30th Sunday 1fter Pentecost / The Kinsmen of the Lord / Sunday After Nativity
Beatitudes on 12, Octoechos: 4; Feast: 4, Ode 8; Saints: 4, Ode 6.
1. By the tree was Adam forced to depart from paradise; but by the Tree of the Cross was the thief made to dwell in paradise. For the one by tasting, broke the commandment of the creator; while the other, crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God, crying out: Remember me in Thy kingdom!
2. O Lord Who wast lifted up upon the Cross, Who hast destroyed the power of death and as God hast destroyed the record of our sins, grant also the repentance of the thief unto us who faithfully serve Thee and cry out to thee, O Christ God Who alone lovest mankind: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
3. On the Cross Thou didst tear asunder with the spear the record of our sins; and, numbered among the dead, Thou didst bind the tyrant of hades, O Lord Who lovest mankind, Who by Thy resurrection hast delivered all from the bonds of hades. Thereby have we been illumined, and we cry to Thee: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!
4. O Thou Who alone art immortal, Who wast crucified and as almighty didst arise from the tomb on the third day, and hast raised up Adam, the first created: Vouchsafe that I also may turn to repentance with my whole heart, and may ever cry out to Thee with fervent faith: Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom!
5. The daughter of Babylon carrieth off the captive children of David from Zion to herself; but now she sendeth her own children, the magi bearing gifts, to the God-pleasing daughter of David, who prayeth. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
6. The harps refused to play their sad songs, for the children of Zion would not sing in a strange land; but Christ, shining forth in Bethlehem, destroyeth all the falsehood of Babylon and her musical instruments. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
7. Babylon received the plunder of the kingdom of Zion and its captive riches; but Christ draweth its treasures to His Zion, guiding the star-watching kings by a star. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
8. Having escaped the destruction resulting from man’s being deceived into becoming divine, like the youths all creation with trembling unceasingly hymneth the Word Who hath abased Himself, and with fear it offereth meager praise, in that it is corrupt, even though it hath endured such with wisdom.
9. Awe-struck, the heavenly hosts stood before the cave, and unable to keep silent, hymned Thy most pure nativity, chanting: Glory in the highest to the newborn God!
10. Upon Thy throne hast Thou sat, as Thou didst swear unto the prophet David, O Master, Who camest forth from the fruit of his loins; and unto James didst Thou commit the throne of the Church, O Christ.
11. David the king is shown to be a wondrous prophet and forefather of the incarnation of God; and James, the disciple of Jesus, is shown forth as the first bishop.
12. We beseech thee, O Virgin Theotokos: in behalf of thy servants entreat thou Him Who was incarnate of thee, for we know thee to be our sole intercessor.
Troparia & Kontakia
Tone 4: Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the angel, /
and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, /the women disciples of the Lord spake to the apostles exultantly: /Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, //granting to the world great mercy.
Tone 4: Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, /
hath shined upon the world the light of knowledge; /
for thereby, they that worshipped the stars /
were taught by a star /
to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, /
and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. //
O Lord, glory be to Thee.
Tone 2:
O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David the father of our Divine Lord. /
Thou hast seen a Virgin conceive; /
thou hast given glory with the shepherds; /
thou hast worshipped with the Magi; /
and thou hast been warned by an angel. //
Implore Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory… Tone 3: Today divine David is filled with gladness, /
and together with James, Joseph doth offer praise; /
for they rejoice at receiving a crown as kinsmen of Christ, /
and they praise Him who is ineffably born on earth and they cry: //
O Compassionate One, save them that honor Thee.
Both now… Tone 3:
Today the Virgin giveth birth to Him Who is transcendent in essence; /
and the earth offereth a cave to Him Who is unapproachable. /
Angels with shepherds give glory; /
with a star the Magi do journey; //
for our sake a young Child is born, Who is pre-eternal God.
The Epistle
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 4th Tone: How magnified are Thy works O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Choir: How magnified are Thy works O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Reader: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly.
Choir: How magnified are Thy works O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.
Reader: In the Same Tone: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Choir: Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians:
[Galatians 1:11-19 (§200)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone: Bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Matthew 2:13-23 (§4)]
Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Second Canon of the feast, First Tone:
Refrain: Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more glorious than the hosts on high, the most pure Virgin Theotokos.
Irmos: Better would it be for us to keep silence in fear, for it is without peril; and it is difficult, O Virgin, to weave complex hymns harmoniously with love. But grant us, O Mother, the strength to fulfill our intent.
Or according to the current practice of some, the following Irmos is used (with the same refrain, and in the same tone):
A strange and most wonderful mystery do I see: the cave is heaven; the Virgin the throne of the cherubim; the manger a room, in which Christ, the God whom nothing can contain, is laid. Him do we praise and magnify.
Communion Verse: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!