Hymns and Readings for Sunday

30 December 2007
Sunday after the Nativity of our Lord

Tone Six - Eothinon Nine

Commemorating the Sts Joseph the Betrothed,
James the Brother of the Lord,
and David the King and Prophet;
the Holy Martyr Anysia;
and Holy Zoticos, Feeder of Oprhans.

TROPARIA AND KONTAKION
(THEME HYMNS OF THE DAY AND CONCLUDING SEASONAL HYMN)

TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION IN TONE SIX

The angelic powers were around Your tomb, and the guards became as dead, and Mary stood at the tomb seeking Your spotless body; then You despoiled Hades without being tried by it, and You met the Virgin O Bestower of life. O Lord who rose from the dead, glory to You.

TROPARION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD IN TONE FOUR

You Nativity, O Christ our God, has shed the light of knowledge upon the world. Through it, those who had been star-worshipers, learned through a star to worship You, O Sun of Justice, and to recognize in You the One who rises and who comes from on high. O Lord, glory to You!

TROPARION OF ST JOSEPH THE BETROTHED IN TONE TWO

O Joseph, proclaim to David, the ancestor of Christ our God, the great miracles you have witnessed. You have seen the Virgin with Child, given praise with the shepherds, adored with the wise men, and an angel of the Lord has appeared to you. Intercede with Christ God that He may save our souls.

KONTAKION OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST IN TONE THREE

Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent Essence, and the earth presents a cave to the Inaccessible One. The Angels with the shepherds sing His glory, and the Wise men with the Star travel on their way, for to us a New Child is born, who is God from all eternity.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

PROKIMENON
(RESPONSORY FROM THE PSALTER)

O save thy people, and bless thy heritage;
be thou their shepherd, and carry them for ever.

To thee, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if thou be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.

THE READING FROM THE SECOND EPISTLE ST PAUL TO TIMOTHY

TIMOTHY, MY SON: Always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

ALLELUIA

May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us!

THE READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MARK

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight -- " John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

HIRMOS IN TONE FIVE
(A “Megalynarion” — Hymn to the Virgin — sung after the Consecration)

It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, who are ever-blessed and all-blameless and the Mother of our God; more honored than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: You who without stain did bear God the Word and are truly Theotokos: we magnify you.

COMMUNION HYMN

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens,
Praise him in the heights!