male that opens the womb. If your son asks you afterward, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall tell him that the Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, with a mighty hand. But when Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of humans to the firstborn of livestock—that is why I sacrifice to the Lord every male that opens the womb, and redeem every firstborn of my sons; and this shall be a sign on your arm and a memorial before your eyes, for thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘You shall give to Me the firstborn of your sons.’ And it shall be that every man who has a male child shall circumcise him on the eighth day; and his wife shall not come into the sanctuary of God to the priest for thirty-three days, until the days of her purification are fulfilled . After that, he shall bring a one-year-old lamb without blemish as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; or, instead, he may bring two young pigeons or two turtledoves, and the priest shall make atonement for him, for they have been given to Me as a contribution from all the sons of Israel; and I have taken them and consecrated them to Myself in place of the firstborn of Egypt on the day when I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to beast,” says the Lord Most High, the Holy One of Israel.
Exod 12:51; 13:1–3, 10–12, 14–16; 22:28; Lev 12:2–4, 6, 8; Num 8:16–17
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, and the house was filled with the glory of His presence. Seraphim were standing around Him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And they were calling to one another and saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the lintel of the door shook at the sound of their shouts, and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips—and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar; and he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sins are atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for this people?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” And He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘You will hear with your ears but not understand, and you will look with your eyes but not see. For the heart of this people has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they may not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts, and turn back—and I would heal them.” And I said, “How long, O Lord?” He said, “Until the cities are laid waste and left uninhabited, and the houses are empty of people, and the land is desolate. Then the Lord will remove people from the land, and those who remain will be few.”
Isaiah 6:1–12
Behold, the Lord is seated on a light cloud and will come to Egypt. And the man-made idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, and their hearts will melt within them. Their spirit will be dismayed within them; I will destroy their counsel and deliver Egypt into the hands of cruel rulers,” says the Lord of Hosts. “The Egyptians will drink the water by the sea, but the river will run dry and wither away. Thus says the Lord: ‘Where are your wise men now? Let them proclaim to you and tell you what the Lord of Hosts has decreed concerning Egypt. On that day the Egyptians will be like women, in fear and trembling at the hand of the Lord of Hosts, which He will lay upon them. And there will be an altar to the Lord in the land of the Egyptians, and a monument at its border—to the Lord. And it will be a sign of the Lord forever in the land of Egypt, for they will cry out to the Lord, and He will send them a Savior. And the Lord will be known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will know the Lord on that day, and they will offer sacrifices and gifts, and make vows to the Lord, and fulfill them.
Isaiah 19:1, 3–5, 12, 16, 19–21
Ancient of days, / who in times of old gave the Law to Moses on Sinai, / is now seen as an Infant; / and fulfilling the Law, as the Creator of the Law, / is brought to the temple according to the Law / and entrusted to the elder. / Taking Him into his arms, the Righteous Simeon, / seeing his departure from the bonds of the flesh being fulfilled, / joyfully cried out: / “My eyes have beheld the mystery, hidden from ages past, / and revealed in these last days— / the light that dispels the dark madness of the unbelieving pagans / and the glory of the newly chosen Israel. / Therefore, deliver Your servant from the bonds of this flesh / into the imperishable, wondrous, and endless life, / bestowing great mercy upon the world!”
He who in ancient times taught the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai / on this day Himself obeys the precepts of the Law, / having become like us out of mercy for our sake. / Now the pure God, as the Holy Child, / having opened the most pure womb, / is offered up to Himself as God, / freeing us from the curse of the Law / and enlightening our souls.
Having now received on earth with his own hands the One to whom the heavenly hosts pray with awe, / Simeon proclaims the union of God with humanity. / And, seeing the Heavenly God as a man, / as he took his leave of those living on earth, he joyfully cried out: / “To Him who reveals the unquenchable light to those in darkness, / O Lord, glory to You!”
On this day, Simeon receives into his arms the Lord of Glory, / Whom Moses had previously beheld in the darkness, / when He handed him the tablets on Mount Sinai. / It is He—the Creator who spoke through the prophets and the Law. / He is the One of whom David proclaims—fearsome to all, / yet possessing great and abundant mercy.
The Holy Virgin / brought Him to the sanctuary to the priest, / and Simeon, with outstretched arms, received Him with joy and cried out: / “Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, / according to Your word!”
The Creator of heaven and earth / was held in the arms / of the holy elder Simeon on this day, / and behold, he proclaimed by the Holy Spirit: / “Now I am set free, / for I have seen my Savior!”
On this day, the elder Simeon / enters the Temple, rejoicing in spirit, / to embrace the One who gave the Law to Moses and the One who fulfilled the Law. / One, in darkness and with an indistinct voice, was deemed worthy to behold God, / and with his face veiled / he rebuked the faithless hearts of the Jews. / The other, however, carried in his arms the Incarnate, Eternal Word of the Father / and revealed the Light to the nations: the Cross and the Resurrection. / And Anna appeared as a prophetess, / proclaiming the Savior and Redeemer of Israel. / Let us therefore cry out to Him: “Christ our God, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”
On this day, the holy Mother / and the most exalted of sanctuaries / appeared in the sanctuary, revealing to the world the Creator of peace / and the Giver of the Law. / And when the elder Simeon took Him into his arms, / he exclaimed with joy: / “Now You let Your servant depart in peace, / for I have seen You, the Savior of our souls!”]
Search the Scriptures, / as Christ our God said in the Gospels, / for in them we find / that He was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes, / cared for and nourished with milk, / circumcised and held by Simeon: / not imaginary or illusory, but truly revealed to the world. / Let us therefore cry out to Him: / “Eternal God, glory to You!”
who was ancient in days but became an Infant in the flesh, / is brought to the temple by the Virgin Mother, / fulfilling the commandment of His own Law. / Taking Him in his arms, Simeon proclaimed: / “Now You let Your servant depart in peace, / according to Your word, / for my eyes have seen Your salvation, O Lord!”
Adorn, O Zion, your bridal chamber / and receive the King—Christ. / Hail Mary—the Heavenly Gate, / for she has appeared as the throne of the Cherubim, / she holds the King of Glory. / The Virgin appears as a cloud of light, / carrying the Son in her arms, / born before the morning star. / Taking Him into his arms, / Simeon proclaimed to the nations / that He is the Lord of life and death / and the Savior of the world.
Verse: Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, / according to Your word. Luke 2:29
Who shone forth from the Father before the ages, / and in these last days—from a virgin’s womb, / Who established the Law on Mount Sinai / and obeyed the commandment of the Law, / the Mother, who had never known a husband, carrying Him to the Temple, / presented Him to the elderly priest and righteous man, / who had received a revelation that he would see Christ the Lord. / Taking Him into his arms, / Simeon rejoiced, crying out: / “This is God, as eternal as the Father, / and the Redeemer of our souls!”
Verse: A light to reveal You to the Gentiles / and the glory of Your people, Israel. Luke 2:32
Carried on the chariots of the Cherubim / and praised in the songs of the Seraphim, / He who established the Law and fulfills the precepts of the Law, / was held in the arms of the Theotokos Mary, / who, without the trial of marriage, gave birth to Him, / and she placed Him in the hands of the elderly priest. / And he, bearing Life, asked / for release from earthly life, crying out: / “Lord, let me go now to tell Adam / that I have seen the unchanging Infant, / the Eternal God and Savior of the world!”
Carried by the Cherubim / and praised by the Seraphim, / brought on this day into the Divine Sanctuary according to the Law, / as He takes His seat upon the elder’s hands / and receives gifts from Joseph, as befits God: / a pair of turtledoves—the spotless Church / and the people newly chosen from among the Gentiles, / and two young pigeons— / as the Founder of the Old and New Covenants. / Simeon, having accepted the fulfillment of the prophecy made to him, / blessing the Virgin, the Mother of God Mary, / foretold the sufferings of the One born of her, / and asks Him for deliverance, crying out: / “Now You let me go, O Lord, / as You foretold to me: / for I have seen You, the Eternal Light, / the Savior and Lord / of the people who bear the name of Christ!”
Rejoice, O grace-filled Virgin Mother of God, / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / who enlightens those who dwell in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who embraced the Deliverer of our souls, / who grants us the resurrection. (3)
Rejoice, O grace-filled Virgin Mother of God, / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / who enlightens those who are in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who received into your arms the Deliverer of our souls, / who grants us the resurrection. (3)
Let the Angelic Choir marvel at this wonder, / while we mortals raise our voices in song, / beholding God’s ineffable mercy: / for He before whom the heavenly powers tremble / is now embraced by the hands of the elderly— / the one and only Lover of Mankind!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
He who eternally dwells with the Father on the holy throne, / having come to earth, was born of the Virgin and became an Infant, / not bound by time by His very nature. / And Simeon, taking Him into his arms, joyfully proclaimed: / “Now You let Your servant depart in peace, O Merciful One, / having brought joy to Your servant!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, / Christ, Giver of life, / and we honor Your Most Pure Mother, / through whom You, in fulfillment of the Law, / are now brought into the temple of the Lord.
1 Chorus: My heart has poured forth a good word. 2 I declare my deeds to the King. 1 My tongue is the reed of the scribe. 2 Blossoming with beauty among the sons of men! 1 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One. 2 Be strengthened, flourish, and reign. 1 For the sake of truth, meekness, and righteousness. 2 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. 1 Hear, O daughter, and look, and incline your ear. 2 And forget your people and your father’s house. 1 For the King has desired your beauty. 2 For He is your Lord, and you shall worship Him. 1 The wealthy among the people will seek your favor. 2 The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. 1 Your processions have been revealed to my eyes, O God. 2 The processions of my God, the King, who is in the sanctuary. 1 Your temple is holy, wonderful in righteousness. 2 Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for all time. 1 I will make Your name memorable from generation to generation. 2 For it is good among Your saints.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 44:2a; 44:2b; 44:2c; 44:3a; 44:4a; 44:5a; 44:8a; 44:11; 44:12–13a; 44:13b; 10:4; 67:25; 64:5b; 92:5b; 44:18a; 51:11c
The Ancient of Days becomes an infant for my sake, / the most pure God partakes of the rites of purification, / to confirm that He took flesh from the Virgin, just as I did. / And Simeon, being initiated into these mysteries, / recognized in Him God made flesh, / and hailed Him as Life, / and, rejoicing, exclaimed in his old age: / “Let me depart in peace, for I have seen You, / the Life of all!”
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
I will make Your name memorable / throughout every generation and age. Verse: My heart has poured out a good word; I declare my deeds to the King. Ps 44:18a; 2a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came into the temple, led by the Spirit, and when the parents of the infant Jesus brought Him in to perform the rites prescribed by the Law concerning Him, he took Him in his arms, blessed God, and said: “Now, Lord, you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:25–32
May the gates of heaven be opened on this day, / for the Eternal Word of the Father, / who took on a beginning in time / without losing His Divinity, / is voluntarily brought to the Temple as a forty-day-old Infant / by the Virgin Mother, / and the elder receives Him into his arms, / “Let me go,” he cries out, like a servant to his Master— / “for my eyes have seen Your salvation!” / You who came into the world to save the human race, / O Lord, glory to You!
Irmos: Over the dry land, born of the abyss, / the sun once rose: / for the waters stood still on both sides like a wall / for the people on foot, crossing the sea / and singing to the Lord’s delight: / “Let us sing to the Lord, / for He has been glorified in splendor!”
Let the clouds pour forth water; / for the Sun—Christ, / borne by a light cloud—in immaculate hands, / appeared in the Temple as a Babe; / therefore we, the faithful, shall exclaim: / “Let us sing to the Lord, / for He has been glorified in splendor!”
May Simeon’s hands, / weakened by old age, be strengthened, / and may the aged man’s feeble feet / move briskly to meet Christ; / joining in a dance with the incorporeal ones, let us sing to the Lord, / for He has been glorified in splendor!
Rejoice, O heavens, spread out in wisdom; / rejoice, O earth: / for Christ, the Creator who came forth from the most divine depths, / is presented as an infant to God the Father by the Virgin Mother, / He who is before all, / for He has been glorified in splendor.
Katavasia—the same irmos.
Irmos: Strength to those who hope in You! / Strengthen, O Lord, the Church, / which You have purchased / with Your precious blood.
The Firstborn of the Father before the ages / appeared as the Firstborn Infant / of the immaculate Virgin, / extending the hand of salvation to Adam.
In order to restore to its former state / the first-created, who had become unwise / like an infant through deception, / God the Word appeared as an Infant.
The nature that came from the earth / and returned to it once more, / the Creator revealed as befitting the Godhead, / becoming an Infant, yet remaining unchanged.
In ancient times, on Mount Sinai, Moses beheld God from behind / and was granted the privilege of faintly hearing the Divine voice amid the darkness and the storm; / but now Simeon has embraced / the God who became incarnate for our sake, / and joyfully set out from this life toward eternal life. / That is why he cried out: / “Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, O Lord!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Irmos: Your glory has covered the heavens, Christ: / for, having come forth from the ark of Your holiness— / the immaculate Mother— / You appeared in the Temple of Your glory, / as an Infant carried in her arms, / and all was filled with praise to You.
“Simeon, minister of the ineffable mysteries,”— / the Mother of God cried out, — / “Him of whom you were foretold from of old by the Holy Spirit, / the Word who became a Child—Christ, / receive Him joyfully into your arms, / crying out to Him: / All is filled with praise to You!”
Whom you have awaited, Simeon, joyfully receive— / Christ, the Child in age, / the consolation of God-chosen Israel, / the Creator of the Law and the Lord, / who fulfills the precepts of the Law— / crying out to Him: / “All is filled with praise to You!”
Simeon, beholding the eternal Word, / in the flesh, as upon the throne of the Cherubim, borne by the Virgin, / the Author of all existence—as an Infant, / cried out to Him in wonder: / “All is filled with praise to You!”
Irmos: When Isaiah saw in a foreshadowing / God exalted upon the throne, / surrounded by Angels of glory, / he cried out: “O wretched am I! / For I have foreseen God becoming incarnate, / the unfading light and Ruler of the world.”
Having discerned the glory revealed to the prophet in ancient times, the godly elder, seeing the Word carried in the Mother’s arms, cried out, “Rejoice, O Most Honorable,”—for “You, like a throne, hold God, the unfading light who reigns over the world.”
The elder, bowing and reverently touching / the feet of the Virgin and Mother of God, who had never known marriage, / exclaimed: “You bear fire, O Pure One; / I fear to take the Infant—God—into my arms, / the unfading light and the ruler of the world.”
“Isaiah was purified / by receiving a coal from the Seraphim,” / the elder cried out to the Mother of God, / “but You enlighten me, / by placing in my hands, as with tongs, the One You bear, / the unfading light and the ruler of the world.”
Irmos: The elder cried out to You, / having seen with his own eyes the salvation / that came to the nations from God: / “Christ, You are my God!”
On Zion You were laid as a stone, / a rock of stumbling and a stumbling block to the disobedient, / but to the faithful—an unshakable salvation.
Truly bearing the image / of Him who begot You before the ages, / You have now, through Your mercy, / clothed Yourself in the frailty of mortals.
May You now send in peace / those who have worshiped You, / Son of the Most High, Son of the Virgin, / God made a Child.
Having sanctified the Virgin’s womb with Your birth, / and having blessed the hands of Simeon, / You have saved us, as was fitting, both beforehand / and now, O Christ our God. / But shield Your people with peace amid wars / and strengthen those whom* You have loved, / O One and Only Lover of Mankind.
Ikos: We who desire to see Her Son / turn to the Mother of God, / as He is brought to Simeon; / gazing upon Him from heaven, / the incorporeal ones are amazed and exclaim: / “We now behold a wondrous and extraordinary sight, / incomprehensible and inexpressible: / for the Creator of Adam is carried as an infant, / the Infinite is contained in the old man’s arms, / He who dwells in the boundless depths of His Father / voluntarily limits Himself—in flesh, but not in Divinity— / the One who loves mankind!”
* Greek: kings, whom
Irmos: We glorify You, God the Word, who rained down fire / upon the youths who studied theology, / and who dwelt within the immaculate Virgin, / as we reverently sing: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
“I am departing to tell Adam, / who dwells in Hades, / and to bring good news to Eve,”— / Simeon cried out, rejoicing with the prophets, / —“Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
To save the mortal race, / God will descend even to Hades, / granting freedom to all who are captive and sight to the blind, / as well as to the mute—the ability to exclaim: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
“And a sword will pierce your own soul, O Immaculate One,” / Simeon foretold to the Mother of God, / “when you see your Son on the Cross, / to whom we cry out: / Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Irmos: United by an unbearable fire, / the leaders of piety—the youths— / yet unharmed by the flames, / sang a divine hymn: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord, / and exalt Him forever and ever!”
People of Israel! Beholding your glory— / Emmanuel, the Infant born of the Virgin, / rejoice now before the divine Ark: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord, / and exalt Him forever and ever!”
“Behold,” exclaimed Simeon, / “This One—the true God and the Infant— / will be a sign that will be contradicted.” / To Him we, the faithful, will sing: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord, / and exalt Him forever!”
This One—Life by nature, / God the Word, who became a Child— / will be a stumbling block to the disobedient, / just as He is a cause of rebellion for all / who sing with faith: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord, / and exalt Him forever and ever!”
Virgin Mother of God, / Hope of Christians, / defend, protect, and preserve those who trust in You.
Virgin Mother of God, / Merciful Intercessor of the world, / defend and preserve us from every calamity and sorrow.
Irmos: In the shadow and letter of the Law / we, the faithful, discern the image: / every male child / born of a mother’s womb is consecrated to God; / therefore we magnify the Firstborn Word, / the Son of the Father without beginning, / born of a Mother who knew no husband, / the Firstborn.
God-bearer Simeon, / come and take Christ into your arms, / whom the Pure Virgin Mary has given birth to.
The Elder Simeon takes into his arms / the Lawgiver / and the Lord of the whole world.
It is not the elder who holds Me, / but I who hold him: / for he asks Me for forgiveness.
Mysterious Pincers, / how do You carry the Coal, / how do You nourish the Nourisher of all?
In ancient times, with newborns, / a pair of turtledoves or two young birds were brought; / in their place, the divine elder / and the chaste prophetess Anna, / serving the One born of the Virgin / and the only Son of the Father, / brought into the temple, / praised Him.
O daughter of Phanuel, / come, stand with us / and give thanks to Christ the Savior, the Son of God.
The chaste Anna / proclaims the wondrous mystery, / confessing Christ as the Creator of heaven and earth.
What has been accomplished upon you, O Mother, Pure Virgin, / is incomprehensible to angels and to men.
The Pure Dove, / the Lamb, free from defilement, / brings the Lamb and the Shepherd into the Temple.
“You have given me,” Simeon cried out, “the joy of Your salvation, O Christ; accept Your servant, weary under the shadow of the Law, as a new preacher of grace and a beholder of the mysteries, who magnifies You with praise!”
O Christ—King of all! / Grant victory over enemies / to Your faithful servants.
O Christ, King of all! / Grant me fervent tears, / that I may mourn for my soul, which I have wretchedly ruined.
Instead of “Glory”: Let us reverently praise / the Divinity, shining with a triune light / and One in Three Persons.
Instead of “And Now”: O Virgin Mary! / Enlighten my soul, / which is deeply darkened by worldly pleasures.
Prophesying with sacred reverence, / Anna, the chaste and righteous elderly woman, / clearly confessed the Lord in the temple, / and proclaimed the Mother of God to all present, / extolling Her.
Refrain: Virgin Mother of God, / Hope of Christians, / defend, protect, and preserve those who place their trust in You.
Katavasia: In the shadow and letter of the Law / we, the faithful, discern an image: / every male child / born of a mother’s womb is consecrated to God; / therefore, the Firstborn Word, / the Son of the Father without beginning, / born of a Mother who knew no husband, / we magnify.
Appearing in the Spirit within the sanctuary, / the elder embraced the Lord of the Law, exclaiming: / “Now deliver me from the bonds of the flesh, / as You said, in peace: / for with my own eyes I have seen / the revelation to the Gentiles and the salvation of Israel!” (3)
Fulfilling the Law given in Scripture, O Lover of Mankind, / is now brought into the Temple, / and Simeon the Elder receives Him with his aged hands, / “Now You let me depart,” he cries out, “to that blessedness: / for I have seen You on this day, / clothed in mortal flesh, / yet reigning over life / and ruling over death!” (2)
You appeared, O Lord, as a light of revelation to the Gentiles, / the Sun of Righteousness, carried on a light cloud, / fulfilling what was hidden in the shadow of the Law, / and unveiling the dawn of a new grace. / Therefore, beholding You, Simeon exclaimed: / “Let me depart this life in peace, / for I have seen You this day!”
Divinity, who did not depart from the bosom of the Father, / who became incarnate as You Yourself willed, / You whom the Ever-Virgin holds in her arms, / You were entrusted to the arms of Simeon, the God-Receiver, / who holds all things in His hand. / Therefore, he cried out in rapture: / “Now You let Your servant depart in peace, / for I have seen You, O Lord!”
On the elderly man’s arms on this day / You deigned to rest, as on the Cherubim’s chariot, Christ God, / and deliver us, who sing Your praises, / from the dominion of the passions when we call upon You, / and save our souls!
The Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, who deigned to be carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon for our salvation, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
Hymns: “Blessed are…”—from the feast’s canon, stanzas 3 and 6.
If the rector so desires, we sing the antiphons of the feast.
Verse 1: My heart has poured forth / a word of goodness. Ps 44:2a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 2: My tongue is / the reed of the scribe. Ps 44:2b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, / save us.
Verse 3: Grace has poured forth / from Your lips. Ps 44:3b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 4: Therefore God has blessed / You forever. Ps 44:3c
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 1: You have girded Yourself with Your sword / at Your side, O Mighty One. Ps 44:4a
Save us, Son of God, / carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: Be strengthened, and prosper, / and reign. Ps 44:5a
Save us, O Son of God, / carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: Your arrows are sharp, O Mighty One, /—the nations will fall before You. Ps 44:6a
Save us, O Son of God, / carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: The scepter of righteousness— / the scepter of Your Kingdom. Ps 44:7b
Save us, O Son of God, / carried in the arms of the righteous Simeon, / as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: Listen, O Daughter, and look, / and incline Your ear. Psalm 44:11a
Rejoice, O blessed Virgin Mother of God, / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / who enlightens those in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who embraced the Deliverer of our souls, / who grants us the resurrection.
Stich 2: The wealthy among the people / will seek Your favor. Ps 44:13b
Troparion: Rejoice, O Gracious Virgin Mother of God:
Stanza 3: I will make Your name memorable / throughout every generation and age. Ps 44:18a
Troparion: Rejoice, O grace-filled Virgin Mother of God:
The Lord has revealed His salvation; He has made His righteousness known among the nations. Psalm 97:2
Rejoice, O grace-filled Virgin Mother of God, / for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, / who enlightens those who dwell in darkness. / Rejoice also, O righteous elder, / who embraced the Deliverer of our souls, / who grants us the resurrection.
Having sanctified the Virgin’s womb by Your birth, / and having blessed the hands of Simeon, / You have saved us, as was fitting, both then and now, O Christ our God. / But shield Your people with peace amid wars / and strengthen those whom You have loved, / O One and Only Lover of Mankind.
The Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord, / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Verse: For He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; henceforth all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Brethren, without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there He receives them who has the testimony that He lives. And it may be said, “ ” that even Levi, who collects tithes, gave a tithe through Abraham; for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him. So, if perfection were to be attained through the Levitical priesthood—since it is the foundation of the Law for the people—what further need would there be for another priest to arise, one who is called according to the order of Melchizedek rather than the order of Aaron? For with a change in the priesthood, a change in the Law is also necessary. For the One of whom this is spoken belonged to a different tribe, from which no one had ever approached the altar. For it is well known that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning the priesthood. And this is even more clearly seen in the fact that, in the likeness of Melchizedek, a different priest arises—one who has become a priest not by a law of a fleshly commandment, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is testified: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Heb 7:7–17
Verse: Now, Lord, You let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word.
Verse: A light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. Luke 2:29, 32
At that time, the parents of the infant Jesus brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,” and to offer a sacrifice as prescribed in the Law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came to the temple, led by the Spirit, and when the parents of the infant Jesus brought Him in to perform the rites prescribed by the Law concerning Him, he took Him in his arms, blessed God, and said: “‘Now, Lord, You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.’ And Joseph and His mother marveled at what was said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “Behold, He is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be spoken against; and a sword will pierce your own soul as well, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess there, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years from her maidenhood and as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving God day and night with fasting and prayer. And at that very moment, she came up and praised the Lord and spoke about Him to all who were waiting for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child, meanwhile, grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:22–40
O Virgin Mother of God, / Hope of Christians, / defend, protect, and preserve those who place their trust in You.
Irmos, Tone 3: In the shadow and letter of the Law / we, the faithful, discern the image: / every male child / born of a mother’s womb is consecrated to God; / therefore, the Firstborn Word, / the Son of the Father without beginning, / born of a Mother who knew no husband, / we magnify.
And until the offering.
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 115:4
Taking pity on His creation, the Creator / and bowing down in His own compassion, / hastens to dwell in the womb of the Virgin, the Maiden of God. / The great Archangel came to her, proclaiming: / “Rejoice, O one favored by God! / Do not be afraid of me, the Archistrategos of the King, / for you have found the grace / that Eve, your foremother, had previously lost, / and you will conceive and give birth to a Son, / consubstantial with the Father!” (2)
“Your words and appearance are extraordinary, / your speech and message are extraordinary,” /—Mary exclaimed to the Angel—/ “Do not lead me astray: / I am a virgin, uninitiated into the mystery of marriage, / yet you say that I will conceive the Infinite One. / And how can my womb contain Him / Whom the very limits of Heaven cannot contain?” /—“Let Abraham’s tent teach you, O Virgin, / which once contained God, / as a foreshadowing of your womb that has received God!”
Having now arrived in the city of Nazareth, / Gabriel greets you, O living City of Christ the King, / calling out to you: / “Rejoice, O blessed one, favored by God! / You will receive in your womb God made flesh, / and through you, humanity / is once again called back to its ancient bliss by His goodness. / Blessed is the divine, immortal Fruit of your womb, / who through you bestows great mercy upon the world!”
In the sixth month, the Archangel was sent / to You, O Virgin and Pure One, / to proclaim to You the word of salvation, / and at the same time to call out to You: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You! / You will give birth to the Son, begotten of the Father from all eternity, / and He will save His people from their sins!”
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day
Gabriel, the commander of the heavenly hosts, / having descended from heaven, / greets the Virgin, proclaiming: / “Rejoice, O pure Chariot of the Godhead: / God has loved you from all eternity and chosen you as His dwelling place! / I, too, am here as a servant, / proclaiming the coming of Your Lord; / and behold, You will give birth to the Lord, / while remaining immaculate!”
Verse: Proclaim day after day / the salvation of our God. Ps 95:2A
“Why is your appearance so fiery?”— / the Virgin said to Gabriel in amazement, — / “What is your title, / and where does the power of your words lie? / You proclaim to Me the birth of a child, / yet I have no experience of being with a man. / Go far away; do not deceive me, O man, / as the serpent, the deceiver, once deceived our foremother Eve!”
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; / sing to the Lord, all the earth! Ps 95:1
“The All-Holy Spirit of God will come upon You, / O Pure One, Mother who bears God, / and the power of the Most High will overshadow You, / and You will give birth to the Child, preserving Your virginity unshaken. / He is the Son without genealogy; / He, when He appears, will save His people / from their sins!”
In the sixth month, the Archangel was sent to the Pure Virgin / and, crying out, “Rejoice!” he proclaimed to her, / and announced the good news / that the Redeemer would be born of her. / Therefore, having accepted that greeting with faith, / she conceived You, the Eternal God, / who in an ineffable way was pleased to become incarnate / for the salvation of our souls.
On this day begins our salvation / and the manifestation of the eternal mystery: / the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / and Gabriel proclaims the good news of grace. / Therefore, we too, with him, cry out to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
Also, the litany and dismissal.
revealing to You the eternal counsel, O Virgin, / Gabriel appeared before You, greeting You and proclaiming: / “Rejoice, unplowed land; / rejoice, unburned thornbush; / rejoice, abyss, impenetrable to the eye; / Rejoice, bridge leading to heaven / and the lofty ladder that Jacob saw; / Rejoice, divine vessel of manna; / Rejoice, deliverance from the curse; / Rejoice, Adam’s call to salvation, / the Lord is with you!” (2)
“You appear before Me as a man,” /—says the Immaculate Virgin to the Archangel, /—“and yet how do you utter words /that surpass human understanding? /For you have said that God will be with Me /and will dwell in My womb. / And tell Me, how shall I become the vast dwelling place / and the sacred abode borne by the Cherubim? / Do not deceive Me with falsehood; / for I know not the sweetness of the flesh: / I am not initiated into the mystery of marriage— / how then can I give birth to a Child?” (2)
“Where God wills, / the law of nature yields,” says the incorporeal One, / “and that which is beyond human understanding is accomplished. / Believe my true words, All-Holy, Immaculate One!” / And she exclaimed: “Let it be to Me now according to your word, / and I will give birth to the Incarnate One, who has taken flesh from Me, / that He may raise mankind, as the One who is mighty, / to its original dignity / through union with Himself!”
The Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven / to foretell the conception to the Virgin / and, having come to Nazareth, / pondered within himself the miracle, marveling at this: / how can the Most High, being incomprehensible, be born of a Virgin? / He whose throne is heaven and whose footstool is the earth / fits within a woman’s womb? / He— —whom the six-winged and many-eyed beings cannot behold, / by a single word deigned to be incarnated from her. / The Word of God—He is the One who appears here! / Why then do I stand here and not proclaim to the Virgin: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you; / rejoice, O Pure Virgin; / rejoice, O Bride who has known no marriage; / rejoice, O Mother of Life, / blessed is the Fruit of your womb!”
Entrance. Prokeimenon and two readings of the day, and three readings of the feast.
Jacob set out from the Well of the Oath and went to Haran; he came to a certain place and lay down there to sleep, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of that place, put it under his head, and fell asleep in that place. He had a dream: behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above it and said, “I am the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac; do not be afraid. The land on which you are lying, I will give it to you and to your descendants; and your descendants will be as numerous as the sand of the earth; and they will spread out toward the sea, toward the south, toward the north, and toward the east; and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants; and behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “The Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Genesis 28:10–17
Thus says the Lord: “From the eighth day onward, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you with favor,” says (Adonai) the Lord. Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faced east, and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “These gates shall remain shut; they shall not be opened, and no one shall pass through them, for the Lord, the God of Israel, will pass through them, and they shall remain shut. Therefore, the ruler—he shall sit there to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of these gates, and by the same way he shall go out.” Then he led me along the way to the gate of the sanctuary, the one on the north side opposite the temple, and I looked—and there, the house of the Lord was filled with glory.
Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1–4
Wisdom has built herself a house and set up seven pillars; she has slaughtered her sacrifices and mixed her wine in her cup, and prepared her feast; she has sent out her servants, calling out with a loud proclamation to the cup: “Let everyone who is simple turn to me!” And to the simple-minded she said: “Come, taste my bread and drink the wine I have mixed for you; forsake folly, and you will live, and seek understanding, that you may live and attain wisdom in knowledge.” He who instructs the wicked will bring disgrace upon himself, and he who rebukes the wicked will bring shame upon himself. Do not rebuke the wicked, lest they hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you; give the wise a reason, and he will become even wiser; speak to the righteous, and he will pay attention. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the counsel of the saints is understanding; to know the Law is the attribute of a good mind: for in this way you will live a long time, and the years of your life will be increased.
Proverbs 9:1–11
By a Byzantine: In the sixth month, the Archistrategos was sent / to You, O Virgin and Pure One, / to proclaim to You the word of salvation, / and at the same time to cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You! / You will give birth to a Son, begotten of the Father from all eternity, / and He will save His people from their sins!”
Anatolia: In the sixth month, the Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven / to the Galilean town of Nazareth / to bring the joyful tidings to the Virgin. / And coming to her, he proclaimed, saying: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you; / Rejoice, Vessel of the Inconceivable Nature, / for He whom the heavens cannot contain / has been contained by your womb, O Blessed One; / Rejoice, Holy One, the restoration of Adam and the deliverance of Eve, / and the joy of the world, / and the gladness of our race!”
The Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven by God / to the Immaculate Virgin in the Galilean city of Nazareth / to announce to her the conception by a wondrous manner. / The incorporeal servant was sent / to the Living City and the Gate of Wisdom / to proclaim the coming of the Lord who had descended to us. / A heavenly warrior was sent to the Living Palace of Glory / to prepare a permanent dwelling for the Creator / and, coming to Her, cried out: / “Rejoice, throne of fire, / most glorious of the four-faced Cherubim; / Rejoice, seat of the Heavenly King; / Rejoice, indivisible mountain, most holy abode, / for in You the fullness of the Godhead has dwelt bodily / by the good pleasure of the eternal Father / and through the cooperation of the All-Holy Spirit; / Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, / for the Son, Eternal and Unbegun, like the Father, / and seated with Him on one throne, / filled with compassion and love for mankind, / humbled Himself / by the Father’s good pleasure and plan / and dwelt in the virgin’s womb, purified by the Spirit. / O wonder! God among men, / Incapable of being contained in a mother’s womb, / Eternal in time; / and most glorious of all is that the conception was without seed, / the humbling is beyond expression, and the mystery is so great! / For God Himself humbles Himself, becomes incarnate, and is created, / when the Angel proclaimed to the Pure One concerning the conception: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / who is rich in mercy!”
And now, Tone 2: Gabriel brings the good news to the Full of Grace on this day: / “Rejoice, O Virgin, unwedded and having known no man! / Do not be astonished by my unusual appearance, nor be afraid, / for I am the Archangel. / The serpent once deceived Eve, / but now I bring you the good news of joy, / and you will remain immaculate, / and you will give birth to the Lord, O Most Pure One!”
In the sixth month, the Archangel was sent to the Pure Virgin / and, crying out “Rejoice!” he proclaimed to her, / announcing the good news / that the Redeemer would be born of her. / Therefore, having accepted that greeting with faith, / she conceived You, the Eternal God, / who in an ineffable way was pleased to become incarnate / for the salvation of our souls.
Verse: Proclaim day after day / the salvation of our God. Ps 95:2a
The Mother of God heard / a language unknown to her: / for the Archangel proclaimed to her the words of the Gospel. / Therefore, having accepted his greeting with faith, / she conceived You, the Eternal God. / Therefore, we too, rejoicing, cry out to You: / “O God, who was unchangeably incarnate from her, / grant peace to the world / and great mercy to our souls!”
