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Menaion - January 4

Forefeast of Epiphany, and Synaxis in honor of the Holy Seventy Apostles, and Memory of our Devout Father Theoktistos.

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 4.

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. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

O Zabulon, prepare, and be ready, Nephthalim. * Jordan River, hold your course, and exultantly receive * the Master who is coming to be baptized. * Adam leap for joy with Eve the Foremother. * No longer hide yourselves, as once in Paradise; * for having seen you naked He has appeared * to clothe you in your former vesture. * The Christ has appeared, wishing to renew * the entire creation. [SD]

Glory. For the Apostles.

Mode 3.

O holy Apostles, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses. [SD]

Both now.

Apolytikion. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

O Zabulon, prepare, and be ready, Nephthalim. * Jordan River, hold your course, and exultantly receive * the Master who is coming to be baptized. * Adam leap for joy with Eve the Foremother. * No longer hide yourselves, as once in Paradise; * for having seen you naked He has appeared * to clothe you in your former vesture. * The Christ has appeared, wishing to renew * the entire creation. [SD]

PRIEST

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

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.

( To You, O Lord. )

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

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Kathisma I.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. N/M (Come quickly.)

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Behold, Christ draws near to Jordan and cries out to the Forerunner: ⁄ Hasten to baptize Me, in the river’s stream, ⁄ that I may cleanse all creation from sin. ⁄ Stretch forth your hand upon My head, ⁄⁄ for by a mighty deed I come to heal the fall! [OCA]

Glory. Both now.

Mode 4. N/M (You who were lifted.)

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

Behold, believers! ⁄ The King and Master of all comes to be baptized! ⁄ Let us sing hymns worthy of Him Who comes. ⁄ Let us lovingly prepare His way in our hearts. ⁄ Let us wash away the stains and accusations of sin, ⁄ for behold, He draws near the Jordan ⁄⁄ to save the human race! [OCA]

Kathisma II.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 4. N/M (O Life of all, You rose.)

Ἀνέστης ἐκ νεκρῶν.

Rejoice, great Baptist of the Lord: Christ comes to you to be baptized! ⁄ Tremble, O servant! The Master bows His head to you! ⁄ Touch the head of Him Whose hand sets all afire! ⁄⁄ He is God, Who in His good will saves the human race! [OCA]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

Rejoice, great Baptist of the Lord: Christ comes to you to be baptized! ⁄ Tremble, O servant! The Master bows His head to you! ⁄ Touch the head of Him Whose hand sets all afire! ⁄⁄ He is God, Who in His good will saves the human race! [OCA]

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]

Kontakion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. In seeking the heights.

Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν.

Inspired by God, * O faithful, let us celebrate * today and extol * the chorus of the Seventy * Disciples of Jesus Christ. * For through them we all have learned to worship the undivided Trinity, * as they are indeed lamps that guide to faith in God. [SD]

Oikos.

O believers, let us join our voices and sing sacred songs, to extol the chorus of the Seventy Apostles: Stephen, Prochorus, Silas, Nicanor, Timon, Amplias, Parmenas, Apelles, James, Philip, Aristarchus, Matthias, Herodion, Crescens, Plegon, Barnabas, Linus, Olympas, Luke, Asyncritus, and the rest. They are indeed lamps that guide to faith in God. [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On January 4, the Synaxis of the Holy and glorious 70 Apostles.

On this day the devout St. Theoktistos, the Abbot of Koukouma in Sicily, reposed in peace.

On this day the Holy 6 Martyrs reposed in peace.

On this day the commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Zosimas the Monk and Athanasios the Notary.

On this day the commemoration of the devout Apollinaria the Senator.

The commemoration of the Holy Martyrs Chrysanthos and Ephimia, who was close to the Holy Martyr Akakios.

The holy New-Martyr Onuphrios, who witnessed on Chios in the year 1818.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy and save us. Amen

CHOIR

Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode 2.

Τὸν ἐν καμίνῳ τοῦ πυρός.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

When God went down into the fire * of the furnace with the holy Hebrew Servants, * He converted the flames there into dew refreshing them. * Extol Him as Lord, O you works of His, * and exalt Him beyond measure, * unto all the ages. [SD]

Stand for the singing of Ode ix.

DEACON

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

CHOIR

Ode ix.

The Magnificat. Mode 2.

Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Verse: For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Verse: For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Verse: He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Verse: He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Verse: He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. [NKJV]

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

Heirmos. Mode 2.

Ἀνάρχου Γεννήτορος.

To us was revealed the unoriginate Begetter’s Son, * from a Virgin incarnated. He is God and Lord, * coming to those sitting in darkness to give them light, * to gather the scattered. * And therefore the all-extolled Theotokos should be magnified. [SD]

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify. [SD]

PRIEST

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

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.

( To You, O Lord. )

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

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.

Ὁ οὐρανὸν τοῖς ἄστροις.

Your Seventy Apostles * left the world behind, O Logos, * for they longed to be disciples * of You, the Logos and Teacher. * Then with the Faith in You they rid * the world of ignorance of God. [GOASD]

For the Forefeast.

