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Menaion Supplement - December 17

Memory of St. Dionysios Archbishop of Aegina

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MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 1.

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.

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]

Glory. Repeat.

Menaion Supplement - - -

Mode 1. The stone had been secured.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 1. The stone having been sealed.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

When Gabriel had said to you, “Rejoice!” blessed Virgin, * and you had voiced your assent, the Lord of all became incarnate * in you, who became the holy Ark, * as righteous King David said of old. * You carried your Creator, and thus your womb was wider than the heavens. * Glory to Him who dwelt inside of you! * Glory to Him who came forth from You! * Glory to Him who through your childbirth has set us free! [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.

Menaion Supplement - - -

Mode 1. N/M (The soldiers.)

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

God-bearing Saint, united as you were with the bond of love, you manifestly broke the evil of enmity; for when the man fled to you for protection, not knowing that it was your brother the he had just murdered, you saved him from judgment and certain death, and sent him away safely. [SD]

Glory.

Mode 1. N/M (The soldiers.)

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

Whoever does not love his enemy, who is his neighbor, does not know God, who is love. Therefore, O devout Father, you fulfilled the divine commandment, when you forgave the crime of your brother’s murderer, and you were compassionate like God, and you were pleasing to God. [SD]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

Mode 1. N/M (The soldiers.)

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

God loved the world so much, that he sent His Angel of great counsel to the world, as a demonstration of love, yes, His own Son, incarnate of the Pure Virgin, who will shortly be born in the grotto in Bethlehem. Let us glorify Him. [SD]

Kathisma II.

Menaion Supplement - - -

Mode 4. N/M (You who were lifted.)

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

Most reverend Father, you were offered to the Lord from childhood, and by your virtues you truly became and acceptable offering to God. You were the glory of devout monastics, O thrice-blessed Saint, and a godly ornament of priests. And now you intercede on behalf of the pious who in faith celebrate your memory. [SD]

Glory.

Mode 4. N/M (You who were lifted.)

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

The God-bearing fathers of Strophades Monastery know you to be their helper and deliverer in time of need, and an excellent physician, quickly curing everyone of illness, and driving away the swarm of locusts from the field, and sending the earth beneficial rain from heaven, by your prayers, O blessed Saint. [SD]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

Mode 4. N/M (You who were lifted.)

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

O God, in your tender love as Father in latter days, You sent us Your Son, who was born of the all-pure Virgin without seed, and who on earth put on human flesh, in order to deliver humanity from error. We pray You will grant to all that we may in faith worthily adore the Nativity of Your Son. [SD]

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. Psalm 48.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding. (2)

Verse: Hear this, all you nations; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding. [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 John.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the gate)

Jn. 10:1 – 9

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” [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]

Menaion Supplement - - -

CHOIR

Glory. Mode 2.

At the intercession of Your holy Hierarch, 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]

The Church of Christ is exultant today, and it splendidly celebrates, seeing the new Hierarch, divine Dionysios, magnificently led into it. He unceasingly intercedes on behalf of those who if faith honor his repose. [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, Barbara, 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; our Father among the Saints Dionysios the New, Archbishop of Aegina, the Wonder-worker, 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.

Menaion Supplement - - -

READER

Kontakion.

Mode 3. On this day.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the city of * Zakynthos and the Strophades * Monastery celebrate * a joyous feast day with splendor. * Aegina, in the Cyclades, is invited * to join in, as they sing praises as is their duty * and to festively extol him, their common glory, St. Dionysios. [SD]

Oikos.

Be silent now, be silent, all those who until now said that there is no home-town champion and ardent intercessor to God for the God-protected island of Zakynthos, like there is for many other notable Orthodox cities and lands. For now there is Dionysios, revered among hierarchs, who is just right, as her own famous son and praiseworthy offspring, and who served as Bishop of Aegina. No longer need blessed Zakynthos be jealous of her friendly neighbors, Kefallinia and Corfu, who are very proud to have the divine and sacred relics of Gerasimos and Spyridon, who are from other places. She now cordially invites them to the splendid feast of her very own home grown Saint. She likewise appropriately extends the invitation to Aegina in the Cyclades, and to the all-holy Monastery of Strophades, which was fortunate enough to possess the treasure of his divine and sacred body, so that all together they may worthily extol and splendidly celebrate, their common glory, St. Dionysios. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

On December 17, we commemorate our father among the saints Dionysius the New, Archbishop of Aegina, the Wonder-worker, from the Island of Zakynthos.

Verses

Earth may have the body of Dionysius

the New, but heaven holds his soul.

Famous Dionysius died on the seventeenth.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Three Servants and Daniel the Prophet.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Patermuthios, Copris, and Alexander, who witnessed under Julian the Apostate. We also commemorate the devout and ever-memorable confessor Dunaleh, who was renamed Stephen.

On this day we commemorate the holy martyr Iacchus.

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]