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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - August 14

Forefeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

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 Forefeast.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. N/M (Lord, You are the firm.)

Σὺ εἶ τὸ στερέωμα.

From Menaion - - -

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

O Mother of God, earth and heaven rejoice on the occasion of your translation, for through you they were wondrously united. [SD]

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

O all hymned Theotokos, heavenly Angels rejoiced as they received you, when you were carried up from the earth. [SD]

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

O immaculate one, your divine and venerable translation was truly paradoxical, just like your childbirth. [SD]

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

O all-pure and immaculate Virgin, as the most pure temple of God, you were taken up to the heavenly dwellings. [SD]

Canon for the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (I pour out my supplication.)

Τὴν δέησιν ἐκχεῶ.

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

Let us praise the divine Dormition of the all-pure dove, the house that held Him who sustains all things. She became a heaven and throne and great palace of Christ; and now she passes over to dwell in the heavens. [SD]

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

O all-hymned Virgin, the Apostles of the Logos, like soaring eagles, were lifted on clouds, and gathered at Gethsemane. As they spoke to you, who were ready to depart for Heaven, you blessed them as the children of your Son. [SD]

Glory.

Who is this who ascends from the world’s valleys? What is this strange procession and passage? What is this great mystery that we now see? It is the Queen, the Lady, the glory and boast of all. [SD]

Both now.

O all-blameless Maiden, the Apostles mourned and cried, drenched in tears, when they saw that your holy soul had left your body that had hosted God; and in God-befitting manner, they extolled your divine Dormition. [SD]

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.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

O people, anticipate and leap for joy now with faith, * and longingly congregate today applauding with joy, * and all of you cheerfully * shout now in exultation; * for the Theotokos * is preparing for her departure * from the earth to the heavens * with glory; and we sing hymns to her * and glorify her as the Mother of God. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You revealed yourself today.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.

On this day, your glorious * mem’ry, the whole world * by the Holy Spirit’s grace * has been noetically adorned. * With joy and gladness we cry to you, * “Rejoice, O Virgin, the pride and joy of Christians all!” [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 18.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. [SAAS]

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

The Epistle

Thursday of the 10th Week

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

2 Cor. 1:1 – 7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy our brother. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you all also share in our comfort. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 88.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: God is glorified in the counsel of saints.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Thursday of the 10th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 21:43 – 46

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him: “I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet. [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 18.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 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 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

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

It is the Dormition fast.