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35th Sunday after Pentecost

Afterfeast of Theophany
Commemoration of our Father among the Saints Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa
VESPERS: Tone 2

P. Regular Beginning
C. Lord I have cried...

1. Come let us adore the Word of God,/ begotten of the Father before the
world began,/ and incarnate of the Virgin Mary./ For of His own will
He suffered the Cross and submitted to burial.// He also rose from the
dead and saved me, an erring man.

2. Christ, our Saviour, blotted out the bond that pledged us to the
decrees of the law/ by nailing it to the Cross,/ and He put down the
dominion of death.// We worship His Resurrection on the third day.

3. In common with the Archangels let us praise the Resurrection of

Christ./ He is the Deliverer and Saviour of our souls./ And He will
come again in dread glory and great power,// to judge the world He
fashioned.

4. The angel proclaimed Thee, O Master, crucified and buried,/ and he said
to the women:/ 'Come and see the place where the Lord lay./ For He is
risen as He said, because He is Almighty.'/ Therefore, we worship Thee
Who alone art immortal:// Have mercy upon us, O Christ, Thou Giver of
life.

Stichera for the Feast (Tone 4)

5. Having humbled Himself in manner past understanding,/ the Lord said:
'Thou hast seen how I have clad Myself in thine image, which I Myself
have created./ What, then, is so strange, My friend, if I also bow
beneath the hand of thee who art one of my minions;/ and if, naked, I
clothe Myself in the waters?/ For, in that I am compassionate,// I
wish to clothe the naked in everlasting incorruption.'

6. 'Thou hast shown Thyself incarnate,/ yet the womb which received Thee
remaineth unconsumed;/ for the furnace which did not consume the youths
long ago serveth as an image thereof./ But how can I, who am grass
touch Fire with my hand,/ O Jesus Almighty, Thou Saviour of our
souls,// before Whom all in heaven and on earth do tremble?'

7. 'In the waters of the Jordan do thou wash Me, Who in nowise am
defiled,' the Lord said;/ 'and human nature which hath been defiled by
the transgression of Adam, will be washed clean as new./ For when I am
baptized// all men will be renewed by water and the Spirit.'

Stichera for the Saint (Tone 5)

8. O venerable father, most sacred Gregory,/ thou reed full of the wind of
the Comforter,/ most manifest tongue of piety,/ greatly luminous beacon
of divine radiance,/ preacher of the Truth, foundation of theology,/
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well-spring of exalted dogmas,/ torrent of teachings sweet as honey,/

harp played by God, sweetening the thoughts of the faithful with
divinely composed hymns:/ Entreat Christ, pray thou to Christ Who hath
restored the world/ in the streams of the Jordan, O most wise one,//
that He save our race.

9. O venerable father, most honoured Gregory,/ thou axe felling the

assaults of the heretics,/ two-edged sword of the Comforter,/ scythe
cutting through the tares of adultery,/ fire burning up the dross of
heresy,/ true winnowing-fan of the Husbandman, whereby the heavy seed
of doctrine is separated from the chaff,/ compass Christ, pray thou
ever to Christ/ Who hath restored the world in the streams of the
Jordan, O most wise one,// that He save our race.

10. O venerable father, most blessed Gregory,/ thou mouth pouring forth
divine sounds,/ drawing forth salvation from the inexhaustible divine
springs,/ and showing forth discourses and prayers unto all,/ thou rule
directing all to virtue,/ who art enlightened by divine visions and
illumined with the radiance of the uncreated Trinity,/ whose invincible
champion thou wast: Entreat Christ, O most wise one,/ pray thou to
Christ Who hath restored the world in the streams of the Jordan, O most
wise one,// that He save our race.

Glory... (Tone 4)
Having adorned thy discourse with wisdom and immaculate virtue,/ thou
wast rendered comely in both, O Gregory of Nyssa,/ adorning and gladdening
the people with thy God-proclaiming voice,/ and explaining reasonably the
one Godhead of the Trinity, O all-wise one./ Wherefore, having overcome
alien heresies by Orthodox dogmas,/ thou didst raise up the might of the
Faith in the ends of the earth./ Standing before Christ with the immaterial
ministers,// ask those peace and great mercy for our souls.

Both now & ever... Dogmatikon (Tone 2)

At the coming of grace, the shadow that is the law passed away./ Just
as the bush that burned was not consumed,/ so hast thou, Virgin, given birth
and Virgin remained./ Gone was the Pillar of fire,/ and lo, in its stead
the Sun of Righteousness shone forth.// Behold, instead of Moses, Christ,
the salvation of our souls.

P. Wisdom. Aright!
C. O Joyful Light...
P. Prokimenon. The Lord is King...
P. Wisdom! (And readings, if any)
P. Augmented Litany
R. Vouchsafe...
P. Litany of Fervent Supplication

APOSTICHA: (Tone 2)

1. Thy Resurrection, O Christ,/ has given light to all the earth/ and has
called up Thy creature.// Therefore, glory to Thee, O Almighty God.

V. The Lord is King,/ and hath put on glorious apparel.

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2. Through Thy rood, O Saviour,/ Thou hast done away with the curse of the
tree,/ and through Thy burial Thou hast put down the dominion of
death,/ and Thou hast enlightened mankind by Thy Resurrection./
Therefore we cry to Thee:// Glory to Thee, O Christ, our God, the
Giver of life.

