34 th Sunday after Pentecost (January 7/20) Afterfeast of the Theophany Synaxis of St. John the Baptist

Transcription

1 1 34 th Sunday after Pentecost (January 7/20) Afterfeast of the Theophany Synaxis of St. John the Baptist VESPERS: Tone 1 P. Regular Beginning C. Lord I have cried Accept our evening prayers, O Holy Lord,/ and grant us remission of our sins,/ for only Thou hast shown forth unto the world// the Resurrection. 2. Walk about Zion, ye people,/ and encompass her./ Give glory therein to Him Who is risen from the dead./ For He is our God// Who hath delivered us from our iniquities. 3. Come ye people, praise and worship Christ,/ glorifying His Resurrection from the dead:/ for He is Our God, Who hath delivered the world// from the beguiling of the enemy. Stichera for the Feast (Tone 2) 4/5. The Forerunner, beholding our Enlightener, Who illumineth ev ry man,/ coming to be baptized, rejoiceth in soul and trembleth./ He pointeth to Him with his hand and saith to the people:/ "This is He Who delivereth Israel, Who freeth us from corruption!// O sinless Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee!" 6. When our Deliverer was baptized by His servant/ and borne witness to by the coming of the Holy Spirit,/ the angelic armies, looking on, were stricken with awe;/ and a voice was borne down from the Father in heaven:/ "He Whom the Forerunner baptized with his hand is My beloved Son,/ in Whom I have been well pleased!"// O Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee! 7. The currents of the Jordan received Thee, the Wellspring,/ and the Comforter descended upon Thee in the form of a dove./ Thou Who bowed down the heavens dost bow Thy head,/ and clay crieth out to the Potter:/ "What dost Thou command me to do, O Thou Who art greater than I?/ It is I who must needs be baptized of Thee!// O sinless Christ our Go-d, glory be to Thee!" Stichera for St. John the Baptist (Tone 1) 8. Beholding Thee coming to him and requesting baptism, O Christ,/ the Forerunner cried out with trembling:/ "Why dost Thou command me to do that which is beyond my power?/ How can I touch with my hand Thee Who holdest all things in Thy hand, O almighty Lord?// Better would it be that Thou baptize Thy servant!" 9. "I, Who am unapproachable by nature,/ have manifested Myself as wholly man, accessible to thee./ I, Who am rich, have impoverished Myself willingly,/ that I may enrich with incorruption and deliverance what

2 hath become impoverished./ Approach, then, and baptize Me Who am not subject to corruption,// but rescue the world therefrom!" 10. "I am constrained on every side!/ Whither I shall flee, I know not!" the Forerunner said to the Creator;/ "As Thou art the torrent of nourishment, O Compassionate One,/ how, then, can the river's streams receive Thee/ Who hath come, pouring forth salvation// upon those who honour Thy holy epiphany, O Word?" Glory... of the Forerunner (Tone 6) O beacon in the flesh, Forerunner of the Saviour,/ offspring of a barren woman,/ friend of Him Who came forth from the Virgin,/ Whom thou didst worship by leaping up within thy mother s womb/ and hast baptized in the waters of the Jordan:/ Him do thou entreat, O prophet,// that we may escape the waves of turmoil which are to come. Both... Dogmatikon (Tone 1) Let us praise the Virgin Mary,/ glory of all the world and doorway to heaven,/ who begotten of man hast borne the Lord:/ and who, adornment of the faithful, is sung by the angelic hosts./ For she hath been shown forth as Heaven and Temple of the Godhead./ She it is, who breaking down the middle wall of enmity,/ ushered in peace and threw the Kingdom open./ Therefore with her as anchor of our faith,/ we, in the Lord born of her, have a Defender./ Make bold therefore, ye people of God, make bold,// for He, the Almighty will defeat your enemies. P. Wisdom. Aright! C. O Joyful Light... P. Prokimenon. The Lord is King... P. Wisdom! (And readings, if any) P. Augmented Litany R. Vouchsafe... P. Litany of Fervent Supplication C. Litya: (Tone 4) He who covers Himself with light as with a garment/ has vouchsafed for our sakes to become as we are./ Today He is clothed by the streams of the Jordan,/ though He has no need to be cleansed by them:/ but through Himself He bestows regeneration on us./ O wonder!/ Without fire He casts anew/ and without shattering He refashions;/and He saves those who are enlightened in Him,// Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls. John the Baptist saw Thee draw near,/ who cleanses by Spirit and by fire the sin of the world,/ and he cried aloud in fear and trembling, saying:/ 'I dare not touch Thine immaculate head./ Do Thou, O Master, sanctify me by Thine Epiphany,// O Thou who alone lovest mankind.' Come, let us do as the wise virgins;/ come, let us go and meet the Master who has appeared:/ for as a Bridegroom has He come forth to John./ The Jordan, seeing Thee, crouched in fear and stopped;/ John cried aloud:/ 'I dare not touch Thine immortal head.'/ The Spirit came down in the form of a dove to hallow the waters,/ and a voice cried from on high:/ 'This is 2

