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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - December 29

Memory of the 14,000 Holy Innocents, who were Slaughtered by Herod; and our Devout Father Markellos, Abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping.

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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 1 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode iii. Mode 1. To the Son.

Τῷ πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων.

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

Made of dust was Adam, * while enjoying superior insufflation. * But through seduction by the woman, * he slipped into corruption. * Gazing at Christ born of woman, he cries: * You who for me have become now like me, * only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Made of dust was Adam, * while enjoying superior insufflation. * But through seduction by the woman, * he slipped into corruption. * Gazing at Christ born of woman, he cries: * You who for me have become now like me, * only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Through participation * in inferior flesh, You, O Christ, did impart * divine nature. And conforming * to ignoble clay formation, * You were born human and remained God, * and have exalted the horn of our strength. * Only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Bethlehem, be merry, * as the Queen of the rulers of Judah; for lo, * Israel’s shepherd who is seated * on the Cherubim’s shoulders, * Christ who manifestly hails from you * and who exalted the horn of our strength, * has reigned as King over all. [SD]

Canon 1 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 1. Jonah long ago.

Σπλάγχνων Ἰωνᾶν.

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

He is come made flesh * Christ our God, whom from the womb before the morning star does God the Father beget. * He who rides upon the immaculate host of the heavenly minds * now is laid in a manger of irrationals. * He is wrapped in tattered swaddling clothes, * but He looses transgressions’ entangling bonds. [SD]

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

He is come made flesh * Christ our God, whom from the womb before the morning star does God the Father beget. * He who rides upon the immaculate host of the heavenly minds * now is laid in a manger of irrationals. * He is wrapped in tattered swaddling clothes, * but He looses transgressions’ entangling bonds. [SD]

Glory.

For a child was born, * a Son, from Adam’s nature, and given unto those who believe in Him. * Of the age to come He is Father and Prince, and His name has been called * the Angel of Great Counsel. Mighty God is He; * wonderful Counselor, Prince of peace, * and He governs creation with authority. [SD]

Both now.

For a child was born, * a Son, from Adam’s nature, and given unto those who believe in Him. * Of the age to come He is Father and Prince, and His name has been called * the Angel of Great Counsel. Mighty God is He; * wonderful Counselor, Prince of peace, * and He governs creation with authority. [SD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. 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. [SD]

For the Holy Innocents.

Mode 1.

The holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be compelled by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, O only benevolent God. [SD]

For the Saint.

Mode pl. 4.

In you, O Father, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Marcellus, your spirit rejoices with the angels. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

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]

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 4. Psalm 103.

He makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. [SAAS]

Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Saints.

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 2. Psalm 148.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts.

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.

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 103.

He makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. 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 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 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