Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Menaion - September 7
Forefeast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos; and Memory of the Holy Martyr Sozon.
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LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
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 for the Forefeast.
Ode iii. Mode 4. N/M (Since the barren woman.)
Ὅτι στεῖρα ἔτεκεν.
From Menaion - - -
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]
From fruitless earth is born the very fruitful earth, which will produce the Farmer of blessings, the vivifying ear of grain that feeds all by the command of God. [SD]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]
The rod of virginity has blossomed forth today, and from it will bloom a flower, namely our God and Planter, who in supreme benevolence cuts down the outgrowths of evil. [SD]
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]
Behold, born from a childless rock is the unquarried mountain, which will produce the spiritual Stone, who will crush all the idols of the evil one. [SD]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
O Virgin, the writings in the Law predicted you. You carry in your womb the Giver of the Law, without the laws of nature, and He ineffably preserved you unharmed and undefiled. [SD]
Canon for the Forefeast.
From Menaion - - -
Ode vi. Mode 4. N/M (O godly-minded believers.)
Τὴν θείαν ταύτην.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
The Maiden Theotokos was born today. She is the bridge that conveys humanity to the light, the ladder to heaven, and the manifest mountain of God. Therefore let us call here blessed. [SD]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
Anna is like a shell-fish that produces royal purple dye. For Mary’s blood will dye the wool of the incarnation of the King. Let us all extol her worthily. [SD]
Glory.
From a small drop has now come the well, namely the all-blameless Virgin, who will give birth to the ocean of salvation and put an end to the many streams of paganism. [SD]
Both now.
O ever-blessed Maiden and Mother of God, you came forth from a fruitless root; and by your own supernatural divine offspring, you uproot the thorns of wickedness. [SD]
Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who are wondrous in the saints. We sing to You, Alleluia.
Hymns after the Entrance.
Apolytikion.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 4. Joseph marveled.
Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.
Unto us is born today Mary the child of God, * as the branch from Jesse’s root, and as the fruit of David’s loins, * and all creation is re-created and deified. * O heaven and the earth, rejoice in unison. * Sing praises unto her, O all you Gentile clans. * Joachim is exultant, and Anna is keeping festival, crying out: * “The barren woman bears the Theotokos, * the nourisher of our Life.” [SD]
For the Martyr.
Mode 4. Come quickly.
Your Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by You * the crown of incorruption, in that he contested for You our immortal God. * Since he possessed Your power, he defeated the tyrants, * dashing the demons’ powerless displays of defiance. * O Christ God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls. [SD]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
From Menaion - - -
Kontakion.
Mode 3. On this day.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.
On this day the virgin Maid, Mary the true Theotokos, * the inviolate bridal room of the heavenly Bridegroom, * by the will of God is born of a barren woman, * to prepare to be the carriage of God the Logos, * as for this she had been destined, * to be the gateway of God and Mother of Life. [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
Saturday Before the Elevation of the Cross
Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Psalm 46.
Sing praises to God; sing praises. [SAAS]
Verse: Oh, clap your hands, all you nations. [SAAS]
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.
1 Cor. 2:6 – 9
Brethren, among the mature we impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” [RSV]
Alleluia. Mode pl. 1. Psalm 88.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: O Lord, I will sing of Your mercies forever. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: For You said, “Mercy shall be built up forever.”
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
Saturday Before the Elevation of the Cross
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Mt. 10:37 – 42; 11:1
The Lord said, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. [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. [SAAS] Alleluia.
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 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.