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Menaion - September 13

Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of Christ our God; and Forefeast of the Elevation of the Holy and Life-giving Cross; and Memory of the Holy Martyr Cornelius the Centurion.

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MATINS

CHOIR

Mode 4.

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.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4.

You have made the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Your glory to be like the majesty of the firmament on high, O Lord. Make it strong forever and ever, and accept our supplications that we unceasingly bring to You there, at the intercession of the Theotokos. For You are the life and resurrection of all. [SD]

Glory. Repeat.

You have made the earthly beauty of the holy tabernacle of Your glory to be like the majesty of the firmament on high, O Lord. Make it strong forever and ever, and accept our supplications that we unceasingly bring to You there, at the intercession of the Theotokos. For You are the life and resurrection of all. [SD]

Both now. For the Forefeast.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

O benevolent Lord, as an intercessor we we present to You the life-giving Cross of Your goodness, which we the unworthy have as a gift from You. Save our leaders and our nation and keep them in peace, through the Theotokos. [SD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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.

CHOIR: 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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Kathisma I.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

When Christ our Redeemer came, He did illumine all things, * renewing the world by His all-holy Spirit as God. * And souls are restored as well. * For now is consecrated * to the Lord’s holy glory * a holy house and temple, wherein Christ our Lord and Savior * sanctifies the hearts of believers, * for the salvation of humanity. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

When Christ our Redeemer came, He did illumine all things, * renewing the world by His all-holy Spirit as God. * And souls are restored as well. * For now is consecrated * to the Lord’s holy glory * a holy house and temple, wherein Christ our Lord and Savior * sanctifies the hearts of believers, * for the salvation of humanity. [SD]

Kathisma II.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. Come quickly.

Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.

The festive observance of the Consecration today * has come to the chosen people of our Lord Jesus Christ. * It urges us all to be * holy and consecrated, * and sing hymns to the Master * with a beaming countenance, with faith and with feeling, * and praise Him as our Redeemer, who has consecrated us. [SD]

Glory. Both now. Repeat.

The festive observance of the Consecration today * has come to the chosen people of our Lord Jesus Christ. * It urges us all to be * holy and consecrated, * and sing hymns to the Master * with a beaming countenance, with faith and with feeling, * and praise Him as our Redeemer, who has consecrated us. [SD]

READER

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 4. You revealed yourself today.

Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον.

Lord, Your Church appears to us * to be like heaven * full of light, and guides with light * all who believe in You, O Christ. * And we who stand in it cry to You: * Savior, establish forever this holy house. [SD]

Oikos.

After the Logos had dwelt among us in the flesh, John, that Son-of-Thunder, wrote, “We beheld the glory, which the Son had from the Father, in grace and truth.” To all of us, who received Him by faith, He gave power to become children of God. And now, born again, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, but raised by the Holy Spirit, we have erected a house of prayer, and we say, “Savior, establish forever this holy house.” [SD]

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On September 13, we remember the Consecration of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ our God.

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

Katavasias Odes 1-8

CHOIR

Katavasias of the Cross

Ode i. Mode pl. 4.

Moses prefigured the Cross. * Lifting up the rod, he stretched out his hand and split the Sea for Israel to cross on land. * Then he stretched it out again, * and the sea returned and covered Pharaoh’s chariots. * The Cross was thus portrayed as our invincible armor. * So let us sing to the Lord, * Christ our God, for He is greatly glorified. [GOASD]

Ode iii.

The rod of Aaron is seen as typifying the mystery; * for it budded, and thus was the priest selected. * Now in the Church, that was barren once, the Cross of Christ, like a tree, * has blossomed forth, * as power and a firm support. [GOASD]

Ode iv.

I have heard the report, O Lord, * of Your incarnation, which is a mystery. * I considered Your astounding works, * and I glorified Your divinity. [GOASD]

Ode v.

Tree of the Cross, you are thrice-blessed, * for Jesus Christ, who is King and Lord, was crucified on you. * Through you fallen is the one who by a tree deceived us, * for he was lured by God who in the flesh indeed * was hung and nailed to you, * and who grants to our souls His peace. [GOASD]

Ode vi.

In the belly of the sea beast * the prophet Jonah prayed with his arms extended crosswise; * thus he clearly prefigured the saving Passion of Christ. * When after three days he emerged, * he was depicting the supernal resurrection from the dead * of Christ God, who was physically nailed to the Cross * and by His third-day arising illumined the universe. [GOASD]

Ode vii.

The impious tyrant’s preposterous decree disturbed the populace, * breathing threats and blasphemous pronouncements hateful to God. * His brutal anger did not intimidate * the three Servants, nor did the consuming fire. * But when the dew-laden breeze whistled against the fire, they joined it and together sang, * “Blessed are You, O Lord. You are highly praised, O God, the God of our fathers.” [GOASD]

Ode viii.

We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.

You three pious Servants, * same in number as the Trinity, * bless God the Father, Maker of all; * sing a hymn to the Word who condescended * and who changed the fire in the furnace into dew; * as for the all-holy Spirit, who gives life to all, exalt Him * beyond measure unto the ages. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

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. [GOASD]

Ode 9: Katavasia

Ode ix. Katavasia. Mode pl. 4.

Theotokos, you are mystical Paradise, * for without husbandry you have blossomed Christ, * by whom on earth the Cross, as a life-bearing tree, has been planted and watered. * As it is now exalted, * we adore Him and worship Him and magnify you. [GOASD]

PRIEST

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

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.

