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Commemoration of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. AT GREAT VESPERS After the Opening Psalm we recite the 1st Section of the 1st Kathisma of the Psalter. At Lord, I have cried, we insert 6 Stichera and sing 3 Prosomia, doubling them. Tone 4. As noble among Martyrs. Let us praise in song the golden trumpet, the instrument inspired by God, the inexhaustible ocean of doctrines, the support of the Church, the heavenly mind, the depth of wisdom, the mixing bowl of solid gold which pours out rivers of teachings that flow with honey and which waters creation. Let us fittingly honour John of golden speech, the unsetting star which lights with the rays of its teachings the whole wide earth; the herald of repentance, the all-golden sponge that takes away the sweat of dread despair and moistens hearts wasted by sins. The Angel of earth and man of heaven, the sweet singing swallow of many notes, the treasury of the virtues, the unbreakable rock, pattern for the faithful, rival of the Martyrs, in rank the equal of the holy Angels, in living one with the Apostles, let Chrysostom be magnified in hymns. Glory. Tone 6.Thrice-blessed, holiest, venerable Father, the good shepherd and Disciple of Christ the Chief Shepherd, you lay down your life for the sheep. Now too, all-praised John Chrysostom, by your prayers ask that we may be granted his great mercy. Both now. Theotokion. Same Tone.Who will not call you blessed, All-holy Virgin? Who will not sing the praise of your child-birth without labour? For the only-begotten Son, who shone out from the Father beyond time, came forth from you, pure Maiden, ineffably incarnate. By nature he is God, by nature he became man for our sake, not divided in a duality of persons, but known without confusion in a duality of natures. O honoured and all-blessed, implore him to have mercy on our souls. Entrance, O Joyful Light, the Prokeimenon of the day, and the Readings.The Reading is from Proverbs. The memory of the just is praised, and the Lord's blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better that treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she carries law and mercy on its tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me; for I speak weighty things; and blest the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of men. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, I have called upon knowledge and understanding. Mine are counsel and sureness; mine is prudence, mine is strength. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit. The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon. The mouth of a just man distils wisdom; the lips of men know graces. The mouth of the wise meditates wisdom; justice delivers them from death. When a just man dies hope is not lost; for a just son is born for life, and among his good things he will pluck the fruit of justice. There is light at all times for the just, and they will find grace and glory from the Lord. The tongue of the wise knows what is good, and wisdom will takes its rest in their hearts. The Lord loves holy hearts; while all who are blameless in the way are acceptable to him. The wisdom of the Lord will enlighten the face of the understanding; for she anticipates those who desire her before they know it, and is easily contemplated by those who love her. One who rises for her at dawn will not toil, and one who keeps vigil because of her will be without care. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and shows itself favourably to those in the ways. Wickedness will never prevail against wisdom. Because of this I too became a lover of her beauty and became her friend, and I sought her out from my youth, and I sought to take her as my bride; because the Master of all things loved her. For she is an initiate of the knowledge of God one who chooses his works. Her toils are virtues; she teaches sobriety and prudence; justice and courage, than which nothing is more useful in human life. If anyone longs for much experience, she knows how to compare things of old and things that are to come. She knows the twists of words and the explanations of riddles; she foresees signs and wonders and the outcomes of seasons and times. And to all she is a good counsellor. Because immortality is in her, and fame in the fellowship of her words. Therefore I appealed to the Lord and besought him and said from my whole heart: God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word, and established humanity by your wisdom to be master over the creatures that had come into being by you, and to order the world in holiness and justice; give me Wisdom who sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your children, for I am your servant and the son of your maid servant. Send her out from your holy dwelling and from the throne of your glory, that she may be present and teach me what is pleasing before you. And let her guide me with knowledge and guard me with her glory. For all the thoughts of mortals are wretched and their ideas are unstable. The Reading is from the Wisdom of Solomon. When the just is praised, peoples are glad; for immortality is his memory, because it is known both to God and men, and his soul is pleasing to the Lord. Therefore, O men, desire wisdom, and long for it and be instructed. For her beginning is love and keeping of laws. Honour Wisdom, that you may reign for ever. I will declare to you and not hide from you the mysteries of God Because he is both the guide of Wisdom and the One who sets right the wise; and in his hand are all prudence, and knowledge of works. The artificer of all things, Wisdom, taught me; for in her is an understanding holy spirit, brightness of the eternal light, image of the goodness of God. She makes them friends of God and prophets. She is more lovely than the sun, and beyond every order of the stars; compared to light, she is found before it. She delivered her devotees from toils, and guided them in straight paths. She gave them holy knowledge and protected them from those who lay in ambush for them, she awarded them a mighty contest, that all might know that true religion is more powerful than all, and that wickedness can never prevail against Wisdom, nor will justice in passing sentence overlook the evil. For they said in themselves, not reasoning correctly: Let us overpower the just, let us not spare his saintliness, nor feel reverence for the aged grey hairs of an elder; let our strength be law. Let us lie in ambush for the just, for he is a hindrance to us and he is opposed to our works and alleges the sins of our upbringing. He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He has become a reproof to our thoughts. He is grievous for us even to look at; for his life is not like others and his paths are quite different. We are reckoned by him to be counterfeit, and he keeps away from our ways as from filth; he calls the end of the just blest. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him at the end. Let us examine him by insult and torture, that we may know his forbearance and make trial of his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for by his own words he will have protection. This was how they argued, and they were deceived; for their wickedness had blinded them. And they did not know the mysteries of God, nor did they judge that you alone are God who have authority over life and death, and who save in time of tribulation, and deliver from every ill; pitying and merciful, giving grace to your holy ones, and by your right arm resisting the proud. At the Aposticha, Prosomia. Tone 5. Hail of Ascetics. Hail instrument of the Church, lovely and gleaming like gold; the tongue which with love for mankind traced out for us the many-sided ways of repentance; mind formed of gold; golden-mouthed swallow; dove, whose pinions, as the Psalmist says, are shining like gold with the golden pallor of virtues; stream like gold, pouring out waters; godlike mouth and entrusted with love for mankind: entreat Christ to send down to our souls his great mercy. Verse: My mouth will speak wisdom; and his tongue will speak judgement.Hail Father of orphans; sure help of the wronged; provision for the poor; righting of sinners; most skilled and revered physician of souls; lofty precision of theology; clarity of the Scriptures of the Spirit; most effective law; straightest rule; contemplation and action, the summits of wisdom. entreat Christ to send down to our souls his great mercy. Verse: The mouth of a just man will meditate wisdom; and the meditation of my heart understanding.You made yourself into a consecrated house of the sacred virtues; for in you, Father, as in a holy and most pure temple, they made their dwelling; for you governed wisely the body’s senses and guarded your mind, purified of the passions, as in a secure treasure-house; therefore you became most godlike, All-blessed, and presided over the Church, adorned with the priesthood, implore Christ to grant the world his great mercy. Glory. Tone 6.You were revealed as golden-voiced trumpet, O Golden Mouthed of golden words, making the hearts of the faithful golden by your teachings worked in gold. For the sound of your doctrines went out, Venerable Father, and enlightened the ends of all the world. Both now. Theotokion.My Maker and Redeemer, Christ the Lord, by coming from your womb, All-pure Lady, and, clothing himself in me, freed Adam from the former curse. And so, All-pure one, as to her who is truly Mother of God and Virgin, we cry to you unceasingly the Angel’s ‘Hail’: Hail, Sovereign Lady, defence, protection and salvation of our souls. Apolytikion. Tone 8. Model Melody. The grace which shone from your mouth like a torch of flame enlightened the whole earth; it laid up for the world the treasures of freedom from avarice; it showed us the height of humility. But as you train us by your words, Father John Chrysostom, intercede with Christ God, the Word, that our souls may be saved. Both now. Theotokion.You were born for us from a Virgin, and endured crucifixion, loving Lord; by your death you despoiled death, and revealed resurrection as God; do not despise those whom you fashioned with your own hand; show us your compassion, O Merciful; receive the Mother of God who bore you as she intercedes for us, and save, our Saviour, a people in despair. AT MATINS After the Polyeleos,
