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Menaion - December 26

The Synaxis in Honor of the Most Holy Theotokos

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MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 4.

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 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]

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 Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

Come, believers, let us see the place where Christ has been born.* With the Magi, those three kings who from the orient are,* now let us follow to where the star is proceeding.* Ceaselessly do Angels sing praises there.* Shepherds in the field sing a worthy song,* saying: Glory in the highest be to Him who* was born today in the grotto* from the Virgin and Theotokos,* in Bethlehem of Judea. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Kathisma II.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

Mary, why are you amazed and awed by what was done in you? * And she answers, “For in time I have brought forth a timeless Son. * But I have no understanding of His conception. * Husbandless am I: how can I bear a son? * Who has ever seen seedless childbirth? * But where God wills, the order found in nature * is overcome, as it is written.” * So Christ was born from the Virgin Maiden, * in Bethlehem of Judea. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

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]

READER

From Menaion - - -

Kontakion of the Feast.

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]

Kontakion for the Theotokos.

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

He who was begotten of the Father before the Morning Star without a mother is made flesh from you on earth today without a father. Therefore a Star announces the good tidings to the Magi, and Shepherds join the Angels in extolling your immaculate birthgiving, O Maiden full of grace. [SD]

Oikos.

The mystical grapevine held the Cluster that she produced without natural labor in her arms as if in branches, and she spoke to Him. “You are my fruit, You are my life. You are my God, and from You I know that I am still a virgin as before. And as I see that the seal of my virginity is intact, I proclaim You to be the unchanged Logos who became flesh. I knew no insemination, but I know You the destroy of corruption. For even after You came forth from me, I am still pure; and You left my womb like You found it. For this reason all creation celebrates together and sings to me: ‘Rejoice, O Maiden full of grace.’” [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 26 is the Synaxis in honor of our all-holy Lady Theotokos.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Efthymios the Confessor, Bishop of Sardis.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Constantine who was of Jewish origin.

We also commemorate our devout father Evarestos.

We also commemorate the holy New Hieromartyr Constantine the Russian, who contested in Constantinople in the year 1743.

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

Katavasias Odes 1-8

CHOIR

Katavasias of Christmas II

Ode i. Mode 1.

Working signs of old, the Master saved the people * In the wilderness, by turning the sea into dry land. * Today, being willingly born of a Virgin, * He lays a path to heaven for us, who therefore * Praise Him, equal in essence to the Father and to humanity. [GOASD]

Ode iii.

Incline Your ear to the hymns of us Your servants. * Subdue the arrogant contempt of the foe. * Exalt us who sing to You, all-seeing Benefactor, * To be unshaken and confirmed on the foundation of the Faith, * High above sin, and strengthened, O blessed Lord. [GOASD]

Ode iv.

Of old, Habakkuk’s ode predicted the human * Race’s remaking, for as a Prophet he was granted * Numinous portents: God the Logos as a newborn * Infant emerging from an overshadowed mountain, * Namely the Virgin, to refashion humanity. [GOASD]

Ode v.

Now rising to You, O Christ, from the night of sinning — * Iniquitous misdeeds, bedarkened by error, — * To extol You, our Benefactor, we pray that You grant us * Your mercy, and come to us and make the path easy, * So that ascending by it we may attain to glory. [GOASD]

Ode vi.

Gripped in the gorges of the sea, Jonah was praying * To rise above the peril round about and come to You. * However, I who am wounded by the dart of the devil, * Entreat You, O Christ the Destroyer of evil: * Without delaying come to me, before my negligence prevails. [GOASD]

Ode vii.

In Babylon, the three Servants were captivated, * Not by fear but by longing for the King of all. * And they disdained the angry tyrant’s ungodly * Nonsense. The inferno yielded to them as they sang * Declaring, “O Master, You are blessed unto the ages.” [GOASD]

Ode viii.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

As the Young Men of old were not consumed in the furnace, * Virgin Mary’s womb was being prefigured; for it remained * Ever sealed throughout supernatural childbearing. * Manifestly grace, with the same miraculous power, * Effected both alike, rousing all people to sing praise. [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

From Menaion - - -

Ode ix.

Canon 1.

Mode 1. Heirmos.

Μυστήριον ξένον.

O my soul, magnify the woman who is higher in honor and in glory than the armies of heaven.

I see here a new and paradoxical mystery. * For the cave resembles heaven, * the Virgin, the cherubic throne, * the manger, a grand space, * in which He whom nothing can contain was laid, Christ our God; * whom we extol in song and magnify. [GOASD]

Troparia.

O my soul, magnify God who was born in the flesh from the Virgin.