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; / sing to the Lord, all the earth! Ps 95:1
Behold, the call to salvation has now appeared to us: / God unites with humanity beyond all understanding, / and through the voice of the Archangel, error is driven away. / For the Virgin receives joy; / the earthly has become heavenly, / and the world is freed from the ancient curse. / Let all creation rejoice and sing with every voice: / “Our Creator and Redeemer, / O Lord, glory to You!”
On this day of joy, the Good News is proclaimed, the triumph of virginity, / the earthly is united with the heavenly. / Adam is renewed, / Eve is freed from her former sorrow, / and the tabernacle of our nature / through the deification of the incarnate nature / has become the temple of God. / O mystery! / The manner of the Incarnation is unknown, / the manner of the Conception is inexpressible: / The Angel ministers to the miracle, / the Virgin’s womb receives the Son, / the Holy Spirit is sent down, / the Father from on high is well-disposed, / and reconciliation is accomplished by common will. / Having received Him and been saved by Him, / together with Gabriel let us cry out to the Virgin: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / from you comes salvation—Christ our God: / having taken on our nature, He has exalted it to Himself. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls!”
On this day begins our salvation / and the manifestation of the eternal mystery: / The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / and Gabriel proclaims the good news of grace. / Therefore, we too, with him, shall cry out to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (3)
On this day the beginning of our salvation / and the manifestation of the eternal mystery: / The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / and Gabriel proclaims the good news of grace. / Therefore, together with him, let us cry out to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (3)
After the first stichera, both sedalena from the Triodion, without the ektenia, and the reading of the day.
The great commander / of the incorporeal hosts, / appearing in the city of Nazareth, / proclaims to You, Most Pure One, / the King and Lord of the ages, / crying out to You: “Rejoice, blessed Mary, / incomprehensible and inexpressible wonder, / the calling of mortals to God!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
On this day all creation rejoices, / for the Archangel proclaims to You, “Rejoice!”: / “Blessed are You, holy and pure, Ever-Virgin!” / On this day the pride of the serpent is darkened, / for the bonds of our forefather’s curse have been loosed. / Therefore, we too cry out to You in every way: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
With the words of the Archangel / we proclaim to You, O Pure One: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, / the Lord is with You!”
1 O God, grant Your judgment to the king, / and Your righteousness to the king’s son. 2 That he may judge Your people with righteousness / and Your poor in court. 1 He will judge the poor among the people and save the sons of the needy. 2 Proclaim day after day the salvation of our God. 1 The Lord will give those who proclaim His word great power. 2 The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on His word. 1 From the fruit of your womb I will set on your throne. 2 He will come down like rain upon the fleece. 1 And like a drop falling upon the earth. 2 He bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was under His feet. 1 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has chosen it as His dwelling place. 2 The Most High has sanctified His sanctuary. 1 God is in its midst; it shall not be moved. 2 He will have compassion on the needy and the poor, and He will save the lives of the poor. 1 All nations will serve Him as slaves. 2 They will bless Him all day long. 1 He will be a stronghold on the earth, on the peaks of the mountains. 2 May His name be blessed forever. 1 And in Him all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed. 2 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, the One who works wonders. 1 And blessed be the name of His glory forever and ever. 2 And the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. Amen, amen.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 71:1; 71:2; 71:4a; 95:2b; 67:12; 131:11a; 131:11b; 71:6a; 71:6b; 17:10; 131:13; 45:5b; 45:6a; 71:13; 71:11b; 71:15c; 71:16a; 71:17a; 71:17c; 71:18; 71:19a; 71:19b; 71:19c
Gabriel calls out from heaven: “Rejoice!” O Holy One, / for you will conceive in your womb the Eternal God, / who by His word created the ends of the world!” / To this Mary replied: / “I have no husband; how then can I bear a Son? / Who has ever seen a birth without a seed?” / And, explaining, the Angel spoke to the Mother of God and the Virgin: / “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, / and the power of the Most High will overshadow you!”
Glory, and now, the same voice: Gabriel was sent to the Virgin and the Pure One, / and revealed to her an unspeakable joy, / that she would conceive without seed and not lose her virginity: / “For you will give birth to the Son, the Eternal God, / and He will save His people from their sins. / And this is attested to / by the One who sent me to say to you, O Blessed One: Rejoice! / O Virgin, you will give birth / and remain a Virgin even after childbirth!”
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Proclaim day after day / the salvation of our God. Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Ps 95:2a, 1
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
In those days, Mary set out and traveled in haste to the hill country, to a town in Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child leaped for joy in my womb; and blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
On this day Gabriel brings the good news to the Blessed One: / “Rejoice, O Virgin, unwedded and having never known a man! / Do not be startled by my unusual appearance, / and do not be afraid, for I am the Archangel. / The serpent once deceived Eve, / but now I bring you glad tidings, / and you will remain spotless, / and you will give birth to the Lord, O Most Pure One!”
Canon of St. John of Damascus, Tone 4; the irmoses of the canon are sung twice, and the troparia are sung to Tone 12. The katavasia of the feast, both choirs together. In those songs where there is a tripesnes, we sing the feast’s katavasia with the irmos to Tone 6 and the tripesnes to Tone 8. The katavasia of the Triodion, both choirs together.
Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her conception.
Let David, your forefather, / sing to You, O Sovereign Lady, / as he strums the spiritual lyre: / “Hear, O Daughter, the joyful voice of the Angel; / for he reveals to you / an unspeakable joy!”
The Angel cried out: “With joy I call out to You: / ‘Incline Your ear and listen to me, / as I proclaim the conception of God without seed; / for You have found such grace before the Lord, O All-Pure One, / as no woman has ever found!’”
The Mother of God said: I would like to understand / the power of your words, Angel; / how will what you have said come to pass? / Speak as clearly as possible: / how will I, the immaculate Virgin, conceive? / And how will I become / the mother of my Creator?
The Angel exclaimed: “You think / that my words are deceptive, as it seems to me; / and I rejoice at your caution: / take courage, O Lady; / for when it pleases God, / even the extraordinary is easily accomplished.”
Irmos: O Mother of God, you are a living and abundant spring / for your hymn-singers, who have prepared a spiritual feast; / strengthen them, / and in your holy conception / grant them the crowns of glory.
The Mother of God said: There is no longer a prince from Judah, / and now the time has come / when the hope of the nations—Christ—will appear; / but explain to me, how can I, being a Virgin, / give birth to Him?
The angel exclaimed: “Do you seek, O Virgin, to learn from me / the manner of your conception? / But it is inexpressible; / the Holy Spirit will accomplish this, / overshadowing you with His creative power.”
The Mother of God said: “My foremother, having heeded the serpent’s suggestion, / was cast out from the place of divine bliss; / therefore, I too, fearing to slip, / am afraid of your unusual greeting.”
The angel cried out: “I, who stand before God, have been sent / to reveal the divine will to you; / why do you fear me, O All-Pure One, / when I fear you even more? / Why do you fear me, O Sovereign Lady, / when I reverently honor you?”
The Word of God has now come down to earth: / An angel appeared, calling out to the Virgin: / “Rejoice, O Blessed One, / You who have preserved the seal of virginity, / having received into your womb the eternal Word and Lord, / so that He might save the human race from error, as God!”
The Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven by God, / and soon appeared before the Living City, / speaking to Her plainly: / “You will receive the Creator in your womb, O Virgin, / and give birth to Him, who has taken on flesh without change. / Therefore, I have been sent to announce to You / this extraordinary birth, O Pure One, / and I stand here, calling out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride, who has never known marriage!”*
Irmos: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by a spotless hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”
The Mother of God said: I have heard the prophet / who foretold in ancient times / that a certain holy Virgin would give birth to Emmanuel; / but I wish to know: how will mortal nature / bear the union with the Godhead?
The angel proclaimed: “The thornbush, engulfed in flame / yet remaining unconsumed, / reveals the wondrous mystery taking place in you, / O Full of Grace, who have known no husband; / for even after giving birth, O Pure One, / you will remain a Virgin forever.”
The Mother of God said: Gabriel, herald of truth, / illuminated by the radiance of God the Almighty! / Speak the very truth: / how can I give birth to the Word, the Incarnate One who is incorporeal, / while preserving my purity intact?
The angel cried out: With fear, as a servant before his Lady, / I stand before You; / with reverence, O Virgin, / I dare not now even think of You; / for like rain upon fleece, / the Word of the Father will descend upon You, / according to His good pleasure.
Irmos: The whole world marveled / at Your divine glory: / for You, O Virgin who knew no marriage, / bore the Most High God in Your womb / and gave birth to the eternal Son, / who grants salvation to all who sing Your praises.
The Mother of God said: I cannot fully comprehend / the meaning of your words; / for miracles have occurred many times, / wrought by divine power, / signs and symbols of the law, / but a virgin, having never known a man, / has never given birth.
The angel exclaimed: “You are amazed, O All-Pure One; / and indeed, Your miracle is extraordinary; / for You alone will receive into Your womb / the King of all who is to be incarnated, / and the sayings and prophecies of the prophets / and the symbols of the Law will find their fulfillment in You.”
The Mother of God said: “He who is too great to be contained by the whole world / and invisible to all— / how can He dwell in the womb of a Virgin, / which He Himself created? / And how can I conceive the Word of God, who has no beginning, / just as the Father and the Spirit have none?”
The angel proclaimed: “He who promised David, your forefather, / to enthrone the Fruit of your womb on the throne of his kingdom, / has chosen you, the beauty of Jacob, as His own / in a dwelling of reason.”
Irmos: Foretelling the three-day burial, / the prophet Jonah, praying within the whale, cried out: / “Deliver me from destruction, / Jesus, King of the powers!”
The Theotokos said: Having received the joyful sound of your words, Gabriel, / I was filled with divine rejoicing, / for you bring joy / and proclaim endless gladness.
The angel proclaimed: “Divine joy has been given to you, Mother of God; / to you, Bride of God, all creation cries out, ‘Rejoice’: / for you alone, O Pure One, are destined / to be the mother of the Son of God.”
The Mother of God said: May Eve’s condemnation now be annulled through Me; / on this day, may her debt be repaid through Me; / through Me, may this ancient debt / be repaid in abundance.
The angel proclaimed: “God promised, O Pure One, to our forefather Abraham / that in his seed all nations would be blessed; / through You, this promise / is fulfilled on this day.”
To You, my Defender and Commander, / for deliverance from terrible calamities, / I, Your city, establish for You, O Mother of God, / feasts of thanksgiving for victory! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver me from all dangers, / that I may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”*
* Glory: To You, our Commander-in-Chief who defends us / for delivering us from terrible calamities / we, Your servants, establish for You celebrations of victory in thanksgiving, O Mother of God! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver us from all dangers, / so that we may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”
Ikos: An angel-messenger was sent from heaven / to say to the Mother of God: “Rejoice!” / And, beholding You, O Lord, / incarnate through this incorporeal cry, he marveled, / and stood, crying out to Her:
Rejoice, for through You joy will shine forth; / rejoice, for through You the curse will vanish.
Rejoice, the call to salvation for fallen Adam; / Rejoice, the deliverance of Eve from tears.
Rejoice, height beyond the reach of human thought; / Rejoice, depth impenetrable even to the eyes of the angels.
Rejoice, for You are the throne of the King; / Rejoice, for You bear the One who bears all things.
Rejoice, star that reveals the Sun; / Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation.
Rejoice, for through You creation is renewed; / rejoice, for in You the Creator becomes a Child.
Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!
Irmos: The godly-wise did not honor / creation more than the Creator, / but, having bravely overcome the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
The Mother of God said: Proclaiming that the incorporeal Light / will be united with corporeal flesh through great mercy, / you now proclaim to Me the joyful gospel, the divine message: / “Blessed, O All-Pure One, is the fruit of your womb!”
The angel cried out: Rejoice, Virgin Sovereign; / rejoice, All-Pure One; / rejoice, dwelling place of God; / rejoice, lamp of Light, / Adam’s call to salvation, / Eve’s redemption, holy mountain, / most radiant sanctuary and palace of immortality.
The Mother of God said: The indwelling of the All-Holy Spirit / has purified My soul and sanctified My body; / it has made Me a temple that contains God, / a tabernacle adorned by God, a living sanctuary, / and the pure Mother of Life.
The angel proclaimed: “I see You now / as a radiant lamp / and a palace created by God; / accept, O All-Pure One, / the golden ark of the Giver of the Law, / who was pleased to save / mortal human nature through You.”
Irmos: Listen, O Pure Virgin Maiden— / let Gabriel proclaim / the eternal and true plan of the Most High: / “Be ready to receive God; / for through You the Incomprehensible One will dwell with mortals; / therefore I joyfully exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
The Mother of God said: “Every mortal mind is bewildered,” /—replied the Virgin, /—“as it ponders the wondrous deeds of which you speak to Me; / I have received your words, but in amazement I fear / that you might, like Eve, lead me away from God by deception; / yet here you exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
The angel cried out: “Behold, your perplexity has now been resolved,” / – Gabriel said in response; – / “For as You have so well said with the words of Your mouth, / this matter is incomprehensible; / from now on, obeying, do not doubt it as if it were a fiction, / but believe it as reality; / for behold, I joyfully exclaim: / ‘Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!’”
The Mother of God said: “Such is the law from God for mortals,” /—the Immaculate One says at once—/ “that birth should come from mutual love; / but I know nothing at all of the joys of a husband and wife, / so how can you say that I must give birth? / I fear you may be speaking deceit; / yet here you are, at the same time, exclaiming: / ‘Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!’”
The angel cried out: “The words You speak to me, Most Honorable One,” /—the angel speaks again—/ “concern the ordinary birth of mortal men; / but I proclaim to You that the true God, / who is beyond both words and thought, / is incarnated from You, as He Himself knows; / and therefore I joyfully exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
"You appear to me as the herald of truth," concluded the Virgin, / "for you have come as a messenger of universal joy; / Therefore, since I am purified in soul and body, / let it be done to Me according to your word: / may God dwell within Me, / to Whom, together with you, I cry out: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
In the 9th canticle, we do not sing “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” but we sing the feast’s refrain:
Rejoice, O earth, with great joy; / Praise, O heavens, the glory of God.
And the irmos: “Let the living Ark of God…” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. For the troparia of the Trisagion, the refrain is: “Glory to You, our God, glory to You.” For the troparia of the Theotokos, the feast’s refrain is sung.
Irmos: May the living Ark of God / never be touched by the hand of the uninitiated, / but may the lips of the faithful, without ceasing, / singing the Angel’s cry, / call out to the Mother of God in joy: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
Having conceived God beyond all thought, / You have transcended the laws of nature, O Virgin: / for in childbirth You did not experience what is proper to mothers, / though by nature You are subject to change; / therefore You rightly hear: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
How do You produce milk, O Pure Virgin? / No mortal tongue can express it, / for You perform a work contrary to nature, / transcending the limits of ordinary childbirth; / therefore, You are rightly addressed: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
The Holy Scriptures speak mysteriously / of You, Mother of the Most High; / for Jacob, in ancient times, seeing the ladder, / which foreshadowed You, said: / “This is God’s dwelling place”; / therefore, You are worthy to hear: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
A wondrous sign was shown to Moses, the seer, / through the burning bush; / and seeking its fulfillment in later times, / he said: “I shall see this in the pure Virgin, / to whom, as the Mother of God, it shall be said: / ‘Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!’”
Daniel calls You a mountain of the mind; / Isaiah, the Mother of God; / Gideon sees You as a fleece; / David calls You the Holy One; / another calls You the gate; / and Gabriel exclaims to You: / “Hail, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
Then the irmos of the Triodion, the refrain, and the irmos of the feast—both choirs together.
The commander of the angelic hosts / was sent by God the Almighty to the Pure and Virgin / to proclaim an extraordinary and ineffable miracle: / that God, as a man, would become a child of her without seed, / recreating the entire human race. / Proclaim, O people, the rebirth of the world!
The mystery hidden from ages past / is revealed today: / God—the Word of God—becomes the Son of the Virgin Mary / through His mercy, / and Gabriel proclaims the joyful tidings. / With him let us all cry out: / “Rejoice, Mother of the Lord!”
Descending from the heavenly vaults to Nazareth, / Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, / calling out to her: “Rejoice! / You will conceive a Son, Who is older than Adam, / the Creator of all things and the Redeemer of those who call upon You: / Rejoice, O Pure One!”
The co-eternal Word of the Eternal Father, / without separating Himself from the heavenly realms, / has now appeared among mortals, out of utmost mercy, / filled with compassion for our downfall, / and, having taken upon Himself Adam’s poverty, / has clothed Himself in a form foreign to Himself.
Gabriel, bringing the good news from heaven to the Virgin, cried out: / “Rejoice! You will conceive in your womb / Him whom you can contain but whom the world cannot, / and you will be revealed as bearing within yourself / Him who shone forth from the Father before the morning star!”
The Super-essential Word, / having taken flesh within you / according to the Father’s plan, O Virgin Mother of God, / has restored our race, / which had fallen under the ancient curse. / Therefore—“Rejoice!”—to you, Mother of Christ, / we all cry out with faith, together with the Angel.*
The mystery hidden from ages past is revealed today, / and the Son of God becomes the Son of Man, / so that, by taking upon Himself the worst, He might bestow upon me the best. / Adam was deceived in ancient times / and, desiring to become God, failed to do so; / God becomes man, / so that He might make Adam a god. / Let creation rejoice, let nature exult, / for the Archangel stands before the Virgin in awe / and offers her the greeting “Rejoice!” in place of sorrow. / By Your compassionate mercy, You became incarnate, / our God, glory to You!
If it is Saturday or Sunday, the Great Doxology, the Ektenia, and the Dismissal are sung. If it is a fast day, we sing twice from the stichera of the day from the Triodion and the stichera to the martyrs at the stichera.
Glory, and now, on this feast day, Tone 8: Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, / for the Son, Eternal and Unbegun, like the Father, / and seated with Him on one throne, / filled with compassion and love for mankind, / humbled Himself / according to the Father’s good pleasure and plan / and dwelt in the virgin’s womb, purified by the Spirit. / O wonder! God among people, / Uncontainable in His mother’s womb, / Eternal in time; / and most glorious of all is that the conception was without seed, / the humbling is inexpressible, and the mystery is so great! / For God Himself humbles Himself, becomes incarnate, and is created, / when the Angel proclaimed to the Pure One concerning the conception: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / who is rich in mercy!”
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, may He have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
Or, according to the Greek tradition: Christ, our true God, who deigned to become incarnate for our sake, for the sake of mankind, and for our salvation through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
The 3rd and 6th Hours with kathismas, without bows. The troparion and kondakion of the feast. At the 6th Hour, we read the parimia from the Triodion. At the 9th Hour, a kathisma (if prescribed). Then the Beatitudes without singing or bows: “Remember us, O Lord”: The heavenly choir sings: “Glory”: The choir of holy Angels and Archangels: “And now”: The Creed. “Forgive, pardon, and remit”: “Our Father”: The kontakion of the feast. Lord, have mercy (40). Glory, and now: The highest honor of the Cherubim: And three great bows with the prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian, and the prayer: Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial dominion: And the dismissal. And we sing Vespers without a kathisma and without bows.
At “Lord, I have cried out,” we sing the day’s self-praise from the Triodion twice, without the martyrs’ hymn, and three similar hymns from the Triodion, three for the feast, and three for the Archangel.
In the sixth month, the Archangel was sent to the Pure Virgin / and, crying out, “Rejoice!” proclaiming to her, / he announced the good news, / that the Redeemer would be born of her. / Therefore, having accepted that greeting with faith, / she conceived You, the Eternal God, / who in an ineffable way was pleased to become incarnate / for the salvation of our souls.
The Mother of God heard a language unknown to her: / for the Archangel proclaimed to her the words of the Gospel. / Therefore, having accepted his greeting with faith, / she conceived You, the Eternal God. / That is why we, rejoicing, cry out to You: / “God, who was unchangeably incarnated from her, / grant peace to the world / and great mercy to our souls!”
Behold, the call to salvation has now appeared to us: / God unites with humanity in a way beyond understanding, / and through the Archangel’s voice, error is driven away. / For the Virgin receives joy; / the earthly has become heavenly, / and the world is freed from the ancient curse. / Let creation rejoice and sing with every voice: / “Our Creator and Redeemer, / O Lord, glory to You!”
Gabriel, the greatest in wisdom, / most godlike, radiant, and heavenly, / beholding the Tri-Sun Light / and contemplating Him with the heavenly hosts, / proclaimed the divine and awe-inspiring mystery / upon arriving at the Virgin’s side, / and intercedes for our souls.
The great mystery, / previously unknown to the angels / and hidden from the beginning of time, / was entrusted to you alone, Gabriel, / and you revealed it solely to the Pure One, having come to Nazareth. / Pray, then, together with Her, / that peace and great mercy / may be granted to our souls.
Refrain for the 11th stichera: You create Your angels as spirits, / and Your servants as flames of fire. Psalm 103:4
Always filled with light, / and carrying out the will and fulfilling the commands of the Almighty, / the chief of the angels, / most excellent Gabriel, / save those who honor you with love, / always asking / that you grant our souls / peace and great mercy.
The Archangel Gabriel was sent from heaven / to foretell the conception to the Virgin; / and, having come to Nazareth, / he pondered within himself this miracle, marveling at how / the Most High, being incomprehensible, could be born of a Virgin? / He whose throne is heaven and whose footstool is the earth / fits within a woman’s womb? / He whom the six-winged and many-eyed beings cannot behold / deigned, by a single word, to be incarnated from her. / The Word of God—He is the One who appears here! / Why then do I stand here and not proclaim to the Virgin: / “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you; / rejoice, O Pure Virgin; / rejoice, O Bride who has known no marriage; / rejoice, O Mother of Life, / blessed is the Fruit of your womb!”
The priest performs the Proskomedia while the stichera are being read.
Entrance. Prokeimenon and readings from the Triodion. And two readings for the feast:
Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God, and the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. And he saw that the bush was on fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I will go over and see this great sight—why the bush is not consumed.” When the Lord saw that he was coming near to look, the Lord called to him from the bush, saying, “Moses! Moses!” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And He said, “Do not come any closer; take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” And He said to him, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” But Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. And the Lord said to Moses, “I have looked upon the affliction of My people in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land and to bring them into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Exodus 3:1–8
The Lord made me the beginning of His ways, for His works. He established me before the ages, at the beginning, before He created the earth, before He created the deeps, before the springs of water came into being, before the mountains were set in place, and before all the hills—He brought me forth. The Lord created the nations, the desolate places, and the ends of the inhabited earth under the heavens. When He prepared the heavens, I was there with Him; and when He established His throne upon the winds, when He made the high clouds firm, when He gave stability to the springs of the heavens, when He set a boundary for the sea so that the waters would not cross its limits, and when He made the foundations of the earth firm, I was there with Him, helping to bring everything into being; I was the delight of His heart, and I rejoiced before Him day after day, at all times.
Proverbs 8:22–30
The Small Ektenia. The Trisagion. And then we celebrate the Liturgy.
On Saturday or Sunday, when the Liturgy is not celebrated after Vespers, we sing the figurative hymns. The “Blessed Are”: from the canon of the feast, stanzas 3 and 6.
If the rector so desires, we sing the antiphons of the feast.
Verse 1: O God, grant Your judgment to the king, / and Your righteousness to the king’s son. Ps 71:1
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 2: May the mountains bring peace to the people, / and the hills—righteousness. Psalm 71:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 3: Proclaim day after day / the salvation of our God. Cf. Ps 95:2b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 4: The Lord swore to David in truth / and will not go back on His word. Ps 131:11
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 1: He will come down like rain upon the fleece, / and like a drop falling upon the earth. Psalm 71:6
Save us, O Son of God, who became incarnate for our sake, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: The Most High has sanctified / His dwelling place. Ps 45:5b
Save us, O Son of God, who became incarnate for our sake, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: God will surely come, / our God, and He will not remain silent. Ps 49:2b–3a
Save us, O Son of God, who became incarnate for our sake, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: Righteousness will shine forth in his days / and an abundance of peace. Ps 71:7
Save us, O Son of God, who became incarnate for our sake, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: May His name be blessed forever. Ps 71:17a
On this day, the beginning of our salvation / and the manifestation of the eternal mystery: / The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / and Gabriel proclaims the good news of grace. / Therefore, let us join him in crying out to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
Verse 2: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, / the One who works wonders. Ps 71:18
Troparion: On this day, the beginning of our salvation:
Stanza 3: Blessed be the name of His glory / forever and ever. Ps 71:19a
Troparion: On this day the beginning of our salvation:
Verse: Proclaim day after day the salvation of our God. Cf. Ps 95:2b
Chorus: Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. / Save us, O Son of God, / who became incarnate for our sake, as we sing to You: / Alleluia.
On this day begins our salvation / and the manifestation of the eternal mystery: / the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / and Gabriel proclaims the good news of grace. / Therefore, let us also cry out with him to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
To you, our Defender and Commander, / for deliverance from terrible calamities, / we, your servants, O Mother of God, / offer you celebrations of victory in thanksgiving! / But you, possessing invincible power, / deliver us from all dangers, / that we may cry out to you: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”(*)
Proclaim day after day / the salvation of our God.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Ps 95:2b, 1
Brethren, both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from the One; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children God has given me.” And since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He likewise shared in their nature, so that through death He might deprive the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—of his power, and deliver those who, through fear of death, had been subjected to slavery all their lives. For He certainly does not take on the nature of angels, but He takes on the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to become like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Heb 2:11–18
Verse: He will come down like rain upon the fleece, like a drop falling upon the earth. Verse: May His name be blessed forever; His name endures before the sun. Ps 71:6, 17a
In those days Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, conceived and hid herself from everyone for five months, saying, “This is what the Lord has done for me in these days, when it pleased Him to take away my disgrace among people.” In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, the angel said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled by his words and wondered what this greeting might mean. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name: Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David, His father; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is her sixth month, though she was once called barren; for with God nothing will fail.” Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:24–38
Rejoice, O earth, with great joy; / praise, O heavens, the glory of God.
Irmos, Tone 4: May the living Ark of God / never be touched by the hand of the uninitiated, / but may the lips of the faithful, without ceasing, / singing the Angel’s cry, / call out to the Mother of God in joy: / “Truly, You are above all, O Pure Virgin!”
The Lord has chosen Zion, / He has chosen it as His dwelling place. / Alleluia. (3) Ps 131:13
June 24
Born of a barren womb, / you who have put an end to the barrenness of our hearts / and bestow the fruit of faith and truth—the Word— / upon barren souls, / glorious Forerunner of Christ’s coming. / As the gracious voice of the Word, / the thunderous herald of repentance, / the Divine Mediator of the Old and New Covenants, / He is clearly recognized—the One whose birth / we joyfully celebrate with love.
Now the calf, nourished by abstinence, / was born of the barren one, / revealing to us the Lamb, / born of the Virgin-Maiden / and lifting the world from sin. / The desert-loving dove has clearly appeared, / revealing the Divine Spring, / with which the most grievous winter of godlessness has come to an end. / And the Bridegroom’s sincere friend / has openly arrived—John, / interceding for the salvation of our souls.
According to the divine promise of your birth, / when the most exalted and divine Archangel / announced your birth to your father, / who was praying in your temple. / Then, as it is written, Gabriel struck the priest—who did not believe and spoke against it—with silence and deafness, / until the very day of your birth. / But you, O Forerunner, having been born, / freed your father from the bonds of speech, O blessed one, / and intercede for us all.
Glory, Tone 8. Autologous: Fragrance befits John, / beauty of song befits the Baptist, / for he proclaimed the beginning of our salvation. / He is the one who leaped in the womb / and cried out in the wilderness, “Repent,” / the King’s warrior, the Forerunner of grace, / who proclaimed the Lamb / and intercedes for our souls before the Savior.
And now, O Mother of God: O Sovereign Lady, accept the prayers of Your servants, / and deliver us from every misfortune and sorrow.
Speak clearly, Zechariah, / proclaiming openly: / “This child will be a prophet of the Most High / and the forerunner of God the Word.”
Verse: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, / for He has visited and brought redemption to His people.
You have appeared, John, from your mother’s womb / set apart for God: / for no one greater than you / has ever arisen among mortals.
Verse: And you, O child, / shall be called a prophet of the Most High.
You, O all-blessed one, put an end to your father’s barrenness, just as you broke the bonds of your mother’s childlessness, being born by divine grace.
Glory, and now, Tone 8: Behold Elizabeth, conversing with the Virgin Mary: / “Why have you come to me, Mother of my Lord? / You bear the King, and I bear a warrior. / You bear the Lawgiver, and I bear the one who brings the law. / You are the Word, and I am the voice / proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven!”
Prophet and Forerunner of Christ’s coming, / we cannot worthily praise you, / though we honor you with love; / for the barrenness of your mother and the silence of your father came to an end / with your glorious and holy birth, / and the Incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: The mystery hidden from ages past / and unknown even to the angels, / has been revealed through you, O Mother of God, to those living on earth— / God, incarnate in the unconfused union of two natures, / who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake— / through it He raised the first Adam from the dead / and saved our souls from death.
After the customary psalm, we sing: “Blessed is the man”: 1st antiphon.
John the Monk: Zechariah’s silence is broken / by John, who was born, / for it was not fitting for the father to remain silent when the Voice was heard; / but just as he had previously bound his tongue because of unbelief, / so he appeared to grant his father deliverance— / to the one who heard the Good News, / and from whom was born the Voice of the Word / and the Forerunner of the Light, interceding for our souls.
On this day, the Voice of the Word, / the father’s voice, held back because of unbelief, is released / and reveals to the Church the abundance of children, / breaking the bonds of the mother’s barrenness. / The Lamp of Light comes, / whose radiance heralds the coming of the Sun of Righteousness / for the renewal of all / and the salvation of our souls.
Anatolius: When the Word of God was about to be born of the Virgin, / a herald came forth from the loins of the elderly, / great among those born of women / and greater than a prophet: / for it was fitting that divine works / should have an extraordinary beginning: / childbirth not according to age / and conception without seed. / You who work miracles for our salvation, / glory to You!
St. Andrew of Crete: On this day the great Forerunner appeared, / having come forth from the barren womb of Elizabeth, / the prophet greater than all the prophets, / to whom there is none like him and none has arisen: / for after the lamp—the Forerunner—comes the most radiant Light, / and after the voice—the Word, / and after the one who prepares the wedding—the Bridegroom. / He prepared a special people for the Lord / and purified them with water for the Holy Spirit, / the son of Zechariah and the most beautiful child of the desert, / the herald of repentance, / the purifier from sins, / the one who proclaimed the resurrection from the dead to those in Hades / and who intercedes for our souls.
As a prophet and forerunner of Christ, / you appeared from the womb, John, / leaping for joy in your mother’s womb / when you saw the Queen coming to her servant, / bearing the Timeless One, born of the Father without a mother, / to you, who shone forth from a barren woman and an elderly man according to the promise. / Pray to Him for the mercy of our souls.
O wondrous miracle! / He who did not believe the word of the Angel, / who announced that Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son; / he who said: “How can she give birth? / For I am old, and her body is withered?” / the one who was condemned to silence for his unbelief, / sees on this day the birth of the One promised / and, freed from his silence, enters into joy, / crying out, “Blessed,” – “O Lord, God of Israel, / who has visited and brought redemption to His people, / bestowing great mercy upon the world!”
John, the all-praised / and universal apostle, / the herald of Gabriel, / the branch of the barren tree, / the most beautiful offspring of the desert, / and the true friend of Christ the Bridegroom! / Pray to Him for mercy upon our souls.
Glory, Tone 6. Byzantine: On this day, the lamp of Light / prepares the way for the coming of the Word of God, / like a bright star; / on this day, Zechariah’s tongue found its voice, / having learned silence at the Angel’s command; / for it was fitting that the father of the Word / should no longer remain silent, / when He came forth from the womb of the barren one, / but should proclaim the redemption of the whole world / with great boldness.
And now, the same voice: Elizabeth conceived the Forerunner of grace, / while the Virgin conceived the Lord of glory; / the two mothers kissed one another, / and the infant leaped for joy, / for the servant within praised the Lord. / Amazed, the mother of the Forerunner began to exclaim: / “Why is this granted to me, / that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? / —To save those who have despaired!” / O You who are full of great mercy, glory to You!
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast:
The Lord God said to Abraham: “Sarah, your wife, shall no longer be called by her name Sarah, but her name shall be Sarai; and I will bless her and give you a child by her; and I will bless him, and he shall be the father of nations, and kings of nations shall come from him.” And Abraham fell on his face [and laughed], and he said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” Then God said to Abraham, “Yes! Behold, Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant.” Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “This has never happened to me before, and my lord is old!” And the Lord God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh to herself, saying, ‘Can I really give birth—now that I am old?’—No word of God will fail!”
And the Lord looked upon Sarah, just as He had said. And she conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, [at the time] the Lord (God) had told him. And he circumcised him on the eighth day, as the Lord God had commanded him. Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “The Lord (God) has brought me laughter; for whoever hears this will rejoice with me!” And she said, “Who will tell Abraham that Sarah is nursing a child? For I have borne a son in my old age!” And the child grew and was weaned; and Abraham held a great feast on the day his son Isaac was weaned.
Gen. 17:15–17, 19; 18:11–14; 21:1–2, 4–8
In those days there was a man from the tribe of Dan, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had never given birth. Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have never given birth, but you will conceive and bear a son.” “Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean; for behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the child will be a Nazirite to God from the womb.”
So the woman went and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, very glorious. And he said [to me], ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son; And now [be careful, and] do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, for the child will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.” Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “Please, Lord, let the man of God whom You sent to us come to me again, and let him instruct us on what we are to do with the child who is to be born.” And the Angel [of God] came to Manoah and said, “Let him be careful to observe everything I told your wife; let him not taste anything produced from the vine, and let him not drink wine or strong drink.” And Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is your name? So that, when your word comes true, we may honor you.” And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond comprehension.” And the Angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah and his wife again.
Judges 13:2–8, 13–14, 17–18, 21
Thus says the Lord: “Comfort, comfort my people,” says God. “O priests, speak tenderly to Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation has come to an end; her sin has been blotted out, for she has received from the Lord’s hand double punishment for her sins.” A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight!” [Every ravine shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.]
