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Octoechos - Mode 1.

On Sunday Morning

Menaion - December 18-24

Sunday Before Christmas

__________

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.

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode 1. Automelon.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your all-immaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!” [GOASD]

Glory. For the Fathers.

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]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

Mode 4.

O Bethlehem, prepare, Eden is opened unto all. * And be ready, Ephrata, for the Tree of life * has in the grotto blossomed forth from the Virgin. * Indeed her womb is shown to be spiritually * a Paradise, in which is found the God-planted Tree. * And if we eat from it we shall live, and shall not die, as did Adam of old. * Christ is born, so that He might raise up * the formerly fallen image. [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

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 Octoechos - - -

Mode 1. Automelon.

The soldiers who were guarding Your tomb became like dead men, * O Savior, when Your Angel appeared there like lightning * and said to the women that You had risen, as You had said. * We now worship You, our only God, and extol You, * for You conquered death and dissolution, O Master, * and rose from the sepulcher. [GOASD]

Glory.

Mode 1. The soldiers.

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

O merciful Lord, nailed to the Cross of Your own will, * O Giver of Life, laid in a tomb as a mortal, * by death You destroyed the power of death, as the Mighty One. * For the doorkeepers of Hades quaked when they saw You. * With yourself You raised those who were long dead, O Savior * supremely benevolent. [GOASD]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

Mode pl. 2. When the angelic powers.

The sayings of the Prophets are being now fulfilled, * for our God shall be born in the days to come * ineffably from Mary the Virgin, and He remains * what He was before childbirth. * The Magi have been gathered, bearing their precious gifts. * In the fields are the shepherds. And we sing a hymn to Him * who from a Virgin was born, “Glory to You, O Lord.” [SD]

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma II.

Mode 1. The stone having been sealed.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

The women were at the tomb early in the morning. * When they saw a vision of angels, trembling came upon them. * The sepulcher was radiating life, and the dazzling marvel astonished them. * They departed and ran to proclaim the resurrection to the Disciples. * “Christ, the only strong and mighty Lord, * has divested Hades of its spoils. * He has freed the dead from fear of condemnation * by the power of the Cross and raised them all with himself.” [GOASD]

Glory.

Mode 1. The stone having been sealed.

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.

O Life of all, You were nailed to the Cross. * Immortal Lord, You were counted among the dead. * You rose on the third day, O Savior, and resurrected Adam from decay. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your sufferings, O Christ! * Glory to Your resurrection! * Glory to Your condescension, only benevolent God!” [GOASD]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

Mode pl. 4. The army of the Angels.

The army of the Angels appearing silenced * the song of shepherds pipes. And the Angel uttered, * Stop in the field abiding, * O you the governors of animals. * Cry out in exaltation, * for Christ the Lord has been born today. * It is His will to save the human race, * as God, in His good pleasure. [SD]

Resurrectional Evlogetaria.

Mode pl. 1.

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

When the hosts of the Angels saw how You were accounted among the dead, they all marveled. You, O Savior, are the One who destroyed the might of death; and when You arose You raised Adam with yourself and from Hades liberated everyone. [SD]

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

“Why do you mingle the ointments with your tears full of pity, O women disciples?” Thus the Angel who was shining in the tomb cried to the myrrh-bearing women. “See for yourselves the empty tomb and understand, that the Savior has risen from the sepulcher.”

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

Very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women were hastening to Your tomb lamenting. But the Angel appeared to them and uttered, “The time for lamentation has ended; weep no more. Go announce the Resurrection to the Apostles.”

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

When the myrrh-bearing women had come with their spices to Your sepulcher, O Savior, they heard the voice of an Angel clearly speaking to them, “Why do you account among the dead the One who lives? For as God, He has risen from the sepulcher.”

Glory.

We bow down in worship to the Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity, one in essence; and we cry aloud with the Seraphim: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O Lord.

Both now.

Giving birth to the Giver of life, O Virgin, you delivered Adam from sin, and to Eve you have rendered joy in place of sorrow. He who from you became incarnate, God and man, has directed to life him who fell from it.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

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.

READER

From Octoechos - - -

Hypakoe. Mode 1.

