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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 6

Memory of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

An optional alternative to the Antiphons are the Typika (Psalms 102 and 145), and the Beatitudes with the appointed troparia, which are provided here.

Psalm 102.

Psalm 145.

The Beatitudes.

Mode 2.

In Your kingdom. Remember us, O Lord, when You come in Your kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [RSV]

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [RSV]

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. [RSV]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. [RSV]

Canon 1 for the Saint.

Ode iii. Mode 2. N/M (The gentile church.)

Ἐξήνθησεν ἡ ἔρημος.

From Menaion - - -

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]

As a true disciple of the Master, blessed Nicholas, ⁄ you preserve from great dangers and bitter death ⁄⁄ all those who run to you. [OCA]

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]

As a true disciple of the Master, blessed Nicholas, ⁄ you preserve from great dangers and bitter death ⁄⁄ all those who run to you. [OCA]

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]

By the intercessions of Your servant Nicholas, ⁄ O God of many mercies, ⁄ grant Your servants remission of their sins, ⁄⁄ and cleanse them, O Good One. [OCA]

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]

Theotokion.

Calm the tumult of my passions, Queen, ⁄ and direct my life, ⁄⁄ for you bore Christ, in whom my heart is established! [OCA]

Canon 2 for the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 1. N/M (Such as it received.)

Σπλάγχνων Ἰωνᾶν.

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]

Holy Nicholas, you are revealed as a new Abraham, ⁄ for you brought your mind to your Master ⁄ as an only-begotten son for sacrifice, ⁄ continually offering a bloodless holocaust. ⁄ And as Abraham, you were blessed for your hospitality, ⁄ becoming the divine dwelling of the Holy Trinity, ⁄⁄ all-immaculate Father! [OCA]

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]

Nicholas, you have wrought strange and fearful wonders ⁄ throughout the world and far off upon the sea, ⁄ protecting those in danger with your swift prayers, ⁄ healing the sick and feeding the poor! ⁄ You were a worthy bearer of your name, ⁄⁄ showing the holy people to be victorious against their enemies! [OCA]

Glory.

Prophesying clearly with the eye of your mind, ⁄ you filled the world with true doctrine. ⁄ You proclaimed to us that the Son is of one essence with the Father; ⁄ you utterly destroyed the folly of Arius, ⁄⁄ as a pillar of the Church, laying down your own perfect teachings. [OCA]

Both now. Theotokion.

Christ bowed the heavens by His Own will, ⁄ and came to dwell entirely in your womb, all-holy Virgin! ⁄ For He could not bear to look upon the work of His Own hands ⁄ held under the rule of the deceiver. ⁄⁄ Therefore He came in the form of a Servant to save mankind. [OCA]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion. For the Saint.

Mode 4.

A rule of faith are you, and an icon of gentleness, and a teacher of self-control. And to your flock this was evident, by the truth of your life and deeds. You were humble and therefore you acquired exalted gifts, treasure in heaven for being poor. O Father and Hierarch St. Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God, and entreat Him to save our souls. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

From Menaion - - -

Kontakion.

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God. [SD]

Trisagios Hymn

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.

The Epistle

For the Hierarch.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 115.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy one. [SAAS]

Verse: What shall I give back to the Lord for all He rendered to me? [SAAS]

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

Heb. 13:17 – 21

Brethren, obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you for every good work that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 131.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O Lord, Your priests shall clothe themselves in righteousness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: For the Lord has chosen Zion.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Hierarch.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 6:17 – 23

At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.” [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.

Communion Hymn. Psalm 111/112.

The righteous will be remembered for ever. Alleluia. [RSV]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Mode 2.

We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, our Father among the Saints Nicholas the Wonder-worker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, whose memory we celebrate; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Fasting Rule

Wine: Wine and oil are allowed. Refrain from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.

It is a minor feast.