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Menaion - January 5

Forefeast of Epiphany; and Memory of the Holy Martyrs Theopemtus and Theonas, and Devout St. Syncletike.

__________

VESPERS

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting Prayers.

READER

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.

Psalm 103 (104).

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom. [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.

DEACON

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For the Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

( Lord, have mercy. )

For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, 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. )

PRIEST

For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Mode 4.

Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.

Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.

With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.

The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.

For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.

They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.

For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.

Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.

Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.

I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.

I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.

When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.

For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.

I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.

Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.

I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”

Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.

Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.

The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.

Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

Hide Stichologia

Stichera. For the Martyrs.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. To a brave one.

Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.

If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]

Let us sing hymns in praise of wise * Theonas and Theopemptus. * They obeyed the dogmas of Christ, and famously * they put an end to all fraudulent religion and lawless rites * by their holy and divine * pious faith and their worship of the one Lord and God, * whom they bravely confessed before the tyrants, * who then tortured them and killed them. * And from on high they received their crowns. [SD]

Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]

Holy Martyrs extolled by all, * you renounced all mundane pursuits * of this earthly life, namely ease and luxury * and fading glory and high esteem, * and mightily cleaved to Christ; * and delightfully enthralled * by His beauty and handsomeness, * you offered yourselves * as if redolent roses, and together by the might of God were honored * with crowns and reign with Him evermore. [SD]

From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

You who hated all things mundane, * have become now supermundane, * you have joined the Church of the firstborn in the heights. * And with the Angels on high you sing the pure and immortal song, * standing face to face with God * in His presence along with them. * For as martyr saints, * you extinguished the fraudulent deception of idolatry and vanquished * the tyrants’ rage and insanity. [SD]

For the Devout Woman.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1. For all the powers of heaven.

Τῶν οὐρανίων ταγμάτων.

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]

You truly longed to acquire the Fathers’ good repute * and wished to gain immortal fame and glory in heaven. * You therefore stayed away from the pleasures of life, * and you gave yourself over to * bodily labors; and now you have the rewards * for your labors, as you reign with Christ. [SD]

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]

The Lord permitted the devil to injure Job old. * He also let him test you, * as if gold in the fire. * The evil one afflicted your body with pain; * and that tempter was put to shame, * for you endured every illness with faith in God, * who has given you the victor’s crown. [SD]

For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]

O saintly woman, your wish was to be a bride of Christ. * The Bridegroom’s handsome beauty * was the object of your longing. * Therefore through ascetical labors and feats, * you prepared and adorned yourself * with every virtue. And now you are joined to Him * in His bridal room and reign with Him. [SD]

Glory. Both now. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Prepare, River Jordan! ⁄ Behold, Christ is coming to be baptized by John in You! ⁄ Rejoice, barren wilderness! ⁄ Dance in gladness, hills and mountains! ⁄ Eternal Life is coming to reclaim Adam. ⁄ Forerunner, call out with the voice of one who cries: ⁄⁄ Prepare the ways of the Lord! Make straight His paths! [OCA]

(No Entrance)

Stand for the hymn.

READER

Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You. [SD]

DEACON

The evening Prokeimenon!

CHOIR

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (2) [SAAS]

Verse: I lifted my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Stand for the reading of prayer.

READER

O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. [HC]

( Amen. )

DEACON

Let us complete our evening 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 evening 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. )

PRIEST

For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

( And with your spirit. )

DEACON

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

( To You, O Lord. )

PRIEST (in a low voice)

Lord our God, who inclined the heavens and came down for the salvation of humankind, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, the fearsome yet compassionate Judge, not expecting human help, but awaiting Your mercy and anticipating Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the coming night, from every enemy, from all demonic activity against them, from unprofitable reflections, and from wicked thoughts.

PRIEST

Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Aposticha of the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2. You rose within three days.

Τριήμερος ἀνέστης.

Let everything on earth rejoice, * and earth itself exult and be glad. * For the Savior, the true river of delight, * is baptized in the river. * He dries up streams of evil, * and He pours out divine forgiveness to all. [SD]

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

Though Jesus, the bestower of light, * is not in need of baptism, * He is coming to the Jordan in the flesh, * for He wishes to illumine * those sitting in the darkness. * Let us with faith and fervor meet Him there. [SD]

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

Now having worn a servant’s form, * O Christ, you come to be baptized * by a servant in the Jordan River’s streams, * and You free us from bondage * to primal sin, and also * You sanctify us and illumine us. [SD]

Glory. Both now.

From Menaion - - -

Mode pl. 2.