3 My Son Who is come into the world to save mankind.'// O Lord, glory to Thee. Christ is baptized:/ He comes up out of the waters, and with Him He carries up the world./ He sees the heavens opened that Adam closed against himself and his posterity./ The Spirit bears witness to His divinity, for He hastens towards His like;/ and a voice sounds from heaven, for it is from heaven that He has come down to whom this testimony is given,// and He is the Saviour of our souls. The hand of the Baptist trembled, when it touched Thine immaculate head:/ the river Jordan turned back, not daring to minister to Thee./ For how could he that stood in awe of Joshua the son of Nun not be afraid before the Maker of Joshua?/ But Thou, our Saviour, hast fulfilled all that was appointed,/ that so Thou mightest save the world by Thine Epiphany,// O Thou who alone lovest mankind. Glory... (Tone 8) O Lord, wishing to fulfill that which Thou hast appointed from eternity,/ Thou hast received from all the creation ministers at this Thy mystery:/ Gabriel from among the angels. The Virgin from among men,/ the Star from among the heavens and Jordan from among the waters;/ and in its stream Thou hast washed away the transgression of the world,// O Saviour, glory to Thee. Both now... (Tone 8) Use music for this verse Today creation is enlightened./ Today all nature is glad, things of heaven and things upon earth./ Angels and men mingle with one another,/ for where the King is present, there His army also goes./ Let us run, then, to the Jordan;/ let us all see how John baptizes a sinless and uncreated head./ Therefore let us cry aloud with one accord,/ echoing the voice of the apostle:/ The grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared.// Shining upon the faithful and granting them great mercy. P. Litya prayers in back of Church APOSTICHA: (Tone 1) 1. We were set free by Thy passion, O Christ,/ and we were redeemed from corruption by Thy Resurrection.// Unto Thee, O Lord, be glory. V. The Lord is King,/ and hath put on glorious apparel. 2. Let the creation exult, the heavens make glad,/ the nations clap their hands with joy:/ For Christ our Saviour, because He loveth mankind,/ hath nailed our sins to the Cross,/ put death to death and given us life by raising fallen Adam,// father of all mankind. V. He hath made the world so sure/ that it cannot be moved. 3. O Thou Who art beyond all understanding,/ King of heaven and earth,/ for love of mankind hast been of Thine own Will crucified:/ Hell was filled with bitterness when it met Thee below/ and the souls of the 3

4 just at receiving Thee rejoiced./ And when he saw Thee, the Creator, in the depths, Adam rose up./ What a wonder this is:/ That the life of all men should taste death/ in His desire to give light to the world that cries and says:// Glory unto Thee, O Lord, risen from the dead. V. Holiness becometh Thine house/ O Lord, forever. 4. The myrrh-bearing women bringing spices,/ hastened mourning to Thy tomb,/ and when they found Thy immaculate Body gone and learnt from the angel/ of the unprecedented and all-glorious wonder,/ they said to the Apostles: "The Lord is risen,// granting the world great mercy." Glory... (Tone 4) As a lover of the Spirit,/ a swallow who is clearly the harbinger of the gracious dispensation of God the King,/ Who shone forth brightly upon the human race from the pure one, unto the restoration of men,/ O Forerunner, thou didst shine forth, utterly uplifting the spirits of the downcast,/ and guiding aright the hearts of those who are baptized in repentance,/ that they may receive everlasting life,// O blessed God-pleaser. Both... (Tone 4) Come ye, let us emulate the wise virgins!/ Come ye, let us greet the Master Who hath appeared unto us!/ For He hath come to John like a Bridegroom./ The Jordan, seeing Thee, was afraid and ceased its flow./ And John cried out: "I dare not touch the head of the Immortal One!"/ The Spirit descended in the form of a dove, to sanctify the water./ And a voice was heard from heaven, saying:/ "This is My Son Who hath come into the world to save the human race!"// O Lord, glory be to Thee! C. St. Symeon's Prayer R. Trisagion C. Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos (once only) Troparion of the Feast: (Tone 1) (see music) x1 When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the Trinity was revealed,/ for the voice of the Father did come forth to testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son/ and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove/ confirmed the truth of the word./ Thou hast appeared and given light to the world,// O Lord, glory be to Thee. Troparion for St. John the Baptist (Tone 2) x1 The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise,/ but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner./ Thou wast truly shown to be more honourable than the prophets,/ in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim./ Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth,/ unto those in hades also thou didst proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh,// Who taketh away the sin of the world, and granteth us great mercy. P. Blessing of the Loaves C. Amen. Blessed be the Name of the Lord... x3 Psalm 33:1-10 4

5 5 MATINS: Tone 1 P. Regular Beginning P. Great Ectenia C. God is the Lord... C. Sunday Troparia (Tone 1) x2 When the stone had been sealed by the Jews;/ While the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure Body;/ Thou didst rise on the third Day, O Saviour/ granting life to the world./ The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of life./ Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!/ Glory to Thy kingdom!// Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou Who lovest mankind! Glory... Troparion for St. John the Baptist (Tone 2) The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise,/ but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner./ Thou wast truly shown to be more honourable than the prophets,/ in that thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the streams Him Whom thou didst proclaim./ Wherefore, having suffered, rejoicing, for the truth,/ unto those in hades also thou didst proclaim God, Who had manifested Himself in the flesh,// Who taketh away the sin of the world, and granteth us great mercy. Both... Troparion of the Feast: (Tone 1) (see music) When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the Trinity was revealed,/ for the voice of the Father did come forth to testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son/ and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove/ confirmed the truth of the word./ Thou hast appeared and given light to the world,// O Lord, glory be to Thee. Lord Have Mercy Glory... 3x R. Now... R. Kathisma II P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns: The soldiers guarding Thy tomb, O Saviour, became as dead men because of the radiance of the angel who appeared before them, proclaiming the resurrection to the women. We glorify Thee, the Destroyer of corruption, and we bow down before Thee, our one God Who hast risen from the grave. V. Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. Nailed to the Cross of Thine own will, and laid in the tomb as one dead, O compassionate Bestower of life, by Thy death Thou didst break the dominion of death, O Mighty One; for the gatekeepers of hades trembled before Thee, and Thou didst raise up with Thyself the dead of ages past, in that Thou alone lovest mankind. G/B... At the sound of Gabriel s voice calling out to thee: "Hail, Virgin," the Master of all things became incarnate in thee, thou the Holy Tabernacle, as David the righteous said. In bearing thy Creator, thou hast shown thyself to surpass the vastness of the heavens. Glory unto Him Who

