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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 26

The Synaxis in Honor of the Most Holy Theotokos

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalms 9, 110.

Verse 1: I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things. [SAAS]

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 2: In the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 3: Sought out in all things with regard to His will.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Verse 4: Thanksgiving and majesty are His work, and His righteousness continues unto ages of ages.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Glory. Both now.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.

Antiphon 2. Mode 2. Psalm 111.

Verse 1: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he will delight exceedingly in His commandments. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: His seed shall be mighty on earth.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: Glory and riches shall be in his house, and his righteousness continues unto ages of ages.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: For the upright, light springs up in darkness.

Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Only-begotten Son and Logos of God, being immortal, You condescended for our salvation to take flesh from the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and, without change, became man. Christ, our God, You were crucified and conquered death by death. Being one of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.

Antiphon 3. Mode 4. Psalm 109.

Verse 1: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of Your feet.” [SAAS]

Verse 2: The Lord shall send forth the rod of Your power from Zion.

Verse 3: With You is the beginning in the day of Your power, in the brightness of Your saints.

Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

“I have begotten You from the womb before the morning star.” The Lord swore and will not repent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. (3) [SD]

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Super-essential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God. [SD]

Instead of Holy God

Mode 1.

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia. (3) [RSV]

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

Have put on Christ. Alleluia.

THE READINGS

Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Ode ix.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. [RSV]

Verse: For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [RSV]

The Epistle

Post-festal.

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

Heb. 2:11 – 18

Brethren, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 4. Psalms 131, 44.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Arise, O Lord, into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Post-festal.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 2:13 – 23

When the magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the magi, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Mode 1.

O my soul, magnify the ever-virgin Maid who from the curse has redeemed us. [SD]

To favor being silent out of caution is for us * Easy and free of risk, whereas to compose * Stirring hymns is arduous, but a labor of love * For you, all-holy Virgin. And so, we entreat you: * O Mother, empower us to succeed in this endeavor. [SD]

Communion Hymn. Psalm 110.

The Lord sent redemption to His people. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May He who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the Synaxis in honor of whom we celebrate, 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

Fast Free: All foods allowed.

It is the Twelve Days of Christmas