The
Nativity of St. John the Baptist / 3rd Sunday after Pentecost / Tone 2
Beatitudes
on 10; Resurrection: 6; Forerunner: 4 from Ode 3.
1. We offer Thee the cry of the thief, and we
pray: Remember us in Thy kingdom, O
Savior.
2. For the forgiveness of transgressions we
offer unto Thee the Cross which Thou didst
accept
for our sake, O Thou who lovest mankind.
3.
We bow down in worship, O Master, before Thy burial and rising, whereby Thou
hast
delivered
the world from corruption, O Thou Who lovest mankind.
4.
By Thy death hath death been slain, O Lord, and by Thy resurrection hast Thou
saved
the
world, O Savior.
5.
Risen from the tomb, Thou didst meet the myrrh-bearing women; and Thou didst
tell
Thy
disciples to announce Thine arising.
6.
Those who slept in darkness, beholding Thee, the Light, in the nethermost parts
of
hades,
O Christ, were raised from the dead.
7. The birthgiving of the Master is accomplished
through the Virgin, while that of His
beloved servant is through an elderly and barren
mother; wherefore, -- Wonder of
wonders! – he goeth on before unto splendor.
8. The elderly and barren woman kisseth the Virgin
Mother, truly recognizing her
birthgiving, for the bond of her barrenness hath
been loosed by the will of God.
9. Elizabeth, who before was barren, prefigured Thy
Church of the nations, O Christ, and,
giving birth most gloriously, she showeth forth as
most fertile that which once was seen
to be barren.
10. O all-holy Theotokos, thou didst lift the grief
of our first parents, giving birth to the
Creator of life and Deliverer for us. Him do thou earnestly entreat, that thy flock
be
saved.
Troparia
& Kontakia
Tone 2: When Thou didst
descend unto death, O Life Immortal, /
then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. /
And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost
depths, /
all the Hosts of the heavens cried out: //
O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.
Tone 4: O Prophet and Forerunner of
the coming of Christ, /
we
who honor thee with love are unable to extol thee worthily; /
for
by thy holy and august birth /
the
barrenness of thy mother and the speechlessness of thy father were loosened, //
and
the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
Tone 2: Thou didst rise from the tomb, O omnipotent Savior, /
and Hades was terrified on beholding the wonder; /
and the dead arose, /
and creation at the sight thereof rejoiceth with Thee. /
And Adam also is joyful, //
and the world, O my Savior, praiseth Thee for ever.
Glory… Tone 3:
She that was formerly barren giveth birth today to
the Forerunner of Christ, /
Who is the fulfillment of all prophecy; /
for He Whom the prophets foretold is God the Word /
Who hath appeared to the prophet, herald, and
forerunner //
when he laid his hand on Him in the Jordan.
Both now... Tone 6: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to
shame, /
O mediation unto the
Creator unfailing, /
disdain not the suppliant
voices of sinners, /
but be thou quick, O good
one, to help us who in faith cry unto thee; /
hasten to intercession and
speed thou to make supplication, //
thou who dost ever
protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 2nd Tone: The Lord is my strength and my song, and
He is become my salvation.
Choir: The Lord is my
strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.
Reader: With
chastisement hath the Lord chastened me, but He hath not given me over
unto death.
Choir: The Lord is my
strength and my song, and He is become my salvation.
Reader: In the 7th
tone: The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in
Him.
Choir: The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord and
shall hope in Him.
Reader: The Reading is
from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Romans:
[Rom. 5:1-10
(§88); Rom. 13:11-14:4 (§112)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 2nd Tone: The Lord
hear thee in the day of affliction; the name
of the God of Jacob defend thee.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: O Lord,
save the king, and hearken unto us in the day when we call upon Thee.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: In the 1st Tone Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel, for He hath visited and
wrought
redemption for His people.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Matt. 6:22-33 (§18); Luke 1:1-25,57-68,76,80 (§1)]
Communion Verse: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest!
In
everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not
be afraid of evil tidings.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!