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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - September 11

Memory of St. Theodora of Alexandria

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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.

Canon 2 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. N/M (My heart exults.)

Ἐστερεώθη ἡ καρδία μου.

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

Blessed is your womb, Anna of sober spirit, ⁄ for it brought forth the fruit of virginity: ⁄ she who bore Jesus without seed, ⁄ the Food and Deliverance of all creation. [OCA]

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

The whole creation calls you blessed, ⁄ ever-Virgin, born today of Anna: ⁄ the spotless branch of the root of Jesse, ⁄ who brought forth Christ as a flower. [OCA]

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

Undefiled Theotokos, ⁄ your Son has exalted you above all creation; ⁄ He magnifies your birth from Anna, ⁄ filling all with gladness on this day. [OCA]

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

You were brought up in the Holy of Holies, O immaculate Virgin Theotokos, and you were shown to be higher than creation, for you gave birth in the flesh to the Creator. [OCA]

Canon 2 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (The troubles of my life.)

Ὡς ὕδατα θαλάσσης.

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

We sing the praises of your holy birth, Virgin and Bride of God, ⁄ and venerate your conceiving without seed, Maiden; ⁄ and with us the ranks of angels and the souls of the saints dance for joy! [OCA]

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

Your wise parents, undefiled One, ⁄ brought you, the Holy of Holies, ⁄ as an offering to the House of the Lord, ⁄ there to be reared in holiness ⁄ and made ready to become His Mother. [OCA]

Glory. For the Trinity.

In you, undefiled One, ⁄ the mystery of the Trinity is praised and glorified: ⁄ for the Father was well-pleased with you, ⁄ and in you the Word made His dwelling among us, ⁄ and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you. [OCA]

Both now. Theotokion.

You became a golden censer, ⁄ for the Fire made His tabernacle in your womb: ⁄ the Word from the Holy Spirit, ⁄ and He was seen in the form of a man, pure Theotokos. [OCA]

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. For the Devout Woman.

Mode pl. 4.

In you, O Mother, 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 Theodora, your spirit rejoices with the angels. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility’s stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality’s ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, “The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.” [GKD]

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. Grave Mode. Psalm 98.

Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy mountain. [SAAS]

Verse: The Lord reigns; let the peoples be angry. [SAAS]

The Epistle

Friday of the 15th Week

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

Gal. 4:8 – 21

Brethren, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods; but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental principles, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years! I am afraid I have labored over you in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong; you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first; and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, that you may make much of, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you! I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 73.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Remember Your congregation You acquired from the beginning. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: God is our King before the ages; He worked salvation in the midst of the earth.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Forefeast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 12:19 – 36

At that time, the Pharisees took counsel against Jesus and said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after him.” Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” [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 73.

You worked salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God. 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, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a Wednesday or Friday.