28th Sunday after Pentecost / Sunday of the Holy
Forefathers
Beatitudes Verses: 6 from the Octoechos; 4 from Ode 3 of the Forefathers
1. From paradise didst Thou drive our forefather Adam, who had broken Thy commandment, O Christ; but, O Compassionate One, Thou didst cause to dwell therein the thief who confessed Thee on the cross, crying out: “Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom!” 2. With the curse of death didst Thou condemn us who had sinned, O Lord, Bestower of life; yet having suffered in Thy flesh, O sinless Master, Thou hast granted life unto mortals who cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!” 3. In rising from the dead, Thou hast raised us up from the passions with Thyself through Thy resurrection, O Lord; and all the power of death hast Thou destroyed, O Savior. Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!” 4. O Thou who as God grantest life, by Thy three days in the tomb Thou didst raise up with Thyself the dead in hell, and as One Who is good Thou hast poured forth incorruption upon all of us who with faith ever cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!” 5. Risen from the dead, O Savior, Thou didst first appear to the myrrh-bearing women, crying out: “Rejoice!” and through them Thou didst announce Thy resurrection to Thy friends, O Christ. Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee, “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!” 6. Moses, stretching out his arms on the mountain, prefigured the Cross and thus conquered Amelek. And, receiving it with faith as a mighty weapon against the demons, we all cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!” 7. The zeal of Seth for his Creator is hymned throughout the world, for in his blameless life and spiritual love he was truly pleasing unto Him, and now doth cry out in the land of the living: holy art Thou, O Lord 8. The wondrous Enos trusted in the Spirit and with divine wisdom began to call upon the God and Master of all with mouth, tongue and heart; and having lived on earth in a God-pleasing manner, he received glory. 9. Let us bless Enoch with sacred utterances, for, having been well pleasing unto the Lord, he was translated in glory, being shown to be greater than death, as it hath been written, since he had been a most earnest servant of God. 10. Now doth the Expectation of the nations come forth from the Virgin, and Bethlehem doth radiantly open the shut gates of Eden flesh, was laid in a manger. Troparia & Kontakion
Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; /
for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm. /He hath trampled down death by death; /the first-born of the dead hath He become. /From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us //and Hath granted to the world great mercy.
Glory… Tone 2:
By faith Thou didst justify the Forefathers, /
when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime /
to the Church that was from among the nations. /
The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, /
even she that bore Thee seedlessly. //
By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Both now… Tone 6:
A
hand-wrought image ye would not worship, /
O
thrice-blessed ones; /
but
armed with the Indescribable Essence, /
ye
were glorified in your ordeal by fire./
Standing
in the midst of the irresistible flame, ye called upon God: /
Speed
Thou, O Compassionate One, /
and
hasten, as Thou art Merciful, //
to
come unto our aid, for Thou art able if Thou will it.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone:
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our
fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the
ages.
Choir:
Blessed
art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is
Thy name unto the ages.
Reader: For
righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.
Choir: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our
fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy
name unto the ages.
Reader: Blessed art Thou, O
Lord, the God of our fathers.
Choir: And praised and
glorified is Thy name unto the ages.