Desert of Jordan, rejoice exceedingly! ⁄ Blossom as the lily! ⁄ A voice is heard within you: ⁄ Prepare the way of the Lord! ⁄ He who weighs the mountains in scales ⁄ and the wooded valleys in a balance, ⁄ Who fills all things in His divinity, ⁄ approaches to be baptized by a servant. ⁄ The Giver of riches has become poor! ⁄ Eve was told in days of old: ⁄ You shall bring forth children in pain, ⁄ but now the Virgin hears: ⁄ Rejoice, full of grace! ⁄⁄ The Lord who has great mercy is with you! [OCA]

Stand for the reading of prayers

PRIEST

Song of Simeon.

Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]

CHOIR

Canon for the Forefeast.

Ode i. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Of old He Who buried the pursuing tyrant ⁄ beneath the waves of the sea, ⁄ now is cloaked and hidden in the stream of Jordan! ⁄ As Man He is cleansed that I may be made clean: ⁄ For gloriously has He been glorified! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Lord my God, I sing to You a hymn of light, ⁄ rejoicing in the vigil of the feast, ⁄ for by Your Theophany You have given me divine rebirth, ⁄ raising me up to divine brightness. [OCA]

Glory.

All things in heaven and on earth were amazed, ⁄ beholding You manifest above before the ages ⁄ and now newly manifest below! ⁄ They sing praises to your ineffable condescension! [OCA]

Both now.

Wishing to fill all things with Your glory, ⁄ You have emptied Yourself and taken the form of a servant! ⁄ Now as a Servant You bow Your head beneath the servant’s hand; ⁄ to cleanse me and restore me! [OCA]

Ode iii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

You suspended the earth upon the waters; ⁄ now creation beholds You in the flesh, covered by the streams. ⁄ It was seized with great amazement and cried, ⁄ None is holy but You, O Lord! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Manifesting the signs of Your Theophany, merciful Lord, ⁄ You have unfolded visions and breathed forth prophecies. ⁄ Now You have come, fulfilling them all: ⁄ revealing Yourself today to men and granting them a new rebirth. [OCA]

Glory.

Jordan has spread out its waters to receive the Creator; ⁄ He is baptized in the flesh to sanctify all who cry: ⁄ None is holy but You, O Lord! [OCA]

Both now.

By Baptism Christ grants salvation ⁄ to all who behold His divine brightness and sing in joy: ⁄ None is holy but You, Lord and Lover of mankind! [OCA]

Ode iv. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Foreseeing Your coming to Baptism, ⁄ Habakkuk cried out trembling, ⁄ You have trampled the sea with Your horses, Deliverer, ⁄ troubling many waters. [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

At Your manifestation in the flesh, ⁄ the earth was sanctified, and the waters were blessed. ⁄ Heaven was enlightened ⁄ and mankind was set free from the oppression of the enemy! [OCA]

Glory.

The Forerunner now comes from the wilderness to the Jordan ⁄ at a divine command. ⁄ He cries: Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand! ⁄ Calling all to the glory of God! [OCA]

Both now.

He Who turned the sea into dry land ⁄ and caused springs of water to flow from the rock, ⁄ now makes Jordan’s stream a flaming furnace ⁄ and burns our sins with the fire of the Spirit! [OCA]

Ode v. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Isaiah saw the never-setting light ⁄ of Your compassionate manifestation to us as God, O Christ. ⁄ Rising early from the night he cried out: ⁄ Come, all who are enlightened and wash yourselves! ⁄ Cleanse your soul and body through divine water and the Spirit! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

You are the new Adam, Creator; ⁄ You renewed those born on earth! ⁄ You show a mysterious regeneration ⁄ and wonderful restoration by fire, the Spirit and water! ⁄ Without destruction or confusion ⁄ You renew mankind through the sacrament of Baptism! [OCA]

Glory.

You renew our souls through the Spirit ⁄ and sanctify our body through the element of water: ⁄ You refashion man as a living being! ⁄ For in Your wisdom and knowledge, as the Physician of souls and bodies, ⁄ You provide remedies that are good and fitting for both. [OCA]

Both now.

You came forth from a painless birth, ⁄ Word co-eternal with the Father. ⁄ You approach a man born from a barren mother ⁄ and as Man You ask him for Baptism. ⁄ Through water and the Spirit, Savior, ⁄ You make the barren Church mystically the Mother of many children! [OCA]

Ode vi. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

The divine Baptist was caught but not held fast by fear. ⁄ For though grass withers before the fire, ⁄ yet he heard the words of Christ: Let it be so now! ⁄ And ran in obedience to fulfill the command. ⁄ From on high, he heard the voice of God ⁄ bearing testimony to the pre-eternal Son! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Obeying the decree of Caesar, ⁄ You were enrolled but You were not enslaved. ⁄ You give us comfort in our captivity, ⁄ for You freely submitted Yourself and paid tribute. ⁄ Now You have set free those sold under the law of sin, ⁄ making us worthy to be sons by adoption. [OCA]

Glory.

