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Menaion - November 16

Memory of the Holy Evangelist Matthew

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 3.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Apolytikion. For the Evangelist.

Mode 3.

O holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses. [SD]

Glory. Repeat.

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 3.

Virgin Theotokos, we sing hymns extolling you, through whom came humanity’s salvation. For your Son and our God, who is benevolent, accepted the Passion and the crucifixion, in the flesh that He assumed from you, and thus from destruction He rescued us. [GOASD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Kathisma I.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

O holy Apostle Matthew, we extol you with faith; * with longing we honor you, who were a preacher of Christ, * eyewitness and minister. * You were the first to write down His divine words and sayings. * You are the Church’s major luminary and pillar. * And therefore we now celebrate your sacred memory. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Be swift to accept our fervent prayers, O Lady and Queen, * and take them, O all-pure Maiden, and present them for us * before your own Son and God. * Rescue from every trouble * those who run to your shelter, * O Virgin Theotokos, and frustrate the scheming * of those who against your servants have shamelessly taken arms. [SD]

Kathisma II.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4. By conceiving the wisdom.

Τὴν Σοφίαν καὶ Λόγον.

We the Orthodox Christians possess your book * as the solid foundation of right belief * and root of our faith in Christ. Therefore we ever sing your praise. * O Apostle Matthew, from you we unceasingly * hear His godly sayings and learn of His miracles, * His Passion, His burial, and His resurrection, * and thereby our souls indeed are illumined and edified. * Now with faith we pray to you. * Intercede with Christ our God that He grant forgiveness of offenses * to us who celebrate your holy memory with faith and love. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode pl. 4. By conceiving the wisdom.

As the Fashioner’s image had been deformed, * He assumed it with sympathy and himself * refashioned it in your womb and renewed it, O Bride of God. * In His tender mercy, uniting it to divine * nature in His person, He adorned it with grace divine. * Therefore it is proper to depict the image * of Him who assumed the form of His image, becoming flesh, * whom we worship, the God-man Lord, * and with faith to venerate His divine likeness in iconography, * as well as yours, by which our souls are illumined, O Mother of God. [GOASD]

READER

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. 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 guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You who were lifted.

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

When you had shed the yoke of being a publican and took instead the yoke of justice and virtue, you proved yourself to be a clever merchant and most wise, gaining for yourself the wealth of the wisdom from heaven. Thus you preached the word of truth, O Evangelist Matthew. And you have roused from slothfulness our souls, clearly describing the hour of Judgment Day. [SD]

Oikos.

The enemy’s tyranny rapaciously overpowers me, and he snatches away every seed from my soul, O Matthew friend of Christ. I pray you, plant for me the seed of your prayers, and bring forth fruit for your service, and allow me to sing of you, though I be very small. Make me a narrator of your many and great accomplishments, and of your relationship with Christ. You immediately left everything behind, and ardently followed Him who called you, becoming the first Evangelist in the world, clearly describing the hour of Judgment Day. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 16 we commemorate the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew.

By the intercessions of your Saint, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

CHOIR

Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode 4.

Παῖδας εὐαγεῖς.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Guiltless were those Servants in the furnace. * The Son of the Theotokos went and rescued them. * He who was prefigured then, * having been incarnate now, * is gathering the whole wide world into His Church to sing: * “O all you works of the Lord, to all ages * sing praises to the Lord and exalt Him beyond measure.” [SD]

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.

CHOIR

Ode ix.

The Magnificat. Mode 4.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Heirmos. Mode 4.

Ἅπας γηγενής.

All you born on earth, * with festival lamps in hand, in spirit leap for joy; * and all you the heavenly angelic orders, join in and celebrate; * and honoring the sacred wonders of the Mother of God, * sing the joyful salutation, “O rejoice, * Theotokos, all-blest, ever-virgin pure!” [SD]

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. The Elder in the Temple.

Ἐν Πνεύματι τῷ Ἱερῷ.

Judiciously you shed the yoke * of being a tax collector, * and from that time you followed Christ, * O godly-minded Matthew. * And as you marvelously tread * in the steps of the Master, * you became a partaker * and sharer in His glory * and His uncreated rule, * and mystic of hidden mysteries. [SD]

Theotokion.

Mode 3. The Elder in the Temple.

Lift up your all-holy hands * that once held our Creator, * and intercede on our behalf, * O Virgin Theotokos; * and earnestly importune Him * to deliver us each time * we are troubled by demons, * and count us worthy to obtain * the blessings of the Age to come, * O immaculate Lady. [SD]

Lauds. Mode 4.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light.

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name.

For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.

He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps.

Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word.

Mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.

Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds.

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.

Young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted.

His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people.

A hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.

Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.

Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him.

For the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.

The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds.

The high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.

To deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples.

To shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron.

To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Hide Stichologia

Stichera. For the Evangelist.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You have given.

Ἔδωκας σημείωσιν.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

You shone with the Spirit’s rays, becoming radiant as the sun, O all-holy and blessed one. * With knowledge of God you shined light into the whole world, * and dispelled the darkness of polytheism thereby, * Apostle Matthew, all-wise Evangelist. * And therefore we observe this day of your most-honored memorial * with a radiant festival, * by which we may be sanctified. [SD]

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

You shone with the Spirit’s rays, becoming radiant as the sun, O all-holy and blessed one. * With knowledge of God you shined light into the whole world, * and dispelled the darkness of polytheism thereby, * Apostle Matthew, all-wise Evangelist. * And therefore we observe this day of your most-honored memorial * with a radiant festival, * by which we may be sanctified. [SD]

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

Sitting in the upper room and in the height of the knowledge of God, you received the enlightenment * of the Spirit, which appeared to you as tongues of fire. * With your tongue on fire, you manifestly burned away * the false religion of polytheism. * O Matthew, we all honor you as an Apostle who spoke of God, * and today we observe the feast * of your holy memorial. [SD]

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

You thundered the sacred teachings on salvation throughout the world, O St. Matthew Evangelist. * You purged all creation of the madness of idols. * You, all-wise Apostle, illumined every race on earth * with the enlightenment of the Gospel of Christ. * And once you had destroyed the temples of the idols, by grace divine, * you built Churches in place of them, * for the glory and praise of God. [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Let us the faithful applaud with songs today, on the occasion of the memory of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. He threw off the weights and the gold of tax-collecting, and he followed Christ; and he became a godly herald of the Gospel. And as the Psalmist said prophetically, his proclamation went forth into all the world. Now he intercedes for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

From Octoechos - - -

Both now. Theotokion.

Mode pl. 4.

Lady, receive the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from all necessity and affliction. [SD]

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind. [SD]

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world.

Accept our supplication, You who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Apolytikion. For the Evangelist.

Mode 3.

O holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses. [SD]