The robber’s repentance steals Paradise. The Myrrh-bearers’ mourning reveals the joy, for You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted to the world the great mercy. [GOASD]

CHOIR

Anavathmoi.

Antiphon 1. Mode 1.

In my affliction, I cry out to You, O Lord. Hear me in my grief. [GOASD]

The longing for God is unceasing in those who dwell in the desert, outside of the futile world as they are. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now.

To the Holy Spirit, as to the Father and the Son, belong the honor and the glory. Therefore let us sing a hymn to the Trinity, the one and only Ruler. [GOASD]

Antiphon 2.

Having lifted me up to the mountains of Your laws, brighten me with virtues, O God, that I may praise You. [GOASD]

With Your right hand embracing me, O Logos, keep me safe and shelter me, so that the fire of sin not burn me. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now.

By the Holy Spirit all creation is renewed, and thus returns to its first state. For He is equal in power to the Father and the Logos. [GOASD]

Antiphon 3.

When they said to me, “Let us go into the courts of the Lord,” my spirit was glad and my heart rejoiced also. [GOASD]

Over the house of David there is great fear; for when thrones are set there, all the tribes and tongues of the earth will be judged. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now.

To the Holy Spirit the honor, worship, glory, and dominion that befit the Father and the Son should also be ascribed, for the Trinity is one in nature but not in persons. [GOASD]

Prokeimenon.

“Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will establish them in salvation; I will declare it boldly.” (2)

Verse: The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver fired in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

“Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will establish them in salvation; I will declare it boldly.” [SAAS]

Eothinon Gospel (Not EP / GOA)

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 Luke.

DEACON: Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the altar table)

Eothinon 4

Luke. 24:1 – 12

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. [RSV]

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

READER

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one. Your Cross, O Christ, we venerate, and Your holy Resurrection we praise and glorify. For You are our God; apart from You we know no other; we call upon Your name. Come, all faithful, let us venerate the holy Resurrection of Christ; for behold, through the Cross, joy has come to the whole world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us praise His Resurrection; for having endured the Cross for us, He destroyed death by death. [GOA]

CHOIR

Psalm 50 (51).

Mode 2. (or the Mode of the week)

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. And have mercy on me, O God. [SAAS]

Glory.

At the intercession of the Apostles, 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]

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

Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, has granted us eternal life and great mercy. [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; all those who from the beginning of time were well-pleasing to God, from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, whose memory we observe; 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.

Ode 1: Menaion: Canon-1

CHOIR

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Fathers.

Ode i. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Κύματι θαλάσσης.

He, who with a sea-wave had buried the tyrant pursuer long ago, was buried beneath the earth by sons of those then delivered. Now, as once the maidens did, let us sing to the Lord, “For He is greatly glorified.” (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The gates of death open to You in fear, and the eternal bars are shattered. For at Your divine descent, the people who died long ago rose, and with joy they extolled Your resurrection, O Christ. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Today, the godly fathers splendidly celebrate, in anticipation of the birth of Christ. They underscore this extraordinary grace; for Abraham and the three Servants are all a symbol of the Law. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Long ago, saintly Abraham showed hospitality to the one Godhead in three persons. Now the Logos, the coequal of the Father and the Holy Spirit, appears to the three Servants, and He is greatly glorified. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Abraham was rescued from unjust treatment; the godly Servants, from the furnace fire; and Prophet Daniel, from the lions in the den. Now they celebrate in anticipation of the birth of Christ. [GOASD]

Glory.

The three Servants in the furnace, with faith in the Holy Trinity, stamped out godlessness; and to the world they symbolically revealed the mysteries of God that would come to pass. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O unwedded, undefiled, Virgin Mother full of grace, we call you blessed; for you descended from the line of Abraham and from the tribe of David, and you gave birth to Christ, who was proclaimed by the Prophets long before. [GOASD]

Ode 1: Katavasia

Ode i. Katavasia. 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 3: Menaion: Canon-1

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Fathers.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Σὲ τὸν ἐπὶ ὑδάτων.

