Hieromartyr
Ignatius of Antioch & St. John of Kronstadt
Note: On this day we begin the forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. It should
be known that from December 20 until January 14, when we take leave of the feast
of Theophany, all the services are taken from the Menaion. The Octoechos is not
sung, except on Sundays, and we do not sing the Inter-Hours or the canon of the
Theotokos at Compline.
Great
Vespers: Blessed is the man.
Lord
I have Cried, on 10, Tone 1: Forefeast: 3 (Let us celebrate the forefeast);
Hieromartyr: 3 (O ye people); Saint 4
(Having set aside all the things of this
world); G: Saint (Thou didst believe
in righteousness); N: Forefeast (Receive,
O Bethlehem).
Entry; O Gladsome Light; Prokimenon of the day, Tone 7: O God, my helper art Thou.
3 Readings for the Saint.
Litia: Sticheron of the Temple and the stichera of the Saint
(O Jesus, Son of God, my strength);
G: Saint (When we pray); N: Forefeast (Receive,
O manger).
Aposticha: Forefeast (Lo!
the time of our salvation); G: Saint (It was not our fathers that told us); N: Forefeast (O
Lord, having come to Bethlehem).
Troparia: Saint (O wonderworker, who livest in Christ forever) x2; Forefeast (Make ready, O Bethlehem) x1.
Matins:
God is the Lord,
Tone 4; Troparia: Forefeast; Hieromartyr (As thou didst share in the way of the Apostles); G: Saint; N: Forefeast.
After each Kathisma:
Sessional hymns of the Saint and Forefeast.
Polyeleos and
Magnification of the Saint: We magnify thee, O holy and righteous father
John, and we honor thy holy memory, for thou dost pray for us to Christ our God. Psalm verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.
Sessional hymn of the
Saint (A fiery minister of the Word of
God); G/N: Forefeast (As the
shepherds were piping songs).
Hymns of Ascents, First
Antiphon, Tone 4: From
my youth.
Prokimenon of the Saint,
Tone 4: Thy priests shall be clothed with
righteousness.
Matins Gospel: Luke
6:17-23 (§24).
Psalm 50; Glory: Through the prayers of righteous John; Both now: Through the
prayers of the Theotokos; Have mercy
on me, O God; Sticheron of the Saint (O
earthly angel). Save, O God, Thy
people.
Canon: Forefeast 4 Glory to Thee, our God, glory to
Thee.
Hieromartyr 4 Holy hieromartyr Ignatius, pray to God
for us.
Saint 6 Holy righteous father
John, pray to God for us.
Irmos of the Forefeast: Let us all chant a hymn.
After Ode 3, Kontakion (Today the Virgin cometh) and Ikos of the
Forefeast; Kontakion (The luminous day) and Ikos of the Hieromartyr; Sessional
Hymn of the Saint (O blessed John, lamp
of Kronstadt); G: Hieromartyr (Guided
by Christ God); N: Forefeast (The
Word of God).
After Ode 6, Kontakion (O father John, namesake of grace) and
Ikos of the Saint.
At Ode 9, More Honorable.
Exapostilarion: Hieromartyr (The all-unoriginate Word); G: Saint (Performing thy priestly ministry);N: Forefeast (Adorn
thyself, O Bethlehem).
Praises, Tone 6, on 8: Forefeast 4 (Go before us, ye angelic hosts); Saint 4
(O most joyous tidings – with the doxasticon (Bowing down before the holy icons), and
the final two psalm verses: He hath
dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his
righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. & His heart is ready to hope in the Lord); G: Hieromartyr (Thine annual festival, O God-bearer Ignatius);
N: Forefeast (Adorn thyself well, O cave).
After the
Great Doxology: Troparion of the Hieromartyr; G: Saint; N: Forefeast; the two remaining Litanies and
Dismissal; First Hour.
Hours: Troparion: Forefeast; G:
Hieromartyr & Saint, alternating; Kontakion: Forefeast & Saint,
alternating.
Liturgy: Beatitudes on 12: Forefeast: 4,
from Ode 3; Hieromartyr: 4, from Ode 3; Saint: 4 from Ode 6.
After
the entrance: Troparia Forefeast, Hieromartyr, Saint; Kontakia: Hieromartyr; G:
Saint; N: Forefeast.
Prokimenon, Tone 7: The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord.
Epistle: Gal. 3:8-12 (§205);
Heb. 4:14-5:6 (§311); I John 4:7-11 (§73 mid.).
Alleluia,
Tone 4.
Gospel: Luke 13:18-29
(§72); Mark 9:33-41 (§41); Luke 6:31-36 (§26).
Communion Hymn: In everlasting remembrance.