31^st Sunday After Pentecost / The Eve of Theophany

Beatitude Verses: Octoechos: 6; Forefeast: 4, from Ode 3.

1. Remember me when Thou comest in Thy kingdom, O God my Savior, and save me,

for Thou alone lovest mankind.

2. By a tree was Adam deceived; yet again by the Tree of the Cross was the thief saved,

who cried out: Remember me in Thy kingdom, O Lord!

3. O Bestower of life, Who hadst broken down the gates and portals of hades, Thou hast

saved all who cry out to Thee, O Savior: Glory to Thine arising!

4. O Thou Who by Thy burial hast made death captive, and by Thy resurrection hast

filled all with joy: remember me, in that Thou art compassionate.

5. The myrrh-bearing women who came to the tomb heard an angel cry out: Christ, Who

hath enlightened all things is risen!

6. Together let us all hymn Christ, Who was nailed to the Cross and hath delivered the

world from beguilement.

7 & 8. Christ, Who hath been seated with the Father and the Spirit from before time

began, and Who became incarnate of the Virgin in latter times, cometh to baptism,

granting immortality unto all through the divine font, as He knoweth.

9. Desiring, in the loving-kindness of His mercy, to bury our sins with water in the

Jordan’s streams, Christ God cometh forth and by baptism restoreth us who have become

corrupt.

10. Covering the shameful nakedness of our first father Adam, Thou hast voluntarily

stripped Thyself naked, O Christ, and Thou coverest Thyself in the streams of the Jordan,

O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful, and Who coverest Thy chambers with waters.

Troparia & Kontakia

Tone 6. Angelic hosts were above Thy tomb, /

and they that guarded Thee became as dead. /

And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate body. /

Thou didst despoil hades and wast not tempted by it. /

Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. //

O Thou Who didst rise from the dead, O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Tone 4: The River Jordan was once turned back by the mantle of Elisha /

when Elijah had been taken up, /

and the waters were divided hither and thither. /

And for him the watery path became dry, /

verily as a type of baptism, /

whereby we cross the flowing stream of life. //

Christ hath appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.

[Troparion of the Temple]

Tone 6:

Having by His life bestowing hand raised up all the dead out of the dark abysses, /

Christ God, the Giver of life, hath bestowed the Resurrection upon the fallen human race; /

for He is the Savior of all, //

the Resurrection, and the Life, and the God of all.

Glory… [Kontakion of the Temple]

Both now… Tone 4: In the running waters of Jordan today /

the Lord cried to John: /

Be not afraid to baptize Me, /

for, I am come to save Adam, //

the first-fashioned man.

The Epistle

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 6th Tone: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine

inheritance.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader: Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader: Save, O Lord, Thy people

Choir: and bless Thine inheritance.

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

[2^nd Timothy 4:5-8; Colossians 3:12-16]

Reader: Alleluia in the 8th Tone.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: God be gracious unto us and bless us.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: Cause Thy face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel [Mark 1:1-8]

Communion Verse: Praise the Lord in the heavens, praise Him in the highest! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia!