Skip to content

Journal

Letter of Bishop Michael to the parish administrator, council, and parishioners of St Michael the Archangel parish, 12 March 2024:

The crest of the Eparchy of New Westminster

Dear Father Yuriy,
Dear Parish Council and Parishioners,

Слава Ісусу Христу!

I write to you today with a great deal of excitement and hope for your Parish and our entire Eparchy. I am pleased to announce to you today some changes that I am convinced will be a refreshing renewal for all those involved.

After considerable researching and discussion with several individuals, and a great deal of prayer, I am appointing to the Nanaimo Parish and to the wider pastoral area of the Comox Valley a new priest in the person of Rev. Father Stepan Vytvytskyi. I am relieving Father Yuriy Vyshnevskyy of the pastoral duties of the area that he has served so admirably and to the satisfaction of those that have enjoyed parish life in that area.

There are two other members of the clergy receiving new pastoral duties that will affect several parishes—five parishes directly and another four parishes indirectly. However, the changes will eventually lighten the burden of pastoral care for many involved. The change will take place from Palm Sunday, the 24th of March 2024. I have asked the clergy involved to collaborate with their new parish communities to organize the best schedule of services for Palm Sunday, Passon Week and Easter. Therefore, I ask the parish council and those normally involved with church preparation for Sundays and Holidays, to kindly welcome Father Stepan Vytvystkyi and his family and, particularly, help Father Stepan arrange for the richest possible liturgical schedule.

That the change will not leave anyone in a lurch, we will discuss the practical matters of moves, stewardship responsibilities and opportunities over the next few weeks.

God bless us all in this exciting year as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Eparchy and as we move into the next half century!

You are in my prayer. I look forward to meeting and speaking with you in the near future. God bless you with a truly lifechanging conclusion to the Great Fast and a joyful Easter celebration!

Most Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski
Bishop of New Westminster

First Sunday of Lent

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 18 February 2024.

Troparion, Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word, * co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, * and born of the Virgin for our salvation. * For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death * and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Troparion, Tone 2
We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord, * and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God. * Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy. * In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You: * by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8
The uncircumscribed Word of the Father * became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God, * and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory, * He suffused it with the beauty of God. * Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word, * we portray it in images.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, * and praised and glorified is Your Name for ever.
Verse: For You are righteous in everything You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)

Epistle: Hebrews 11:24–26,32–40; 12:1–2
Brothers and Sisters, 
by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Alleluia, Tone 4
Verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
Verse: They called on the Lord, and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)

Gospel: John 1:43–51
At that time Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you get to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

Hymn to the Mother of God
In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before all ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider that all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:1) * 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.]

 

Sunday of Forgiveness
(Cheesefare Sunday)

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 11 February 2024.

Troparion, Tone 4
When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel * the glorious news of the resurrection * and cast off the ancestral condemnation, * they proudly told the apostles: * ‘Death has been plundered! * Christ our God is risen, * granting to the world great mercy.’

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6
O Master, Guide to Wisdom, * Bestower of prudent counsel, * Instructor of the foolish and Defender of the poor ones; * make firm my heart and give it understanding. * Give me a word, O Word of the Father: * Behold, I shall not stop my lips from crying out to You: * In Your mercy, have mercy on me who am fallen.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give praise to the Lord our God. * Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.
Verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)

Epistle: Romans 13:11–14:4
Brothers and Sisters, besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. ¶Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Alleluia, Tone 6
Verse: It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
Verse: To announce Your mercy in the morning and Your truth every night.
(Psalm 91:2,3)

Gospel: Matthew 6:14–21
The Lord said, ‘
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

 

Sunday of the Fearful Judgement
(Meatfare Sunday)

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 4 February 2024.

Troparion, Tone 3
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice, * for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm. * He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead; * He saved us from the abyss of Hades * and granted great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 1
Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God! * From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, * who enlightens those who dwell in darkness. * And you, O righteous Elder, be glad! * You received in your embrace * the Liberator of our souls, * who grants us resurrection.

