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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - November 20

The Forefeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple; and Memory of our Devout Father Gregory of Decapolis; and our Father among the Saints Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople.

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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 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 4. N/M (Establish your servants.)

Τοὺς σοὺς ὑμνολόγους.

From Menaion - - -

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

As the maidens accompany and lead the Virgin, holding their torches, they brightly portray what will eventually follow; for the Light of knowledge will be born of her, and He will dispel the darkness of error. [SD]

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

O all-blameless Virgin, your mother Anna emulates Hannah of the Old Testament, and in a godly manner fulfills her vow; and to the sanctuary she dedicates you, who will conceive and give birth in a most sacred manner. [SD]

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

When the sun saw the cloud of light spreading out in the Holies of Holies at God’s behest, it spread out its rays. From her, He shall shower forgiveness on those who are dried up in sins. [SD]

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

O pure and immaculate Lady, God dwelt in you for His mercy’s sake, and thus He deifies me, and though once I was beguiled with food by the serpent’s deceit, He restores me to incorruptible delight instead of corruption. [SD]

Canon for the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 4. N/M (O godly-minded believers.)

Τὴν θείαν ταύτην.

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

The divine parents of the Virgin were invigorated by divine grace, and with longing they dedicate her like a spotless dove to be reared in the Temple. [SD]

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

O Maiden, who will receive the Light from Light, modest maidens carry bright lamps before you, and they proceed dancing to the luminous Temple of God. [SD]

Glory.

The Virgin, that palace full of glory, that great echoing of the Prophets, that holy throne, is placed in the Holy of Holies, where she is prepared for the King of all. [SD]

Both now.

O Maiden, I extol your conception, I extol your ineffable birth, I extol your protection, for I am rescued from all harm when I flee to your calm refuge. [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. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Today righteous Anna solicits joy for us all, * the opposite of pain and sorrow, having brought forth her fruit, * the only ever-virgin Maid; * and today in fulfillment of her prayer and her promise, * to the Temple of the Lord she joyfully leads her * who is truly the temple and pure * Mother of God the Word. [SD]

For the Saints.

Mode 4.

O God of our Fathers, since You always deal with us in accordance with Your gentleness, do not withdraw Your mercy from us, but at their fervent entreaties, pilot our life in peace. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion of the Forefest.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You revealed yourself today.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.

On this day the whole wide world is filled completely * with great joy and merriment on the occasion of the feast * of the Theotokos and cries aloud: * “She is the heavenly tabernacle indeed.” [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 24th Week

The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Th. 4:18 – 5:10

Brethren, comfort one another with these words. But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. [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 9th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 16:1 – 9

The Lord said this parable, “There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.” [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

Fish: fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat, dairy and eggs.

It is the Christmas fast.