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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 25

The Nativity in the Flesh of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalms 9, 110.

Verse 1: I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: In the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord.

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

Verse 3: Sought out in all things with regard to His will.

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

Verse 4: Thanksgiving and majesty are His work, and His righteousness continues unto ages of ages.

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

Glory. Both now.

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

Antiphon 2. Mode 2. Psalm 111.

Verse 1: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he will delight exceedingly in His commandments. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: His seed shall be mighty on earth.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: Glory and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness continues unto ages of ages.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: For the upright, light springs up in darkness.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. 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 4. Psalm 109.

Verse 1: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of Your feet.” [SAAS]

Verse 2: The Lord shall send forth the rod of Your power from Zion.

Verse 3: With You is the beginning in the day of Your power, in the brightness of Your saints.

Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

“I have begotten You from the womb before the morning star.” The Lord swore and will not repent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. (3) [SD]

From Menaion - - -

Kontakion.

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Super-essential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God. [SD]

Instead of Holy God

Mode 1.

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (3) [RSV]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Have put on Christ. Alleluia.

The Epistle

For the Feast.

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4. Psalm 65.

Let all the earth worship You and sing to You; let them sing to Your name. [SAAS]

Verse: Shout to God, all the earth. [SAAS]

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

Gal. 4:4 – 7

Brethren, when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir of God through Christ. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 18.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament shows the creation of His hands. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Day to day utters speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Feast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 2:1 – 12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the magi secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Mode 1.

O my soul, magnify her who is greater in honor and in glory than the armies of heaven [SD]

I see here a strange and paradoxical mystery. * For, behold, the grotto is heaven; * cherubic throne is the Virgin; * the manger a grand space * in which Christ our God the uncontainable reclined as a babe; * Whom in extolling do we magnify. [SD]

Communion Hymn. Psalm 110.

The Lord sent redemption to His people. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]

DISMISSAL

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

May He who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, 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, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.

It is a major feast.