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Hieratikon

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Menaion - August 6

Commemoration of the Transfiguration of our Savior

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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Antiphon 1. Mode 2. Psalms 47, 64, 103, 97.

Verse 1: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. [SAAS]

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

Verse 2: He who prepares mountains in His strength.

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

Verse 3: You cover Yourself with light as with a garment.

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

Verse 4: The mountains shall greatly rejoice at the presence of the Lord.

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 86.

Verse 1: His foundations are in the holy mountains. [SAAS]

Save us, O Son of God, who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 2: The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Save us, O Son of God, who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 3: Glorious things were said concerning you, O city of God.

Save us, O Son of God, who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor. We sing to You, Alleluia.

Verse 4: A man will say, “Mother Zion,” and a man was born in her.

Save us, O Son of God, who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor. 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. Grave Mode. Psalm 88.

Verse 1: O Lord, I will sing of Your mercies forever. [SAAS]

Verse 2: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord.

Verse 3: Blessed are the people who know glad shouting.

Verse 4: O Lord, they shall walk in the light of Your face, and shall greatly rejoice in Your name the whole day long.

Apolytikion. Grave Mode.

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear. Do also in us, sinners though we may be, shine Your everlasting light, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Giver of light. Glory to You. [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 4.

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 1 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode iii. Mode 4. N/M (Weakened is the bow.)

Τόξον δυνατῶν ἠσθένησε.

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

You put on the whole Adam, O Christ, and changing the nature that was darkened in days of old You filled it with glory and make it divine by the change that came to pass in Your form. [OCA]

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

You put on the whole Adam, O Christ, and changing the nature that was darkened in days of old You filled it with glory and make it divine by the change that came to pass in Your form. [OCA]

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

In days of old Christ led Israel in the wilderness with the pillar of fire and with the cloud: Today He shines forth ineffably In light upon Mount Tabor. [OCA]

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

In days of old Christ led Israel in the wilderness with the pillar of fire and with the cloud: Today He shines forth ineffably In light upon Mount Tabor. [OCA]

Canon 2 of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (Be gracious to me.)

Ἱλάσθητί μοι Σωτήρ.

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

How mighty and fearful is the vision seen today! The visible sun shone from heaven, but from the earth shone incomparably upon Mount Tabor the spiritual Sun of Righteousness. [OCA]

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

How mighty and fearful is the vision seen today! The visible sun shone from heaven, but from the earth shone incomparably upon Mount Tabor the spiritual Sun of Righteousness. [OCA]

Glory.

The shadow of the Law has grown feeble and passed away, and Christ the Truth has plainly come! cried Moses as he beheld Your divinity on Mount Tabor. [OCA]

Both now.

The pillar of fire plainly showed Moses Christ transfigured, and the cloud clearly prefigured the grace of the Holy Spirit that overshadowed Mount Tabor. [OCA]

   

Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.

For with You, Lord, is the fountain of life; in Your light we shall see light. Save us, O Son of God, who were transfigured on Mt. Tabor. We sing to You, Alleluia.

   

Hymns after the Entrance.

Apolytikion of the Feast.

From Menaion - - -

Grave Mode.

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear. Do also in us, sinners though we may be, shine Your everlasting light, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Giver of light. Glory to You. (3) [SD]

From Menaion - - -

Kontakion.

Grave Mode.

Upon the mountain were You transfigured, and Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they were able, O Christ our God; so that when they would see You crucified they might understand that Your Passion was deliberate, and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father’s radiance. [SD]

   

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 Feast.

Prokeimenon. Mode 4. Psalm 103.

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

Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly. [SAAS]

The reading is from Peter’s Second Universal Letter.

2 Pet. 1:10 – 19

Brethren, be more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [RSV]

   

Alleluia. Mode pl. 4. Psalms 88, 143.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 1: The heavens belong to You, and the earth is Yours; You founded the world and all its fullness. [SAAS]

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Verse 2: Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Gospel

For the Feast.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 17:1 – 9

At that time, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.” [RSV]

   

Hymn to the Theotokos.

Ode vii. Troparion.

Mode pl. 4.

Now we have heard what was unheard of. * For the Father’s voice has gloriously borne witness * to His Son, who was born without a father from the Virgin, * because the Son is God and man, * in one person, to the ages. [SD]

   

Communion Hymn.

We shall walk in the light of the glory of Your face, O Lord, forever. Alleluia. [SAAS]

Show Selected Verses.

Selected Psalm Verses for Transfiguration

1. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. (47:2) [SAAS]

2. In the city of our God, in His holy mountain. (47:2) [SAAS]

3. He who prepares mountains in His strength. (64:7) [SAAS]

4. You cover Yourself with light as with a garment. (103:2) [SAAS]

5. The mountains shall greatly rejoice at the presence of the Lord. And He shall be seen in His glory. (97:8) [SAAS]

6. The desert fruits will be made fat, and the hills will be girded with rejoicing. (64:13) [SAAS]

7. The mountain of God is a fertile mountain, a mountain richly curdled with milk, a fat mountain. (67:16) [SAAS]

8. Who shall ascend to the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place? (23:3) [SAAS]

9. O Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall live in Your holy mountain? (14:1) [SAAS]

10. Send out Your light and Your truth. (42:3) [SAAS]

11. They guided me and led me to Your holy mountain. (42:3) [SAAS]

12. It was Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your countenance. (43:4) [SAAS]

13. You give light wondrously from the everlasting mountains. (75:5) [SAAS]

14. The day is Yours, and the night is Yours. (73:16) [SAAS]

15. You created the light and the sun. (73:16) [SAAS]

16. You made all the boundaries of the earth. (73:17) [SAAS]

17. Summer and winter, You formed these things. (73:17) [SAAS]

18. The heavens belong to You, and the earth is Yours. (88:12) [SAAS]

19. You founded the world and all its fullness. (88:12) [SAAS]

20. You created the north wind and the seas. (88:13) [SAAS]

21. Tabor and Hermon shall greatly rejoice in Your name. (88:13) [SAAS]

22. O Lord, they shall walk in the light of Your face. (88:16) [SAAS]

23. They shall greatly rejoice in Your name the whole day long. (88:17) [SAAS]

24. They shall be exalted in Your righteousness. (88:17) [SAAS]

25. Let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, from this present time and unto the ages. (89:17) [SAAS]

Hide Selected Verses.

   

Hymn after Holy Communion.

Instead of “We have seen.”

Grave Mode.

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear. Do also in us, sinners though we may be, shine Your everlasting light, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Giver of light. Glory to You. [SD]

   

DISMISSAL

Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.

May He who was transfigured in glory on mount Tabor in front of His holy disciples and Apostles, 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

Fish: fish, oil and wine are allowed. Refrain from meat, dairy and eggs.

It is a major feast.