V. He hath made the world so sure/ that it cannot be moved.

3. Thou, O Christ, didst appear, nailed upon the Cross/ having changed the
beauty of created things./ And in cruelty the soldiers pierced Thy
side with a lance;/ while the Jews begged that Thy tomb might be
sealed,/ for they both had no faith in Thy power./ But Thou, O Lord,
for Thy mercy's sake hast submitted to the tomb/ and hast risen on the
third day.// Therefore, unto Thee be glory.

V. Holiness becometh Thine house/ O Lord, forever.

4. Of Thine own will Thou, O Christ, the Giver of life,/ for the sake of
mortal man hast endured Thy passion/ and hast descended into hell, in
mighty power,/ snatching as it were from the jaws of a great monster
those who awaited Thee there,/ granting them an abode in paradise./
Therefore to us who give glory to Thy Rising on the third day,// grant
cleansing of our sins and Thy great mercy.

Glory... (Tone 4)
Setting thy godly life aright, O divinely manifest Gregory,/ thou didst
illumine thine activity with divine vision;/ for, loving wisdom with godly
desire, thou wast enriched by grace from the mouth of the Spirit,/ and
causing the sweetness of thy discourse to drip forth like honey from the
honeycomb,/ thou dost ever gladden the Church of God with divine
understanding./ Wherefore, dwelling in the heavens as a holy hierarch,//
pray thou unceasingly for us who celebrate thy memory.

Both... (Tone 4)
The Baptist, seeing Thee, Who in the Spirit and in fire dost take away
the sin of the world,/ coming to him, cried out, saying:/ 'I am afraid and
tremble! I dare not touch Thine all-pure head!// Do Thou sanctify me, O
Master Who alone lovest mankind, by Thy divine epiphany!'

C. St. Symeon's Prayer

R. Trisagion
C. Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos x2

Troparion of the Feast (Tone 1)

O Lord, when Thou wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the
Trinity was revealed./ For the voice of the Father did come forth to
testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son./ And the Spirit in the
likeness of a dove,/ confirmed the Truth of the Word./ Thou hast appeared
and hast given light to the world,// O Lord, Glory to Thee!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord...

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MATINS: Tone 2

P. Regular Beginning
P. Great Ectenia
C. God is the Lord...

C. Sunday Troparia (Tone 2) x2

When Thou didst descend to death, O life immortal,/ Thou didst slay
hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead/ and when from the depths Thou didst
raise the dead/ all the powers of heaven cried out:/ O Giver of life,
Christ our God,// Glory to Thee!

Glory... Troparion for the Saint (Tone 4)

O God of our fathers,/ deal with us ever according to Thy meekness./
Take not Thy mercy away from us,/ but by the prayers of these saints//
direct our life in peace.

Both... Troparion of the Feast (Tone 1)

O Lord, when Thou wast baptized in the River Jordan,/ worship of the
Trinity was revealed./ For the voice of the Father did come forth to
testify/ and to name Thee His most beloved Son./ And the Spirit in the
likeness of a dove,/ confirmed the Truth of the Word./ Thou hast appeared
and hast given light to the world,// O Lord, Glory to Thee!

Lord Have Mercy 3x

Glory...

R. Now...
R. Kathisma II
P. Small Ectenia

R. Sessional Hymns:
The noble Joseph, taking Thine all-pure body down from the Tree and
wrapping it in a clean winding-sheet, enclosed it in a new tomb with sweet
spices; yet Thou didst arise on the third day, O Lord, granting great mercy
to the world.

V. Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy
paupers to the end.

Standing before the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, the angel cried:
"Myrrh is meet for the dead, yet Christ hath shown Himself to be a stranger
to corruption! But cry aloud: The Lord hath risen, granting the world
great mercy!"

G/B... Thy mystery, O Mother of God, is most glorious and passeth

all understanding, for stamped with the seal of purity and thy virginity
inviolate, thou art acknowledged without doubt to be the Mother who indeed
hast given birth to the true God. Do thou beseech Him to save our souls.

R. Kathisma III
P. Small Ectenia

R. Sessional Hymns:
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Without hindering the Jews from sealing the stone of the tomb, in
arising Thou didst bestow the rock of faith upon all. O Lord, glory be to
Thee!

V. I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of

all Thy wonders.

With one accord the choir of Thy disciples rejoiceth with the myrrh-
bearing women; and with them we celebrate a common feast to the glory and
honour of Thy resurrection. And through them we cry out to Thee, O Lord Who
lovest mankind: Grant Thy people great mercy!

G/B... All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for by Him Who

became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive, Adam restored,
the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we have been given life.
Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud: Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus
well pleased! Glory be to Thee!

R. Psalm 118
C. Evlogitaria (Blessed art Thou, O Lord...)
P. Small Ectenia

R. Ypakoe:
After the Passion, when the women went to the tomb to anoint Thy Body,
O Christ our God, they saw angels in the sepulcher and were affrighted, for
they heard them say that the Lord was risen granting the world great mercy.

Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon One)

I cast the eyes of my heart toward Thee in heaven, O Saviour. Save me
by Thine overshadowing.
Have mercy on us who offend Thee greatly every hour, O my Christ, and
grant that we may offer Thee repentance before the end.
G/B... It is fitting that the Holy Spirit reign, sanctify and move
creation, for He is God, consubstantial with the Father and the Word.

Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Two)

If the Lord Himself were not with us, who would be preserved whole from
the enemy, the slayer of men?
Give not Thy servant over to the teeth of mine enemies, O Saviour, for
they move against me like lions.
G/B... The Holy Spirit is the Source of life and worship, for by His
power as God He preserveth all created things in the Father by the Son.

Hymn of Degrees: (Antiphon Three)

They who hope in the Lord are like a holy mountain: they are in nowise
moved by the assaults of the enemy.
Let those who live godly lives stretch not their hands forth to
iniquities, for Christ will not withhold His staff from such in His portion.
G/B... Through the Holy Spirit doth all wisdom flow: through Him
have the prophets received vision, hath grace come upon the apostles, and
have the martyrs been crowned with the endurance of suffering.

P. Prokimenon: (Tone 2)
Arouse Thyself, O Lord my God, in the commandment which Thou hast
enjoined,/ and a congregation of peoples shall surround Thee.
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V. O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my hope: Save me.

C. Let every breath praise the Lord.

P. GOSPEL #2

C. Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ...

R. Psalm 50
C. Glory... Now... Have mercy on me... Jesus having risen...

P. Save, O God, Thy People...

Anointing.

Canticle One

Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in
the deep,/ and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious
sin./ All-glorious is the Lord,// for gloriously hath He
been glorified.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The prince of this world, under whom we have enlisted, not having
obeyed Thy commandment, was condemned by Thy Cross, O Good One; for the weak
one attacked Thee as one mortal, recoiled from the might of Thine authority,
and was exposed as weak.

Thou camest into the world, the Deliverer of the human race and Author
of life incorruptible; for by Thy resurrection Thou didst break asunder the
bonds of death. This do we all glorify, for gloriously hast Thou been
glorified.

Theotokion
Thou wast revealed as higher than all creation, visible and invisible,
O pure Ever-virgin; for thou gavest birth to the Creator, in that He was
well pleased to become incarnate in thy womb. Entreat Him with boldness, to
save our souls.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

Of old, the immaterial ladder and the strangely solidified path amid
the sea revealed thy birthgiving, O pure one, which we all hymn, for it hath
been glorified.

The Power of the Most High, the perfect Hypostasis, the Wisdom of God,
Who became incarnate of thee, O most pure one, drew nigh unto men, for He
hath been glorified.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

The Lord, the King of the ages, restoreth corrupted Adam with the
streams of the Jordan and crusheth the heads of the serpents who make their
nest therein, for He hath been glorified.
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The Lord Who became incarnate of the Virgin, clothing material flesh in
the immaterial fire of the Godhead, doth wrap Himself in the water of the
Jordan, for He hath been glorified.

He Who washeth away the defilement of men, cleanseth Himself for them
in the Jordan, desiring to make Himself like unto them, yet remaining as He
was before, the Lord Who enlighteneth those in darkness, for He hath been
glorified.

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

In that Thou art the Abyss of wisdom, the Treasury of understanding

and Wellspring of goodness, O Christ, Thou dost enable me to hymn Gregory,
the luminary of Thy glorious Church, with hymns.

O father Gregory, thou splendid adornment of holy hierarchs, accept

this meager hymnody offered unto thee with love on the day of thy memorial,
whereon do thou render Christ merciful unto us.

Glory... With rich and wise discourse, O Gregory, initiate of the

sacred mysteries, thou didst teach the honoured Church to theologize the
Trinity as a Unity of three members, equally enthroned and equal in honour.

Both... O Virgin Theotokos, let the Faith be reckoned as one, but not
the demonstration of thy wonders which pass understanding; for thou gavest
birth to the unapproachable Word of God, Who hath clothed Himself in
humanity.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
The Lord mighty in battle/ uncovered the foundations of the deep/ and
led His servants on dry ground:/ but He covered their adversaries with the
waters,// for He has been glorified.

Canticle Three

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations,/ blossomed like
a lily at Thine advent, O Lord;// and therein hath my heart
been established.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

During Thy suffering creation was altered, beholding Thee, Who founded
all by Thy divine gesture, in pauper's form, mocked by the iniquitous.

With Thy hand Thou didst fashion me out of dust, in Thine image; and
having descended into hades, O Christ, with Thyself Thou didst raise me up
who had again been broken down into the dust of death for my sins.

Theotokion
The ranks of the angels marveled, O most pure one, and the hearts of
men have been filled with awe at thy birthgiving; wherefore, we honour thee,
the Theotokos, with faith.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

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He Who, as the Creator of time, far transcendeth all time, was of His
own will formed of thee as a babe, O Virgin.

Let us hymn the womb which is more spacious than the heavens, through
which Adam, rejoicing, dwelleth in the heavens.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

O Church of Christ, who of old wast barren and grievously childless,

be glad today; for by water and the Spirit children have been born unto
thee, who cry out with faith: There is none as holy as our God!

In the wilderness the Forerunner crieth out with a loud voice:

"Prepare ye the ways of Christ and make straight the paths of our God,
crying out with faith: There is none as holy as our God!"

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Thou didst subdue the uprisings of the flesh to thy mind as master,
and didst subject thy mind to the King of all. Wherefore, having trodden
the path of the commandments without stumbling, thou becamest a magnificent
habitation of the Trinity, O Gregory.

Thou didst join vision to activity, O father; wherefore, Christ

entrusted to thee the governance of the Church, which thou didst
blamelessly administer as a most excellent initiate of the mysteries of
heaven, O most blessed Gregory.

