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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - September 17

Memory of the Holy Martyr Sophia and her daughters

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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 Feast.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ῥάβδος εἰς τύπον.

From Menaion - - -

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

The rod of Aaron is seen as typifying the mystery; * for it budded, and thus was the priest selected. * Now in the Church, that was barren once, the Cross of Christ, like a tree, * has blossomed forth, * as power and a firm support. [SD]

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

The rod of Aaron is seen as typifying the mystery; * for it budded, and thus was the priest selected. * Now in the Church, that was barren once, the Cross of Christ, like a tree, * has blossomed forth, * as power and a firm support. [SD]

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

The rod of Moses struck the flinty rock, and water came out of it * for the hard-hearted and recalcitrant people; * and this depicted the myst’ry of the Church of the elect of God; * for which is the Cross its power and a firm support. [SD]

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

When Your immaculate side was speared, water and blood came out, * inaugurating the Covenant and the cleansing of sin, O Savior. * And now believers boast in the Cross, * which for Emperors was power and a firm support. [SD]

Canon for the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (When Jonah.)

Νοτίου θηρός.

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

Bent with age and wasted by sickness, ⁄ Jacob was straightened when he crossed his hands, ⁄ thus showing the power of the life-giving Cross. ⁄ For God Who was crucified on it in the flesh ⁄ thus rewrote the letter of the old law that was in shadows, ⁄ and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error. [OCA]

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

Bent with age and wasted by sickness, ⁄ Jacob was straightened when he crossed his hands, ⁄ thus showing the power of the life-giving Cross. ⁄ For God Who was crucified on it in the flesh ⁄ thus rewrote the letter of the old law that was in shadows, ⁄ and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error. [OCA]

Glory.

By laying his hands crosswise on the heads of the young ⁄ holy Israel signified that the people serving under the law ⁄ should for a time have the honor due to the first born. ⁄ When suspected of error in this, he did not change the life-giving figure: ⁄ For, he cried, the newly-planted people of Christ our God ⁄ shall take the higher place, strengthened by the Cross! [OCA]

Both now.

By laying his hands crosswise on the heads of the young ⁄ holy Israel signified that the people serving under the law ⁄ should for a time have the honor due to the first born. ⁄ When suspected of error in this, he did not change the life-giving figure: ⁄ For, he cried, the newly-planted people of Christ our God ⁄ shall take the higher place, strengthened by the Cross! [OCA]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who were crucified in the flesh. 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. [GOA]

For the Saints.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

As the Psalm says, you grew as a fruitful olive tree * in the courts of the Lord, O Sophia, righteous Saint; * and you offered unto Christ, by contests of martyrdom, * the blessed offspring of your womb, as if sweet and pleasing fruit, * Faith, Hope and Love, your three daughters. * Now we entreat you to pray Him, * on behalf of us who honor you. [SD]

Another.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Your confession.

Θείας πίστεως.

Now the Church of Christ greatly rejoices, * for she has you and your holy children * as her pride and joy, and cries out extolling you, * “My sacred boast are you, O wise Saint, together with * the holy relics of your daughters, which we all revere.” * Glorious Martyrs, Sophia, Faith, Hope and Charity, * to Christ our God pray fervently, entreating Him to save our souls. [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 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

Wednesday of the 15th Week

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

Gal. 3:15 – 22

Brethren, to give a human example: no one annuls even a man’s will, or adds to it, once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to your offsprings,” referring to many; but, referring to one, “And to your offspring,” which is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained by angels through an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one; but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 4. Psalm 131.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Arise, O Lord, into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: The Lord swore to David this truth, and He shall not reject it, “I shall set upon your throne one from the fruit of your loins.”

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Wednesday of the 15th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 6:7 – 13

At that time, Jesus called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. [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 115.

I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 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, the holy martyr Sophia and her three daughters, Faith, Love and Hope, whose memory we celebrate, 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 a Wednesday or Friday.