Climb the high mountain, you who bring good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good news to Jerusalem! Lift up your voice; do not be afraid: I am the Lord God; I, the God of Israel, will hear you and will not forsake them, but I will open rivers on the mountains and springs in the valleys; I will turn the wilderness into pastures and the parched land into springs of water.
Let the heavens rejoice above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth bring forth and cause mercy to spring up, and let righteousness spring up with it. Proclaim a message of joy, and let it be heard to the ends of the earth. Say that the Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob, and if they thirst in the wilderness, He will bring water for them from the rock.
Rejoice, you barren one who has not borne children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor; for the children of the forsaken woman are more numerous than those of the married woman!
Isaiah 40:1–3, 9; 41:17–18; 45:8; 48:20–21; 54:1
O mountains, pour forth sweet drops, / and hills, leap for joy like lambs, / for he has been born of Elizabeth, / the one who is to dwell among us—the Lord’s Forerunner, / who, at his birth, / put an end to his own father’s silence. / Therefore, we too cry out to him: / “Baptist of Christ, intercede / for the salvation of our souls!”
Voice marked by God, / Lamp of Light, Forerunner of the Lord, / who received testimony from Christ, / as the first of the prophets, / interceding for the world, / pray especially / for the preservation of your flock unharmed.
You became the herald of the Lamb of God and the Word, / John the Prophet and Forerunner, / prophesying of what is to come and announcing to the ends of the earth: / “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world / and bestows great mercy upon all!”
Glory, Tone 5. Andrew of Crete: The pinnacle of the prophets and the beginning of the apostles, / the earthly Angel and the heavenly man, / the voice of the Word, the warrior and Forerunner of Christ, / who, according to the promise given concerning him, rejoiced in advance / and proclaimed the Sun of Righteousness even before his birth, / on this day Elizabeth gives birth and rejoices, / and Zechariah marvels, one of the council of elders, / who had previously been subjected to silence as if to chains. / And now, as the father of the Voice, he prophesies most clearly: / “For you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High / and will go before Him to prepare His way!” / Therefore, O Angel, prophet, apostle, warrior, / Forerunner, Baptist, and herald of repentance, / and guide to the Light, as the voice of the Word, / intercede ceaselessly for us, / who celebrate your memory with faith.
And now, the same voice: Temple and door, palace and throne of the King— / You, O Most Honorable Virgin; / through You, my Redeemer, Christ the Lord, / appeared to those sleeping in darkness, like the Sun of Righteousness, / desiring to enlighten those whom He created / with His own hand in His own image. / Therefore, All-Glorified One, / having attained a motherly boldness toward Him, / intercede unceasingly / for the salvation of our souls.
Born of a prophet, a prophet himself, / and a branch of the barren one, / among those born of women, the greatest of all, / the citizen of the desert, the glorious John, / let us praise him with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, / crying out to him: / “Baptizer of the Savior and Forerunner, / as one who has boldness, / on the day of your holy birth / implore Christ to grant peace to the world / and great mercy to our souls!”
Verse: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, / who has visited and brought redemption to His people.
The Voice of the Word’s grace has come, / the herald of the Sun, / born on this day of a barren and childless woman, / according to the promise—John the Forerunner. / Rejoice, O people: / he has come to prepare for us the way of salvation, / and he worshiped Him, leaping for joy, / while He was still in His Mother’s womb— / the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world / and grants us great mercy.
Verse: And you, child, / will be called a prophet of the Most High.
Sanctified from his mother’s womb / and having received the fullness of prophecy, / on this day he is born of the barren one, / clearly proclaiming the coming of the Lord: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”
Glory, Tone 8. By the nun Cassia: Today the prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled / on this day, at the birth of John, the greatest of the prophets: / “For behold,” it is said, “I will send My Angel before Your face, / who will prepare Your way before You.” / And he, like a warrior, hastening ahead of the Heavenly King, / truly prepared the right paths for our God; / He was human by nature, yet an angel in his way of life, / for, having loved perfect purity and chastity, / he possessed what was in accordance with nature, / while avoiding what was contrary to nature, / striving to rise above nature. / We, all the faithful, imitating him in his virtues, / pray that he intercede for us / for the salvation of our souls.
And now, the same voice says: Look upon Elizabeth, conversing with the Virgin Mary: / “Why have you come to me, Mother of my Lord? / You bear a King, and I bear a warrior. / You bear the Lawgiver, and I bear the one who enacts the law. / You are the Word, and I am the voice / proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven!”
At the blessing of the loaves, the troparion, tone 4, twice, and “The Virgin Mother of God:” once.
Prophet and Forerunner of Christ’s coming, / we cannot worthily praise you, / though we honor you with love; / for the barrenness of your mother and the silence of your father came to an end / with your glorious and holy birth, / and the Incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
Prophet and Forerunner of Christ’s coming, / we cannot worthily praise you, / though we honor you with love; / for the barrenness of your mother and the silence of your father came to an end / with your glorious and holy birth, / and the Incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world. (2)
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: The mystery hidden from ages past / and unknown to the angels, / has been revealed through you, O Mother of God, to those living on earth— / God, incarnate in the unconfused union of two natures, / who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake— / through it He raised Adam, the first man, / and saved our souls from death.
Now the offspring of Zechariah has sprung up for us / and gladdens the minds of the faithful with wise thoughts, / the adornment of the desert and the foundation of the prophets; / therefore he appeared as Christ’s Forerunner / and a witness, free from falsehood, to His coming. / Therefore, with spiritual hymns let us cry out in unison to the Forerunner: / “Prophet and herald of the truth, / pray for our salvation!”
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: Joseph was astonished, beholding the supernatural, / and comprehended with his mind Your seedless conception, O Mother of God, / the rain that fell on the fleece, the thornbush that was not consumed by fire, / and Aaron’s rod that blossomed. / And he, Your betrothed and guardian, / testifying before the priests, exclaimed: / “A virgin gives birth and remains a virgin even after childbirth!”
The beginning of Christ’s coming / you were truly born in an extraordinary way, / John, all-praised, head of the prophets, / and, as the voice of the Word, you exclaimed: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” / Therefore, having prepared the way for the Lord, / you appeared as the Forerunner of grace to the ends of the earth. / Baptist and apostle, pray to Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, / heal the heavy passions of my soul, I pray, / and grant forgiveness for my sins, / which I committed in folly, / defiling both soul and body, wretched as I am. / Woe is me! What shall I do at that hour / when the Angels separate my soul from my passionate body? / Then, O Lady, be my helper and most tender intercessor, / for I have You as my hope, / Your unworthy servant.
We magnify you, / John, Forerunner of the Savior, / and we honor your glorious birth / from a barren womb.
1 Chorus: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people. 2 And He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, His servant. 1 The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on His word. 2 “There I will raise up a horn for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.” 1 “His offspring will be mighty on earth.” 2 “The generation of the righteous will be blessed.” 1 “To serve Him in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.” 2 “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.” 1 For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways. 2 To make His people know salvation. 1 Through the forgiveness of their sins, according to the abundance of the mercy of our God. 2 To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Luke 1:68; 1:69; 131:11; 131:17; 111:2; 1:75; 1:76a; 1:76b; 1:77–78; 1:79
Let the father and mother rejoice, / for on this day you have given birth to a prophet on earth, / the Forerunner called by God according to the promise. / The barren woman nurses the infant Baptist at her breast, / and Zechariah rejoices, proclaiming to the newborn: / “My tongue has been loosed by your coming to earth, / lamp of the great Light. / Truly, an unheard-of miracle!”
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: We give thanks to You always, O Mother of God, / and we magnify You, O Pure One, and we worship You, / singing of the birth of Christ from You, O Full of Grace, / crying out unceasingly: / “Save us, O All-Merciful Virgin, as the Good One, / and deliver us from the dreadful struggle with the demons in the hour of trial, / that we, Your servants, may not be put to shame!”*
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
And you, child, / will be called a prophet of the Most High. Verse: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people. Luke 1:68, 76
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
In those days, Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, conceived and hid herself from everyone for five months, saying, “This is what the Lord has done for me in these days, when it pleased Him to take away my disgrace among people.” When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother said, “No, he shall be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one in your family who has that name.” And they asked his father by signs what he wanted to name him. And when he was given a tablet, he wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear fell upon all who lived around them, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these events. And all who heard them pondered them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zechariah, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.” The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared before Israel.
Luke 1:24–25, 57–68, 76, 80
Sanctified from his mother’s womb / and having received the fullness of prophecy, / on this day he is born of a barren woman, / clearly proclaiming the coming of the Lord: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”
Two canons: the first, composed by St. John of Damascus, with an irmos in tone 8, tone 4. The other canon, composed by St. Andrew of Crete in tone 6, same tone.
Canon 1. Irmos: Like a mighty charioteer, / Born of the Virgin, / immerse my threefold soul / in the depths of dispassion, I pray, / so that I may sing to You, as on a tympanum, / after the death of the body, / a song of victory.
Like the beautiful morning, / preceding the Sun, / the offspring of the barren one clearly proclaims / the One borne in the Virgin’s womb, / now the Lord of the entire universe, / so that the light of piety and grace / may shine to the ends of the earth.
“You will truly be called a prophet of the Most High, / for you will go before the face of Christ, / to prepare the way for the Creator!”— / thus John the Glorious calls out to you, his son, / Zechariah, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Having heard the words of the divine message / from Gabriel, / Zechariah proved disobedient / and was condemned to silence; / but he was suddenly released from it: / for the voice of the Word was born— / John the Forerunner.
Theotokos: City of God, sacred Treasure, / who received God, the King of all, / Immaculate Mother of God, preserve Your inheritance, / which always praises You / and honors with faith the One born of You.
Canon 2 (translated from Slavonic: the Greek Menaion contains a different canon)
Irmos: To Him who guided Israel in ancient times, / as they fled from Pharaoh’s bondage, / and who sustained them in the wilderness, / let us sing—to the Deliverer, our God, / for He has been glorified.
The elder’s silence bears the image / of the mystery of the written Law. / For with the coming of grace, Moses falls silent: / for with the appearance of the Treasure of Wisdom, / all were called to be silent.
When the priest was offering incense in the temple, / an angel appeared from above and proclaimed: / “I have come to bring you, elder, / the good news of an extraordinary birth: / for you will receive from a barren womb the fruit of birth— / the Forerunner of Christ!”
Why are you surprised, old man? / Why do you stand there, not believing the one who proclaims this to you? / For the one who proclaims is an angel, / though he takes the form of a man. / Be silent for a time, / until the voice of the Word is born.
He who made Zechariah’s silence / a symbol of the silence of the written Law / and thereby revealed to me the preacher, / who calls for repentance, / grants a son to the barren woman— / the Voice crying out in the wilderness.
O glorious deeds of Christ’s Forerunner! / He who, even before his swaddling clothes, / knew Him who broke our bonds and sanctified the nations, / on this day, having been born of Elizabeth, / restores his voice to his father.
Theotokos: You, the Temple of God / and the spiritual ladder / by which God descended, / and, having taken on human form, / raised our nature to Heaven— / we all praise you as the Mediatrix of salvation.
Katavasia: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her wonders.
Canon 1. Irmos: We do not boast of wisdom, nor of power, nor of wealth, / but of You, Christ, the Hypostatic Wisdom of the Father: / for there is none so holy / as You, Lover of Mankind.
The Lord’s birth is from the Virgin, / but that of the beloved servant—from an elderly and barren mother: / for a miracle, as it should be, precedes a miracle.
The aged and barren woman / kisses the Virgin Mother, / having come to know without a doubt that through Her Child / the bonds of barrenness have been loosed / by Divine will.
Theotokos: You who bore God incarnate in your womb, without knowing marriage! / Strengthen me, who am shaken by the assaults of the passions: / for there is no helper like You, Most Pure One!
Canon 2. Irmos: You who establish the thunder and create the spirit, / establish me, O Lord, / that I may sing of You in truth / and do Your will, / for there is none holy like You, our God.
Elizabeth, who was once barren, / foreshadowed Your Church, Christ, / called from all nations; / and, having given birth gloriously, she is once again shown to be fruitful, / she who was once barren.
Having prepared the way for the Lord, / having made ready a path for Him, / you also pointed out to people the fruits of repentance, / and taught them the way of life, / O prophet and forerunner of Christ.
On this day, Elizabeth, rejoicing, / holds you, Forerunner, in her aged arms / and exclaims, praising: / “There is no one holy like You, O Lord, our God!”
Theotokos: You have dispelled the sorrow of the forefathers, / having given birth to our joy—the Giver of Life and the Redeemer; / pray earnestly to Him, Most Pure Theotokos, / for the salvation of Your flock.
Katavasia: O Mother of God, / you are a living and abundant spring / for your hymnographers, who have prepared this spiritual feast; / strengthen them, / and in your divine glory / grant them the crowns of glory.
The voice of Zechariah clearly proclaimed, / when the Voice of the Word—the Forerunner—was born, / and revealed to all the barrenness of the Law, crying out: / “Repent, you who dwell on earth, / for Jesus has come and appeared / to deliver all from the ancient curse, enlightening them through Baptism. / Truly, a most glorious miracle!*
Like the bright sun, from Elizabeth’s womb / the son of Zechariah shone forth upon us; / and he breaks his father’s silence, / and calls out to all people with great boldness: / “Prepare the way of the Lord, for He will come / and save those who turn to Him!” / O John, whom you foreshadowed, / pray for our salvation!
And now, O Mother of God: You, the Pure One, have renewed through the Divine Birth from You / the mortal nature of those born on earth, which had decayed in the passions, / and have raised all from death to incorruptible life. / Therefore, we all rightly call You blessed, / O Most Glorified Virgin, just as You foretold!”*
Canon 1. Irmos: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by an immaculate hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”
The ineffable mysteries are preceded by a mystery— / the renewal of the laws given to nature, / foreshadowing its deliverance from infirmity, / its restoration, O Christ, and its deification.
Isaiah, by the Father, uttered a prophecy, / addressed to the Son, Who was to become incarnate: / “Behold, I send before Your face a mortal Messenger, yet equal to the Angels, / who cries out: / Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”
I was born to serve as a servant to the Lord: / for this is why I came— / to proclaim His coming, / and so that the birth from the Virgin might be confirmed in advance / by the barren old woman who miraculously bore a child.
Theotokos: The Holy Mother of God, / in whom the Pre-divine Word of the Father / deigned to dwell as in a fragrant dwelling, / experienced neither the corruption of the womb nor the pangs of childbirth, / and truly gave birth to Emmanuel—the God-man.
Canon 2. Irmos: I have heard of Your glorious providence, Christ God, / that You were born of the Virgin, / to deliver those who cry out from deception: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Repentance was revealed through your birth, / Forerunner and Herald. / For you alone preached, exclaiming: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Virginity is affirmed and chastity triumphs, / the wilderness rejoices and the world celebrates / at your birth, Forerunner.
Elizabeth rejoices, and Zechariah speaks again: / behold, both of them, through the voice of John, / are suddenly renewed and enlightened in their old age.
Theotokos: Like the unburned bush / the Lawgiver saw You in ancient times, / while Daniel beheld You as a holy mountain, / O only Virgin Mother, Sovereign Lady.
Katavasia: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by a spotless hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”
Canon 1. Irmos: “Now I will arise,” God said prophetically, / “now I will be exalted, now I will be glorified,” / having taken the nature of the fallen from the Virgin / and raising it up to the wondrous light / of My Divinity.
The earth has brought forth the true herald in all things, / a voice preaching to all in the language of the Spirit, / about the Son of the Virgin, the Truth, who has stooped down to us from Heaven / in a material body.
The Lord has made you, in every way, / a true lamp of Christ, enlightening all, / clothing only those who are at enmity with Him / in shame as in a garment, / truly proclaiming the Word of God—the Son.
All creation rejoices, inspired by God, / at your birth: / for you, O Forerunner, have appeared / as an earthly angel and a heavenly man, / foretelling to us / the incarnation of the Heavenly God.
Theotokos: From You, O Father, is born the One Who Is, / the eternal Word, always inseparable from You as the Only-Begotten Son, / and He Himself is finally incarnated from the Virgin / by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.*
Canon 2. Irmos: Let the light of Your commandments shine upon me, O Lord, / for from the break of dawn my spirit longs for You and sings Your praises: / for You are our God, / and to You I flee, O King of the world.
You have prepared a star, O Sun of Righteousness, /—Your Forerunner John the Baptist, / born on this day according to the promise / and who silenced his father’s voice.
Do not speak, do not object, O sanctified elder, / for Gabriel is addressing you, / the first of the Archangels, who reveals / the mysteries of God and His coming among us.
Elder, do not be unbelieving, / for God gives the promise / that in your old age you will bear a son, / at whose birth many will rejoice, / for he will come in the power of Elijah.
Prophet, herald, Forerunner, / sprung from a barren womb, preacher of repentance, / sheep of the wilderness, lamp of the Light, / pray for all who honor you with faith.
Theotokos: Like an impassable gate, / and a thornbush that was not consumed by fire, / and an unsplit mountain, / from which the Rock was hewn—the One who is incarnate from You, / we sing to You, O Sovereign Lady, / Mother of the Creator of all.
Katavasia: The whole world marveled / at Your divine glory: / for You, the Virgin who knew no marriage, / bore the Most High God in Your womb / and gave birth to the eternal Son, / who grants peace to all who sing Your praises.
Canon 1. Irmos: I entered the depths of the sea, / and the storm of my many sins overwhelmed me; / but, as God, lift my life / from the depths, O Most Merciful One.
You recognized God the Word, as a prophet, in your mother’s womb, / and, speaking through her, / you teach theology in the dark palace, / beholding the Inaccessible Light.
Without ceasing, like the voice of the One who cries out, / do not stop imploring the Redeemer of the world / to put an end to the spiritual barrenness / of those who sing of your Nativity, O Baptist.
Theotokos: Your pure womb, O Mother of God, / became the dwelling place of the Inaccessible Divinity, / upon which the heavenly hosts / cannot gaze without fear.
Canon 2. Irmos: The storm of thoughts, overtaking me, / drags me into the depths of boundless sins, / but You, O Good Helmsman, appear swiftly, / guide me, as You did the prophet, and save me.
On this day, John, the citizen of the desert, is born, / the preacher of repentance and true witness to grace, / the Forerunner of the Word and the star / shining before the appearance of the Light.
On this day, the forged axe / offers souls the chance to cut away barrenness / and plants the fruits of virtue: / behold, it draws near unceasingly / with your birth, Forerunner.
The Jordan rejoices gloriously / and celebrates, comprehending what has come to pass, / hearing of John, born of a barren womb, / while the sea exults, playing with its waters.
The lamp that appeared before the coming of the Light / proclaimed the Lamb of God, the Savior, / who kindled light upon the earth, / and who, from all creation, / was spiritually destined as a sacrifice.
Theotokos: You who gave birth to the abyss of mercy! / Having drowned the abyss of my passions in the depths of Your compassion, / grant me a torrent of tears from the heart, / O Immaculate Mother of God.
Katavasia: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, / let us begin to applaud, / glorifying the God born of her.
Once barren, on this day she gives birth to Christ’s Forerunner, / and he is the fulfillment of every prophecy. / For concerning Him whom the prophets foretold, / he, laying his hand upon Him in the Jordan, / appeared as a prophet of God’s word, / a herald, and at the same time—the Forerunner.
Ikos: Let us now praise the Lord’s Forerunner, / whom Elizabeth bore to the priest from a barren womb, yet not without seed: / for Christ alone passed through that womb as no one else has—without seed. / The barren Elizabeth gave birth to John, / yet she did not give birth to him without her husband. / But Jesus, by the overshadowing of the Father and the Divine Spirit, / was born of the pure Virgin. / Yet to Him who was born without seed / appeared from the barren one a prophet, / a herald, and at the same time—the Forerunner.
Canon 1. Irmos: Three youths in Babylon, / regarding the tyrant’s command as empty words, / cried out in the midst of the fire: / “Blessed are You, O Lord, / God of our fathers!”
All creation on earth was once in darkness, O Forerunner; / but you appeared like the morning, proclaiming: / “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers!”
Your glorious birth from a barren woman, O Forerunner, / healed all of ailing nature, / teaching everyone to sing: / “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers!”
You were born, O Forerunner, of a barren woman, / and behold, because of the barrenness of the Law, / grace has truly come, singing to Christ: / “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers!”
Theotokos: O pure and blessed Virgin, / intercede for us who pray to You; / for we all place our hope in You and cry out to You: / “O Lady, do not despise Your servants!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, / inflamed more by love for piety than by the flames, cried out: / “Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord!”
Zechariah, who had been silent for a time, / broke his silence through his writing; / and, speaking again at your birth, O Forerunner, / he proclaims the grace of the Spirit in a most glorious way.
The venerable Elizabeth, barren and childless, / is likened to the Church, / which was once darkened by sacrifices and their offspring, / but now boasts both beauty and a birth from above.
On this day, with the birth of the Forerunner, / the spiritual axe is sharpened, / by which all rebellions of the passions are cut down, / and the fruits of repentance / mysteriously spring forth.
We honor you, John the Forerunner, / as the minister of the Old and New Covenants, / who prepares the straight paths for Christ, / cleansing the threshing floor of sins with a spiritual shovel.
Like a star hastening before the Sun— / Christ our God—we all sing of the glorious John, / Forerunner and preacher of repentance, / who came forth from the barren one.
Theotokos: In Your womb, O Virgin, the Seedless One dwelt, / and was born through ineffable and utmost humility, / and became poor for our sake; / do not cease, O Mother of God, to intercede for us all.
Katavasia: The godly did not honor / the creatures more than the Creator, / but, bravely overcoming the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Benefactor, almighty Christ, / having descended into the midst of the flames where piety was revealed, / You watered them and taught them to sing: / “All creation, bless / and sing to the Lord!”
Moses was the lawgiver, / but Jesus is the God of the New Covenant. / Now the Forerunner sings, as the mediator between the two: / “All creation, bless and sing to the Lord!”
From a desolate womb came the dove—the Forerunner: / now her grove, planted by God, / has borne fruit for Christ’s Church and sings: / “All creation, bless and sing to the Lord!”
God-bearing people, holy nation, / be like Christ’s dove / and sing with honeyed voices, living in chastity: / “All creation, bless and sing praises to the Lord!”
Trinity Hymn: Illuminated by the triune light, / let us honor the uncreated, one God / in the Orthodox faith, exclaiming with unceasing lips: / “All creation, bless and sing to the Lord!”*
Canon 2. Irmos: All things, O Lord, You have created through Your wisdom, / and You have also established the earth, as You Yourself know, / setting it upon the waters as its foundation; / therefore we all exclaim in song: / “Bless the Lord unceasingly, / all the Lord’s creatures!”
You recognized Him, Forerunner, / Whom you worshiped even before your birth / and before your swaddling clothes—Christ, the Giver of life; / and you pointed to Him, leaping for joy in the womb / and calling Him your Lord, / using your mother’s tongue / to sing of Christ, our God.
The ends of the universe celebrate in advance on this day; / the angels and the spirits of the righteous rejoice; / the living rejoice at the birth of John, / as do the departed, who received from him / the preaching about the Savior of all—the Lord.
On this day, imitating John, / the Jordan played gloriously with its moist streams, / hearing of the one born of a barren old woman, / whose life was equal to that of the angels, / who made straight the ways and paths of the Lord / and baptized the world.
On this day, Zechariah inscribed on a tablet / the name given by God to the prophet and Forerunner / and silently proclaimed: / “John shall be the name of the one born to me in my old age: / for one born according to the promise / a name out of the ordinary is fitting!”
Theotokos: As a steadfast comfort and unashamed hope, / an unbreakable wall and divine intercession, / Your people have You— / those who glorify You, O Virgin, and, being saved, cry out earnestly: / “Bless the Lord unceasingly, / all the works of the Lord!”
Katavasia: The Child of the Mother of God saved / the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He calls the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him for all ages!
Canon 1. Irmos: The ineffable mystery of God’s Word / is manifestly accomplished in You, Most Pure Virgin, / for God was incarnated from You out of mercy. / Therefore, we magnify You as the Mother of God.
Behold, a voice—the Forerunner—addresses barren and empty hearts / and proclaims: / “Prepare the way for Christ now, / for He is coming in glory!” / Obeying Him, we magnify the Lord.
Just as in days of old, by the Holy Spirit, / you, the Forerunner, openly proclaimed the Son, / the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, / so now intercede for your flock / for deliverance from sins.
Trinity Hymn: The One, Three in number, / the Trinity of one essence, / let us, the faithful, sing of Him in the Orthodox faith and glorify Him, / as He divinely illuminates us / and fills our souls / with the radiance of His hidden light.*
Theotokos: You who reign over all creation! / Grant Your people the spoils of victory, / making the enemy of the Church favorable, / so that we may magnify You as the Mother of God.
Canon 2. Irmos: For the Mighty One has done great things for me, / and holy is His name, / and His mercy / endures from generation to generation toward those who fear Him.
Behold, a great and glorious sign / God has wrought upon you, O priest: / for in old age and when your bodily members have grown weak, / you give birth to a son—the Forerunner.
May the barren hear and sing to God, / for behold, Elizabeth exclaims: / “In my old age and after the withering of my bodily members / I give birth to the Forerunner!”
Rejoice, Zechariah, and be glad now in God: / for behold, Elizabeth in her old age nurses her son at her breast / and, though her bodily members have grown weak, / gives birth to the Forerunner.
Glory to Him who gave the barren woman a child in her old age, / and to the elder and prophet—a son, / who prepares for Him a perfect people /—the Divine Forerunner.
Theotokos: In you dwelt He / who, dwelling in the bosom of the Father, / was born without passion and untouched by corruption, / and through His mercy brought us / to the Father and the Divine Spirit.
Katavasia: Let everyone born on earth / rejoice, enlightened by the Spirit; / let the nature of the incorporeal Minds also rejoice, / honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, / and let them cry out: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One, / Pure Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!”
On this day, the joy-bringing Nativity of the Forerunner / puts an end to the sorrow of his father’s silence / and the barrenness of his mother, / and heralds future joy and gladness. / Therefore, all creation / joyfully celebrates him.
To the Mother of God, similar: The prophets preached, / the apostles taught, / and the martyrs, wise in God, / clearly confessed Your Son / as God of all, All-Pure One. / With them we also magnify You, / having been delivered through You from ancient condemnation.
O, extraordinary miracle! / From an aged mother / the forerunner of the Word of God, / John hastens to be born on this day; / binding the tongue, he reveals / through his birth in the clearest manner. / O, Your ineffable providence, O Lord! / Through him, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is Merciful.
O, wondrous miracle! / He who was born of a woman / and is the greatest of the prophets / puts an end to the condemnation for his mother’s barrenness, / coming in the spirit and power of Elijah / to prepare the way for the Lord. / O, Your ineffable mercy, O Lord! / Through him, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is Merciful.
O, wondrous miracle! / He who proclaimed to the people the coming of Christ and His humiliation / is revealed as the highest of all by His voice / and, by divine power, / heals the barrenness of the mother and unlooses the tongue of Zechariah. / O, great are Your miracles, O Lord! / Through them, O Christ, save those who honor / Your great Forerunner.
O, wondrous miracle! / Among those born of women / the Prophet and Forerunner is the greatest, / and the highest of the prophets, / and the herald of Christ’s coming, / the first to leap in his mother’s womb. / O, Your greatest gifts, Lover of Mankind! / Through them, O Christ, save our souls, / as the Almighty.
Glory, Tone 6. Anatolius’s Hymn: The Star of stars—the Forerunner—/ is born on this day from the womb of a barren woman on earth, / John, beloved of God, / and reveals Christ’s radiance, / the Rising Sun from on high, / a guide for the righteous on their journey.
And now, to the Theotokos: O Theotokos, You are the true Vine, / who has brought forth for us the Fruit of life; / we beseech You: intercede, O Lady, / with the Apostles and all the saints / for the mercy of our souls.
The Great Doxology, the Ektenia, and the Dismissal.
Blessed Forerunner: from the first canon, ode 3 in the 4th tone, and from the second, ode 6 in the 4th tone.
Prophet and Forerunner of Christ’s coming, / we cannot worthily praise you, / though we honor you with love; / for the barrenness of your mother and the silence of your father came to an end / with your glorious and holy birth, / and the Incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
She who was once barren gives birth on this day to the Forerunner of Christ, / and he is the fulfillment of every prophecy. / For concerning Him whom the prophets foretold, / he, laying his hand upon Him in the Jordan, / appeared as a prophet of God’s word, / a herald, and at the same time, the Forerunner.
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord, / and put their trust in Him. Verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I pray to You. Ps 63:11a, 2a
Brothers, salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is far spent; the day is at hand. So let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly, as in the daytime: no revelry or drunkenness, no sexual immorality or debauchery, no quarreling or jealousy; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not give in to the desires of the flesh. As for one who is weak in faith, accept him without getting into disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak one eats only vegetables. Let the one who eats not despise the one who does not eat, and let the one who does not eat not judge the one who eats; for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? Whether he stands or falls, he is before his own Lord. And he will be raised up, for God is able to raise him up.
Romans 13:11b–14:4
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people. Verse: And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. Luke 1:76, 68
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have taken place among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the Word have handed them down to us, it seemed good to me also, after carefully investigating everything from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most worthy Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the teaching in which you have been instructed. In the days of Herod, king of the Jews, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, and his wife was one of the daughters of Aaron; her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the Lord’s commandments and ordinances. They had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. Now it came to pass that while he was serving before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord to offer incense; and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside during the time of incense offering. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel replied to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” The people were waiting for Zechariah and were wondering why he was delayed in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And it came to pass that when the days of his service were over, he went home. After those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself from everyone for five months, saying, “This is what the Lord has done for me in these days, when it pleased Him to take away my disgrace among people.” When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother said, “No, he shall be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one in your family who has that name.” And they asked his father by signs what he wanted to name him. And when he was given a tablet, he wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came upon all who lived around them, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these events. And all who heard them pondered them in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zechariah, his father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.” The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared before Israel.
Luke 1:5–25, 57–68, 76, 80
The righteous will be remembered forever; he will not fear slander. Alleluia. (3) Ps 111:6b–7a
We read the ordinary readings from the Epistle and the Gospel in advance. It is important to note that if the feast of John the Forerunner falls on a Sunday, it takes precedence over all other Sunday readings.
Christ’s Baptist, preacher of repentance! Do not despise me, a penitent, but together with the Heavenly Hosts, pray to the Lord for me, unworthy, despondent, weak, and sorrowful, fallen into many troubles, and weary from the turbulent thoughts of my mind. For I, a vessel of evil deeds, see no end to my sinful ways: my mind is fixated on earthly things. I do not know what to do, nor to whom to turn, that my soul might be saved, except to you, Saint John, my namesake of grace. For I know that you, after the Mother of God, are the greatest of all those born before the Lord; for you were deemed worthy to touch the head of Christ the King, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Pray, then, to Him for my sinful soul, that from now on, at the eleventh hour, I may bear this blessed burden and receive my reward with the last. O Christ’s Baptist, Holy Forerunner, last prophet, first martyr in grace, guide of the fasting and the desert dwellers, teacher of purity, and closest friend of Christ! I pray to you, I take refuge in you: do not deprive me of your intercession, but lift me up, I who have fallen into many sins; renew my soul through repentance, as through a second baptism, since you are the leader of both: through baptism you wash away sin, and through repentance you preach the purification of everyone from evil deeds. Purify me, then, who am defiled by sin, and lead me into the place where nothing impure enters—the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
June 29
You have given praise to Your Church, O Lover of Mankind, /—Your holy Apostles. / In her they shine, incorporeal luminaries, / – Peter and Paul, like wise stars, / illuminating the universe. / Through them You have enlightened the darkness of the West, / Jesus, Almighty, / Savior of our souls.
You have given Your Church its foundations, O Lord, /—the steadfastness of Peter and the wisdom of Paul, / and their resplendent wisdom, / and the truly divine preaching of both, / which drives away the deception of godlessness. / Therefore, we who are led into the sacraments by both of them, / sing Your praises, O almighty Jesus, / Savior of our souls.
You have set an example of how to deal with sinners / through Your two apostles: / one who denied You during Your Passion and repented; / the other who opposed Your preaching and persecuted the faithful. / And both of them stand foremost among the host of Your friends, / Jesus, Almighty One, / Savior of our souls.
Glory, Tone 8. Of John the Monk: You were a destroyer and persecutor of the Church, / O all-blessed Paul; / but, called from heaven, / you defended her gloriously. / Pray now for her deliverance from calamities / and for the salvation of our souls.*
And now, O Mother of God: Your Protection, O Virgin Mother of God, / is a source of spiritual healing: / for when we take refuge in it, / we are delivered from the infirmities of the soul.
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Peter, foundation of the apostles, / rock of Christ’s Church, / beginning of Christians! / Shepherd the sheep of Your glorious flock: / preserve Your lambs from the cunning wolves, / deliver Your flock from grievous calamities, / for in You we have truly found an unceasing intercessor before God, / and, boasting in You, we are all saved.*
Verse: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Ps 18:5
Paul, hunter of the Gentiles, / defender of Christians, / light of the universe, / the unceasing mouth of Christ, / who, like the sun, traversed all the ends of the world / with the preaching of the divine faith! / Deliver all who praise you and are glorified through you / from the bonds of sin by your prayers.*
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; / the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.
Ps 18:2
Peter, the chief disciple, / Paul, the fulfillment of the apostles, / the first among the preachers! / Now pray boldly and earnestly to God / and together grant us, who are in sorrow, / swift help and deliverance from our troubles. / So that we may boast with faith / and now, under your protection, / may your intercession be made manifest through your deeds!*
Glory, Tone 8. Of John the Monk: Christ, Lord of all, having chosen you first, / Peter, the foundation of the faith, / crowned you and foretold to you: / “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, / for it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, / having made you My holy herald, / but My Father Who is in heaven!” / Pray to Him, O God-blessed Apostle, / that He may grant us great mercy.*
And now, O Mother of God: Deliver us from our afflictions, / O Mother of Christ our God, / who gave birth to the Creator of all, / so that we may all cry out to You: / “Rejoice, the only Protection of our souls!”
Foremost among the Apostles / and teachers of the universe, / pray to the Lord of all / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls.
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: The mystery hidden from ages past / and unknown to the angels, / has been revealed through You, O Mother of God, to those living on earth— / God, incarnate in the unconfused union of two natures, / who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake— / through Him He raised the first Adam from the dead / and saved our souls from death.
Special Ektenia and Dismissal.
