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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - September 17

Memory of the Holy Martyr Sophia and her daughters

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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. 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]

Canon for the Feast.

Ode iii. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Ῥάβδος εἰς τύπον.

From Menaion - - -

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

The rod of Aaron is seen as typifying the mystery; * for it budded, and thus was the priest selected. * Now in the Church, that was barren once, the Cross of Christ, like a tree, * has blossomed forth, * as power and a firm support. [SD]

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

The rod of Aaron is seen as typifying the mystery; * for it budded, and thus was the priest selected. * Now in the Church, that was barren once, the Cross of Christ, like a tree, * has blossomed forth, * as power and a firm support. [SD]

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

The rod of Moses struck the flinty rock, and water came out of it * for the hard-hearted and recalcitrant people; * and this depicted the myst’ry of the Church of the elect of God; * for which is the Cross its power and a firm support. [SD]

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

When Your immaculate side was speared, water and blood came out, * inaugurating the Covenant and the cleansing of sin, O Savior. * And now believers boast in the Cross, * which for Emperors was power and a firm support. [SD]

Canon for the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (When Jonah.)

Νοτίου θηρός.

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

Bent with age and wasted by sickness, ⁄ Jacob was straightened when he crossed his hands, ⁄ thus showing the power of the life-giving Cross. ⁄ For God Who was crucified on it in the flesh ⁄ thus rewrote the letter of the old law that was in shadows, ⁄ and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error. [OCA]

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

Bent with age and wasted by sickness, ⁄ Jacob was straightened when he crossed his hands, ⁄ thus showing the power of the life-giving Cross. ⁄ For God Who was crucified on it in the flesh ⁄ thus rewrote the letter of the old law that was in shadows, ⁄ and drove away the soul-destroying disease of error. [OCA]

Glory.

By laying his hands crosswise on the heads of the young ⁄ holy Israel signified that the people serving under the law ⁄ should for a time have the honor due to the first born. ⁄ When suspected of error in this, he did not change the life-giving figure: ⁄ For, he cried, the newly-planted people of Christ our God ⁄ shall take the higher place, strengthened by the Cross! [OCA]

Both now.

By laying his hands crosswise on the heads of the young ⁄ holy Israel signified that the people serving under the law ⁄ should for a time have the honor due to the first born. ⁄ When suspected of error in this, he did not change the life-giving figure: ⁄ For, he cried, the newly-planted people of Christ our God ⁄ shall take the higher place, strengthened by the Cross! [OCA]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who were crucified in the flesh. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion. For the Cross.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1.

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth. [GOA]

For the Saints.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.

As the Psalm says, you grew as a fruitful olive tree * in the courts of the Lord, O Sophia, righteous Saint; * and you offered unto Christ, by contests of martyrdom, * the blessed offspring of your womb, as if sweet and pleasing fruit, * Faith, Hope and Love, your three daughters. * Now we entreat you to pray Him, * on behalf of us who honor you. [SD]

Another.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Your confession.

Θείας πίστεως.

Now the Church of Christ greatly rejoices, * for she has you and your holy children * as her pride and joy, and cries out extolling you, * “My sacred boast are you, O wise Saint, together with * the holy relics of your daughters, which we all revere.” * Glorious Martyrs, Sophia, Faith, Hope and Charity, * to Christ our God pray fervently, entreating Him to save our souls. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Automelon.

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible. [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.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. [SAAS]

Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament shows the creation of His hands. [SAAS]

The Epistle

Thursday of the 16th Week

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

Eph. 1:1 – 9

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 88.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: God is glorified in the counsel of saints.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Thursday of the 16th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 7:24 – 30

At that time, Jesus went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house, and would not have any one know it; yet he could not be hid. But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this saying you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home, and found the child lying in bed, and the demon gone. [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 18.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 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 martyr Sophia and her three daughters, Faith, Love and Hope, whose memory we celebrate, 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.