Polyeleos Feast. Pre-feast of the Entrance into the Temple of the Mother of God. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Nativity Fast.

VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

Blessed is the man… is chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

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

Living joyfully in the heavenly abode, O Father,* you always stand with the angels before the throne of the Lord.* Pray that He grant the remission of sins* to those on earth who observe your memory.

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

Through prayer and discipline, O Father Gregory,* you cut the thorns of passion.* You turned up the spiritual ground* and cast into it the seeds of piety.* In this manner, you reaped fruits of healing for us.

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

O venerable one, all those who honour you* call you a harbour of virtues.* O Gregory, you were a friend of silence and a keeper of vigils.* You are a model of continence, a safe abode of prayer,* a treasury of miracles, and a mediator before God.

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

The candle-bearing virgins brightly escort the ever-Virgin.* They are in spirit truly prophesying the future* because the Theotokos is the temple of God;* and with a virgin’s glory,* she is being led as a young child into the Temple.

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

The Theotokos, glorious fruit of the holy promise,* is truly revealed to the world as higher than all creation.* She is piously escorted into the Temple of God* and fulfills the promise of her parents.* She is protected by the Holy Spirit.

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

O Virgin, you were faithfully nourished by heavenly bread* in the Temple of the Lord.* You gave birth to the Word,* who is the Bread of Life for the whole world.* You are a chosen and all-immaculate temple to Him.* You were betrothed mystically through the Spirit* to be the bride of God the Father.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Today the Theotokos, the Temple that is to contain God,* is being escorted into the Temple of the Lord,* and Zechariah receives her.* Today the Holy of Holies greatly rejoices,* and the choir of angels mystically celebrates this feast.* Let us also celebrate with them today* and cry out with Gabriel:* Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you,* and He grants us great mercy.

Aposticha

Tone 4

O ever-remembered Proclus, you are a teacher in the Church;* through the splendour of dogmas* and the beauty of your life and words, you enlightened all.* You were truly revealed as a pillar of the Church.* Therefore, we bless you* and celebrate our holy, all-honourable memory in psalms and hymns.

Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.

You taught splendidly* and preached that the Theotokos, the most pure handmaiden, gave birth to Him;* the Creator and Master before all ages,* the Son and the Word of the Father.* Later on in time He willingly became incarnate for us* without changing his nature.* You put the foolish and dishonourable Nestor to shame.

Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; your faithful shall ring out their joy.

O ever-memorable one,* you have drawn the golden glistening waters of the wise preacher of God.* You revealed yourself to be his transmitter of piety.* You made the flock of Christ firm by the teachings of the truth.* You restored his pure and all-precious relics* like a royal pillar of the Church.

Glory… Now…

Come all you people,* and let us praise the only-immaculate One* who was foretold by the prophets* and is being led into the Temple.* She was chosen from eternity to be the Mother;* and in time she was revealed as the Theotokos.* O Lord, by her prayers* grant us your peace and mercy.

Troparia

Tone 4

O God of our Father,* who always deals with us according to your everlasting compassion,* take not your mercy away from us;* but through the prayers of our fathers,* guide our lives along the ways of peace.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Anne is now preparing a great joy for all of us,* for she has given birth to the only ever-Virgin* who is a joy that dispels all sadness.* Today Anne fulfills her vow with gladness,* presenting to the Temple of the Lord* the One who is the true temple of God’s Word and his pure Mother.

DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Anne is now preparing a great joy for all of us,* for she has given birth to the only ever-Virgin who is a joy that dispels all sadness.* Today Anne fulfills her vow with gladness,* presenting to the Temple of the Lord* the One Who is the true temple of God’s Word* and His pure Mother.

Troparion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata* you inspire us through your spirit of service and love.* Тeach us to uplift and renew the hearts of the people* wherever we are sent to minister,* to serve where the need is the greatest,* all for the glory of God.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata,* co-foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate,* you began your mission in Ukraine for your people,* and brought light into the darkness of their abandonment.* By educating children and youth,* you gave parents renewed strength and hope.* You tended the sick and the poor, for you saw in them the image of God.* You cared for the beauty of God’s temple,* instilling in people the beauty of liturgy.* The Lord led you to sanctity through great suffering.* Thus, you became a woman for all times.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Filled with joy today because of the happy feast of the Mother of God,* the universe cries out:* This is the holy tabernacle!

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Galatians 3:23-29

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.

verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)

Gospel

Matthew 25:1-13

Communion Hymn

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)