With what crowns of praise / shall we crown Peter and Paul, / separated in the flesh / yet united in the Spirit, / standing foremost among God’s heralds? / One—as the leader of the apostles, / the other—as one who labored more than the rest. / For Christ our God, / who is full of great mercy, / truly and worthily crowns them / with the crowns of immortal glory.
With what beautiful hymns / shall we sing of Peter and Paul? / The wings of the knowledge of God, which have flown to the ends of the world / and ascended to Heaven, / the hands of the Gospel of grace, / the feet of the preaching of truth, / the rivers of wisdom, the ends of the Cross; / through them Christ has cast down the arrogance of the demons, / He who is rich in mercy.
With what spiritual songs / shall we praise Peter and Paul? / They who laid down godlessness and the unsharpened / blades of the Holy Spirit’s fearsome sword, / the glorious adornments of Rome, / the delight of the entire universe, / the immaterial tablets of the New Covenant written by God, / which Christ proclaimed on Zion, / He who possesses great mercy.
Glory, Tone 4. By John the Monk: With the threefold question: / “Peter, do you love Me?” / Christ made amends for the threefold denial. / Therefore, Simon, who knew the mystery, said: / “Lord, You know everything, You are all-knowing, / You know that I love You!” / Then the Savior said to him: / “Feed My sheep, feed My chosen ones, / feed My lambs, whom I have redeemed with My own blood for salvation!” / Pray to Him, O God-blessed Apostle, / that He may grant us great mercy.
And now, O Mother of God: Through You, O Mother of God, / the prophet David, who became the forefather of God, / proclaimed You in melodious tones / before Him who created Your majesty: / “The Queen stands at Your right hand.” / For God made You the Mother, the bearer of life, / having deigned to be incarnated from You without a father, / to renew in us His image, which had been corrupted by passions, / and, having found the sheep that had strayed in the mountains, / to carry it on His shoulders to the Father, / and, by His own will, to unite it with the heavenly Powers and save the world— / Christ, who possesses great and abundant mercy.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the Day. And the readings for the feast:
Brethren, blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy has regenerated us to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Rejoice in this, even though you may now have to suffer a little while in various trials, so that the testing of your faith—which is more precious than perishable gold, even though it is tested by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom you love even though you have not seen Him, and in whom, though you do not yet see him, you believe and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3–9
Beloved, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conform to the desires you once had in your ignorance, but, just as the Holy One who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written: “Be holy, for I am holy.” And since you call upon Him as Father, who judges everyone impartially according to their deeds, conduct your time as strangers here with reverence, knowing that you were not redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a spotless and blameless Lamb.
1 Peter 1:13–19
Beloved, I urge you, as strangers and exiles, to abstain from the fleshly desires that wage war against the soul, and to live a good life among the Gentiles, so that, even though they now slander you as evildoers, they may, upon seeing your good deeds, glorify God on the day of visitation. Therefore, submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, as those sent by him to punish those who do evil and to commend those who do good—for this is the will of God, that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people, acting as free people, yet not using your freedom as a cover for evil, but as servants of God. Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, submit yourselves with all reverence to your masters—not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is a grace if, for the sake of God and in accordance with your conscience, you endure suffering while being treated unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your sins, you endure it? But if, while doing good and suffering for it, you endure, this is a grace before God. For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His footsteps: He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth; when reviled, He did not revile in return; when suffering, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly; He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having been freed from sin, we might live for righteousness.
1 Peter 2:11–24
St. Andrew of Jerusalem: Come, then, to me on this day, / O beautiful assembly of the faithful, / and together, joyfully forming a choir, / let us crown with fitting praises / the chosen weavers of grace—Peter and Paul— / for they, having generously sown the Word among all, / thereby multiplied the grace of the Spirit; / and, being shoots of the true Vine, / they have brought forth for us a ripe cluster, / which gladdens our hearts. / Let us therefore cry out to them, / proclaiming with open faces and pure consciences: / “Rejoice, deliverers from foolish deeds / and ministers of what is done in wisdom! / Rejoice, beloved chosen ones of the Creator and Provider of all things! / Rejoice, bestowers of blessings and dispellers of treacherous schemes!” / Let us implore them to intercede always / before their Creator and Teacher / to grant lasting peace to the world / and great mercy to our souls.
Arsenius: The disciples of Christ and the foundation of the Church, / true pillars and cornerstones, / and the divinely inspired trumpets of Christ’s teachings and sufferings, / the preeminent Peter and Paul, / we and the whole world will praise as our defenders: / for they, having traversed the entire face of the earth, / sowed the faith as with a plow / and poured out the knowledge of God upon all, / revealing the doctrine of the Trinity. / O Peter, rock and foundation, / and Paul, chosen vessel! / You—Christ’s oxen yoked together— / have drawn all to the knowledge of God: / nations, cities, and islands, / and have led the Jews back to Christ, / and intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Germanus: Peter, head of the glorious Apostles, rock of faith, / and Paul the wondrous, orator and beacon of the Holy Churches! / Standing before the divine throne, / intercede for us before Christ.
Paul, the mouth of the Lord, the foundation of doctrine, / once a persecutor of Jesus the Savior, / but now himself the foremost among the Apostles, blessed one. / Therefore, O wise one, you beheld the ineffable, / having ascended to the third heaven, and cried out: / “Come with me, and we shall not be deprived of blessings!”
Tone 3. John the Monk: Citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem: / the rock of faith, the orator of Christ’s Church, / the Two of the Trinity, the saviors of the world / on this day, having left behind what is on earth, / departed to God in their struggle / and intercede before Him with boldness / for the salvation of our souls.
Glory, Tone 5. Byzantine: All-praised Apostles, / you, as the Wisdom of God foretold in the Gospels, / the Word of the Father, abiding eternally with Him, / fruitful shoots, bearing on your branches / a ripe and beautiful cluster, / which we, the faithful, tasting, / delight in the joy it brings. / Peter, the rock of faith, and Paul, the praise of the universe, / strengthen the flock you have gathered / through your teachings!
And now, to the Mother of God: We call you blessed, O Virgin Mother of God, / and we, the faithful, glorify you as is fitting— / an unshakable city, an impregnable wall, / a steadfast Protector, / and the refuge of our souls.
Andrew of Crete: Who will tell of your bonds and sufferings throughout all the cities, O glorious Apostle Paul? / Your labors, struggles, vigils, / sufferings from hunger and thirst, / from cold and nakedness, / beatings with rods, / stonings and journeys, / the depths of the sea, shipwrecks? / You became a spectacle to angels and men. / Yet you endured all this in Christ, who strengthened you, / to win the world, in Christ Jesus, your Lord. / Therefore we pray to you, / as we commemorate you with faith: / “Pray unceasingly for the salvation of our souls!”
Verse: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Ps 18:5
Who will recount your bonds and sufferings in all the cities, / O glorious Apostle Paul? / Or who will describe your feats and labors, / with which you toiled in the Gospel of Christ, / to win all people and bring the Church to Christ? / But pray that she may preserve / your faithful confession / even until your last breath, / Paul, apostle and teacher of the Churches!
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God, / and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.
Ps 18:2
Let us praise the great luminaries of the Church, / Peter and Paul: / for they shone brighter than the sun upon the firmament of faith / and lifted the nations out of ignorance with the rays of their preaching. / One, nailed to the cross, / made his ascent to Heaven, / where he received the keys of the Kingdom from Christ. / The other, beheaded by the sword, / having gone to the Savior, / is rightly called blessed. / And both proclaim to Israel / that it has unjustly raised its hand against the Lord Himself. / Therefore, through their prayers, O Christ our God, / cast down those who rise up against us / and establish the Orthodox faith, / O Lover of Mankind.
Glory, Tone 6. By Ephrem the Carian: A joyful feast has shone forth today to the ends of the earth: / the all-holy commemoration of the wisest and foremost Apostles, Peter and Paul; / therefore Rome, too, rejoices and celebrates. / With hymns and songs, let us also celebrate, brothers, / this most venerable day, crying out to them: / “Rejoice, Peter the Apostle, / true friend of your Teacher, / Christ, our God! / Rejoice, Paul, beloved by all, / herald of the faith and teacher of the universe! / As the chosen holy pair / who have boldness, / pray to Christ, our God, / for the salvation of our souls!”
And now, O Mother of God: My Creator and Redeemer, O All-Pure One, / Christ the Lord, / came forth from Your womb, / taking on human form for my sake, / and freed Adam from the ancient curse. / Therefore, O All-Pure One, / as Mother of God and true Virgin, / we proclaim “Rejoice” with the Angel without ceasing: / “Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, our defense, our shelter, / and the salvation of our souls!”
At the blessing of the bread, the troparion to the Apostles is sung twice, “The Virgin Mother of God” once, and a reading.
Foremost among the Apostles / and teachers of the universe, / pray to the Lord of all / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls.
Foremost among the Apostles / and teachers of the universe, / pray to the Lord of all / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls. (2)
Glory, and now, to the Theotokos: The mystery hidden from ages past / and unknown to the angels, / has been revealed through You, O Theotokos, to those living on earth— / God, incarnate in the unconfused union of two natures, / who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake— / through Him He raised the first Adam from the dead / and saved our souls from death.
Having left your fishing in the depths of the sea, / from Heaven you received from the Father / the divine revelation of the Incarnation of the Word, / and boldly cried out to your Creator with faith: / “I know You, the Consubstantial Son of God!” / Therefore, you have truly and rightfully been revealed as the rock of faith / and the keeper of the keys of grace, Peter the Apostle. / Intercede before Christ God / for the granting of the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
Let us worthily praise, O faithful, / the Rock of the Church, the all-praised Peter, / and her defender Paul, the net of the world, / as those who hold the Heavenly keys: / for through them the universe has been enlightened by faith in the Trinity. / Glory to Him who glorified you; / glory to Him who strengthened you; / glory to Him who granted you eternal life for our sake.*
And now, O Mother of God: Your divine hands, / with which You, Most Holy Virgin, / bore the Creator who became incarnate through His goodness, stretch out, / and implore Him to deliver us from temptations, passions, and misfortunes, / we who praise You with love and proclaim: / “Glory to , who dwelt within You; / glory to Him who proceeded from You; / glory to Him who, by Your birth, has set us free.”*
Having received a calling from Christ in Heaven, / you appeared as the herald of the Light, / illuminating all with the teachings of grace; / for, having abolished the letter of the Law, / you brilliantly revealed to the faithful the knowledge of the Spirit. / Therefore, you were worthily lifted up to the third heaven, / and reached paradise, Paul the Apostle. / Intercede before Christ God / for the granting of the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
With radiant splendor / you illuminate the ends of the earth like stars / through the teachings of your holy preaching, / you Apostles of the Lord, initiated into the heavenly mysteries.*
And now, to the Mother of God: A fervent intercessor for those in distress, / our Helper, and our reconciliation with God, / through whom we have been saved from destruction, / we, the faithful, praise the Mother of God.*
We magnify you, / Apostles of Christ, Peter and Paul, / who enlightened the whole world with your teachings / and brought all the ends of the earth to Christ.
1 Chorus: The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament declares the work of His hands. 2 The heavens declare Your wonders, O Lord. 1 Your sons have taken the place of Your fathers. 2 You will set them as princes over all the earth. 1 The Lord, God of gods, has spoken and summoned the earth. 2 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is glorious. 1 His lightning has illuminated the universe. 2 The heavens have proclaimed His righteousness. 1 And all nations have seen His glory. 2 The princes of Judah are their leaders. 1 God has reigned over the nations. 2 God, glorified in the assembly of the holy ones. 1 He is great and awesome to all who surround Him. 2 Proclaim among the nations: “The Lord has reigned.” 1 Proclaim His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 2 Their voice has gone out into all the earth. 1 And their words to the ends of the universe. 2 He has subdued the nations for us and the peoples under our feet. 1 Great is our Lord, and great is His power. 2 He will give strength and power to His people. Blessed be God.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 18:2; 88:6a; 44:17a; 44:17b; 49:1a; 112:3; 96:4; 96:6; 67:28b; 46:9a; 88:8; 95:10a; 95:3; 18:5; 46:4; 146:5a; 67:36
Let us praise Peter and the most wise Paul, / who stood out as the foremost among the disciples, / great and radiant lights; / for, shining with the fire of the Divine Spirit, / they burned away all the darkness of error, / and thus proved themselves worthy citizens of the Kingdom on High and co-heirs of grace. / Therefore we cry out: / “Apostles of Christ our God, / intercede for the remission of sins / for those who celebrate your holy memory with love!”
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: As the All-Pure Bride of the Creator, / as the Mother of the Redeemer who knew no man, / as the true Vessel of the Comforter, All-Praised One, / I, who have knowingly become truly / a vile dwelling place of lawlessness and a plaything of demons, / hasten to deliver me from their wickedness / and make me a radiant abode of virtues, O Light-Bearing One, Immortal One, / drive away the cloud of passions and grant me the Highest Communion / and unfading light through Your prayers.*
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / and enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Verse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God, / and the firmament declares the work of His hands. Ps 18:2, 5
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Psalm 150:6, 1
At that time, Jesus appeared to His disciples after rising from the dead, and He said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again, for the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My sheep.” He said to him a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” and said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God. And after saying this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Turning around, Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following behind—the one who, at supper, had leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied to him: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” So the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but rather, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” He is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down; and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if they were all written down in detail, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
John 21:14–25
Let us honor with songs of praise / the true preachers of piety / and the most radiant stars of the Church: / Peter, the rock of faith, / and Paul, the true teacher and minister of Christ’s mysteries. / For they sowed the true word in the hearts of the faithful, / which bears fruit for all, / and they pray to Christ God / for the salvation of our souls.*
Two canons, composed by the Venerable John of Damascus. The first is for the Holy Apostle Peter, tone 4, with an irmos in tone 8: the irmos is repeated twice, and the troparia are in tone 6. The other is for the Holy Apostle Paul: troparia in tone 6, tone 8.
Irmos: There is none like You, / O glorified Lord, / for with Your mighty hand You have delivered the people / whom You have acquired, O Lover of Mankind.
Let us worthily sing on this day, / in divinely inspired hymns, / of the foremost of the Apostles, / the brother of the first-called Andrew.
The Eternal One, having foreknown you, / predestined you, all-blessed Peter, / as the intercessor and head of His Church.
Neither flesh nor blood, but the Father / inspired you, Apostle, / to teach the doctrine of Christ / as the true Son of the Most High God.
Theotokos: Let us sing of the holy mountain, / the Chariot beyond all thought, / the Mother of God and truly a Virgin / even after childbirth.
Irmos: He who was cut down split what could not be split, / and the sun beheld the earth it had not seen, / the fierce enemy was drowned by the waters, / and Israel crossed the impassable sea, / and a song was sung: / “Let us sing to the Lord, / for He has been glorified in splendor!”*
As the One who exists calls forth that which does not exist, / Christ, with His divine mind, O most blessed Paul, / chose you even from your mother’s womb / so that you might proclaim before the nations / His divine Name, / which is above every name: / for He has been glorified in splendor.
Revealing to you, Paul, / the future radiance of piety / and deliverance from error, / Christ, appearing to you on the mountain like a flash of lightning, / darkens the eyes of the flesh, / but enlightens the soul with the knowledge of the Trinity: / for He has been glorified in splendor.
You, Paul, who were circumcised on the eighth day / and were a zealous guardian of your fathers’ traditions, / descended from the seed of the Jews, of the tribe of Benjamin, / and who were a Pharisee according to the law, / counted all this as rubbish and gained Christ: / for He has been glorified in splendor.
Theotokos: Pure Mother of God the Almighty, / descended from a royal tribe, O Sovereign Lady, / and having given birth in the flesh, supernaturally, / to the one God who reigns over all, / deliver me from my afflictions, I who sing to Your Son, / for He has been glorified in splendor.
Katavasia: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her wonders.
Canon 1. Irmos: We do not boast in wisdom, nor in strength, nor in wealth, / but in You, Christ, the Hypostatic Wisdom of the Father: / for there is none so holy / as You, Lover of Mankind.
The sweetest lips of Christ God / have proclaimed you blessed / and the faithful steward of His Kingdom. / Therefore we sing your praises, Peter the Apostle.
Upon the rock of your theology, / the Lord Jesus built an unshakable Church, / in which we glorify you, / Peter the Apostle.
How much higher than the angels / is Peter, who lived in the flesh! / For Christ God has said that he will be a judge / and will sit with Him / at His glorious coming.
Theotokos: You who knew no marriage, / who bore God incarnate in your womb, / strengthen me, who am shaken by the assaults of passions: / for there is no helper like you, O Most Pure One.
Canon 2. Irmos: You are the strength / of those who take refuge in You, O Lord, / You are the light to those in darkness, / and my spirit sings Your praises.
You have laid as the foundation stone / for the souls of the faithful, / the precious, cornerstone— / the Savior and Lord.
Most Blessed Paul, intercede, / that upon your foundation / the radiance of the virtues / of the pious may be built.
Always bearing the death of Jesus / immaculately in your body, / you have been deemed worthy, Paul, / of true life.
Theotokos: In You, our refuge and our wall, / we Christians have all found our refuge; / we glorify You without ceasing, / You who knew no marriage! *
Katavasia: O Mother of God, you are a living and abundant spring / for your hymnographers, / who have prepared this spiritual feast; / strengthen them, / and in your divine glory / grant them crowns of glory.
What prison has not held you as a prisoner? / And what Church does not have you as its orator? / Damascus takes pride in you, Paul, / for it knew how you were stopped by the Light; / Rome received your blood and boasts of it, / but Tarsus rejoices even more / and lovingly honors your swaddling clothes. / Peter, the rock of faith, Paul, the praise of the universe, / having come down from Rome, strengthen us.
Canon 1. Irmos: This is our God, who was incarnate of the Virgin / and deified our nature; / singing of Him, we cry out: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Christ, as He promised, made you / a divine fisher of men, / entrusting to you first / the helm of His Church.
May Jesus, the Giver of life, whom you implore, / and who has granted you, Peter, the right to bind and loose, / be merciful to me.
Pray earnestly, Peter, / that the gates of Christ’s Kingdom / may open to those who honor your divine memory / with faith free from doubt.
Theotokos: O Lady, praised by all, Mother of God, / having purified my thoughts through Your intercessions, / make me fruitful, O Mother of God of all.
Canon 2. Irmos: You mounted Your Apostles as Your steeds, O Lord, / and took their reins into Your hands, / and Your ride became salvation / for those who sing with faith: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Saul once pounced like a lion, / fiercely ravaging the Church of Christ, / but he was tamed by the divine voice of the Lamb of God, / and the flock he once persecuted / is now entrusted to him as a shepherd.
He who was destined to enlighten the universe was overcome by darkness, / but Ananias was sent to him / to bestow upon him spiritual and physical enlightenment, / having learned from the divine manifestation / that he was a vessel chosen by God.
Damascus takes justifiable pride in Paul: / for from him, as once from Paradise, / sprang this greatest source of divine waters / and generously watered the whole earth with the knowledge of God.
Theotokos: The Lord has cast down rulers from their thrones, / O Virgin and Mother, as He said, / and has filled those who hunger with divine blessings, as they sing with faith: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
Katavasia: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by a spotless hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”
Canon 1. Irmos: You who have redeemed us, Your chosen people, / through Your Blood, O Lord, / grant us Your peace, / preserving Your flock in unity of mind.
Having received boldness before God through love, / the fisherman and the uneducated man / rightly aroused wonder, / performing unheard-of miracles by Your grace.
Having gained from You, Christ, neither gold / nor silver, but virtue, / Your divine Apostle / was enriched with the power of miracles.
The legs and feet of the lame were strengthened / by your effective word: / for unheard-of deeds were accomplished / by the Divine Spirit.
Theotokos: God was incarnate from You, O Pure One, / uniting His Hypostasis with the flesh, / yet remaining in no less measure / incorporeal according to His divine nature.
Canon 2. Irmos: Enlighten us with Your commandments, O Lord, / and with Your uplifted hand / grant us Your peace, O Lover of mankind.
You have chosen, Paul, true praise, / always bearing the Cross of Christ the King, / as a sign of victory, O Apostle.
For you, life is Christ, / and death is the greatest gain: / for with love you were crucified with Him who was crucified for us, / glorious Paul.
Rejoice truly in the Lord, O venerable Paul, / having departed from the body and taken up residence with Christ, / the God who gives life.
Theotokos: Pray always to Your Son and our God, / O Pure Mary, who knew no marriage, / that He may send us, the faithful, His mercy.*
Katavasia: The whole world marveled / at Your divine glory: / for You, the Virgin who knew no marriage, / bore the Most High God in Your womb / and gave birth to the eternal Son, / the Giver of Peace to all who sing Your praises.
Canon 1. Irmos: Having remained three days within the whale, / Jonah foreshadowed You, Christ, the Immortal One, / just as You voluntarily spent three days / among the dead in the depths of the earth.
Just as in ancient times, Christ, You saved Peter, who walked upon the water by Your right hand, / and deliver me, who am being overwhelmed by the waves of severe temptations, / from them (as the Merciful One).
You, O Peter, abandoned what does not exist, / and attained what truly exists, / and like a certain merchant, you clearly acquired Christ— / the precious pearl.
You put to death, all-blessed Peter, / those who foolishly sought to tempt the Holy Spirit, / about Whom you were the first to teach the faith, / having clearly confessed Him as God.
Theotokos: The Word of God, supreme over all creation, / You gave birth to Him for us in the flesh; / therefore we proclaim You the Mother of God / with our lips and in our hearts.
Canon 2. Irmos: I will pour out my prayer to the Lord / and make known to Him my sorrows, / for my soul is filled with evil / and my life has drawn near to Hades, / and I pray, like Jonah: / “Deliver me from destruction, O God!”
You set aside all that was pleasant, / moved by love for the Lord / and the desire for the salvation of all, / choosing the path of bearing witness to Him; / and now pray for the universe, / O Blessed Paul!
As the most excellent imitator of the Lord / and one who truly clothed himself in Him, / you, Paul, became all things to all people, / so that you might win over and save all people; / and you truly saved them, / bringing the ends of the earth to Christ.
Christ has rightfully granted you / citizenship in Heaven, Apostle Paul, / for you, O Blessed One, did not desire / the city that is here, / having become a faithful minister / and steward of His mysteries.
Theotokos: The Lord has looked upon you, / renewing my nature as the Almighty, / having wrought a great work, O Mother of God, / as you, the All-Pure One, have declared, / and through you my God, the Merciful One, / has saved me from corruption.
Katavasia: This divine and universally honored One / as we celebrate the feast of the Mother of God, / come, you who are wise in God, / let us begin to clap our hands, / glorifying the God born of her.
The steadfast and God-inspired preachers, / the greatest among Your disciples, O Lord, / You have received into the enjoyment of Your blessings and rest; / for You have recognized their labors and death as superior to every sacrifice, / You alone who know what is in the hearts.
Ikos: Make my tongue clear, my Savior, / open my lips and fill them, / pierce my heart, / so that I may follow what I say / and, before teaching others, first put into practice what I teach: / for You have said, “Whoever does and teaches is great.” / For if I speak and do not act, / I will be like a clanging cymbal. / Therefore, grant me to speak what is fitting / and to do what is beneficial, / You alone who know what is in the hearts.
Canon 1. Irmos: In the beginning, the Eternal Word, / with the Father and the Spirit, the Only-Begotten Son! / Blessed are You, and we exalt You, / God of our fathers!
So that you, Peter, might learn to imitate / Christ’s compassion, / by divine providence you are permitted / to endure, before His sufferings, / the storm of denial.
To you, Christ—as the one first called / and who loved Him deeply, / as the glorious leader of the Apostles— / He first appeared after rising from the tomb.
By erasing your threefold denial / that took place before His Passion, / through the threefold question spoken by God, / the Lord confirms His love for you.
As a witness, Peter, you offered / your love for Christ / to the Word who knows all things as God does; / therefore, He entrusts to you / His most beloved flock.
Theotokos: She who conceived in her womb the Word of God according to the flesh, / who shone forth from the Father before the ages, / let us all call her blessed, / as the Mother of God of all.
Canon 2. Irmos: Once, in the field of Deira, / a tyrant set up a furnace to torment the godly: / in it, three youths glorified the One God in song, / singing in unison and proclaiming: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
He became the seal and crown of Your Apostles, / called at the end of time, O Christ, / yet surpassing all in zeal; / with him the Church sings to You: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Although at first Paul the prisoner / persecuted Your Church, / his zeal for You later / surpassed his former audacity. / For he gathered, O Christ, the nations, who exclaim: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
You, having proclaimed the Gospel to all from Jerusalem, / and having spread it throughout the whole earth, Paul, / even as you taught as far as the borders of Illyria, cried out: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Carried up in ecstasy, / you reached the third heaven, all-blessed one, / and, having heard the ineffable words, you cry out: / “Glory to the Most High Father, / and to the Son, the co-throned radiance, / and to the Spirit, who faithfully penetrates the depths of God!”
Theotokos: Like rain upon a fleece, / Christ God descended upon you, O Virgin, / and, taking flesh from you, was born, / uniting what was once divided, / granting peace on earth and in Heaven, / the blessed God of our fathers!
Katavasia: The godly-wise did not honor / the creatures more than the Creator, / but, bravely overcoming the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Upholding all things by Your ineffable power, O Christ, / You rained down upon Your holy youths in the flames, as they cried out: / “Bless the Lord, all His works!”
“They will stretch out your hands / and bind you to the cross”— / Lord, Peter, foretelling this to you, / commands you to follow Him and exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!”
Working miracles through the word of grace, / you raised Aeneas, who was severely paralyzed, / and Tabitha, who had died, as they cried out: / “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!”
You who revealed the purification of the Gentiles to Peter, / purify my thoughts with the radiance of the Spirit / as I, too, Christ, exclaim: / “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!”
Hymn to the Mother of God: Most Holy Virgin, who gave birth to the Word of God in the flesh, / having dispelled the darkness of my soul through Your prayers, / enlighten me, who cry out: / “Bless the Lord, all His works!”*
Canon 2. Irmos: On the holy mountain where He was glorified / and revealed the mystery of the Ever-Virgin to Moses / through the fire in the thorn bush— / sing to the Lord and exalt Him for all ages.
Paul was united with Your Love / and was transformed by a wondrous change: / for he, the glorious one, did not live for himself, / but had You, the Merciful One, / dwelling within him, for all ages.
You betrothed the Church as a bride, / to present her to Christ the Bridegroom: / for you, Paul, the God-bearer, / became her matchmaker. / Therefore, she glorifies you for all ages.
You labored in the most glorious struggle / and, having lawfully completed your journey, / came joyfully to Christ. / Therefore, O all-glorious Paul, / you have been deemed worthy of the crowns of righteousness.
Theotokos: Rejoice, fire-like Throne of the Lord! / Rejoice, Bride who has known no marriage! / Rejoice, Virgin, Cloud from which the Sun of Righteousness shone forth, / Whom we exalt for all ages.
Katavasia: The Child of the Mother of God saved / the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He summons the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him forever and ever!
Canon 1. Irmos: We extol You with hymns, O most glorious Bride and All-Holy Mother of God, / who gave birth to the Creator of all things, / both visible and invisible.
Your overflowing grace / is worthily proclaimed to all, / for even your shadow, Peter, / drove away the sufferings of the weak; / therefore we extol you.
Peter, who cast down Simon the Magus, the enemy of God, / who was lifted up in his delusions to the heights of heaven, / by ineffable divine power, / is called blessed.
Grant us deliverance from sins, / enlightenment of the heart, and joy of the spirit / through your prayers, / O Apostle, as we sing in praise of your memory.
All that is yours, Peter, is filled with glory, / sanctification, and miracles: / your words, relics, ashes, and divine chains, / which people venerate with faith and love.*
Theotokos: Having conceived God in your womb, / you are called the Mother of the Lord; / therefore we, the faithful, fittingly / glorify you in unison, / and extol you in song.
Canon 2. Irmos: You have transcended the laws of nature, / having conceived the Creator and Lord, / and have become the gate of salvation for the world. / Therefore, we, O Mother of God, / extol You unceasingly.
We worship the chains / that you bore for Christ, as a criminal; / and we embrace the wounds, Paul, / that you bear upon your / glorious and victorious body.
Now you are set free, Apostle, / having departed to the One you always longed for; / and dwelling with Him as His servant, / through your ceaseless intercessions, / draw those who pray to you to yourself.
Now Christ appears to you no longer in a riddle / or in a mirror, / but rather is beheld face to face, / revealing to you the perfect / knowledge of the Godhead.
Theotokos: You, Most Holy Mother of God, / were the praise of Christ’s Apostles, / the glory of the martyrs, and the foundation of the prophets. / Therefore, we, the faithful, / all magnify You as is fitting.*
Katavasia: Let everyone born on earth / rejoice, enlightened by the Spirit; / let the nature of the incorporeal Minds also rejoice, / honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, / and let them cry out: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One, / Pure Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!”
Let us all sing the praises of the Apostles—Peter and Paul, / the divine lights of the universe, / heralds of the faith, trumpets of theology, / expounders of the dogmas, pillars of the Church, / and destroyers of error.
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: The great and unheard-of mystery / of Christ’s birth from you, / O God-blessed / Virgin and Mother of God, / the prophets proclaimed, the apostles explained, the martyrs confessed, / while the angels sing of Him / and people worship Him.
When the Savior addressed / the twelve Apostles with the question: / “Who do people say that I am?” / Then the chief of the Apostles—Peter, / having received grace from heaven, / declared with theological insight and proclaimed clearly: / “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” / Therefore, he is rightly called blessed, / having received revelation from above, / and having been granted the authority / to bind and loose from punishment.
The Word of God who came forth from the Father—Christ— / “Who do you say that I am?”—He asked. / “You are the Son of the Living Father,”— / as all voices, inspired by God, / you immediately proclaimed. / That is why you received the words, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah,” / as a reward. / For God glorifies those who glorify Him faithfully, / and generously calls them to receive rewards, / and He has made you a reliable rock, / the support and foundation of the Church.*
Called from above, not by men! / When earthly darkness clouded your physical eyes, / revealing the desolation of wickedness, / then the Heavenly light illuminated your spiritual eyes, / revealing the beauty of piety. / Therefore, you came to know Him who brings light out of darkness, / Christ our God. / Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
Herald of Christ, / bearing the glory of the Cross, / you sincerely chose above all else / the much-desired Divine love, / which unites those who love with the Beloved. / Therefore you were called a prisoner of Christ, / choosing the burden of trials as the sweetest of all delights , / and you were deemed worthy of precious liberation, / so that you might dwell with your Lord; / pray to Him / to save and enlighten our souls.
Glory, Tone 6. Monk Kosmas: The most holy feast of the Apostles / has come upon the Church of Christ, / bringing salvation to us all. / And now, beginning to clap our hands in mystery, let us cry out to them: / “Rejoice, lights to those dwelling in darkness, / rays of the Sun of the Mind!” / Rejoice, Peter and Paul, / the unshakable foundations of the divine dogmas, / friends of Christ, precious vessels! / Appear invisibly among us, / granting us immaterial gifts / as we praise your feast with hymns.
And now, to the Mother of God: O Mother of God, You are the true Vine, / who has brought forth for us the Fruit of life; / we beseech You: intercede, O Sovereign Lady, / together with the Apostles and all the saints, / for the mercy of our souls.
The Great Doxology, the Ektenia, and the Dismissal.
Blessed Are They: from the canon of the Apostle Peter, Ode 3 in 4, and from the canon of the Apostle Paul, Ode 6 in 4.
Foremost among the Apostles / and teachers of the universe, / pray to the Lord of all / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls.
O Lord, You have received the steadfast and God-inspired preachers, / the foremost among Your disciples, / into the enjoyment of Your blessings and rest; / for You have recognized their labors and death as superior to every sacrifice, / You alone who know what is in the hearts.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Verse: The heavens proclaim the glory of God, / and the firmament declares the work of His hands. Ps 18:2, 5
Brothers, if anyone has the audacity—I speak in foolishness—I too have the audacity. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I speak in folly: I am even more so—far more in labors, beyond measure in beatings, far more in prisons, often on the brink of death. From the Jews I received forty lashes minus one five times; three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; I spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea; I have been on many journeys, in danger on rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own people, in danger from the Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, in danger among false brothers; in toil and hardship, often without sleep, in hunger and thirst; often in fasting, in the cold, and in nakedness. On top of everything else, I have daily interactions with people and the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led astray, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of my weaknesses. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ—He who is blessed forever—knows that I am not lying. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus to arrest me, and I was let down in a basket through a window along the wall and escaped his hands. It is not profitable for me to boast—for I will come to the visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I do not know; or out of the body, I do not know—God knows—was caught up to the third heaven. And I know of that man—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—that he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a human being is not permitted to speak. Of such a one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. For if I were to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so that no one might think of me more highly than what they see in me or hear from me. And to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of these revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, so that I might not become conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 11:22–12:9
The heavens proclaim Your wonders, O Lord. Verse: We glorify God in the assembly of the saints. Ps 88:6a; 8a
At that time, when Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus replied to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13–19
Their voice has gone out into all the earth, / and their words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia. (3) Psalm 18:2
We read the Apostles and the Gospel in advance. At the meal, there is great comfort among the brethren. If this feast of the Holy Apostles falls on a Wednesday or Friday, we eat fish and drink wine.
It is important to note: if the Feast of the Holy Apostles falls on a Sunday, all the usual Sunday observances apply.
O glorious Apostles Peter and Paul, who gave your souls for Christ and fertilized His field with your blood! Hear the prayers and sighs of your children, now offered with contrite hearts. For we are overshadowed by our sins and, because of this, surrounded by troubles like clouds; and we are utterly depleted of the oil of a virtuous life. O mighty ones! Bear our weaknesses; do not withdraw your spirit from us, lest we be cut off forever from the love of God; but protect us with your mighty intercession, that the Lord may have mercy on us all for the sake of your prayers, and may He blot out the record of our immeasurable sins and grant us, together with all the saints, the blessed Kingdom and the marriage feast of His Lamb, to whom be honor, glory, thanksgiving, and worship forever and ever. Amen.
On the Sunday closest to July 16
The usual kathisma.
On this day, the multitude of the faithful rejoices in the Divine: / for the Heavenly Cross appears to the ends of the earth, / illuminates the firmament with unapproachable light, / shines upon the air, / and adorns the face of the earth. / The Church of Christ sings divine hymns, / performs the divine service, honoring / the Cross that protects her from on high, / divine and wondrous. / Strengthened by its power, / let us approach the Lord, crying out: / “Bring peace to the world and enlighten our souls!”
Let all creation rejoice and celebrate: / for today the Cross has shone from heaven to the ends of the universe, / enlightening the earth, / and revealing the scattered as united. / On this day, people rejoice with the choirs of angels: / for the partition that separated them has been torn down by the Cross— / it has clearly united all things. / Therefore, shining before us brighter than the sun, / it enlightens all creation with grace, / and adorns and saves / those who honor it with faith.
Brighter than the sun’s radiance / the Divine Cross will also reveal the end of the world, / as the sacred scepter of Christ the King: / behold, it shines clearly before us in all directions. / He raised the human race from hell, / decisively subduing hell, casting down the enemy, / and utterly destroying the demons’ pride. / Now the Savior’s Resurrection reveals itself / and saves those who cry out: / “Bring peace to the world and enlighten our souls!”
The law’s roof, raised up by seven pillars, / was not shaken by the tyrant’s power, / for they manfully endured the persecutor’s most reckless fury, / surrendering their bodies to those who cut them down— / the most noble youths and brothers, / guardians of Moses’s precepts.
Having truly raised their minds above the visible world, / these most pious and valiant youths / endured the severing of their bodily limbs / alongside their God-wise mother, / strengthened by the greatest hopes, / which they have now attained, / having found rest in the bosom of Abraham, / their forefather.
Having firmly armed themselves from their youth / and as if inflamed with zeal, / they acted resolutely against the enemy / for the sake of piety / and the observance of their fathers’ law— / the most holy Eleazar and the wise youths / with their God-wise mother.
The Holy Maccabees proclaimed to the tyrant: / “For us, O Antiochus, there is but one King—God, / from whom we are descended / and to whom we turn. / Another world awaits us, / higher and more enduring than the visible one; / our homeland is Jerusalem, strong and imperishable; / and our triumph is to dwell with the Angels!” / O Lord, through their intercession, / have mercy on us and save us!
That which Moses foreshadowed in ancient times / and, having overthrown Amalek, put to flight, / and to which David the psalmist, calling it Your footstool, commanded us to bow down— / Your precious Cross, Christ our God, / we sinners, worshiping it today, / and singing of You with unworthy lips, / You who deigned to be nailed to it, we cry out to You: / “Lord, grant us, together with the thief, a share in Your Kingdom!”
Glory, Tone 8. By the monk Kosmas: In the Lord’s hand are the souls of the righteous, / such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, / the forefathers who lived before the Law / and the forefathers of the Maccabees, whom we now praise; / for these, strong in spirit, / who were descendants of Abraham, / emulated the faith of Abraham, their forefather, / and fought for piety until death. / For, having been raised in piety / and having labored together in accordance with the Law, / they denounced the wickedness of the accursed Antiochus. / And, sparing nothing of the blessings of this present life, / they consecrated everything to God for the sake of eternity: / their souls, their courage, their feelings, / their youthful bodies, and the rewards of those raised in purity. / O pious root, / from which you, Maccabees, sprang forth! / O holy mother, / who gave birth to a number equal to seven! / But we beseech you, Maccabees, / together with your mother Solomonia / and the wise priest Eleazar, / as those who stand before Christ God, / for Whose sake you labored! / Rejoicing in the fruits of your sufferings before Him, / offer up a fervent prayer for humanity: / for He does as He wills and fulfills / the desires of you who fear Him.
And now, Tone 8: The voice of Your prophet, O God, Moses, has been fulfilled, proclaiming: / “You will see your life hanging before your eyes.” / On this day the Cross is raised— / and the world is freed from error; / on this day Christ’s Resurrection is renewed / and the ends of the earth rejoice, / offering You a hymn on cymbals, according to David, and proclaiming: / “You have wrought salvation upon the earth, O God— / the Cross and the Resurrection, / through which You have saved us, O Good and Lover of Mankind. / Almighty Lord, glory to You!”
By the sufferings of the saints, / which they endured for Your sake, / be appeased, O Lord, / and heal all our infirmities; / we pray to You, O Lover of Mankind.
Glory, and now, Tone 1: Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
Let it be known that before the bells ring for Vespers, the priest enters the sacristy and places the Holy Cross on the altar. And after the dismissal of Vespers, the priest and deacon put on their sacred vestments; and the deacon, having incensed the Holy Cross, proclaims: “Bless, Vladyka.” Priest: Blessed be our God. Then the Trisagion. After the “Our Father,” the troparion to the Cross. The Glory and the “Now and Always”: the kondakion. And the priest raises the paten with the Cross above his head and carries it into the sanctuary; two candle-bearers with lamps walk before him. He places the Cross on the altar, in the place of the Gospel, and places the Gospel on the upper shelf. A candle is lit before the Holy Cross to burn throughout the night.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross. (2)
By the sufferings of the saints, / which they endured for Your sake, / be appeased, O Lord, / and heal all our infirmities; / we pray to You, O Lover of Mankind.
And now, to the Cross, Tone 1: Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
And the customary kathismas and sedalnia from the Octoechos. And the reading. The Canon of the Octoechos is in tone 4, the Canon to the Cross in tone 6, and the Canon to the Martyrs in tone 8. If, however, this feast falls on a Saturday, and if the church is dedicated to Christ or the Mother of God, then we sing the Canon of the church with an irmos in tone 4, the Canon to the Cross in tone 6, and the Canon to the Saints in tone 4.
Irmos: As Israel walked on dry land / through the abyss, / and cried out, seeing Pharaoh, their persecutor, drowned: / “Let us sing a song of victory to God!”
I worship the Cross, the source of salvation, / and kiss it with warm faith, / and, embracing it, I exclaim: / “O all-blessed Tree of Christ, / enlighten my soul and mind, I pray!”
The sign of the Cross, victorious over passions and demons, / has appeared on this day. / Therefore, believers, / having all been enlightened by the joy of our souls, / let us now kiss it.
With radiant splendor / the holy Cross shines, / and enlightens those who worship it with faith on this day, / sanctifying our souls and bodies.
The life-giving Cross, / lying before us and visible, / sends forth the radiant light of grace: / let us approach and receive joyful enlightenment, / and salvation, and forgiveness, / offering praise to the Lord.**
Theotokos: Most Holy Virgin, / who gave birth to Christ in the flesh, / who suffered willingly on the Cross for our sake! / Save those who reverently glorify You / through Your intercessions.
Irmos: Walking on the water as on dry land, / and having escaped the corruption of Egypt, / the Israelite cried out: / “Let us sing to our Deliverer and our God!”
The host of the seven martyrs, / who remained united in spirit amid grievous tribulations, / did not refuse to die / for the sake of upholding the law of their fathers.
Disdaining earthly glory, / out of love for the Divine Kingdom, / the divine Maccabees endured every torment; / therefore they are now rightly honored.
Guardians of the Law of Moses, / the truly valiant Maccabees, / proved to be brothers in spirit to one another / when they trampled underfoot the godlessness of Antiochus.
Theotokos: Hosts of angels and men / praise You unceasingly, O Mother who knew no marriage, / for You carried the Creator of all, as an Infant, / in Your arms.
Katavasia: Making the sign of the cross, Moses / split the Red Sea right down the middle with his staff / for Israel as they walked on foot, / and with a single blow / brought the same sea back together / to engulf Pharaoh’s chariots, / thus demonstrating an invincible weapon; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God: / for He has been glorified.
Irmos: There is none holy / like You, O Lord my God, / who have exalted the dignity of those faithful to You, O Good One, / and established us upon the rock / of Your confession.
In ancient times, the Cherubim / were entrusted with weapons / to guard the blessed Tree of Life / because of the disobedience of Adam the first-created: / but the Cross opened this path for him.
With our eyes, lips, and souls, / with our faces and hearts, / let us all worship the Most Holy Cross / of Christ, the Giver of life, / by which the whole world is sanctified.
Having become temples of God, according to the prophecy, / and His heirs, / as we worship the tree of the Most Holy Cross on this day, / we all kiss it with reverence.
With songs we glorify you, O Cross, / and we prostrate ourselves in faith, / imploring your power: / deliver us from the snares of the enemy / and guide us all, who sing your praises, / to the harbor of salvation.**
Theotokos: You gave birth to the Son as a virgin, / He who was born before You without a mother / from God the Father before the ages / and was crucified in the flesh, / to save those who had sinned before.
Another canon. Irmos: Creator of the heavenly vault, O Lord, / and Builder of the Church, / establish me in love for You, / the fulfillment of all desires, the confirmation of the faithful, / the only Lover of mankind.
Acting in accordance with the lawful precepts of the Father, / you, the blessed martyrs of Christ, / have attained an ageless life / through your blood, O all-praised ones.
Neither fire nor sword could in the least / alter the nobility of your character, O blessed ones, / that which, through the faith by which you / rendered the tyrants’ attacks powerless.
You endured torments for Christ our God, / O all-praised martyrs, / and, having received honors from on high for your victory, / you pray unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.
Theotokos: You gave birth, O Virgin, without knowing a man, / and remained a Virgin, the unwedded Mother, / Mary, Mother of God: pray to Christ our God / for our salvation.
Katavasia: The staff is taken as a symbol of the sacrament: / for by its growth it signifies the priest; / and for the Church, once barren, the tree of the Cross has now blossomed / for her strength and confirmation.
The seven pillars of God’s wisdom / and the seven lamps shining with divine light, / O wise Maccabees, greatest of all martyrs! / Pray to the God of the whole world through them / for the salvation of those who honor you.
Ikos: Praise your God with fervent zeal, Zion, / for He has truly strengthened the bolts of your gates / and blessed your sons. / For they, like a victorious army, / a truly valiant and spirit-strong regiment, / stood firm in God’s wisdom against the wiles of the wicked. / But as you enjoy your victorious crowns / in Heavenly Zion / and draw near to the Divine Throne, / praying unceasingly for all, ask / for the salvation of those who sing your praises!
Wise youths, raised in piety! / With martyr-like courage, you put the tyrants’ threats to shame; / having become defenders of the law / and companions of your father, O saints, / you willingly suffered alongside your God-wise mother. / Therefore, having truly purchased heavenly life through death— — / you rejoice forever, Maccabees, strong in spirit. / Intercede before Christ God / for the granting of the remission of sins / to those who honor your holy memory with love.
Your Cross, O Lord, is sanctified: / for from it come healings / to those who dwell in the infirmity of sin; / through it we fall down before You, / have mercy on us!
Irmos: “Christ is my strength, / God and Lord,” / —the holy Church sings reverently, / proclaiming from a pure mind, / rejoicing in the Lord.
May the whole earth be sprinkled with joy, / may the trees of the oak groves rejoice: / on this day the deification / has been revealed through the all-holy Cross, / shining to the ends of the earth.
Having revealed Yourself to the world—the instrument of death—/ as life-giving, bringing victory, / an invincible weapon, / O Glorious Cross! / Enlighten our hearts!
You are the Divine Victory, / you are the fulfillment of our salvation, / you are the help of the faithful in their struggle / and the Divine Sacrifice! / O Most Holy Cross, / sanctify those who sing your praises!
Heaven and all the earth rejoice; / the passion-bearers, the martyrs, the Apostles, and the souls of the righteous / now rejoice and glory, / beholding the Tree that saves all, / lying before us in the midst, / the Tree that gives life, / and sanctifies the faithful with grace.**
Theotokion: Truly You have appeared as the Mother of God, / truly You have given birth to the Son of the Most High, / the Virgin Mother Mary, who stretched out His hands on the Cross, / and called the world to Himself.
Another canon. Irmos: You, the Word, desiring to become incarnate / from the shadowy mountain—the one and only Mother of God— / were beheld by the prophet with a God-enlightened gaze / and he glorified Your power with awe.
The Law, as Moses did in ancient times, / inscribed on the tablets of your minds, O blessed ones, / you did not transgress it until death, / but strove steadfastly for it.
Offering lawful sacrifices to God / and zealously following the way of life bequeathed by Moses, / the passion-bearers of Christ / disregarded every decree of the tyrant.
Just as a rock withstands raging waves, / so the Maccabean martyrs / endured many torments / with a courageous spirit / even unto death.
Trinitarian Hymn: O Eternal Trinity, / worshiped as One! / Co-enthroned Unity, / praised as the Trinity! / Through the prayers of the martyrs, deliver us—who sing Your praises— / from misfortunes and calamities.
Theotokos: “Rejoice!” hear from us, / Holy Mother of God! / Rejoice, You who gave birth to joy for the world! / Rejoice, the only intercessor for mankind, / blessed and Pure Mother of God!
Katavasia: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence; / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.
Irmos: With Your divine light, O Good One, / illuminate with love the souls / that strive toward You from the dawn—I pray— / so that they may know You, the Word of God, the true God, / who calls them from the darkness of sin / to Yourself.
Let us joyfully receive the most blessed Cross, / when it is presented for veneration in churches and cities, / and let us worship it, / that we may receive the remission of our sins.
Now the cunning serpent, the prince of darkness, is put to death, / unable to endure the radiance / with which the Life-Giving Cross shines, / the sacred scepter of the Divine King.
Like a most radiant star, / and like a beautiful pearl, / and like the sun shining brightly, / the Cross of the Lord, which we kiss, / illuminates all the ends of the earth.
Shout for joy, O peoples; / sing and rejoice, O nations; / and give thanks to God, who has given us the Cross—an unshakable foundation: / now, as it is carried forth, / all of us, the faithful, rejoice, / enjoying the blessings through it.**
Theotokos: Knowing that You are the beginning of salvation, / all of us, the faithful, call You blessed, O Pure One: / for You gave birth in the flesh to the Pre-existent One, / who was nailed to the Cross of His own will.
Another canon. Irmos: Having illuminated the ends of the world with the knowledge of God / after the night of ignorance, / enlighten me in the morning with Your love for mankind, O Lord.
Having not violated the law of the Father, / you holy martyrs, / Christ Himself has crowned you with the crowns of righteousness.
Having shown themselves equal to Eleazar in wisdom, / the blessed youths / were brought with him to Christ / as a spiritual burnt offering.
You who, through the saints, deliver the world / from every deception! / Save us, O Lord, through their prayers, / as You are merciful.
Theotokos: You who appeared with the highest honor of the Cherubim, / All-glorious Virgin! / Pray to Your Son for the salvation of the souls / of those who sing Your praises.
Katavasia: O thrice-blessed Tree, / upon which Christ, King and Lord, was crucified, / through which the deceiver who used the tree fell, / himself caught by God, / who was nailed to you in the flesh, / granting peace to our souls!
Irmos: Seeing the sea of life / churning with waves of temptation, / I, having taken refuge in Your peaceful harbor, cry out to You: / “Deliver my life from destruction, / O Most Merciful One!”
Like a divine vessel, / like a radiant lamp, / on this day in churches, in sanctuaries, and in cities, / seeing the Cross lying before us, / let us sing to Him who made it radiant.
Death is put to death, / and corruption is destroyed, / and the demonic hosts flee, / seeing on this day the victorious and fearsome Cross of Christ lying before us, / and not daring to touch it.
We sing to You, O God, King, and Lord, / for You have granted us the Cross as an unbreakable wall: / we now kiss it with joy / and avoid terrible misfortunes.
Theotokos: Through the tasting that took place in Eden, / our foremother was defiled by the serpent’s poison; / but the Virgin, having given birth to the Prince of Life, / bestowed upon the world incorruption and resurrection.
Another canon. Irmos: Grant me a radiant robe, / O Christ our God, who is clothed in light as in a garment, / O Most Merciful One.
Having clothed yourselves in the garment of martyrdom, O saints, / you made it multicolored / through the labors of your suffering.
Desiring to be with Christ, all-glorious martyrs, / you walked the path of suffering / with unwavering resolve.
Keeping the Law that Moses handed down to you, / you, O saints, suffered lawfully, / putting the tyrant Antiochus to shame.
Theotokos: You alone, through the Word, / gave birth to the Word in the flesh! / Deliver, we pray, our souls / from the snares of the enemy.
Katavasia: In the belly of the sea beast, / Jonah spread his arms in the shape of a cross, / clearly foreshadowing the saving Passion; / and having emerged from there after three days, / he foretold the supernatural Resurrection / of Christ God, who was crucified in the flesh / and, by His resurrection on the third day, enlightened the world.
Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, / Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Ikos: Having been exalted to paradise, to the third heaven, / and having heard the ineffable and divine words, / which cannot be recounted in human languages— / what does he write to the Galatians, / as you, lovers of Scripture, have read and learned? / “Let me not boast,” he says, “except in the Cross of the Lord, / on which, having suffered, He put the passions to death.” / So let us all firmly hold fast to it, / the Cross of the Lord, as our boast; / for to us this saving Tree is / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Irmos: The Angel made the furnace dewy / for the pious youths, / and God’s command, which scorched the Chaldeans, / compelled the tormentor to cry out: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Let us, the faithful, worship the Saving Tree—the Most Holy Cross, / which all the angelic hosts serve, / as we behold it lying before us, / bestowing upon us sanctification and life.
The Most Holy Cross has been victorious, / the Giver of life, Christ, / driving away all the multitudes of demons from on high, / and bringing down the arrogance of the barbarians, / and revealing our King as the victor.
As if clinging to a living being, I cry out to You: / “My Most Holy Cross! Enlighten for me / my soul, my mind, my hearing, my lips, / my tongue, my breath, and my eyes, / guiding me along the paths of Christ’s Kingdom!”
We sing, and we praise, / and we worship, and we magnify / Your power, O Christ, / for You have given us, Your servants, the Divine Cross— / an inexhaustible delight, / and the protector of our souls and bodies.**
Theotokion: The furnace did not consume the three youths, / foreshadowing their birth from You: / for the Divine Fire did not consume You, / having dwelt within You and taught all to sing: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Another canon. Irmos: You who in the beginning founded the earth / and established the heavens by Your word! / Blessed are You forever, O Lord, / God of our fathers.
Having endured the sufferings proper to martyrs, / you were not daunted by the threats of tyrants, / crying out to Christ: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Having steadfastly endured your torments, / you overcame the fierce wiles of your enemies, / crying out to Christ: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”
Theotokos: He who dwelt in the Virgin’s womb / and through her renewed Adam / is blessed—the God of our fathers!
Katavasia: The mad command of the ungodly tyrant, / reeking of threats and blasphemy abhorrent to God, / threw the nations into confusion; / yet the three youths were not intimidated / by either savage wrath or the roaring fire; / but, standing in the fire, / against which a dew-bearing wind blew, they sang: / “O most praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Irmos: Be amazed with awe, O heaven, / and let the foundations of the earth be shaken; / for behold, He who dwells on high / is numbered among the dead / and is laid in a narrow tomb; / bless Him, O youths, / sing His praises, O priests, / and exalt Him, O people, for all ages.
Once foreshadowing Your Cross, / Jacob laid his hands on his grandsons in a different order, / and blessed them, / teaching of the manifestation of grace among all nations. / Servants, bless Him, / priests, sing His praises, / people, exalt Him forever.
O Your ineffable coming, O Christ, / and Your unspeakable blessings! / You became incarnate, were crucified, and suffered death, / and You deliver people from the curse, / having bestowed incorruption upon the thrice-blessed Tree. / This is the Cross, glorified forever!
The Most Holy Cross—divine victory, / the beginning of life, the destroyer of error— / let us praise it on this day. / The All-Holy Cross of the Lord— / the destroyer of demons and the expeller of barbarians, / the giver of victory to kings / and their protector.
Theotokos: Seeing Christ nailed to the Cross, / pierced in His incorruptible side by a spear, / receiving blows to the head with a reed, / and tasting gall, the Virgin cried out: / “Where has Your beauty gone, O beautiful Word, / You who are more glorified than the sons of men?”
Another canon. Irmos: The One without beginning—the King of Glory, / whom the heavenly powers bless / and before whom the hosts of angels tremble, / sing of Him, priests, / and you, people, exalt Him forever.
Having become worshippers of the Truth / and faithful guardians of the law, / you, most praiseworthy martyrs, / sing of Christ forever.
The sevenfold fruit, / truly sprung from a holy root, / the seven Maccabees, martyrs of the Lord, / let us honor them worthily.
Zealots for the Law, / martyrs of one mind, / the seven Maccabees with their mother, / let us honor them worthily.
Trinitarian: Trinity, Indivisible Unity! / I glorify You, One in Divinity, / and I sing of Your single Lordship / in the three Persons!
Theotokos: In these last days, / the God who became incarnate from the Virgin for our sake, / priests, sing His praises / and exalt Him forever!
Katavasia: Bless, young men, / the God the Father, the Creator, / equal in number to the Trinity; / sing of the Word who descended / and turned fire into dew; / and exalt the All-Holy Spirit, / who gives life to all, forever!
Irmos: It is impossible for people to see God, / Whom even the hosts of angels dare not gaze upon; / but through You, All-Pure One, / the incarnate Word has become visible to mortals. / Glorifying Him, / we, together with the heavenly hosts, / praise You.
We have become mortal through disobedience, / having become transgressors of God’s commandment, / from which death came upon mankind. / But immortality has sprung from the victorious Cross of Christ, / which we kiss on this day.
Behold, the Most Holy Tree has appeared / as a firm hope for the faithful, / a deliverance from the curse. / He, the joy of mankind, lies before us, / exposing the ruler of darkness. / Let us worship Him, O faithful, with joy.
The beginning of blessing / and the confirmation of Christians, / a wall and a strong defense, / and deliverance from the curse has appeared to us— / the longed-for Tree, the invincible weapon! / Enlighten and sanctify us, / who worship you.
To the Mother of God: Temple and gate of sanctification, throne of God, / cloud and brightest lamp, / and ark of grace, All-Pure One! / Cover and protect those who reverently worship / the sacred image / of Your only-begotten Son!
Another canon. Irmos: We magnify You, Mother of God, / and we glorify You, Virgin Mother of God, / as the One who gave birth to the Savior of our souls.
You have truly appeared as a treasure of divine gifts, / and as an inalienable wealth, / O all-praised martyrs!
Valiant intercessors / before the Creator of all! / Intercede for a life of peace / for our souls.
With divine zeal / and the fervor of the soul, / preserve those who honor your memory / from being devoured by the evil one.
Trinity Hymn: Let us worship the Father / with the Son and the Holy Spirit, / crying out with the Angels: / “Glory to God in the highest!”
Theotokos: Rejoice, holy door, / opened to the one all-wise God, / —She whom the Most Holy Spirit / has overshadowed!
Katavasia: You, O Mother of God, are the mysterious paradise / that bore Christ without labor, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship it and magnify You.
Let us sing of the wondrous Maccabees: / Eleazar, the youths, and Solomon: / for they brought down the pride / of the serpent, the prince of evil, / and for their service to the Law / became crowned with glory.
And now, to the Cross: The Cross—guardian of the entire universe, / The Cross—the beauty of the Church, / The Cross—the might of kings, / The Cross—the strength of the faithful; / The Cross—the glory of the Angels / and the defeat of the demons.
The holy Cross prepares the way to heaven / for all who worship it with faith, free from doubt. / And with the choir of incorporeal Powers, / He who was nailed to it unites / those who sing of Him with love.
Worshiping the Holy Cross with faith, / let us sing of the Lord crucified upon it, / at His command / purifying both our lips and our souls; / and let us be illuminated by its spiritual radiance, / as we praise Him.
Having transformed bitterness into sweetness in ancient times, / Moses delivered Israel, / by tracing the image of the Cross; / and we, all the faithful, / mystically and divinely depicting it in our hearts, / are always saved by its power.
The long-suffering mother, / calling her children to heroic deeds, proclaimed: / “Follow in the footsteps of Abraham, / that you may share in the sacrifice of Isaac!” / They, in turn, anticipated her instruction, / urged on her counsel, / through mutual exhortations at the sight of their torments. / By their prayers, O God, have mercy on us!
Tone 4: The seven chosen pillars, / hewn from a single rock of wisdom, / revealed the Law to be an unshakable stronghold. / For their sake, Savior, deign / to preserve our souls in peace.
Tone 5: Guardians of the Law and sons of Solomon, / suffering during their struggle, cried out to Antiochus: / “We, O Antiochus, stand firm for our fathers’ Law, / and neither fire, nor sword, / nor beasts, nor scourges / will separate us from it; / but we will die together with our aged mother / and our father-teacher, / so that we may live and rejoice with them / for all eternity!”
Glory, Tone 4: Let us behold, O faithful ones, the battle waged against the Maccabees / and their courage: / for the tyrannical king, who had subdued all nations, / was himself defeated by an old man, / seven youths, and a single woman. / Therefore, by their prayers, O God, / have mercy on us!
And now, to the Cross, Tone 4: O Lord, You helped the meek David / to defeat the foreigner; / assist our faithful king in battle, / and with the weapon of the Cross, bring down our enemies; / Show us, O Merciful One, Your ancient mercies, / and may they truly know that You are God, / and that we, trusting in You, are victorious, / through the constant intercessions of Your most pure Mother / for the granting of Your great mercy to us.
And we sing the great doxology in a quiet voice.
The priest, fully vested, approaches the Holy Table with the censer, preceded by a deacon carrying a candle, and censes the Holy Table and the Holy Cross. Then he places it, together with the platter, upon his head and exits the altar through the north doors, preceded by two priests and a deacon carrying the censer. Upon reaching the Royal Doors, he stands before them, awaiting the conclusion of the Trisagion. Then he proclaims: “Wisdom!” Let us stand in reverence!” And the choir sings the troparion: “Save, O Lord, Your people”—three times, while the priest proceeds, carrying the Holy Cross on his head, to the analogion adorned before the Royal Doors and places the Holy Cross upon it. He then venerates the Holy Cross three times, chanting in a soft voice: We bow down before Your Cross, O Lord, / and we glorify Your holy Resurrection. And both choirs sing the same three times, in a loud voice. And all kiss the Holy Cross, and bow down once more, singing the stichera in the same tone.
Come, faithful ones, / let us worship the life-giving Tree, / upon which Christ, the King of Glory, / willingly stretched out His arms / and raised us up to our former bliss— / we whom the enemy, having robbed of our delight, / had made exiles from God. / Come, faithful ones, let us worship the Tree, / through which we have been deemed worthy / to crush the heads of invisible enemies. / Come, all tribes of the nations, / let us honor the Cross of the Lord with hymns. / Rejoice, O Cross, the perfect redemption of fallen Adam! / Our most faithful kings boast of you, / for by your power / they mightily subdue the Ishmaelite people. / Now, kissing you with reverence, / we Christians glorify / God, who was nailed to you, proclaiming: / “O Lord, crucified upon it, have mercy on us, / as the Good and Lover of Mankind!”
Voice 5: All creation, seeing Him naked and hanging on the Cross, / You, the Creator and Maker of all, / was filled with fear and wept: / the sun dimmed its light, / and the earth trembled, / and the rocks crumbled, / and the bright veil of the temple was torn, / the dead rose from their tombs, / and the angelic Powers were terrified, crying out: / “O wonder! The Judge is being judged, / and suffers of His own will / for the salvation of the world and its renewal!”*
Tone 8: On this day, the Ruler of creation and the Lord of glory / is nailed to the Cross / and pierced in the side; / the Delight of the Church tastes gall and vinegar; / a crown of thorns is placed / upon Him who covers the heavens with clouds; / they clothe Him in garments of mockery / and strike the face of the One created from the earth / with the hand of the One who created man with His own hand; / they scourge the back / of Him who clothes the heavens with clouds; / He receives spittle and wounds, / insults and blows, / and endures all for my sake, the condemned, / my Redeemer and God, / that He may save the world from error, as the Merciful One.
Glory, and now, the same voice: On this day, He who is by nature unapproachable / becomes accessible to me / and endures suffering / He who frees me from passions; / He who gives light to the blind / is reviled by lawless lips / and offers His back to wounds for the captives. / Seeing Him on the Cross, / the pure Virgin and Mother cried out in anguish: / “Alas for me, My Child, why have You done this? / You who blossom with beauty more than all people, / You appear lifeless and unremarkable, / possessing neither form nor beauty. / Woe is me, My Light, / I cannot bear to see You as if asleep, / I am torn within, and a terrible sword pierces My heart. / I sing of Your sufferings, / I worship Your mercy; / O long-suffering Lord, glory to You!”
Then the ektenia: “Have mercy on us, O God,” and we complete the morning prayer: Deacon: “Wisdom.” The priest then pronounces the dismissal, and the First Hour is read. During it, the troparion to the Cross, the “Glory” of the saints, and the “And now” of the Theotokos of the hour are sung. After the “Our Father,” the kondakion to the Cross and the final dismissal are recited.
We sing the iconographic hymns; the “Blessed Are” from the Canon to the Holy Cross, Ode 3 in Tone 4, and to the saints, Ode 6 in Tone 4.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.
By the sufferings of the saints, / which they endured for Your sake, / be appeased, O Lord, / and heal all our infirmities; / we pray to You, O Lover of Mankind.
Seven pillars of God’s wisdom / and seven bright lamps of divine light, / the wise Maccabees, the greatest of martyrs before the martyrs! / Pray to the God of the whole world with them / for the salvation of those who honor you.
Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.
Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance.
Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry out: My God, do not remain silent, despising me. Ps 27:9, 1a
To the saints who are on His earth, the Lord has wonderfully revealed all His desires among them. Psalm 15:3
Brothers, the message of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will reject.” Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not come to know God through its own wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the folly of the message. For the Jews demand signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Greeks; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Cor 1:18–24
Brothers, through faith all the saints conquered kingdoms, established justice, attained the promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened in their weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. There were women who received their dead raised to life. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release so that they might attain a better resurrection. Still others endured insults and beatings, as well as chains and imprisonment; they were stoned, sawed in two, and subjected to torture; they died, slain by the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, suffering want, hardship, and affliction: those whom the world was not worthy of wandered through deserts and mountains, through caves and the crevices of the earth. And all of them, having received testimony through faith, did not enter into the possession of what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Heb 11:33–12:2
Verse: Remember Your people, whom You acquired from the beginning.
Verse: But God, our King from before the ages, has brought salvation to the earth. Ps 73:2a, 12
Verse: The righteous cried out—and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their troubles.
Psalm 33:18
At that time, the chief priests and the elders convened a council against Jesus to put him to death. They went to Pilate, shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.” The Jews replied to him, “We have a law, and according to our law He must die, because He has made Himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to Him, “Do You not speak to me? Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You and the power to release You?” Jesus replied, “You would have no power over Me at all unless it had been given to you from above.” So when Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Stone Pavement,” in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was the day before the Passover, the day of Preparation, and about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” But they shouted, “Take him, take him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests replied, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place called Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha, where they crucified him, along with two others, one on either side of him; and Jesus was in the middle. Pilate also wrote a notice and had it placed on the cross. It read: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the daughter of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Since it was Friday, the Jews, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath—for that Sabbath was a high day—asked Pilate to have their legs broken and their bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with him. When they came to Jesus, however, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true.
Matt. 27:1–2; John 19:6b–11a, 13–20, 25–28a, 30b–35a
The Lord said to His disciples: “Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went from there to teach and preach in their towns.
Matt. 10:32–36; 11:1
The light of Your face has shone upon us, O Lord.
Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise is fitting for the upright. Alleluia. (3) Ps 4:7b; 32:1
The Lord is my light and my Savior: / whom shall I fear?
Verse: The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps 26:1a, 1b
Brothers—both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified—all come from the One; for this reason, He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” And since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death He might deprive the one who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—of his power, and deliver those who, through fear of death, had been subject to slavery all their lives. For He certainly does not take on the nature of angels, but He takes on the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to become like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Heb 2:11–18
Verse: My heart has poured out a good word.
Verse: I declare my deeds to the King. Ps 44:2a
At that time, Jesus came to Jerusalem. Now there is a pool in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five covered porticoes. A great multitude of the sick—the blind, the lame, and those paralyzed—lay there, waiting for the water to be stirred. For from time to time an angel of the Lord would come down to the pool and stir up the water; and the first one to step into the pool after the water was stirred up would be healed, no matter what ailment he had.
John 5:1–4
August 6
Who spoke with Moses in ancient times / on Mount Sinai through images, / saying, “I am the Ever-Existing God,” / He Himself was transfigured on this day on Mount Tabor, / revealing our original image, shining with rays of light. / Therefore, Christ, I magnify Your power. (2)
Taking Your disciples aside, O Christ— / Peter, James, and John— / by Your own will You led them up the mountain, / revealing a wondrous miracle / and from afar manifesting the unbearable, eternal splendor / of Your divine coming.
Once, filled with awe at Your incomprehensible coming, O Christ, / the apostles, / falling prostrate upon the ground, / marveled at Your divine power, / when You shone brighter than the sun, O Good One, / with Your ineffable power.
The darkness of the Law was replaced / by the luminous cloud of the Transfiguration: / finding themselves within it, Moses and Elijah, / having been deemed worthy of most radiant glory, proclaimed to God: / “You are our God, King of the ages!”
“A light of joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day
On this day, Christ on Mount Tabor, / having transformed Adam’s darkened nature / and causing it to shine, made it divine.
Verse: Yours are the heavens, / and Yours is the earth. Ps 88:12a
Enlightened by the radiance of Your virtues, we cry out, / beholding on the holy mountain / the divine Transfiguration of the Lord.
Verse: Tabor and Hermon / will rejoice in Your name. Ps 88:13b
The sun, which illuminates the earth, sets once more; / but Christ, having shone forth in glory on the mountain, / has enlightened the world.
On Mount Tabor, Moses and Elijah beheld / God, incarnate from the Virgin-Maiden / for the salvation of mortals.
You were transfigured on the mountain, Christ our God, / revealing Your glory to Your disciples, / as much as was possible for them. / May Your eternal light also shine upon us, sinners, / through the prayers of the Mother of God; / Giver of light, glory to You!
Also, the litany and dismissal.