6 dwelt in thee. Glory unto Him Who from thee came forth. Glory unto Him, Who by thy childbirth hath set us free. R. Kathisma III P. Small Ectenia R. Sessional Hymns: Very early the women arrived at the tomb and, beholding the appearance of the angel, they trembled. The tomb shone forth life, and the miracle filled them with awe. Wherefore, going to the disciples, they proclaimed the resurrection: Christ hath made hell captive, in that He alone is mighty and powerful; and destroying the fear of damnation by the Cross, He hath raised up with Himself all who had fallen prey to corruption! V. I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders. Thou wast nailed to the Cross, O Life of all, and wast reckoned among the dead, O immortal Lord. Thou didst rise on the third day, O Saviour, with Thee raising Adam up from corruption. Wherefore, the hosts of heaven cried out to Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life: Glory to Thy resurrection! Glory to Thy condescension, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind! G/B... O Mary, precious receptacle of the Master, raise us up who have fallen into the chasm of grievous despondency, transgressions and sorrows; for thou art salvation, help and mighty intercession for sinners, and thou savest thy servants. C. Polyeleos C. Evlogitaria (Blessed art Thou, O Lord...) P. Small Ectenia R. Ypakoe: The repentance of the thief stole paradise, and the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers announced joy: for Thou didst arise, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world. Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon One) When I am sorrowful, hearken unto my pain, O Lord. Unto Thee do I cry. Unceasing divine desire befitteth those in the wilderness, who are beyond this vainglorious world. G/B... Worship and glory are due the Holy Spirit, as also to the Father and the Son. Wherefore, let us hymn the single dominion of the Trinity. Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Two) Thou hast brought me up to the mountains of Thy laws, O God. Illumine me with the virtues, that I may hymn Thee. Taking me in Thy right hand, O Word, preserve and protect me, that the fire of sin may not consume me. G/B... By the Holy Spirit is every creature restored, returning to its primal state; for He is equal in power with the Father and the Son. 6 Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Three)

7 My spirit was glad and my heart rejoiceth for those who said to me: Let us enter into the courts of the Lord. There is great fear in the house of David, for there, when the thrones are set up, all the tribes and nations of the earth will be judged. G/B... It is meet and fitting to offer honour and worship, glory and power unto the Holy Spirit, as to the Father and the Son, for the Trinity is a unity in nature, but not in Persons. P. Prokimenon: Now will I arise, saith the Lord,/ I will establish them in salvation, I will be manifest therein. V. The words of the Lord are pure words. C. Let every breath praise the Lord. P. GOSPEL #1 C. Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ... R. Psalm 50 C. Glory... Now... Have mercy on me... Jesus having risen... P. Save, O God, Thy People... Anointing. Canticle One 7 Irmos: Thy victorious right arm/ hath in godly manner been glorified in strength;/ for as almighty, O Immortal One,/ it smote the adversary,// fashioning anew the path of the deep for the Israelites. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. O Thou Who in the beginning didst divinely fashion me out of dust with Thine all-pure hands, Thou didst stretch out Thine arms upon the Cross, calling forth from the earth my corrupt body, which Thou hadst received from the Virgin. Thou didst assume mortality for my sake and didst surrender Thy soul unto death, O Thou Who by Thy divine breath didst instill my soul within me; and having loosed the everlasting bonds, thou didst glorify it with incorruption, raising it up with Thee. Theotokion Rejoice, O wellspring of grace! Rejoice, O ladder and door of heaven! Rejoice, O lampstand and golden jar, thou unquarried mountain, who for the world gavest birth unto Christ, the Bestower of life. Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! The Lord, the King of the ages, restoreth corrupted Adam with the streams of the Jordan and crusheth the heads of the serpents who make their nest therein, for He hath been glorified.

8 The Lord Who became incarnate of the Virgin, clothing material flesh in the immaterial fire of the Godhead, doth wrap Himself in the water of the Jordan, for He hath been glorified. He Who washeth away the defilement of men, cleanseth Himself for them in the Jordan, desiring to make Himself like unto them, yet remaining as He was before, the Lord Who enlighteneth those in darkness, for He hath been glorified. When the light of the radiant Dawn shone forth upon mortal men, coming forth from the wilderness to the waters of the Jordan, Thou, O King of the Sun, didst bow Thy neck before him, that Thou mightest ransom our forefather from the minions of darkness and cleanse creation of all defilement. O Word Who art without beginning, Thou hast buried man with Thyself in the stream, and Thou dost lead him forth new again, who had been corrupted by deception; and the mighty voice of the Father testifieth to Thee ineffably, saying: This is My beloved Son, the Child Who is equal to Me by nature. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Anticipating me in thy supplications, O Forerunner, save me who am drowning amid the tempest of the passions; for thou thyself wast the honoured and most pure receptacle of dispassion, appointed from infancy by the Lord from on high. With salutation the angel of God stood before the honourable Zachariah, thy priestly father, and he announced thee, the peer of the angels, who wouldst become the Forerunner and friend of the Lord, O most blessed one. Glory... Let us praise the godly and divinely wise Forerunner of the Lord, who cut through the strange path of life which before was closed to all men, and baptized Christ in the Jordan's streams. Both...O pure one, thou most hallowed temple of virginity, who bore God the Word within thy womb: by thy supplications save those who have recourse to thee and call upon thee, repelling the assault of misfortunes, O most immaculate one. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Lord mighty in battle/ uncovered the foundations of the deep/ and led His servants on dry ground:/ but He covered their adversaries with the waters,// for He has been glorified. Canticle Three 8 Irmos: Thou, Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature,/ having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein:/ Thou girdest me about with power from on high,/ that I may chant to Thee:/ Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory,// O Thou Who lovest mankind! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

