Sunday of Orthodoxy
First Sunday of Great Lent
Opening Acclamation: “Blessed is the kingdom…”
Great Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos, save us.” “To Thee, O Lord.”
First Antiphon. Verses (Choir) & Refrain:
“Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos, save us.” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Second Antiphon. Verses (Choir) & Refrain:
“Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.”
“Only-begotten Son and Word of God Who art immortal, yet didst condescend for our salvation to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change wast made man, and wast crucified, O Christ our God; and by Thy Death didst death subdue; Who art One of the Holy Trinity, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit: Save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos, save us.” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Third Antiphon, during the Little Entrance. The Beatitudes (All).
“In Thy Kingdom, O Lord, remember us, when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.”
Entrance Hymn, the Eisodikon (All). “Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ! Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia.”
Hymns of the Day
Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 4 (All).
“Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women Disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.”
Troparion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Tone 2 (Choir).
“We venerate Thy most pure image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God. Of Thy good Will, Thou was pleased to ascend the cross in the flesh and deliver Thy creatures from bondage to the enemy. Therefore with thankfulness we cry aloud to Thee: Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior, for Thou came to save the world.”
Troparion of St. Joseph, Tone 2 (All).
“Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the ancestor of God, the amazing wonders, for by the angel they were revealed unto thee. For thou hast seen a Virgin great with child, and thou gave glory with the shepherds and didst worship with the Magi. Wherefore plead with Christ God to save our souls.”
Kontakion of Great Lent, Tone 8 (All).
“To thee the champion leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free. From all forms of danger free me and deliver me that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.”
Trisagion Prayer and Hymn. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” (3x.)
The Readings. Priest: “Let us attend! Wisdom!”
Prokeimenon, Tone 4 (Chanter). “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our Fathers; for You are righteous in all things You have done for us!”
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Alleluia and Verses with Censing, Tone 8 (Apostolos 281-282, Chanter). “Moses and Aaron among the priests; they called upon the Lord, and he heard them.”
Priest: “Wisdom! Let us attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be to all.”
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Sermon.
Prayers of the Catechumens and the Faithful. “Lord, have mercy.”
Great Entrance: Cherubimic Prayer & Hymn.
“All we that in myst’ry holy Cherubim portray, as the Life-creating Trinity with thrice-holy song we adore and praise. Come, let us cast off all earthly care, and forget, and forget every vain employ.” (Repeat.)
“For the King of All comes in triumph by unseen Hosts of Angels brought to us that bid Him welcome. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Litany of the Prothesis and the Peace. “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this, O Lord.” “Most holy Theotokos, save us.” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us love one another, that with one accord we may confess:”
“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in Essence and undivided.”
The Nicene Creed. Priest: “The Doors! The Doors! In wisdom let us attend.”
“I believe in one God…”
Eucharistic Prayer of St. Basil the Great.
Anaphora. “A mercy of peace, a sacrifice of praise.”
Priest: “Let us lift up our hearts.”
“We lift them up unto the Lord.”
Priest: “Let us give thanks to the Lord.”
“It is meet and right to worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: the Trinity, one in Essence, and undivided.”
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth: heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”
The Prayers of Consecration.
Priest: “Take, eat: this is My Body which is broken for you, for the forgiveness of sins. Drink ye this: this is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins. Thine own of Thine own we offer unto Thee, in behalf of all, and for all.”
“We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, and we pray unto Thee, O our God, our God.”
Priest: “Make this bread the precious Body of thy Christ; and that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ; changing them by thy Holy Spirit.”
“Amen, amen, amen.”
Hymn to the Theotokos, the Megalynarion, Tone 8 (Choir). “In thee rejoiceth, O thou who art full of grace, ev’ry created being, the hosts of the Angels, and all mankind, O Consecrated Temple and supersensual Paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate, and became a little Child, and is our God before all the Ages.For He made of thy womb a throne and thy body did He make more spacious than the.In thee doth all Creation rejoice!O Thou who art full of grace, glory to thee.”
The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer. “Lord, have mercy.” “Grant this, O Lord.” “To Thee, O Lord.”
The Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name…”
Priest: “Peace be to all. Let us bow our heads unto the Lord.”
The Elevation. Priest: “Let us attend! The Holy things are for the Holy.”
“One is Holy, One is Lord: Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
Communion Prayers.
“I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And I believe that this is truly Thine own immaculate Body, and that this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Wherefore I pray Thee, have mercy upon me and forgive my transgressions both voluntary and involuntary, of word and of deed, of knowledge and of ignorance; and make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thine immaculate Mysteries, unto remission of my sins and unto life everlasting. Amen.”
“Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant, for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom. Not unto judgment nor unto condemnation be my partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Lord, but unto the healing of soul and body.”
Communion Hymns, the Koinonikon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
“Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the Highest. Alleluia.”
“Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; the Lord is God…”
Communion.
Receiving Holy Communion unites us with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Bishop, and with all the Orthodox in heaven and earth. Only baptized and/or chrismated Orthodox Christians who are not under penance and have prepared by fasting and frequent confession are invited and encouraged to receive communion as spiritual food, for the healing of soul and body and as a sign of forgiveness of sins.
“Receive me today, O Son of God, as partaker of Thy Mystical Supper…”
Post-Communion Hymns. Priest: “O God, save Thy people and bless thine inheritance.”
“We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly Spirit…”
“Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory…”
Litany of Thanksgiving and the Prayer behind the Ambon. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forever.” (3x)
Dismissal and Final Blessing.
Parish Announcements.
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“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.”
“We venerate Thy most Pure image, O Good One, and ask forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ our God.Of Thy good Will Thou wast pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and deliver Thy creatures from bondage to the enemy.Therefore with thankfulness we cry aloud to Thee, Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior.For Thou came to save the world.”
“… This is the Faith of the Apostles, this is the Faith of the Fathers, this is the Faith of the Orthodox, this is the Faith which has established the Universe!”
“Who is so great a God as our God? Thou our God, who alone doest wonders.” (3x.)
“We venerate thy most pure image, O Good One…”
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