Before Your Cross, O Lord, / the mountain was like the heavens / and a cloud spread out like a tent. / When You were transfigured / and received testimony from the Father, / Peter was there with James and John, / for they were to be with You / even at the hour of Your betrayal and death, / so that, having seen Your wondrous deeds, / they might not fear Your sufferings, / which You have deigned to allow us to venerate in peace / through Your great mercy. (2)
Before Your Cross, O Lord, / having taken Your disciples up a high mountain, / You were transfigured before them, / illuminating them with rays of power, / desiring to show, through both Your love for humanity and Your might, / the radiance of the Resurrection; / and grant us, O God, in this world, / as the Merciful and Lover of Mankind. (2)
The mountain, once shrouded in darkness and smoke, / is now revered and holy, / upon which Your feet stood, O Lord; / for the mystery hidden from ages past / was finally revealed / in Your awesome Transfiguration / to Peter, John, and James. / Unable to bear the radiance of Your face / or the brilliance of Your garments, / they bowed their faces to the ground, / and, overcome with amazement, marveled, / seeing Moses and Elijah conversing with You / about what was to happen to You. / And a voice from the Father testified, saying: / “This is My beloved Son, / in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him, / for He will bestow great mercy upon the world!” (2)
Transfigured on the high mountain / in the presence of Your chief disciples, / You shone gloriously, Savior, / showing that those who shine with the height of virtues / will be made partakers of divine glory. / Moses and Elijah, conversing with Christ, / revealed that He reigns over the living and the dead, / and is the God who spoke in ancient times through the Law and the prophets, / about Whom a voice from a bright cloud also testified, / the voice of the Father, saying: / “Listen to Him who, through the Cross, conquers hell / and grants eternal life to the dead!” (2)
Foreseeing Your Resurrection, Christ our God, / You took with You then three of Your disciples— / Peter, James, and John— / as You ascended Mount Tabor. / And at Your Transfiguration, O Savior, / Mount Tabor was radiant with light. / Your disciples, O Word, / fell prostrate, lying face down on the ground, / unable to bear the sight of the image inaccessible to human eyes. / Angels served You with fear and trembling; / the heavens quaked, the earth trembled, / seeing the Glory of the Lord on earth.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast.
The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stand there; and I will give you the stone tablets, the law, and the commandments that I have written as a statute for them.” So Moses and Joshua, his assistant, set out and went up the mountain of God; and they said to the elders: “Remain here in peace until we return to you; and behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; if any dispute arises, let them come to them.” And Moses went up the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain, and the glory of God descended upon Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it for six days, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. The appearance of the Lord’s glory was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the midst of the cloud and went up the mountain; and he remained there on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
Exodus 24:12–18
In those days the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend; and Moses would go out to the camp, but his servant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would not leave the tent. And Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, You have said to me, ‘Bring this people out,’ yet You have not revealed to me whom You will send with me; but You have said to me, ‘I know you better than anyone else, and you have found favor in My sight.’ Now, if I have found favor in Your sight, please reveal Yourself to me, that I may see You face to face, so that I may find favor in Your sight; and so that I may know that Your people are indeed this [great] nation.”
And the Lord said to him, “I Myself will go before you and give you rest.” And he said to Him, “If You Yourself do not go with us, do not bring me out of here. And how will it be known for certain that both I and Your people have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? Then both I and Your people will be made more glorious than all the nations on the earth.” The Lord said to Moses, “I will fulfill for you this very word you have spoken, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you better than anyone else.” And Moses said, “Show me Your glory.” And He said, “I will pass before you in My glory and proclaim the name ‘The Lord’ before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” And He said, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see My face and live.” And the Lord said: “Here is a place by Me; stand here on the rock. When My glory passes by, I will place you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand, and you will see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
So Moses rose at daybreak and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had instructed him. And the Lord descended in a cloud and stood there with him (Moses), and he called upon the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: “The Lord, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful!” And Moses hurried to bow down to the ground and worshiped the Lord.
Exodus 33:11–23; 34:4–6, 8
In those days, Elijah came to Beersheba, which is in the land of Judah, and he left his servant there. He himself walked a day’s journey into the wilderness, and when he arrived, he sat down under a juniper tree. He lay down and fell asleep there under the tree. And behold, someone touched him and said to him, “Get up, eat and drink!” Elijah looked up, and there, at his head, was a cake of barley flour and a jar of water. So he got up, ate and drank, and then lay down and fell asleep again.
Then the Angel of the Lord returned a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up, eat, and drink, for you have a long journey ahead of you.” So he got up, ate, and drank; and, strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb. There he entered a cave and stayed in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and the Lord said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; and behold, the Lord will pass by. And a great and strong wind was splitting the mountains and shattering the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; (and after the earthquake, fire; but the Lord was not in the fire;) and after the fire, the sound of a gentle whisper, and there the Lord was.”
And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. And the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came; and when you reach the road to the wilderness of Damascus, anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat, as prophet in your place.”
3 Kings 19:3–9, 11–13, 15–16
You who have sanctified the entire universe with Your light, / on a high mountain You were transfigured, O Good One, / revealing Your power to Your disciples, / for You deliver the world from sin. / Therefore we cry out to You: / “O Merciful Lord, save our souls!”
Christ God, who was transfigured in glory on Mount Tabor, / and revealed to Your disciples the glory of Your Divinity, / enlighten us also with the light of Your knowledge / and guide us along the path of Your commandments, / as the One who is Good and Lover of Mankind!
Christ, the Light that existed before the sun, / living in the flesh on earth / and having accomplished, before the Cross, all that pertained to Your awe-inspiring plan, / as befits God, / on this day on Mount Tabor / mysteriously reveals the image of the Trinity / through the three most perfect of Your disciples, / Peter, James, and John, / whom He led up there alone with Him. / And, having partially concealed His assumed flesh, / He was transfigured before them, / revealing the perfection of His original beauty, / though not in its fullness, / at once assuring them, yet also sparing them, / lest they lose both their sight and their lives, / and only to the extent that they could comprehend / and their physical eyes could bear. / And He brought the greatest of the prophets, Moses and Elijah, / as witnesses to His Divinity, / and that He is the true Radiance of the Father’s essence, / reigning over the living and the dead. / Therefore, a cloud, like a tent, covered them, / and the Father’s voice resounded from above / from the cloud, testifying and declaring with a thunderous voice: / “This is the One whom I begot not according to earthly laws / from the womb before the morning star, / My beloved Son, / whom I sent to save / those who are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit / and who confess with faith / that the single authority of the Godhead is indivisible; / listen to Him!” / And You Yourself, Christ God, Lover of Mankind, / enlighten us with the Light of Your unapproachable glory / and make us worthy heirs / of Your endless Kingdom, O Most Blessed One!
Glory, Tone 5: Come, let us ascend the mountain of the Lord / and into the house of our God / and behold the glory of His Transfiguration, / the glory of the Only-Begotten from the Father; / let us receive the Light with light / and, lifted up in spirit, / let us sing of the Consubstantial Trinity forever.
And now, in the same tone: Of You, Christ, / as the Author and Fulfiller of the Law and the Prophets, / Moses, the God-seer, and Elijah, / who ascended to heaven unharmed in a fiery chariot, / bore witness, having seen You in the cloud at Your Transfiguration. / Grant us, too, Lord, to share in Your enlightenment with them, / so that we may sing Your praises forever.
He who in ancient times spoke / to Moses on Mount Sinai through visions, / saying, “I am the Ever-Existing One,” / on this day, having been transfigured before His disciples on Mount Tabor, / revealed the original beauty of the image of God / in the human nature He had taken upon Himself / and, having set Moses and Elijah as witnesses to such grace, / made them partakers of the joy, / foretelling the fulfillment of Your ministry through the Cross / and the saving Resurrection.
Verse: Yours are the heavens, / and Yours is the earth. Ps 88:12a
Foreseeing by the Spirit the coming / of Your Only-Begotten Son / in the flesh to mankind, / David, the Father of the God-Man, summons all creation from afar to rejoice / and prophetically exclaims: / “Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon shall rejoice at Your name.” / For, having ascended this mountain with Your disciples, / You, O Savior, transformed Adam’s darkened nature, / making it shine anew, / and transformed it into the glory and radiance of Your Divinity. / Therefore, we cry out to You: / “Creator of all things, O Lord, glory to You!”
Verse: Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon / will rejoice in Your name. Ps 88:13b
The unbearable outpouring of Your light / and Your unapproachable Divinity, Christ without beginning, / as they beheld You on the Mount of Transfiguration, / the chosen Apostles were transformed by divine rapture / and, illuminated by a bright cloud, / heard the Father’s voice, / confirming the mystery of Your Incarnation, / that You are One even in the Incarnation, / the Only-Begotten Son and Savior of the world.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: To Peter, John, and James, / Your chosen disciples, O Lord, / on this day You revealed on Mount Tabor / the glory of Your divine form: / for they saw Your garments shining like light, / and Your face brighter than the sun; / and, unable to bear the sight of Your unbearable radiance, / they fell to the ground, utterly unable to look. / And they heard a voice testifying from on high: / “This is My beloved Son, / who has come into the world to save mankind!”
You were transfigured on the mountain, Christ our God, / revealing Your glory to Your disciples, / as much as was possible for them. / May Your eternal light / also shine upon us sinners, / through the prayers of the Mother of God; / Giver of light, glory to You! (3)
You were transfigured on the mountain, Christ our God, / revealing Your glory to Your disciples, / as much as they were able to receive. / May Your eternal light also shine upon us, sinners, / through the prayers of the Mother of God; / Giver of light, glory to You! (3)
Revealing to mortals the transformation / in the image of Your glory / at Your second and awesome coming, / You were transfigured on Mount Tabor, Savior. / Elijah and Moses conversed there with You; / You called three of Your disciples there with You, / and they, seeing Your glory, O Lord, / were amazed by Your radiance. / You who illuminated them then with Your Light, / enlighten our souls!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
On Mount Tabor You were transfigured, O Jesus, / and a bright cloud, spread out like a tent, / covered the Apostles with Your glory— / therefore they cast their eyes to the ground, / unable to bear the radiance / of the unapproachable glory of Your face, / O Beginningless Savior, Christ God. / You who illuminated them then with Your Light, / enlighten our souls!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, / Christ, Giver of life, / and we honor the glorious transfiguration / of Your most pure flesh.
1 Chorus: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise in the city of our God, on His holy mountain. 2 The Lord accepts the meek, but exalts the humble. 1 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, and who may stand in His holy place? 2 O Lord, who may dwell in Your dwelling place? 1 Or who may abide on Your holy mountain? 2 Send forth Your light and Your truth. 1 You shine forth in wonder from the eternal mountains. 2 You founded the universe and all that fills it. 1 Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon rejoice in Your name. 2 O Lord, they will walk in the light of Your face. 1 And they will rejoice in Your name all day long. 2 And may the radiance of the Lord our God be upon us from now on and forever.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 47:2; 146:6; 23:3; 14:1; 42:3a; 75:5; 88:12b; 88:13b; 88:16b–17; 89:17a; 88:30a
Who ascended the mountain with Your disciples / and shone forth in the glory of the Father! / Elijah and Moses stand before You, / for the Law and the Prophets serve You as God; / and, proclaiming Your natural sonship, / the Father called You His Son. / We sing of Him with You and the Spirit!
Like a lightning bolt hidden beneath Your human flesh, O Christ, / and Your divine splendor / You revealed, O Benefactor, on the holy mountain, / shining forth before the disciples who were with You; / and they, realizing how unbearable Your glory was, cried out: / “You are holy, for though inaccessible, / You were visible to the world in the flesh, / the One who loves mankind!”*
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself defend / and save me, my Savior.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed, / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon / shall rejoice in Your name. Verse: The heavens are Yours, and the earth is Yours.
Ps 88:13b, 12a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
At that time, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with Him and went up the mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with Him—they were Moses and Elijah. Appearing in glory, they spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were weighed down by sleep; yet when they awoke, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as they were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. And while he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
Luke 9:28–36
Glory, Tone 2: On this day all joy was fulfilled: / Christ was transfigured before His disciples!
And now: we repeat the same.
Having partially revealed the radiance of Your divinity / to those who ascended the mountain with You, / You, O Savior, made them / zealous for Your eternal glory. / Therefore, they cried out in wonder: / “It is good for us to be here!” / Together with them, we too sing of You, Christ the Transfigured Savior, / for ever and ever.*
The first—by St. Cosmas of Maium, tone 4, and the second—by St. John of Damascus, tone 8; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, while the troparia are sung 12 times.
Canon 1. Irmos: The multitudes of the Israelites, / having crossed, without wetting their feet, / the Red Sea and its watery depths, / and seeing those who rode in the enemy’s chariots / drowned in it, / sang with joy: / “Let us sing to our God; for He has been glorified!”
Proclaiming the words of life and the teaching of the Kingdom of God / to His friends, Christ said: / “You will know the Father in Me, / when I shine forth with unapproachable light, / singing with joy: / ‘Let us sing to our God, for He has been glorified!’”
You, my friends and disciples, will destroy the power of the pagans / and be wonderfully exalted by their wealth; / for you will be filled with glory / when I appear, shining brighter than the sun, / singing joyfully: / “Let us sing to our God, for He has been glorified!”
On this day, Christ, on Mount Tabor, / though not yet fully revealed, / revealed to His disciples, as He had promised, / the image of God’s radiance; / and they, filled with the light-bearing divine splendor, / sang joyfully: / “Let us sing to our God, for He has been glorified!”
Canon 2. Irmos: Walking on the water as on dry land, / and having escaped the corruption of Egypt, / the Israelite cried out: / “Let us sing to our Deliverer and God!”
Moses, in ancient times, prophetically / beholding the glory of the Lord in the sea / in the cloud and in the pillar of fire, cried out: / “Let us sing to our Savior and our God!”
Beholding the Invisible One from behind the rock, / as if under the veil of a deified body, / Moses, the God-seer, cried out: / “Let us sing to our Savior and God!”
You were seen by Moses on the Mount of the Law / and on Mount Tabor: / in ancient times in darkness, / and now in the unapproachable light of the Godhead.
Canon 1. Irmos: The bow of the mighty has grown weak, / and the feeble have been girded with strength; / therefore my heart has been established / in the Lord.
Having clothed Yourself with the whole of Adam, O Christ, / You renewed the nature that had been darkened in ancient times, / enlightened it, and deified it / through the transformation of Your appearance.
Christ, who in ancient times led Israel through the wilderness / with a pillar of fire and a cloud, / on this day on Mount Tabor / shone forth with ineffable light.
Canon 2. Irmos: Creator of the heavenly vault, O Lord, / and Builder of the Church, / establish me in love for You, / the fulfillment of all desires, the confirmation of the faithful, / the only Lover of mankind.
The glory that once overshadowed the tabernacle / and was revealed to Moses, Your servant, / became a foreshadowing of Your Transfiguration, / which shone with ineffable radiance on Mount Tabor, O Lord.
With You, the Most High Only-Begotten Word, / the chief of the Apostles ascended Mount Tabor, / and Moses and Elijah appeared together, / as servants of God, the One who loves mankind.
Being wholly God, / You became a perfect man, / uniting humanity with Your perfect Divinity / in Your Person, / which Moses and Elijah beheld in two natures / on Mount Tabor.
On Mount Tabor You were transfigured, O God, / in the presence of the wise Elijah and Moses, / together with James, Peter, and John. / And Peter, being with You, cried out to You: / “It is good to make three tents here: / one for Moses, one for Elijah, / and one for You, Lord Christ!” / You who illuminated them then with Your Light, / enlighten our souls!
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
Canon 1. Irmos: I have heard of Your glorious providence, Christ God, /—that You were born of the Virgin, / to deliver those who cry out from their error: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
As You inscribed the written Law / on Mount Sinai, Christ our God, / You appeared, accompanied by a cloud, / and fire, and darkness, and a whirlwind: / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
To confirm Your glorious providence, Christ our God, / You, who existed before the ages / and who Yourself ascended on a cloud, / shone forth in an ineffable manner on Mount Tabor.
Standing before You, as servants conversing / with You, Lord Christ, / were those with whom You spoke amid the smoke of fire, / and darkness, and the gentlest breeze; / glory to Your power, O Lord!
Those present on Mount Tabor / proclaimed Your death on the Cross: / Moses, who once beheld You, Christ, / in the fire and the burning bush, / and Elijah, who was taken up in a chariot of fire.
Canon 2. Irmos: From Your flesh flashed forth the lightning of the Godhead; / therefore the chosen ones among the prophets and Apostles / cried out in song: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
You, O Lord, who preserved unharmed / the thornbush engulfed in fire, / revealed Your flesh, resplendent with divine light, / to Moses, who sang: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
The visible sun was hidden / in the rays of Your Divinity / when it saw You transfigured / on Mount Tabor, my Jesus; / glory to Your power, O Lord!
The incorporeal fire, / which did not scorch the body, was visible / when You appeared, O Lord, / to Moses, to the Apostles, / and to Elijah— / One of two natures, / in two perfect natures.
Canon 1. Irmos: You, who separated the primordial chaos from the light, / so that all creation might sing of You, the Creator, in the light, O Christ, / guide our paths in Your light.
The ages bowed down before You; / for the light and the radiance moving on high / were immediately emitted by the sun when You, Christ, / deigned to change Your earthly form.
“Behold the Savior,” exclaimed Moses and Elijah / within earshot of the disciples on the holy Mount Tabor, / “Christ, of whom in ancient times / we foretold as the true God!”
Your unchanging nature, / having united with mortal flesh, / revealing the light inherent in the incorporeal Godhead, / shone forth in an ineffable manner before the Apostles.
Beholding You, O Christ, the eternal radiance, / shining in the Father’s glory, / the disciples cried out to You: / “Guide our paths in Your light!”
Canon 2. Irmos: Why have You cast me away / from Your presence, O Unquenchable Light, / and why has foreign darkness enveloped me, the wretched one? / But turn me back to the light of Your commandments / and guide my paths, I beseech You.
No eloquent tongue / can express the greatness of Your majesty; / for You, who possess life / and reign over death, / presented Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor / as witnesses to Your Divinity.
You, Christ, who with invisible hands created man / in Your own image, / have now revealed in this creation / Your archetypal beauty— / no longer as an image, but as You Yourself are by nature, / being both God and man.
Having united within Yourself the two natures without confusion, / You showed us on Mount Tabor / the burning coal of Your Divinity, / which consumes sins but enlightens souls, / and thereby amazed Moses and Elijah / and the foremost of Your disciples.
Canon 1. Irmos: In my distress / I cried out to the Lord, / and the God of my salvation heard me.
Shining on Mount Tabor / with a light brighter than the sun’s radiance, / Christ enlightened us.
Ascending Mount Tabor, / You were transfigured, O Christ, / and, dispelling all delusion, / You shone upon us with Your light.
In You, Christ, the glorious Apostles / recognized God on Mount Tabor / and, in awe, fell to their knees.
Canon 2. Irmos: Have mercy on me, Savior, – / for my transgressions are many, – / and deliver me from the depths of evil, I pray; / for I have cried out to You, – and hear me, / O God of my salvation!
How great and awe-inspiring / was the vision revealed on this day! / From heaven, tangible, and from the earth, incorporeal, / the incomparable Sun of Righteousness / shone upon Mount Tabor.
“The fading shadow of the Law has passed, / and the truth—Christ—has come plainly!”— / Moses exclaimed on Mount Tabor, / upon beholding Your Divinity.
The pillar of fire—symbolizing Christ’s Transfiguration— / and the cloud—symbolizing the grace of the Spirit / that descended upon Mount Tabor— / pointed most clearly to Moses.
On the mountain You were transfigured, / and, as far as Your disciples could bear, / they beheld Your glory, Christ God, / so that when they saw You crucified, / they might understand that Your suffering was voluntary / and proclaim to the world / that You are truly the radiance of the Father.
Ikos: Awake, you who are slothful, / do not remain forever wallowing below! / Thoughts that bow my soul to the earth, arise / and ascend to the heights of the Divine ascent! / Let us hasten to Peter and the sons of Zebedee / and together with them reach Mount Tabor, / so that we may see with them the glory of our God and hear the voice / that they heard from above / and proclaimed concerning the Father’s Radiance.
Canon 1. Irmos: The children of Abraham in Babylon / once trampled the flames of the furnace, / exclaiming in their hymns: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Illuminated by the light of ineffable glory, / on Mount Tabor the Apostles / cried out to Christ: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Delighting in the whirlwind of Your divine voice, / and the dew-bearing cloud, and Your radiance, Christ, / the Apostles sang: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
When Peter saw You on Mount Tabor / shining in unapproachable light, Christ, / he exclaimed: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Abiding with Christ, the Prince of Life, / the sons of Zebedee cried out, / when He sent forth light from His face: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The Jewish youths in the furnace / boldly trampled the flames, / and turned the fire into dew, crying out: / “Blessed are You, O Lord God, forever!”
Now an unprecedented sight was revealed to the Apostles— / the Divinity in the flesh, shining on Mount Tabor, / and they cried out: / “Blessed are You, O Lord God, forever!”
Struck with awe, the Apostles / marveled at the splendor of the Divine Kingdom / on Mount Tabor, crying out: / “Blessed are You, O Lord God, forever!”
Now the unheard-of has been heard: / for the Son, born of the Virgin without a father, / is gloriously attested by the Father’s voice / as God, and He Himself—a man, forever.
Not having become the Son through adoption, / but from the beginning by nature being / the beloved Son of the Most High, / You, without changing, communed with us as we exclaimed: / “Blessed are You, O God, forever!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The youths in Babylon, / burning with divine zeal, / bravely defied the tormentor’s threat and the flames / and, cast into the midst of the fire and doused with water, sang: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
He who sustains all things by His word / ascended Mount Tabor with His most pure feet, / and there His face shone brighter than the sun’s radiance, / and He inspired the chosen ministers of the law and grace / to sing: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
The unbearable and everlasting Light, the Father’s Radiance, / which appeared in ineffable glory / on Mount Tabor, / rejoicing creation, deified the people who sang: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
Moses and Elijah, who appeared with sacred reverence / on Mount Tabor, / clearly beholding the image of the Divine Hypostasis— / Christ, shining forth in the Father’s glory—sang: / “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord!”
Once, in the darkness, / Moses’ face was glorified by the divine voice; / but Christ is clothed in light and glory as in a garment, / for He, the Creator of light Himself, / enlightens those who sing: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
The disciples, seeing Christ on Mount Tabor / surrounded by a luminous cloud / and prostrating themselves on the ground, their minds enlightened, / sang to Him with the Father and the Spirit: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”
Canon 2. Irmos: Seven times the Chaldean ruler / set the furnace ablaze / against those who worshiped God with fervor; / but seeing them saved by a higher power, / he cried out to the Creator and Savior: / “You youths, bless Him; you priests, sing His praises; / you people, exalt Him for all ages!”
Your disciples, O Lord, / having heard the testimony from the Father, / and unable to gaze upon the radiance of Your face, / which is unbearable to human sight, / fell to the ground, singing with awe: / “Priests, bless Him; / people, exalt Christ forever!”
You are by nature the most beautiful King of kings, / and the Lord who reigns over all, / the blessed Lord who dwells in unapproachable light— / To You the astonished disciples, / (and Moses and Elijah) cried out: / “You young men, bless Him; priests, sing His praises; / people, exalt Christ forever!”
As the One who reigns over heaven / and rules over the earth, / and has power over the underworld, / the Apostles appeared before You, Christ, from the earth, / and Elijah the Tishbite, as if from heaven, / while Moses rose from the dead, singing in unison: / “People, exalt Christ forever!”
Leaving behind the cares born of indolence, / the chosen ones among the Apostles departed from the earth, / when they followed You, Lover of Mankind, / to the highest earthly, divine life; / therefore, having been deemed worthy of Your Epiphany, they sang: / “People, exalt Christ forever!”
On the 9th ode, we do not sing “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” even on Sunday, but we sing the refrain of the feast:
Exalt, O my soul, / the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor.
And the irmos: “The Birth from You:” Then the second voice sings the same refrain and irmos. And for the second canon, we sing the same refrain.
Canon 1. Irmos: The Birth from You was revealed to be immaculate: / God came forth from Your womb, taking on flesh, / He who appeared on earth / and lived among people; / therefore, O Mother of God, / we all magnify You.
The trembling disciples, suddenly illuminated / by an extraordinary flood of light, / looked at one another, / and, struck with awe and prostrate on the ground, / worshiped You, Lord of the whole world.
From the cloud came a thunderous / divine voice, confirming the miracle; / for the Father of lights called out to the Apostles: / “This is My beloved Son; / listen to Him!”
Beholding this extraordinary and wondrous sight, / and hearing the Father’s voice on Mount Tabor, / the servants of the Word cried out: / “Behold, our Savior is / the image of the Original!”
The Image of the One Who Is, in every way like Him, / the unchanging Seal, the Unalterable One, / the Son, the Word, Wisdom, and Strength, / the Right Hand, the power of the Most High! / We sing of You with the Father and the Spirit.
Canon 2. Irmos: Everyone will tremble upon hearing / of God’s ineffable descent, / how the Most High, by His own will, / condescended even to the Incarnation, / becoming man from a virgin’s womb; / therefore, we, the faithful, / magnify the Most Pure Mother of God.
To clearly reveal / Your second ineffable coming, / when You, O Most High God, / will appear standing among the gods, / You shone forth ineffably on Mount Tabor / before the Apostles, Moses, and Elijah; / therefore, O Christ, / we all magnify You.
Come to me and believe, O peoples! / Ascending the holy, heavenly mountain, / let us stand spiritually in the city of the living God, / and let us contemplate with our minds / the incorporeal Divinity of the Father and the Spirit, / shining forth in the Only-Begotten Son.
You have drawn me to Yourself with love, Christ, / and transformed me with a divine longing for You. / But burn away my sins with Your incorporeal fire / and grant that I may be filled with delight in You, / so that, rejoicing, I may extol / Your two comings, O Good One.
Word, unchanging Light / of the unbegotten Father! / In Your light, revealed today on Mount Tabor, / we have beheld the light of the Father, the light of the Son, and the light of the Spirit, / the light that guides all creation. (3)
Before Your holy Cross and Passion, / taking those whom You had chosen from among Your holy disciples, / You ascended Mount Tabor, O Lord, / desiring to show them Your glory. / And they, beholding You transfigured / and shining brighter than the sun, / fell prostrate, amazed at Your power, crying out: / “You are the timeless Light, Christ, / and the radiance of the Father, / though by Your own will / You were made visible in the flesh, O Unchanging One!” (2)
The God-Word, existing before the ages, / clothed in light as in a garment, / transfigured before Your disciples, / You, the Word, shone brighter than the sun. / Moses and Elijah appeared before You, / proclaiming You the Lord of the dead and the living, / and glorifying Your ineffable providence and mercy, / and Your great condescension, / by which You saved the world, / which was perishing in sin.
You, born of the Virgin’s cloud, / and made flesh, / and transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Lord, / and surrounded by a luminous cloud, / the voice of the Father, in the presence of Your disciples, / openly revealed You as the Beloved Son, / consubstantial with Him and seated on the same throne as Him. / Therefore Peter, amazed, / spoke without knowing what he was saying: / “It is good to be here, / O Most Merciful Benefactor!”
Christ took Peter, James, and John / alone up a high mountain, / and was transfigured before them, / and His face shone like the sun, / and His garments became white as light; / and Moses and Elijah appeared, conversing with Him, / and a bright cloud overshadowed them, / and behold, a voice from the cloud, saying: / “This is My beloved Son, / in whom I am well pleased. / Listen to Him!”
The Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, who was transfigured in glory on Mount Tabor before His holy disciples and Apostles, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.
Verse 1: Shout for joy to the Lord, / all the earth. Ps 65:1B
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 2: Shout to the Lord, all the earth; / sing to His name, give Him glory with praise! Ps 65:1B–2
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 3: The voice of Your thunder resounds throughout the heavens; Your lightning illuminates the universe; / the earth trembles and quakes. Psalm 76:19
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 4: You are clothed with glory and splendor, / wrapping Yourself in light as in a garment.
Psalm 103:1b–2a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 1: O mountains of Zion, northern slopes— / the city of the great King. Ps 47:3b
Save us, O Son of God, who was transfigured on the mountain, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 2: And He brought them into the boundaries of His sanctuary, / to this mountain which His right hand has acquired.
Ps 77:54
Save us, O Son of God, who was transfigured on the mountain, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: Mount Zion, which He loved. / And He established His sanctuary there, like a unicorn.
Ps 77:68b–69a
Save us, O Son of God, who was transfigured on the mountain, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: You shine wondrously / from the eternal mountains. Ps 75:5
Save us, O Son of God, who was transfigured on the mountain, as we sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: Those who hope in the Lord / are like Mount Zion: they shall never be shaken. Psalm 124:1a
You were transfigured on the mountain, Christ our God, / revealing Your glory to Your disciples, / as much as was possible for them. / May Your eternal light also shine upon us, sinners, / through the prayers of the Mother of God; / Giver of light, glory to You!
Verse 2: The mountains surround it, / and the Lord surrounds His people from now on and forever. Psalm 124:2
Troparion: You were transfigured on the mountain:
Stich 3: O Lord, who shall dwell in Your dwelling place, / or who shall abide on Your holy mountain? Psalm 14:1
Troparion: You were transfigured on the mountain:
Verse 4: Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord, / or who shall stand in His holy place? Psalm 23:3
Troparion: You were transfigured on the mountain:
Lord, send forth Your light and Your truth—they have guided me and brought me to Your holy mountain. Ps 42:3a
You were transfigured on the mountain, Christ our God, / revealing Your glory to Your disciples, / as much as was possible for them. / May Your eternal light / also shine upon us, sinners, / through the prayers of the Mother of God; / Giver of light, glory to You!
You were transfigured on the mountain, / and, as much as Your disciples could bear, / they beheld Your glory, Christ God, / so that, when they saw You crucified, / they might understand that Your suffering was voluntary / and proclaim to the world / that You are truly the radiance of the Father.
The Holy Trinity.
How majestic are Your works, O Lord; / You have created all things with wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, You are greatly exalted.
Ps 103:24, 1
Brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election: for by doing so, you will never stumble, and thus you will be granted abundant entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, I will not cease to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth; but I consider it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up with a reminder, knowing that my tent will soon be laid aside, just as our Lord Jesus Christ has declared to me. I will therefore make every effort so that, even after my departure, you may be able to recall these things at all times. For we have proclaimed to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, not by following cleverly devised myths, but by having witnessed His majesty firsthand. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to Him from the majestic glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” And we heard this voice coming from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. We also have the most trustworthy prophetic word; you do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day begins to dawn and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:10–19
Verse: Yours are the heavens, and Yours is the earth.
Verse: Blessed is the people who know the battle cry; O Lord, they will walk in the light of Your face.
Psalm 88:12a, 16
At that time, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart from the others. And He was transfigured before them: His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with Him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! If you wish, let us make three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face down and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” But when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone. And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus instructed them, saying, “Tell no one about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1–9
Praise, O my soul, / the Lord who was transfigured on Mount Tabor.
Irmos, Tone 4: The birth from You was without sin: / God came forth from Your womb, taking on flesh, / He who appeared on earth / and lived among men; / therefore, O Mother of God, / we all magnify You.
And until the Communion.
Lord, we will walk in the light of Your face, / and rejoice in Your name forever. Alleluia. (3) Ps 88:16b–17
O God, our Savior, who deigned to name Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, “the Vine,” and through Him granted us the fruit of immortality! Bless this fruit of the vine even now, and make us, Your servants who partake of it, partakers of the True Vine; preserve our lives in safety, and grant us peace always, and adorn our lives with Your eternal and unchanging gifts, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Your saints who have pleased You from of old. For You are the Good and Philanthropic God, and to You we send up glory, to the Beginningless Father, with Your Only-Begotten Son and with Your Most Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, bless this new fruit of the vine, which, under clear skies, through the favorable conditions of the air and the rain, has ripened by Your good pleasure by this time, so that it and its juice may serve us who partake of it, and as a joy, and as an offering brought to You for the forgiveness of our sins, together with the consecrated and Holy Body of Your Christ, with Whom You are blessed, and with Your Most Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, our God, who has ordained that those who believe in You may partake of Your creations, bless these fruits Yourself with Your word; we pray to You, through the mercy and love for mankind of Your Only-Begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your Most Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, our God, who has commanded everyone to offer to You willingly what is Yours from what is Yours, and who grants Your eternal blessings as a reward for this! Just as You graciously accepted the widow’s offering according to her means, so now accept from Your servant (name) what has been offered to You, and may it be worthily placed in the treasury of Your eternal blessings; and grant him abundantly to receive from You earthly blessings along with all that is beneficial to him. For blessed is Your Name and glorified is Your Kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.
At the immortal Dormition of the Mother of God / the angelic host rejoices: / and She, departing, / enters the eternal abodes / and, passing into heavenly joy, / enters into divine joy / and into eternal bliss. (2)
Desiring the higher life, / You left this earthly one behind, O Mother of God, Virgin, / the flower of virginity, / who gave birth to Christ, the life of all; / and the assembly of the apostles stood in reverence / at Your sacred burial, O Bride of God.
By Your funeral hymns and the music at Your tomb, / the air was sanctified / at Your ascension, Mother of God, Lover of Mankind. / A wondrous miracle, O Theotokos, who knew no husband! / Therefore, we, the faithful, devoutly worship You, / O Theotokos, who experienced no marriage.
Come, let us celebrate the universal Dormition / of the All-Pure Mother of God, / for on this day the Angels rejoice / because of the holy passing of the Mother of God / and summon us, the earthly ones, to the feast, / exclaiming with an unceasing voice: / “Rejoice, You who have departed from the earth / and moved to the heavenly dwellings! / Rejoice, O You who have gathered / the choir of disciples together / like a light cloud! / Rejoice, our hope and our protection, / for we, the Christian people, / ceaselessly call You blessed!
“Joyful Light:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Host of disciples and divine apostles! / Gather together to lay to rest / the body that received God / of the one and only Mother of God.
Stich: Arise, O Lord, and enter into Your rest, / You who are the ark of Your holy treasures. Psalm 131:8
You, who shone forth from Her in an ineffable manner, / as befits the Son, receive / the all-pure spirit of the Mother of God / with Your own hands, O Lord!*
Antiphon: The Lord swore to David in truth / and will not go back on His word. Psalm 131:11a
When You, O Virgin, went to be with Him Who was born of You, / the apostles came together on the clouds / to lay Your body to rest.
Glory, and now: O gates of heaven, lift up your heads, / seeing the Door of the Most High, / proceeding in glory / to her Son and God.
At Christ’s birth You preserved Your virginity / and after death You did not forsake the world, O Mother of God: / You passed into life as the Mother of Life, / and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death.
Also, the litany and dismissal.
