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Octoechos - Mode 2.

On Monday Morning

Menaion - December 15

Memory of St. Eleftherios

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MATINS

CHOIR

Mode pl. 1.

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 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]

Glory. Repeat.

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]

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

Hail, gate of the Lord, through which no man has passed! * Wall and shelter of all who rely on you, rejoice! * Port and haven undisturbed by any tempest, rejoice! * You gave birth to your Creator and God in the flesh, * ever remaining a virgin. * Never cease interceding for us who worship and extol your Son. [GOASD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 4. 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 compunction.

Mode 2.

My transgressions are like waves that crash against me, and my many offences agitate me, as if I were alone in a boat on the high seas. I pray You lead me through repentance to a tranquil harbor, O Lord, and save me. [GOASD]

Verse: O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your anger.

O Lord, I am like that fig tree, on which there was no fruit, for I have not produced any fruits of compunction. I am fearful that I will be cut down, and I am terrified by the unquenchable fire. So I implore You, before that fateful torment, to allow me time for repentance and to save me. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 2. Automelon.

As the Mother of God, you are the source * of compassion. O Lady, count us worthy of pity. * Look upon us graciously, though we have sinned. * Demonstrate your power, as you always do. * For, placing our hope in you, * we cry out, Rejoice, to you, * as did Gabriel of old, * as the chief commander of the bodiless hosts. [SD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 5. There is no litany, but immediately the following:

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma II.

For compunction.

Mode 2.

David said, “Have mercy on me.” And likewise I cry out, “I have sinned, O Savior. I pray You blot out my sins, through my repentance, and have mercy on me.” [GOASD]

Verse: Look upon me and have mercy on me.

For the two sins he committed, David grieved and cried, “Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me!” And I, for my countless transgressions, pray to You. He wet his couch with many tears, and I cannot produce a single teardrop. I am lost! So I entreat You: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy!” [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We magnify you, O Theotokos, and we cry out: Rejoice! You are the gate that was shut; and through you Paradise of long ago was opened to humanity. [SD]

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma III.

For compunction.

Mode 2. As the Mother of God.

Εὐσπλαγχνίας ὑπάρχουσα.

O all-holy incorporeal hosts, * we implore you to pray for us to our good God and Master, * that He spare us in that hour on Judgment Day, * and release us from the bitter punishment. * We earnestly run to you * for protection from the every threat * of demons and from all * the sinful passions that darken our souls. [GOASD]

Verse: God is wondrous in His saints.

For the Martyrs.

The holy Martyrs had You, who covers heaven with clouds, as a cover in the world, and thus they endured when the villains tortured them, and they negated idolatry. By their intercessions for us, O Savior, free us from the unseen enemy and save us. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Who ever heard of a mother who was virgin? Who ever knew of a virgin who was a mother? Everything about you is extraordinary, O Theotokos. Therefore with faith we magnify you. [GOASD]

READER

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. You have taken.

Τοὺς ἀσφαλεῖς.

You the adornment of the priesthood, O righteous one, * and the encouragement of prize-winning martyr saints * are extolled by all. To you we pray, * O hieromartyr Eleftherios, * to free us who with love observe you memory * from every kind of dangerous predicament, * and unceasingly intercede on behalf of us all. [SD]

Oikos.

O compassionate Giver of Life, only tender-loving and benevolent God, look upon the darkness of my soul, and by Your almighty right hand, O Word, free me from the shameful passions, so that I may extol Your hierarch Eleftherios. Truly he was known by You from the womb, and like Samuel he was sanctified and dedicated to You, the Creator, by a holy mother. And he unceasingly intercedes on behalf of us all. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On December 15 was the contest of the holy Hieromartyr Eleftherios.

On this day Saint Anthia, mother of Saint Eleftherios, died by the sword as she was holding her son’s dead body.

On this day Saint Coremmon the Eparch died by the sword after he believed in Christ and was baptized.

On this day the two Executioners who believed in Christ died by the sword.

On this day was the contest of the devout martyr St. Susanna.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Eleftherios the Chamberlain.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Bacchus the New.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Paul the New, who was an ascetic on Mt. Latrus in the days of Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos.

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

CHOIR

Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode pl. 2.

Ἐκ φλογὸς τοῖς Ὁσίοις.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

From the flame You refreshed pious Servants as with dew * and with water consumed the righteous Prophet’s sacrifice. * You accomplish all, O Christ, simply by willing it. * We exalt You beyond measure, unto all the ages. [SD]

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 pl. 2.

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 pl. 2.

Θεὸν ἀνθρώποις.

It is impossible for God to be seen * by people; and angelic orders dare not to look at Him. * But the Word incarnate has been seen by mankind, through you, O all-pure Virgin. * Now magnifying Him, * joining the celestial hosts, all generations call you blest. [SD]

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 3. Having embellished heaven.

Ὁ οὐρανὸν τοῖς ἄστροις.

O Father Eleftherios, * you as a shepherd brought to Christ * flocks of believers, and your mother * like a heifer clung to you her calf, * and she was slaughtered along with you. * Now to you both I sing praises. [SD]

Theotokion.

Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.

I bring you as mediatrix * before the Lord who was born of you, * O all-holy Maiden, * so that I who am wretched * may be spared from all punishment * and also eternal torments. [SD]

Lauds. Mode pl. 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

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.

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.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Hide Stichologia

Stichera. For the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2. You rose within three days.

Τριήμερος ἀνέστης.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

O Hierarch, when you received * the grace of the Disciples most wise * from the Master * Christ our God, you eagerly finished the same race as they did. * And so in fitting manner we now extol you, Eleftherios. [SD]

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

O Hierarch, when you received * the grace of the Disciples most wise * from the Master * Christ our God, you eagerly finished the same race as they did. * And so in fitting manner we now extol you, Eleftherios. [SD]

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

O wise St. Eleftherios, * the lie you did rebuke by your words; * by your contest * you have trampled underfoot and put to death the inventor * of lies, that is the devil, who had been full of mighty insolence. [SD]

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

O Hierarch, noetically * with showers of your all-holy blood * irrigate us * who with faith and love observe the solemn commemoration * in honor of your contest, and thereby magnify the Savior Christ. [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

As the namesake of liberty, O Father, you were counted worthy of sacerdotal vestments; and you boldly taught the true religion, and likewise you instructed us in the reasons for what we should do. When you demonstrated a martyr’s resistance, even as a young man, you became illustrious in both martyrdom and priesthood, and you received a double crown from Christ our God. O Hieromartyr Eleftherios, earnestly entreat Him to save our souls. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 2.

O Mother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter. [SD]

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind. [SD]

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, 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 hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. 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.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

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.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

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]