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Octoechos - Mode 4.

On Thursday Morning

Menaion - November 6

Memory of St. Paul the Confessor

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 3.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Apolytikion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Θείας πίστεως.

Your confession of the true divine faith * manifested you unto the whole Church * as another Paul and zealot among the priests. * With you together is shouting the righteous blood * of Zacharias and Abel unto the Lord. * Holy Father Paul, beseech Christ our God fervently, * entreating that He grant us His great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 3.

The Prophets proclaimed it beforehand, and the Apostles taught it; the Martyrs confessed it, and we have believed it: that you gave birth to God indeed, O Theotokos. And therefore we magnify your childbirth, which is ineffable. [SD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 13. Then the short litany.

DEACON

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Kathisma I.

From Octoechos - - -

For the Apostles.

Mode 4.

Preeminent Apostles and teachers of the universe, intercede with the Master of all, to grant peace to the whole world, and great mercy to our souls. [SD]

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

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

You made Your Disciples shine like luminaries, O Christ, * throughout the entire earth, for they illumined many souls * by preaching Your word to them. * Idolatry’s deception was through them eliminated, * and the world has been enlightened with Your true Christian doctrines. * We pray You save our souls, by their entreaties on our behalf. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Be swift to accept our fervent prayers, O Lady and Queen, * and take them, O all-pure Maiden, and present them for us * before your own Son and God. * Rescue from every trouble * those who run to your shelter, * O Virgin Theotokos, and frustrate the scheming * of those who against your servants have shamelessly taken arms. [SD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 14. There is no litany, but immediately the following:

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma II.

For the Apostles.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

The sound of your proclamation went throughout all the earth, * O glorious Apostles, and it proved that error’s unwise * so-called wisdom was foolishness. * It drew up many people from the sea of deception * and showed to all the safe and certain path to salvation. * Therefore now we worthily praise you and call you blessed. [GOASD]

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

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

You made Your Disciples heralds of the Faith in the world. * You guided all nations through them to the knowledge of You, * our Savior, O Christ our God. * Scattering it widely, they sowed the seed of true religion, * enlightening all people with the rays of their preaching. * We pray You, at their entreaties save our souls. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

O Lady, please hear the prayer of me your servant who cries * to you from the depths of my afflicted soul, that you grant * forgiveness of my many sins. * For you are my defender. Day and night you protect me. * Free me from the fire of hell, all-holy Theotokos, * and grant that I may stand at the right of your Son and God. [GOASD]

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma III.

For St. Nicholas.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Come quickly and rescue us, O father Nicholas, * and save us from adversities and from all dangers and threats * against us your supplicants. * We know you speak with candor to our God and Creator. * Please hurry to respond each time we faithfully invoke you. * And now we pray you grant us your protection and patronage. [GOASD]

Verse: God is wondrous in His saints.

For the Martyrs.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Your Martyrs, O Lord, were worthily awarded by You * the crowns of incorruption, in that they contested for You our immortal God. * Since they possessed Your power, they defeated the tyrants, * dashing the demons’ powerless displays of defiance. * O Christ God, at their fervent entreaties, save our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We are unequipped to praise you worthily, O Theotokos, for you are the highest of all things created. Therefore, we entreat you: As a gift to us, have mercy on us. [SD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. In seeking the heights.

Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν.

You shone forth on earth like a star with celestial light, and now you illumine the one, holy catholic Church; on behalf of which, O Paul, you contended and laid down your life. And, like that of Zacharaias and Abel of old, your blood that was shed cries out to the Lord. [SD]

Oikos.

Of the faith, your are a pillar of confession; and with Paul who enlightened the earth, you share name and manner and contest, for in your body you also bear the marks of Jesus, O sacred mystic Paul. In those marks you ever delighted and boasted, energized and unafraid, as you stood before heretical emperors. Therefore, your blood that was shed cries out to the Lord. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On November 6, we commemorate our father among the saints Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople.

On this day we also commemorate the miracle of the dust that was sent down in God’s benevolence, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Great.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Luke.

On this day, St. Paul, the fool for Christ, died in peace.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

CHOIR

Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode 4.

Παῖδας εὐαγεῖς.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Guiltless were those Servants in the furnace. * The Son of the Theotokos went and rescued them. * He who was prefigured then, * having been incarnate now, * is gathering the whole wide world into His Church to sing: * “O all you works of the Lord, to all ages * sing praises to the Lord and exalt Him beyond measure.” [GOASD]

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.