When creation beheld You, who without restraint suspended all the earth on the waters, now suspended on a cross on Golgotha, it was constrained by great astonishment, and cried aloud, “No one is holy, but You, O Lord.” (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Lying three days in the sepulcher, by Your vivifying resurrection You raised those who had died from the beginning of time. Released from condemnation, they greatly rejoiced and sang to You: “Behold, You have come, O Lord, our redemption!” (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Mindful of the glory in the image and likeness of God, those Servants, like athletes, extinguished the flame of the image of gold. And with faith they sang: “We know no other Lord but You.” [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

The Servants had superior wisdom and the power of the Spirit, by which they ambushed and embarrassed the wise men of Babylon. And with confidence they sang: “No one is holy except for You, O Lord who love humanity.” [GOASD]

Glory.

The characters in the Torah rejoice and celebrate with the Servants and the Prophets, and they are exultant today, anticipating the divine and luminous emergence of the Lord. Abraham rejoices greatly, because he saw the Lord, incarnate from his progeny. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

Without passion was the conception of your Son; and He was born in the flesh He ineffably and supernaturally assumed. The mystery that was constantly talked about by the Prophets is the Logos of God and Lord, and He has extraordinarily appeared to us. [GOASD]

Ode 3: Katavasia

Ode iii. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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 3: Short Litany

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 You are our God, 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.

Mid-Ode Kathisma or Hypakoe

From Menaion - - -

READER

Hypakoe. Mode pl. 4.

The Angel made the furnace like a moist whistling wind for the three Servants. Now an Angel stops the weeping of the Myrrh-bearing women, saying, “Why do you bring ointments? Whom do you seek in the sepulcher? Christ God has risen! For He is the life and the salvation of the human race.” [GOASD]

Secondary Kontakion

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Kontakion.

You rose from the tomb in glory as God, and You raised the world along with You. The human race extolled You as God, as death was obliterated, O Master. Now Adam dances, and Eve rejoices, freed from the bonds, and cries out, “O Christ, You have granted resurrection to all!” [GOASD]

Oikos.

Let us extol, as omnipotent God, the One who rose on the third day; for He smashed the gates of Hades, and He raised from their graves the dead from all time. As He wished He was seen by the Myrrh-bearing Women, to whom first He exclaimed, “Rejoice!” thus saying declaring to His Apostles the joy, as the only Giver of Life. Then the women in good faith bring good news of the proof of the victory to the Disciples. But Hades groans, and Death laments. The world exults, and everyone celebrates, O Christ, for You have granted resurrection to all! [GOASD]

Ode 4: Menaion: Canon-1

CHOIR

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Fathers.

Ode iv. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Τὴν ἐν Σταυρῷ σου.

When he foresaw Your divine emptying on the Cross, Prophet Habakkuk cried out astonished, “You went to those in Hades and there cut off the heads of the rulers, O Good One, as the almighty God.” (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Christ God, Your divine descent into Hades proved to be life to the dead; for You, O good One, bound the enemies below, and You opened the path to heaven for humanity. (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

We are honoring the cream of the Fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; for it was from their seed that Christ Almighty shone forth, incarnate from a Virgin. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Daniel made the lions be like lambs for all to see, and thus he prefigured what would happen at Christ’s descent. As a Prophet of God, he foreknew the future. [GOASD]

Glory.

Those Servants had not ingested the poison of sin, and thus they were rescued from the flames. For they were truly more precious than gold, and they did not melt in the pagans’ furnace. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O immaculate and noble Lady, your Son, who is the expectation of the Gentiles and salvation of the world, is loudly announced. The assemblage of the Fathers extols Him today. [GOASD]

Ode 4: Katavasia

Ode iv. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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 5: Menaion: Canon-1

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Fathers.

Ode v. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Θεοφανείας σου Χριστέ.

Prophet Isaiah once beheld the never-setting light of Your Theophany, that is when You, O Christ our God, sympathetically appeared to us. Rising early in the morning, he cried aloud, “The dead shall rise up, and those in the tombs shall arise, and all those in the earth shall be glad and greatly rejoice.” (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Visually symbolizing the explosion of joy, the radiant Angel at the sepulcher appeared to the women and proclaimed the resurrection. They ceased weeping and greatly rejoiced, and they announced to the Apostles that the risen Christ had said, “Rejoice!” to them. (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

As we assemble today, let us faithfully honor the Patriarch Abraham, the cream of the Fathers, as the author of both the Law and Grace. For as a Prophet of God, he foretold that Christ would be born from a Virgin. And today he comes to salute the Lord’s divine Nativity. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Those Servants clearly foreshadowed the Lord’s coming to us. For those descendants of Abraham extinguished the furnace through the presence of the Angel, and turned the fire into a dewy breeze, and thus by faith they melted the glory of the golden image. [GOASD]

Glory.

