Propers for December 3, 2023
Dec. 3 – 26th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 1
Forefeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Ven. Gregory Decapolites (816). St. Proclus, archbishop of Constantinople (447). Martyr Dasius (303). Martyrs Eustace, Thespesius, and Anatolius of Nicaea (312). Hieromartyrs Nerses and Joseph; and John, Saverius, Isaac, and Hypatius, bishops of Persia; Martyrs Azades, Sasonius, Thecla, and Anna (343).
Eph. 5:8-19; Lk. 12:16-21;
Gal. 5:22-6:2 Lk. 6:17-23
Tropar Resurrectional, Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Your Most-Pure Body, You arose on the Third Day, Savior, granting Life to the world. Therefore, the Powers of Heaven cried to You Giver of Life: Glory to Your Resurrection, Christ. Glory to Your Kingdom. Glory to Your Divine Plan, only Lover of Mankind.
Tropar of the Forefeast, Tone 4
Today Anna bequeaths gladness to all instead of sorrow by bringing forth her fruit,1 the only ever-Virgin. / Today, in fulfillment of her vow, / joyfully she brings her into the Temple of the Lord / as the true Temple and pure Mother of God the Word.
Tropar of our church, Tone 4
Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ,/ we who honor you with love can find no manner of praising you worthily./ For the barrenness of one who bore you / and the silence of your father have been ended by your being born of divine grace / and you have proclaimed to the world / the Incarnation of the Son of God.
Tropar to St. Gregory, Tone 4
Let us glorify the twin lampstands of divine gifts,/ Proklos the wise Archpastor of Constantinople, and Gregory, the godly-minded scion of Decapolis; / as divinely-inspired Fathers they guide us with the light of grace. / Therefore, let us approach and beseech them fervently / that we may receive the forgiveness of our sins, and that our souls may be saved.
Kondak Resurrectional, Tone 1
As God, You arose from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Yourself. Human nature praises You as God for death has vanished. Adam exults, Master. Eve, freed from bondage, rejoices and cries out: "You, Christ, are the Giver of Resurrection to all."
Kondak of our church, Tone 3
She who was previously barren / now bears the Forerunner of Christ / who is the fulfillment of every prophecy. / For the prophets proclaimed beforehand / that having laid hands on Him in the Jordan, / he would be manifest as Prophet, / Preacher / and Forerunner of the Word of God.
Glory … Kondak to St. Gregory, Tone 3
The Church knows you to be a radiant sun / enlightening all with the rays of healing and the beauty of virtue. / Therefore, as we celebrate your honored memory, / we glorify your struggles, ever-blessèd and most wise Father Gregory.
Now and Ever …
Kondak of the Forefeast, Tone 4
Today all the world is filled with joy / at the glorious feast of the Mother of God, and cries out: /"She is the heavenly tabernacle."
Prokimens
Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!
Reader: And with your spirit!
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokimen in Tone 1: Let Your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have put our hope in You.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. Praise befits the upright.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: The Second Prokimen in Tone 1: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding.
Choir: My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart, understanding.
Epistles
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Brethren, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Verse: God gives me retribution and has subdued peoples under me.
Verse: He magnifies the salvation of the king and deals mercifully for His anointed, for David and for his seed forever.
Verse: The mouth of the righteous shall proclaim wisdom and his tongue shall speak of judgment.
Communion Hymns
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the Highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. They shall not be afraid of any evil report. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
