The Feast of the Annunciation - Fifth Sunday of Lent

See preface note of yesterday's entry.

LITTLE ENTRANCE HYMN

Proclaim the salvation of our God day after day.
Come let us worship…
O Son of God, who are risen from the dead,
save us who sing to You: Alleluia

TROPARION OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN TONE FOUR

Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of the Mystery that was planned from all eternity. The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces this grace. Let us join him in crying out to the Mother of God: Hail, O full of grace; the Lord is with you! (repeat once)

KONTAKION OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN TONE EIGHT

Triumphant leader, to you belongs our praise of victory, and since you saved us from adversity we offer you our thanks: We are your people, O Mother of God. So, as you have that invincible power, continue to deliver us from danger, that we may cry out to you: Hail O Virgin and Bride ever pure.

LITURGY OF THE WORD
PROKIMENON (RESPONSORY)

R. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.

v. From this day all generations will call me blessed.

THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

BRETHREN: He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

ALLELUIA

Hail Mary! Full of grace, the Lord is with you!

Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be done unto me according to thy word.

THE READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

MEGALYNARION
HIRMOS, 9TH ODE, CANON OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN TONE FOUR

No profane hand may touch the living Ark of God, but the lips of the faithful will never cease to sing your praise, repeating with joy the angel’s words: Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you!

COMMUNION HYMN

For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his habitation: Alleluia.