Books - Sources

Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - August 1

The Procession of the Holy Cross; and Memory of the Seven Holy Martyrs, the Maccabees, their Teacher Eleazar, and their Mother Solomone.

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

[Note: Wherever the Procession and Veneration of the Holy Cross will take place (see notes in the Typikon and the Menaion on 1 Aug), according to the order followed on the Third Sunday of Lent (at the end of the Great Doxology of Matins), after the ceremony sing, “Save, O Lord, Your people…” At the Divine Liturgy, use the Antiphons of the Third Sunday of Lent; and instead of “Holy God…” sing, “We venerate Your Cross…”]

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. 4.

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 [RSV]

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

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. [RSV]

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

Canon for the Cross.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. In the beginning.

Ὁ στερεώσας κατʼ ἀρχάς.

From Menaion - - -

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

We see the figure of the Cross, * that great producer of blessings, * being venerated, as all creation * celebrates today with joy, * illumined by the grace of God * our Savior, who upon it * was voluntarily crucified. [GOASD]

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

As we are basking in the light * that is divinely emitted * from the Cross, let us who trust in its power * flee the murkiness of sin * and cry aloud with gratitude, * “Glory to You, O Master, * who in Your mercy enlighten all!” [GOASD]

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

Honoring you with sacred hymns, * we venerate you with kisses, * and with faith we pray your power protect us. * Extricate us from the traps * our foes have set, and guide us all, * that we attain salvation, * as we extol you, O holy Cross. [GOASD]

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

Theotokion.

As she was gazing at the Cross * and at the Life hanging dead there, * and unable to endure further heartache, * now beside herself with grief, * the Virgin Mary cried aloud, * “Alas! What have these people, * who break the law, done to You, my Son! [GOASD]

Canon for the Saints.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 1. Imitating the inspired Prophet.

Τὸν Προφήτην Ἰωνᾶν.

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

Divine wisdom built her house, as the book of Proverbs says; * seven pillars she set up, which were rational indeed, * prefiguring * these pious brothers, who kept the Law of God. [GOASD]

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

Solomonia the wise mothered seven holy sons, * who were tutored by the wise Eleazar; and the grace * of God crowned them * for persevering throughout their martyrdom. [GOASD]

Glory.

As the Father and the Son and the Spirit, good and right, * are indeed in Godhead one, * let us worship them with faith, * and cry aloud, * praying, “O Holy Trinity, save Your world!” [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

How did you produce a Son, whom no human father sired, * and remain a virgin pure after childbirth as before? * Our God knows how, * for He is able to do whatever He wills. [GOASD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion. For the Cross.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1.

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. [SD]

For the Saints.

Mode 1.

The holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be compelled by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, O only benevolent God. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Automelon.

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible. [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. Mode pl. 4. Psalm 67.

God is wondrous in His saints. [SAAS]

Verse: Bless God in the churches. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Saints.

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

Heb. 11:33 – 40; 12:1 – 2

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin that easily distracts, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalm 33.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Many are the afflictions of the righteous.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Saints.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 10:16 – 22

The Lord said to his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God the Logos. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.

Communion Hymn. Psalm 4.

O Lord, the light of Your face was stamped upon us. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Mode 2.

We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity, for the Trinity has saved us.

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May 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 procession of which we observe; 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, the Seven Holy Martyrs, the Maccabees, their Teacher Eleazar, and their Mother Solomone, whose memory we observe, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is the Dormition fast.