The Holy Apostle John the Theologian
At the beginning of the Liturgy, the Priest sings “Christ is risen” 2 ½ times, and the Choir finishes
the last half.
Beatitudes on 8, Mid-Pentecost: 4, from Ode 9; Apostle: 4, from Ode 6. 1 Since we have learned from Christ a new and unprecedented way of life, let us all be especially diligent to preserve it until the end, that we may enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. O Life-Giving Savior, Thou didst clothe my mortal nature with the garment of incorruption, and didst raise it up together with Thyself. Thou didst lead it unto the Father, having dispelled my warfare of many years. 3. At the midpoint of the Jewish feast, Thou didst go up to Thy Temple, O my Savior, and teach all; and all the Jews marveled and said: “Whence doth He know the Scriptures, not having studied them?”
4. Pouring forth gifts of healing, O my Deliverer, Thou didst work wonders and signs, dispelling sicknesses and curing the infirm. But the Jews were enraged by the multitude of His miracles.
5. & 6. Isaiah beheld in an image the burning Coal of the Divine fire which purified his lips, and He was vouchsafed prophecy; and thou, O blessed John, wast shown to recline against the breast of God the Word incarnate.
7. The only-begotten Word Who sitteth in the bosom of the Father was seen incarnate, O blessed John, and told thee, as the beloved initiate of His mysteries, that thou wouldst see the incorporeal God Whom no-one can behold.
8. Illumine my soul, O most hymned Virgin Theotokos who gavest birth to the Effulgence of the Father’s glory; for, having thy true grace, we abstain from blasphemous speech.
Troparia:
Tone 8:
In the midst of the feast, give Thou my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of piety; /
for Thou, O Savior, didst cry out to all: /
Whosoever is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. //
Wherefore, O Well-spring of life, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.
Glory… Tone 2: O Apostle beloved of Christ our God, /
hasten to deliver a defenseless people. /
He that allowed thee to recline on His breast, /
receiveth thee bowing in intercession. /
Implore Him, O Theologian, /
to dispel the persistent cloud of the heathen, //
and ask for us His peace and great mercy.
Both now… Tone 8:
In the midst of the feast, give Thou my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of piety; /
for Thou, O Savior, didst cry out to all: /
Whosoever is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. //
Wherefore, O Well-spring of life, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.
The Epistle:
Reader: The Prokimenon in the 3rd Tone: Great is our Lord, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure.
Choir: Great is our Lord, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure.
Reader: Praise ye the Lord, for a psalm is a good thing; let praise be sweet unto our God.
Choir: Great is our Lord, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure.
Reader: In the 8th Tone: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words
unto the ends of the world.
Choir: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the
world.
Reader: The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles:
[Acts 13:13-24 (§32); 1 John 1:1-7 (§68)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 1st Tone: Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the congregations of saints.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [John 6:5-14 (§18); John 19:25-27, 21:24-25 (§61]
Kontakia:
Tone 2: Who can tell of thy mighty works, O virgin Saint? /
For thou pourest forth miracles, /
and art a source of healings, /
and thou dost intercede for our souls, //
as the Theologian and friend of Christ.
Glory… Both now… Tone 4: In the midst of the Judaic feast, /
Thou didst say to those present, O Christ God, Master and Creator of all: /
Come ye, and receive the water of immortality. /
Wherefore, we fall down before Thee, /
crying out in faith and saying: /
Grant us Thy mercy and compassion; //
for Thou art the Well-spring of our life.
Instead of “It is truly meet…” we chant the Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Second Canon of the feast, Tone 8:
Virginity is alien to mothers, /
and childbirth is foreign to virgins,
but in thee, O Theotokos, both were granted. //
Wherefore, all we the tribes of the earth bless thee unceasingly.