Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1, Podoben “Joy of the ranks of heaven…”

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

Joachim and Anna hold festival,* having shone forth the Sun upon those who sleep in darkness,* and with them we also celebrate today,* blessing the pure Virgin who sprang forth* from the root of Jesse.

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

The Maiden who contained God, the pure Theotokos,* the glory of the prophets, the daughter of David,* is born today of Joachim and the chaste Anna;* and the curse of Adam which lay upon us* is annulled by her birthgiving.

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

She who before was as a barren land gives birth to fertile ground,* and, having given forth a holy fruit from her fruitless womb,* she nurtures her with milk.* O awesome wonder! the nourisher of our Life,* who received the Bread of heaven in her womb* is nourished with milk at her mother’s breasts!

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

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

Come, let us now join chorus with hymnody,* O you who love the feasts of the Church,* and with faith let us hold festival,* honouring the memory of Joachim and Anna, the honoured couple;* for they gave birth to the Mother of God for us, the pure Virgin.* Therefore, they have passed from transitory things over to that which is incorrupt,* to the mansions of everlasting life,* praying that we be saved.

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

Today all creation is adorned with gladness, O most hymned Theotokos,* offering up, with oneness of mind,* the annual commemoration of your parents,* celebrating together the wondrous Joachim and Anna;* for they have become the mediators of joy,* having past hope put you forth, the nourisher of our Life,* who has caused the Light to shine forth.

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

Today Anna rejoices, leaping up in spirit,* and she is filled with joyful gladness,* having obtained her desire, the fertility which she had long desired;* for she put forth the fruit of the promise and blessing,* the most immaculate Mary who gave birth to our God,* and given birth to the only Theotokos,* the beginning of our salvation.

Tone 5, Glory… Now…

O blessed two; you have surpassed all parents,* in that you gave rise to her who transcends all creation.* Truly blessed are you, O Joachim, having become the father of such a maiden!* And blessed is your womb, O Anna,* for you have put forth the Mother of our Life!* Blessed are the breasts wherewith you nourished with milk* her who nurtured Him who sustains every creation!* Entreat Him, we beseech you, O most blessed one,* that our souls find mercy!

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

Tone 2, Podoben “When from the Tree…”

Of a truth, the divinely wise Anna, beholding a nest of birds in a tree,* was mindful of her own barrenness, and cried aloud:* “Woe is me, O Lord!* I alone, a sinner, am left bereft of fruitfulness by You, O Lord!”* Then God, who loves mankind, gave her the Virgin as fruit,* the most precious of all creation.

Listen, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear.

Of a truth, the divinely wise Anna, conscious of her barren state and childlessness,* cried out to God in supplication:* “Loose the grievous bond of my barrenness,* that I may give birth to a child who will give birth to You, the Word!”* And You granted her this, O Master Christ, Bestower of life;* for her offspring gave birth to You, the Saviour of all mankind.

The rich among the people will entreat your countenance.

God the Master truly hearkened to your supplication, as He did that of Sarah of old,* when you heard the voice of the angel announcing joyous tidings to you:* “You shall give birth to the Mother of God!”* And you cried out in gladness of soul:* “The Master and Lord, my God and Creator, has of a truth lifted my reproach,* for I shall give birth to the Ever-virgin!”

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Joachim and Anna, the holy couple and holy mates,* who from a barren womb put forth the holy Theotokos as a staff,* from whom Christ God shone forth salvation upon the world,* having been translated to the mansions of heaven,* with their all-pure Virgin daughter,* join chorus with the angels, making supplication for the world.* And we, assembling with them, say, piously chanting:* O you who were called the ancestors of Christ by the divine Maiden* and all-pure Mary, pray for our souls.

Troparia

Tone 1

The just couple who lived in a state of grace,* Joachim and Anne, gave birth to this holy child for us.* The holy Church solemnly honours this feast in glory* and celebrates your precious memory today.* She glorifies God Who has lifted up our horn of salvation in the house of David.

Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Your nativity, O Virgin Mother of God,* has made joy known to all the world,* for from you dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God.* He abolished the curse and gave the blessing;* and by making death of no effect He bestowed on us eternal life.

DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: Your nativity, O Virgin Mother of God,* has made joy known to all the world,* for from you dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God.* He abolished the curse and gave the blessing;* and by making death of no effect He bestowed on us eternal life.

Troparion, Tone 1: The just couple who lived in a state of grace,* Joachim and Anne, gave birth to this holy child for us.* The holy Church solemnly honours this feast in glory* and celebrates your precious memory today.* She glorifies God Who has lifted up our horn of salvation in the house of David.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Severian, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.

Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Severian,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.

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

Kontakion, Tone 3: The chains of sterility are broken and Anne rejoices.* She nurses the most pure Lady and invites us to sing with her* to the virgin Mother who is born for all people.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: By your birth, O immaculate one,* Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness,* and Adam and Eve* from the corruption of death.* And your people, redeemed from the guilt of their sins,* celebrate as they cry out to you:* “The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God* and nourisher of our life.”

Prokeimenon, Tone 3

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47)

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

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel. (Psalm 67:36)

Epistle

Galatians 4:22-31

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord, their stronghold in time of distress. (Psalm 36:39)

verse: The Lord helps them and delivers them and saves them: for their refuge is in him. (Psalm 36:40)

Gospel

Luke 8:16-21

Hymn to the Mother of God

O my soul, magnify the Virgin Mary, born from a barren womb.

And the Irmos, Tone 8: Virginity is alien to mothers* and childbearing is foreign to virgins;* yet in you, O Mother of God, both of them came together.* Therefore we and all the nations of the earth* without ceasing magnify you.

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:1)