Books - Sources

Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 15

Memory of St. Eleftherios

__________

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 1.

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 for the Saint.

Ode iii. Mode 1. N/M (Firmly established be.)

Στερεωθήτω ἡ καρδία μου.

From Menaion - - -

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

O wise Eleftherios, you accepted pain of body when you decided to suffer for the sake of Christ. You took joy in the sufferings and trials. Thus you have now inherited the painless life. [un]

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

O athlete Eleftherios of a godly mind, you were overwhelmed with a burning love for the One Who made you. You throw yourself onto the burning torture device, for you have been watered with the fire of the Holy Spirit. [un]

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

O blessed one, you have been proven to be most sacred among priests. You are a sturdy Martyr among Martyrs. Thus you have been give a double crown, while you never cease to behold the face of God. [un]

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

Theotokion.

O pure dove, Ever-virgin who knew no man, you have caused a staff of power to bud forth, producing Christ our Foundation. For the staff of Aaron prefigured you when it flowered. [un]

Canon 2 for the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 2. N/M (I see when my life.)

Τοῦ βίου τὴν θάλασσαν.

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

O glorious Hieromartyr, you were shown to be a most excellent and strong and fighter, unafraid of the threats of torments. The fire withdrew from you, and the sharp blades turned away. [SD]

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

O wise Eleftherios, you washed away your persecutors’ superstitious delusion in the river of your blood, and you became victorious over the foe and source of evil. [SD]

Glory.

O all-blessed Eleftherios, the ground became red with your blood, and the air was truly sanctified by your pure spirit as it went up to heaven. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O all-pure Lady, who for the sake of mortals gave birth to the Lord who governs all, ease the terrible and unsettling turmoil of my sinful passions, and grant calmness to my heart. [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 pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

You were fully adorned with the sacred priestly robes. * You were dripping with streams of your own martyric blood. * In this state, you ran to Christ your Master, O blessed Saint * Eleftherius, destroyer of Satan; you are wise. * Therefore cease not interceding * for us who loyally honor * your blessed contest of martyrdom. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God. [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. Grave Mode. Psalm 115.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy one. [SAAS]

Verse: What shall I give back to the Lord for all He rendered to me? [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Saint.

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.

2 Tim. 1:8 – 18

Timothy, my son, do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me — may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day — and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 131.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O Lord, Your priests shall clothe themselves in righteousness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: For the Lord has chosen Zion.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Saint.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 2:23 – 28; 3:1 – 5

At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.” Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch it out,” and his hand was restored. [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 111/112.

The righteous will be remembered for ever. Alleluia. [RSV]

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 and glorious hieromartyr Eleftherios, 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

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

It is the Christmas fast.