The Meeting of our Lord
It should go
without saying that if one has any possible means of traveling to a Church to
attend the liturgy for the feast, they should do so. However, if it is not possible for one to do
so, the following is provided so that at least they can participate in the
feast to the extent possible, under such circumstances.
Beatitudes: 4 from Ode 3, and 4 from Ode 6 of the Feast
1
& 2. The firstborn of the Father
before all ages has appeared from an undefiled Maiden is a firstborn child and
He stretches out His hands to Adam.
3. That He might restore the first-formed man,
who through beguilement had become childish in his mind, God the word has
appeared as a child.
4. The Creator, having become a young child
without undergoing change, has reshaped according to the form of His divinity
our nature, taken from the earth and destined to return to earth once more.
5
& 6. Thou hast been set up in Zion
as a stumbling stone and rock of offense for the disobedient, but unto the
faithful Thou art salvation which cannot be broken.
7. Bearing faithfully the image of Him who begat
Thee before all ages, Thou hast now from pity put on the weakness of mortal
man.
8. Now lettest Thou depart in peace him who
worships Thee as Son of the Most High and Son of the Virgin, God become a
child.
Instead
of “O come let us worship…” the Choir signs the entry verse:
The
Lord hath made known His salvation, in the sight of the nations
hath He revealed His righteousness.
Troparion:
Tone 1: Rejoice, thou
who art full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos, /
for from thee hath risen the
Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, /
enlightening those in
darkness. /
Rejoice, thou also, O
righteous Elder, /
as thou receivest in thine
arms the Redeemer of our souls, //
Who also granteth unto us the
Resurrection.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon
in the 3rd Tone: My
soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Choir: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Savior.
Reader: For He hath
looked upon the lowliness of His handmaiden; for behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Choir: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Savior.
Reader: My soul doth magnify the Lord
Choir: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul
to the Hebrews:
[Hebrews 7:7-17]
Reader: Alleluia in the 8th
Tone.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace, O Master, according to Thy word.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: A light of revelation
for the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Luke 2:22-40]
Kontakion
Tone 1: Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb by Thy birth, /
and didst bless Symeon’s hands as was meet, /
by anticipation
didst even now save us, O Christ God. /
But grant peace
in the midst of wars unto Thy commonwealth, /
and strengthen
Orthodox Christians //
whom Thou hast
loved, O only Lover of mankind.
Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th
Ode of the Canon of the feast, Third Tone:
Refrain: O Virgin
Theotokos, thou hope of Christians: //
Do thou protect, preserve, and save those that hope in thee.
Irmos: In the shadow and the letter
of the Law, /
let
us, the faithful, discern a figure: /
every
male child that opens the womb /
shall
be sanctified to God. /
Therefore
do we magnify the firstborn Word and Son of the Father without beginning, /
the
firstborn Child of a Mother //
who
hath not known a man.