29th Sunday after Pentecost / Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

Beatitudes Verses: 6 from the Octoechos; 4 from Ode 3 of the Forefathers

 

1. By the tree was Adam forced to depart from paradise; but by the Tree of the Cross was the thief made to dwell in paradise. For the one by tasting, broke the commandment of the creator; while the other, crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God, crying out: Remember me in Thy kingdom!
 
2. O Lord Who wast lifted up upon the Cross, Who hast destroyed the power of death and as God hast destroyed the record of our sins, grant also the repentance of the thief unto us who faithfully serve Thee and cry out to thee, O Christ God Who alone lovest mankind: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
 
3. On the Cross Thou didst tear asunder with the spear the record of our sins; and, numbered among the dead, Thou didst bind the tyrant of hades, O Lord Who lovest mankind, Who by Thy resurrection hast delivered all from the bonds of hades. Thereby have we been illumined, and we cry to Thee: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
 
4. O Thou Who alone art immortal, Who wast crucified and as almighty didst arise from the tomb on the third day, and hast raised up Adam, the first created: Vouchsafe that I also may turn to repentance with my whole heart, and may ever cry out to Thee with fervent faith: Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom!
 
5. For our sake He Who is without passion became a man subject to the passions; and, nailed of His own will to the Cross, He hath raised us up with Himself. Wherefore, we glorify His Cross, passion, and resurrection, whereby we have been refashioned and whereby we also are saved, who cry out: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
 
6. O ye faithful, let us entreat Him who hath risen from the dead, hath made captive the dominion of hades, and wast seen by the myrrh-bearing women and said to them: “Rejoice!”, that He deliver from corruption the souls of us who ever cry out to Him with the voice of the noble thief: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
 
7. The zeal of Seth for his Creator is hymned throughout the world, for in his blameless life and spiritual love he was truly pleasing unto Him, and now doth cry out in the land of the living: holy art Thou, O Lord
 
8. The wondrous Enos trusted in the Spirit and with divine wisdom began to call upon the God and Master of all with mouth, tongue and heart; and having lived on earth in a God-pleasing manner, he received glory.
 
9. Let us bless Enoch with sacred utterances, for, having been well pleasing unto the Lord, he was translated in glory, being shown to be greater than death, as it hath been written, since he had been a most earnest servant of God.
 
10. Now doth the Expectation of the nations come forth from the Virgin, and Bethlehem doth radiantly open the shut gates of Eden, receiving the incarnate Word, Who, in the flesh, was laid in a manger.
 

Troparia & Kontakion

 

Tone 4: Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the angel, /

and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, /

the women disciples of the Lord spake to the apostles exultantly: /

Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, //

granting to the world great mercy.

 

Tone 2: By faith Thou didst justify the Forefathers, /

when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime /

to the Church that was from among the nations. /

The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, /

even she that bore Thee seedlessly. //

By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

 

Glory… Both now... Tone 6:

A hand-wrought image ye would not worship, /

O thrice-blessed ones; /

but armed with the Indescribable Essence, /

ye were glorified in your ordeal by fire./

Standing in the midst of the irresistible flame, ye called upon God: /

Speed Thou, O Compassionate One, /

and hasten, as Thou art Merciful, //

to come unto our aid, for Thou art able if Thou will it.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

Choir: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

Reader: For righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.

Choir: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

Reader: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers.

Choir: And praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages.

 

Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians:

[Col. 3:4-11 (§257)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: They called upon the Lord, and He hearkened unto them.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [Luke 14:16-24 (§76)]

 

Communion Verse:

Praise the Lord in the heavens, praise Him in the highest! Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

 

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