Observing the extraordinary path of the peculiar nova * that had recently appeared, * shining brighter than the other stars in the heavens, * the Magi concluded that Christ the King * had been born on earth in Bethlehem, for our salvation. [GOASD]

O my soul, magnify the King who was born in a grotto.

The Magi came, saying, “Where is the newborn child King? * For we have seen his star in the East, * and we have come with precious gifts to worship him.” * Then Herod was troubled. And that enemy of God, in a rage, * was furiously bent on killing Christ. [GOASD]

O my soul, magnify God who was worshiped by the Magi.

Herod ascertained what time the star appeared. * Led by it, the Magi came to Bethlehem * with gifts, and they worshiped Christ. * By Whom being warned * not to return to that awful killer of children, who thought he was tricked, * they departed by another way. [GOASD]

From Menaion - - -

Iambic Canon.

Mode 1. Heirmos.

Στέργειν μὲν ἡμᾶς.

Today, the holy Virgin gives birth to the Master while lodging in the grotto.

To favor being silent out of caution is for us * Easy and free of risk, whereas to compose * Stirring hymns is arduous, but a labor of love * For you, all-holy Virgin. And so, we entreat you: * O Mother, empower us to succeed in this endeavor. [GOASD]

Today, our Lord and Master is born as an infant; His Mother is a virgin.

Troparia.

Glory.

O my soul, magnify the power of the Godhead that is three hypostases and also undivided.

Realizing obscure prophetic types and shadows, * Your Son, the Logos, in latter days emerged from you, * O Virgin, who were called the gate that was closed, * Unveiling to us the light of the truth. * Mother of God, we rightly extol your womb. [GOASD]

Both now.

O my soul, magnify her, through whom we were freed from the curse and condemnation.

You have fulfilled our longing to merrily * Keep the feast of God’s Advent, O Virgin. * In earnest, we believers who have so pleased Christ * Now pray to see the life-giving regeneration. * Grant us the blessing to celebrate that feast day. [GOASD]

Ode 9: Katavasia

Ode ix. Katavasia. Mode 1.

O my soul, magnify her, through whom we were freed from the curse and condemnation.

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 all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἐπεσκέψατο ἡμᾶς.

Our Savior from on high * the Orient from the East * visited us who in the dark * and shadow hitherto had lain; * now we have found the truth indeed. * And this is so because from the Virgin the Lord is born. (3) [SD]

Lauds. Mode 4.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light.

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name.

For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.

He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps.

Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word.

Mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.

Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds.

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.

Young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted.

His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people.

A hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.

Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.

Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him.

For the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.

The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds.

The high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.

To deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples.

To shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron.

To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Hide Stichologia

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

You righteous, be glad in heart; and the heavens, be exultant. Leap for joy, O mountains, at the birth of the Messiah. Resembling the Cherubim, the Virgin Maiden is seated and holds in her embraces God the Logos incarnate. The shepherds glorify the newborn Babe; Magi bring the Master their precious gifts. Angels are singing hymns of praise, and say, “O Lord incomprehensible, glory to You.” [SD]

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

The Father was well pleased; the Logos became flesh; and the Virgin gave birth to God who became man. A Star reveals Him; Magi bow in worship; Shepherds marvel, and creation rejoices. [SD]

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

O Virgin Theotokos who gave birth to the Savior, you reversed the curse to which Eve once was subject. For you have become the Mother of the Father’s good pleasure, and you hold in your embraces God the Logos incarnate. The mystery admits no inquiry; we all glorify it by faith alone, and with you we cry aloud and say, “O Lord incomprehensible, glory to You.” [SD]

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

Come, let us extol and praise the Savior’s Mother, who remained a virgin even after childbirth. Animate City of our King and God, rejoice, for Christ having dwelt in you has wrought our salvation. Together with Gabriel we sing your praise, together with the shepherds we glorify you, crying out, “Theotokos, intercede with the Lord, who is incarnate from you, to save us.” [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Today, the invisible Nature is conjoined to humanity from a Virgin. Today, the infinite Essence is wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem. Today, God uses a star to lead Magi to adore Him. By their gold, frankincense and myrrh, they foretell His three-day burial. For that reason we sing, “O Christ our God, who were incarnate of a Virgin, save our souls.” [SD]

Both now.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

Today in Bethlehem, Christ is born of the Virgin. Today, the Unoriginate begins, and the Word becomes flesh. The hosts of heaven are rejoicing, and the earth and humanity are merry. The Magi bring their gifts. The Shepherds proclaim the marvel. And we unceasingly cry aloud: * “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” [SD]

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind. [SD]

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world.

Accept our supplication, You who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

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

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

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.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.