O wondrous miracle! / The Source of life is laid in a tomb, / and the tomb becomes a stairway to heaven; / rejoice, Gethsemane, / holy inheritance of the Mother of God! / Let us cry out, O faithful, / with Gabriel as our leader: / “Hail, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you, / bestowing great mercy upon the world through you!” (3)
Marvelous are Your mysteries, O Pure One! / You have appeared as the Throne of the Most High, O Sovereign Lady, / and on this day You have passed from earth to heaven. / Your glory is beautiful, / shining with the light of God’s gracious gifts. / O Virgins, ascend to the heights / with the Mother of the King. / O Full of Grace, rejoice, for the Lord is with you, / bestowing great mercy upon the world through you. (3)
The Powers and Thrones, the Principalities and Dominions, / the Powers and Cherubim, and the awesome Seraphim / glorify Your Dormition. / Those born on earth rejoice, / boasting in Your divine glory; / kings prostrate themselves with the Archangels and Angels and sing: / “O Full of Grace, rejoice, for the Lord is with you, / bestowing great mercy upon the world through you!” (2)
Glory, and now: (Tone 1) At the command of Divine power, / the God-bearing Apostles from every direction, / lifted high like clouds, / (Tone 5) having reached Your all-pure and life-giving Body, / kissed it with fervor; / (Tone 2) and the greatest of the heavenly Powers, / having arrived with their Lord, / (Tone 6) escorted the God-bearing and all-pure Body, / seized with awe; / and they marched above the world, / and invisibly cried out to their highest ranks: / “Behold, the Queen of all has come, the Virgin of God; / (Tone 3) lift up the gates and receive Her above the world, / this Mother of the ever-existing Light; / (Tone 7) for through Her the salvation / of all generations of mortals has been accomplished; / we are unable to gaze upon Her, / and it is impossible to render Her the honor She deserves, / (Tone 4) for Her excellence is beyond all thought!” / (Tone 8) Therefore, Most Pure Mother of God, / who dwells ever with the Life-Giving King and Your Son, / intercede ceaselessly for the preservation and salvation / of Your new people / from every enemy attack; / for we have found refuge in You, / (Tone 1) and we glorify You brilliantly for ever and ever!
Entrance. The Prokeimenon of the day and the three readings of the feast.
Jacob set out from the Well of the Oath and went to Haran; he came to a certain place and lay down there to sleep, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of that place, placed it under his head, and fell asleep in that place. He had a dream: behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. The Lord stood above it and said, “I am the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac; do not be afraid. The land on which you are lying, I will give it to you and to your descendants; and your descendants will be as numerous as the sand of the earth; and they will spread out toward the sea, toward the south, toward the north, and toward the east; and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants; and behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go; and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “The Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Genesis 28:10–17
Thus says the Lord: From the eighth day onward, the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you with favor, says (Adonai) the Lord. Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faced east, and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “These gates shall remain shut; they shall not be opened, and no one shall pass through them, for the Lord, the God of Israel, will pass through them, and they shall remain shut. Therefore, the ruler—he shall sit there to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of these gates, and by the same way he shall go out.” Then he led me along the way to the gate of the sanctuary, the one on the north side opposite the temple, and I looked—and there, the house of the Lord was filled with glory.
Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1–4
Wisdom has built herself a house and set up seven pillars; she has slaughtered her sacrifices and mixed her wine in her cup, and prepared her feast; she has sent out her servants, calling out with a loud proclamation to the cup: “Let everyone who is simple turn to me!” And to the simple-minded she said: “Come, taste my bread and drink the wine I have mixed for you; forsake folly, and you will live, and seek understanding, that you may live and attain wisdom in knowledge.” He who instructs the wicked will bring disgrace upon himself, and he who rebukes the wicked will bring shame upon himself. Do not rebuke the wicked, lest they hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you; give the wise a reason, and he will become even wiser; speak to the righteous, and he will pay attention. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the counsel of the saints is understanding; to know the Law is the attribute of a good mind: for in this way you will live a long time, and the years of your life will be increased.
Proverbs 9:1–11
It was fitting for the eyewitnesses of the Word and His ministers / to behold the passing of His Mother according to the flesh, / for it was the final mystery accomplished upon her; / so that they might not only behold the Savior’s ascension from the earth, / but also bear witness to the passing of the One who bore Him. / Therefore, transported from every quarter by divine power, / they came to Zion / and accompanied the Highest of the Cherubim as she ascended to heaven. / We, too, together with them, worship her, / as she intercedes for our souls.
Highest of the heavens, and most glorious of the Cherubim, / and surpassing all creation in honor, / having become the dwelling place of the greatest purity / of the eternal Being, / on this day she commends her all-holy soul into the hands of the Son, / and with her all is filled with joy, / and great mercy is granted to us.
The All-Pure Bride / and Mother of the Father’s Goodwill, / destined to become God’s own dwelling place / through His union, unmingled with human nature, / on this day entrusts her most pure soul to the Creator and God, / which the Incorporeal Powers receive with honor befitting God, / and the true Mother of Life is transferred to life, / the lamp of the inaccessible Light, / the salvation of the faithful and the hope of our souls.
Come, all the ends of the earth, / let us praise the holy passing of the Mother of God, / for She has delivered Her immaculate soul into the hands of the Son; / therefore, through Her holy repose, the world has been revitalized, / celebrating joyfully with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs / together with the incorporeal ones and the Apostles!
Come, assembly of those who love feasts, / come, and let us form a choir, / come, let us crown the Church with hymns / at the repose of the Ark of God; / for on this day heaven spreads its arms wide, / receiving the One who gave birth to the Inconceivable for the whole world, / and the earth, yielding the Source of Life, / is adorned with blessing and splendor. / The angels form a choir with the Apostles, / gazing in awe upon She who passes from life to life, / She who gave birth to the Prince of Life. / Let us all bow down before Her, praying: / “Do not forget, O Lady, Your closest kinship / with us, who celebrate with faith / Your all-holy Dormition!”
And now, in the same tone: Sing, O people, to the Mother of our God, sing, / for on this day She commits Her all-radiant soul / into the most pure hands of Him Who was Incarnate without seed from Her, / to Whom She prays unceasingly / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy.
Come, let us sing, O people, / to the all-holy and pure Virgin, / from whom the incarnate Word of the Father / passed in an ineffable manner; / let us sing, exclaiming and proclaiming: / “Blessed are you among women; / blessed is the womb that bore Christ!” / Having entrusted your soul to His holy hands, / intercede, Most Pure One, / for the salvation of our souls.
Verse: Arise, O Lord, and enter into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. Psalm 131:8
On this day, let us sing David’s song / to Christ our God: / “Virgins will be led to the King in her wake,” he said, / “they will be led in joy and gladness.” / For She who is of the seed of David, / through whom we are deified, / is carried in glory and beyond words / by the hands of Her Son and Lord. / Singing of Her as the Mother of God, / we exclaim and proclaim: / “Save us who confess You as the Mother of God from every wickedness / and deliver our souls from misfortune!”
Verse: The Lord swore to David in truth / and will not go back on His word. Ps 131:11a
Your all-holy Dormition, / O all-holy and pure Virgin, / is glorified by the multitude of angels in heaven / and by us, the human race, on earth, / for You have become the Mother of the Creator of all, Christ our God. / Do not cease, we beseech You, to intercede for us, / we who have placed our hope in You after God, / O all-praised Mother of God, who knew no marriage!
Glory, and now, in the same tone: When You departed, O Virgin Mother of God, / to the One born of You in an ineffable manner, / James, the brother of God and the first hierarch, was present there, / as well as Peter, the most honored head and summit of theologians; / and the entire divine host of the Apostles, / expounded the divine mystery most clearly, / singing of the divine and awe-inspiring mystery / of the establishment of the household of Christ God. / And, having laid Your life-giving and God-receiving body to rest, / they rejoiced, O All-Praised One; / while from above the all-holy and foremost Angelic Powers, marveling at the wonder, / bowed down and proclaimed to one another: / “Lift up your gates and receive / the One who gave birth to the Creator of heaven and earth; / let us sing praises to the sacred and holy body, / which contained for us the Invisible One and our Lord!” / Therefore, as we celebrate your memory, / we cry out to you, All-Praised One: / “Exalt the horn of the Christians / and save our souls!”
At Christ’s birth You preserved Your virginity / and did not forsake the world after death, O Mother of God: / You passed into life as the Mother of Life, / and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death. (3)
At the birth of Christ, You preserved Your virginity / and did not forsake the world after death, O Mother of God: / You passed into life as the Mother of Life, / and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death. (3)
The most venerable assembly of the wise Apostles / was miraculously gathered to bury with honor / Your most pure body, O all-praised Mother of God; / with them sang a multitude of Angels, / reverently praising Your passing, / which we celebrate with faith.
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
At Christ’s birth from You / the conception was without seed, / at Your Dormition /—a passing into death without corruption; / a miracle joined with a miracle / into a double miracle, O Mother of God. / For how, having known no man, / do You nourish the Infant, remaining pure? / And how do You, Mother of God, / bear the yoke of death, yet exude the fragrance of life? / Therefore, together with the Angel, we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
We magnify You, / the immaculate Mother of Christ our God, / and we glorify / Your Dormition.
1 Chorus: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing praises to His name. 1 Shout before the King—the Lord. 2 Glorify Him; praise His name. 1 In the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God. 2 His dwelling place is peaceful, and His abode is on Zion. 1 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. 2 God has established it forever. 1 The Most High has sanctified His dwelling place. 2 Holiness and splendor are in His sanctuary. 1 I will sing and make music in my glory. 2 I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 I will lie down in peace and sleep at once. 2 Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 1 The righteous Lord has cut off the necks of the sinners. 2 Arise, O Lord, enter into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. 1 Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for many days. 2 I will make Your name memorable from generation to generation.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 65:2a; 65:2b; 97:6b; 99:4c; 47:9b; 75:3; 86:3; 47:9d; 45:5; 95:6b; 107:2b; 115:4; 4:9a; 114:7; 128:4; 131:8; 92:5b; 44:18a
Proclaim, David, what feast is celebrated today? / “It is in honor of Her whom I have sung of,” he says, “in the Book of Psalms, / as the Daughter—the Virgin of God and the Maiden: / Christ, born of Her without seed, / has carried Her to the heavenly abodes . / And so mothers and daughters rejoice, / as do the brides of Christ, crying out: / “Rejoice, O One Who Has Passed into the Kingdom on High!”
Glory, and now: we repeat the same.
From my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, O my Savior, / defend and save me.
You who hate Zion, be put to shame before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
I will make Your name memorable / throughout every generation and age. Verse: Hear, O Daughter, and look, and incline Your ear. Ps 44:18a, 11a
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His holy ones; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
In those days, Mary set out and traveled in haste to the hill country, to a town in Judah, and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb; and blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” Mary stayed with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39–49, 56
When the transfer of Your most pure body was being prepared, / then the Apostles, surrounding the bier, / gazed upon You with awe; / and some, gazing intently at the body, / were overcome with amazement, / while Peter cried out to You with tears: / “O Virgin, I clearly see You lying on Your back, / Life of all, and I am amazed / at the One in whom the Delight of the life to come has dwelt!” / But, O Most Pure One, pray earnestly to Your Son and God / for the preservation of Your city unharmed.
The first—St. Cosmas of Maium, tone 1, and the second—St. John of Damascus, tone 4; the irmoses of both canons are sung twice, and all the troparia are sung to tone 12. Katavasia: each choir sings its own irmos.
Canon 1. Irmos: Adorned with divine glory, / holy and glorious, O Virgin, your memory / has gathered all the faithful to rejoice, / so that, led by Mary with dances and tambourines, / they may sing to your Only-Begotten Son, / for He has been glorified in splendor.
A host of incorporeal heavenly beings / surrounded Your divine body on Zion; / and a multitude of Apostles, / having suddenly gathered from the ends of the earth, / suddenly appeared before You, Mother of God; / together with them, we too, O Pure One, / glorify Your holy memory.
You have attained the honors of victory over nature, O Pure One, by bearing God in your womb; yet, imitating Your Creator and Your Son, You supernaturally submit to the laws of nature; therefore, even in death, You rise to eternal life with Your Son.
Canon 2. Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her Dormition.
O virgins, / together with Mary the prophetess, / now intone a funeral hymn, / for the Virgin and only Mother of God / is passing into her heavenly dwelling.
As befits You, Most Pure One, / like a living heaven, / the heavenly, divine abodes have received You, / and, resplendently adorned like a spotless bride, / You have appeared before the King and God.
Canon 1. Irmos: Creative and all-encompassing / Wisdom and Power of God, / establish the Church firmly and unshakably, O Christ, / for You alone are holy, / resting among the saints.
Knowing You, O Immaculate One, to be both a mortal woman / and, supernaturally, the Mother of God, / the glorious Apostles / touched You with trembling hands, You who shine with glory, / beholding You as the tabernacle that received God.
God’s justice overtook the insolent hands of the audacious, / cutting them off, / as He safeguarded, / for the glory of the Divinity, / the honor of the Living Ark, / in which the Word became flesh.
Canon 2. Irmos: O Mother of God, / you are a living and abundant spring / for your hymn-singers, who have prepared a spiritual feast; / confirm them / and, in your divine remembrance, / grant them the crowns of glory.
Having come forth, O Pure One, from mortal loins, / You reached the end befitting Your nature; / but having given birth to true Life, / You passed into divine and hypostatic Life.
A host of theologians from the ends of the earth, / and from above—a multitude of angels / hastened to Zion at the almighty’s command, / to serve in a worthy manner / at Your burial, O Lady.
We, all generations, call You blessed, / O Virgin Mother of God, / for our boundless God, Christ, / was pleased to dwell within You. / Blessed are we, too, having You as our protection, / for You intercede for us day and night, / and the sceptres of the kingdom are strengthened by Your prayers. / Therefore, as we sing, we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The sayings and riddles of the prophets / have revealed Your incarnation from the Virgin, O Christ: / “The radiance of Your lightning / will go forth to enlighten the Gentiles, / and the abyss will proclaim to You with joy: / Glory to Your power, O Lover of Mankind!”
Behold, O nations, and marvel, / for the holy and most glorious Mountain of God / rises higher than the heavenly hills; / the Earthly Heaven is established / upon the imperishable and heavenly earth.
Your death, O Pure One, has become a passage / to eternal and better life, / carrying You, O Immaculate One, from temporal life / to that which is truly divine and unchanging, / so that You may contemplate Your Son and Lord / in joy.
The gates of heaven were lifted up, / and the Angels sang, / and Christ received the treasure / of His Mother’s virginity; / the Cherubim bowed before You with joy, / while the Seraphim glorify You, rejoicing.
Canon 2. Irmos: Contemplating God’s inscrutable counsel / concerning Your, O Most High, Incarnation from the Virgin, / the prophet Habakkuk exclaimed: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”
It was a wondrous sight / to see the King of all, who animates Heaven, / passing through the depths of the earth. / How marvelous are Your works! / Glory to Your power, O Lord!
If even Her incomprehensible Fruit, / He through whom the heavens were created, / willingly accepted burial as a mortal, / how could She who gave birth without a husband / have escaped burial?
At Your passing, Mother of God, / the angelic hosts, with awe and joy, / covered Your most holy body—which was vast and contained God— / with their wings.
Canon 1. Irmos: I will proclaim the divine and ineffable beauty / of Your perfections, O Christ; / for You, having shone forth from eternal glory / as an equally eternal and hypostatic radiance, / having been incarnated from a virgin womb, rose like the sun / upon those in darkness and shadow.
The host of the Apostles, as it were carried on a cloud, / was gathered from the ends of the earth to Zion / to serve You, O Virgin, the light cloud, / from which the Most High God rose, like the sun of righteousness, / upon those who were in darkness and shadow.
Louder than the trumpets, the divinely inspired tongues / of the theologians cried out to the Mother of God, / proclaiming a funeral hymn by the Spirit: / “Rejoice, imperishable Source / of the life-giving and salvific / Incarnation of God for all!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The whole world marveled / at Your holy Dormition: / for You, the Virgin who knew no marriage, / have passed from the earth to the eternal dwellings / and to life without end, / granting salvation / to all who sing Your praises.
Let the trumpets of the theologians resound on this day, / and let the eloquent tongues of men / now proclaim praise; / let the air resound, shining with boundless light, / and let the Angels sing / of the Dormition of the Most Pure Virgin.
It was fitting for You, O Virgin, chosen vessel, / to amaze all with hymns in Your honor at Your passing, / to be wholly sanctified for God, / divinely inspired for all, / to be and appear truly as such, / O all-glorified Mother of God.
Canon 1. Irmos: The fire in the belly of the whale born in the depths of the sea / was a foreshadowing of Your three-day burial, / of which Jonah is the interpreter, / for, having been preserved unharmed, / just as he had been before being swallowed, he cried out: / “I will offer You a sacrifice with a voice of praise, O Lord!”
The King of all, God, reveals the supernatural in You, / for just as He preserved You through the Virgin at Your birth, / so too did He keep Your body incorrupt in the tomb / and at the same time glorified it through the divine Transfiguration, / rendering honor to You as the Son of the Mother.
You, O Virgin, are truly a radiant lamp of the incorporeal Fire, a golden censer of the divine Coal, a vessel of manna and a staff, a tablet inscribed by God, the Holy Ark, and the table of the Bread of Life—and Your Child has taken up residence within the Holy of Holies.
Canon 2. Irmos: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, let us begin to applaud, / glorifying the God born of Her.
From You, Life shone forth, / without breaking the bonds of virginity. / How then did Your most pure and life-giving body / come to share in the trial of death?
Having become the temple of Life, / You attained eternal life, / for through death You passed into life, / as the One who gave birth to the hypostatic Life.
Neither the tomb nor mortality could hold back / the ever-watchful Theotokos in prayer / nor her unshakable hope in intercession. / For He who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb / carried her, as the Mother of Life, into life.
Ikos: Guard my thoughts, my Savior, / for I dare to sing of the Wall of Peace, / Your most pure Mother; / grant me strength upon the tower of words, / and strengthen me in the palaces of thought, / for You proclaim / that You fulfill the petitions of those who ask with faith; / Grant me, then, a tongue, / speech, and a mind without blemish, / for every gift of enlightenment is sent down from You, Giver of Light, / who dwelt in the ever-virgin womb.
Canon 1. Irmos: Divine love, / resisting shameless fury and fire, / quenched the fire, / and laughed in the face of fury, / responding with the divinely inspired, rational three-stringed lyre of the righteous / to the musical instruments amid the flames: / “Most glorified God of our fathers and ours, / blessed are You!”
The tablets created by God, / inscribed by the Divine Spirit, / Moses shattered in his anger; / but his Lord, having preserved His Mother unharmed, / has now settled Her in the heavenly dwellings. / Rejoicing with Her, let us cry out to Christ: / “Most glorified God of our fathers and ours, / blessed are You!”
With the cymbals of pure lips / and the musical lyre of the heart, / with the melodious trumpet of exalted contemplation, / on this momentous and chosen day / of the Dormition of the Virgin and the Pure One, / clapping our hands with fervor, let us cry out: / “Most glorified God of our fathers and ours, / blessed are You!”
The God-wise people have gathered, / for the dwelling place of God’s glory / is moving from Zion to the heavenly abode, / where the pure voice of those celebrating, / the voice of unspeakable joy, / and those joyfully crying out to Christ: / “Most glorified God of our fathers and ours, / blessed are You!”
Canon 2. Irmos: The God-wise / did not honor the creations more than the Creator, / but, bravely overcoming the fire that threatened them, / joyfully sang: / “Most Praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”
Young men and maidens, elders and princes, / and kings with judges, sing, / honoring the memory of the Virgin and Mother of God: / “Lord and God of our fathers, blessed are You!”
May the heavenly mountains sound the trumpet of the Spirit, / may the hills rejoice, / and may the divine Apostles celebrate: / the Queen is passing to the Son, / to reign with Him forever.
The all-holy passing / of Your divine and imperishable Mother / has united the supernal hosts of the heavenly powers / in common joy with those on earth who sing to You: / “God, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: The almighty Angel of God / showed the youths a flame / that waters the righteous but scorches the wicked; / and made the Mother of God the life-giving spring, / pouring out destruction—death—but life to those who sing: / “Let us sing of the One Creator, we who have been delivered, / and exalt Him for all ages!”
A great multitude of theologians / on Zion accompanied the Ark of the Holy, / exclaiming with these words: / “Where are You going now, Tabernacle of the living God? / Do not cease to look upon those who sing with faith: / ‘Let us sing of the One Creator, we who are saved, / and exalt Him for all ages!’”
As You departed, raising Your hands as it were, O All-Pure One, / the hands that had physically embraced God, / You, as a Mother, boldly said to the One Who was Born: / “Preserve forever those whom You have entrusted to Me, who call upon You: / ‘Let us sing of the One Creator, having been saved, / and exalt Him for all ages!’
Canon 2. Irmos: The Child of the Mother of God saved the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He summons the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him for ever and ever!
Your memory, O Pure Virgin, / is glorified by the Principalities, as well as by the Powers and the Forces, / the Angels, the Archangels, the Thrones, the Dominions, / the Cherubim and the awesome Seraphim, / and we, the human race, sing / and exalt You forever and ever!
O Mother of God, He who dwelt in an extraordinary manner / in your pure womb at the Incarnation, / having received your all-holy Spirit Himself, / settled Him within Himself as a Son fulfilling His duty; / therefore we sing to you, O Virgin, / and exalt you for all eternity.
O miracles beyond comprehension, / Ever-Virgin and Mother of God! / For She, having entered the tomb, / revealed it to be paradise! / Standing before it today, we joyfully sing: / “Praise the Lord, all creation, / and exalt Him for all eternity!”
We do not sing the 9th ode, “The Highest Glory of the Cherubim,” even on Sunday, but we sing the refrains of the feast:
We, all generations, glorify You, / the only Mother of God.
Or: The angels, seeing the Dormition of the Most Pure One, marveled / at how the Virgin ascends from earth to heaven.
And the irmos: “The laws of nature have been overcome:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And for each troparion, they sing the same refrain once.
Canon 1. Irmos: The laws of nature have been overcome / in You, O pure Virgin: / virginity is preserved in childbirth / and death is betrothed to life; / a Virgin after childbirth and alive after death, / always save, O Mother of God, Your inheritance!
The angelic hosts were amazed, / beholding their Lord on Zion / receiving a woman’s soul into His arms; / for He called out to the All-Pure One who gave birth to Him, / as befitted the Son: / “Come, O Holy One, / be glorified with the Son and God!”
The host of the Apostles prepared for burial / Your body, which had received God, / gazing upon it with awe / and crying out in a loud voice: / “As You depart to the heavenly palaces to the Son, / ever save, O Mother of God, Your inheritance!”
Then the first choir sings the refrain of the second canon:
Rejoice, my soul, / at the holy passing of the Mother of God from earth to heaven.
And the irmos: “Let everyone born on earth:” Then the second choir sings the same refrain and irmos. And for each troparion, they sing the same refrain once.
Canon 2. Irmos: Let everyone born on earth / rejoice, enlightened by the Spirit; / let the nature of incorporeal Minds also rejoice, / honoring the sacred passing of the Mother of God, / and let them cry out: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One, / pure Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!
Come, let us rejoice on Zion, / the divine and fertile mountain of the living God, / gazing upon the Mother of God; / for Christ is transferring her, as His Mother, / to a far better and most divine dwelling, / into the Holy of Holies.
Come, faithful ones, / let us approach the tomb of the Mother of God / and embrace it, touching it sincerely with our hearts, / lips, eyes, and foreheads, / and let us draw abundant gifts of healing / from the inexhaustible spring that flows forth.
Accept from us this funeral hymn, / Mother of the living God, / and shower us with Your luminous and divine grace, / granting victory to the King and peace to the Christ-loving people, / who sing of the forgiveness of sins / and the salvation of the soul.
Then both choirs sing together the refrain of the first canon and the irmos: “The laws of nature have been overcome:” And the refrain and irmos of the second canon: “Everyone born on earth:” And a bow.
Apostles, gathered here from the ends of the earth, / bury My body in the village of Gethsemane, / and You, My Son and My God, / receive My spirit! (3)
The heavens rejoice at Your glorious Dormition, / the angelic hosts are glad, / and the whole earth rejoices, / singing a funeral hymn to You, / Mother of the Sovereign of all, / the All-Holy Virgin who knew no marriage, / who delivered the human race / from the condemnation of our first parents! (2)
From the ends of the earth, / the chosen ones among the Apostles gathered, / by the command of Divine power, / for Your burial; / and beholding You as You ascended from earth to the heights, / they cried out to You in joy with the voice of Gabriel: / “Rejoice, Bearer of the entire Godhead! / Rejoice, O You alone who, by giving birth to Christ, / have united the earthly with the heavenly!
Having borne Life in Your womb, / You passed into immortal life / in Your holy repose, / when You were accompanied by the spear-bearing Angels, / the Principalities and Powers, / the Apostles, the prophets, and all creation, / while Your Son, with His incorruptible hands, / received Your spotless soul, / O Virgin Mother, Bride of God.
Glory, and now, Tone 6: At Your immortal passing, / O Theotokos, Mother of Life, / the host of the Apostles rose into the air / and gathered those scattered throughout the world in one place / before Your most pure body; / and they, having reverently laid it to rest, / singing the cry of Gabriel, cried out: / “Rejoice, O Grace-filled Virgin, / Mother who knew not marriage, the Lord is with you!” / Pray with them to Him, as Your Son and our God, / for the salvation of our souls.
The Great Doxology.
Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, the holy, glorious, and all-praised Apostles, the holy and righteous God-parents Joachim and Anna, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as He is good and loves mankind.
We sing the figurative hymns; the “Blessed Are”: the 3rd ode of the 1st canon in the 4th tone, and the 6th ode of the 2nd canon in the 4th tone. If the rector so desires, we sing the antiphons of the feast.
Verse 1: Shout to the Lord, / all the earth. Ps 65:2a
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 2: Glorify Him, / praise His name. Ps 99:4b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 3: In the city of the Lord of hosts, / in the city of our God. Ps 47:9b
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Verse 4: His dwelling place is peaceful, and His abode is on Zion. Ps 75:3
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, / save us.
Glory, and now: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, Savior, save us.
Verse 1: The Lord loves the gates of Zion / more than all the settlements of Jacob. Ps 86:2
Save us, O Son of God, / wondrous among the saints who sing to You: / Alleluia.
Verse 2: Glorious things are spoken of You, / O City of God. Ps 86:3
Save us, O Son of God, / O wondrous One among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 3: God has established / it forever. Ps 47:9g
Save us, O Son of God, / O wondrous One among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Verse 4: The Most High has sanctified / His dwelling place. Ps 45:5
Save us, O Son of God, / wonderful among the saints who sing to You: Alleluia.
Glory, and now: The Only-Begotten Son:
Verse 1: My heart is ready, O God, / my heart is ready. Ps 107:2a
At Christ’s birth You preserved Your virginity / and after His death did not forsake the world, O Mother of God: / You passed into life as the Mother of Life, / and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death.
Verse 2: How shall I repay the Lord / for all He has done for me? Psalm 115:3
Troparion: At the birth of Christ, You preserved Your virginity:
Verse 3: I will take the cup of salvation / and call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 115:4
Troparion: At the birth of Christ, you preserved your virginity:
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ.
Save us, Son of God, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, / who sing to You: Alleluia.
At Christ’s birth You preserved Your virginity / and did not forsake the world after His death, O Mother of God: / You passed into life as the Mother of Life, / and through Your prayers You deliver our souls from death.
The tomb and mortality could not hold back / the ever-watchful Mother of God in her prayers / or our unshakable hope in her intercessions. / For He who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb / brought her to life as the Mother of Life.
The Trisagion.
My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Verse: For He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant; henceforth all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46–48
Brothers, let the same mindset be in you that was in Christ Jesus: Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness and appearing as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:5–11
Verse: Arise, O Lord, and enter Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
Verse: The Lord swore to David in truth and will not go back on it. Psalm 131:8, 11a
At that time, Jesus entered a certain village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations for the meal, and she came up to Him and said: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” In reply, Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” While He was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts that nursed You!” But He said, “Truly, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 10:38–42; 11:27–28
The angels, seeing the Dormition of the Most Pure One, marveled / at how the Virgin ascends from earth to heaven.
Irmos, Tone 1: The laws of nature have been overcome / in You, O pure Virgin: / virginity is preserved in childbirth / and death is betrothed to life; / a Virgin after childbirth and alive after death, / always save, O Mother of God, Your inheritance!
And until the Communion.
I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. (3) Ps 115:4
John the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ, / let us all, the faithful, in unison, / honor him earnestly as he deserves: / for he, being a prophet, foretells the future, / as a minister and godly participant / in the ineffable mysteries of Christ’s miracles. (2)
Herod the madman mercilessly cuts off / your head, which exposed his vile character; / but Christ, thrice-blessed, / makes you, like the Baptist, the head of the Church, / the Lord, Creator of all and Redeemer.
The lawless Herod commands, / having boldly severed your head, O All-Blessed One, / that it be brought on a platter to the wicked Herodias. / O, what a dreadful miracle and an extraordinary tale! / But the Church of Christ joyfully / celebrates your suffering.
Glory, Tone 8:* Forerunner of the Savior! / Though Herod put you to death, / you who proclaimed the truth, / the radiant lamp of your lips / shone with the light of faith, calling out to those in Hades. / Therefore, pray / for the mercy of our souls.
And now, to the Mother of God, in the same tone:* O Lady, accept the supplications of Your servants, / and deliver us from every misfortune and sorrow.
“A Light of Joy:” and the prokeimenon of the day.
Among those born of women, / you appeared as the greatest, O blessed one, / as the one who baptized the Lord of all, / John the Prophet, / the Forerunner and Herald.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord / is the death of His saints. Ps 115:6
When Herodias / saw Herod the lawless, / possessed by drunkenness and fornication, / she led him to his murder.
Verse: The righteous / will be remembered forever. Psalm 111:6b
We celebrate with love / the sacred memory / of the divine John the Baptist, / singing the praises of the Most Holy Trinity.
The sole Hope of Christians and our Intercessor! / Together with the Forerunner, pray to Your Son, O Pure One, / for Your servants.
The memory of the righteous is honored with praises, / but for you, Forerunner, the Lord’s testimony is enough, / for you have truly appeared as the most glorious of the prophets, / since you were deemed worthy to baptize the One who was proclaimed in the waters. / Therefore, having suffered joyfully for the truth, / you proclaimed the Good News even to those in Hades of God, who appeared in the flesh, / who takes away the sin of the world / and grants us great mercy.
And now, O Mother of God, the same voice proclaims: “All things are beyond understanding, all things are most glorious / are Your mysteries, O Mother of God: / sealed with purity and having preserved Your virginity, / You have appeared as the true Mother who gave birth to the true God. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.”
Also the litany and the dismissal.
We sing Antiphon 1 of Kathisma 1: “Blessed is the man:”
On the occasion of the birthday of the most shameless Herod, / the condition of the oath / given to the dancing harlot was fulfilled: / for the severed head of the Forerunner / was carried on a platter as a delicacy before those reclining at the table. / O hateful feast, / full of crime and bloodshed! / But we, honoring the Baptist as the greatest among those born of women, / praise him worthily. (Twice)
The disciple of the all-malicious devil danced / and took your head, Forerunner, as a reward. / O feast, full of blood! / O, if only you had not sworn an oath, lawless Herod, offspring of falsehood! / But even if you had sworn, / you would not have kept your oath: / for it would have been better to lie and save your life / than to do as you promised and cut off the Forerunner’s head. / But we honor and praise the Baptist, as the greatest among those born of women, / with due reverence. (Twice)
You should not have, O Herod, / condemned to death the accuser of adultery / because of satanic lust / and the sting of mad lust for women. / You should not have surrendered his most holy head / for the sake of an oath to your lawless wife / in exchange for a dance, out of your own fickleness. / Oh, how dare you commit such a murder! / And how was the wanton dancer not scorched / as she carried him on a platter in the midst of the feast? / But we honor and praise the Baptist, as the greatest among those born of women, / as is fitting. (Twice)
Once again Herodias raves, / once again she is in turmoil. / O, treacherous dance and treacherous drink! / The head of the Forerunner was severed, and Herod was in turmoil. / Through the intercession, O Lord, of Your Forerunner, / grant peace to our souls. (Twice)
Glory, same tone: On the occasion of the birthday of the most shameless Herod:
And now, O Mother of God: Who will not glorify You, All-Holy Virgin? / Who will not sing of the virgin birth from You? / For the Only-Begotten Son, who shone forth from the Father before all time, / He Himself was born of You, O Pure One, having become incarnate in an inexpressible manner. / He is God by nature, / and for our sake became man by nature; / He is not divided into two persons, / but is known in two unconfused natures. / Pray to Him, O Holy One, O All-Blessed One, / for the mercy of our souls.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. And the readings for the feast.
Thus says the Lord: “Comfort, comfort My people,” says God. O priests! Speak tenderly to Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation has come to an end: indeed, her sin has been blotted out, for she has received from the hand of the Lord double for her transgressions. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness : “Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight!” [Every ravine shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.]
Climb the high mountain, you who bring good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good news to Jerusalem! Lift up your voice; do not be afraid: I am the Lord God; I, the God of Israel, will hear you and will not forsake them, but I will open rivers on the mountains and springs in the valleys; I will turn the wilderness into pastures and the parched land into springs of water.
Let the heavens rejoice above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth bring forth and cause mercy to spring up, and let righteousness spring up with it. Proclaim a message of joy, and let it be heard to the ends of the earth. Say that the Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob, and if they thirst in the wilderness, He will bring water for them from the rock.
Rejoice, you barren one who has not borne children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor; for the children of the forsaken woman are more numerous than those of the married woman!
Isa. 40:1–3, 9; 41:17–18; 45:8; 48:20–21; 54:1
Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Behold, I will send My Angel before You, who will prepare Your way before You, and the Lord whom you seek will come to His temple. And who can endure the day of His coming? [Or who can stand when He appears?] For He comes like a fire in a furnace and like the chaff of the thresher. And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and gold. And He will come to us to judge, and He will be a swift witness against the wicked, against adulterers, against those who swear falsely by His name (and against those who withhold a hired worker’s wages, against those who oppress widows and abuse orphans, and against those who pervert justice for the stranger)—and against those who do not fear Him, says the Lord Almighty. For I am the Lord your God, and I do not change; yet it is you, O sons of Jacob, who have turned away from the laws and have not kept them. Therefore, turn to Me, and I will turn to you, says the Lord Almighty. And all the nations will call you blessed, and you will know that I am the Lord, who watches over both the righteous and the wicked, on that day when I act to take possession of those who love Me. So learn and remember the law of Moses, My servant, as I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel—the statutes and ordinances. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the Tishbite before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes—he who will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of the people to their neighbors, so that when I come, I will not utterly destroy the land,” says the Lord Almighty, the Holy God of Israel.
