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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Octoechos - Mode pl. 1.

On Sunday Morning

Menaion - January 4

Forefeast of Epiphany

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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 pl. 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

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Resurrectional.

From Octoechos - - -

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

When the robber had believed * that You the crucified were truly God, * he wholeheartedly and sincerely confessed You, * and he cried aloud to You, O Christ, “In Your kingdom, remember me.” [SD]

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

Crucified upon the tree * of the Cross, He blossomed life for our race, * and He dried up the curse from the tree, as our Savior; * whom, as our Creator, let us all in unison extol in song. [SD]

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

By Your death, O Christ our Lord, * You released us from the power of death, * and raised with yourself those who had died from the ages; * for You are our Savior and true God, whom all now extol in song. [SD]

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

Theotokion.

Rejoice, living temple of God, * rejoice, O impassable gate, * and throne that is fiery and yet not burning. * Rejoice, holy Mother of the Lord Emmanuel Christ our God. [SD]

Canon for the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 2. 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]

The river of peace are You, as Isaiah said, O Lord, * and filled with waters mystical. * Now You the only One who is without sin * have come to the River and You request to be baptized with the merest drop. [GOASD]

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

The river of peace are You, as Isaiah said, O Lord, * and filled with waters mystical. * Now You the only One who is without sin * have come to the River and You request to be baptized with the merest drop. [GOASD]

Glory.

On high the angelic hosts are amazed as they behold * their Lord, who long before with clouds * had covered heaven, now uncover himself. * They cried out, “How great is this * condescension You show towards humanity!” [GOASD]

Both now.

The full One emptied himself. The invisible One now * incarnate has appeared to us. * River Jordan, be glad and greatly rejoice! * Fill your channel, so that you * may therein wash the Regeneration of all. [GOASD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

From Octoechos - - -

Resurrectional Apolytikion.

Mode pl. 1. Automelon.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

As the Father and Spirit are unoriginate, * so the Word, who was born from the Virgin for us. * Let us praise Him, O believers, and let us worship Him. * For our salvation He was pleased * to be crucified in the flesh, * and to undergo death, * and to resurrect the dead, by His glorious resurrection. [GOASD]

For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

O Zabulon, prepare, and be ready, Nephthalim. * Jordan River, hold your course, and exultantly receive * the Master who is coming to be baptized. * Adam leap for joy with Eve the Foremother. * No longer hide yourselves, as once in Paradise; * for having seen you naked He has appeared * to clothe you in your former vesture. * The Christ has appeared, wishing to renew * the entire creation. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You revealed yourself today.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.

To the flowing streams today * of River Jordan * comes the Lord and cries aloud * to John the Baptist, and He says, * “Be not afraid to baptize me now; * for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.” [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

Sunday Before Epiphany

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 27.

O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. [SAAS]

Verse: To You, O Lord, I cry; O my God. [SAAS]

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

2 Tim. 4:5 – 8

Timothy, my son, always be watchful, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalm 66.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: May God be gracious to us, and bless us. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: May He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Sunday Before Epiphany

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 1:1 – 8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight —’ John was baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [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 148.

Praise the Lord from the heavens. 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 rose from the dead, 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