9 9 As God, O Good One, Thou hast taken pity on me who have fallen; and it being Thy good pleasure to come down to me, Thou hast by Thy crucifixion raised me up to cry unto Thee: Holy is the Lord of glory, immutable in goodness! As enhypostatic Life, O Christ, clothing Thyself in me who have become corrupt, in that Thou art the God of lovingkindness, and descending to my mortal dust, O Master, Thou didst destroy the dominion of death; and having risen after three days of death, Thou hast clothed me in incorruption. Theotokion Conceiving God in thy womb through the all-holy Spirit, O Virgin, thou didst remain unconsumed; for the bush which burned without being consumed clearly, to Moses the Law-giver, proclaimed thee beforehand, who received the unbearable Fire. Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! O Church of Christ, who of old wast barren and grievously childless, be glad today; for by water and the Spirit children have been born unto thee, who cry out with faith: There is none as holy as our God! In the wilderness the Forerunner crieth out with a loud voice: "Prepare ye the ways of Christ and make straight the paths of our God, crying out with faith: There is none as holy as our God! He who once assumed the guise of a malignant serpent and planted death in the garden of creation, is now cast to darkness by Christ's coming in the flesh; and by assailing the Master, the Dawn which hath shone forth upon us, he crusheth his own loathsome head. The Master draweth to Himself the divinely crafted nature of man, which had been overthrown by the tyranny of greed; and He restoreth mortal men, granting them a new birth, and accomplishing thereby a mighty work; for He is come to cleanse our nature. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Thou didst loose the reproach of barrenness, and, recognizing the divine Offspring of the Virgin, didst leap up, rejoicing, in thy mother's womb, O most lauded one who dwellest with the angels, most blessed Forerunner of the Lord. Preparing the ways of the Lord, thou didst go before His face, O prophet; for thou wast shown to be like a beacon, revealing the Effulgence of the Father's glory, Who appeared in the flesh for our sake, O thou who art most excellent of all. Glory... Thou didst shine forth like the dawn, announcing the Sun of righteousness to those in darkness; for thou wast the preacher and Forerunner of the salvation of all, and didst say to all: "Come ye to Christ with faith, and be saved!"

10 Both...Receiving ineffable joy, O Mother of God, thou didst seedlessly conceive thy Master, Who calleth the whole world. To Him do we cry out: There is none holy save Thee, O Lord! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Lord, Who givest strength to our kings/ and exalts the horn of His anointed,/ is born of a Virgin and comes to baptism./ Therefore let us, the faithful, cry aloud:// None is holy as our God and none is righteous save Thee, O Lord. P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion of the Feast: (Tone 4) Thou hast appeared to the universe,/ and Thy light, O Lord, hast shone on us,/ who with understanding praise Thee:/ Thou hast come and revealed Thyself,// O Light Unapproachable! R. Ikos Upon Galilee of the nations, upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, as the prophet said, a great Light hath shone, even Christ. A radiant Beam hath dawned upon those who sat in darkness, shining forth from Bethlehem. The Lord born of Mary, the Sun of righteousness, shineth forth with splendor upon the whole world. Come, therefore, all ye naked children of Adam, and let us clothe ourselves in Him, that we may be warmed; for He Who covereth the naked and enlighteneth those in darkness, hath come. He hath appeared, the Light unapproachable! R. Sessional Hymns When Jesus had been born of the Virgin Mary and was baptized by John in the Jordan, the Spirit, seen in the form of a dove, descended upon Him. Wherefore, the prophet said with the angels: Glory to Thy coming, O Christ! Glory to Thy kingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind. (twice) G/B... When Thou didst appear in the flesh for baptism, O Invisible One, Jordan ministered to Thee with its streams, and John stretched forth his corruptible hand; yet the one turned back in fear, and the other straightway touched Thee, the Incorruptible One, with trembling. Truly Thou art the Lamb of God, the ever-living Fountain Who hath sanctified the springs, the sea and men; for the Trinity shone forth from on high: the Father calleth Thee His Son, and the Holy spirit descendeth. Canticle Four 10 Irmos: Gazing with the eyes of foresight upon thee,/ the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God,/ Habbakuk prophesied that the Holy One of Israel would come forth from thee,// for our salvation and restoration. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. Who is this Saviour Who issueth forth from Edom, wearing a crown of thorns, His robe stained red, lifted up upon the Tree? He is the Holy One of Israel, Who is come for our salvation and restoration!

