Propers for January 5, 2025

Jan. 5 – 28th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 3

Sunday before Nativity, of the Holy Fathers. Forefeast of the Nativity of Christ. Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus, Pompeius, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus (250). Ven. Niphon, bishop of Cyprus (4th c.). Ven. Paul, bishop of Neo-Caesarea (4th c.).

Heb. 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 ;
Mat. 1:1-25;

Tropar Resurrectional, Tone 3

Let the heavens rejoice. Let the earth be glad. For the Lord has shown strength with His Arm. He has trampled Death by death. He has become the First-born of the Dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades and has granted the world great mercy.

Tropar to the Holy Fathers, Tone 2

The great pillars of faith – the Three Holy Children rejoice in the flames as if they had been in refreshing water and Daniel in the midst of lions is like a shepherd among his sheep. Through their prayers, Christ God, save our souls.

Tropar of Forefeast, Tone 4

Bethlehem, prepare yourself. Adorn yourself, manger: Cave, make ready to welcome. The Truth has come and the shadow has passed; God, as man, is born of the Virgin, taking on the likeness of our nature, deifying the body. Therefore, Adam and Eve are renewed calling out: "God's mercy has appeared on earth to save the human race."

Glory …
Kondak to Holy Fathers, Tone 6

Thrice-blessed Ones, you did not worship the man made image, but armed with the invisible power of God, You were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames You called on God crying: Hasten, Compassionate One. Come quickly to our defense, for You are merciful and able to accomplish all that You will.

Now and ever ...
Kondak of Forefeast, Tone 3

Today the Virgin comes to the cave to give birth to the Word, Who existed before the ages. Rejoice, all the earth, at this news. With the angels and the shepherds glorify the soon to be born Child, the Ever-eternal God.

Prokimen

Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!

Reader: And with your spirit!

Deacon: Wisdom!

Reader: The Prokimen in Tone 4: Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers, praised and glorified is Your Name to the ages.

Choir: (repeats the prokimen)

Reader: V. For You are righteous in all that You have accomplished for us.

Choir: (repeats the prokimen)

Reader: Blessed are You, Lord God of our Fathers, …

Choir: … praised and glorified is Your Name to the ages.

Epistle

Deacon: Wisdom!

Reader: The reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews.

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Reader: Brethren, by faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,a were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Priest: Peace be with you.

Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Verse: God, we heard with our ears; our fathers proclaimed it to us.

Verse: You have saved us from our foes and have put those who hate us to confusion.

Communion Verse

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, praise befits the upright. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Апостол

З Посла́ння до Євре́їв Свято́го Апо́стола Павла́ чита́ння (11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40)

Браття, Вірою жив він на землі обітованній, як на чужій, і жив у наметах з Ісааком та Яковом, співспадкоємцями тієї ж обітниці; бо він чекав міста, що має основу, художник і будівничий якого є Бог. Вірою Авраам, будучи випробуваним, приніс у жертву Ісаака, і, маючи обітницю, приніс єдинородного, про якого було сказано: в Ісаакові назветься тобі сім'я (Бут. 21,12). Бо він думав, що Бог має силу і з мертвих воскресити, чому і одержав його як передвістя. Вірою в майбутнє Ісаак благословив Якова та Ісава. Вірою Яків, помираючи, благословив кожного сина Йосифового і поклонився на верх жезла свого. Вірою Йосиф, при кончині, нагадував про вихід синів Ізраїлевих і заповідав про свої кості. Вірою по народженні Мойсея батьки ховали його три місяці, бо вони бачили, що дитина дуже гарна, і не злякалися царського повеління. І що ще скажу? Не вистачить мені часу, щоб розповісти про Гедеона, про Варака, про Самсона та Ієффая, про Давида, Самуїла та (інших) пророків, які вірою перемагали царства, творили правду, одержували обітниці, закривали пащі левів, гасили силу вогню і уникали вістря меча, зміцнювались від немочі, були сильні на війні, проганяли полки чужинців; жінки одержували померлих своїх воскреслими; інші ж замучені були, не прийнявши визволення, щоб одержати краще воскресіння; інші зазнали наруги та побоїв, а також кайданів і темниці, були побиті камінням, перепилювані, зазнавали катування, помирали від меча, скиталися в овечих і козячих шкурах, терплячи нестатки, скорботи, озлоблення; ті, котрих весь світ не був достойний, скиталися по пустелях і горах, по печерах та ущелинах землі. І всі ці, засвідчені у вірі, не одержали обіцяного, тому що Бог передбачив про нас щось краще, щоб вони не без нас досягли досконалості.