The
Nativity of
Beatitude Verses: Forerunner: 4
from Ode 3; 4 from Ode 6.
1 & 2. The birthgiving of the Master is
accomplished through the Virgin, while that of His beloved servant is through
an elderly and barren mother; wherefore, -- Wonder of wonders! – he goeth on
before unto splendor.
3 & 4.
The elderly and barren woman kisseth the Virgin Mother, truly
recognizing her birthgiving, for the bond of her barrenness hath been loosed by
the will of God.
5. Today John is born: the citizen of the desert,
the preacher of repentance, the true witness of grace, the Forerunner of the
Word, the star which shineth before the Light.
6. Today, the
axe which hath been forged bodeth hewing for barren souls, planteth
the fruits of the virtues, and cometh forth steadily in thy nativity, O
Forerunner.
7. Jordan
hath rejoiced most gloriously and leapeth up, learning that John is born of the
barren one’s womb; and the sea danceth with leaping waters.
8. O Most
immaculate Theotokos, who gavest birth to the Abyss of mercy: Drowning the abyss
of my passions in the depth of thy compassions, grant me a torrent of tears
from the depths of my soul.
Troparion
& Kontakia
Tone 4: O
Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, /
we who honor thee with love
are unable to extol thee worthily; /
for by thy holy and august
birth /
the barrenness of thy mother and
the speechlessness of thy father were loosened, //
and the incarnation of the
Son of God is proclaimed to the world.
Glory… Tone 3:
She
that was formerly barren giveth birth today to the Forerunner of
Christ,
/
Who
is the fulfillment of all prophecy; /
for
He Whom the prophets foretold is God the Word /
Who
hath appeared to the prophet, herald, and forerunner //
when
he laid his hand on Him in the Jordan.
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
[Romans
13:11b-14:4]
Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone .
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Blessed
be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and wrought redemption for His
people.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: And thou, O
child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High.
Choir: Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Luke 1:1-25, 57-68, 76, 80]
Communion Verse: In everlasting remembrance shall
the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia!