Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalm are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 6

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

Today God who dominates the spiritual thrones of heaven* welcomes on earth the holy throne which He had prepared for Himself.* In His love for mankind,* He who established the heavens in wisdom has fashioned a living heaven.* From a barren stem He has brought forth for us His Mother* as a branch full of life.* O God of miracles and hope of those who have no hope;* O Lord, glory to You!

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

This is the day of the Lord:* Rejoice, therefore, O nations!* Behold, the chamber of Light and the scroll of the living Word* has come forth from the womb.* The gate that opens to the Rising Sun* and is ready for the entrance of the High Priest, is here today.* She is the only one who introduced Christ, and Christ alone, into the world* for the salvation of souls.

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

Indeed some famous barren women have given birth by the will of God;* but the nativity of Mary surpasses all nativities* in honour and splendour* as it is worthy of the majesty of God.* For she was born in a miraculous way of a barren mother,* and she herself gave birth in the flesh to the God of all,* incarnate in her womb without human seed* against the laws of nature.* She alone is the door through which the only-begotten Son of God* has passed while leaving it sealed* as He had planned in His eternal wisdom.* Thus did He bring salvation to all.

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

Today the barren gates are opened,* and the Virgin, the Gate of God, comes forth.* Today grace begins to bear fruit,* showing forth to the world the Mother of God* through whom earth is united to heaven* for the salvation of our souls.

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

Today glad tidings go forth to the whole world.* Today sweet fragrance is sent forth* by the proclamation of salvation.* Today is the end of the barrenness of our nature;* for the barren one becomes a mother,* the mother of the one who will not cease to be a virgin,* even after giving birth to the One who by nature is Creator and God.* He it is who took flesh by which He brought salvation to the lost;* He is Christ, the Lover of Mankind,* and the Saviour of our souls.

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

Today Anne, the barren one, gives birth to the maiden of God* who had been chosen from all the human generations* to become the dwelling place of the Creator,* Christ our God and King of all.* In her He fulfilled His divine plan* through which our human nature was renewed,* and by which we were to be transferred from corruption to eternal life.

Glory… Now…

Today God who dominates the spiritual thrones of heaven* welcomes on earth the holy throne which He had prepared for Himself.* In His love for mankind,* He who established the heavens in wisdom has fashioned a living heaven.* From a barren stem He has brought forth for us His Mother* as a branch full of life.* O God of miracles and hope of those who have no hope;* O Lord, glory to You!

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.

verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.

Aposticha

Tone 4

You have given Your Cross to us as an invincible weapon, О Christ;* and with it we triumph over the assaults of the alien one.

I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

Ever possessing Your Cross as a help, О Christ,* we easily trample underfoot the snares of the enemy.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

О Christ God, who are glorified in the memorials of Your saints,* entreated by them send down upon us great mercy.

Tone 4, Podoben “Called from on high…”

Glory… Now…

“Lament not for Me, O Mother,* beholding Me your Son and God hanging upon the Tree,* who has suspended the earth upon the waters unsupported,* and has fashioned all creation;* for I shall arise and be glorified,* and shall crush the kingdoms of Hades with strength;* destroying its power* and delivering those in bondage from its wickedness,* for I am compassionate;* and I shall bring them to My Father,* in that I am the Lover of mankind.”

Tone 4

On this day a great joy has shone upon us* from the two just ones, Joachim and Anne;* and this joy is the most honourable Virgin.* Because of her purity, she will become a living temple of God.* She alone will be recognized as the Mother of God.* Through her intercessions, O Christ our God, * send down peace upon the world* and your great mercy upon our souls.

Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

O Virgin, today you were born a most noble child* from the two just ones, Joachim and Anne,* as the angel had promised in his announcement.* To God you are a heaven, a throne, and a vessel of holiness;* to the whole world, a herald of joy,* the cause of our life, the blessing that wiped out the curse.* You are the reason for all the blessings of God.* O Maiden who God has chosen,* on this day of your nativity* obtain peace and great mercy for our souls.

The richest of people shall seek your favour.

Today Anne, the barren one, claps her hands for joy.* The earth is bathed in light and kings sing their happiness,* priests enjoy all blessings and the whole universe rejoices;* for the Queen and immaculate Bride of the Father* comes forth from the root of Jesse.* Behold, no woman will ever bear again a child in sorrow or anxiety,* for joy has come forth in abundance and life has filled the world.* Joachim’s offerings shall no more be rejected,* for the tears of Anne have now been turned into joy.* And now Anne can say:* Rejoice with me, all you chosen ones of Israel,* for the Lord has given me the palace of His divine and living glory* to be a place of joy and happiness for the whole universe* and for the salvation of our souls.

Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Come all you faithful, and let us hasten to the Virgin;* for long before her conception in the womb,* the one who was to be born of the root of Jesse* was destined to be the Mother of God.* The one who is the treasury of virginity,* the flowering rod of Aaron, the object of prophecies,* the child of Joachim and Anne is born today,* and the world is renewed in her.* Through her birth, the Church is clothed with splendour* O holy Temple, vessel of the Godhead,* model of virgins and strength of kings,* in you the wondrous union of the two natures of Christ was realized.* We worship Him and glorify your most pure birth,* and the whole world extols you.

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.

DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY 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.

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

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

Epistle

Galatians 2:6-10

Alleluia, Tone 8

verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear. (Psalm 44:11)

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

Gospel

Mark 5:22-24; 5:35-6:1

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

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