11 Behold, ye disobedient people, and be ashamed! For He Whom ye madly asked Pilate to lift up on the Cross as a malefactor hath destroyed the power of death and risen as God from the tomb! Theotokion O Virgin, we know thee to be the tree of life; for it is no fruit deadly for men to eat which thou hast put forth, but the delight of everlasting Life, for the salvation of us who hymn thee. Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! "Who hath ever seen the sun cleansed, which is dazzling by nature?" the herald crieth out. "Am I then to wash with water Thee, the Effulgence of glory, the Image of the eternal Father? Am I, who am grass, to touch Thy divinity? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!" "When he happened upon Thee, Moses showed the divine reverence he felt, for he understood that it was Thee Who spake out of the bush; and he straightway averted his face. How, then, can I gaze directly at Thee? How can I touch Thee with my hand? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!" Wisely doing what is spiritual, and being honoured with speech, yet stand I in awe before inanimate things. For if I baptize Thee, the mountain which smoked with fire, the sea which parted in twain and this Jordan which turned back will be mine accusers. For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God. O most radiant Word, Who hast been sent forth by the Father, Thou comest to repel utterly the night of evil darkness and to uproot the sins of men, and by Thy baptism to draw forth children of light from the streams of the Jordan, O Good One. When he saw in very truth the Word Who had been foretold, the herald bore witness of Him to creation, and cried, plainly saying: "This is He Who was before me, yet cometh after. Though like us in form, He hath shone forth with divine power to take away our hateful sin!" That He might bring His own back to the life-giving pastures of paradise, the Word of God layeth siege to the lairs of the dragons, and destroying their manifold snares, he assaileth him who hath bruised all mankind, and, imprisoning him, delivereth creation. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Thou wast sent to cleanse the impure with water, preparing them to receive Christ the Master, Who taketh away their sins and driveth darkness away with the radiance of the knowledge of God, O most honoured one. Entreat Christ to cure me of the serpent's venom, O blessed one who baptized Him in the waters of the Jordan, wherein the Saviour crushed the nesting malice of the serpents. 11

12 Glory... O most excellent one who leddest a life strange and untrodden by men, thou didst stand before the waters of the Jordan, listening to the voice of the Father and beholding the coming of the Spirit. Both...The Lord Who created all things maketh Himself like unto us, O most pure one, taking up His abode within thy most holy womb; and, clothing Himself in human form, He hath saved His own image. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) He whom Thou hast called, O Lord,/ 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness, / heard Thy voice when Thou hast thundered upon many waters,/ bearing witness to Thy Son./ Wholly filled with the Spirit that had come he cried aloud:// 'Thou art Christ, the wisdom and the power of God.' Canticle Five 12 Irmos: O Christ, Who hast enlightened the ends of the world/ with the radiance of Thy coming,/ and illumined them by Thy Cross:/ With the light of Thy divine knowledge/ enlighten the hearts of those// who hymn Thee in Orthodox manner. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The Jews put the great Shepherd and Lord of the sheep to death by the Tree of the Cross; but the dead buried in hades did He deliver, like sheep, from the dominion of death. Having announced peace by Thy Cross and proclaimed remission to those held captive, O my Saviour, Thou didst put to shame him who hath dominion, as though he were naked, by Thy divine resurrection showing him to be impoverished. Theotokion Disdain not the requests of those who petition thee with faith, O most hymned and all-pure one, but accept and convey them to thy Son, the one God and Benefactor; for thee have we acquired as our intercessor. Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! When countless people went down to be baptized of John, Thou Thyself didst stand in their midst. And he announced to those present: "Who hath told you, O rebellious ones, to avoid the impending wrath? Bring forth fruits worthy of Christ; for He standeth before you, granting peace." Standing in their midst, the Creator and Fashioner alone trieth the hearts of all; and taking his winnowing-fan in His hand, He most wisely doth separate the harvest of the whole world, letting the chaff fall away; and He granteth eternal life to the fruitful. Beholding him whom He had formed of dust bound by inescapable bonds in the darkness of sin, the Creator raised him up and laid him on His shoulders; and now, in the midst of abundant waters, He cleanseth him of the ancient shame of Adam's inclination toward sin.

13 With piety let us eagerly hasten to the most pure wellsprings of the stream of salvation: and, gazing upon the Word Who is come forth from the incorrupt Virgin, let us drink the pure water which quencheth our holy thirst, gently healing the infirmity of the world. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Illumined with the splendors of supernatural virtue, thou didst present the waters of the Jordan as an initiation into the mysteries of heaven, baptizing and cleansing with water those who have recourse to thee with faith of soul, O Forerunner. The pure and incorrupt Light, desiring to be baptized, showed thee forth as a most pure vessel, O John; for thou, the most honoured of the prophets, wast chosen beforehand by Him as the greatest of all, for thou wast counted worthy to behold Him Whom thou didst prophesy. Glory... Who hath ever seen or heard of the Undefiled One Who sustaineth all things bowing His head before one of His creatures? Wherefore, with trembling the Baptist cried out: "I know none other God than Thee!" Both...The Son of God, Who, as God, doth accomplish His works by His will alone, manifestly showed Himself to be thy Son, O Virgin. Wherefore, we all call thee the true Theotokos, for we know none other Mother of God than thee. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) Jesus, the Prince of Life,/ has come to set loose from condemnation Adam the first-formed man;/ and though as God He needs no cleansing,/ yet for the sake of fallen man He is cleansed in the Jordan./ In its streams He slew the enmity// and grants the peace that passes all understanding. Canticle Six 13 Irmos: The uttermost abyss hath engulfed us,/ and there is none to deliver us./ We are accounted as lambs for the slaughter./ Save Thy people, O our God,// for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. We were grievously wounded by the offense of the first-created man, O Lord, but we have been healed by the wounds wherewith Thou wast wounded for us, O Christ; for Thou art the strength and correction of the weak. Thou hast led us up out of hades, O Lord, having slain the alldevouring monster and set his power at naught by Thy might, O Omnipotent One; for Thou art Life, Light and Resurrection. Theotokion The ancestors of our race rejoice in thee, O all-pure Virgin, receiving through thee the Eden which they lost through transgression; for thou wast pure before giving birth and art so after birthgiving.

14 14 Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! Christ, Who was begotten incorruptibly of God the Father, is incarnate of the Virgin without defilement. The Forerunner teacheth that it is not possible to loose the sandals, the bond between the Word and us, of Him Who delivereth mortals from deception. With the uttermost fire shall Christ baptize His enemies, who do not acknowledge Him as God; but He shall restore with the water of grace those who accept His divinity, delivering them from their transgressions. The prophet, mysteriously swallowed up for the space of three nights in the belly of the sea monster, emerged again, making manifest beforehand to all our regeneration in the last times, and our deliverance from the dragon that slayeth mankind. When the shining vaults of heaven were opened, he who knew the Scriptures beheld the Spirit, Who proceedeth from the Father and abideth in the all-pure Word, descending in ineffable manner in the form of a dove; and he commanded the multitudes to hasten to the Master. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Thou, the voice of the Word, didst precede Him and didst shine forth like a radiant star, the Sun of righteousness illumining thee, O Forerunner. Thou didst not concern thyself with earthly cares, and wast enriched with the expectations of heaven. And thou didst perfect thy life like an angel on earth, O most blessed one. Glory... We know thee to be the seal of the prophets, the mediator between the old and new covenants, and we proclaim thee to be the Baptist and Forerunner of Christ the Saviour. Both... All the faithful acknowledge and believe thy conceiving to be truly ineffable and thy birthgiving to be inexpressible and unapproachable, O only Bride of God. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Voice of the Word, the Candlestick of the Light,/ the Morning Star and Forerunner of the Sun,/ cried in the wilderness to all the peoples:/ Repent and be cleansed while there is yet time.// For lo, Christ is at hand, Who delivers the world from corruption. P. Small Ectenia C. Kontakion for St. John the Baptist (Tone 6) Stricken with awe by Thy coming in the flesh,/ the Jordan turned back in fear;/ and John, fulfilling the prophetic ministry, shrank back with trembling./ The ranks of the angels were amazed, beholding Thee baptized in the flesh in the streams,/ and all who were in darkness were enlightened,// hymning Thee Who hast appeared and illumined all things. R. Ikos for St. John

15 Though Adam had become blind in Eden, the Sun appeared out of Bethlehem and opened his eyes, washing them with the waters of the Jordan: the ever-burning Light shone forth upon him who was enshrouded in darkness and gloom. For him there is no longer any night, but everlasting day. For his sake the Morning hath dawned; for he hid Himself until the evening, as it is written, and found the radiance which restoreth him. He who fell at eventide hath turned from the darkness and attained unto the dawning of Him Who hath appeared and illumined all things. P. Reading from the Prologue or Synaxarion. Canticle Seven 15 Irmos: O Theotokos, we the faithful,/ perceive thee to be a noetic furnace;/ for, as the supremely Exalted One saved the three youths,/ in thy womb the praised and most glorious God of our fathers// wholly renewed the world. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. The earth was afraid, the sun hid itself, the light grew dim, the divine veil of the temple was rent in twain, and the rocks split asunder; for the Righteous One, the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers, hung upon the Cross. Wounded among mortals of Thine own will for our sake, as though helpless, O supremely Exalted One, Thou, the praised and all-glorious God of our fathers, hung upon the Cross. Theotokion Rejoice, O wellspring of the water of eternal life! Rejoice, paradise of delight! Rejoice, bulwark of the faithful! Rejoice, thou who knewest not wedlock! Rejoice, universal joy, through whom the praised and allglorious God of our fathers hath shone forth! Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! As in heaven, with trembling and wonder the angelic hosts stood before Thee in the Jordan, witnessing the breadth of God's condescension; for the God of our fathers, Who holdeth the firmament of the waters above, stood, incarnate as man, in the waters. The cloud and the sea of old prefigured the wonder of divine baptism, for the ancient people of the law were baptized therein when they fled Egypt. The sea was an image of the water, and the cloud was an image of the Spirit, whereby we are made perfect. And we cry out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever! O all ye faithful, in Him have we received perfection; and, theologizing continually with the angels we glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For, lo! the consubstantial Trinity of Hypostases is the One God. To Him do we chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever! The fierce Assyrian flame that prefigured Thee hast Thou quenched, transforming it into dew. And now, O Christ, Thou hast clothed Thyself in

