Fifth Saturday of Great Lent / Saturday of the Akathist Hymn
Beatitudes on 8, Theotokos: 4, from Ode 3; Theotokos: 4,
from Ode 6.
1. From thee,
the untilled field, hath grown the divine Ear of grain. Rejoice, living table that hath held the
Bread of Life. Rejoice, O Lady,
never-failing spring of the Living Water.
2. O Heifer that barest the unblemished Calf for the
faithful, rejoice, ewe that hast brought forth the lamb of God Who taketh away
the sins of all the world. Rejoice,
ardent mercy-seat.
3. Rejoice brightest dawn, who alone barest Christ
the Sun. Rejoice, dwelling-place of
Light, who hast dispersed darkness and utterly driven away the gloomy demons.
4. Rejoice, only door through which the Word alone
hath passed. By thy birthgiving, O Lady,
thou hast broken the bars and gates of hell.
Rejoice, Bride of God, divine entry of the saved.
5. O
undefiled bridal chamber of the Word, cause of deification for all, rejoice,
all honorable preaching of the prophet; rejoice, adornment of the apostles.
6. From thee hath come the Dew that quenched the
flame of idolatry; therefore, we cry to thee: Rejoice, living fleece wet with
dew, which Gideon saw of old, O Virgin.
7. Behold, to thee, O Virgin, we cry: Rejoice! Be thou the port and a haven for all that
sail upon the troubled waters of affliction, amidst all the snares of the
enemy.
8. Thou cause of joy, endue our thoughts with grace,
that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, unconsumed bush, cloud of light that
unceasingly overshadowest the faithful.
After the
entrance, the choir sings: O come let
us worship and fall down before Christ, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O
Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Troparia & Kontakia
Tone 8: When
the bodiless one learned the secret command, /
in haste he came
and stood before Joseph’s dwelling and spake unto the Maiden who knew not
wedlock: /
The One who hath
bowed the heavens by His descent /
is held and
contained, unchanging, wholly in thee. /
Seeing Him
receiving the form of a servant in thy womb, I stand in awe and cry to thee: //
Rejoice, thou Bride
Unwedded.
Glory… Both now... Tone 8:
To Thee, the Champion
Leader, /
we Thy servants dedicate /
a feast of victory and of
thanksgiving /
as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: /
but as Thou art one with
might which is invincible, /
from all dangers that can
be do Thou deliver us, /
that we may cry to Thee:
//
Rejoice, Thou Bride
Unwedded!
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 9:24-28 (§322); Hebrews 9:1-7
(§320)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 8th Tone.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the Ark of Thy holiness.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Remember, O Lord, David and all his
meekness.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Mark
8:27-31 (§35); Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28 (§54)]
We sing “It is truly meet…” as usual for
the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Communion
Verse: I will
take the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!