Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost
(Post-feast of the Dormition)
Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 21 August 2022.
Troparion, Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal, * You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity. * When You raised the dead from the nether world, * all the powers of heaven cried out: * ‘O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!’
Troparion, Tone 1
In giving birth you retained your virginity, * in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God. * You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life, * and by your prayers * you deliver our souls from death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2
You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour; * and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose. * Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults. * And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.
Now and forever and ever, Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2
The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, * unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage, * for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life * by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
Verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
(Luke 1:46)
Epistle : 1 Corinthians 9:2–12
A reading from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, if I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Alleluia, Tone 2
Verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
Verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
Verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness. (Psalm 131:8)
Gospel : Matthew 18:23–35
The Lord told this parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
Instead of ‘It is truly right’ we sing
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
Irmos:O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature, * for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life. * Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God, * never cease to save your inheritance.
Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * I will take the chalice 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.]