CHOIR: To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

For all the powers of heaven praise You, and to You they offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

CHOIR: Amen.

CHOIR

Exaposteilarion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

Τοῖς Μαθηταῖς συνέλθωμεν.

Willingly lifted on the Cross * on Golgotha, the Master * worked our salvation in the midst * of the earth, as the Psalm says, * and He renewed all creation. * Also when He was buried * in the life-giving sepulcher, * within three days He rose, being truly God. * Now we join the bodiless hosts performing * the dedication of the church * of the Lord’s Resurrection. [SD]

Another.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

Τοῖς Μαθηταῖς συνέλθωμεν.

For the renewal of the world, * God our Lord was incarnate * of His own will, and in the midst * of the world worked salvation, through His divine crucifixion. * In a tomb lay His body * for three days, then He rose again. * Now as a guarantee of eternal life * He puts forth His own three-day resurrection. * Named for this is the church we now * consecrate with God’s angels. [SD]

Theotokion.

Mode 2. Let us in faith.

Joyfully we cry out to you, * Virgin, the salutation: * Rejoice, the losing of the curse * that was on Eve and Adam; * rejoice, through whom human nature * has been healed and exalted * to the supernal glory of * your Son and God, O Lady. Again, rejoice, * for through you our nature is ever worshipped * in heaven by the Angels all, * O Mary Theotokos. [SD]

Lauds. Mode 4.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. It is fitting to sing a hymn to You, O God. [SAAS]

Show Stichologia

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.

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.

Hide Stichologia

Stichera for the Consecration.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 4. You have given.

Ἔδωκας σημείωσιν.

To fulfill among them the written judgment: this glory have all His holy ones. [SAAS]

On this day the sacred and divine and ven’rable, brightly-lit * sanctuary that bears the name * of Christ’s Resurrection was * gaily consecrated. * Therein the divine sepulcher gives life to all the world; * for it is there like a spring that never dies. * It gushes forth the gifts of grace, it is a fountain of miracles, * and to all who approach in faith * it gives healings and remedies. [SD]

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power. [SAAS]

Brightly has the radiance above us flashed forth and thrown its light * on all things and illumined us. * So let us now faithfully * praise the resurrection * of Christ our Creator; * and let us celebrate with hymns * the life-bestowing and holy festival, * the sacred consecration of the temple, and shout aloud in Psalms, * so that we might experience * Christ our Savior as merciful. [SD]

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

We who wish to see the holy scepter, namely the Cross of Christ, * to be raised in the midst of the earth, * should thoroughly purify * heart and soul beforehand, * have our minds illumined; * and thus made bright by the divine * power of God, let us sing in praise of Christ, * who sanctifies His servants by the holy wood of His precious Cross, * when we faithfully honor it * and we ardently sing His praise. [SD]

Additional Stichera.

From Menaion - - -

Idiomelon. Mode 1.

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

Be consecrated, be consecrated, O new Jerusalem, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. This house was built by the Father; this house was made firm by the Son; this house was renewed by the Holy Spirit, which illumines and supports, and sanctifies our souls. [SD]

Idiomelon. Mode 1.

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

In the Old Testament, when the Temple was consecrated, Solomon offered sacrifices of irrational animals and whole-burnt offerings, O Lord. Since You, O Savior, were well pleased that the types should cease and the truth be known, now the whole world offers bloodless sacrifices to Your glory; for as the Lord of all, by Your Holy Spirit You sanctify everything. [SD]

Idiomelon. Mode 4.

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

The Church of the Gentiles is consecrated today, by the precious and life-flowing blood of the immaculate and inviolate side of Christ our God, who was incarnate of the holy Virgin. Therefore, O chorus of believers, let us congregate and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the one Godhead, which rules the universe. [SD]

Glory.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3.

Come back to yourself, O man; become new instead of old; and celebrate the rededication of your soul. While there is still time, let your entire way of life be renewed. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Make this good change, and let it be the fruit of the feast. This is how a person is renewed and rededicated, this is the way to honor Consecration Day. [SD]

Both now.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 3.

Christ our God, ⁄ You accepted voluntary crucifixion for the Resurrection of the human race! ⁄ You stained Your fingers with blood by the pen of the Cross ⁄ as with ink of royal purple, ⁄ in Your love for mankind, ⁄ signing as king the document of our remission! ⁄ Do not turn away from us in our distress, ⁄ for we are again far from You. ⁄ Have pity on Your people who find themselves in the midst of evil, ⁄ long-suffering Lord. ⁄ Arise, and do battle with those who fight against us, ⁄⁄ only Almighty One! [OCA]

Stand for the Great Doxology.

Great Doxology

Glory be to You who showed the light. Glory in the highest to God. His peace is on earth, His good pleasure in mankind. [SD]

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord King, heavenly God, Father, Ruler over all; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and You, O Holy Spirit.

Lord God, Lamb of God, 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 hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and Your name will I praise to eternity, and to the ages of ages.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this day, that we be kept without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages. Amen.

Let Your mercy be on us, O Lord, as we have set our hope on You.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed are You, O Lord. Teach me Your statutes.

Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, I have fled to You. 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.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

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.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Apolytikion.

From Menaion - - -

Mode 2.

O benevolent Lord, as an intercessor we we present to You the life-giving Cross of Your goodness, which we the unworthy have as a gift from You. Save our leaders and our nation and keep them in peace, through the Theotokos. [SD]