Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Menaion - November 25
Leave-taking of the Feast of the Entry, and Memory of the Holy Great-martyr Catherine
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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 1 of the Feast.
Ode iii. Mode 4. Establish your servants.
Τοὺς σοὺς ὑμνολόγους.
From Menaion - - -
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]
The Temple is now a hall for marriage * a chamber most fitting and most fair * receiving now the Virgin Pure * the living Bridal Chamber of God * the spotless and all blameless one * who shines more brightly than all the world. [RB]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]
King David is leaping now in gladness, * he leads the dance, rejoicing with us all * he calls to you, “My fairest Queen * adorned in many-colored dress! * O all-pure Virgin undefiled * in the Temple before God the King!” [RB]
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]
The ancient curse came from Eve descending * upon the human race; and yet from Eve * our restoration to that state * of incorruption flourishes now: * Today God’s Mother is brought forth * into the Temple, the house of God. [RB]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
The ranks of angels and all mankind ⁄ dance today before your face, all-pure Lady, ⁄ and they go before you bearing lamps, ⁄ proclaiming your greatness in the house of God. [OCA]
Canon for the Holy Woman.
From Menaion - - -
Ode vi. Mode pl. 4. N/M (My transgressions)
Ἄβυσσος ἁμαρτιῶν.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
O maiden, the good Word who is immaculate, saw how you were beautiful, flashing with the splendor of virginity, and reddened with blood of martyrdom; and He took you to dwell in the chambers of Heaven. [SD]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
O Catherine, world-renowned for your great mind, you effused God-inspired teachings. You did prevailed through the Cross and brought down the rule of the tyrants, and you exposed the vanity of worldly wisdom. [SD]
Glory.
O all-glorious Martyr, you resolutely endured the pain of torture, and thus you threw the devil to the ground, who by treachery once cast Adam from the Garden of Eden. And now you wear the crowns of the Kingdom. [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
O Virgin Theotokos, by your entreaties make the Judge, who is your Son, be merciful to me on Judgement Day, O Mother, and implore Him to deliver me from hardship. In you alone have I placed my hope. [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 of the Feast.
From Menaion - - -
Mode 4.
Today is the prelude of God’s good pleasure, and the proclamation of humanity’s salvation. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and in herself she announces Christ to all. Let us, then, with a great voice cry aloud to her: “Rejoice, you are the fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation.” [SD]
For St. Catherine.
From Menaion - - -
Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
Let us praise and extol the all-lauded Bride of Christ,* the Protectress of Sinai, divine Saint Catherine,* as the one who gives aid and her assistance to us;* for she brilliantly suppressed the impious orators,* with the sword of the Spirit.* And being crowned as a martyr,* she asks that all receive the great mercy. [SD]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
From Menaion - - -
Kontakion.
Mode 4. You who were lifted.
Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.
The Savior’s most pure and immaculate temple, the very precious bridal chamber and Virgin, who is the sacred treasure of the glory of God, on this day is introduced into the House of the Lord, and with herself she brings the grace in the divine Spirit. She is extolled by the Angels of God. A heavenly tabernacle is she. [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 Letter to the Galatians.
Gal. 3:23 – 29; 4:1 – 5
Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental principles of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. [RSV]
Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 39.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: I waited patiently for the Lord. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: He brought me up out of a miserable pit.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
For the Holy Woman.
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Mk. 5:24 – 34
At that time, a great crowd followed Jesus and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” [RSV]
Hymn to the Theotokos.
Ode ix. Heirmos.
Mode 4.
When they saw the Entry of the Virgin Maiden, the Angels were astonished, at how she entered with glory into the Holy of Holies. [SD]
Now let no uninitiated hand * approach the living Ark of God to touch it. * Rather let believers’ lips sing out in exultation * the Angel’s salutation unceasingly * to the Theotokos and cry out: * You, O pure and virgin Maiden, are truly superior to all. [SD]
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 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 and all-wise Catherine, whose memory we celebrate; 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 the Christmas fast.