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

Kontakion, Tone 1
When You come on earth, O God, in glory, * and the universe trembles, * while the river of fire flows before the seat of judgement, * and the books are opened and all secrets disclosed, * then deliver me from the unquenchable fire, * and count me worthy to stand at Your right hand, * O Judge who are most just.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 1
By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb * and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon. * You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God; * give peace to Your community in time of war, * and strengthen its rulers, whom You love, * for You alone, * are the Lover of mankind.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength; * and of His knowledge there is no end.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to Him. (Psalm 146:5,1)

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 8:8–9:2
Brothers and Sisters, 
‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 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.

Alleluia, Tone 8
Verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
Verse: Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms. (Psalm 94:1,2)

Gospel: Matthew 25:31–46
The Lord said, 
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

Hymn to the Mother of God
O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.
Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:1) * 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.]

 

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 28 January 2024.

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!’

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
Foolishly have I fled from Your glory, O Father, * wasting the wealth You gave me on vices. * Therefore, I offer You the words of the Prodigal: * Loving Father, I have sinned before You. * Take me, for I repent, and make me as one of Your hired hands.

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)

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12–20
Brothers and Sisters, 
‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,’ and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

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)

Gospel: Luke 15:11–32
The Lord said his parable, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate. ¶“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

 

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 21 January 2024.

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.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
Let us bring sighs of sorrow to the Lord as did the Publican * and approach the Master as sinners, * for He desires salvation for everyone. * He grants forgiveness to all who repent. * For as God, the One-who-is, co-eternal with the Father, He became flesh for us.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)

Epistle: 2 Timothy 3:10–15
Timothy my Son, 
now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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)

Gospel: Luke 18:10–14
The Lord said his parable, ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

 

Sunday of Zacchaeus

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 14 January 2024.

First Antiphon
Verse: When Israel came forth from Egypt, * the house of Jacob from an alien people.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: Judah became His sanctuary, * Israel His dominion.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: The sea beheld this and fled,* the Jordan turned back on its course.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: Why was it, O sea, that you fled,* that you, O Jordan, turned back on your course?
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Third Antiphon
Verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, * let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: Let us come before His face with praise, * and acclaim Him in psalms.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: For God is the great Lord, * and the great king over all the earth.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance Verse: Come, let us worship * and fall down before Christ.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparion, Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One, * and accepted three days of burial * to free us from our sufferings. * O Lord, our life and our resurrection, * glory be to You

Troparion, Tone 1
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * the voice of the Father bore witness to You, * naming You the beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty. * Glory to You, O Christ God, * who appeared and enlightened the world.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8
When You rose from the tomb, * You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam. * Eve exults in Your resurrection, * and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead, * O most merciful One.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4
Today, You have appeared to the world * and Your light, O Lord, has been signed on us, * who with knowledge sing Your praises. * You have come, You have appeared, O unapproachable Light.

Prokimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.
Verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord; God the Lord has appeared to us.

Epistle : 1 Timothy 4:9–1
A reading from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to Timothy.
Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. These are the things you must insist on and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
Verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 94:1,2)
Verse: Bring to the Lord, you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams.

Gospel : Luke 19:1–10
At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

Instead of It is truly… we sing:
O my soul, magnify Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise you as is your due, O Mother of God. Even a spirit from above is filled with dizziness when seeking to sing your praises. But since you are good accept our faith, for you know well our love inspired by God. For it is you who protect all Christians; therefore, we magnify you.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * The grace of God has appeared * bringing salvation to all. (Titus 2:11) * 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.]

Instead of Blessed is He who comes… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the service of Blessing of the Jordan Waters will follow immediately.

Sunday after Theophay

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 7 January 2024.

First Antiphon
Verse: When Israel came forth from Egypt, * the house of Jacob from an alien people.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: Judah became His sanctuary, * Israel His dominion.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: The sea beheld this and fled,* the Jordan turned back on its course.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Verse: Why was it, O sea, that you fled,* that you, O Jordan, turned back on your course?
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.

Third Antiphon
Verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, * let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: Let us come before His face with praise, * and acclaim Him in psalms.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: For God is the great Lord, * and the great king over all the earth.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance Verse: Come, let us worship * and fall down before Christ.
Refrain: Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, * save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparion, Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death; * You opened Paradise to the thief; * You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy, * and charged the apostles to proclaim * that You are risen, O Christ our God, * offering great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 1
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * the voice of the Father bore witness to You, * naming You the beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty. * Glory to You, O Christ God, * who appeared and enlightened the world.