The Son Who is begotten from the Father before time, ⁄ wonderfully assumes our flesh from a woman. ⁄⁄ He comes to be baptized, for the rebirth of the world! [OCA]

Lauds. Mode pl. 2.

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 Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2. N/M (O angelic powers.)

Αἱ Ἀγγελικαί.

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

A voice rushes forward to cry: ⁄ Christ has come to the streams of Jordan! ⁄ He says to the Forerunner: Wash Me in these waters! ⁄ Agree to baptize Me now! ⁄ I have come to wash away Adam’s ancient fall! ⁄⁄ Blessed is our God made manifest! Glory to You! [OCA]

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

I cannot measure the heights of heaven! ⁄ I do not know the number of the stars! ⁄ How can I touch with my hand the head of You, their Master? ⁄ How can I baptize the Sustainer of all created life? ⁄⁄ I cry: Blessed is our God made manifest! Glory to You! [OCA]

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

I am upborne by armies of angels; ⁄ I reign with the Father and the Spirit. ⁄ I was born an exile through love, ⁄ in a small cave of Bethlehem. ⁄ Lend your right hand to Me now! ⁄⁄ I wash away in My Own Person the sins of the world. [OCA]

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

Sins were washed away in Noah’s day, ⁄ when Your word opened the floodgates of heaven. ⁄ If Jordan recognizes You, how could he bear You? ⁄ His streams turned back when they received less than You! ⁄ Let all creation proclaim as I cry to You: ⁄⁄ Blessed is our God made manifest! Glory to You! [OCA]

Glory. N/M (O angelic powers.)

Fulfilling My Father’s good pleasure, ⁄ I came to earth, clothed in poverty. ⁄ Heaven is My throne, and earth My footstool, ⁄ but to you I bend My neck. ⁄ This is why I came! ⁄⁄ Baptize Me, and see the sins of men washed away in Me! [OCA]

Both now. N/M (O angelic powers.)

You guided ancient Israel with the pillar of fire and cloud; ⁄ ou quenched their thirst in the desert! ⁄ You are the Master of all; Your nature cannot be described! ⁄ How can You take a servant’s form? ⁄ How can grass touch Your fire? ⁄⁄ I myself need to be cleansed by You! [OCA]

Stand for the reading of the Doxology.

Doxology (read)

HIERARCH or READER

To you belongs glory, O Lord our God, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

READER

Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the 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 of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the ages of ages. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; 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. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this day we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs a hymn, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

PRIEST

Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

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

( Lord, have mercy. )

That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.

( Grant this, O Lord. )

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.

( To You, O Lord. )

For You are the God of mercy and compassion and love for humankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

( And with your spirit. )

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Holy Lord, who dwell in the highest and look upon the humble and observe all creation with Your all-seeing eye, to You we bow the neck of soul and body, and we pray You, Holy of holies: Extend Your invisible hand from Your holy heavens and bless us all. And as good and benevolent God, forgive us any misdeeds we committed voluntarily or involuntarily, and grant us Your blessings in this world and in the next.

PRIEST

For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Aposticha. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. N/M (O House of Ephratha.)

Οἶκος τοῦ Ἐφραθᾶ.

See the reflection ⁄ of the Father’s glory ⁄ come to Jordan’s bank ⁄ to purge by baptismal washing ⁄⁄ the filth of our souls. [OCA]

Verse: Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan and Hermon. [SAAS]

John the prophet, ⁄ receive the world’s Redeemer! ⁄ As His chosen servant, ⁄ baptize the Creator ⁄⁄ for the regeneration of mankind! [OCA]

Verse: The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid. [SAAS]

Our illumination draws near; ⁄ our salvation is dawning! ⁄ Come, let us assemble ⁄ to be cleansed in Jordan, ⁄⁄ singing the hymns of the Prefeast! [OCA]

Glory. Both now. Same Melody.

Today the Lord’s Anointed ⁄ grants to men salvation ⁄ and remission of sins: ⁄ souls are cleansed of filth, ⁄⁄ by the fire of baptism. [OCA]

PRIEST

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth at night. [SAAS]

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Apolytikion. For the Apostles.

Mode 3.

O holy Apostles, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses. [SD]

Glory. Both now.

Apolytikion. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

O Zabulon, prepare, and be ready, Nephthalim. * Jordan River, hold your course, and exultantly receive * the Master who is coming to be baptized. * Adam leap for joy with Eve the Foremother. * No longer hide yourselves, as once in Paradise; * for having seen you naked He has appeared * to clothe you in your former vesture. * The Christ has appeared, wishing to renew * the entire creation. [SD]

(The “ektenia” litany has been omitted.)

PRIEST

Wisdom.

( Father, bless! )

Blessed are You, Christ our God, always now and forever and to the ages of ages. ( Amen. )

HIERARCH or READER

The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

Then we begin the First Hour, saying: “Come let us worship…”

or:

Dismissal

PRIEST

Glory to You, O Christ 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.

Conclusion, i.e. “Through the prayers…”

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

( Amen. )