By the Spirit, Daniel in the den stopped the mouths of lions; and by grace, the Servants, descendants of Abraham, extinguished the force of the fire. Saved from destruction, they foretold that Christ would be born from a Virgin. Now they implore Him, our Redeemer, for our salvation. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Lord, Isaiah was moved by the Holy Spirit to announce that You would assume our nature impassibly. And as he watched for the Law of grace, he said that a Virgin is coming to give birth without seed to One who, according to the flesh, will be a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Judah. [GOASD]

Ode 5: Katavasia

Ode v. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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 6: Menaion: Canon-1

From Menaion - - -

Canon for the Fathers.

Ode vi. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Τοῦ βίου τὴν θάλασσαν.

I see when my life becomes rough and stormy like the sea; * temptations feel like turbulence. * So I turn to the safe harbor of Your Church, * and calmly I pray to You: * Raise my life from corruption, very merciful Lord. (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O good One, by Your three-day burial, as God You neutralized death and demolished Hades. O King Jesus, by Your resurrection, You poured out life to people in the world. (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

Forefather Abraham was hospitable and he had great faith. He rejoiced when he symbolically received the divine mystery. Anticipating Christ, he now celebrates. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

For the Servants, faith subordinated creation, by the gift of the Spirit. For the brazen and devouring fire respected those who worshiped the Maker of fire, namely Jesus Christ. [GOASD]

Glory.

Long ago, Prophet Daniel shut the mouths of lions in the den. By this he prophesied that the savagery of the world would be trained for divine peace by the advent of Christ. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O perpetually virgin Mother Mary, you carried Christ in your virgin womb. The Prophets and the Fathers, inspired by God, saw Him; and now they celebrate in anticipation of Christmas. [GOASD]

Ode 6: Katavasia

Ode vi. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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 6: Short Litany

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 You are the King of peace and the savior of our souls, 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.

Principal Kontakion and Synaxarion

From Menaion - - -

READER

Kontakion. For the Forefeast.

Mode 1. In heaven be amazed.

O Bethlehem, be glad, Ephrata, now be ready. * Behold, the human Ewe comes in haste to deliver * the great Shepherd, whom she bears * as a babe in her virgin womb. * And beholding Him, God-bearing Fathers and Shepherds * now exult in Him, and they sing praises extolling * the Virgin who nurses Him. [SD]

Oikos.

Perceiving the splendor of your childbirth shine forth, O Virgin, God-loving Abraham and the renowned Isaac and Jacob and the entire choir of saints assembled by God all rejoice. They have brought creation to greet you with joyful words. For you are the cause of joy for all, having conceived in your womb the very One who was seen in Babylon of old, and in a manner passing all understanding preserved unscathed the Servants who were thrown unjustly into the furnace. Therefore they sing praises to the One who was seen in the arms of the Maiden, extolling the Virgin who nurses Him. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 22, we commemorate the holy Great-martyr Anastasia Pharmacolytria.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Chrysogonos.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Theodota and her children.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Zoilos.

On this day was the door-opening of the Great Church of God.

On this day was the procession with lights at the Church of God.

On this day, the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, we have been enjoined by our holy and God-bearing Fathers to commemorate all those who from the beginning of time were well-pleasing to God, from Adam to Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to the genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke enumerated in historical order; and also the Prophets and Prophetesses.

We commemorate Adam and Eve, the first fashioned.

We commemorate the righteous Abel, the son of Adam.

We commemorate the righteous Seth, the son of Adam.

We commemorate the righteous Enosh, the son of Seth.

We commemorate the righteous Cainan, the son of Enosh.

We commemorate the righteous Mahalalel, the son of Cainan.

We commemorate the righteous Jared, the son of Mahalalel.

We commemorate the righteous Enoch, the son of Jared.

We commemorate the righteous Methuselah, the son of Enoch.

We commemorate the righteous Lamech, the son of Methuselah.