Kathisma. The Church, watered by you golden words, gives golden streams as drink for all and heals diseases of those who sing your praise, all-blessed Chrysostom. Glory. Tone 5. Let s believers.Neither the lawless enmity of a synod, nor the mindless hatred of an Augusta quenched the virtues that were in you, Father. But tested by trials, like gold in the fire, you intercede unceasingly with the All-holy Trinity, for which you struggled, fervent in the spirit. Both now. Theotokion. Same melody.Show your servant your swift protection and assistance and your mercy, and calm the waves of vain thoughts, and raise up my fallen soul, pure Mother of God. For I know, I know that all that you wish you can also perform. The Anavathmi, the 1st Antiphon in Tone 4. Prokeimenon. Tone 4. My mouth will speak wisdom, * and the mediation of my heart understanding. Verse: Hear this all you nations.Let everything that has breath… Gospel according to John. One who does not enter through the door.Psalm 50. Glory. Tone 2.Today let companies of High Priests in spirit leap for joy, as with us they honour your memory, venerable Hierarch Chrysostom, beacon of the Church. Both now. At the prayers of the Mother of God O Merciful One, wipe away the multitude of my offences. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy; according to the fullness of your compassion blot out my offences. And the Idiomel. Tone 6. Grace was poured out on your lips, venerable Father, and you became a Shepherd of Christ’s Church, teaching the rational sheep to believe in a consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead. The Canons: of the Mother of God to 6 [from the Little Paraklesis] and that of the Saint to 8. The Canon of the Saint, of which the acrostic is: Ode 1. Tone 8. Moses’ wonderworking staff. As you became a most fervent herald of repentance, Father Chrysostom, intercede with God that I may repent with my whole heart and implore that I may be cleansed of the wounds of ancient falls by your compassion. Having received the whole radiance of the Holy Spirit, venerable Father, you appeared as a pillar all of light guiding the Church, and a cloud of light overshadowing the companies of the Orthodox, O all-blessed. Chosen by Christ as a Teacher, with your tongue of gold and your mind inspired by God you became a rich source of divine teachings; for you appeared as a river of God, full of the waters of the Spirit, Chrysostom, revealer of God. Theotokion. Adorned with the adornment of grace, O blessed one, graced by God, you gave birth to the Word of the Father, become flesh through ineffable compassion beyond mind and beyond reason, yet you remained a Virgin undefiled. Katavasia. I will open my mouth.Ode 3. Christ who established. Enriched with the mind of Christ, by your pure way of life you became his fellow worker for the salvation of mortals, teacher and orator, Chrysostom, inspired by God, pouring out saving teachings. From the safe treasures of the Spirit you became rich, and having drawn the inexhaustible source of teachings from the springs of salvation, you watered the whole face of the Church, Venerable Father. You truly cleansed the overgrown ploughland of souls with your all-wise husbandry, and watering it with heavenly showers you made it fruitful, O inspired by God. Theotokion. In you, all-blameless Virgin, there is no spot or stain at all, rather you appeared as a dwelling of heavenly virtues, for in you all the hallowing of the virtues made its dwelling. Katavasia. O Mother of God.Kathisma. Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word. As one who saw God having drawn the wealth of the knowledge of the ineffable wisdom, you treasured up for all the waters of orthodoxy that inspired by God make glad the hearts of the faithful, but fittingly drown the doctrines of the faithless. Therefore through both you have been revealed by the hard labours of true religion as an invincible champion of the Trinity, John Chrysostom, intercede with Christ to grant forgiveness of faults to those who celebrate with love your holy memory. Glory. Both now. Theotokion.Tremble, my soul, and groan as you think on the flame of Gehenna and the burning, and the weeping and most wretched lamentation there, and the most bitter separation from the inheritance and company of the Saints. Hasten eagerly to wipe away with tears of compunction the records of your ten thousand debts, having as a fellow worker who cannot be put to shame the only pure one, through whom forgiveness of faults is given to those who with right belief glorify her as Mother of God. Ode 4. You, Lord, are my strength. Christ, who with providence arranges for all things as he is