The
Beheading of
Beatitude Verses: 4 from Ode 3 of
the 1st Canon; and 4 from Ode 6 of the 2nd Canon
1 & 2. As
mediator standing between the old and the new covenant of the Gospel preachings,
thou didst denounce the iniquitous union of the tyrant, and, rejoicing, didst accept
a glorious death.
3. Instructed beforehand by her iniquitous mother,
the girl said unto Herod, who was befuddled with drunkenness: “Give me the head
of John on a platter, that I may present to my mother the gift she desireth!”
4. The
shameless tyrant, unable to endure the reproof of thy God-bearing tongue, O glorious
prophet, gave thy precious martyr’s head to the girl as a reward for her
dancing.
5. Honoring the decapitation of thine honored
and most praised head, O forerunner of Christ, we glorify thine ever-laudable
and universal memory, O all-blessed one.
6. O the vile feast! O the bitter birthday! O the drunkenness of the abominable and iniquitous
Herod! For he was held fast by iniquity
and, reviled, he was persuaded to slay the prophet.
7. The new Egyptian woman, dancing wantonly in
the midst of the feast, asked for the head which had denounced her mother, the
paramour of Herod.
8. The Son of the Virgin is now shown to have
first been the Son of the Father, Who is not understood to be different in any
fashion from the visible Son; and He hath remained One, perfect in both His
natures.
Troparia
& Kontakia
Tone 2: The
memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, /
but the Lord's testimony is
sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; /
for thou hast proved to be
even more venerable than the prophets /
since thou wast granted to
baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. /
Wherefore, having contested
for the truth, /
thou didst rejoice to
announce the good tidings even to those in Hades; /
that God hath appeared in the
flesh, //
taking away the sin of the
world and granting us great mercy.
Glory… Tone 5: The glorious beheading of
the Forerunner /
was
part of God’s dispensation, /
that
the coming of the Savior might also be preached to those in hades. /
Lament
then, Herodias, that thou hast demanded a wicked murder, /
for
thou didst love neither the law of God nor eternal life, //
but
one false and fleeting.
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.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 7th tone: The righteous man shall be glad in the
Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Choir: The righteous man shall be
glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
Reader: Hearken, O God, unto my prayer, when I
make supplication unto Thee.
Choir: The righteous man shall be glad
in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
Reader: The righteous man shall be
glad in the Lord.
Choir: And shall hope in Him.
Reader: The Reading is
from the Acts of the Holy Apostles: [Acts
13:25-33]
Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone:
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The righteous man shall flourish like a
palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied..
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: They that are planted in the house of the
Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Mark 6:14-30]
Communion Verse: In everlasting remembrance shall
the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!