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Menaion - December 4

Memory of the Holy Great-martyr Barbara, and our Devout Father John of Damascus.

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MATINS

CHOIR

Mode pl. 4.

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 St. Barbara.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Let us honor the all-virtuous Saint Barbara; for she broke the snares of the enemy, and she escaped from them like a bird, with the Cross as her help and shield. [SD]

Glory. For St. John.

Mode pl. 4.

Guide of Orthodoxy and a sacred teacher of piety and dignity, luminary of the world, and God-inspired jewel of monastics, O wise John, the Spirit’s instrument: by your teachings you enlightened all. Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode pl. 4.

You were born of a Virgin, and You endured crucifixion for us, O good Lord. By Your death You divested death of spoils, and You displayed resurrection, as God. Please do not despise us, the work of Your hand. Demonstrate Your loving kindness, O merciful Master. Defer to Your Mother, the Theotokos, when she intercedes on our behalf, and save us, Your people in despair, O Savior. [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.

CHOIR

Kathisma I. For St. Barbara.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. You were so beautiful.

Τὴν ὡραιότητα.

Your holy martyrdom truly astonished all. * For you endured the wounds and the imprisonment, * the tyrants’ tortures and the bonds, O Barbara extolled by all. * Therefore God has given you * the unwithering laurel crown, * for you ran to be with Him * and you longed for Him with all your soul. * And He it is who grants cures and healings * to all who come to you with faith. [SD]

Glory.

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

As we faithfully honor the memories of Saints, * let us festively keep the memorial of those * holy women Martyrs, praising them with spiritual songs. * For they mortified by prayer the deceiver who deprived our mother Eve of incorruption, * and they pray to Christ intently that He have mercy on our souls. [SD]

Both now.

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Holy Mountain, like that on which God once walked, rejoice! * Metaphorical bush that was not consumed, rejoice! * Only bridge connecting the world to God * and conveying mortal humans to everlasting life, * rejoice, immaculate Lady! * Ever remaining a virgin, you gave birth to Him who saves our souls. [GOASD]

Kathisma II. For St. John.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. The soldiers keeping watch.

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

A sweetly playing pipe, and a loud horn and trumpet, * melodious guitar, and a harp of divine song, * harmonious violin, well-tuned musical instrument, * moved to play as the all-holy Spirit inspires you: * that is what you are, O blessed John, and you thereby * enchant our minds and thoughts. [SD]

Glory.

Mode 1. The soldiers keeping watch.

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

We worthily extol the august holy struggles * that you endured in truth for the Church, holy father. * We honor in sacred song the august hymns and poetry * that you left behind, for use in praising the Master, * and in bringing joy and great delight to the faithful, * all-honored and blessed John. [SD]

Both now.

Mode 1. The soldiers.

We know you as the Mother of God and all-blameless, * for you remained a virgin indeed after childbirth. * With longing we flee to you and appeal to your tender love. * We are sinners all, but we have you to defend us. * We rely on you, O Lady. Rescue and save us * when we are in dire straits. [GOASD]

Kathisma III. For St. Barbara.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. The soldiers keeping watch.

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

With love you brought your blood to the Lord Christ your bridegroom * as if it were perfume in an alabaster vial. * And He in return gave you, O praiseworthy Saint Barbara, * grace to heal and cure ailments of both soul and body. * By the power of the Holy Spirit you drive off * demonic activity. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 1. The soldiers.

O Mary, whose august body hosted the Master, * we pray you raise us up, for we are sunk in the darkness * of dreadful despondency, of transgressions and suffering. * Lady, you indeed are the salvation of sinners. * You give help to us; you are our mighty protection; * and you save us your servants. [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

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Antiphon 1.

Mode 4.

From my youth, many passions war against me. O my Savior, I implore You, uphold me and save me. (2) [GOASD]

You who hate Zion, be shamed by the Lord; for you will be withered like grass in the fire. (2) [GOASD]

Glory.

By the Holy Spirit every soul is animated, and when purified, it is mystically uplifted and brightened by the triune Godhead. [GOASD]

Both now.

From the Holy Spirit the streams of grace well forth; they water all creation, so that life be engendered. [GOASD]

Prokeimenon. Psalms 67, 15.

God is wondrous in His saints. (2)

Verse: To the saints on His earth, in them the Lord magnified all His will.

God is wondrous in His saints. [SAAS]

Stand for the Gospel reading.

