Books - Sources
Hieratikon
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Octoechos - Mode pl. 4.
On Thursday Morning
Menaion - December 19
Memory of the Holy Martyr Boniface
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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 pl. 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]
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]
Savior of the world, remember us Your servants * as upon the Cross You remembered the Robber, * only compassionate Christ, and account us worthy * of inheriting Your heavenly Rule. [SD]
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [RSV]
You were shown to be * the trumpets of the Savior. * You raised those who lay * in false belief and error * as if in tombs, O Apostles of Christ, and made them * to be partakers of true life divine. [SD]
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake]. [RSV]
Mouthpieces of God, * you sowed in the unfruitful * Gentiles hearts the word * of Christ, as seed in good earth, * and made them fruitful in knowledge of God, and therefore * you have been worthily beatified. [SD]
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. [RSV]
For the Martyrs.
When they stripped themselves * of every shred of evil, * the Athletes of Christ * went bravely to be tortured. * And they were clothed in the bright garment of salvation * from heaven, when they endured to the end. [SD]
Glory.
At the earnest prayers * of Your divine Apostles, * wholly put to death * the awful sinful passions * of my sorry soul; and saved thus I shall sing glory * to You, divine all-holy Trinity. [SD]
Both now. Theotokion.
Rejoice, living tongs * of the divine and live coal! * Mother of our God, * the seal of all the Prophets, * all-pure one, you are the message of the Apostles, * for from corruption we were freed through you. [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 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]
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung. Then:
Kontakion for the Day. For the Apostles.
Mode 2. Automelon.
Τοὺς ἀσφαλεῖς.
You have taken to yourself, O Lord, the pinnacles of Your Disciples, those unerring theologians and preachers, to enjoy Your blessings and repose. For You accepted their labors and their death as being higher than any whole-burnt offering, for only You know what is in the heart. [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
Thursday of the 26th Week
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4. Psalm 18.
Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. [SAAS]
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament shows the creation of His hands. [SAAS]
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to Timothy.
1 Tim. 3:1 – 13
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain; they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons. The women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well; for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. [RSV]
Alleluia. Mode 1. Psalm 88.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord. [SAAS]
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: God is glorified in the counsel of saints.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
Thursday of the 14th Week of Luke
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Mk. 10:17 – 27
At that time, as Jesus was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.” And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” [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 18.
Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world. [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.