Glory... Passing beyond the boundaries of the virtues, O Gregory,

and appointing ascents in thy heart, thou hast been taken up from the earth
by thy constant yearning for a dwelling-place in heaven before thy
departure from the flesh.

Both... O Mother of God, without enduring the pangs of maternity

thou didst virginally give birth unto the Incorrupt One Who shone forth
from the Father; wherefore, in Orthodox manner we proclaim as Theotokos
thee who gavest birth to the incarnate Word.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
The Lord, Who givest strength to our kings/ and exalts the horn of His
anointed,/ is born of a Virgin and comes to baptism./ Therefore let us, the
faithful, cry aloud:// None is holy as our God and none is righteous save
Thee, O Lord.

P. Small Ectenia

C. Kontakion of the Feast (Tone 4) (See the music)

Today hast Thou appeared to the world, O Lord,/ and Thy light hath
been signed upon us/ who chant to Thee with understanding:/ Thou hast come
and hast revealed Thyself,// O Light unapproachable!

R. Ikos of the Feast

Upon Galilee of the nations, upon the land of Zebulon and the land of
Naphtali, as the prophet said, a great Light hath shone, even Christ. A
radiant Beam hath dawned upon those who sat in darkness, shining forth from
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Bethlehem. The Lord born of Mary, the Sun of righteousness, shineth forth
with splendor upon the whole world. Come, therefore, all ye naked children
of Adam, and let us clothe ourselves in Him, that we may be warmed; for He
Who covereth the naked and enlighteneth those in darkness, hath come. He
hath appeared, the Light unapproachable!

C. Kontakion for St. Gregory (Tone 1)

Keeping watch with the eye of thy soul,/ O holy hierarch,/ thou didst
show thyself to be a vigilant pastor for the world;/ and with the staff of
thy wisdom and thy fervent intercession/ thou didst drive away all the
heretics like wolves,// preserving the flock unharmed, O most wise Gregory.

R. Ikos for St. Gregory

Through slothfulness have I, the wretched one, fallen asleep unto
death; but as a most vigilant shepherd raise me up, O father, and lull to
sleep the passions which cruelly torment me, that, rising up, in purity I
may hymn thy splendid repose, which the Master of the universe hath
glorified as is meet, as that of a most faithful servant, a most wise
teacher, a friend and initiate of the mysteries, as guardian of His
Traditions, the anointing whereof thou didst well preserve, O most wise
Gregory.

R. Sessional Hymns
Thou hast inherited divine effulgence, having lived an immaterial
life, and hast shone forth in the priesthood for which thou wast named;
for, supernaturally explaining the doctrines of the Faith, thou didst make
the world steadfast in Orthodoxy. O venerable father, entreat Christ God,
that He grant us great mercy.

G/B... When Jesus had been born of the Virgin Mary and was baptized
by John in the Jordan, the Spirit, seen in the form of a dove, descended
upon Him. Wherefore, the prophet said with the angels: "Glory to Thy
coming, O Christ! Glory to Thy kingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou
Who alone lovest mankind!"

Canticle Four

Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin,/ neither a mediator
nor an angel,/ but Thyself incarnate, O Lord,/ and hast saved
me, the whole man;// wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy
power, O Lord.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O God my Master, Thou standest before the judgment-seat as one

condemned, without crying out, bringing forth judgment in behalf of the
gentiles. Thereby Thou hast wrought salvation for the whole world through
Thy suffering, O Christ.

Through Thy suffering, O Christ, the weaponry of the enemy failed, and
by Thy descent into hades the cities of the adversary were destroyed and the
audacity of the tyrant set at naught.
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Theotokion
O Theotokos and Mistress, all of us, the faithful, know thee to be the
haven of salvation and an immovable rampart; for through thy supplications,
thou dost deliver our souls from perils.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

Lo! as the dwelling-place of the Lord, the Mother of God, the divine
mountain, hath most clearly been exalted far higher than the hosts of
heaven.

Having given birth beyond the laws of nature unto Him Who hath dominion
over creation, O only Virgin, thou wast vouchsafed a divine calling.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

"Who hath ever seen the sun cleansed, which is dazzling by nature?"
the herald crieth out. "Am I then to wash with water Thee, the Effulgence
of glory, the Image of the eternal Father? Am I, who am grass, to touch Thy
divinity? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!"

"When he happened upon Thee, Moses showed divine reverence he felt,

for he understood that it was Thee Who spake out of the bush; and he
straightway averted his face. How, then, can I gaze directly at Thee? How
can I touch Thee with my hand? For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of
God!"

"Wisely doing what is spiritual, and being honoured with speech, yet
stand I in awe before inanimate things. For if I baptize Thee, the mountain
which smoked with fire, the sea which parted in twain and this Jordan which
turned back will be mine accusers. For Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and
Power of God!"

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Thou wast seen to be a pillar most radiant in word and deed, O

Gregory, burning with ardent zeal for Orthodoxy, leading forth the new
Israel.

Receiving the grace of the Spirit, thou didst pull aside the veil of
the Scriptures of the Old Testament and didst reveal to us the hidden
beauty of understanding.

Glory... Showing forth the blessed aspects of all the virtues,

Christ entrusted to thee, O Gregory, as to a minister of the word, the task
of proclaiming them abroad to the ends of the world.

