Books - Sources

Horologion

Apolytikia for Weekdays

Octoechos - Mode 4.

On Tuesday Morning

Menaion - February 20

Memory of Saint Leo of Catania

__________

MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 2.

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 Day.

For the Forerunner.

From Horologion - - -

Mode 2.

The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more ven’rable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Repeat.

Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 2.

We have become partakers of divine nature through you, O ever-virgin Maid, since for us you gave birth unto God become incarnate. Therefore we all dutifully magnify you piously. [SD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 7. Then the short litany.

DEACON

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. )

PRIEST

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 Octoechos - - -

For compunction.

Mode 4.

O Lord, visit my humble soul, which as spent the entire time of this life in sins. Accept me and save me, as You once did the harlot. [SD]

Verse: O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your anger.

As I sail across the ocean of the present life, I remember the abyss of my many vices. Since I have no good thought to pilot me, I shout to you the words of Peter: Save me, O Christ my God. Save me, O benevolent Lord. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We have come to know that the Word of the Father, Christ our God, became incarnate from you, O Virgin Theotokos, only pure, only blessed. Therefore we never cease to extol and magnify you. [SD]

The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 8. There is no litany, but immediately the following:

CHOIR

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma II.

For compunction.

Mode 4.

When I consider the ocean of my many offences, I dare not gaze at You and ask for forgiveness. Please grant me compunction that I may repent, O Lord, and save me. [GOASD]

Verse: Look upon me and have mercy on me.

Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

Wholly darkened by the mist of sinful pleasures of life * and of passions is the mind of my unfortunate soul; * and it will not reflect on compunction thoughtfully. * O Savior, I implore You to take pity on me, * and grant to me the thought of repentance of sins, * in Your compassion and tender mercy, O Master, * so that before my end I may cry aloud: * O Christ my Savior, I pray You save me, * Your desperate and unworthy servant. [GOASD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

We magnify you, O Theotokos, and salute you: Rejoice! You are the cloud of the never-setting light, for you held in your arm the Lord of glory. [GOASD]

From Octoechos - - -

Kathisma III.

For the Forerunner.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

That solitude-loving turtle-dove, the holy Baptist St. John, * the preacher of repentance and the one who pointed to Christ * when He became man for us, * has become for all sinners an advocate and defender. * He is a ready helper of all who are in trouble. * By his intercessions, O Christ, rescue and save Your world. [GOASD]

Verse: God is wondrous in His saints.

For the Martyrs.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Your prize-winning martyr Saints, equipped and armed with the cross, * defeated the machinations of the arch-evil foe * of mankind, O Christ our God. * Shining like stars in heaven, * they are guides for us mortals. * To those who with faith request them, they dispense cures and healings. * Through their intercessions we pray You to save our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

Immaculate Virgin, you alone conceived in your womb * the Maker of all, and by your giving birth you alone * have honored humanity. * Free me from all the snares that the devil has set for me, * establish my on the rock of the words and the will of Christ. * To Him who became incarnate from you, pray for me earnestly. [GOASD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory. Both now.

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. N/M (The Theotokos, unsleeping.)

Since he has been dedicated from infancy and has received grace from his swaddling clothes, let us all crown with praises Leo, the beacon of the Church and her champion, for he is her support. [VPA]

Oikos.

Clear up my tongue, my Christ, and grant me a word, giver of words, and provider of our life, that I may be strengthened to praise the whole life of the wise hierarch, which was consumed by the fire of love on earth and he received from heaven the sea of infinite miracles and the power of the dogmas, through which he illuminated the Church, for he is her support. [VPA]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On February 20 we commemorate our devout father and wonderworker Leo, Bishop of Catania.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyr Sadok the bishop and those who reposed with him numbering one hundred twenty eight.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Vissarion.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the Saints Agatho, Pope of Rome.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Cindeus, Bishop of Pisidia.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Plotinus.

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

CHOIR

Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode pl. 4.

Νικηταὶ τυράννου.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

By Your grace those Servants, * who adhered exceedingly to Your commandments, * once became the victors * over the tyrant * and the burning flame in the furnace and cried aloud: * Bless the Lord, O all you the works of the Lord, * and supremely exalt Him 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 pl. 4.

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 pl. 4.

Ἔφριξε πᾶσα ἀκοή.

All hearers shuddered when they heard * the unheard-of condescension of God to us: * that voluntarily * the Most High came down, and even bodily, * and from a Virgin’s womb was born, * becoming a man from her. * Hence, the immaculate * Theotokos we believers now magnify. [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 of the Day. For the Forerunner.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 3. Having embellished heaven.

Ὁ οὐρανὸν τοῖς ἄστροις.

St. John the famous Forerunner * and baptizer of the Savior, * the Prophet born of a Prophet * and the son of Elizabeth, * was nurtured in the wilderness. * Come all and let us extol him. [SD]

For the Saint.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. O Women, hearken.

Γυναῖκες ἀκουτίσθητε.

The Church of Christ considers you to be a leading Hierarch, * a guiding light, and a Teacher, * O Hierarch, true and holy. * You shepherded her children well, O devout Father, leading them * to the pastures of salvation, * and drove away the heretics * like savage beasts, from the sheepfold, * O godly-minded St. Leo. [SD]

Theotokion.

Mode 2. O Women, hearken.

Catania’s resplendent star that brightly shines throughout the world, * the Bishop and wonder-worker, * the Holy Trinity’s mystic, * St. Leo publicly proclaimed, in soul and body, heart and mind, * that you, O pure one, are literally * Theotokos, whom we all now * extol as our God’s true Mother. [SD]

READER

Lauds. (read)

Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. 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. [SAAS]

Psalm 149.

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. [SAAS]

Psalm 150.

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power; praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. Praise Him with the sound of a trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre; praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute; praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Alleluia. [SAAS]

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

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 of the Octoechos.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 4.

I am one of the sheep of Your rational flock, and I take refuge in You the Good Shepherd. Seek me who am wandering, O God, and have mercy on me. [SD]

Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]

The storm that my sins have caused encompasses me, O Savior, Unable to withstand the waves, I cry to You, my only Pilot. Reach out the hand of Your benevolence to me, as You did to Peter, and save me. [GOASD]

Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]

O holy Martyrs, after bravely proclaiming Christ in the arena, you have become companions of the Angels. First you left behind all the pleasures of the world, as if they did not exist; then you held on to the faith, as if it were unmoving anchor. Therefore, since you dismissed error and deception, you gush forth gifts of healing to the faithful, as you unceasingly intercede, for the salvation of our souls. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

All pure Theotokos and Queen of all, the Orthodox boast about you. We pray you bring dishonor and embarrassment on the insolent heretics, who neither venerate nor honor your holy icon. [GOASD]

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 Day.

For the Forerunner.

From Horologion - - -

Mode 2.

The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more ven’rable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Theotokion.

From Octoechos - - -

Mode 2.

We magnify you, O Theotokos, and we cry out: Rejoice! You are the gate that was shut; and through you Paradise of long ago was opened to humanity. [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. )