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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion Supplement - December 17

Memory of St. Dionysios Archbishop of Aegina

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and everything within me, bless His holy name. [SAAS]

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His rewards.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 3: The Lord prepared His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

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

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

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Antiphon 2. Mode 2.

Verse 1: Praise the Lord, O my soul! I shall praise the Lord while I live; I shall sing to my God as long as I exist. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob; his hope is in the Lord his God.

Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: The Lord shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.

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

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

Only-begotten Son and Logos of God, being immortal, You condescended for our salvation to take flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and, without change, became man. Christ, our God, You were crucified and conquered death by death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.

Antiphon 3.

Mode 1.

Verse 1: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy one. [SAAS]

Verse 2: O Lord, Your priests shall clothe themselves in righteousness; Your saints shall greatly rejoice.

Apolytikion.

Menaion Supplement - - -

Mode 1. The stone had been secured.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

To the offspring of Zakynthos and bishop of Aegina, * protector of Strophades Monastery, Saint Dionysios, * O believers, let us all with one accord * pay honor, and sincerely say to him: * “By your fervent prayers save us, who are observing your memory and who call to you: * Glory to Christ who glorified you; * glory to Him who made you marvelous; * glory to Him who gave us you to intercede for us.” [SD]

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 1.

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 for the Saint.

Ode iii. Mode 1. N/M (Firmly established be.)

Menaion Supplement - - -

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

O Father, you polished your soul, and made it a receptacle of the divine virtues, a dwelling for the Spirit; and thus Christ our God rested in you. [SD]

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

O devout Saint, you took the narrow and very laborious path, without turning back, and you reached the ultimate desire, and you gained entry into the wide vastness of Paradise. [SD]

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

The Lord, who searches minds and knows the secrets of the heart, as it is written, foreknew your purpose and resolve, and that you would be straightforward and guileless; and He elevated you to be the most excellent Pastor of Aegina. [SD]

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

Theotokion.

O Christ, the infinite depth of Your condescension overwhelms not only human understanding but also that of all angels. For, being God, You come now to put on the flesh of Your servant. [SD]

Canon for the Saint.

Menaion Supplement - - -

Ode vi. Mode 1. N/M (Imitating the inspired Prophet.)

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

The priest Pankratios became convinced that you, O wise Father, were a mystic of God, when you told him how he had dropped the divine Bread, once when he was serving the liturgy. [SD]

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

While on earth, you vigorously trampled the might of the terrible ruler of this world; and now you delight in heaven, receiving the rewards for your labors, O blessed Saint. [SD]

Glory.

O Dionysios, cease not from earnestly entreating Christ the Lord, on behalf of your compatriots; for we all have you as our Patron Saint. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

The Virgin is coming to the grotto in Bethlehem, to give birth in the flesh to the One whom nothing can contain, and whom angels and shepherds will glorify. [SD]

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.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

Magnificent are the accomplishments of faith! The holy Three Servants greatly rejoiced, as they stood in the fountain of fire, as if beside the still waters; and the Prophet Daniel appeared to be a shepherd of lions, as if they were sheep. At their entreaties, O Christ God, save our souls. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion for the Day. For the Forerunner.

Mode 2.

O Prophet of God and Forerunner of grace divine, since we have obtained your Head from beneath the earth, as if a most sacred rose, we are receiving the healings continually. And once again, as formerly, you are preaching repentance throughout the world. [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 Devout Man.

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. The Prayer of Azariah.

Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers. [SAAS]

Verse: For You are righteous in all You did for us. [SAAS]

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

Heb. 13:7 – 16

Brethren, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalms 43, 33.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O God, we heard with our ears. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Saint.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 10:9 – 16

The Lord said, “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” [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 Dionysios the New, Archbishop of Aegina, the Wonder-worker, 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 the Christmas fast.