We commemorate the righteous Noah, the son of Lamech.

We commemorate the righteous Shem, the son of Noah.

We commemorate the righteous Japheth, the son of Noah.

We commemorate the righteous Arphaxad, the son of Shem.

We commemorate the righteous Cainan, the son of Arphaxad.

We commemorate the righteous Shelah, the son of Cainan.

We commemorate the righteous Eber, from whom the Jews were called Hebrews.

We commemorate the righteous Peleg, the son of Eber.

We commemorate Reu, the son of Peleg.

We commemorate the righteous Serug, the son of Reu.

We commemorate the righteous Nahor, the son of Serug.

We commemorate the righteous Terah, the son of Nahor.

We commemorate the righteous Patriarch Abraham, the son of Terah.

We commemorate the Patriarch Isaac, the son of Abraham.

We commemorate the Patriarch Jacob, the son of Isaac.

We commemorate the Patriarch Reuben, the son of Jacob.

We commemorate the Patriarch Simeon, the son of Jacob.

We commemorate the Patriarch Levi, the son of Jacob.

We commemorate the Patriarch Judah, the son of Jacob, from whose tribe Christ was born.

We commemorate the Patriarch Zebulun, the son of Jacob, whose tribe was by the sea.

We commemorate the Patriarch Issachar, the son of Jacob, whose tribe cultivated the earth.

We commemorate the Patriarch Dan, the son of Jacob, whose tribe was the tribe of Judges.

We commemorate the Patriarch Gad, the son of Jacob, whose tribe is plundered and plundering.

We commemorate the Patriarch Asher, the son of Jacob, whose tribe was wealthy in wheatlands.

We commemorate the Patriarch Naphtali, the son of Jacob, whose tribe became a great multitude.

We commemorate the Patriarch Joseph, the son of Jacob, whose tribe was right glorious and illustrious.

We commemorate the Patriarch Benjamin, the son of Jacob, whose tribe, though once fierce, became gentle.

We commemorate Perez and Zerah, the twins, the sons of Judah the Patriarch.

We commemorate Hezron, the son of Perez.

We commemorate Ram, the son of Hezron.

We commemorate Amminadab, the son of Ram.

We commemorate Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

We commemorate Salmon, the son of Nahshon.

We commemorate Boaz, the son of Salmon.

We commemorate Obed, the son of Boaz by Ruth.

We commemorate Jesse, the son of Obed.

We commemorate David the King, the son of Jesse.

We commemorate Solomon the King, the son of David.

We commemorate Rehoboam the King, the son of Solomon.

We commemorate Abijah the King, the son of Rehoboam.

We commemorate Asa the King, the son of Abijah.

We commemorate Jehoshaphat the King, the son of Asa.

We commemorate Joram the King, the son of Jehoshaphat.

We commemorate Uzziah the King, the son of Joram.

We commemorate Jotham the King, the son of Uzziah.

We commemorate Ahaz the King, the son of Jotham.

We commemorate Hezekiah the King, the son of Ahaz.

We commemorate Manasseh the King, the son of Hezekiah.

We commemorate Amon the King, the son of Manasseh.

We commemorate Josiah the King son of Amon.

We commemorate Jeconiah the King, the son of Josiah.

We commemorate Shealtiel, the son of Jeconiah.

We commemorate Zerubbabel, who again raised up the Temple in Jerusalem when it had been burned.

We commemorate Abiud, the son of Zerubbabel.

We commemorate Eliakim, the son of Abiud.

We commemorate Azor, the son of Eliakim.

We commemorate Zadok, the son of Azor.

We commemorate Achim, the son of Zadok.

We commemorate Eliud, the son of Achim.

We commemorate Eleazar, the son of Eliud.

We commemorate Matthan, the son of Eleazar.

We commemorate Jacob, the son of Matthan.

We commemorate Joseph the Betrothed, the son of Jacob.

We commemorate the righteous Melchizedek.

We commemorate the righteous Job.

We commemorate the Prophet Moses, and Hur and Aaron the Priests.

We commemorate Joshua the son of Nun.

We commemorate the holy Prophet Samuel.

We commemorate the Prophet Nathan.

We commemorate the holy Prophet Daniel.