Troparion, Tone 2
The just man is remembered with praises, * but for you the Lord’s testimony suffices, O Forerunner, * for you truly became more honourable than the prophets * and were deemed worthy to baptize the One foretold. * Then you suffered for the truth and joyfully announced to those in Hades * that God appeared in the flesh taking away the sin of the world * and offering us great mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone 3
She who once was barren gives birth today to the Forerunner of Christ, * who will fulfil every prophecy. * In the Jordan he placed his hand upon the One Whom the prophets foretold, * and thus was shown to be the prophet, the herald, * and the Forerunner of the Word of God.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4
Today, You have appeared to the world * and Your light, O Lord, has been signed on us, * who with knowledge sing Your praises. * You have come, You have appeared, O unapproachable Light.

Prokimenon, Tone 1
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us * as we have hoped in you.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:2,1)

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.

Epistle : Ephesians 4:7–13
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Ephesians:
Brothers and Sisters, each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’ (When it says, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.
Verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)
Verse
: Light shines forth for the just and joy for the upright of heart.

Gospel : Matthew 4:12–17
At that time, Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Instead of It is truly… we sing:
O my soul, magnify Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise you as is your due, O Mother of God. Even a spirit from above is filled with dizziness when seeking to sing your praises. But since you are good accept our faith, for you know well our love inspired by God. For it is you who protect all Christians; therefore, we magnify you.

Сommunion Hymn
The grace of God has appeared * bringing salvation to all. (Titus 2:11) * The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance; * of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. * (Psalm 111:6) * 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.]

Instead of Blessed is He who comes… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. ()

At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the service of Blessing of the Jordan Waters will follow immediately.

Leave-taking of Nativity

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 31 December 2023.

First Antiphon
Verse: I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart, * I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Verse: In the council of the just and the congregation, * great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God O Saviour, save us.

Verse: His work is filled with praise and majesty, * and His righteousness endures forever.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God O Saviour, save us.

Third Antiphon
Verse: The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies the footstool of you feet.’

Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star * to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.

Verse: The Lord will send you a scepter of power out of Zion; reign in the midst of your enemies.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star * to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.

Verse: Yours is the dominion on the day you are given power in his splendour of your holy ones.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star * to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.

Entrance Verse: From the womb before the daystar I begot you. The Lord has sworn an oath and will not go back on His word: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God, * made the light of knowledge dawn on the world; * through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star * to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, * and to know You, the Dawn from on high. * Glory to You, O Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
The Virgin today gives birth to Him who is above all being; * the earth offers the cave to Him whom no one can approach; * Angels with shepherds give Him glory, * while Magi make their way with a star, * for to us is born a little Child, the pre-eternal God.

Instead of Holy God we sing:
All you who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prokimenon, Tone 8
Let all the earth worship You and sing to You; * let it sing to Your Name, O Most High.
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.

Epistle : Galatians 4:4–7
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to Galatians: Sisters and Brothers, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands.
Verse: Day announces its message unto day and night proclaims its knowledge unto night.

Gospel : Matthew 2:1–12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’ Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star‘s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.’ After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Instead of It is truly… we sing:
O my soul, magnify Christ the King born in a manger.
Irmos, Tone 1: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, a dwelling place in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain. Singing His praises, we magnify Him.

Сommunion Hymn
The Lord has sent deliverance * to His people. * 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.]

Instead of Blessed is He who comes… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. ()

Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. ()

Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. ()

Christmas Eve Service

Celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
8PM 24 December 2023.

Sunday before the Nativity of Our Lord

This is the Sunday morning service on Christmas Eve this year. The Christmas service from Saint Nicholas parish will be live-streamed by video at 8PM in the evening.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 24 December 2023.

