13th Sunday after Pentecost / Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos / Ss. Joachim and Anna

Beatitudes on 12: Octoechos: 4; Feast: 4, from Ode 1; Saints: 4, from 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. Come, ye faithful, and, rejoicing with divine spirit, let us honor with hymns the Ever-virgin Maiden who today hath issued forth from a barren woman for the salvation of men.

 

6. Rejoice, O pure one, Mother and handmaid of Christ God, mediatress of our primal blessedness!  All of us, the human race, glorify thee with hymns, as is meet.

 

7. Let all creation join chorus, and let David be glad, for from his tribe and seed hath come forth as a flower the rod which beareth the Lord, the Creator of all.

 

8. The Holy of holies is placed in the holy sanctuary as a babe, to be fed by the hands of angels.  Let us all, therefore, faithfully keep festival together on her nativity.

 

9. Anna, the barren woman of old, having received fertile seed, was vouchsafed to give birth to a Maiden of divine radiance who hath dominion over all creatures.

 

10. The barren woman, hath now given birth by God’s will to the Virgin Who would with submission give birth untainted by carnal will, as God Himself manifestly desired.

 

11. Illumined by the Spirit, Isaiah beheld the offspring of Joachim and Anna as a new scroll, whereon the incarnate Word was written.

 

12. Mystery followeth mystery! For she who before was barren hath given birth to grace: the mediatress of salvation who hath been revealed to us by the birth of virginity.

 

Troparia

 

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]

 

Glory… Tone 1: Joachim and Anna, who were righteous in the law of grace, /

have for us given birth unto a God-given babe. /

Wherefore, the divine Church keepeth splendid festival today, /

celebrating their honored memory with gladness, /

glorifying God Who hath lifted up the horn of salvation for us //

in the house of David.

 

Both now… Tone 4: Thy nativity, O Theotokos Virgin, /

hath proclaimed joy to all the world; /

for from thee hath dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, /

annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, //

abolishing death and granting us life eternal.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 6th Tone: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader: Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader: In the 4th 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:

[Gal. 6:11-18 (§215); I Cor. 16:13-24 (§166); Gal. 4:22-31 (§210 mid)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone: I have raised up one chosen out of my people; with my

holy oil have I anointed him.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: For My hand shall be unto Him an ally, and Mine arm shall strengthen him.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and he is their defender in time

of affliction.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [John 3:13-17 (§9); Matt 21:33-42 (§87); Luke 8:16-21 (§36)]

 

Kontakia

 

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 2:  Anna now rejoiceth, /

having broken the bond of barrenness; /

and she nurtureth the all-pure one, /

calling upon all to hymn the One /

Who through her womb hath given unto men //

the only Mother who knew not man.

 

Both now... Tone 4: Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness /

and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, by thy holy nativity, O immaculate one, /

which thy people, redeemed from the guilt of offenses, /

celebrate, by crying to thee: //

The barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.

 

Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Second Canon

of the feast, Eighth Tone:

 

Refrain:  Magnify, O my soul, / the most glorious nativity of the Mother of God.

 

Irmos:   Foreign to mothers is virginity, /

and strange is childbirth for virgins, /

yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. /

Wherefore, we and all generations of the earth //

without ceasing do magnify thee.

 

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