Typicon and Choir cues

31st Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday before Nativity; Sunday of the Fathers

24 Dec / 6 Jan 2001

The order for Troparia and Kontakia is for all Temples. No adjustments are necessary.

Sunday Readings: Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40; Matthew 1:1-25

Hours:
3rd Hour: Troparia: Resurrection; Glory...; for the Fathers Kontakion: for the Fathers
6th Hour: Troparia: Resurrection; Glory...; for the Fathers Kontakion: for the Forefeast

Third Antiphon (Beatitudes)

8 Troparia: 4 from the Ode III of the Canon of the Fathers; 4 from Ode VI of the Canon of the Forefeast

1. Faithfully preserving the glory of the image and likeness of God, with the fire of the Spirit the children, as champions, extinguished the fire of the golden image, chanting: We know but one Lord
2. The captive children, clothed with the wisdom and power of the Spirit, put to shame the wise men of Babylon and boldly cried out: None is holy save Thee, O Lord, Lover of mankind!
3. The Law doth rejoice and joineth chorus with the children and the prophets and doth exult today before the divine advent of the Lord, And Abraham doth rejoice, for from his seed hath the incarnate Lord appeared.
4. A conception without pain, an acceptance of thy birthgiving hath transpired in manner beyond recounting, O Theotokos, for the Word of God, Who is God and was proclaimed by the prophets, hath shown Himself to be a mystery beyond nature.
5. O Mistress, as thou art a new heaven thou dost come, that Christ, the Sun of glory, might shine forth in the flesh from thy womb, as through a cloud, in the cave; for, in His boundless loving-kindness, He desireth splendidly to illumine all that are of this earth with rays of His own light.
6. O Mistress, as thou art a new heaven thou dost come, that Christ, the Sun of glory, might shine forth in the flesh from thy womb, as through a cloud, in the cave; for, in His boundless loving-kindness, He desireth splendidly to illumine all that are of this earth with rays of His own light.
7. Thou didst perceive our infirmity and misery, O compassionate Christ, and didst not disdain us; but, without leaving the Father, thou didst empty Thyself and make Thine abode in the womb of her that knew not wedlock, who now cometh forth to give birth unto Thee without pain, in the cave.
8. Ye mountains and hills, fields and vales, people and generations, nations and every creature: exult, filled with divine gladness, for the deliverance of all, the Word of God, the Timeless One, Who, in His loving-kindness, hath come under time, doth come with haste.

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 6)

Angelic Hosts were above Thy tomb, / and they that guarded Thee became as dead. / And Mary stood by the grave / seeking Thine immaculate Body. / Thou didst despoil Hades and wast not tempted by it. / Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. / O Thou who didst arise from the dead, // O Lord, glory be to Thee.

Troparion of the Fathers (Tone 2)

Great are the accomplishments of faith! In the fountain of flame, as in refreshing water, the three holy children rejoiced; and the prophet Daniel was shown to be a shepherd of lions, as of sheep. By their prayers, O Christ God, save Thou our souls!.

Troparion of the Forefeast (Tone 4)

Once Mary, pregnant with a seedless pregnancy, was registered in Bethlehem with the elder Joseph, as being of the seed of David. And while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, but there was no room for them in the inn. But the cave showed itself to be a beauteous palace for the Queen, and Christ is born to raise up the image that fell of old!

Kontakion of the Fathers (Tone 1)

Special Melody: "The choir of angels..." Be glad, O Bethlehem! Make ready, O Ephratha! for, lo! she that beareth the Lamb and great Shepherd in her womb doth make haste to give birth. Beholding this, the Godbearing fathers are glad, with the shepherds hymning the lactescent Virgin.

Kontakion of the Forefeast (Tone 3)

Today the Virgin cometh to give birth ineffably to the pre-eternal Word in the cave. Dance, O World! And having heard this, with the angels and shepherds glorify the pre-eternal God, Who is to appear as a little babe.

The Prokeimenon in the 4th Tone (Hymn of the Fathers)

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, / and praised and glorified is thy name unto the ages.

Vs/: For righteous art Thou in all which Thou hast done for us.

Epistle: (Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40)

Brethren: By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The Alleluia in the 4th Tone

(PAUSE between Alleluia and first verse)

O God, with our ears have we heard, for our fathers have told us.

Vs/: For thou hast saved us from them that afflict us, and them that hate us hast Thou put to shame.

Gospel: (Matthew 1:1-25)

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Communion Verse

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. (Ps. 148:1)

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!