16 water as in flame, and Thou burnest up the baneful malice concealed in its depths, which calleth men to fall with faltering step. When the Jordan was parted of old, the people of Israel passed clean over on dry ground, prefiguring Thee, O most powerful Lord, Who now bearest up creation in the waters without touching it, leading it to a better and imperishable path. We know that in the beginning Thou didst, in Thy mercy, bring the waters of the flood upon the earth to destroy every living substance that Thou hadst made. And now, O Christ, Who workest wonders strange and most great, Thou hast drowned sin in the waters of Thy compassion, unto the salvation of mortal men. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! Having accomplished the sacred baptism and performed the mysteries which were manifestly given thee by God, O sacred minister, thou didst offer thyself as a sacrifice, as an innocent lamb. Wherefore, we chant together with thee: Blessed is the God of our fathers! Thou wast a new Elijah, denouncing the iniquitous king with boldness and showing us an immaterial life, as he did, O thrice-blessed Forerunner. Wherefore, we chant with thee, O prophet: Blessed is the God of our fathers! Glory... Inheriting the divine honour of the apostles of Christ, O Forerunner, thou greatest of the prophets, thou wast manifestly shown to be the fulfillment of the law and the beginning of the new grace. Wherefore, we chant with thee, O thrice-blessed one: Blessed is the God of our fathers! Both...O ye pious, with chanting let us all hymn, as is meet, the most pure Mistress who was acceptable to God; for she gave birth to God the Only-begotten, Who hath appeared to us men. To Him, O ye faithful, let us chant together: Blessed is the God of our fathers! C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The breath of the wind heavy with dew/ and the descent of the angel of God/ preserved the Holy Children from all harm,/ as they walked in the fiery furnace./ Refreshed with dew in the flames, they sang in thanksgiving:// Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our fathers. Canticle Eight 16 Irmos: Shining in the furnace more brightly/ than gold in a crucible in the beauty of their piety,/ the children of Israel said:/ Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!// Hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages! Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. O Word of God, Who by Thy will dost create and refashion all things, transforming the shadow of death into life everlasting by Thy sufferings:

17 Thee do all of us, the works of the Lord, unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt for all ages. Thou didst destroy distress and misery within the gates and strongholds of hades, O Christ, rising from the tomb on the third day. Thee do all Thy works unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt as Lord for all ages! Theotokion Let us hymn her who without seed supernaturally gave rise to Christ, the Pearl of great price, through the divine Effulgence; and let us say: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Hymn and exalt Him supremely for all ages! Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! "Put aside all fear," the Deliverer said to the Forerunner; "Obey Me, in that I am good, and touch Me, for tangible have I become by nature. Submit to My commands and baptize Me Who am come down." Him do the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages. When the Baptist heard the words of the Master, he stretched forth his hand with trembling, and as he touched the head of his Creator he cried out to Him Who was being baptized: "Sanctify me, for Thou art my God, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages!" The Trinity was revealed in the Jordan, for the Father, the all-divine Essence Himself, announced: "This One Who is baptized is My beloved Son!" And the Spirit came upon Him Who was like unto Him, Whom the people bless and exalt supremely for all ages. Sprinkled with dew in the midst of the fire, the three godly children plainly prefigured how the transcendent Nature, which is resplendent with most radiant rays of threefold holiness, doth, through human nature, mercifully consume all pernicious falsehood with the fire of dew. Let the whole of earthly creation be clothed in white, for this day it is raised up from its fall to heaven; and, washed and most splendidly cleansed in the flowing waters by the Word, by Whom all things are preserved, it hath escaped its former sins. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! With joy do we honour thee, O most blessed John, who by thy steadfast life on earth showed thyself to be the peer of the angels; and we cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! O prophet, thou didst teach the one Essence of the Godhead in Three Persons, consubstantial in Hypostases; for by the voice of the Father and the coming of the Spirit thou didst recognize Him Whom thou didst baptize as the eternal Word of God. Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord! Watching over us now from on high, O blessed, most blessed Forerunner, by thy supplications preserve those who follow thy divine preaching, who abide in the teachings of thy divine and saving dogmas. 17

18 18 Both... Ineffably thou didst conceive the pre-eternal Effulgence of the Father's glory, the unoriginate Word Who is known to exist from the beginning, and Who is now become thy First-born, immutably becoming a creature, O most pure one. We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, praising and supremely exalting Him unto all ages. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) The Babylonian furnace,/ as it poured forth dew,/ foreshadowed a marvelous mystery;/ how the Jordan should receive in its streams the immaterial fire,/ and should encompass the Creator, when He was baptized in the flesh.// Him do ye peoples bless and exalt above all for ever. P. Magnificat C. Song of the Most Holy Theotokos. Canticle Nine Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed/ showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving./ And we pray now that the furnace of temptations/ which rageth against us may be extinguished,// that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos. Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord. How have the iniquitous and disobedient people, plotting evils, justified a proud and ungodly man, yet condemned to the Tree the Righteous One, the Lord of glory, Whom we magnify as is meet? O Saviour, Thou unblemished Lamb Who takest away the sins of the world: Thee Who hast risen on the third day do we glorify with the Father and Thy divine Spirit; and, theologizing, we magnify the Lord of glory. Theotokion Save Thy people, whom Thou hast acquired by Thy precious blood, O Lord, granting peace to Thy churches through the supplications of the Theotokos, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee! O David, come thou in spirit to the enlightened and chant, saying: "Approach God now with faith and be illumined! Lowly Adam cried out in his fall, and the Lord heard him, and, coming to the streams of the Jordan, He restored the corrupted one." Isaiah saith: "Change your ways and cleanse yourselves; leave off your wickedness in the face of the Lord! Ye who thirst, go to the living Water; for Christ sprinkleth with water those who have recourse to Him with faith, renewing them, and He baptizeth with the Spirit unto life which ageth not." By grace and the seal are we preserved, O ye faithful; for as of old the blood-smeared lintels allowed the Hebrews to escape the destroyer, so

