Books - Sources
Octoechos - Mode pl. 1.
On Wednesday Morning
Menaion - November 27
Memory of the Holy Great-martyr James (Iakovos) the Persian
__________
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. 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]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
From Octoechos - - -
Mode 4. Come quickly.
O Mother of Christ our God, all-blameless Virgin most pure, * as Symeon told, a sword pierced through your all-holy soul * when you saw your Son and God * crucified by transgressors of His own will, O Lady. * Cease not to importune Him, * that He grant the forgiveness * of failings to us your servants, * O only most-blessed one. [SD]
The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 10. Then the short litany.
DEACON
Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
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 Octoechos - - -
For the Cross.
Mode pl. 1.
The Place of the Skull became Paradise; for once the tree of the Cross was planted there, immediately it blossomed the grape cluster of life, namely You, O Savior, to gladden our hearts. Glory to You. [SD]
Verse: Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet; for He is holy.
Mode pl. 1.
O Savior, the tree of Your Cross became the salvation of the world. For You were willingly nailed to it, and thus You delivered us born on earth from the curse, O Life of all. Glory to You, O Lord. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Mode pl. 1. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
When Your mother saw voluntarily hanging on the Cross between two robbers, she was cut to the heart as a mother and she said, “My sinless Son, how were you nailed unjustly to a cross? Because You want to give life to the human race, as the most benevolent Lord.” [SD]
The appointed Kathisma of the Psalter may be read, i.e. Kathisma 11. There is no litany, but immediately the following:
CHOIR
From Octoechos - - -
Kathisma II.
For the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
O believers, let us extol and worship our Savior and Redeemer, who was voluntarily crucified, as He knew how and was well pleased to do. For He delivered the human race from error, and He nailed the sins of humanity to the Cross, and granted us the kingdom. [SD]
Verse: God is our King before the ages; He worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
Mode pl. 1. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
O Lord, who endured crucifixion of Your own will, and freed mankind from corruption, we believer extol You and worship You, for by the power of the Cross You illumined us. And now with fear we glorify You, the compassionate and benevolent Giver of life. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Mode pl. 1. As the Father and Spirit.
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
By the Cross of your Son, holy Virgin full of grace, * the deceit of the idols has all come to an end, * and the power of the demons has been trampled down. * We the faithful now in gratitude ever sing your praise and call you blessed, O Lady. * We magnify you, confessing that you are truly the Mother of God. [GOASD]
From Octoechos - - -
Kathisma III.
For the Cross.
Mode pl. 1. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
Behold, the prophecies of the Prophets are fulfilled, and Your ancient counsel and plan has come to pass. For You, O King of all, voluntarily impoverished yourself taking flesh, O Christ, and for us You accepted to ascend the Cross and undergo death. Therefore, O Word, we glorify Your incomprehensible condescension. [SD]
Verse: God is wondrous in His saints.
For the Martyrs.
Mode pl. 1.
You have given us the miracles of Your holy Martyrs as an impregnable fortress, O Christ our God. At their entreaties, frustrate the plots of foreign enemies, and strengthen our nation, for You alone are good and benevolent. [SD]
Glory. Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Mode pl. 1. N/M (As the Father and Spirit.)
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον.
When I saw with my own eyes You close Your eyes, most beloved Son of mine, the light of my vision was extinguished. I do not wish to see the sun. Would that my eyes were plucked out, O Word. Be dark, O sunlight, for He who by a word gave you the light has closed His eyes on the Cross. [SD]
READER
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory. Both now.
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 2. N/M (In seeking the heights.)
Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν.
You listened to your good wife, O patient James. You showed contempt for the religion of the Persians and their threats, fearing rather the judgment of God. And you became a marvelous Martyr, when your body was cut like a vine. [SD]
Oikos.
As we see the Martyr being bitterly dismembered, let us all sigh from the depths of our souls and pour out many tears. Those executioners came like growling dogs, and they mangled the limbs of our marvelous Martyr, who was brave among Martyrs. Who is he? Be patient, if you wish, and I will gladly tell you everything, how he was offered as a sacrifice to the Lord, when his body was cut like a vine. [SD]
Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion
From the Menaion.
On November 27, we commemorate the contest of the holy Great-martyr James the Persian.
By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
CHOIR
Ode viii. Heirmos. Mode 2.
Τὸν ἐν καμίνῳ τοῦ πυρός.
We praise and we bless and we worship the Lord.
When God went down into the fire * of the furnace with the holy Hebrew Servants, * He converted the flames there into dew refreshing them. * Extol Him as Lord, O you works of His, * and exalt Him beyond measure, * unto all the ages. [SD]
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 2.
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]
Heirmos. Mode 2.
Τὸν ἐκ Θεοῦ Θεὸν Λόγον.
Being from God, God the Logos * with ineffable wisdom * came to make Adam new who fell through food * into corruption unhappily. * From an all-holy Virgin * ineffably He took on flesh for us. * We the faithful extol Him concordantly and magnify. [SD]
It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, ever blessed, most pure, and Mother of our God. 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]
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. O Women, hearken.
Γυναῖκες ἀκουτίσθητε.
