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Hieratikon

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - February 8

Memory of the Holy Great-martyr Theodore the General; and the Holy Prophet Zacharias.

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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 Martyr.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You who were lifted.

Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.

O medal-winner, you were duly enlisted * and highly decorated as a commander, * O Theodore, in service to the heavenly King. * Armed with faith, you prudently went to war and combated, * and you vanquished utterly the arrays of the demons. * O Martyr Athlete, evermore with faith * we count you blessed, for you were victorious. [SD]

For the Prophet.

Mode 2.

As we celebrate the memory of Your Prophet Zacharias through him we importune You, O Lord, that You save our souls. [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 Martyr.

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 67.

God is wondrous in His saints. [SAAS]

Verse: Bless God in the churches. [SAAS]

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

Eph. 2:4-10

Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [RSV]

Alleluia. Mode 4. Psalms 33, 111.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The righteous cried. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Martyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 10:16-22

The Lord said to his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” [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 18.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. 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

Fast Free: All foods allowed.