Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Memory of the Holy Martyr Anysia, and our Devout Mother Melania
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 1.
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
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Iambic Canon.
Ode iii. Mode 1. Incline Your ear.
Νεῦσον πρὸς ὕμνους.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Even as they watched over their flock by night, * Shepherds were granted an unimaginable sight * Of angelic hosts praising Christ the King, * Novelly incarnate without seed, the all-holy Child * Of the all-pure Virgin; and they were mystified.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Even as they watched over their flock by night, * Shepherds were granted an unimaginable sight * Of angelic hosts praising Christ the King, * Novelly incarnate without seed, the all-holy Child * Of the all-pure Virgin; and they were mystified.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
From the heights of heaven, which He rules as King, * God the Logos, hitherto immaterial, now in the womb * Of the yet unwed Virgin assumes material flesh, * Determined to draw fallen first-formed Adam to himself, * Becoming like us in His profound compassion.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
From the heights of heaven, which He rules as King, * God the Logos, hitherto immaterial, now in the womb * Of the yet unwed Virgin assumes material flesh, * Determined to draw fallen first-formed Adam to himself, * Becoming like us in His profound compassion.
Iambic Canon.
Ode vi. Mode 1. Gripped in the gorges.
Ναίων Ἰωνᾶς.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely [for my sake].
Our nature was unable to preserve its original * Regal image. Seeing this from heaven the divine * Logos and God, who was with God in the beginning, * Demeaning himself now strengthens it and renders it * Free again from passions, by a second communion.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Our nature was unable to preserve its original * Regal image. Seeing this from heaven the divine * Logos and God, who was with God in the beginning, * Demeaning himself now strengthens it and renders it * Free again from passions, by a second communion.
Raising us up as sons, He who descended from the loins * Of Abraham came for us, prone to decline and fallen * Miserably into the darkness of sins, dwelling as He does * Properly in light and now beneath Him in a manger, * As He was well pleased to do, for humanity’s salvation.
Raising us up as sons, He who descended from the loins * Of Abraham came for us, prone to decline and fallen * Miserably into the darkness of sins, dwelling as He does * Properly in light and now beneath Him in a manger, * As He was well pleased to do, for humanity’s salvation.
CHOIR
Entrance Hymn. Mode 2.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, who were born of a Virgin. We sing to You, Alleluia.
Hymns after the Entrance.
Apolytikion of the Feast.
Mode 4.
Your nativity, O Christ our God, has caused the light of knowledge to rise upon the world. For therein the worshippers of the stars were by a star instructed to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You as Orient from on high. Glory to You, O Lord.
The Apolytikion of the parish church is sung.
Then:
Kontakion.
Mode 3. Automelon.
To the melody, “Today the Virgin.”
On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Super-essential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God.
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.
Verse: For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
The Epistle
The reading is from the Universal Letter of James.
Jas. 1:1 – 18
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 1: Arise, O Lord, into Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Verse 2: The Lord swore to David this truth, and He shall not reject it, “I shall set upon your throne one from the fruit of your loins.”
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Gospel
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.”
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 115.
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 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, our God, glory to You.
May He who was born in a cave and lay in a manger for our salvation, 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.
Fast Free: All foods allowed.
It is the Twelve Days of Christmas