good, has given you to us as another of like manner to the Apostles, herald of the heavenly initiation and godlike instructor in the mysteries on high, all-blessed John Chrysostom. Let us honour John, shining like gold, golden of speech, making all golden with the gold-formed beams of his teaching and making the world radiant with his tongue, brighter than gold and filled full of light, pouring out inspired grace. You became wholly a dwelling place of God; you appeared as wholly an instrument of the Spirit raising a melody inspired by God of every virtue and a foundation of salvation, and showing forth the beauty of the kingdom of heaven, all-blessed John Chrysostom. You proclaimed the compassion of God, setting out ways of repentance; and teaching excellently and most completely the flight from evils, O all-blessed; and showing forth counsels for works of excellence, all-revered Father Chrysostom. Theotokion. After God we have gained you as protection, for you were declared Mother of God, of the Maker and Creator, who took our form, O all-blameless, and saved it from corruption and death and glorified it with divine glory. Katavasia. The Prophet Avvakoum.Ode 5. Why have you rejected me. We all know you to be a most resplendent beacon of the Church and saviour of souls, snatching them from the death-bearing maw and guiding them to eternal life, honoured Father. Armed with weapons of true religion and courage of soul, most holy one, you routed the ranks of the heretics; but with joy you outstandingly rally the choirs of the Orthodox with the bond of the Spirit. Your cheeks, full like fountains with inspired fragrances, make the inhabited world glad with spiritual scents by the aromatic initiation of your thoughts and the beauty of your words, O all-wise. Theotokion. As you conceived God, the creator and maker and Lord, all generations of mankind call you blessed, pure Virgin, and the immaterial Captains of the Bodiless Powers glorify you as Mother of God. Katavasia. The universe was amazed.Ode 6. Have mercy on me, Saviour. With spiritual wisdom you enriched the whole world, becoming a rich bestower of the word; for rich grace from on high was poured out on your lips, O Hierarch. Your sound has gone out into all the earth like lightning, while the power of your words, O Chrysostom, like a well-sounding trumpet, has echoed throughout all the ends of the inhabited world. Clothed in a tunic of the virtues woven from on high, all-blessed one, and adorned with the splendour of words, you appeared as a skilled support of the truth. Theotokion. The Lover of mankind who carries the universe by his almighty power, clothed himself in the weakness of flesh from you, all-blameless Virgin, for the benefit of mankind. Katavasia. Come godly-minded people.Kontakion. Tone 6. You received divine grace from heaven, and through your lips you teach us all to worship one God in Trinity, venerable John Chrysostom, wholly blessed. Fittingly we praise you, for you are a teacher who makes clear things divine. The Ikos. I bow the knee to the Maker of all things, I stretch out my hands to the eternal Word seeking the gift of words that I may sing the praise of the Saint whom he magnified. For he who lives to the ages said to the Prophet: I glorify those who glorify me with faith. He then, who among those of old exalted Samuel, has now glorified his Hierarch. For having traded well he brought the talent with which he had been entrusted to the King. Therefore the One above all being also exalted him. For this reason I the unworthy ask that words be given me that I may have strength to sing his praise. For he is the instructor of the of the world who makes clear things divine. Synaxarion. On the 13th of the month, Commemoration of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Verses. Closing his mouth in death, the golden John Another mouth has left to us: his books. On the thirteenth of the month the lips that were golden fell silent. Commemoration of the holy new Monk and Martyr Damaskinos of Constantinople, he was martyred in Constantinople in 1681. At the prayers of the Golden-worded, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen. Ode 7. The Youths from Judea. Initiated into the depth of goodness and compassion of God, you appeared pledging salvation to those who fervently repent and cry out with their whole soul: Blessed is the God of our Fathers. By your teachings, Chrysostom, you train every mind and in your great compassion heal the sicknesses of souls, and joyfully you chant with those who live well: Blessed is the God of our Fathers. You were exalted, becoming a chosen, holy, innocent priest of the Most High, resplendently clothing yourself in justice and crying out with joy: Blessed is the God of our Fathers. Theotokion. Immaculate Virgin, you conceived the God and Lord over all things, who was well pleased to save the race of mortals from the corruption of death. As we fittingly sing his praise we cry: Blessed is the God of our Fathers. Katavasia . The godlike Youths.Ode 8. The