19 shall the laver of regeneration be for us a divine exodus. And henceforth we shall see the never-waning light of the Trinity. That which was revealed to Moses in the bush we see here fulfilled in wondrous manner; for as it bare fire, yet was not consumed, so hath the Virgin been preserved, who gave birth unto the Benefactor Who bringeth us light, and the streams of the Jordan suffered no harm when they received Him. O King Who is without beginning, through the communion of the Spirit dost Thou anoint and make perfect the nature of man, and cleansing it in the pure streams of baptism, putting the arrogant might of darkness to shame, Thou now dost raise it up to eternal life. Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, pray to God for us! From the wilderness the Forerunner, the voice of the Word, pointeth to Him Who hath come to us in the flesh; and he prepareth most joyfully to baptize the Pre-eternal One Who cleanseth our souls from sin for the sake of our faith. Grace and the law manifestly set thee forth as the mediator between them: for thou didst seal the one and begin the other, art honoured by the Word as greatest of all the prophets, and didst live beyond visible things, O most honoured one. Glory... Showing forth a life like unto that of the incorporeal ones, he dwelleth with the angelic choirs, and rejoiceth, standing before the throne of the Master, asking remission and salvation for those who praise him. Both... In His compassion the Deliverer of all becometh man and accepteth to be born in the flesh of thy virginal womb, for He loveth man with a love beyond that of men, O most blessed Theotokos. C. Katavasia (Tone 2) Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due:/ even a spirit from the World above is filled with dizziness,/ when it seeks to sing thy praises, O Theotokos./ But since Thou art good, accept our faith:/ Thou knowest well our love inspired by God,// for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee. P. Small Ectenia C. Holy is the Lord our God... R. Exapostilarion One (Mt 28:16-20) Let us go with the disciples into a mountain of Galilee to behold with faith Christ saying: Let us learn to receive power over things above and below; how to teach all the nations and to baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and as was promised I shall be even unto the end of the world with those who know the mysteries. Glory... Exapostilarion for St. John the Baptist Thou didst wondrously prepare the ways of the Lord; for thou wast the herald of His coming, the preacher most true and the greatest of the 19

20 prophets, O blessed john. Thou didst behold the Light, fulfilling His ineffable dispensation. Both... of the Feast The Saviour appeared, grace and truth, in the streams of the Jordan, and He illumined those sleeping in darkness and shadow, for He, the immutable Light, hath come and appeared. C. Lauds: Tone 1 Stichera Let every bre-ath praise the Lord/ Praise the Lord from the Heavens/ Praise Him in the highest/ To Thee is due a hymn, O God/ Praise Him, all ye His Angels;/ Praise Him, all ye His hosts.// To Thee is due a hymn, O God. R. (The following may be read or sung antiphonally) Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and thou water that art above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord; For He spake, and they came to be; He commanded, and they were created. He established them forever, yea, forever and ever; He hath set an ordinance, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all ye abysses, Fire, hail, snow, ice, blast of tempest, which perform His word, The mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars, The beasts and all the cattle, creeping things and winged birds, Kings of the earth, and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, Young men and virgins, elders with the younger; let them praise the name of the Lord, for exalted is the name of Him alone. His praise is above the earth and heaven, and He shall exalt the horn of His people. This is the hymn for all His saints, for the sons of Israel, and for the people that draw nigh unto Him. Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints. Let Israel be glad in Him that made him, let the sons of Sion rejoice in their king. Let them praise His name in the dance; with the timbrel and the psaltery let them chant unto Him. For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people, and He shall exalt the meek with salvation. The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds. The high praise of God shall be in their throat, and two-edged swords shall be in their hands. To do vengeance among the heathen, punishments among the peoples, To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron, V. To do among them the judgment that is written/ This glory shall be to all His saints. 1. We praise in song Thy saving passion, O Christ,// and glorify Thy Resurrection. 20

21 21 V. Praise ye God in His saints,/ praise Him in the firmament of His power. 2. Give peace to our lives,/ O Thou, the only Almighty Lord,/ Who hast endured the Cross and hast laid death low// and risen from the dead. V. Praise Him for His mighty acts,/ praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness. 3. Vouchsafe that we may praise and glorify Thee with a pure heart, O Christ,/ Who hast despoiled death,// and raised up man through Thy Resurrection. V. Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,/ praise Him with psaltery and harp. 4. Glorifying Thy divinely fitting condescension,/ we praise Thee, O Christ./ Born of the Virgin without parting from the Father,/ Thou hast suffered as man and willingly endured the Cross./ Glory be to Thee, O Lord, Who, preceding as from a chamber,// hast risen from the tomb to save the world. V. Praise Him with timbrel and dance,/ praise Him with strings and flute. Stichera for the Feast (Tone 4) 5. Christ our Saviour, the Light of Light,/ hath shone forth upon the world,/ manifesting Himself as God.// Let us worship Him, O ye people! V. Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation./ Let every breath praise the Lord. 6. How can we who are servants/ honour the Master as is meet?// for He hath restored us all in the waters. V. The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back. 7. Baptized in the Jordan, touched by Thy servant's hand, O our Saviour,/ Thou didst sanctify the waters,/ healing the sufferings of the world./ Great is the mystery of Thine epiphany!// O Lord Who lovest mankind, glory be to Thee! V. What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou, O Jordan, that thou didst turn back? 8. The true Light hath appeared and giveth enlightenment to all./ Christ is baptized with us, Who is above all in purity./ He draweth sanctification into the water and becometh the cleansing of our souls,/ which is at once earthly and transcendeth the heavens./ Salvation is accomplished through the laver, and the Spirit cometh through water./ Through immersion is our ascent to God accomplished./ Wondrous are Thy works, O Lord!// Glory be to Thee!