LITURGICAL TEXTS FOR SUNDAY

August 17, 2008

9th Sunday after Pentecost and the

Sunday after the Dormition of the Theotokos

Tone 8 / Eothinon 9

 

Saints of the Day: Venerable Myron of Kyzikos, Eutychios, Eutychian, and Kassiane; Martyrs Thyrsos, Cyprian and Juliana; Venerable Alypios the iconographer of the Kiev Caves; Theodoretos of Solovky, enlightener of the Lapps

 

GREAT VESPERS

 

1.) We say the Sunset Psalm 104(103)

 

2.) We chant “O Lord, I have cried ...” in Tone 8 with ten stichera:

Six stichera for the Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 191; Kazan, Vesp., 99)

Four stichera for the Dormition in Tone 1 (Nassar, 584; Kazan Men., 41)

 

Tone 8

Resurrection (Nassar, 191)

Verse 10: Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name. 

Evening praise and spoken worship do we offer thee, O Christ; for thou didst consent to have mercy upon us by thy Resurrection.

 Verse 9: The righteous shall wait for me until Thou recompense me. 

O Lord, O Lord, cast us not from before thy face, but consent to have mercy upon us by thy Resurrection.

 

Verse 8: Out of the depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord hear my voice.

 

Rejoice, O holy Zion, mother of the churches, the abode of God; for thou didst first receive forgiveness of sins by his Resurrection.

 

Verse 7: Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

 

Verily, the Word, born of the Father before the ages, hath himself been incarnate in the last times by his own will, of one who knowest not wedlock. He did suffer crucifixion and death; and by his Resurrection he hath saved man dead of old.

 

Verse 6: If Thou, O Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness.

 

Let us glorify thy Resurrection from the dead, O Christ, by which thou didst free the race of Adam from the usurpation of hades. And since thou art God, thou hast granted the world eternal life and the Great Mercy.

 

Verse 5: Because of Thy name have I waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word, my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

 

Glory to thee, O Christ Savior, only Son of God, who wast nailed upon the Cross, and who didst rise from the tomb on the third day.

 

Tone 1

Dormition (Nassar, 585)

Verse 4: From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord.

 

O Marvelous wonder!  The Fount of life hath been laid in the grave, and the tomb hath become a ladder leading to heaven.  Rejoice, O Gethsemane, the holy chamber of the Theotokos.  And let us believers, shout to her with Gabriel the chief of angels, saying, Hail, O full of grace. The Lord is with thee, granting the world, through thee, the Great Mercy.

 

Verse 3: For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is abundant redemption, and He will deliver Israel from all His iniquities.

 

O Marvelous wonder!  The Fount of life hath been laid in the grave, and the tomb hath become a ladder leading to heaven.  Rejoice, O Gethsemane, the holy chamber of the Theotokos.  And let us believers, shout to her with Gabriel the chief of angels, saying, Hail, O full of grace. The Lord is with thee, granting the world, through thee, the Great Mercy.

 

Verse 2:  Praise the Lord, all ye nations.  Praise Him, all ye people.

 

How strange are thy mysteries, undefiled Virgin; for thou didst appear as a throne to the high One, and today art thou translated from earth to heaven.  Verily, thy glory is a true splendor shining forth with the rays of divine gifts.  Ascend, therefore, O Ye virgins, with the King's Mother, shouting, Hail, O full of grace.  The Lord is with thee, granting, through thee, to the world the Great Mercy.

 

Verse 1: For His mercy is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

 

Verily, the fearful dominions, thrones, presidencies, the lords, powers, cherubim, and seraphim, glorify thy falling asleep.  The terrestrials too, adorned with thy glory, rejoice; and kings with archangels and angels, sing shouting, Hail, O full of grace.  The Lord is with thee, granting, through thee, to the world, the Great Mercy.

 

Tone 2

Dormition (Men. Aug. 17, Vesp.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

 

She who is higher than the heavens and more glorious than the Cherubim, she who is held in greater honor than all creation, today commends her most pure soul into the hands of her son. With her, all things are filled with joy, and she bestows great mercy upon us.