King of heaven. As with understanding we attend to your words, O Chrysostom, we are initiated into the mystery of theology and pluck all the enjoyment of good thongs, and flee the harm of wickedness; for you have become the general guardian of salvation, crying out: Highly exalt Christ to the ages. Entreat the Master, Chrysostom, on our behalf, employing your compassionate freedom to speak, Father, and your merciful and benevolent love; for with faith we put you forward to the Saviour as mediator, champion and fervent advocate, inspired Hierarch, all-blessed John. To rulers who acted unjustly you showed a young man’s resistance, a mind not to be humbled, warmly championing those who had be wronged, Venerable Father, and orphans, widows and paupers with a loving disposition, as you cried: Highly exalt Christ to the ages. Theotokion. The Prophets foretold in bodily forms, manifold riddles and symbolic and figurative stories your wondrous birthgiving beyond nature, O Virgin. And so with joy we devoutly sing your praise, as we highly exalt Christ to the ages. Katavasia. The Offspring of the Mother of God.Ode 9. Heaven and the ends of the earth. As you truly enjoy the life for which you struggled according to your power on earth, conspicuous by your angelic way of life, and gaining a the tongue and gentle mouth of Christ, intercede, inspired Father, that those who with faith especially called you blessed may be saved. Your words, thrice-blessed one, are words of life, procuring unending life; for Christ revealed you to be a source pouring forth a river flowing with streams of divine teachings, truly a torrent of delight, a channel of forgiveness and bright herald of repentance. You were revealed, High Priest, as a resplendent mediator between God and mortals; for you appeared as a shining beacon of true religion, and you became a teacher of almsgiving. And so, O golden-worded, with fondness of heart we now fittingly magnify you. Theotokion. Pure Mother of God, who have been glorified, save those who sing your praise with love, in compassion banishing a crowd of temptations; for since you gave birth to God, all that you wish you obtain and can perform, O Virgin. And so we all magnify you. Katavasia. All those born of earth.Exapostilarion. By the sacred Spirit. By your words of shining gold, Father Chrysostom, the Church of Christ is bright and resplendent; while the souls of the faithful are filled with joy as they honour your all-holy memory, for you appeared to all as guide to salvation and herald of repentance. Another. Women hear. The mighty voiced herald of repentance, the treasury of the poor, the golden and eloquent mouth of the Church, the clarification of the Scriptures, John the all-wise, let us praise, for by him we have been established. Theotokion. All-blameless Virgin, my Lady and Mistress, with far-famed Chrysostom implore your Son to deliver from trials of every kind those who sing your praise and make them all worthy of eternal good things, for can do whatever you will. At Lauds we insert 4 Stichera, and sing the following Prosomia. Tone 4. You have given as a sign. Pouring forth your sacred teachings more brightly than gold, all-wise Chrysostom, you enrich minds that are poor, and you dispel the fog of the passions and the bitter winter of the love of money. And so, as is fitting, we call you blessed and honour the dust of your relics as a source of sanctification. Let the fiery pillar, the river that flows with waters of doctrines, the heavenly mind of theology, the mouth of solid gold, guarantor for sinners, inspired herald of repentance, brightly shining beacon, heavenly mortal, the blessed Chrysostom be praise today. You have become a sun with many lights, irradiating the inhabited world by your words, dazzling star, brightly shining lamp, torch that ever summons those who are storm-tossed by the worldly sea to the calm haven of salvation by grace, O Golden-worded, Golden-mouthed, intercessor for our souls. Unjustly driven from flock, venerable Father, you became familiar with afflictions and bitter exiles, by which you were counted worthy of a blessed end as a noble Athlete, throwing down the one of many wiles, and Christ crowned you with a diadem of victory, John Chrysostom, intercessor for our souls. Glory. Tone 8. By Anatolios.With golden words and teachings inspired by God you adorned the Church of God, storing up in it spiritual riches, your words received from God, and so, having woven for you with songs a crown of unfading flowers, she offers it to your sacred memory, O John, wise in God, all golden of soul and tongue. But as you freedom to speak, venerable Father, intercede on behalf of our souls. Both now. Theotokion.Sovereign Lady accept the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from every constraint and affliction. Great Doxology and Dismissal. Holy oil is given to the Brethren. At the Liturgy, Typika and Beatitudes from the 3rd and 6th Odes of the Canon of the Saint. |
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