The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
Beatitudes
on 8: From the canon of the Apostle: 4 from Ode 3, first canon; and 4 from Ode
6, second canon.
1 & 2. Having received the kingdom
of heaven which thou didst preach, O blessed one, and as a converser with the
Word of heaven, by thy supplications preserve those who believe in thine
honored preaching and theology.
3. Exhibiting a mighty mind, thou didst spurn all things on earth and the
bonds of nature, O most wise one, and abiding noetically
and spiritually with the Word thou hast freed from irrationality those who live
senselessly.
4. Receiving most theologically an understanding of heavenly things, thou
didst preach God the Word; and, proclaiming the glad tidings, thou didst teach:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with His Father, and the Word
was God!
5. Thy tongue of theology was
truly like a writer’s pen, inscribing on the tablets of our hearts true understanding
and the law which is truly new, O theologian.
6. O glorious one who, like a most excellent husbandman, hast caused the
offshoots of impiety to wither at the root, plant thou the fear of God in my
soul, the blossoming fruitfulness of the virtues.
7. He Who had most manifestly issued forth from the Virgin called thee
her son. With her make thou entreaty,
that those who do that which is well-pleasing unto Him become children of God
by adoption, O ever all-memorable one.
8. Through thee, O most immaculate one, God appeared to men in the
likeness of the flesh. Him do thou ever
entreat, that He slay the pernicious wisdom of our flesh, O most pure one.
Troparia
Glory… Tone 2: O Apostle beloved of Christ our God, /
hasten to deliver a
defenseless people. /
He that allowed thee to
recline on His breast, /
receiveth thee bowing in
intercession. /
Implore Him, O Theologian,
/
to dispel the persistent
cloud of the heathen, //
and ask for us His peace
and great mercy.
Both now… Tone
2:
All of thy most glorious
mysteries are beyond comprehension, O Theotokos; /
for, thy purity
sealed and thy virginity intact, /
thou art known
to be a true Mother, /
having given
birth unto God. //
Him do thou entreat,
that our souls be saved.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 8th Tone: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their
words unto the ends of the world.
Choir: Their
sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the
world.
Reader: The heavens declare the glory of God, and
the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.
Choir: Their
sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the
world.
Reader: Their
sound hath gone forth into all the earth.
Choir: And their words unto the ends of the world.
Reader: The
Reading is from the First Catholic Epistle of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist
John the Theologian. [I John 4:12-19 (§73
mid)].
Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone..
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The
heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the congregation of
saints.
Choir:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: God is glorified in the council of the
saints.
Choir:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [John
19:25-27,21:24-25 (§61)].
Kontakia
Tone 2: Who can tell
of thy mighty works, O virgin Saint? /
For thou pourest forth
miracles, /
and art a source of
healings, /
and thou dost intercede
for our souls, //
as the Theologian and
friend of Christ.
Glory… 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.