Mal 3:1–3, 5–7, 12, 18, 17; 4:4–6
The righteous, even if he dies prematurely, will rest in peace. As he dies, the righteous will condemn the living wicked; for they will see the end of the righteous and will not understand what they had planned for him. For the Lord will cast down the wicked to the depths in silence and shake them from their foundations; they will waste away in torment until the end, and their memory will perish; for they will come to realize their sins with fear, and their iniquities will be laid bare before them. Then the righteous one will stand with great boldness before those who oppressed him and rejected his labors. When they see this, they will be seized with great fear and marvel at his unheard-of salvation. For, repenting, they will speak to themselves, groan in their distress, and say: “This is the one who was once a laughingstock and a byword of scorn to us. Fools that we were, we regarded his life as madness and his death as dishonorable! How is it, then, that he has been numbered among the sons of God, and his lot is with the saints? Thus, we have strayed from the path of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shone upon us, and the sun has not risen for us. We have grown weary of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and have walked along impassable trails, yet we have not known the ways of the Lord.”
Wisdom 4:7, 16–17, 19–20; 5:1–7
How shall we call you, O Prophet? / An angel, an Apostle, or a martyr? / An angel, for you lived as one without flesh; / An Apostle, for you taught the nations; / A martyr, for your head was cut off for Christ’s sake. / Pray to Him to have mercy on our souls.
We commemorate the severed head of the Forerunner: / once flowing with blood on a platter, / now, at the ends of the earth, / pouring forth healing.
On this day, the wicked mother of murder, / having borne her most shameless daughter from an unlawful union, / used her cunningly in a murderous plot / against the greatest of all the prophets, chosen by God: / for when the most hateful Herod / held a feast on the day of his lawless birth, / she incited her to swear an oath to ask for / the sacred head of God’s forerunner, who worked miracles; / and this the madman carried out, / giving it as a reward for a dance in the assembly, for the sake of the oath. / However, the minister of the mystery of Christ’s coming did not cease / even after her death to expose their godless union to shame; / and so, denouncing them, he cried out and said: / “It is not fitting for you to commit adultery / with the wife of your brother Philip!” / O birthday that slew the prophet, / and feast steeped in blood! / But we, with pious thoughts of the beheading of the Forerunner, / clothed in white, will celebrate, / rejoicing as on a momentous day, / and we will ask Him to appease the Holy Trinity / so that She may deliver us from dishonorable passions / and save our souls.
Voice 4: Herod held a debauched birthday celebration / and a most shameless feast. / For, delighting in the licentiousness of women / and driven by an ungodly passion for them, / he beheaded the Forerunner, / but he did not silence the prophetic voice / that denounced his folly. / He shed innocent blood, / seeking to cover up his lawless sin, / but even this could not silence the voice / proclaiming repentance to all. / He committed murder while reveling, / but we will celebrate with love / the blessed martyrdom of John the Baptist. / For he was the first to appear in Hades, / to proclaim to those who dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death / the life of the Light rising from on high, Christ our God, / the One, the All-Merciful.*
Let us, O people, praise the Prophet, the Martyr, and the One who baptized the Savior: / for he, being an Angel in the flesh, / exposed Herod, / condemning him for committing the most lawless act of adultery. / And because of that lawless dance, / the holy head is severed / from the one who proclaimed to those in Hades the resurrection from the dead, / and he prays earnestly to the Lord / for the salvation of our souls.*
The Prophet, the Martyr, and the Baptizer of the Savior, / come, people, let us praise him: / for, fleeing the world, he dwelt in the wilderness, / eating wild honey and locusts, / and denounced the king who committed lawlessness; / and he comforted our faint-heartedness, proclaiming: / “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”*
Glory, Tone 5, by John the Monk: Seeking to escape / the condemnation of his lawless deed, Herod / delivered your head, Forerunner, / to his lawless wife out of his own fickleness, / for the wretched man did not realize / that he was exposing himself to shame / by allowing her to carry it on a platter. / But as the active teacher of purity / and the saving guide to repentance, / intercede, Christ’s Baptist, / that we may be delivered from dishonorable passions.
And now, in the same tone: Sing, O people, to the Mother of our God, sing, / for on this day She entrusts Her all-radiant soul / into the most pure hands of Him Who was Incarnate without seed from Her, / to Whom She prays unceasingly / to grant peace to the universe / and great mercy.
John the Baptist, preacher of repentance, / by the beheading of your head / you sanctified the earth, / for you explained God’s law to the faithful / and eradicated lawlessness. / As one who stands before the throne of Christ, the Heavenly King, / pray to Him to have mercy on our souls.
Stich: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, / and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Psalm 91:13
For the Law of the Lord, / they cut off your head, / O all-holy John! / You denounced the wicked king, who committed lawlessness, / with blameless boldness. / Therefore, the hosts of angels marvel at you, / and the choirs of Apostles and martyrs glorify you. / We, too, honor your annual commemoration, O All-Glorious One, / glorifying the Holy Trinity, / who has crowned you, O Blessed Forerunner.
Verse: The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, / and put their trust in Him.
Ps 63:11
A prophet born of a prophet / and who became greater than all the prophets, / consecrated from his mother’s womb for the service of the Lord, / on this day was beheaded by a lawless king, / and having clearly rebuked the immodestly dancing maiden / both before and after his head was cut off, / he put to shame the host of sin. / And so we cry out: “John the Baptist, / as one who has boldness, / pray earnestly for our souls!”
Glory, Tone 8: Forerunner of the Savior! You rebuked the king, / urging him not to commit iniquity. / That is why the whim of his lawless wife / prompted Herod to cut off your head; / but because of this, from the rising of the sun to its setting, / your name is praised. / You who have boldness before the Lord, / pray earnestly for the salvation of our souls!
And now, to the Mother of God: O Virgin who knew no marriage, / who conceived God in the flesh in an ineffable manner, /—Mother of the Most High God! / Hear the supplications of Your servants, O All-Pure One, / who grants purification from sins to all; / now, having accepted our prayers, / pray for the salvation of us all.
At the blessing of the bread, the troparion of the Forerunner is sung twice and “O Virgin Mother of God:” once, followed by a reading.
The memory of the righteous is honored with praise, / but for you, Forerunner, the Lord’s testimony is sufficient, / for you were truly the most glorious of the prophets, / since you were deemed worthy to baptize the One who was foretold in the waters. / Therefore, having suffered joyfully for the truth, / you proclaimed the Gospel even to those in Hades—God, who appeared in the flesh, / who takes away the sin of the world / and grants us great mercy.
The memory of the righteous is honored with praise, / but for you, Forerunner, the Lord’s testimony is enough, / for you were truly the most glorious of the prophets, / since you were deemed worthy to baptize the One who was to be proclaimed in the waters. / Therefore, having suffered joyfully for the truth, / you proclaimed the Good News even to those in Hades of God, who appeared in the flesh, / who takes away the sin of the world / and bestows great mercy upon us.
Glory, and now, O Mother of God, the same tone: All beyond understanding, all most glorious / are Your mysteries, O Mother of God: / sealed with purity and having preserved Your virginity, / You appeared as the true Mother who gave birth to the true God. / Pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
As the mediator between the law and grace, / let us, the faithful, gathered together, praise him in unison: / for he proclaimed repentance to us, / and, having boldly and openly rebuked Herod, / suffered the beheading; / and now, living with the angels, / he intercedes before Christ for our salvation.
As we celebrate your glorious memory on this day, / we ask you, Forerunner, / to earnestly intercede with the Savior and Lord / that He may grant forgiveness of sins to all.*
And now, to the Mother of God: The ardent Intercessor for those in distress, / our Helper, and our reconciliation with God, / through whom we have been delivered from destruction, / we, the faithful, glorify the Mother of God.*
The prophet who appeared to us from his mother’s womb, / and the light of the universe born of the barren one, / let us joyfully praise in song Christ’s Baptizer / and the victorious ascetic, John the Forerunner: / for he intercedes before the Lord / for the mercy of our souls.
Now the Savior’s Forerunner has appeared to us / and gladdens the minds and thoughts of the faithful, / the beauty of the desert and the seal of the prophets: / therefore he became the Forerunner of Christ / and a witness to His coming, free from falsehood. / Let us therefore, with spiritual songs, / proclaim in accordance with John: / “Prophet and herald of the Truth, / pray for our salvation!”*
And now, O Mother of God: All the hosts of angels were amazed, O Pure One, / at the awe-inspiring mystery of your conception: / how He who holds all things with a single gesture / is enfolded in your arms as a human being, / how the Eternal One takes His beginning and is nourished by milk / He who nourishes all that breathes through His ineffable goodness? / And they glorify You, as the true Mother of God, / with praises.
We magnify you, / John, the Baptist of the Savior, / and we honor / the sacred cutting off of your head.
1 Chorus: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. 2 He will love His commandments with all his heart. 1 Glory and wealth are in his house. 2 And his righteousness endures forever. 1 The righteous will be remembered forever. 2 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; he will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. 1 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and put his trust in Him. 2 Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O Lord. 1 You have understood my righteousness and my truth. 2 And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness, Your praise all day long. 1 Light has shone upon the righteous, and joy for those of upright heart. 2 The descendants of the righteous will be blessed. 1 You have crowned him with glory and honor. 2 For You bless the righteous, O Lord. 1 You have shielded us with the weapon of Your favor. 2 By whom the Rising Sun will visit us from on high. 1 To enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. 2 To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory, and now: Alleluia (3).
Ps 111:1; 111:1a; 111:3b; 111:6b; 91:13; 63:11a; 39:10b; 34:28; 96:11; 111:2b; 8:6b; 5:13a; 5:13b. Luke 1:78; 1:79a; 1:79b
Forerunner, Baptist, and Herald of the Redeemer of all, / having rebuked Herod for his lawlessness with Herodias, / dies, beheaded, O faithful, / so that he might boldly proclaim the Good News even to those in Hades, / that God descends there to captivate death.*
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: The Word of the Father descended to earth, / and the radiant Angel proclaimed to the Mother of God: / “Rejoice, O Blessed One, / you who alone preserved the palace of virginity, / having received into your womb the Eternal God and Lord, / that He, as God, / may save the human race from error!”*
Since my youth / many passions have waged war against me; / but You Yourself, my Savior, / protect and save me.
You who hate Zion, be ashamed before the Lord: / for you will be consumed / like grass by fire.
Glory, and now: Every soul is enlivened by the Holy Spirit / and exalted through purification, / and enlightened in the sacred mystery / by the Triune Unity.
Precious in the sight of the Lord / is the death of His saints. Verse: How shall I repay the Lord for all He has done for me? Ps 115:6, 3
Second Prokeimenon: Let everything that breathes / praise the Lord. Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Ps 150:6, 1
At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus. And he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for John had told him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And he wanted to kill him, but he feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet. But on the day of Herod’s birthday, Herodias’s daughter danced before the guests and pleased Herod; so he promised her with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now.” The king was distressed, but because of his oath and the guests reclining with him, he ordered that it be given. He sent and had John beheaded in prison; and they brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and she took it to her mother. Then his disciples came, took his body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there by boat to a deserted place by himself; and when the crowds heard of it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
Matthew 14:1–13
A disciple of the all-malicious devil danced / and took your head, Forerunner, as a reward. / O, a feast full of blood! / O, if only you had not sworn an oath, lawless Herod, offspring of falsehood! / But even if you had sworn, / you would not have kept your oath: / for it would have been better to lie and save your life / than to do as you promised and cut off the Forerunner’s head. / But we honor and praise the Baptist, as the greatest among those born of women, / as he deserves.
Irmos: Walking on the water as on dry land, / and having escaped the corruption of Egypt, / the Israelite cried out: / “Let us sing to our Savior and our God!”
We sing of the holy Forerunner, / the Prophet of Him who was ineffably / borne in the womb of a virgin, / who appeared from the womb of the barren.
Transcending the limits of nature, / you observed the laws of righteousness, / denouncing unlawful unions, / without fear of the king’s insolence.
Nourished by the milk of the Law, / affirming the law regarding lawful union / as the seal of the Law, / you opposed shameful debauchery.
To the Mother of God: The hosts of angels and mortals / praise you ceaselessly, O Mother who knew no marriage: / for you carried their Creator as an Infant / in your arms.
Irmos: To Christ, who cast Pharaoh’s tyranny into the sea / and led Israel across dry land, / let us sing, / for He has been glorified forever.
O beautiful Lamb of the desert, / the fruit of Zechariah and the one who sprang forth from Elizabeth beyond all hope, / commands the faithful in advance / to solemnly celebrate His holy memory.
O blood-stained birthday! / O abominable feast! / For Herod mingled drunkenness with murder, / and his banquet was filled with bitter bloodshed.
Let us sing, O faithful, of the Baptist, / who denounced Herod for his lawlessness / and suffered the cutting off of his head, / as one slain for the sake of God’s zeal.
Theotokos: You gave birth to the Boundless One—God the Word, / who dwelt wholly within You, / O Pure Mother of God, / Him who, in two natures, is truly one Son, / who was incarnate from You in an ineffable manner.
Katavasia: Making the sign of the cross, Moses / split the Red Sea right down the middle with his staff / for Israel as they walked on foot, / and with a single stroke across it / brought the sea back together against Pharaoh’s chariots, / thus demonstrating an invincible weapon; / therefore let us sing to Christ our God: / for He has been glorified.
Canon 1. Irmos: Creator of the heavenly vault, O Lord, / and Builder of the Church, / establish me in love for You, / the fulfillment of all desires, the confirmation of the faithful, / the one and only Lover of mankind.
As a servant of both the ancient / and the new—Gospel—commandments, / you, O Forerunner, stood forth, / denounced the tyrant’s lawless bond, / and joyfully accepted a glorious death.
The maiden, taught by her lawless mother, / says to Herod, who had lost his mind to drunkenness: / “Bring me John’s head on a platter, / so that I may present this coveted gift to my mother!”
The shameless tyrant, unable to bear the rebuke / of your God-bearing tongue, glorious Forerunner, / grants the maiden, in exchange for her feminine dance, / your wondrous, sacred, and martyred head.
To the Mother of God: Having taken flesh in the Virgin, O Lord, / You appeared to people as they were fit to see You, / and You revealed Her as the true Mother of God / and a help to the faithful, O One who loves mankind.
Canon 2. Irmos: There is none holy like the Lord, / and none righteous like our God, / to whom all creation sings: / “There is none righteous but You, O Lord!”
“There has arisen no one greater than John / among those born of women,” cried out Christ—the Truth: / for he, a creature, knew the Creator in the womb, / and proclaimed this to his mother with his voice.
First, pointing with your finger to the Lamb, / then with your tongue you denounced Herod, / and thirdly—through your head, from a man-made vessel— / you pour out miracles upon us.
Your birth is glorious, Christ’s Baptist, / and your life is blameless, / and your appearance before the Lord to preach is worthy of honor, / and your pointing to Him is extraordinary, / your death is holy, and your burial is glorious.
Theotokos: Being God, You humbled Yourself, Only-Begotten, / to save those whom You created. / For their sake You became incarnate, born of the Virgin, / and, having transformed my entire nature, / You led me to Your Father.
Katavasia: The staff is taken as a symbol of the sacrament: / for by its growth it signifies the priest; / and for the Church, once barren, the tree of the Cross has now blossomed / for her strength and confirmation.
From the barren one, you shone forth by God’s judgment / and, having broken the bonds of your father’s tongue, / you revealed the Sun, which gives light to the morning star, / and proclaimed to the people in the wilderness the Creator, / the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. / Therefore, you zealously rebuked the king / and for this they cut off your glorious head, ever-memorable one. / John, all-praised, intercede before Christ God / to grant the remission of sins / to those who celebrate your holy memory with love.
Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: We, all the tribes of mankind, call you blessed—as the Virgin and the only one among women / who gave birth to God in the flesh without seed— / for the Fire of the Divinity dwelt within you, / and you, as an Infant, nourish the Creator and Lord with milk. / Therefore, the host of angels and we, the human race, / worthily glorify Your most holy childbirth / and in unison cry out to You: / “Pray to Christ God to grant the remission of sins / to those who worship with faith His most holy birth from You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: You are my stronghold, O Lord, / You are my strength, / You are my God, You are my joy, / who did not leave the Father’s bosom / but visited us in our poverty. / Therefore, with the prophet Habakkuk, I cry out to You: / “Glory to Your power, Lover of mankind!”
Subject to punishment by law, / mired in licentious pleasures, / unable to bear either stern rebukes / or the boldness of the pious, / he bound and held in prison the one / who, even before his death, / had united himself with the incorporeal heavenly choirs.
Sickened by soul-destroying drunkenness / and unbridled passion, the wretched one / found himself captivated by the clatter of dancing feet / and became the murderer of the prophet. / For he began with drunkenness—the mother of debauchery— / and gave birth to terrible lawlessness.
Truly, the Divine Voice was revealed in you / as one utterly alien to falsehood: / for you appeared as the most excellent of all prophets, / having been granted prophecy from the very womb, / even while still in an imperfect body, / and having both beheld and baptized in the flesh / the Word of God foretold by you.
To the Mother of God: You are the praise of the faithful, / having known no marriage; / You are the Protectress, / You are the refuge of Christians, their wall and their shelter: / for to Your Son, “ ,” You bring supplications, O All-Pure One, / and You save from misfortune those who know You with faith and love, / O Pure Mother of God.
Canon 2. Irmos: You, the Word, who desired to become incarnate / from the shadowy mountain—the one and only Mother of God— / were beheld by the prophet with a God-enlightened gaze / and he glorified Your power with awe.
You explained Christ’s Kingdom to us, / showed people the paths of repentance, / and denounced Herod, who committed lawlessness, / O great preacher, John the Wise.
Unable to bear the rebuke, Herod / was overcome by anger, envy, and malice; / and he waited until the day of your birth, / when he cut off your head, O Baptist, / the forerunner of Christ.
Rejoice, Baptist, and let your spirit exult: / for even there, rebuking the godless Herod, / you preach to the souls in Hades, proclaiming: / “Our salvation is at hand!”
The earth marvels at your life, John, / heaven proclaims your unjust slaying, / and the Church proclaims your many virtues / in her hymns.
Theotokos: Born of the Immaculate Virgin Mother, / You preserved Her purity after childbirth, / You, who took on my nature entirely, / without partaking of sin.
Katavasia: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence; / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.
Canon 1. Irmos: Why have You cast me away / from Your presence, O Unquenchable Light, / and why has foreign darkness enveloped me, the wretched one? / But turn me back to the light of Your commandments / and direct my paths, I pray.
At her mother’s instigation, / as a reward for her ill-fated dance, / the cruelest offspring of a savage lioness demanded / the head of the Forerunner and Herald, / which even all the beasts of the wilderness revered.
O, Your judgments, inaccessible to us / and incomprehensible, O Lover of Mankind! / For even from his mother’s womb, he who appeared / as the vessel of the Holy Spirit / and was nurtured in chastity and purity / was destroyed by a wanton maiden’s dance.
It is fitting and proper / for one who loves indecency / to add drunkenness on the day of his birth / and the murder of the prophet, / and to dilute the cup, full of the prophet’s and holy blood, / with sensual pleasure.
To the Mother of God: Having maternal boldness / toward Your Son, O All-Pure One, / do not pass us by with Your maternal care, we pray; / for we, Christians, direct You and You alone / toward the Lord as a favorable propitiation.
Canon 2. Irmos: Having illuminated the ends of the world / with the knowledge of God after the night of ignorance, / enlighten me, O Lord, with the morning of Your love for mankind.
A desert sheep and the treasure of the universe—the Forerunner / prepares a spiritual feast for us on this day.
You, John, denounced Herod—the slave of pleasures and transgressor of the laws— / and Herodias, his cruel lover.
Herodias dances, while John is bound and handed over to be slain. / O the drunkenness of Herod! / O the folly of his soul!
Theotokos: Rejoice, Divine Mountain, / from which the Rock was hewn without hands, Most Pure One, / when God and the Word took on flesh, All-Immaculate One.
Katavasia: O thrice-blessed Tree, / upon which Christ, King and Lord, was crucified, / through which the deceiver was brought down by the tree, / himself caught by God, / who was nailed to you in the flesh, / granting peace to our souls!
Canon 1. Irmos: Have mercy on me, Savior, – / for my transgressions are many, – / and deliver me from the depths of evil, I pray; / for I have cried out to You, – and You hear me, / O God of my salvation!
While suffering for the commandments of the Law, O blessed one, / you rebuke the one who committed iniquity: / for you were not a reed / swayed by the gusts of hostile winds.
Your head, / from which drops of sacrificial blood flowed, / was offered as a reward for your virtuous deeds, / and after your death, it exposed Herod, / revealing the nature of the one who had corrupted it.
Wandering in the deserts, / clothed in camel’s hair, / you dwelt there as in a radiant palace, / and wore a hair shirt as royal attire, / having triumphed over your passions.
Theotokos: May we be delivered from grave sins / through Your intercessions, O Pure Mother of God, / and may we attain, O All-Holy One, divine illumination / from the Son of God, who was ineffably incarnate from You!
Canon 2. Irmos: Just as You delivered the prophet / from the deepest abyss, Christ our God, / so deliver me from my sins, O Lover of mankind, / and guide my life, I pray!
Honoring the sacred and all-praised / beheading of you, Forerunner of Christ, / we glorify your ever-praiseworthy / and universal memory, O most blessed one.
O wretched feast! / O bitter birthday! / O the drunkenness of the dissolute, lawless Herod! / He, clinging to lawlessness and exposed, / plots to kill the prophet.
Having danced indecently in the midst of the feast, / the young Egyptian woman asked for the head / that had denounced her mother / and Herod’s concubine.
Theotokos: He who is now the Son of the Virgin / was previously revealed as the Son of the Father, / known not as distinct from the Visible One: / for He remained one / and perfect in both natures.
Katavasia: In the belly of the sea beast, / Jonah spread his arms in the shape of a cross, / clearly foreshadowing the saving suffering; / and when he emerged from there three days later, / he foreshadowed the supernatural resurrection / of Christ God, who was crucified in the flesh / and, by His resurrection on the third day, enlightened the world.
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner / took place according to a certain divine plan, / so that he might proclaim the coming of the Savior / even to those in Hades. / Let Herodias weep, / she who sought this lawless murder: / for she did not love God’s law, nor eternal life, / but only that which is deceptive and temporary.
Ikos: Herod’s birthday revealed to all his unrighteous deeds, / when, amidst those feasting in luxury, / the head of the one who had fasted was presented as a dish. / Joy was mingled with sorrow, / and bitter weeping was mixed with laughter, / for, bearing the platter with the head of the Forerunner, / the maiden, as she said, entered before everyone. / And as if struck by a wound, weeping seized / all who were feasting with the king at that time: / for this brought no joy to them, / nor even to Herod himself. / For it is said: he was grieved, / though not with true sorrow, / but with feigned and temporary grief.
Canon 1. Irmos: The fire in Babylon was once put to shame / by God’s descent; / therefore the youths in the furnace, with joyful steps / dancing as if in a meadow, sang: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”
Armed with licentious desire / and boundless drunkenness, / you were destroyed, lawless Herod, / having attacked the unshakable stronghold of self-restraint / and the unbreakable fortress of chastity— / the Forerunner of Christ.
She did not tremble, did not falter, / did not freeze in horror—taught by the devil— / shamelessly presenting on a platter / your sacred head, Forerunner, / having allowed her mother’s temptations / to beguile her mind.
Like a lamp you shone, / and were sent forth as an angel; / as a prophet you proclaim the Lamb of God—Christ who has appeared; / as a martyr, your head was severed by the sword, / so that you might forekindle His coming / even to the dead in Hades.
Theotokos: Having, through Your giving birth to Christ, / delivered us from condemnation for the ancient fall, / You, the Virgin Mother, / who have become the cause of our freedom, / together with Your Son, who gave Himself as a ransom for us, / we ceaselessly glorify You.
Canon 2. Irmos: You who in the beginning founded the earth / and established the heavens by Your word! / Blessed are You forever, O Lord, / God of our fathers.
Preaching the Law of God, John / did not fear the wicked Herod, / but rebuked him for his lawlessness: / for within him burned the fire of zeal / against his sin.
O leader, who legislated clearly / and proclaimed to Herod from the earth: / “It is not fitting for you, who commit lawlessness, / to wear purple, the garment of a tyrant!”
Armed with the instruments of defilement, the lawless Herod / carried out his lawlessness with an oath, / holding a feast there with drunkenness, / with those who waged war alongside him.
Theotokos: The Incorporeal One was unchangeably incarnated; / The Eternal One was made known in time, / having come forth from the Virgin, the Creator of all; / remaining unchanged, as He was, / and becoming what He was not.
Katavasia: The mad command of the ungodly tyrant, / breathing threats and blasphemy abhorrent to God, / threw the nations into confusion; / yet the three youths were not intimidated / by either savage wrath or the roaring fire; / but, standing in the fire, / against which a dew-bearing wind blew, they sang: / “Most Praiseworthy God of our fathers and ours, blessed are You!”
Canon 1. Irmos: Seven times the Chaldean ruler / stoked the furnace in a frenzy / for those who honor God; / but seeing them saved by a higher power, / he cried out to the Creator and Savior: / “Bless the youths, priests, sing praises, / people, exalt Him for all ages!”
John, who preceded Your birth / and Your divine passion, / finds himself in the deepest places by the sword, / a prophet and herald of Your coming there, / crying out as the voice of the Word: / “O dead, praise the Giver of Life; / O blind, praise the Giver of Light; / O captives, praise Christ the Deliverer (forever and ever)!”
Having foreshadowed the virgin birth, born of a barren woman, / you have now become the forerunner of the voluntary crucifixion / of the Creator of all things, / as you cut off the heads of those in Hades, crying out: / “O dead, praise the Giver of Life; / O blind, praise the Giver of Light; / O captives, praise Christ the Deliverer (forever and ever)!”
When your head was severed from your body, Forerunner, / the soul that governed your flesh was separated from it; / but the Divinity of the flesh of Emmanuel / was not separated when He accepted death / (and) the bone of God and the Lord was not broken. / Therefore, we exalt Him forever and ever.
To the Mother of God: Most Pure Mother of the Lord, / by Your merciful intercession, O Virgin, / heal the wounds and sores of my soul / and raise up the fallen. / Save me, the wayward one, O All-Pure One, save me: / for You are my Protectress and my help, / the One (Pure and) Blessed, forever and ever!
Canon 2. Irmos: On the holy mountain where He was glorified / and revealed the mystery of the Ever-Virgin to Moses / through the fire in the thorn bush— / sing to the Lord and exalt Him forever and ever.
He who proclaimed the coming of Christ / preached to those in Hades, calling them to faith, / that the Lord of glory, / whose suffering He would put an end to, / is coming to them— / Him whom we exalt for all ages.
Herod imprisoned you, John, the second Elijah, / and, having bound you with iron chains, put you to death— / the faithful preacher of repentance and the Kingdom.
O table, full of blood! / O dishes, mingled with murder! / O feast filled with vanity! / O inhumanity and bloodshed of lawless Herod!
Theotokos: You are wholly on high, O Word, and wholly on low, / in the depths of both the Heavenly Father and Your Mother; / wholly God and wholly Man in nature, / one in Hypostasis and two in nature, O Merciful One.
Katavasia: Bless, O youths, / the God the Father, Creator, equal in number to the Trinity; / sing of the Word who descended / and turned fire into dew; / and exalt the All-Holy Spirit, who grants life to all, / forever and ever!
Canon 1. Irmos: Everyone will tremble upon hearing / of God’s ineffable descent, / how the Most High, by His own will, / condescended even to the Incarnation, / becoming man from a virgin’s womb; / therefore, we, the faithful, / magnify the Most Pure Theotokos.
The evil host trembled / along with its leader, the devil, / at your theologically eloquent tongue, O prophet, / proclaiming Christ, / and with the help of Herod’s wanton maiden / they sought to cut off your head; / but we, the faithful, magnify you.
The ravine—the humbled nature—has been exalted, / and the lowly hill—the arrogance of death— / for the voice of the one who cries out has proclaimed / in places devoid of light, in the dwellings of hell: / “Lift up your heads, for soon / the mighty King will enter through them!”
The passions of mortals tremble / and demons flee in fear, / at the shadow of the grace given to you by God. / But deliver your flock from both temptations, / Forerunner of the Lord, / as they ceaselessly glorify you with faith.
Theotokos: Be strengthened, flourish, and reign, O Son of the Mother of God, / subduing the Ishmaelite people who come against us in war, / granting the Orthodox king victory over foreign enemies / through the intercession of She who gave birth to You, the Word of God.
Canon 2. Irmos: The Nativity of Christ from the Ever-Virgin—which was first revealed to the Lawgiver on the mountain / in the fire and the thorn bush—/ for the salvation of us, the faithful, / we extol with ceaseless hymns.
Once again Jezebel acts against Elijah, / once again the Egyptian woman seeks Joseph, /—the Prophet and the one who baptized the Savior, / now the wicked Herodias has appeared.
When your head was cut off, John, / by Herod’s command, / you were sent to the souls dwelling in Hades / to proclaim the Coming One and to save / all the faithful who had died before Adam.
Lamp of Light and voice of the Word, / preacher of the Lamb of God, / desert sheep, John, venerable martyr of the Lord, / pray for the salvation of those who sing your praises.
Theotokos: Alone among women / You remained a Virgin after giving birth; / alone among women You appeared as the Mother of God; / alone You freed Eve from torment / and nullified the original curse.
Katavasia: You, O Mother of God, are the mysterious paradise, / which brought forth Christ without seed, / through whom the life-giving tree of the Cross / was planted on earth; / therefore now, as it is raised up, / we worship it and magnify You.
We crown the Forerunner of grace with hymns of praise, / he who was proclaimed the greatest among the prophets / and preferred to the Apostles; / for they cut off his head for the sake of the Lord’s Law.
Glory: To you, the planter of purity, / who baptized the Savior, / the treacherous and depraved Herod cut off your head, / but he could not at all silence / the rebuke of your tongue.
And now, O Mother of God: Having abolished the curse that weighed upon the world / through Your divine birth, O Pure One, / deliver the flock that implores You with faith / from all misfortunes / through Your intercessions, O Virgin.
O wondrous miracle! / The holy head, honored by the Angels, / was borne by a harlot, a wanton maiden; / she who exposed the lawless deed / brought it to the adulterous mother. / O Your ineffable patience, Lover of Mankind! / By it, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is all-merciful. (Twice)
Oh, the callousness of Herod! / He who has dishonored God by breaking the Law, / hypocritically feigns obedience to his oath / and adds murder to adultery, / while pretending to be grieved. / O Your ineffable compassion, O Lord! / By it, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is all-merciful.
O supreme wonder of the mind! / The seal of the prophets, the earthly Angel, / turns out to be the reward for a lewd dance; / a theologically eloquent tongue is sent in advance / even to those who dwelt in Hades as a harbinger of Christ. / O, Your unspeakable providence, O Lord! / Through it, O Christ, save our souls, / as the One who is all-merciful.
Glory, Tone 6: Once again Herodias raves, / once again she is in turmoil. / O, treacherous dance and treacherous drink! / The head of the Forerunner was cut off, and Herod was in turmoil. / Through the intercession, O Lord, of Your Forerunner, / grant peace to our souls.
And now, to the Mother of God, in the same tone: O Mother of God, You are the True Vine, / who has brought forth for us the Fruit of Life; / we beseech You: intercede, O Lady, / with the Apostles and all the saints / for the mercy of our souls.
The Great Doxology. After the Trisagion, the troparion to the Forerunner, “Glory,” and now: “All things are beyond understanding.” The Ektenia and the dismissal. Holy oil from the lamp before the icon of the Holy Forerunner is distributed to the congregation. The First Hour, during which the troparion and kondakion to the Forerunner are sung. And the final dismissal.
The Beatitudes: from the first canon, Ode 3 in the 4th tone, and from the second, Ode 6 in the 4th tone.
The memory of the righteous is honored with praises, / but for you, O Forerunner, the Lord’s testimony is sufficient, / for you were truly the most glorious of the prophets, / since you were deemed worthy to baptize the One who was foretold in the waters. / Therefore, having joyfully suffered for the truth, / you proclaimed the Gospel even to those in Hades—God, who appeared in the flesh, / who takes away the sin of the world / and grants us great mercy.
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner / took place according to a certain divine plan, / so that he might proclaim the coming of the Savior / even to those in Hades. / Let Herodias weep, / she who sought this lawless murder: / for she did not love God’s law, nor eternal life, / but only that which is deceptive and temporary.
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord / and put their trust in Him.
Verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I pray to You. Ps 63:11a, 2a
In those days, as John was nearing the end of his ministry, he said: “Who do you think I am? I am not the One; but behold, the One is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God: the word of this salvation has been sent to you. For those living in Jerusalem and their rulers, not recognizing Him, fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning Him. And finding no fault in Him worthy of death, they urged Pilate to put Him to death. When they had fulfilled all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He appeared for many days to those who had come with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now His witnesses to the people. And we proclaim to you that God has fulfilled the promise made to the fathers to us, their children, by raising Jesus from the dead.
Acts 13:25–32
Verse: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Verse: Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 91:13, 14
At that time, King Herod heard reports about Jesus—for His name had become well known—and he said, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “It is Elijah.” Still others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “It is John, whom I beheaded; he has risen from the dead.” For this Herod had sent men to arrest John and, because of Herodias—the wife of his brother Philip—had him bound and put in prison, since he had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias, however, harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him; and after listening to him, he did many things and listened to him willingly. An opportune day came when Herod, on the occasion of his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles, the commanders of a thousand, and the leading men of Galilee. Then the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask, I will give you—even half of my kingdom!” So she went out and asked her mother , “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist!” And she hurried back to the king and asked him, saying, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now!” Deeply distressed, the king did not want to refuse her because of his oath and the guests reclining with him. Immediately, sending a guard, the king ordered that his head be brought. The guard went, beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything—what they had done and what they had taught.
Mark 6:14–30
The righteous will be remembered forever; they will not fear slander. Alleluia. (3) Ps 111:6b–7a
At the meal, there is comfort for the brethren, but without cheese, eggs, or fish. Let us eat twice a day, even on Wednesday or Friday.
Let it be known that if this feast falls on a Sunday, it is preceded by all the Sunday services: Vespers, Matins, and the Liturgy.