Both... Without becoming subject to corruption thou didst conceive

in thy womb without confusion and gavest birth without pain; and in giving
birth to God in the flesh thou wast preserved a virgin even after
birthgiving.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
He whom Thou hast called, O Lord,/ 'The voice of one crying in the
wilderness,’/ heard Thy voice when Thou hast thundered upon many waters,/
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bearing witness to Thy Son./ Wholly filled with the Spirit that had come
he cried aloud:// 'Thou art Christ, the wisdom and the power of God.'

Canticle Five

Irmos: Thou art a Mediator between God and man, O Christ God:/ For
by Thee, O Master,/ are we led up out of the night of
ignorance to Thy Father,// the Source of light.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Thou didst break the audacity of the nations by Thy will, as if they
were cedars, O Christ Master, for it was Thy will to be lifted up in the
flesh upon the cypress, the pine and the cedar.

When they laid Thee, dead and bereft of breath, in a deep pit, O
Christ; yet, wounded, through thy wounds Thou didst raise up with Thyself
the forgotten dead who slept in the graves.

Theotokion
Entreat thy Son and Lord, O pure Virgin, that He grant peace unto those
who hope in thee and deliverance from the assaults of adversaries unto
captives.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

O ye clouds, rain down the delight of gladness upon those on earth, for
a Child hath been given, He Who hath existed from before time: Our God Who
is incarnate of the Virgin.

Light hath shone upon my life and flesh and destroyed the gloom of sin!
In latter times the Most High became incarnate of the Virgin without seed.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

When countless people went down to be baptized of John, Thou Thyself

didst stand in their midst. And he announced to those present: "Who hath
told you, O rebellious ones, to avoid the impending wrath? Bring forth
fruits worthy of Christ; for He standeth before you, granting peace."

Standing in their midst, the Creator and Fashioner alone trieth the
hearts of all; and taking his winnowing-fan in His hand, He most wisely
doth separate the harvest of the whole world, letting the chaff fall away;
and He granteth eternal life to the fruitful.

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Like fire thou hast burned up the thorny and tangled words of
heresies, and hast illumined the minds of the faithful, O blessed Gregory,
initiate of the mysteries.

Thou didst denounce the iniquity of Eunomius and his words which were
difficult to escape; and thou didst destroy the evil snares of his wiles
like a spider's web.
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Glory... Thou didst denounce the most ungodly Macedonius who

shamelessly reviled the divine Spirit as unrelated to Him Who Is, O most
excellent Gregory.

Both... Having seedlessly given birth for us to Christ, our

righteousness and deliverance, O Theotokos, thou didst free the nature of
our first father from the curse.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
Jesus, the Prince of Life,/ has come to set loose from condemnation
Adam the first-formed man;/ and though as God He needs no cleansing,/ yet
for the sake of fallen man He is cleansed in the Jordan./ In its streams He
slew the enmity// and grants the peace that passes all understanding.

Canticle Six

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin,/ I call upon the

unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness:// Lead me out up
from corruption, O God.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The Righteous One was condemned as a malefactor and nailed to the Tree
with iniquitous men, through His blood granting remission to the guilty.

Through one man, the first Adam, did death enter the world of old, and
through the one Son of God hath the resurrection been revealed.

Theotokion
Thou gavest birth without having known a man, O Virgin, and thou
remainest a virgin eternally, revealing the images of the true divinity of
thy Son and God.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

Human nature, enslaved to sin, hath through thee obtained its freedom,
O pure Mistress; for thy Son is slaughtered like a lamb for all.

We all cry out to thee, the true Mother of God; Deliver thy servants,
who move God to wrath, for thou alone hast boldness before thy Son.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

Christ, Who was begotten incorruptibly of God the Father, is incarnate

of the Virgin without defilement. The Forerunner teacheth that it is not
possible to loose the sandals, the bond between the Word and us, of Him Who
delivereth mortals from deception.

With the uttermost fire shall Christ baptize His enemies, who do not
acknowledge Him as God; but He shall restore with the water of grace those
who accept His divinity, delivering them from their transgressions.

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

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Having acquired humility of mind, thou wast shown to all as a meek

soldier waging war against those who seek to diminish the glory of Christ,
O Gregory.

O Gregory, with thy rich discourse thou didst utterly refute the
reasonings of Arius, the arrogant division and alienation which he believed
to exist within the Trinity.

Glory... Sabellius, who wageth war on God, stupidly reasoning that

there is a mingling and confusion within the Trinity, was denounced by
thee, O most blessed Gregory.

Both... O Virgin Mother, thou gavest birth, and giving birth

remained pure, truly bearing Him Who holdeth all things in His hands.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
The Voice of the Word, the Candlestick of the Light,/ the Morning Star
and Forerunner of the Sun,/ cried in the wilderness to all the peoples:/
‘Repent and be cleansed while there is yet time.// For lo, Christ is at
hand, Who delivers the world from corruption.

P. Small Ectenia

C. Kontakion (Tone 2)
Hell became afraid, O almighty Saviour,/ seeing the miracle of Thy
Resurrection from the tomb!/ The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld
this and rejoiced with Thee!// And the world, O my Saviour praises Thee
forever.

R. Ikos
Thou art the light of those in darkness; Thou art the resurrection of
all and the life of men, and hast raised up all with Thyself, O Saviour,
abolishing the dominion of death and breaking down the gates of hades, O
Word. And the dead, beholding the wonder, marveled, and all creation
rejoiceth in Thy resurrection, O Thou Who lovest mankind. Wherefore, we all
glorify and hymn Thy condescension; and the world, O my Saviour, ever
hymneth Thee.

