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Hieratikon

Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Octoechos - Mode pl. 1.

On Sunday Morning

Menaion - December 26-31

Sunday After Christmas. We commemorate the holy and righteous Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James (Iakovos) the Brother of the Lord.

Menaion - December 27

Memory of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, and of our Devout Father and Confessor Theodore the Inscribed, brother of Theophanes the Hymnographer.

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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.

Resurrectional.

From Octoechos - - -

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]

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 those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [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 meek, for they shall inherit the earth. [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 hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. [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 1 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode iii. Mode 1. To the Son.

Τῷ πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων.

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

Made of dust was Adam, * while enjoying superior insufflation. * But through seduction by the woman, * he slipped into corruption. * Gazing at Christ born of woman, he cries: * You who for me have become now like me, * only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Made of dust was Adam, * while enjoying superior insufflation. * But through seduction by the woman, * he slipped into corruption. * Gazing at Christ born of woman, he cries: * You who for me have become now like me, * only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Through participation * in inferior flesh, You, O Christ, did impart * divine nature. And conforming * to ignoble clay formation, * You were born human and remained God, * and have exalted the horn of our strength. * Only You are holy, O Lord. [SD]

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

Bethlehem, be merry, * as the Queen of the rulers of Judah; for lo, * Israel’s shepherd who is seated * on the Cherubim’s shoulders, * Christ who manifestly hails from you * and who exalted the horn of our strength, * has reigned as King over all. [SD]

Canon for the Protomartyr.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 1. N/M (I implore You, Master Christ.)

Μαινομένην κλύδωνι.

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

O believers, Stephen, the illustrious marshal of the Martyrs, by grace exceeded the bounds of nature, and he shines with divine glory. [SD]

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

O Christ our Master, St. Stephen became the excellent imitator of Your revered Passion, and he repaid his murderers with a blessing. [SD]

Glory.

O Christ, preserve us who sing the Protomartyr’s praises from any blood-guilty deed, but rather make them worthy of his lot, since You are compassionate. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Christ our Master, Your Nativity is the first-fruit of universal salvation, and the subject of the godly confession of the Martyrs. [SD]

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]

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]

For the Ancestors of God.

Mode 2.

Annunciate the miracles to David the ancestor of God, O Joseph. You saw the Virgin pregnant. You glorified with the shepherds. You worshipped with the Magi. And you were warned by an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls. [SD]

For St. Stephen.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

O Stephen, a crown of royalty was laid on your head * for contests you courageously endured for Christ our God, * as first among Martyr saints. * You refuted the ravings of the Jews who accused you, * and you saw your Savior at the right hand of the Father. * We pray that you will ever entreat Him to save our souls. [GOASD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.

On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Super-essential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God. [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 4. Psalm 18.

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

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

The Epistle

For Protomartyr.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 6:8 – 15; 7:1 – 5, 47 – 60

In those days, Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated men, who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. And the high priest said, “Is this so?” And Stephen said: “Brethren and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Depart from your land and from your kindred and go into the land which I will show you.’ Then he departed from the land of the Chaldeans, and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living; yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him in possession and to his posterity after him, though he had no child. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool. What house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’ You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth against him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 2. Psalm 131.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Remember David, O Lord, and all his meekness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: The Lord swore to David this truth, and He shall not reject it.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

Sunday After Christmas

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 2:13 – 23

When the magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the magi, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” [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]

and the following:

Communion Hymn. Psalm 32.

Rejoice greatly in the Lord, O righteous ones; praise is fitting for the upright. 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 was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, and 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 the holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, and the holy and righteous Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and James (Iakovos) the Brother of the Lord, whose memory we observe; 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