Books - Sources

Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Pentecostarion

The Ascension

Menaion - May 21

Memory of Sts. Constantine and Helen

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalm 46.

Verse 1: Oh, clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with the voice of rejoicing. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: For the Lord Most High is fearsome, a great King over all the earth.

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

Verse 3: He subdued the peoples under us and the nations under our feet.

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 47.

Verse 1: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who were taken up in glory to heaven from us. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: God is known in her palaces when He helps her.

Save us, O Son of God, who were taken up in glory to heaven from us. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: For behold, the kings assembled; they came together.

Save us, O Son of God, who were taken up in glory to heaven from us. 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 48.

Verse 1: Hear this, all you nations. [SAAS]

Verse 2: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding.

Verse 3: I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my riddle on the harp.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

Mode 4.

You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, after You filled the Disciples with joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and You blessed them and established their faith, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. [SD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

God ascended with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Save us, O Son of God, who were taken up in glory to heaven from us. We sing to You, Alleluia. [GOA]

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode 4.

You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, after You filled the Disciples with joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and You blessed them and established their faith, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. [SD]

For the Equals-to-the-Apostles.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4.

Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O only benevolent Lord. [SD]

Kontakion of the Feast.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode pl. 2. Automelon.

Τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν.

When You had fulfilled the dispensation for our sake, * and united things on earth with the things in heaven, * You were taken up thither in glory, O Christ our God, * going not away from any place, * but continuing inseparable, * and to them that love You crying out: * “I am with you, and there is, therefore, none against you.” [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 pl. 4. Psalm 18.

His proclamation went forth into all the earth. [SAAS]

Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God. [SAAS]

The Epistle

For the Equals-to-the-Apostles.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 26:1, 12 – 20

In those days, King Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles — to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ After that, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.” [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 2. Psalm 46.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Oh, clap your hands, all you nations. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Shout to God with the voice of rejoicing.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Thursday of Ascension

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 24:36 – 53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem, until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. [RSV]

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Mode pl. 1.

You, transcending mind and reason are Mother of God; * you gave birth to the timeless One in time inexpressibly. * We the faithful with one accord magnify you. [SD]

Communion Hymn.

God ascended with a shout, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Mode 4.

You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, after You filled the Disciples with joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and You blessed them and established their faith, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. [SD]

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

May He who ascended from us into heaven in glory, and sat at the right hand of God the Father, 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, the holy, glorious, great, God-crowned Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, the Equals to the Apostles, whose memory we are celebrating; 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 a major feast.