Canticle Seven

Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God,/ raised

up a lofty flame;/ but Christ, Who is blessed and all-
glorious,// spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

In Thy loving-kindness, O Master, Thou couldst not bear to see man

tormented by death; and, becoming man, Thou didst come and save him by Thy
blood. Blessed and most glorious is the God of our fathers!

Seeing Thee arrayed in the vesture of vengeance, O Christ, the

gatekeepers of hades were affrighted; for Thou didst come to slay Thy
servant, the mindless tyrant. Blessed and most glorious is the God of our
fathers!
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Theotokion
We understand thee to be holier than the Holy of holies, for thou alone
gavest birth to the immutable God, O blameless Virgin, unwedded Mother; for
thou hast poured forth incorruption upon all the faithful through thy divine
birthgiving.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

Manifesting within thee beforehand the signs of the ineffable descent

whereby He united Himself unto men of His own will, O pure one, the most
divine and all-glorious God of our fathers wrestled with Jacob.

Abominable is he who doth not with undoubting faith and tongue proclaim
Thee the Son of the Virgin, Who art one of the most hymned Trinity, crying
out: Most divine and most glorious is the God of our fathers!

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

As in heaven, with trembling and wonder the angelic hosts stood before
Thee in the Jordan, witnessing the breadth of God's condescension; for the
God of our fathers, Who holdeth the firmament of the waters above, stood,
incarnate as man, in the waters.

The cloud and the sea of old prefigured the wonder of divine baptism,
for the ancient people of the law were baptized therein when they fled
Egypt. The sea was an image of the water, and the cloud was an image of the
Spirit, whereby we are made perfect. And we cry out: Blessed art Thou, O
Lord God, forever!

O all ye faithful, in Him have we received perfection; and,

theologizing continually with the angels we glorify the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit. For, lo! the consubstantial Trinity of Hypostases is the
One God. To Him do we chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Having united thyself by desire to the effulgence of the threefold Sun

of the Godhead, O Gregory, shining upon all like a mirror, thou emittest
rays of light.

As a father thou hast left thy discourses, the purity of the ways of
thy soul, and the fullness of understanding, as a treasure for those who
chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Glory... Thou didst declare the Father to be the primal Mind and
Cause, the Begetter of the Word, the Emitter of the Spirit, hymning the
Trinity, saying: Blessed art Thou, O God!

Both... O most immaculate one, thou gavest birth to the incarnate

God, a single Hypostasis in two natures; and to Him do we all chant:
Blessed art Thou, O God!

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
The breath of the wind heavy with dew/ and the descent of the angel of
God/ preserved the Holy Children from all harm,/ as they walked in the
 15

fiery furnace./ Refreshed with dew in the flames, they sang in

thanksgiving:// ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our
fathers.’

Canticle Eight

Irmos: Once, in Babylon,/ the fiery furnace divided its activity at

the command of God,/ consuming the Chaldeans, but bedewing
the faithful, who chant:// Bless the Lord, all ye works of
the Lord!

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Beholding the vesture of Thy flesh stained with Thy blood, O Christ,
the ranks of the angels were filled with awe and trembling at Thy great
longsuffering, cried aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

By Thine arising, O Compassionate One, Thou hast clothed my mortality

in immortality; wherefore, in gladness Thy chosen people thankfully hymn
Thee, O Christ, crying out to Thee: Death is swallowed up in victory!

Theotokion
Without seed thou didst conceive Him Who is inseparable from the
Father, and He dwelt in thy womb as God and man; and thou didst ineffably
give birth unto Him O all-pure Theotokos. Wherefore, we acknowledge thee as
the salvation of us all.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

Through thee the One Who is incomparable in goodness and power was seen
on earth and dwelt with men. And, chanting unto Him, all of us, the
faithful, cry: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and exalt Him
supremely for all ages!

Truly proclaiming thee to be the pure Theotokos, we glorify thee; for

thou gavest birth to the One of the Trinity Who became incarnate, to Whom,
with the Father and the Spirit, we all chant: Let all creation hymn the
Lord and exalt Him supremely for all the ages!

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

"Put aside all fear," the Deliverer said to the Forerunner; "Obey Me,
in that I am good, and touch Me, for tangible have I become by nature.
Submit to My commands and baptize Me Who am come down." Him do the people
bless and exalt supremely for all ages.

When the Baptist heard the words of the Master, he stretched forth his
hand with trembling, and as he touched the head of his Creator he cried out
to Him Who was being baptized: "Sanctify me, for Thou art my God, Whom the
people bless and exalt supremely for all ages!"

The Trinity was revealed in the Jordan, for the Father, the divine
Essence Himself, announced: "This One Who is baptized is My beloved Son!"
And the Spirit came upon Him Who was like unto Him, Whom the people bless
and exalt supremely for all ages.
 16

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Thou didst receive all the radiance of the Comforter which descended,
O blessed and venerable one, crying: Hymn the Lord, all ye works and exalt
Him supremely for all ages!

O the two wondrous brethren, akin in the flesh and divine in

understanding! Honouring them, let us reverence Basil and Gregory together
forever, as is meet.

Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!

When the noetic Light made His abode within thee, O father, He set
thee forth as an ever-burning lamp for the world, hymning the one divine
Light of the threefold Sun, Whom we exalt supremely for all ages.

