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Hieratikon

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Pentecostarion

Saturday of the Third Week

Menaion - May 25

Third Finding of the Forerunner’s Head

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalm 65.

Verse 1: Shout to God, all the earth. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: Sing now to His name; give glory to His praise.

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

Verse 3: Say to God, “How fearful are Your works.

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

Verse 4: Let all the earth worship You and sing to You.

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 66.

Verse 1: May God be gracious to us, and bless us. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: May He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: That we may know His way on the earth, Your salvation among all the Gentiles.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.

Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. 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 pl. 1. Psalm 67.

Verse 1: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face. [SAAS]

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 2: As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 3: So shall the sinners perish from the face of God. And let the righteous be glad.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

Verse 4: This is the day the Lord made; let us greatly rejoice and be glad therein.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

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 2.

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 Myrrhbearers.

Ode iii. Mode 2. Barren has my mind.

Στειρωθέντα μου τὸν νοῦν.

From Pentecostarion - - -

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

You, O Jesus, with Your hands * that were nailed upon the Cross, gathered all nations * out of error and deceit, * and You called them to the knowledge of Your truth, O Lord. [GOASD]

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

Noble Joseph, who held God, * come and stand with us and shout that the Redeemer * has arisen, Jesus Christ * who raised Adam out of Hades in His tender love. [GOASD]

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

Come and celebrate with us, * holy twelve Apostles and Myrrh-bearing Women, * noble Joseph and the rest * of the holy men and women, you Disciples of Christ. [GOASD]

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

Theotokion.

Holy Virgin, you are blessed, * being born of Jesse’s root. From you has blossomed * rod and flower in the flesh, * namely Christ, who was incarnate to redeem us all. [GOASD]

Canon for the Forerunner.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. Be gracious to me.

Ἱλάσθητί μοι Σωτήρ.

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

O Christ, when the precious head * of John the Baptist, Your Forerunner, * was exhumed from the earth, * the truth like the sun arose, * dispelling the winter of heresy and falsehood, * while enlightening the whole wide world. [GOASD]

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

Believers, come forth and draw * illumination, the grace of God, * and mercy, and have your heads * and souls sanctified, when you * with faith venerate the head of St. John the Baptist, * who in the river touched the head of God. [GOASD]

Glory.

O Forerunner, pray to God * to crush the heads of our enemies * attacking us and defend * the country wherein we live, * so that we may lovingly venerate your precious * head that castigated Herod of old. [GOASD]

Both now. Theotokion.

O blessed Forerunner John, * when you went down to the netherworld, * you preached to those who were there * that Light had become a man, * incarnate of virgin blood, and that He was coming * for the good of all humanity. [GOASD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia. [SAAS]

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion.

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode 2.

When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory to You!” [GOASD]

Mode 2.

When he took down Your immaculate Body from the Cross, the honorable Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with spices and laid it for burial in a new tomb. But on the third day You rose, O Lord, and granted to the world the great mercy. [GOASD]

From Pentecostarion - - -

Mode 2.

The Angel who had come to the sepulcher said to the Myrrh-bearing women, “Ointments are appropriate for mortal men; but Christ is indeed a stranger to decay. Now go proclaim that the Lord has risen and granted to the world the great mercy.” [GOASD]

For the Forerunner.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Now Christ has revealed to us your sacred head once again, * a most holy treasure hidden underground for so long, * O Prophet and Forerunner. * Therefore we have assembled for the feast of its Finding, * singing our God-inspired hymns in praise of the Savior, * who saves us from destruction, by your earnest prayers to Him. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

From Pentecostarion - - -

Kontakion of Pascha.

Mode pl. 4.

Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out “Rejoice” to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. [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 Epistle

For the Forerunner.

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.

The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse: Hear my voice, O God. [SAAS]

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

2 Cor. 4:6 – 15

Brethren, it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalm 91.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Those planted in the house of the Lord.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Forerunner.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 11:2 – 15

At that time, when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been coming violently and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [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 111/112.

The righteous will be remembered for ever. Alleluia. [RSV]

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Mode pl. 1.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life. [GOA]

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May He who 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, the Finding of whose precious Head we celebrate, 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

Fast Free: All foods allowed.