Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Menaion - September 24
Memory of the Holy Great-martyr Thecla, the Equal to the Apostles.
Menaion Supplement
The Synaxis in Honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, our Lady of the Myrtles
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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 1.
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 Theotokos.
Ode iii. Mode 1. N/M (O Wisdom of our God.)
Menaion Supplement - - -
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]
When the unconscious one was wondrously healed by the prayers of all the people, he cried out with tears of thanksgiving: Glory to you, O Christ, for you showed the one who gave birth to you as a spring of cures. [VPA]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]
Being mistress of earth and of the heavens in the heights, by your foresight you were well pleased to overshadow the humble island of Kythera, O Lady. Therefore it sings to you, honoring your condescension. [VPA]
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]
You miraculously heal the madness of the one who comes to you asking for your help, for he has become of sound mind having seen you wondrously as in a dream. Thus, he praises your compassion. [VPA]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
The hoard of pirates wailed in pain, as it was destroyed by your power. The entire island, therefore, in return shouts hymns to you, confessing you to be an unshakeable wall against enemies. [VPA]
Canon for the Theotokos.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Ode vi. Mode 1. N/M (Briny and born.)
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
Come all people of Kythera, let us set aside the trouble of worldly cares and go to the holy church of Myrtidia, for the gracious one is a gracious banquet host who sets out plentiful grace for everyone. [VPA]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
You always pour forth healing of weakness and sickness to the weak, O Virgin, as they run with faith to your most sacred temple of Myrtidia. Thus, saved by your compassion for the grieving ones in sickness, they sing a hymn of praise with their voices. [VPA]
Glory.
The most pious one hymns with tears the miracle with the fiery projectile which had been thrown from nearby, for listening to his voice you saved him and the missile wondrously left him unharmed, though he was only robed in a garment, Virgin. [VPA]
Both now.
Direct the paths of our journeys toward God, as we know you as our support, God-favored one. Illumining our minds with divine light, make worthy of heavenly glory those who sing a hymn of praise to you with fervent faith. [VPA]
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.
For the Theotokos.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 4. Come quickly.
Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε.
O come, all you people, and let us in faith clap our hands * and sing sacred songs to her who is the Mother of God, * and longingly cry aloud: * “Rejoice, O protection of all those who entreat you; * rejoice, the salvation of those who honor you with longing; * rejoice, O Lady who restored * the paralyzed man to health.” [SD]
For the Holy Woman.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 3. Your confession.
Θείας πίστεως.
All aflame with love for your Creator, * from the teachings of the sacred preacher, * you disregarded as fleeting all things mundane. * And being bold in the face of the penalties, * you gave yourself as a beautiful gift to God. * Thecla, glorious companion of the Apostle Paul, * we pray you entreat your Bridegroom, Christ, * and ask Him to grant us His great mercy. [SD]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
Kontakion. Mode 2.
O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you. [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 Holy Woman.
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 Second Letter to Timothy.
2 Tim. 3:10 – 15
Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 44.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: The rich among the people shall entreat your favor.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
For the Theotokos.
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Lk. 10:38 – 42; 11:27 – 28
At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” [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 115.
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. [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 finding of whose holy icon “Our Lady of the Myrtles” we commemorate, 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, the holy Great-martyr Thecla, the Equal to the Apostles, whose memory we observe, 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.