Both... O all ye works, as is meet let us bless her who, in manner

past understanding, gave birth to the Lord, the God-man, yet remained a
virgin, and let us exalt her supremely for all ages.

We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, praising and supremely

exalting Him unto all ages.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
The Babylonian furnace,/ as it poured forth dew,/ foreshadowed a
marvelous mystery;/ how the Jordan should receive in its streams the
immaterial fire,/ and should encompass the Creator, when He was baptized in
the flesh.// Him do ye peoples bless and exalt above all for ever.

P. Magnificat
C. Song of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Canticle Nine

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father,/ hath
revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin,/ to enlighten
those in darkness and to gather the dispersed.// Wherefore,
we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

Glory to Thy Holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The thrice-rich tree of Thine all-pure Cross was planted on Golgotha as

in paradise, O Saviour; and watered with the blood and divine water of Thy
side, as by a divine spring, O Christ, it hath budded forth life for us.

Crucified, O Omnipotent One, Thou didst cast down the mighty; and
raising up human nature, which lay below in the stronghold of hades, Thou
didst set it upon the throne of the Father. And worshipping Thee Who wilt
come therewith, we magnify Thee.

Triadicon
Chanting, O ye faithful, in Orthodox manner let us glorify the
threefold Unity, the consubstantial Trinity, the indivisible, all-divine
essence, the thrice-radiant, the only incorrupt and never-waning Effulgence,
which hath shone forth light upon us.
 17

Most Holy Theotokos, Save us.

In thy womb, O pure one, the Word of God was given to corrupt nature as
a staff of strength; and He raised it up which had fallen headlong into
hades. Wherefore, O most pure one, we magnify thee as the Theotokos.

O Master, mercifully accept as advocate for us Thy Mother, Whom Thou

didst choose. All things will be filled with Thy goodness, that we may all
magnify Thee as our Benefactor.

Glory to Thee, Our God, glory to Thee!

O David, come thou in spirit to the enlightened and chant, saying:

"Approach God now with faith and be illumined! Lowly Adam cried out in his
fall, and the Lord heard him, and, coming to the streams of the Jordan, He
restored the corrupted one."

Isaiah saith: "Change your ways and cleanse yourselves; leave off your
wickedness in the face of the Lord! Ye who thirst, go to the living Water;
for Christ sprinkleth with water those who have recourse to Him with faith,
renewing them, and He baptizeth with the Spirit unto life which ageth not."

By grace and the seal are we preserved, O ye faithful; for as of old

the blood-smeared lintels allowed the Hebrews to escape the destroyer, so
shall the layer of regeneration be for us a divine exodus. And henceforth
we shall see the never-waning light of the Trinity.

Holy Father Gregory, pray to God for us!

Manifestly unable to praise the brilliance of thy corrections and

discourses, O Gregory, our mind confesseth thy right laudable triumph and
mightily giveth utterance to thy praise.

O most excellent initiation of the mysteries, standing now before the

Trinity with the choirs of the angels, the prophets, the martyrs, the
righteous and the patriarchs, be thou mindful of us who hymn thy memory, O
Gregory.

Glory... Thou lookest down now from on high, O holy hierarch,

defending the Church of Christ, granting victory to Orthodox Christians,
and thou hast broken the yoke of slavery, saving those who sing thy praises
by thy supplications, O Gregory.

Both... As thou gavest birth to the Author of creation, O most pure

one, thou bearest Him Who generated the beginning of all things, possessing
supernatural and incomparable greatness. Wherefore, worshipping thine
Offspring, we glorify thee.

C. Katavasia (Tone 2)
Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due:/ even a spirit
from the World above is filled with dizziness,/ when it seeks to sing thy
praises, O Theotokos./ But since Thou art good, accept our faith:/ Thou
knowest well our love inspired by God,// for thou art the Protector of
Christians and we magnify thee.
 18

P. Small Ectenia
C. Holy is the Lord our God...

R. Exapostilarion Two (Mark 16:1-8)

The women bearing myrrh rejoiced at beholding the stone rolled away,
for they saw a young man seated upon the tomb and he said to them: 'Lo,
tell the disciples with Peter that Christ has risen. Press forward into the
mountain of Galilee; there He will appear to you as He said to His friends.'

Glory... Exapostilarion for the Saint

With festive hymns let us all glorify the most wise Gregory, the good
shepherd, the bishop of Nyssa, the brother in the flesh of the all-wise
Basil.

Both... Exapostilarion for the Feast

The Saviour appeared, grace and truth, in the streams of the Jordan,
and He illumined those sleeping in darkness and shadow, for He, the
immutable Light, hath come and appeared.

C. Lauds: Tone 2 Stichera

Let every breath praise the Lord/
Praise the Lord from the Heavens/
Praise Him in the highest/
To Thee is due a hymn, O God/
Praise Him, all ye His Angels;/
Praise Him, all ye His hosts.//
To Thee is due a hymn, O God.

