Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Menaion - December 4
Memory of the Holy Great-martyr Barbara, and our Devout Father John of Damascus.
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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 2.
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 Holy Woman.
Ode iii. Mode 2. N/M (The gentile church.)
Ἐξήνθησεν ἡ ἔρημος.
From Menaion - - -
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]
O Master, the medalist Barbara was smitten with Your love as with a bridegroom’s sweetest arrow, and she detested all the impiety of her father. [SD]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]
O glorious Barbara, beautiful virgin, betrothed as you were to Christ, neither the delight of luxury, nor the bloom of beauty, nor wealth, nor the pleasures of youth, were attractive to you. [SD]
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]
O Christ, nothing can impede perfect contests: not feminine infirmity, nor youth, since it is empowered by Your immortal might. [SD]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
Theotokion.
O all-pure Virgin, the orders of Angels were amazed, and the hearts of men trembled at your childbirth. Therefore, with faith we honor you as Theotokos. [SD]
Canon for the Devout Man.
From Menaion - - -
Ode vi. Mode 2. N/M (Like a deep sea, my sins.)
Ἐν ἀβύσσῳ πταισμάτων.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
O John, you were illumined with the Spirit’s grace, and you were notably enriched with divine and human knowledge, and you shared it abundantly with those who would use it. [SD]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
O John, you were illumined with the Spirit’s grace, and you were notably enriched with divine and human knowledge, and you shared it abundantly with those who would use it. [SD]
Glory.
O wise father, you emulated the choirs of heaven, and set in good order the choirs of the Orthodox churches, singing divinely inspired hymns to the Trinity. [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
O Virgin, you conceived without the agency of a man, and you remain forever a virgin, displaying signs of the true divinity of your Son and God. [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. For St. Barbara.
From Menaion - - -
Mode pl. 4.
Let us honor the all-virtuous Saint Barbara; for she broke the snares of the enemy, and she escaped from them like a bird, with the Cross as her help and shield. [SD]
For St. John.
Mode pl. 4.
Guide of Orthodoxy and a sacred teacher of piety and dignity, luminary of the world, and God-inspired jewel of monastics, O wise John, the Spirit’s instrument: by your teachings you enlightened all. Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls. [SD]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
From Menaion - - -
Kontakion.
Mode 3. Automelon.
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον.
On this day the Virgin Maid * goes to the grotto to give birth * to the pre-eternal Word * in an ineffable manner. * Dance for joy, all the inhabited earth, on hearing. * Glorify along with Angels and with the shepherds * Him who willed that He appear as * a newborn Child, * the pre-eternal God. [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.
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 111/112.
The righteous will be remembered for ever. [RSV] 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 and glorious Great-martyr Barbara, and our devout and God-bearing father John of Damascus, 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
Wine: Wine and oil are allowed. Refrain from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.
It is a minor feast.