Books - Sources

Menaion - August 15

Dormition of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 1.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. [SAAS]

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1.

You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death. (3) [SD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Kathisma I.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

Prophet David, tell us please, what do we celebrate today? * “The Assumption of the one, whom in the Psalms I extolled * as daughter and Virgin and the Mother of God, * when Christ, who without seed was born of her, himself * transported her to heaven, to the mansions there. * And on this day especially mothers, * daughters, and brides of Christ salute her with joy, * ‘Rejoice, O Lady! You were transported * to the royal courts on high!’” [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Prophet David, tell us please, what do we celebrate today? * “The Assumption of the one, whom in the Psalms I extolled * as daughter and Virgin and the Mother of God, * when Christ, who without seed was born of her, himself * transported her to heaven, to the mansions there. * And on this day especially mothers, * daughters, and brides of Christ salute her with joy, * ‘Rejoice, O Lady! You were transported * to the royal courts on high!’” [SD]

Kathisma II.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. The soldiers keeping watch.

Τὸν τάφον σου Σωτήρ.

The honorable choir of the all-wise Apostles * miraculously came, O august Theotokos, * to bury your immaculate holy body with dignity. * Joining them, the hosts of holy Angels extolled you. * With solemnity they sang and praised your Assumption, * which we faithfully celebrate. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

The honorable choir of the all-wise Apostles * miraculously came, O august Theotokos, * to bury your immaculate holy body with dignity. * Joining them, the hosts of holy Angels extolled you. * With solemnity they sang and praised your Assumption, * which we faithfully celebrate. [SD]

Kathisma III.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. You were so beautiful.

Τὴν ὡραιότητα.

Seedless conception once preceded childbirth, * and in dormition now is death without decay. * This twofold miracle is seen in you only, Theotokos. * Virgin Mary, how did you * nurse a babe while remaining chaste? * Being buried, now are you * emitting fragrance, O Mother of God! * And therefore with the Angel we sing to you: * Rejoice, O Maiden full of grace. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Seedless conception once preceded childbirth, * and in dormition now is death without decay. * This twofold miracle is seen in you only, Theotokos. * Virgin Mary, how did you * nurse a babe while remaining chaste? * Being buried, now are you * emitting fragrance, O Mother of God! * And therefore with the Angel we sing to you: * Rejoice, O Maiden full of grace. [SD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For blessed is Your name, and glorified is Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Antiphon 1.

Mode 4.

From my youth, many passions war against me. O my Savior, I implore You, uphold me and save me. (2) [GOASD]

You who hate Zion, be shamed by the Lord; for you will be withered like grass in the fire. (2) [GOASD]

Glory.

By the Holy Spirit every soul is animated, and when purified, it is mystically uplifted and brightened by the triune Godhead. [GOASD]

Both now.

From the Holy Spirit the streams of grace well forth; they water all creation, so that life be engendered. [GOASD]

Prokeimenon. Psalm 44.

I will remember your name from generation to generation. (2)

Verse: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. For the King desired your beauty.

I will remember your name from generation to generation. [SAAS]

Stand for the Gospel reading.

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For You, our God, are holy, and You rest among the holy ones, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

Mode 2.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. (2) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

DEACON

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (3)

DEACON

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

DEACON

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST (from the gate)

Lk. 1:39 – 49, 56

In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. [RSV]

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

READER

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]

From Menaion - - -

CHOIR

Glory. Mode 2.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses. [SD]

Both now.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses. [SD]

Idiomelon. Mode pl. 2.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. [SAAS]

When the translation of your immaculate body was being prepared, the Apostles, surrounding your bed, looked at you fearfully. As they gazed at your body, they were overcome by awe. Peter cried aloud to you tearfully, “O Virgin, I see you here, laid out for burial, the life of all, and I am struck with wonder. For in you, the delight of the life to come made His dwelling.” Now we pray, O immaculate Lady: Fervently entreat your Son and God, to keep your people safe and sound. [SD]

PRIEST

O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Look upon Your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us Your rich mercies:

through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, whose Dormition we celebrate, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all Your saints:

We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. (12)

PRIEST

Through the mercy, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR

Amen.

From Menaion - - -

READER

Kontakion.

Mode pl. 2. Automelon.

Τὴν ἐν πρεσβείαις.

The Theotokos is undying in intercession.* Immovable is our hope in her for protection. * Neither death nor burial prevailed over her. * As she is Mother of Life, she was removed to life by Him, * the Lord who lived in her ever-virgin womb. [SD]

Oikos.

Fortify my mind, O my Savior; for I am daring to extol Your immaculate Mother, the fortress of the world. Reinforce me with a tower of words, and shelter me in a castle of concepts; for You have promised to fulfill the requests of those who request with faith. Do, therefore, endow me with elocution, expression, and dauntless meditation; for every dose of illumination is sent down from You, O guiding Light, who lived in her ever-virgin womb. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 15 we commemorate the august Translation [i.e. Assumption] of our most glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary.

By her holy intercessions, have mercy and save us, O God, since You are good and benevolent. Amen.

Katavasias Odes 1-8

CHOIR

Katavasias of Dormition

Ode i. Mode 1.

Adorned with glory divine, O Virgin, * is your most sacred and illustrious memorial, * gathering the faithful all together joyfully to sing * in processions led by Mariam, with timbrels and dancing, * to your Only-begotten Son. * For He has been greatly glorified. [GOASD]

Ode iii.

O Wisdom of our God and His Power that has created * and is sustaining the universe, * reinforce Your Church, O Christ, * preserving her unshaken and unmoved. * For You alone are holy, * O Lord, and You repose in Your holy ones. [GOASD]

Ode iv.

Sayings of the Prophets and mysteries * revealed Your incarnation from a Virgin mystically, O Christ: * that Your lightning’s brightness as light for Gentiles would emanate. * The abyss calls out to You with a voice of gladness: * To Your strength be glory, benevolent Lord! [GOASD]

Ode v.

O Christ, I shall tell of Your virtues * and of their beauty, divine and ineffable: * As coeternal and hypostatic radiance * you shone from glory eternal; and coming forth * incarnate from the Virgin’s womb, * You have risen as a Sun * on those in darkness and in the shadow of death. [GOASD]

Ode vi.

Briny and born of the deep, * the fire in the maw of the whale * was a prefiguring of Your three-daylong burial; * and of this figure was Jonah the interpreter. * For, preserved unscathed as before he was swallowed up, he cried out: * I shall sacrifice to You with a voice of praise, O Lord. [GOASD]

Ode vii.

Counterposed against audacious ire * and the furnace’s fire, the love for God * made the fire cool as dew, * while the ire it derided, * counteracting in the midst * of flames the musical organs with the three-toned, rational, * God-inspired lyre, * the three holy Servants chanting: Lord our God, * You are glorified, O God * of our fathers, You are blessed. [GOASD]

Ode viii.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

Unto the Servants in the furnace, * God’s almighty Angel showed a flame * burning the impious, but the saints * cooling as with dew. * Into a life-welling fountain He has made the Theotokos, * gushing destruction upon death, but life to those who sing the hymn: * We who have been redeemed chant in praise of the only Creator, * exalting Him supremely unto all the ages. [GOASD]

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

Let us honor and magnify in song the Theotokos and the Mother of the light.

CHOIR

From Menaion - - -

Ode ix.

Canon 1 of the Feast.

Mode 1. Heirmos.

Νενίκηνται τῆς φύσεως.

Now all generations call you blessed, O only Theotokos.

In you the laws of nature are defeated,* O undefiled Virgin pure. * In virginity childbirth was accomplished, and death introduces life. * You, after bearing, are virgin, and after dying are living. * Mother of God, * ever save your inheritance. (2) [SD]

Troparia.

Now all generations call you blessed, O only Theotokos.

Amazed were the angelic hosts of heaven * as they beheld their Lord himself * come to Zion receiving * with His own hands a woman’s departing soul. * For He addressed as a son should * her who had stainlessly borne Him: * O gracious one, * come be glorified with your Son and God. [SD]

Now all generations call you blessed, O only Theotokos.

The choir of Apostles wrapped in grave clothes * your body that had hosted God, * looking on with awe and reverence, * and addressed you in sweet and sonorous tones: * As you depart for the mansions * near to your Son now in heaven, * Mother of God, * ever save your inheritance. [SD]

From Menaion - - -

Canon 2 of the Feast.

Mode 4. Heirmos.

Ἅπας γηγενής.

Angels at the Dormition of the Virgin were struck with wonder as they saw how the Virgin departed from the earth into the heavens.

All you born on earth, * with festival lamps in hand, in spirit leap for joy; * and all you the heavenly angelic orders, join in and celebrate; * and honor the august Assumption of the Mother of God; * sing the joyful salutation, “O rejoice, * Theotokos, all-blest, ever-virgin pure!” [SD]

Troparia.

Angels at the Dormition of the Virgin were struck with wonder as they saw how the Virgin departed from the earth into the heavens.

O believers all, * come, let us behold on Zion -- that divine and rich * mountain of the living God -- * the Theotokos, and joyfully exalt. * For into the superior by far and more divine * Tabernacle and Holy of Holies on high, * as His Mother is Christ now translating her. [SD]

Glory.