You reign, but not in conformity to the world, ⁄ for You are King by nature! ⁄ You are born in the flesh from the tribe of David; ⁄ You have inherited the throne of his kingdom, Deliverer. ⁄ You are vested with eternal power: ⁄ You shall reign to all ages with the Father and the Spirit! [OCA]

Both now.

Of old, the prince of this world ⁄ was also named king of all within the waters: ⁄ but by Your cleansing he is strangled and destroyed ⁄ like the legion of demons in the sea! ⁄ With Your mighty arm, Savior, ⁄ You grant freedom to Your creation which he had enslaved! [OCA]

Ode vii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Inexpressible wonder! ⁄ He Who saved the holy youths in the furnace from the flame, ⁄ now bows His head and asks for Baptism from His servant ⁄ for the cleansing of us who sing: ⁄ Blessed are You, O God, our Redeemer! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Of old the stream of Jordan was cut in two by Elijah’s mantle. ⁄ This foreshadowed the cutting of the passions by Your Baptism; ⁄ You wove a mantle of incorruption for those who sing: ⁄ Blessed are You, O God, our Redeemer! [OCA]

Glory.

Happy River! ⁄ Receiving the Creator at His Baptism, ⁄ you are made a fountain of life-giving water, ⁄ for the salvation of us who sing: ⁄ Blessed are You, O God, our Redeemer! [OCA]

Both now.

Prefiguring a divine death by triple immersion in water, ⁄ we are buried with Christ in Baptism: ⁄ United with His Resurrection on the third day, we cry aloud: ⁄ Blessed are You, O God, our Redeemer! [OCA]

Ode viii. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Heavens, be amazed! ⁄ Be shaken, foundations of the earth! ⁄ Behold, He Who once caused the sacrifice of His righteous prophet ⁄ to burn wonderfully with water, ⁄ wraps Himself in the waters of Jordan! ⁄ Bless Him, youths, praise Him, O priests! ⁄ People, exalt Him above all forever! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Fallen Adam is cleansed and lifted up; ⁄ deliverance is given to all the faithful through Baptism, ⁄ for Christ comes to shame the destroying tyrant! ⁄ He opens the heavens and sends down the divine Spirit, ⁄ granting mankind a share in incorruption. [OCA]

Glory.

The error of the enemy shall cease, ⁄ for the voice of one crying in the wilderness calls out: ⁄ Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths! ⁄ The humble nature of mortal man is exalted ⁄ while the mountains and hills of the adversary are brought low! [OCA]

Both now.

O strange wonder! ⁄ Goodness and boundless forbearance! ⁄ The Creator and Master now wears my nature in the Jordan; ⁄ Yet He is without sin. ⁄ He cleanses me through water and enlightens me through fire! ⁄ He perfects me through the divine Spirit! [OCA]

Ode ix. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos (not metered).

Do not weep, mortal men, ⁄ choked with ropes of despair and weighed low with guilt. ⁄ Let us approach with compunction of soul, ⁄ the One Who cleanses all mankind: ⁄ The only-pure One grants pardon through Baptism! [OCA]

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

You have filled us with wonder ⁄ by Your strange birth beyond nature from a Virgin, Word of God; ⁄ now You exalt a great mystery: ⁄ By Your holy participation in the waters of Baptism, ⁄ You enrich the font with children through the divine Spirit! [OCA]

Glory.

The earth has been sanctified, O Word, ⁄ by Your holy Birth. ⁄ The heavens with stars declared Your glory; ⁄ now the nature of the waters is blessed by Your Baptism in the flesh, ⁄ and human nature is restored once more to its first nobility! ⁄ Let the creation rejoice exceedingly! [OCA]

Both now.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth leap for joy! ⁄ Let the rivers clap their hands and rejoice ⁄ with the springs, the lakes and depths of the sea! ⁄ For Christ comes to cleanse and save Adam by divine Baptism! [OCA]

Do not weep, mortal men, ⁄ choked with ropes of despair and weighed low with guilt. ⁄ Let us approach with compunction of soul, ⁄ the One Who cleanses all mankind: ⁄ The only-pure One grants pardon through Baptism! [OCA]

PEOPLE

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. )

Apolytikion. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

Jordan River once turned back when Elisha struck its stream * with his mantle in the wake of Elias’s ascent; * and the water was parted to the one side and to the other. * And thus the fluid stream became a dry way for him, * a symbol and truly a type of Baptism, * by which we now pass over the streaming passage of the present life. * And Christ appeared at the Jordan River * to sanctify the waters. (3) [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. )

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.

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

( Amen. )