O great and holy Martyr James, * on fire with the zeal for Christ,* you burnt up the Persian error.* At the decree of the tyrant* your body was like branches of* the vine cut up, and yet you sang* unto the unapproachable* Trinity hymns and anthems* fitting and worthy, O wise one. [SD]
Theotokion.
Mode 2. O Women, hearken.
O Mary, you indeed became * the censer made of purest gold, * the uncontainable Holy * Trinity’s all-holy vessel. * The Father was well pleased in you; * the Son came down and dwelt in you; * for when the all-holy Spirit * overshadowed you, O Maiden, * He made you the Theotokos. [SD]
READER
Lauds. (read)
Psalm 148.
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. Praise Him, all you His angels; praise Him, all you His hosts. 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. [SAAS]
Psalm 149.
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, to fulfill among them the written judgment: This glory have all His holy ones. [SAAS]
Psalm 150.
Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power; praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. Praise Him with the sound of a trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre; praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute; praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals; let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Alleluia. [SAAS]
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Stand for the reading of the Doxology.
Doxology (read)
HIERARCH or READER
To you belongs glory, O Lord our God, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.
READER
Amen.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the 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 of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the ages of ages. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; 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. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this day we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs a hymn, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
LITANY OF COMPLETION
DEACON
Let us complete our morning prayer to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
That the whole day may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON
For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.
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 You are the God of mercy and compassion and love for humankind, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
DEACON
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST (in a low voice)
Holy Lord, who dwell in the highest and look upon the humble and observe all creation with Your all-seeing eye, to You we bow the neck of soul and body, and we pray You, Holy of holies: Extend Your invisible hand from Your holy heavens and bless us all. And as good and benevolent God, forgive us any misdeeds we committed voluntarily or involuntarily, and grant us Your blessings in this world and in the next.
PRIEST (aloud)
For Yours it is to show mercy and to save us, O our God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
CHOIR
Aposticha of the Octoechos.
From Octoechos - - -
Mode pl. 1.
In the days of Prophet Moses, O Lord, merely the figure of Your Cross was displayed, and it defeated Your enemies. And now that we possess Your very Cross itself, we entreat You to help us. Strengthen Your Church, and grant success to our government, as You did long ago to Constantine, in Your abundant mercy, Ο benevolent God. [GOASD]
Verse: We were filled with Your mercy in the morning, and in all our days we greatly rejoiced and were glad; gladden us in return for the days You humbled us, for the years we saw evil things. And behold Your servants and Your works, and guide their sons. [SAAS]
Your Cross destroyed the power of Hades, and it rescued the human race, O Christ. It freed the world from disintegration, and it opened Paradise to the robber. As we now venerate it now, we glorify You, O Savior. Have mercy on us! [GOASD]
Verse: And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the works of our hands. [SAAS]
O Lord, Your medal-winning Martyrs imitated the angelic orders, by enduring the tortures as if they themselves were also bodiless. There singular hope was to obtain the promised blessings. At their intercession, grant peace to Your world, and great mercy to our souls, O Christ our God. [SD]
Glory. For the Devout Man.
From Menaion - - -
Mode pl. 4.
Today as you assemble with faith, ⁄ all who like to look upon the things of God, ⁄ behold the spiritual and awesome contest of James of Persia, ⁄ who has shone on us like the star appearing to the Magi, ⁄ guiding us to true knowledge! ⁄ That valiant one, when he fell, destroyed those who fought against him, ⁄ and when his members were severed, ⁄ he brought to nothing those who tortured him, ⁄ for he was strengthened by the providence of the Most High, crying out: ⁄ Even though you cut my material limbs, ⁄ yet I have Christ, Who has spiritually become all things to me! ⁄ Therefore, foreseeing the life to come, ⁄ lying before all through death, ⁄ he hastened to pass over to it! ⁄ Dwelling there, he entreats God, the Bestower of crowns, ⁄ that He may grant to us who celebrate his memory, ⁄⁄ cleansing, enlightenment and great mercy! [OCA]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
Mode pl. 4. What a paradoxal.
Ὢ τοῦ παραδόξου.
“How can I bear to be witness to Your unjust slaughter, O Word, * or to see that Your divine eyes * that gave vision to the blind * are now closed in the sleep of death! * How can I see that Your lips are shut and mute, * those lips that spoke and gave speech to stutterers! * I cannot bear to live! * My insides are torn, and broken is my heart!” * Thus the noble Virgin cried as she bitterly wept. [SD]
PRIEST
It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth at night. [SAAS]
READER
Trisagion Prayers.
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.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
CHOIR
Apolytikion. 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]
Glory. Both now. Theotokion.
From Octoechos - - -
Mode 4.
We magnify you, O Theotokos, and salute you: Rejoice! You are the cloud of the never-setting light, for you held in your arm the Lord of glory. [GOASD]
(The “ektenia” litany has been omitted.)
PRIEST: Wisdom.
READER: Father, bless!
PRIEST
Blessed is Christ our God, the One who is, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
HIERARCH or READER
The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
Then we begin the First Hour, saying: “Come let us worship…”
or:
Dismissal
PRIEST
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 the holy Great-martyr James the Persian, whose memory we observe, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Conclusion, i.e. “Through the prayers…”
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR
Amen.