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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - September 8

The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady 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 2.

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 1 of the Feast.

Ode iii. Mode 2. N/M (Establish us in You.)

Στερέωσον ἡμᾶς ἐν σοὶ Κύριε.

From Menaion - - -

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

The holy parents, who had lived before the Lord without reproach ⁄ brought forth the salvation of all, ⁄ giving birth to the one who bore our Creator and our God. [OCA]

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

The holy parents, who had lived before the Lord without reproach ⁄ brought forth the salvation of all, ⁄ giving birth to the one who bore our Creator and our God. [OCA]

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

The Lord, Who is a spring of life to all, ⁄ led forth the Virgin from a barren womb. ⁄ He was well pleased to enter into her, ⁄ preserving her virginity inviolate after childbirth. [OCA]

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

Let us exalt Mary today: ⁄ the fruit of Anna who brought forth the Life-giving cluster. ⁄ Let us sing her praises as the Theotokos, ⁄ protector and helper of us all. [OCA]

Canon 2 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (The troubles of my life.)

Ὡς ὕδατα θαλάσσης.

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

We sing the praises of your holy birth, Virgin and Bride of God, ⁄ and venerate your conceiving without seed, Maiden; ⁄ and with us the ranks of angels and the souls of the saints dance for joy! [OCA]

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

Your wise parents, undefiled One, ⁄ brought you, the Holy of Holies, ⁄ as an offering to the House of the Lord, ⁄ there to be reared in holiness ⁄ and made ready to become His Mother. [OCA]

Glory. For the Trinity.

In you, undefiled One, ⁄ the mystery of the Trinity is praised and glorified: ⁄ for the Father was well-pleased with you, ⁄ and in you the Word made His dwelling among us, ⁄ and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you. [OCA]

Both now. Theotokion.

You became a golden censer, ⁄ for the Fire made His tabernacle in your womb: ⁄ the Word from the Holy Spirit, ⁄ and He was seen in the form of a man, pure Theotokos. [OCA]

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 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Your Nativity, O Theotokos, imparted joy to the entire earth, for out of you has risen the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He nullified the curse and instead gave His blessing; and causing death to be neutralized, He granted us eternal life. (3) [SD]

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility’s stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality’s ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, “The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.” [GKD]

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 3. Ode ix.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. [RSV]

Verse: For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [RSV]

The Epistle

For the Feast.

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

Phil. 2:5 – 11

Brethren, have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 44.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: The rich among the people shall entreat your favor.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Feast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 10:38 – 42; 11:27 – 28

At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Mode pl. 4.

Virginity is a state alien to mothers, * and childbirth is foreign to those who are virgins. * But in you, Theotokos, have both of these been accomplished. * Indeed all generations everywhere * now call you blessed evermore. [SD]

Communion Hymn. Psalm 115.

I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Show Selected Verses.

Selected Psalm Verses for the Birth of our Lady Theotokos

1. Remember David, O Lord, and all his meekness. (131:1) [SAAS]

2. How he swore to the Lord, how he vowed to the God of Jacob. (131:2) [SAAS]

3. I shall not enter my dwelling, I shall not recline on my bed. (131:3) [SAAS]

4. I shall not close my eyes in sleep nor my eyelids for dozing, nor give any rest to my temples. (131:4) [SAAS]

5. Until I find a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. (131:5) [SAAS]

6. Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. (131:6) [SAAS]

7. We found it in the plains of the wood. (131:6) [SAAS]

8. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall go in through it. (117:20) [SAAS]

9. Glorious things were said concerning you, O city of God. (86:3) [SAAS]

10. God is in her midst; she shall not be shaken. (45:6) [SAAS]

11. The Lord swore to David this truth, and He shall not reject it. (131:11) [SAAS]

12. I shall set upon your throne one from the fruit of your loins. (131:11) [SAAS]

13. For the Lord has chosen Zion; He chose her for His dwelling. (131:13) [SAAS]

14. Here I shall dwell, for I have chosen her. (131:14) [SAAS]

15. The Most High sanctified His tabernacle. (45:5) [SAAS]

16. Holiness and majesty are in His holy place. (95:6) [SAAS]

17. Holy is Your temple, wondrous in righteousness. (64:5) [SAAS]

18. Holiness is proper to Your house, O Lord, unto length of days. (92:5) [SAAS]

19. I will remember your name from generation to generation. (44:18) [SAAS]

20. Therefore, peoples shall give thanks to you forever and unto ages of ages. (44:18) [SAAS]

Hide Selected Verses.

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, whose nativity we celebrate; 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.