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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Octoechos - Mode 4.

On Saturday Morning

Menaion - September 5

Memory of the Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Forerunner

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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 4.

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]

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

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

Troparia.

From Octoechos - - -

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

Adam fell by a tree, and he was evicted from Paradise. * By the tree of the Cross the Robber gained entrance to Paradise. * The former, by tasting fruit, disobeyed his Maker’s commandment not to eat. * The latter was crucified with Him, whom though hidden he confessed to be God. * Remember us as well in Your kingdom, O Savior. [SD]

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

Holy Martyrs, burning hot * in your pious souls was the love of Christ. * By your contests as with dew * you put out the fire of idolatry. * The Church holds you up as lamps; * and the light you shine drives away by grace divine * the darkness of illnesses * and the tribulations encountered by our souls. * Therefore each day we all dutifully honor you. [SD]

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

God has glorified the Saints, * for with deeds of virtue they served Him well. * Let us therefore praise them all, * and extol the great holy Hierarchs, * the Prophets inspired by God, * the devout Monastics, and all the Women Saints. * And calling them blessed now, * let us pray that by their entreaties we attain * the eternal glory and splendor of God’s elect. [SD]

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

We beseech You, overlook * the sins and offenses committed by * those preceding us in death * departing this life that is full of pain. * O Savior, establish them, * Your servants, where sorrow and pain have fled away, * where hosts of the Saints now dwell, * and where Your ineffable light forever shines, * so that they may extol Your divine benevolence. [SD]

Glory.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the indivisible Trinity, * united and unconfused * in the individual qualities, * One God, three hypostases: * give rest to Your servants who died with faith in You, * at the intercessions of Your Prophets and Martyrs, Ascetics and all Saints, * and grant them Your mercy, forgiving their every sin. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

You conceived and bore the Word * in the flesh when He became perfect man. * Yet before the morning star, * the Father begot Him eternally. * Your Son now is recognized * as having two natures, two wills and energies. * We beg you to pray to Him, * our Lord and Creator, that He be merciful * to us who extol you, immaculate Bride of God. [SD]

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.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

As a priest according to the Law of God you offered up * whole-burnt offerings, and they were most acceptable to Him, * dressed in the vestments of the priesthood, O Zacharias. * And you became a light, and you beheld mysteries; * and clearly you displayed the signs and symbols of grace * within yourself. And you, were assassinated * by the sword in the Temple of God. * O all-wise Prophet of Christ the Savior,* join the Forerunner in praying that our souls be saved. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion for the Day. For the Martyrs.

Mode pl. 4. Automelon.

Ὡς ἀπαρχάς.

O Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire world bring as an offering the God-bearing martyr Saints, as being nature’s first fruits. At their earnest entreaties, keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful. [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. 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 Epistle

Saturday of the 14th Week

The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

1 Cor. 4:1 – 5

Brethren, this is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalms 131, 96.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: O Lord, Your priests shall clothe themselves in righteousness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Light dawned for the righteous.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Prophet.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 23:29 – 39

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” [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, the Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of the Forerunner, 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

Fast Free: All foods allowed.