The Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos

Vespers

There is no Kathisma.

Lord I have Cried, Tone 6, on 8: Triodion 3 (My strength – LTS, p. 273); Feast: 5 (Gabriel stood before thee); G/N: Feast (The Archangel Gabriel).

Entrance with the Censer; O Gladsome Light.

Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 4: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever. Reading: Gen. 27:1-41. Prokimenon of the Triodion, Tone 7: Be Thou exalted above the heavens, O God, and Thy glory above all the earth. Reading: Prov. 19:16-25.

Then the 3 readings for the Feast.

Vouchsafe O Lord. Litany: Let us complete our evening prayer.

At the Aposticha: Triodion 3 (Deliver us, O Savior – LTS, p. 274), with the usual refrains from the Horologion; G/N, of the Feast (Today the joy of the Annunciation).

Now lettest Thou. Trisagion. Troparion of the Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation). Litany: Have mercy on us, O God. Prayer of St Ephraim with three prostrations only. Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints...

The Vigil

Great Compline: The priest, vested in a phelonion, proclaims Blessed is our God, and censes the whole church. Reader: Amen. And then we read Great Compline according to its order, singing God is with us. (The Royal Doors are opened for God is with us and for the singing of the troparion and the kontakion.)

After the first Trisagion: Troparion of the Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation)

After the second Trisagion: Kontakion of the Feast (To thee the champion leader)

After the Doxology: Litia of the Feast (In the sixth month); G/N: Today Gabriel announceth.

Aposticha: Feast (During the sixth month); G/N: Today is the joy.

Now lettest Thou. Trisagion.

Troparia: Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation) x3.

The Blessing of the Bread before Blessed be the name.

Matins: God is the Lord, Tone 4; Troparia: Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation) x2; G/N: Feast.

Kathismas 10, 11, and 12.

After the first Kathisma: Sessional Hymns from the Triodion (Wasted by the disease of sin; G: Yesterday and today, Lazarus is sick; N: Most Holy Mother of God – LTS, p. 275f), without litany; but immediately: Lord, have mercy. x3. After the 2nd and 3rd Kathisma: Small litany, and Sessional Hymns of the Feast.

Polyeleos and Magnification of the Feast: With the Archangel’s voice we cry to thee, O most-pure one: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Psalm Verse: O God, give Thy judgment to the king, and Thy righteousness to the son of the king.

Small litany and Sessional Hymns of the Feast: Gabriel from heaven; G/N: Gabriel was sent.

Hymns of Ascents, First Antiphon, Tone 4: From my youth.

Prokimenon of the Feast, Tone 4: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God.

Matins Gospel: Luke 1:39-49,56 (§4).

Psalm 50; G: Through the prayers of the Theotokos; N: Repeat; Have mercy on me, O God; Sticheron of the Feast (Today Gabriel); Save, O God, Thy people.

Canon: Odes 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7:

Feast 14 Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Irmos (sung twice) & Katavasia of the Feast: I shall open my mouth.

Odes 2:

Triodion (both canons) 8* Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Irmos (See now, see that I am God, who rained down manna); Katavasia (See now, see that I am God. By Mine own will).

Odes 8, and 9:

Feast 6 Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Triodion (both canons) 8* Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Irmos of the Feast; Katavasia: After Ode 8, the Irmos from the second canon of the Triodion; but at Ode 9, the Irmos of the second Canon of the Triodion, and the refrain and Irmos of the Feast.

After Ode 3, Sessional hymns of the Feast (The Word of God; G/N: Gabriel, the supreme commander).

After Ode 6, Kontakion (To thee the champion leader) and Ikos of the Feast.

At Ode 9, We do not sing More Honorable. We instead sing the refrains of the Feast: O earth, announce glad tidings of great joy! Ye heavens, praise the glory of God; with the canon of the feast, but the usual refrain (Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee) for the troparia from the Triodion.

Exapostilaria: Feast (The supreme commander) x2; G/N: Feast (The mystery of God).

Praises, Tone 1: Feast 4 (Flying down to Nazareth); G/N: Feast (Today the mystery is revealed).

After the doxasticon, the priest does not say To Thee glory is due, O Lord our God…, but instead immediately announces Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light!

The Small Doxology is read.

Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Triodion (Fallen into transgressions – LTS, p. 280), with the usual psalm verses from the Horologion; G/N: Feast (Let the heavens be glad).

It is good to give praise unto the Lord x1; Trisagion; Troparion of the Feast.

Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; followed by the Prayer of St. Ephrem, with 3 Great Prostrations.

No dismissal for Matins, but instead the First Hour is begun.

* Each ode of the second three-canticled canon contains an additional troparion, following the theotokion, and not counted with the 8. This troparion is read in addition to the 8 troparia with the refrain Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

First Hour: Kathisma 13.

Troparion: Feast; Kontakion: Feast.

At the end, three Great prostrations with the prayer of St. Ephrem.

Then immediately (no concluding Trisagion) O Christ, the true Light.

Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints...

Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours: With Kathismas (14, 15, 16).

At the end of each hour, 3 Great Prostrations, with the prayer of St. Ephrem.

Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast.

At the 6th Hour, the troparion of the prophecy; and the prokimena and reading from the Triodion.

Typika: The Typical psalms are not said, but rather, at the conclusion of the 9th hour we read the Beatitudes, quickly, without prostrations.

The Creed is not read, but after Both now skip to Remit, pardon, forgive, O God.

Our Father.

Kontakion of the Feast.

Lord, have mercy. x40; G/N: More honorable.

In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.

Priest: God be gracious unto us... Reader: Amen.

3 Great Prostrations, with the prayer of St. Ephrem.

O All-Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Dominion.

Priest: Wisdom!

Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God.

Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Choir: More honorable.

And the Dismissal as usual.

Vesperal Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: No Kathisma.

Lord I have cried, Tone 1, on 11: Triodion: 5 (The Idiomelon (Thou wast clothed, O my soul – LTS, p. 282, written at the Aposticha, the Martyricon is not sung) x2, and the three Prosomia (Ruled by many passions – At the prompting of the evil one – Today Lazarus has died – LTS, p. 281); Feast: 3 (During the sixth month); Archangel (The great Gabriel – with the final psalm verse: He maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire); G/N: Feast (The Archangel Gabriel was sent).

Entry with the Gospel; O Gladsome Light.

Prokimenon, Tone 4: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Reading: Gen. 31:3-16.

Prokimenon, Tone 4: He is merciful and compassionate and righteous.

Reading: Prov. 21:3-21.

2 Readings for the Feast, from Exodus and Proverbs.

Small Litany.

Trisagion Hymn, as usually done at a liturgy

Prokimenon of the Feast in Tone 4: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings.

Epistle: Heb. 2:11-18 (§306).

Alleluia, Tone 1.

Gospel: Luke 1:24-38 (§3).

And the rest of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Instead of It is truly meet, we sing the refrain Proclaim, O earth; with the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Feast (Let no profane hand).

Communion Hymn: The Lord hath elected Zion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself.

Fish, wine and oil are allowed at trapeza.

Small Compline is served in the evening.