R. (The following may be read or sung antiphonally)

Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all ye stars and light.
Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and thou water that art above the
heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord; For He spake, and they came to be; He
commanded, and they were created.
He established them forever, yea, forever and ever; He hath set an
ordinance, and it shall not pass away.
Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons and all ye abysses,
Fire, hail, snow, ice, blast of tempest, which perform His word,
The mountains and all the hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars,
The beasts and all the cattle, creeping things and winged birds,
Kings of the earth, and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth,
Young men and virgins, elders with the younger; let them praise the name of
the Lord, for exalted is the name of Him alone.
His praise is above the earth and heaven, and He shall exalt the horn of
His people.
This is the hymn for all His saints, for the sons of Israel, and for the
people that draw nigh unto Him.
Sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise is in the church of the saints.
Let Israel be glad in Him that made him, let the sons of Sion rejoice in
their king.
Let them praise His name in the dance; with the timbrel and the psaltery
let them chant unto Him.
 19

For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people, and He shall exalt the meek
with salvation.
The saints shall boast in glory, and they shall rejoice upon their beds.
The high praise of God shall be in their throat, and two-edged swords shall
be in their hands.
To do vengeance among the heathen, punishments among the peoples,
To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron,

V. To do among them the judgment that is written/ This glory shall be

to all His saints.

1. All that hath breath, all the creation praises Thee, O Lord./ For Thou
alone lovest men,/ and hast put down de-ath through Thy Cross,// so as
to show mankind Thy Resurrection.

V. Praise ye God in His saints,/ praise Him in the firmament of His

power.

2. Let the Jews say how the soldiers lost the King over Whom they
watched./ Why did the stone fail to guard the rock of life?/ Let them
give up Him who was buried or worship Him risen and declare with us://
Glory to Thy manifold mercies, Glory unto Thee, our Saviour.

V. Praise Him for His mighty acts,/ praise Him according to the
multitude of His greatness.

3. O ye people, rejoice and make glad./ An angel sat upon the stone of
the tomb and announced to us:/ Christ, Saviour of the world is risen
from the dead/ and has filled the universe with fragrance.// Rejoice
and make glad, O ye people.

V. Praise Him with the sound of trumpet,/ praise Him with psaltery
and harp.

4. Before Thy conception, O Lord,/ an angel brought the joyful salutation

to the Virgin, full of grace,/ while at Thy Resurrection an angel
rolled back the stone of Thy glorious tomb./ The one, in place of
sorrow disclosed tokens of joy,/ the other instead of death, proclaimed
the Master, Giver of life to us.// Therefore we cry: Glory to Thee, O
Lord, Benefactor of all mankind.

V. Praise Him with timbrel and dance,/ praise Him with strings and
flute.

Stichera for the Feast (Tone 2)

5. Now the Saviour giveth to men a strange purification,/ kindling them
but not with fire,// and building up souls without breaking them down.

V. Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of

jubilation./ Let every breath praise the Lord.

6. O ye people, with gladness zealously draw forth the water of divine

life/ from the well-springs of salvation// unto the deliverance of your
souls.
 20

V. The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back.

7. Enlightenment hath come! Grace hath appeared!/ Deliverance hath

dawned! The world hath been illumined!// O ye people, be full with
joy!

V. What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou, Jordan,
that thou didst turn back?

(Tone 8)
8. Desiring to fulfill that which Thou has established from before time,
O Lord,/ Thou didst accept ministers of Thy mystery from among all
creatures:/ Gabriel from among the angels,/ the Virgin from among
men,/ the star from among the heavens and the Jordan from among the
waters/ wherein Thou didst destroy the iniquity of the world.// O our
Saviour, glory be to Thee!

Glory... Gospel Sticheron (Tone 2)

To the women with Mary who came carrying sweet spices/ and were at a
loss how to obtain their desire,/ the stone appeared lifted and a divine
young man calmed the tumult of their souls,/ for he said: 'The Lord Jesus
is risen./ Therefore proclaim this to His heralds and disciples, for them
to hasten to Galilee// and ye shall see Him risen from the dead as Giver of
life and Lord.'

Both now and ever... (Tone 2)

Most Blessed art Thou, O Virgin Theotokos,/ for through Him Who became
incarnate of thee is hades led captive,/ Adam recalled, the curse annulled,
Eve set fre-e, death slain,/ and we are given life. Wherefore, we cry aloud
in praise:/ Blessed art Thou, O Christ God,// Who hast been thus well-
pleased, glory to Thee.

The Great Doxology

Dismissal Tropar:
Having risen from the tomb, and having burst the bonds of hades, Thou
hast destroyed the sentence of death, O Lord, delivering all from the snares
of the enemy. Manifesting Thyself to Thine apostles, Thou didst send them
forth to preach; and through them hast granted Thy peace to the world, O
Thou Who alone art plenteous in mercy.

P. Litanies
Dismissal

R. Hours
Tropar: Resurrection & Feast/Saint alternating
Kontak: Feast/Resurrection alternating

At Liturgy
Order of Troparia & Kontakia as follows:
Tropar Sunday
Tropar Feast
Tropar Saint of the Temple
Kontak Sunday
 21

Kontak Saint of the Temple

Glory... Kontak St. Gregory
Both... Kontak Feast
(The above is for a temple dedicated to a saint, revise as necessary)

Prokimenon for the Afterfeast of Theophany (Tone 1)

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee.
V. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.

Prokimenon for St. Gregory (Tone 4)

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

Epistle(s): Eph 4:7-13 & I Cor 12:7-11

Alleluia for the Afterfeast of Theophany (Tone 5)

V. Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever. Unto generation and
generation will I declare Thy truth with my mouth.
V. For Thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up forever. In the heavens
shall Thy truth be established.

Alleluia for the Saint (Tone 2)

V. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous
shall rejoice.

Gospels: Matt 4:12-17 & Matt 10:1, 5-8

Communion Hymn: Praise ye & In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous

be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.