We commemorate the holy Three Servants.

We commemorate the righteous Sarah, the wife of Abraham.

We commemorate the righteous Rebecca, the wife of Isaac.

We commemorate the righteous Leah, the first wife of Jacob.

We commemorate the righteous Rachel, the second wife of Jacob.

We commemorate the righteous Asenath, the wife of Joseph the All-comely.

We commemorate the righteous Miriam, the sister of Moses.

We commemorate the righteous Deborah, who judged Israel.

We commemorate the righteous Ruth.

We commemorate the righteous Widow of Zarephath, unto whom Elijah was sent.

We commemorate the righteous Shunammite Woman, the gave hospitality to Elisha.

We commemorate the righteous Judith, who slew Holofernes.

We commemorate the righteous Esther, who delivered Israel from death.

We commemorate the righteous Hannah, the mother of Samuel the Prophet.

We commemorate the righteous Susanna.

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

Ode 7: Menaion: Canon-1

CHOIR

From Menaion - - -

For the Fathers.

Ode vii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Ἄφραστον θαῦμα.

Ineffable wonder! He who delivered the pious youths in the furnace from the raging fire is laid out today, dead and breathless, in a tomb, for the salvation of us who sing, “O our God and Redeemer, You are blessed.” (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Oh strange miracle! The Lord who sits on a throne in the heights underwent death in the flesh He assumed. But in the might of His divinity He rose, and with himself He raised those who had died from the beginning of time. (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

O Father Abraham, author of the faith, by begetting Christ according to the flesh, you were clearly shown to be the father of the Gentiles by the Spirit, for the salvation of us who sing, “O our God and Redeemer, You are blessed.” [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

The hymn of the living overpowered the din of the inanimate instruments sounding in vain; for the Servants, with their bodies in the flames, trampled the fire in the furnace as they sang, “O our God, You are blessed.” [GOASD]

Glory.

Long ago, Prophet Daniel concentrated on the contemplation of the Spirit, and he foreshadowed the Second Coming of Christ. He foretold the frightful events that will surround it, and he sang, “O our God, You are blessed.” [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

The strange miracle, spoken of by prophets and by fathers long ago, that a pure Virgin would give birth, has come to pass, for the salvation of us who sing, “O our God and Redeemer, You are blessed.” [GOASD]

Ode 7: Katavasia

Ode vii. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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 8: Menaion: Canon-1

From Menaion - - -

For the Fathers.

Ode viii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Ἔκστηθι φρίττων οὐρανέ.

Heaven, be astonished and amazed, and let the foundations of the earth be shaken! Behold, He who ever dwells in the heights is numbered among the dead; a small tomb receives Him as a stranger. Bless the Lord, O you Servants; sing a hymn, Priests; and People, exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages. (2) [SD]

Glory to Your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

We marvel at Your ineffable condescension for us lowly creatures, O Christ! Behold, You tasted death, though You are immortal God, and You were laid as a mortal in a sepulcher. Then You rose, O Logos, and with yourself raised those below. And they exalt You beyond measure unto all the ages. (2) [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

O Christ, Abraham was prefiguring Your slaughter when in obedience to You, his Master, he went up the mountain in faith to sacrifice like a sheep the son he had begotten. But the old man returned with Isaac rejoicing, and they exalt You beyond measure unto all the ages. [GOASD]

Saints of God, intercede for us.

O Christ, the unflagging flame was quite subdued, when the holy Servants donned You, the divine fire, as a garment; and by Your condescension, the dew whistled round them as they sang, “Bless Him, Priests; and People, exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.” [GOASD]

Glory.

By inscrutable judgments, Prophet Daniel was given to be food for lions. But the beasts in the den joined him in fasting piously, in accordance with the teachings of self-control. At his entreaties and those of Abraham and the Servants, preserve in peace those who sing a hymn to You. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

Prophetic sayings faithfully foretold the coming in human form of Jesus Emmanuel, the Son and Logos of God, unoriginate with the Father. The Virgin Mary conceived Him by the Holy Spirit, and in perpetual virginity she gave birth to Him in the city of Bethlehem. [GOASD]

Ode 8: Katavasia

Ode viii. Katavasia. Mode 1.

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]

Kontakia and Synaxarion