Entrance of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple
Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 21 November 2021.
Troparion, Tone 1
Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans, * and soldiers guarded Your most pure body, * You arose, O Saviour, on the third day, * and gave life to the world. * And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your kingdom! * Glory to Your saving plan, * O only Lover of mankind.
Troparion, Tone 4
Today is the prelude of the good pleasure of God, * and the proclamation of salvation for the human race. * In the Temple of God * the Virgin is clearly revealed, * and beforehand announces Christ to all. * To her, then, let us cry aloud with a mighty voice: * Rejoice, fulfilment of the Creator’s plan.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 1
You arose in glory from the tomb * and with Yourself You raise the world. * All humanity acclaims You as God. * and death has vanished. * Adam exults, O Master, * and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy: * ‘You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.’
Now and forever and ever, Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4
The Saviour’s pure temple, * the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, * the sacred treasury of the glory of God, * is brought today into the house of the Lord; * and with her she brings the grace of the divine Spirit. * God’s angels sing in praise of her: * She is indeed the heavenly dwelling-place.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
First Epistle : Ephesians 5:9–19
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and Sisters, live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
Second Epistle : Hebrew 9:1–7
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and Sisters, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.
Alleluia, Tone 7
Verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued people under me.
Verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48,51)
Verse: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear. (Psalm 44:11)
First Gospel : Luke 12:16–21
The Lord told this parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?“ Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.’
Second Gospel : Luke 10:38–42, 11:27–28
At that time, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’ While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’
Instead of “It is truly right...” we sing:
Seeing the entrance of the pure one, angels marvel in wonder how the Virgin could enter the holy of holies.
Irmos: Let no hand of the profane touch God’s living ark, * but instead let the lips of those who are believers * sing out ceaselessly in the words of the angel, * crying out with great joy to the Mother of God: * O pure Virgin, * you are truly higher than all.
Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) *
I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 115:13) * Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia.
[A private prayer of spiritual communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in these Holy Gifts!
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot receive You now,
I place before You my whole life and hope, O loving Master;
and I ask, pray, and entreat You: Make me worthy to partake in a mystical way
and with a pure conscience of Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries:
for forgiveness of sins, for the pardon of offences, for communion of the Holy Spirit,
for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence before You,
and not for judgment or condemnation.
I embrace You as You enter and abide in me, and I unite myself completely to You.
Permeate my soul and body, and never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.]