Sunday after Theophany
Opening Acclamation: “Blessed is the kingdom…”
Great Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
First Antiphon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
“Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Second Antiphon. Verses (Chanter) & Refrain (All):
“O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.”
“Only-begotten Son and Word of God Who art immortal, Thou didst take on Thee for our salvation to be incarnate of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and without change wast made man; and was crucified also, O Christ our God; and by Thy death hast Death subdued; Who art One of the Holy Trinity, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit: O save, O save us.”
Little Litany. “Lord, have mercy.” “Most holy Theotokos…” “To Thee, O Lord.”
Third Antiphon, during the Little Entrance. Troparion of Theophany, Tone 1 (Choir).
“When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to thee, calling thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit, in the likeness of a dove, confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hath appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee.”
Entrance Hymn, the Eisodikon (All).
“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!”
Hymns of the Day.
Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 5 (All).
“Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, for He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh, to suffer death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.”
Troparion of Theophany, Tone 1 (All).
“When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to thee, calling thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit, in the likeness of a dove, confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hath appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee.”
Troparion of St. Joseph the Betrothed, 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 Theophany, Tone 4 (Choir).
“Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord; and Thy light hath been signed upon us, who praise Thee with knowledge, saying: Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.”
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 1 (Reader). Psalm 32.
“Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.”
Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men” [Psalm 68:18]. (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Alleluia and Verses, with Censing, Tone 5 (Reader). Psalm 88.
“Of Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing forever. For You have said: Mercy shall be built up forever; in the Heavens shall Your truth be established.”
Priest: “Wisdom! Let us attend. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be to all.”
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Sermon.
Great Entrance: Cherubimic Prayer & Hymn.
“We who mystic’ly represent the Cherubim and who sing to the life-giving Trinity the thrice-holy hymn, let us now lay aside all earthly care...” (Repeat.)
“… that we may receive the King of all, who comes invisibly upborne by the Angelic Hosts. 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, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things, visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one Essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end;
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets;
And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; I look for the Resurrection of the dead and the Life of the world to come. Amen.”
Eucharistic Prayer of St. John Chrysostom.
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 Who 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.”
[Sung softly by the Choir as the people say Amen to the consecration.] “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.” (Amen.) “And that which is in this cup, the precious Blood of thy Christ.” (Amen.) “Changing them by thy Holy Spirit.” (Amen, amen, amen.)
Hymn to the Theotokos, the Megalynarion, Tone 8 (All).
“It is truly meet and right to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless and the Mother of our God. More hon’rable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: Thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify 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.”
Note: Unless necessitated by weariness or infirmity, we should remain standing until service’s end.
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 and hast revealed Himself unto us.”
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; we have found the true faith, worshiping the undivided Trinity: For He hath saved us.”
“Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast permitted us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal, and life-giving Mysteries. Establish us always in Thy Sanctification, that all the day we may meditate on Thy righteousness. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”
Litany of Thanksgiving and the Prayer behind the Ambon. “Lord, have mercy.”
“Blessed be the Name of the Lord, henceforth and forever.” (3x)
Prayer to St. John the Divine.
Dismissal and Final Blessing.
Parish Announcements.
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