Angels at the Dormition of the Virgin were struck with wonder as they saw how the Virgin departed from the earth into the heavens.

O believers, come, * let us go unto the tomb of the Mother of God * and embrace it longingly, * and with sincerity touch it with our lips * and eyes and foreheads of our hearts, and we shall then obtain * from that ever-welling fountain the divine * gifts of healing that issue abundantly. [SD]

Both now.

Angels at the Dormition of the Virgin were struck with wonder as they saw how the Virgin departed from the earth into the heavens.

Now accept from us * this burial hymn, O Mother of the living God; * and with your most luminous * and holy grace overshadow us; and grant * success unto our rulers, peace unto your Christ-loving flock, * and forgiveness, and salvation of their souls * unto those who are chanting this hymn to you. [SD]

Ode 9: Katavasia

Ode ix. Katavasia. Mode 1.

Now all generations call you blessed, O only Theotokos.

In you the laws of nature are defeated,* O undefiled Virgin pure. * In virginity childbirth was accomplished, and death introduces life. * You, after bearing, are virgin, and after dying are living. * Mother of God, * ever save your inheritance. [GOASD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Automelon.

Ἀπόστολοι ἐκ περάτων.

Apostles, you have assembled * from every corner of the earth * here in Gethsemane today; * now come and bury my body. * And You, my Son and my God, * receive my departing spirit. (3) [SD]

Lauds. Mode 4.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars and light.

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Lord’s name.

For He spoke, and they were made; He commanded, and they were created.

He established them forever and unto ages of ages; He set forth His ordinance, and it shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you dragons and all the deeps.

Fire and hail, snow and ice, stormy wind, which perform His word.

Mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees and all cedars.

Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds.

Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth.

Young men and maidens, elders with younger, let them praise the Lord’s name, for His name alone is exalted.

His thanksgiving is in earth and heaven. And He shall exalt the horn of His people.

A hymn for all His saints, for the children of Israel, a people who draw near to Him.

Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His holy ones.

Let Israel be glad in Him who made him, and let the children of Zion greatly rejoice in their King.

Let them praise His name with dance; with tambourine and harp let them sing to Him.

For the Lord is pleased with His people, and He shall exalt the gentle with salvation.

The holy ones shall boast in glory, and they shall greatly rejoice on their beds.

The high praise of God shall be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.

To deal retribution to the nations, reproving among the peoples.

To shackle their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron.

To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Hide Stichologia

Stichera for the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. To a brave one.

Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

Your Dormition is glorious. * All in heaven are jubilant, * and the hosts of Angels are joining us on earth, * as we rejoice celebrating it * and sing with exultant joy * sacred funerary hymns * to you, Mother of Christ our God, who is Lord of all. * O all-holy and ever-virgin Lady, from hereditary judgment * you have delivered humanity. [SD]

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

Your Dormition is glorious. * All in heaven are jubilant, * and the hosts of Angels are joining us on earth, * as we rejoice celebrating it * and sing with exultant joy * sacred funerary hymns * to you, Mother of Christ our God, who is Lord of all. * O all-holy and ever-virgin Lady, from hereditary judgment * you have delivered humanity. [SD]

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

From the ends of the earth arrived * the all-holy and prominent * Apostles to bury you, by divine command. * And when they saw you were taken up * from earth to the heights above, * they rejoiced and sang the word * that the Archangel Gabriel said to you, “Rejoice! * You are God’s holy chariot. Rejoice! The only woman who in childbirth * united earth with the things on high!” [SD]

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

You the Mother of Life himself * have passed on to immortal life * by your most exalted Dormition on this day, * when all the Angels escorted you, * Powers, Principalities, * Prophets and Apostles too, * the entire created world; * while your Son and God * with His own undefiled hands accepted your all-blameless soul, O Lady, * His Virgin Mother, the Bride of God. [SD]

Glory. Both now.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

At your Dormition that transcended death, O Theotokos and Mother of Life, clouds caught the Apostles up into the air; and, from being dispersed throughout the world, they were reunited before your immaculate body. And when they had buried you with dignity, they lifted up their voices and sang the words of Gabriel, “Rejoice, O unwedded and virgin Mother who are full of grace; the Lord is with you.” Along with them, entreat your Son and our God, for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind. [SD]

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, You who take away the sins of the world.

Accept our supplication, You who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

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.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Apolytikion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1.

You gave birth yet preserved your virginity. You fell asleep in death yet did not desert the world, O Theotokos. You were transported to life, as you are Mother of Life and, by virtue of your intercessions, deliver our souls from death. [SD]