 

Tone 8

Resurrection (Nassar, 192)

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Verily, the King of heaven, for his love to mankind, did appear on earth; and with men did he deal; for he took unto himself a body from the pure Virgin. And from her did he issue in the adopted body, he being one Son, dual in Nature, not dual in Person. Wherefore, do we confess, preaching the truth that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man. Therefore, O Mother who hast no groom, beseech thou him to have mercy upon our, souls.

 

3.) The Entrance is made with the censer, and we chant "O gladsome Light ..." followed by the Prokeimenon "The Lord is King ..." in Tone 6 with its stichoi.

 

4.) At the Aposticha, we chant four stichera for the Resurrection from the Octoechos in Tone 8

 

Tone 8

Thou didst ascend the Cross, O Jesus, who didst descend from heaven. Thou didst come to death, O Life that dieth not, and to those who are in darkness, O true Light, and to the fallen, O Resurrection of all. Wherefore, O our Light and Savior, glory to thee.

 

Verse 1: The Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel, The Lord hath put on His apparel and hath girt Himself with strength.

 

Let us glorify Christ risen from the dead; for he did take unto himself a soul and a body; and he separated one from the other in the Passion, when his pure soul went down to hades which he led captive; and the holy body saw no corruption in the grave, the body of the Redeemer, Savior of our souls.

 

Verse 2: For He hath established the world so that it shall never be moved.

 

With psalms and with songs of praise, O Christ, do we glorify thy Resurrection from the dead, by-which thou didst deliver us from the rebellion of hades. And since thou art God, thou didst grant us eternal life and the Great Mercy.

 

Verse 3: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, forever.

 

O Lord of all, O incomprehensible One; O Maker of heaven and earth, when thou didst suffer in thy Passion on the Cross, thou didst pour out for me passionlessness; and when thou didst submit to burial and didst rise in glory, thou didst raise Adam with thee by a mighty hand. Wherefore, glory to thy third-day Resurrection by which thou didst grant us eternal life and forgiveness of sins; for thou alone, art compassionate.

 

Tone 2

Dormition (Men., Aug 17, Vesp.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

The Spotless Bride, the Mother of Him in whom the Father was well-pleased, she who was ordained by God to be the dwelling-place of His union without confusion, delivers today her blameless soul to her Creator and God. The spiritual powers receive her with honors due to God, and she who is truly the mother of Life departs unto life, the lamp of the light which no man can approach, the salvation of the faithful and the hope of our souls.

 

5.) St. Simeon's Prayer and Holy God…

 

6.) At the Apolytikia, we chant:

 

Tone 8

The Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 193; Kazan, Vesp., 175)

 

From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Tone 1

Dormition (Nassar, 587)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life.  Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

 

7.) At the Great Dismissal we say, “May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother, ... Through the prayers

ORTHROS

 

1.)    At the beginning of Orthros the Troparia and Theotokion

(“O Lord, save Thy people... Do Thou who of Thine own good will... O champion dread...”)

are always said/intoned and are NEVER chanted.

 

2.)    All six of the Orthros Psalms must be said in their entirety.

(Note:  In the Kazan Byzantine Music volume for Orthros, there is an omission in the first introductory stichos.  It should read, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”  Please make this correction in your books.) 

3.)    After the Litany of Peace and the exclamation “For unto Thee are due…”

Chant “God is the Lord…” with its stichoi

 Tone 8

The Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 193; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 30)

 

From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Tone 1

Dormition (Nassar, 587)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life.  Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

 

4.) The Little Ektenia is intoned with the exclamation “For Thine is the might...”

 

5.) The Kathismata are all from the Octoechos. Tone 8 (Nassar, 193; Kazan Sun. Mat., 40)

 

Tone 8

Resurrection (Nassar, 193 ; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 40)

 

First Kathisma

 

Thou hast risen from the dead, O Life of all.  And a resplendent angel shouted to the women, Dry your tears and proclaim to the Apostles, and cry out in praise, that Christ the Lord hath risen, He who hath been pleased to save mankind, since He is God.

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. 

 

Thou hast verily risen from the tomb; and thou didst command the righteous women to preach to the Apostles the Resurrection, as it was written.  And as for Peter, he did hasten to the tomb; and when he saw the light in the grave, he was dazzled with surprise.  Then he saw the linen clothes lying aside, where it was not possible to see them by night, and he believed, and cried out, Glory to thee, O Christ God; for thou hast saved us all, O our Savior, who still remainest in truth the Radiance of the Father.

 

Tone 3

Dormition (Men., Aug. 17, Mat.)

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

 

Transferred from this corruptible world to the heavenly Paradise, thy all-pure soul, that spiritual tabernacle, exults with joy, O holy Virgin while the Lord deals justly with the impious who dare to profane thy mortal remains. This in company with the holy Apostles, let us sing, Hail O full of grace.

 

Tone 8

Resurrection (Nassar,  ; Kazan Mat.,  )

            Second Kathisma

 

Men did seal thy tomb, O Savior, and the angels did roll the stone from off thy grave; and the women witnessed thy Resurrection from the dead.  They proclaimed to thy Disciples in Zion that thou didst rise, O Life of all, and didst break asunder the bonds of death, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

 

Verily, when the women came with burial ointment, they heard from the grave an angelic voice, saying, Cease your tears and receive joy instead of sorrow; and cry in praise that Christ the Lord is risen, who being God was pleased to save mankind.

 

Tone 4

Dormition (Men., Aug. 17, Mat.)

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

 

Thou didst commend thy soul into the hands of Him who for our sake received humanity from thee, as thy Creator and thy God; and thou dist pass into eternal life. In faith, we all call thee blessed, O only pure and spotless Virgin. We all call out to thee as Mother of God, asking thee to intercede before Christ, to whom thou didst pass, that He grant mercy to our souls.

 

6.) Benedictions (Evlogetaria) in Tone 5.

 

7.) The Little Litany is intoned with the exclamation “For blessed is Thy Name ...”

 

8.) The Hypakoë, Anabathmoi and the Prokeimenon with its accompanying stichos are all from the Octoechos Tone 8. (Nassar, 195; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 60).

 

9.) The 9^th Eothinon Gospel (Nassar, 212) is chanted from the Holy Table.

 

10.) Following "In that we have beheld the Resurrection of Christ ..."

(Nassar, 113; Serv. Bk., 66; Kazan Sun. Mat., 66)

 

11.) Psalm 50 (Nassar, 82; Serv. Bk., 66; Kazan Sun. Mat., 66)

 

12.) Troparia following Psalm 50 (Serv. Bk., 67; Kazan Sun. Mat., 67-8)

 13.) The Intercession then follows. 

14.) Katabasia for the Dormition in Tone 1 (Nassar, 589)

 

Tone 1

Ode 1.  Thy noble solemn memorial, O Virgin, adorned with divine glory, hath brought all believ­ers together in rejoicing as Miriam did of old, coming forward with timbrels and dances, singing to thine only Son; for in glory hath He been glorified.

 

Ode 3.  O Christ, Wisdom of God and His creating and almighty Power, establish thy Church without guile, and unshaken; for thou alone art holy, O thou who dwellest among the holy.

 

Ode 4.  The sayings of the Prophets, O Christ, and their symbols explained clearly thine Incarnation of the Virgin; and the brilliance of thy lightning doth send forth light to the Gentiles, and the deep calleth out to thee shouting with joy, "Glory to thy might, O Lover of mankind."

 

Ode 5.  Verily, I proclaim, O Christ, the divine goodness of thine ineffable virtues; for thou didst rise from eternal glory as a ray, coeternal in thy Person, and wast incarnate in the Virgin's womb, bringing forth a sun to those who are in darkness and error.

 

Ode 6.  Verily, the fire in the vitals of the deep-born whale was a symbol  of thy three-day Burial, of which Jonah was an exemplar; for having escaped without hurt when he was swallowed, he shouted, saying, "I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving, O Lord."

 

Ode 7.  Verily, the divine passion did defeat the bestial wrath and fire, moistening the fire, and with inspired works issuing forth from the three-voiced song of the righteous ones, scorning wrath, opposing the musical instruments, as they sang in the midst of the flames, shouting, Blessed art thou, O glorified One, the God of our Fathers,

 

Let us praise, bless, and worship the Lord.

 

Ode 8.  Verily, the angel of the Almighty God did reveal the flames moistening the three righteous youths and burning the infidels.  And He made the Theotokos a fountain for the Element of life, Destroyer of death, and overflowing with life to those who sing, "We who are saved praise the Creator along, ever exalting Him to the end of ages."

15.) Magnification " More honorable…" with its verses; (Serv. Bk., 70; Kazan Sun. Mat., 76)

 

Verse:        My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

 

Refrain:       More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: thou who without stain bearest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.

 

Verse:        For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Refrain)

 

Verse:        For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His Name; and His mercy is on them that fear him, through out all generations. (Refrain)

 

Verse:        He hath showed strength in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (Refrain)

 

Verse:        He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and the meek.  He hath filled the empty with good things, and the rich hath he sent away empty. (Refrain)

 

Verse:        He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever. (Refrain)

 

16.) Ninth Ode for the Dormition (Nassar, 590)

 

Tone 1

Ode 9.  In thee, O spotless Virgin, the laws of nature were suspended; for thy virginity was preserved in thy child-bearing, and Life is joined with death.  Thou, O Theotokos, didst remain a Virgin after child-birth, and after death art still alive and dost ever deliver thy heritage.

 

17.) The Little Litany is intoned with the exclamation "For all the powers of heaven..."

 

18.) Exaposteilaria we chant “Holy is the Lord our God. (thrice) … Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at His footstool for He is holy.” Then we chant the following:

 

Tone 2

Eothinon 9 (Nassar, 213; Kazan Sun. Mat., 98)

 

When thou didst enter while the doors were closed,  O Lord, then thou didst fill thine Apostles with a Holy Spirit, breathing into them peace, and saying unto them, Loosen ye and bind ye sins.  And after eight days thou didst show Thomas thy hands and thy side.  With him, therefore, do we cry to thee, Thou art the Lord and God.

 

Tone 3

Dormition (Nassar,591)

 

O Apostles gather ye from the regions to this town of Gethsemane and lay away my body. And thou, my Son and God, receive my soul.

 

19.) Praises (Ainoi) in Tone 8 with eight stichera:

Five stichera for the Resurrection (Nassar, 196; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 159)

Three stichera for the Dormition in Tone 4 (Nassar, 592)

 

Tone 8

Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 196)

 

Verse 8: This glory shall be to all His saints.

 

Though thou didst stand in judgment, O Lord, condemned by Pilate, thou didst not vacate thy throne, sitting with the Father.  Thou didst arise from the dead, releasing the world from the bondage of the stranger; for thou art compassionate and the Lover of mankind.

 

Verse 7: Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.

 

Though, O Lord, the Jews placed thee in a grave like dead, the soldiers guarded thee as a slumbering King; and as a Treasure of life, they sealed thee.  But thou didst rise and grant incorruptibility to our souls.

 

Verse 6: Praise Him for His mighty acts:  praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

 

Thou didst give us thy Cross, O Lord, as a weapon against Diabolus, who, unable to behold its power, doth fear and tremble; for it raiseth the dead and hath annulled death.  Wherefore, do we worship thy Burial and Resurrection.

 

Verse 5: Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp.

 

The angel proclaiming thy Resurrection, O Lord, did frighten the guards; but to the women he cried out, saying, Why seek ye the living among the dead?  Verily, He hath risen, being God and hath granted life to the universe.

 

Verse 4: Praise him with the timbrel and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

 

Thou didst suffer by the Cross, O thou unsuffering through the Godhead, and didst accept burial for three days that thou mightest set us free from the bondage of the enemy and grant us life through thy Resurrection, O Christ, the Lover of mankind.

