Leave-taking of the Feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God. Nativity Fast.

VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1 [optional Podoben “O wondrous miracle…”]

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

O faithful, let us leap for joy today,* singing psalms and hymns of praise* in honour of Mary, his mother,* the holy Tabernacle and Ark that contained the Word* whom nothing can contain.* She is offered to God as a child in a marvellous way,* and Zechariah the high priest receives her with great joy,* for she is the dwelling place of the Most High.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Today the living Temple of the holy glory of Christ our God,* Mary, the pure and blessed One,* is being brought into the temple according to the Law* to live in its holy precincts.* Joachim and Anne and all the virgins* rejoice with her in spirit.* They sing hymns of praise to the Lord* and honour his Mother.

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

O Virgin Mother of God,* you are the One foretold by the prophets.* You are the glory of the apostles* and the pride of martyrs* and the cause of renewal for the entire human race.* Through you we have been reconciled with God.* Therefore, we honour your entrance into the temple of the Lord.* Together with the angels, all of us who are saved by your prayers sing to you:* Rejoice, O most holy One.

Tone 2 [optional Podoben “When from the Tree…”]

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

As a branch of the vine of life, O most wise father and hierarch,* through the Spirit you put forth the beautiful grapes of dogmas,* which ever exude the saving wine of divine knowledge* and gladden the hearts of all the pious who truly honour you,* O most blessed God-bearer Clement.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

As a disciple of the preeminent Peter, O most lauded father,* you established yourself like a precious stone upon his Stone,* demolished the fabric of polytheism with the strength of your words* and raised up divine temples for the worship of the Trinity,* for whom you struggled, O blessed one,* and received the crown of martyrdom.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Like the light-giving sun you shone forth from the lands of the West, O father,* splendidly illumining the earth with the radiance of your dogmas and your wounds;* and you reached the lands of the East, O thrice-blessed one, and, slain, did set*; but you have richly shone forth to Christ with heavenly beams, O Clement,* enlightened unceasingly through divine communion.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

O Lady and Bride of God,* you entered the temple of God in your infancy* to be brought up in the Holy of Holies,* for you are holy.* The archangel Gabriel was sent to serve you and bring you food.* All the heavenly powers were amazed* at the sight of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.* Therefore, O most pure and immaculate Mother of God,* since you are glorified in heaven and on earth,* through your prayers save our human race.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

The Lord hears me* when I cry out to Him.

verse: Whenever I called, the God of my justice heard me.

Aposticha

Aposticha

Tone 5 [optional Podoben “Rejoice…”]

Heaven and earth today rejoice together* at the sight of the mystical heaven;* the immaculate and pure Virgin is coming into the holy temple* to be brought up in honour. Zechariah, rejoicing in her and leaping for joy,* cried out in awe: O Door of the Lord,* I open the doors of the temple to you,* because I know and believe that the salvation of Israel is already coming,* that the Word of God will be born from you,* and that He will grant great mercy to the world.

She is led to the King with her maiden companions.

When Anne, which means grace,* was graced with the pure and ever-Virgin Mary,* she presented her into the temple of God.* She called maidens to carry candles and walk before her as she said:* O child, go to be an offering* and a fragrant incense for the One who sent you to me.* Enter into the veiled places and learn the mysteries of God.* Prepare yourself to be a delightful dwelling place for Jesus* who will give great mercy to the world.

They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the King.

The all-holy Virgin is handed over into the temple.* Maidens carrying candles go before her.* Her parents, the devoted couple, Joachim and Anne, joyfully celebrate,* for they have given birth in the flesh to the One who will bear the Creator.* She will dance for joy in the temple of God* and will be fed by the hand of an angel.* The all-immaculate Mother of Christ has appeared,* and He will grant great mercy to the world.

Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O assembly of the faithful,* let us celebrate this day as a spiritual feast.* With great love, let us honour the maiden of God,* the Virgin and Theotokos,* as she is presented into the temple of the Lord;* for she has been chosen from among all generations* to be the dwelling place of Christ our God* who is the King of all.* O virgins, carry candles and lead the way* for the entrance of the ever-Virgin.* Follow after her who is the Mother of God* and mediatrix for the joy of the world.* Therefore, let us all cry out together with the angels:* Rejoice, for you are full of grace,* and you continually pray for our souls.

Troparia

Tone 4

God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.

Glory… Now…

Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.

DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God,* and the proclamation of salvation for the human race.* In the Temple of God* the Virgin is clearly revealed,* and beforehand announces Christ to all.* To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice:* Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.

Troparion, Tone 4: God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 4: The Saviour’s pure temple,* the precious bridal chamber and Virgin,* the sacred treasury of the glory of God,* is brought today into the house of the Lord;* and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit.* God’s angels sing in praise of her:* She is indeed the heavenly dwelling-place.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8: As teachers of virtue and the adornment of hierarchs,* the church sings your praises:* By your prayers grant to those who venerate you with love* the achievement of virtues and deliverance from temptations,* for you are invincible.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Epistle

2 Thessalonians 1:10-2:2

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear.

verse: The rich among the people shall entreat your countenance. (Psalm 44:11,13)

Gospel

Luke 12:42-48

Hymn to the Mother of God

Seeing the entrance of the pure one, angels marvel in wonder how the Virgin could enter the holy of holies

And the Irmos, Tone 4: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark,* but instead let the lips of those who are believers* sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel,* crying out with great joy to the Mother of God:* O pure Virgin,* you are truly higher than all.

Communion Hymn

I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)