DEACON: Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For You, our God, are holy, and You rest among the holy ones, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Mode 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. (2) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the gate)

Mt. 25:1 – 13

The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.” [RSV]

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

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]

From Menaion - - -

CHOIR

Glory. Mode 2.

At the intercession of the holy Martyr, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses. [SD]

Both now.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses. [SD]

Idiomelon. Mode pl. 2.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. [SAAS]

You took the road of martyrdom and escaped your father’s plan, O all-venerable Barbara. And as a wise virgin, with lamp in hand, you entered the courts of your Lord; as a courageous Martyr, you received the grace to cure infectious diseases of the body. We who extol you now pray you to deliver us from suffering of soul, by your entreaties to God [SD]

PRIEST

O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Look upon Your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us Your rich mercies:

through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasius, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalampus and Eleutherius, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Anastasia, Catherine, Kyriaki, Photini, Marina, Paraskevi and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; the holy and glorious Great-martyr Barbara, and our devout and God-bearing father John of Damascus, whose memory we celebrate; and all Your saints:

We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (12)

PRIEST

Through the mercy, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

From Menaion - - -

READER

Kontakion. For St. Barbara.

Mode 4. You who were lifted.

O maiden Martyr, you renounced the religion * of pagan idols and you followed the true God, * the One extolled and worshiped in Trinity. * And as you competed in the arena, O Barbara, * you did not succumb to any threats of the tyrants; * but manly minded you cried and sang, * “I worship only the one God in Trinity.” [SD]

Oikos.

Let us come together and worthily honor Barbara, who was wed to Christ through martyrdom, so that by her prayers we may be delivered from deadly plague, famine, earthquake and calamity, and may live our lives in peace, and so that we may be counted worthy to walk in the light along with all the Saints who have pleased God from the beginning of time, and so that we may worthily sing: “O Savior, You have magnified Your mercies to those who faithfully confess: I worship only the one God in Trinity.” [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 4 we commemorate the contest of the holy Great-martyr Barbara.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father John of Damascus, the Monk and Priest.

On this day we also commemorate our devout Father John the Wonder-worker, Bishop of Polybotus.

On this day Saint Julianna died by the sword.

On this day Saints Christodoulos and Christodouli died by the sword.

The holy new Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion, witnessed in the year 1601, and died by being impaled.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Katavasias Odes 1-8

CHOIR

Katavasias of Christmas I

Ode i. Mode 1.

Christ is born! Glorify Him! * Christ is come from heaven! Go and meet Him! * Christ is on earth! Arise to Him! * Sing to the Lord, all you inhabitants of earth, and all you peoples, praise Him, * and with merriment extol Him who is glorified! [GOASD]

Ode iii.

To the Son, begotten from the Father unchangingly before the ages, * and now becoming incarnate from the Virgin without seed; * to Christ God let us cry aloud, * “You have exalted the horn of our strength. * Only You are holy, O Lord!” [GOASD]

Ode iv.

A rod has come forth from Jesse’s root, * and You its flower grew from it, praiseworthy Christ, now born of the Virgin, * whom Habakkuk called Paran, shady, thickly wooded mountain. * From her who knew no man You came incarnate, O immaterial God. * Glory to Your strength, O Lord! [GOASD]

Ode v.

O God of peace and Father of mercies, * You have sent to us the Wonderful Counselor, * the Angel of Your great counsel, granting us peace. * And now to light of knowledge of God we have been guided, * and we rise from night to dawn and glorify You, O benevolent Lord. [GOASD]

Ode vi.

Jonah long ago * was hurled from the belly of the whale as he went in, like a newborn babe. * With the Virgin now, * when the Logos had dwelt in His Mother’s womb, * taking flesh, He then emerged, preserving her intact.* Yielding not to changeability, * He preserved her unaltered in childbirth. [GOASD]

Ode vii.

Brought up together piously, the Servants * with contempt regarded the impious king’s decree. * The threat of the furnace did not frighten them. * Rather, standing in the midst of flames, they prayed and sang, * “Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers!” [GOASD]

Ode viii.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Babylon’s bedewing furnace bore the image of an extraordinary wonder. * For it did not burn the youths it was holding, * nor did the fire of Divinity consume the Virgin’s womb wherein it went. * And so let us songfully extol and praise, * “Let all creation bless the Lord, sing a hymn to Him, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [GOASD]

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 1.

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