Books - Sources

Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Pentecostarion

Sunday of the Blindman

Menaion - May 25

Third Finding of the Forerunner’s Head

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalm 65.

Verse 1: Shout to God, all the earth. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: Sing now to His name; give glory to His praise.

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

Verse 3: Say to God, “How fearful are Your works.

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

Verse 4: Let all the earth worship You and sing to You.

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 66.

Verse 1: May God be gracious to us, and bless us. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: May He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: That we may know His way on the earth, Your salvation among all the Gentiles.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. 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 pl. 1. Psalm 67.

Verse 1: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face. [SAAS]

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 2: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 3: So shall the sinners perish from the face of God. And let the righteous be glad.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 4: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia. [SAAS]

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 pl. 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

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Resurrectional.

From Octoechos - - -

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

When the robber had believed * that You the crucified were truly God, * he wholeheartedly and sincerely confessed You, * and he cried aloud to You, O Christ, “In Your kingdom, remember me.” [SD]

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

Crucified upon the tree * of the Cross, He blossomed life for our race, * and He dried up the curse from the tree, as our Savior; * whom, as our Creator, let us all in unison extol in song. [SD]

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

By Your death, O Christ our Lord, * You released us from the power of death, * and raised with yourself those who had died from the ages; * for You are our Savior and true God, whom all now extol in song. [SD]

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

Theotokion.

Rejoice, living temple of God, * rejoice, O impassable gate, * and throne that is fiery and yet not burning. * Rejoice, holy Mother of the Lord Emmanuel Christ our God. [SD]

Canon for the Forerunner.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. Be gracious to me.

Ἱλάσθητί μοι Σωτήρ.

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

O Christ, when the precious head * of John the Baptist, Your Forerunner, * was exhumed from the earth, * the truth like the sun arose, * dispelling the winter of heresy and falsehood, * while enlightening the whole wide world. [GOASD]

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

Believers, come forth and draw * illumination, the grace of God, * and mercy, and have your heads * and souls sanctified, when you * with faith venerate the head of St. John the Baptist, * who in the river touched the head of God. [GOASD]

Glory.

O Forerunner, pray to God * to crush the heads of our enemies * attacking us and defend * the country wherein we live, * so that we may lovingly venerate your precious * head that castigated Herod of old. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O blessed Forerunner John, * when you went down to the netherworld, * you preached to those who were there * that Light had become a man, * incarnate of virgin blood, and that He was coming * for the good of all humanity. [GOASD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 1. Automelon.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

As the Father and Spirit are unoriginate, * so the Word, who was born from the Virgin for us. * Let us praise Him, O believers, and let us worship Him. * For our salvation He was pleased * to be crucified in the flesh, * and to undergo death, * and to resurrect the dead, by His glorious resurrection. [GOASD]

For the Forerunner.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Now Christ has revealed to us your sacred head once again, * a most holy treasure hidden underground for so long, * O Prophet and Forerunner. * Therefore we have assembled for the feast of its Finding, * singing our God-inspired hymns in praise of the Savior, * who saves us from destruction, by your earnest prayers to Him. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion of Pascha.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out “Rejoice” to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. [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 READINGS

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.

The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse: Hear my voice, O God. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Forerunner.

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.

2 Cor. 4:6 – 15

Brethren, it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 1. Psalm 88.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O Lord, I will sing of Your mercies forever. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: For You said, “Mercy shall be built up forever.”

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Sixth Sunday of the Blind Man

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 9:1 – 38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be the Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshiped him. [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Mode 1.

The Angel cried aloud to the Lady full of grace: Rejoice, O pure Virgin; and again I say Rejoice. Your Son has truly risen from the grave on the third day. [SD]

Arise, shine! Arise, shine, O new Jerusalem! Shine! * For the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. * Zion, exult and be glad now. * O pure Mother of God, rejoice, celebrating * the resurrection of Christ your Son! [SD]

Communion Hymn.

Receive the Body of Christ; taste from the immortal fount. [SD]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Mode pl. 1.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May He who rose from the dead, 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, the Finding of whose precious Head we celebrate, 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.