Dec. 7 – 26th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 1

Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos. Great-martyr Mercurius (259). Great-martyr Catherine (305). Martyrs Augusta, Porphyrius, and 200 soldiers (305). Martyr Philothea of Romania (1060). Venerable Mercurius, the Faster of the Kyiv Caves, Far Caves (14th c).

Eph. 5:8-19; Lk. 13:10-17;
Eph. 6:10-17; Lk. 21:12-19;

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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 or the Feast, Tone 4

Today is the prelude of God's Benevolence and the preaching of salvation for the human race. The Virgin appears in the Temple of God, proclaiming Christ to all in anticipation. Let us rejoice and chant to her: "Rejoice, Fulfillment of the Creator's Divine Plan."

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. Catherine, Tone 4

Your Martyr Catherine cries out to You in a loud voice, Jesus: "I love You, my Bridegroom and, seeking You, I pass through many struggles: I am crucified and buried with You in Your Baptism and suffer for Your sake, that I might reign with You. I die for You, that I might live with You. Accept me as an unblemished offering, for I sacrifice myself for You in love." By her prayers, in Your mercy save our souls.

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. Catherine, Tone 2

Let all of us who love martyrs form a great choir and praise the Most-wise Catherine. For she preached Christ and trampled the Serpent, despising the wisdom of pagan orators.

Now and ever ...
Kondak of the Feast, Tone 4

The All Pure Temple of the Savior, the Precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Sacred Treasure of the Glory of God, is led today into the House of the Lord. With her she brings the grace of the Divine Spirit. God's angels chant her praise: "She is indeed 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: V. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. Praise befits the upright.

Choir: (repeats the prokimen)

Reader: The Second Prokimen in Tone 4: God is wondrous in His saints, the God of Israel.

Choir: God is wondrous in His saints, the God of Israel.

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 Ephesians.

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Reader: Brethren, finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

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 righteous cried, and the Lord heard them; and He delivered them from all their afflictions.

Communion Verses

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.

Апостол

З Посла́ння до Єфеся́н Свято́го Апо́стола Павла́ чита́ння (5:8-19)

Браття, ви були колись темрявою, а тепер – світло в Господі: робіть, як діти світла, бо плід Духа є у всякій благості, праведності та істині. Досліджуйте, що угодне Богові, і не беріть участі в безплідних ділах темряви, але і викривайте. Бо про те, що вони роблять таємно, соромно і говорити. Все ж те, що викривається, стає явним від світла, бо все, що стає явним, є світло. Тому сказано: встань, сплячий, і воскресни з мертвих, і освітить тебе Христос. Отже, глядіть, поступайте обережно, не як нерозумні, а як мудрі, цінуючи час, бо дні лукаві. Отже, не будьте нерозсудливі, а пізнавайте, що є воля Божа. І не впивайтесь вином, від якого буває розпуста; а наповняйтесь Духом, повчаючи самі себе псалмами та славословленнями і піснеспівами духовними, співаючи і прославляючи в серцях ваших Господа.

З Посла́ння до Єфеся́н Свято́го Апо́стола Павла́ чита́ння (6:10-17)

Браття, нарешті, зміцнюйтесь Господом і могутністю сили Його. Одягніться в повну зброю Божу, щоб вам можна було стати проти хитрощів диявольських, бо наша боротьба не проти крові і плоті, а проти начальств, проти властей, проти світоправителів темряви віку цього, проти духів злоби піднебесних. Для цього прийміть повну зброю Божу, щоб ви змогли протистояти в день злий і, все подолавши, вистояти. Отож станьте, підперезавши чресла ваші істиною і одягнувшись у броню праведності, і взувши ноги в готовність благовіствувати мир; а понад усе візьміть щит віри, яким зможете погасити всі розпечені стріли лукавого; і шолом спасіння візьміть, і меч духовний, що є слово Боже.

Євангеліє - Gospel Reading

Від Луки 13:10-17

В одній із синагог Ісус учив у суботу. Там була жінка, що мала духа немочі років вісімнадцять: вона була скорчена і ніяк не могла випрямитись. Ісус, побачивши її, покликав і сказав їй: жінко! ти визволена від твоєї недуги. І поклав на неї руки; і вона зараз же випрямилась і почала славити Бога. При цьому начальник синагоги, обурюючись, що Ісус зцілив її в суботу, сказав народові: є шість днів, в які дозволено робити; в ті і приходьте зцілятися, а не в день суботній. Господь сказав йому у відповідь: лицеміре! чи не відв'язує кожний з вас у суботу вола свого або осла від ясел, і не веде напувати? А цю дочку Авраамову, яку зв'язав сатана ось уже вісімнадцять років, чи не належало визволити від цих пут у день суботній? І коли Він говорив це, усі, хто противився Йому, засоромились; і весь народ радів за всі славні діла Його.

From Luke 21:12–19

"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls."