Books - Sources

Hieratikon

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - February 3

Memory of St. Symeon who Received God, and the Prophetess Anna

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalm 44.

Verse 1: My heart overflowed with a good word; I tell my works to the King. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: My tongue is the pen of a swift-writing scribe.

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

Verse 3: Grace was poured out on Your lips.

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

Verse 4: Therefore God blessed You forever.

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 44.

Verse 1: Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who were held in the arms of righteous Symeon. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: Stretch Your bow, and grant prosperity, and reign.

Save us, O Son of God, who were held in the arms of righteous Symeon. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: Your arrows are sharp, O Mighty One. The peoples shall fall under You.

Save us, O Son of God, who were held in the arms of righteous Symeon. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: Your royal scepter is a scepter of uprightness.

Save us, O Son of God, who were held in the arms of righteous Symeon. 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 1. Psalm 44.

Verse 1: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear. [SAAS]

Verse 2: The rich among the people shall entreat your favor.

Verse 3: I will remember your name from generation to generation.

Apolytikion of the Feast. Mode 1.

Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection. [SD]

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 3.

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 Feast.

Ode iii. Mode 3. Heirmos.

Τὸ στερέωμα.

From Menaion - - -

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

As the firm support of those who hope in You firmly, * O Lord and our Savior, support us, Your holy * Church You purchased * with Your most precious blood, O Christ. [GOASD]

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

Pre-eternally begotten first of the Father, * the Son has appeared as the all-holy Virgin’s * firstborn infant; and to Adam He holds out His hands. [GOASD]

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

First-created man had long ago been beguiled * to think like a child. But now God the Logos, * to restore him, has appeared as child himself. [GOASD]

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

Being born of earth, our human nature returned there. * Our Maker immutably became an infant; * thus He made it to conform to Divinity. [GOASD]

Canon for the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode 3. Heirmos.

Ἐβόησέ σοι.

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

To You, the Elder cried out, on seeing * with his own eyes the salvation that You prepared for all people, * “God from God are You, Christ my Savior.” [GOASD]

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

“You have been laid as a stone for Zion, * a rock of stumbling, a stone of offense for the unbelievers, * but the firm salvation of the faithful.” [GOASD]

Glory.

“You bear the very stamp of the One who before all time has begotten You; * now in Your compassion, * You have assumed our human frailty.” [GOASD]

Both now.

“Son of the Most High, Son of the Virgin, * You are my God and I worship You, * who became a Child. * Now dismiss me in peace, I pray You.” [GOASD]

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

The Lord made known His salvation in the sight of all the Gentiles. Save us, O Son of God, who were held in the arms of righteous Symeon. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 1.

Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection. [SD]

The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:

From Menaion - - -

Kontakion.

Mode 1.

You sanctified the womb of the Virgin by Your birth, and by Your presentation You blessed the hands of Symeon, when You came, and You saved us, O Christ our God. Now we pray You give peace to Your world at war, and let love for Your people prevail in all, O only benevolent Lord. [GOASD]

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 Saint.

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. 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 Letter to the Hebrews.

Heb. 9:11-14

Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. [RSV]

Alleluia. Grave Mode. Psalms 96, 111.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: Light dawned for the righteous. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: He dispersed; he gave to the poor.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Saint.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 2:25-38

At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. [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. Psalms 64, 101.

Blessed are they whom You have chosen and received, O Lord. Their memorial abides from generation to generation. 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, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May He who condescended to be held in the arms of righteous Symeon, for our salvation, 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, of the Holy and Righteous Symeon who Received God, and the Prophetess Anna, whose memory we are observing, 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.