CHOIR

Ode ix.

The Magnificat. Mode 4.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

Heirmos. Mode 4.

Ἅπας γηγενής.

All you born on earth, * with festival lamps in hand, in spirit leap for joy; * and all you the heavenly angelic orders, join in and celebrate; * and honoring the sacred wonders of the Mother of God, * sing the joyful salutation, “O rejoice, * Theotokos, all-blest, ever-virgin pure!” [GOASD]

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [GOASD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. O Women, hearken.

Γυναῖκες ἀκουτίσθητε.

You emulated Paul the great * Apostle and preacher of the faith. * Disseminating the dogmas * of the most exalted wisdom, * you weakened all the heresies; * O Paul, and Your Beatitude * is the splendor of hierarchs. * And therefore you are a pillar * of Orthodoxy, O father. [SD]

Theotokion.

Mode 2. O Women, hearken.

O Mary, as the Bride of God, * to God whom in the flesh you bore * on our behalf pray intently, * for lovingly we extol you, * all-pure one, and we venerate * the icon of you and your Son. * Beg Him that we who honor you * might be redeemed from perdition * and from everlasting anguish. [SD]

READER

Lauds. (read)

Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light. Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name, for He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created. He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps, Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word, mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted; His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people, a hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him. [SAAS]

Psalm 149.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones. Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him; for the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation. The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds; the high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand, to deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples, to shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to fulfill among them the written judgment: This glory have all His holy ones. [SAAS]

Psalm 150.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power; praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. Praise Him with the sound of a trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre; praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute; praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Stand for the reading of the Doxology.

Doxology (read)

HIERARCH or READER

To you belongs glory, O Lord our God, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

READER: Amen.

HIERARCH or READER

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world. Accept our supplication, you who sit at the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the ages of ages. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we shall see light. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this day we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs a hymn, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

LITANY OF COMPLETION

DEACON

Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

CHOIR (after each petition)

Grant this, O Lord.

DEACON

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For You are the God of mercy and compassion and love for humankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

PRIEST: Peace be with all.

CHOIR: And with your spirit.

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Holy Lord, who dwell in the highest and look upon the humble and observe all creation with Your all-seeing eye, to You we bow the neck of soul and body, and we pray You, Holy of holies: Extend Your invisible hand from Your holy heavens and bless us all. And as good and benevolent God, forgive us any misdeeds we committed voluntarily or involuntarily, and grant us Your blessings in this world and in the next.

PRIEST (aloud)

For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Aposticha of the Octoechos.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 4.

With the Holy Spirit, O Christ, did You enlighten the choir of Apostles. Through them wash away the filth of our sins, and have mercy on us, O God. [SD]

Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]

The Holy Spirit, O Christ our God, made the illiterate Disciples into teachers. And by the grandiloquent music of the tongues, He, being Omnipotent, abolished delusion. [SD]

Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]

Precious and honorable is the death of Your saints, O Lord. They were crushed by sword and fire and frost, and they spilled their blood, with their hope in You, to receive the reward for their labor. They waited and endured, and they received the great mercy from You the Savior. [SD]

Glory. For the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Grave Mode.

As you lived on earth as though without flesh, you delved into the depths of the Spirit. From there you drew out the wealth of divine knowledge, and you poured out Orthodoxy to the people, by your teachings, O devout Father. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

Grave Mode. No longer are we barred.

Οὐκ ἔτι κωλυόμεθα.

Deliver us from bondage and from the power * of the devil, all-holy Lady, * since you gave birth to God in the flesh. [SD]

PRIEST

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth at night. [SAAS]

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

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.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Apolytikion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Θείας πίστεως.

Your confession of the true divine faith * manifested you unto the whole Church * as another Paul and zealot among the priests. * With you together is shouting the righteous blood * of Zacharias and Abel unto the Lord. * Holy Father Paul, beseech Christ our God fervently, * entreating that He grant us His great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 3.

Everyone, wherever he is saved, rightly runs to you for refuge. Who else can protect us like you, O Theotokos? You are the shelter for our souls. [SD]

(The “ektenia” litany has been omitted.)

PRIEST: Wisdom.

READER: Father, bless!

PRIEST

Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

HIERARCH or READER

The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

Then we begin the First Hour, saying: “Come let us worship…”

or:

Dismissal

PRIEST

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, of our father among the saint Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople, whose memory we observe; and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Conclusion, i.e. “Through the prayers…”

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

CHOIR: Amen.