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Hieratikon

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - February 7

Memory of our Devout Father Parthenios, Bishop of Lampsacus, and our Devout and God-bearing Father Luke of Stirion in Hellas

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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]

For the Saints.

Mode 4.

O God of our Fathers, since You always deal with us in accordance with Your gentleness, do not withdraw Your mercy from us, but at their fervent entreaties, pilot our life in peace. [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

Wednesday of the 31st Week

Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Ode ix.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. [RSV]

Verse: For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. [RSV]

The reading is from the Universal Letter of James.

Jas. 1:1-18

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. [RSV]

CHOIR

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

(Alleluia is sung thrice. Verses may be found in the Liturgy - Variable Parts of the day.)

The Gospel

(Previously skipped.)

Wednesday of the 14th Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 10:11-16

The Lord said, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. [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 115.

I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 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, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a Wednesday or Friday.