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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 20

Memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer; and Forefeast of the Birth of our Savior

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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 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 for the Forefeast.

Ode iii. Mode 1. N/M (As the Psalmist said.)

Λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν.

From Menaion - - -

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

Perceiving by the Holy Spirit that Christ would become incarnate, Isaiah openly prophesied, that the Lord would be born as a Child from a Virgin, for our regeneration; and the government will be upon His shoulder. [GOASD]

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

Perceiving by the Holy Spirit that Christ would become incarnate, Isaiah openly prophesied, that the Lord would be born as a Child from a Virgin, for our regeneration; and the government will be upon His shoulder. [GOASD]

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

Now a star has risen from the tribe of Judah. Kings of the Orient make the journey and are anxious to reach Bethlehem, so that they may see Christ who is born in the flesh. [GOASD]

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

Let all creation sing a prefestal hymn to the One who was begotten of the Father before the morning star, and who now ineffably emerges from the Virgin, born in the flesh in Bethlehem, because of His great compassion. [GOASD]

Canon for the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 1. N/M (Imitating the inspired Prophet.)

Τὸν Προφήτην Ἰωνᾶν.

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

With a bright star, heaven shows Astrologers that the heavenly King is born on earth for us now in the city of David. [GOASD]

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

With a bright star, heaven shows Astrologers that the heavenly King is born on earth for us now in the city of David. [GOASD]

Glory.

The Prophet proclaims and openly declares, “O Bethlehem, House of Ephrathah, where God will come forth from the Virgin, leap and dance for joy!” [GOASD]

Both now.

In the grotto, the Virgin physically gives birth to God the Maker of the universe. She wraps Him in swaddling clothes and lays Him in a manger. [GOASD]

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.

O Bethlehem, prepare, Eden is opened unto all. * And be ready, Ephrata, for the Tree of life * has in the grotto blossomed forth from the Virgin. * Indeed her womb is shown to be spiritually * a Paradise, in which is found the God-planted Tree. * And if we eat from it we shall live, and shall not die, as did Adam of old. * Christ is born, so that He might raise up * the formerly fallen image. [SD]

Apolytikion. For the Saint.

Mode 4.

Becoming a partner with the Apostles in way of life and successor to their thrones, O God-inspired Saint, in the active life you found an entrance to contemplation. Hence you rightly expounded the word of truth, and you shed your blood in struggling for the faith, O Hieromartyr Ignatius. Intercede with Christ our God, beseeching Him to save our souls. [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 Epistle

Saturday Before Christmas

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 31.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice greatly. [SAAS]

Verse: Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [SAAS]

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

Gal. 3:8 – 12

Brethren, the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “in you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “the righteous shall live by faith”; but the law does not rest on faith, for “He who does them shall live by them.” [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalms 64, 101.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: And their memorial abides from generation to generation.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Saturday Before Christmas

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 13:19 – 29

The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God.” [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. Psalms 64, 101.

Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. Their memorial abides from generation to generation. 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 the holy and glorious hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, whose memory we are observing; 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.