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Divine Liturgy 5 April 2020

Palm Sunday

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 5 April 2020.

Palm Sunday is the celebration of the triumphant entrance of Christ into the royal city of Jerusalem. He rode on a colt for which He Himself had sent, and He permitted the people to hail Him publicly as a king. A large crowd met Him in a manner befitting royalty, waving palm branches and placing their garments in His path. They greeted Him with these words: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ (John 12:13).

This day together with the raising of Lazarus are signs pointing beyond themselves to the mighty deeds and events which consummate Christ’s earthly ministry. The time of fulfilment was at hand. Christ’s raising Lazarus points to the destruction of death and the joy of resurrection which will be accessible to all through His own death and resurrection. His entrance into Jerusalem is a fulfilment of the messianic prophecies about the king who will enter his holy city to establish a final kingdom. ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.’ (Zechariah 9:9).

Proper prayers and readings

First Antiphon
Verse: 
I am filled with love * for the Lord will hear the voice of my plea.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: For He has inclined His ear to me, * and I will call to Him all the days of my life.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: The pangs of death encircled me, * the trials of Hades befell me.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Verse: I met with anguish and pain, * and called upon the name of the Lord.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Third Antiphon
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, * for His mercy endures forever.
Troparion, Tone 1: Assuring us before Your Passion of the general resurrection, * You raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God: * and so, like the children we also carry signs of victory * and cry to You, the conqueror of death: * Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed is He who comes * in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Therefore, let the house of Israel say that He is good, * for His mercy endures forever.
Troparion, Tone 1: Assuring us before Your Passion of the general resurrection, * You raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God: * and so, like the children we also carry signs of victory * and cry to You, the conqueror of death: * Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed is He who comes * in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Let all who fear the Lord say that He is good, * for His mercy endures forever.
Troparion, Tone 1: Assuring us before Your Passion of the general resurrection, * You raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God: * and so, like the children we also carry signs of victory * and cry to You, the conqueror of death: * Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed is He who comes * in the name of the Lord.
Entrance Verse: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, we bless You from the house of the Lord, * the Lord is God and has appeared to us.
Troparion, Tone 1: Assuring us before Your Passion of the general resurrection, * You raised Lazarus from the dead, O Christ God: * and so, like the children we also carry signs of victory * and cry to You, the conqueror of death: * Hosanna in the highest!* Blessed is He who comes * in the name of the Lord.

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

Troparion, Tone 4
Buried with You through Baptism, O Christ our God, * we have been granted immortal life by Your resurrection,* and we sing Your praises, crying out: * Hosanna in the highest! * Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6
Mounted on the throne in heaven, O Christ God, * and on a colt here on earth, * You accepted the praise of the angels,* and the hymn of the children who cried to You: * Blessed are You who have come to call Adam back.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; * God the Lord has appeared to us. Verse: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

Epistle : Philippians 4:4–9
Brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse:
Sing to the Lord a new song, foe He has worked wonders. Verse: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Gospel : John 112:1–18
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a litre of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one (of) his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’ He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ (The) large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, (even) the king of Israel.’ Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: ‘Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon a donkey's colt.’ His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this for him. So the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from death continued to testify. This was (also) why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign.

Prayer to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ who is seated on a foal.
Irmos, Tone 4: The Lord is God and has appeared to us: together let us celebrate. Come with great rejoicing; let us magnify Christ with palms and olive branches, and with songs let us cry aloud to Him: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, our Saviour.

Communion Hymn
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; * God the Lord has appeared to us. * Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia.