Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

 

Great Martyr Haralampos

 

February 10, 2008

 

The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom

 

Opening Acclamation:  “Blessed is the kingdom…”  

Great Litany.  “Lord, have mercy.”  “Most holy Theotokos…”  “To Thee, O Lord.”

First Antiphon.  Verses (Choir) & Refrain:  “Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Savior, save us.”

 

Little Litany.  “Lord, have mercy.”  “Most holy Theotokos…”  “To Thee, O Lord.”

Second Antiphon.  Verses (Choir) & Refrain:  “O Son of God, Who wast risen from the dead, 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 wast crucified also, 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:  O save us.”

 

Little Litany.  “Lord, have mercy.”  “Most holy Theotokos…”  “To Thee, O Lord.”

 

Third Antiphon, during the Little Entrance.  The Beatitudes (All).

“In Thy Kingdom, remember us O Lord, when Thou comest in Thy 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 after 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 those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.”

 

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 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 Great Martyr Haralampos, Tone 4 (Choir).

“An unshaken pillar of the Church of Christ God art thou, an ever-resplendent lamp, O Haralampos most wise, which shineth throughout the earth; in martyric contest thou hast shined on the whole world, and thou hast dispelled the moonless night of the idols.  Now boldly intercede with Christ that we all may be saved.”

 

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 the Theotokos , Tone 2 (All).

O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the Mediatrix who is unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, thou we be sinners.  Come to us with aid in time, who cry unto thee in faith, for thou art good.  Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honor thee.

 

Trisagion Prayer and Hymn.  “Lord, have mercy.”

“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.  Alleluia.”  (3x)

 

The Readings.  Priest:  “Let us attend!  Wisdom!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 7 (Chanter).

“The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.  O God, hear my prayer!”

 

The Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy 2:1-10.

My son Timothy, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.  Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal.  But the word of God is not fettered.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.

 

Alleluia and Verses with Censing  (Apostolos 328, Chanter). 

Priest:  “Wisdom!  Let us attend.  Let us hear the Holy Gospel.  Peace be to all.”

 

The Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:21-28.

At that time, Jesus went away and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”  But he did not answer her a word.  And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.”  Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”  And Jesus answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your

faith!  Be it done for you as you desire.”  And her daughter was healed instantly.

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…”  “Most holy Theotokos…”  “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 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.”

 

Megalynarion, Tone 1 (All).

“It is truly meet to call thee blessed, Lady Theotokos; Lady ever greatly blessed and most perfect in innocence and the Mother of our God.  Lady more precious than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond all measure than the seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, and art truly Theotokos:  we magnify thee, we magnify thee.”

 

The Litany before the Lord’s Prayer.  “Lord, have mercy.”  “Grant this...”  “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 ye the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

 

“The righteous shall be in ever-lasting remembrance; he shall not fear evil tidings.”

 

“Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord; the Lord is God and hath 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.

 

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 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)

 

Dismissal and Final Blessing.   

Parish Announcements .