 

Tone 4

Dormition (Nassar, 594)

Verse 3: Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals.  Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

 

O thou most holy Virgin, who knew not wedlock, the heavens rejoice in thy glorious falling-asleep, the hosts of angels are glad, and the whole earth crieth out in joy, singing to thee the funeral song, O Mother of the Lord of all, thou who hast delivered human kind from its ancestral condemnation.

Verse 2: Arise, O my God, lift up thine hand, and forget not the humble.

 

The first-called of the Apostles did hasten from the regions by divine sign to lay thee away. And when they saw thee ascending from earth to heaven they shouted to thee in the tone of Gabriel, saying with joy, Hail, O chariot of the whole Godhead. Hail, O thou whose birth-giving alone didst unite the earthly with the heavenly ones.

 

Verse 1: I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart:  I will show all thy marvelous works.

 

O bride of God, the virgin Mother, who didst give birth to Life, thou hast removed, by thy solemn falling asleep, to immortal life, surrounded by angels, presidencies, Apostles, Prophets, and the rest of creation. As for thy blameless soul, thy Son did take it up into his pure hands.

 

Tone 5

Eothinon 9 (Nassar, 214; Kazan Sun. Mat., 191)

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

 

In the fullness of time, O Christ, thou didst appear among thy beloved ones on the eve of the Sabbath, and didst confirm to them a wonder through a wonder, namely thy Resurrection from the dead by thine entrance while the doors were closed.  But thou didst fill the Disciples with joy, granting them a Holy Spirit, and didst bestow on them power to forgive sins.  And as for Thomas, thou didst not permit him to drown in the depths of faithlessness.  Wherefore, grant us the knowledge of the truth, and forgiveness of sins, O compassionate Lord.

 

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

Most blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for through Him that was incarnate of thee is Hades despoiled, Adam is recalled from the dead, the curse is made void, Eve is set free, death is slain, and we are endowed with life.  Wherefore, in hymns of praise, we cry aloud: Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who is thus well pleased, glory to thee.

 

20.) Great Doxology - Tone 5 (Serv. Bk.,75-6; Kazan Sun. Mat., 225, Nassar, 118)

 

21.) Troparion: " Having risen again from the tomb …", Tone 8 (Serv. Bk., 76)

 

Tone 8

Having risen from the tomb, and having burst asunder the bonds of hades; thou didst unbind the condemnation of death, O Lord, redeeming all men from the snares of the enemy.  And having revealed thyself to thine Apostles, thou didst send them forth to proclaim thee.  And through them thou hast granted thy peace unto the universe, O thou who art alone all-merciful.

 

DIVINE LITURGY

 

1.)    During the Little Entrance: The troparion of the Resurrection in Tone 8

 Tone 8

The Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 193; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 30)

 

From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

2.)    The Entrance Hymn(Eisodikon):

 

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, save us who sing unto thee: Alleluia

 

3.)    After the Entrance we chant:

 Tone 8

The Resurrection from the Octoechos (Nassar, 193; Kazan, Sun. Mat., 30)

 

From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion.  Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

 

Tone 1

Dormition (Nassar, 587)

 

In thy birth-giving, O Theotokos, thou didst keep and preserve virginity; and in thy falling-asleep thou hast not forsaken the world; for living thou wast translated, being the Mother of Life.  Wherefore, by thine intercessions, deliver our souls from death.

 

Troparion of the Patron Saint or Titular Feast of the Church

 

Tone 4

Kontakion for the Dormition (Nassar, 593) 

Verily, the Theotokos, who is ever watchful in intercessions, who is never rejected, neither tomb nor death could control.  But being the Mother of Life, he who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb did translate her to life.

 

4.) The Trisagion (“Holy God … ”) as usual.

 

5.) Epistle

I Corinthians 3:9-17 (9^th Sunday after Pentecost) 

6.) Gospel

Matthew 14:22-34 (9^th Sunday after Pentecost) 

7.) The Megalynarion: "It is truly meet … ”

 

8.) The Koinonikon:  “Praise the Lord … Alleluia.”   

 

9.) Post-Communion:  “We have seen the true Light …”, as usual.  ONCE.

 

10.) At the Great Dismissal we say, "“May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother, ... Through the prayers"