Liturgy: St. Joannicius the Great / Hieromartyr Nicander

21st Sunday after Pentecost / St. Ioannicius the Great / Hieromartyr Nicander

Beatitudes on 8, Octoechos 8.

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. For our sake He Who is without passion became a man subject to the passions; and, nailed of His own will to the Cross, He hath raised us up with Himself. Wherefore, we glorify His Cross, passion, and resurrection, whereby we have been refashioned and whereby we also are saved, who cry out: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!

6. O ye faithful, let us entreat Him who hath risen from the dead, hath made captive the dominion of hades, and wast seen by the myrrh-bearing women and said to them: “Rejoice!”, that He deliver from corruption the souls of us who ever cry out to Him with the voice of the noble thief: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!

7. O Ye faithful, let us all pray, that with one mind we may worthily glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the unity of the Trinity in three Hypostases, unmingled, abiding, simple, indivisible and unapproachable; for thereby have we been delivered from the fiery torment.

8. O Christ, most merciful Master, Thy Mother, who gave birth unto Thee in the flesh without seed, the true Virgin, who remained incorrupt even after giving birth, do we set before Thee to make the supplication: Grant forgiveness of transgressions unto those who ever cry out to Thee: Remember us also in Thy kingdom!

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.

[Troparion of the Temple]

Tone 8: With streams of thy tears thou didst irrigate the barren desert, /

and with sighs from the depths of thy soul thou didst make it to bear fruit an hundredfold. /

Thou wast a beacon to the whole world, radiating miracles. //

O Ioannicius our father, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved!

Tone 4: In his sufferings O Lord, /

Thy martyr Nicander hath received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; /

for, possessed of Thy might, /

he set at nought his tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. //

By his supplications save Thou our souls.

Tone 4:  My Savior and Redeemer hath, as God, /

raised up the earthborn from the grave and from their fetters, /

and He hath broken the gates of hades, /

and, as Master, //

hath risen on the third day.

[Kontakion of the Temple]

Glory… Tone 8: Thou wast made manifest as a most radiant star, /

shining forth in the world and bringing light to those in the gloom of the passions. /

And thou hast been shown to be a most mighty physician. /

But as thou hast received the grace of healing, /

grant healing unto those who ask it of thee, that we may chant: //

Rejoice, O father Ioannicius!

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 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 7^th Tone: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians:

[Gal. 2:16-20 (§203); Gal. 5:22-6:2 (§213)]

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: In the 6^th Tone: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly rejoice.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel [Luke 8:41-56 (§39); Matt. 4:25-5:12 (§10)]

Communion Verse: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!