Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Octoechos - Grave Mode.
On Friday Morning
Menaion - December 13
Memory of the Holy Martyrs Efstratios, Afxentios, Eugene, Mardarios, and Orestis, and St. Lukia
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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.
Grave Mode.
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]
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. [RSV]
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [RSV]
Troparia.
From Octoechos - - -
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [RSV]
The fruit that killed me of old was good for food and beautiful to contemplate. But Christ is the very tree of life, from which I eat and die not. And echoing the Robber’s words, I cry out, “Remember me in Your kingdom, O Lord.” [SD]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
In order to heal the wound that Adam * sustained at the counsel of the foe, * You let yourself be crucified, O King; * You let yourself be wounded: * Your hands and feet were pierced with nails. * Hence, O Word, we glorify * Your immense longsuffering. [SD]
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
A crowd of Jews gave You up to Romans, * and they had You crucified among * the outlaws, You the Giver of the Law * and the only Redeemer, * as You redeemed the human race * from all sin and lawlessness. * Therefore we extol You, O Christ. [SD]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
For the Martyrs.
The scars they bear from their many tortures * are like medals that decorate * the holy Martyr Athletes of the Lord. * And they are recognized as * the bright adornment of the Church, * as they ever intercede * with Christ on behalf of our souls. [SD]
Glory.
Deliver us, Your unworthy servants * who extol You, Holy Trinity. * Make us strong by the power of the Cross, * and guide on our journey * to the city that is on high. * And once we have entered it, * we hope to find mercy there. [SD]
Both now. Stavrotheotokion.
O Christ our God, when You had been lifted * on the tree of the Cross in the flesh, * Your all-pure Virgin Mother saw You there * bereft of form and beauty. * And in distress she cried aloud, * “Alas! How have lawless men * mutilated You, my Child?” [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 the Martyrs.
Mode 4. Come quickly.
Your Martyrs, O Lord, were worthily awarded by You * the crowns of incorruption, in that they contested for You our immortal God. * Since they possessed Your power, they defeated the tyrants, * dashing the demons’ powerless displays of defiance. * O Christ God, at their fervent entreaties, save our souls. [SD]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
Kontakion for the Day. For the Cross.
Mode 4. Automelon.
Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ.
You who were lifted on the cross voluntarily, * O Christ our God, bestow Your tender compassions * upon Your new community to which You gave Your name. * Cause our faithful emperors to be glad in Your power, * granting them the victories against their adversaries. * And for an ally, Lord, may they have You, * peace as their armor, the trophy invincible. [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
Friday of the 25th Week
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 98.
Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy mountain. [SAAS]
Verse: The Lord reigns; let the peoples be angry. [SAAS]
The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians.
2 Th. 3:6 – 18
Brethren, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, we did not eat any one’s bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [RSV]
Alleluia. Mode pl. 2. Psalm 73.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: Remember Your congregation You acquired from the beginning. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: God is our King before the ages; He worked salvation in the midst of the earth.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
Friday of the 13th Week of Luke
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Mk. 9:33 – 41
At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.” [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 73.
You worked salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God. [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, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Fasting Rule
Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.
It is the Christmas fast.