Troparion, Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word, * co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, * and born of the Virgin for our salvation. * For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death * and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Troparion, Tone 2
Great are the achievements of faith! * In the fountain of flames, the three holy youths rejoiced as by the water of rest, * and the prophet Daniel was revealed shepherding lions like sheep. * Through their intercession, O Christ God, * save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6
Armed by the Being that defies description * You defied the man-made idol, O thrice blessed youth. * In the midst of the unbearable flames you stood and cried out to God: * ‘In Your mercy, O gracious One, hasten and come to our aid,’ * for You can do whatever You will.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
Verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)

Epistle: Hebrews 11:9–10,17-23,32–40
Brothers and Sisters, 
by faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, ‘It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.’ He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ‘bowing in worship over the top of his staff.’ By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial. By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

Alleluia, Tone 4
Verse: O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us the work You did in their days.
Verse: You saved us from our oppressors and put to shame those who hate us. (Psalm 43:2,8)

Gospel Matthew 1:1–25
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. ¶And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. ¶And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. ¶Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1). * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:1) * 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.]

Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 17 December 2023.

Troparion, Tone 4
When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel * the glorious news of the resurrection * and cast off the ancestral condemnation, * they proudly told the apostles: * ‘Death has been plundered! * Christ our God is risen, * granting to the world great mercy.’

Troparion, Tone 2
By faith You justified Your ancestors * and through them in advance You betrothed the Church taken from the nations. * The saints exult in glory; * from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed. * By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6
Armed by the Being that defies description, * you defied the man-made idol, O thrice blessed youth. * In the midst of the unbearable flames you stood and cried out to God: * ‘In Your mercy, O gracious One, hasten and come to our aid,’ * for You can do whatever You will.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, * and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
Verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)

Epistle: Colossians 3:4–11
Bothers and Sisters, when Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Alleluia, Tone 4
Verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
Verse: They called on the Lord and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)

Gospel: Luke 14:16–24
The Lord spoke this parable: ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1). * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:1) * 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.]

Twenty Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Commemoration of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Bishop Michael at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 10 December 2023.

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 4
The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith * and an image of meekness, * a teacher of continence. * And so you gained the heights through humility, * riches through poverty, * father and bishop Nicholas. * Intercede with Christ our God* for the salvation of our souls.

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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
In Myra, O holy one, you proved yourself a priest. * You fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O venerable father. * You laid down your soul for your people* and saved the innocent from death. * And so you were sanctified as a great initiate of God’s grace.

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 7
Verse: The just man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.

Epistle: Hebrews 13:17–2
Brothers and Sisters, obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act rightly in every respect. I especially ask for your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever (and ever). Amen. I ask you to bear with this message of encouragement, for I have written to you rather briefly.

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: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice. (Psalm 131:9)

Gospel: Luke 6:17–23
As Jesus came down with them
 and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1). * The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance; * of evil hearsay he shall have no
fear. (Psalm 111:6) *
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.]

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 26 November 2023.

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.

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 raised the world. * All humanity acclaims You as God, * and death has vanished. * Adam exults, O Master, * and Eve, redeemed now from bondage, cries out for joy: * ‘You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.’

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 1
When Gabriel uttered to you, O Virgin, his ‘Rejoice!’ * at that sound the Master of all became flesh in you, the Holy Ark. * As the just David said, * you have become wider than the heavens carrying your Creator. * Glory to Him Who dwelt in you! * Glory to Him Who came forth from you! * Glory to Him Who freed us through birth from you!

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)

Epistle: Ephesians 5:9–19
Brothers and Sisters,
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.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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)

Gospel: Luke 12:16–21
The Lord  spoke 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.’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1). * 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.]

Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 12 November 2023.

Troparion, Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death; * You opened Paradise to the thief; * You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy, * and charged the apostles to proclaim * that You are risen, O Christ our God, * offering great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 4
You appeared as a radiant light, * O priest-martyr Josaphat. * Like the Good Shepherd, you lay down your life for your sheep; * killed by enemies who loved division, you entered the holy of holies to dwell with the bodiless powers. * Therefore we pray you, long-suffering saint: * beg Christ, the Prince of Shepherds, * to number us among the sheep at His right hand and to save our souls.

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

Kontakion, Tone 7
No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity, * for Christ went down shattering and destroying it s powers. * Hades is bound. * The prophets exult with one voice. * The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying: * ‘Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!’

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4
Enlightened in childhood * by the flame from the crucified Christ, * you resembled the angels in your life as a monk, * and as bishop you lived in godliness. * You clearly preached unity and with your martyr’s blood, you calmed hearts inflamed by love for dispute. * From Christ you received the crown. * And so remember us as we cry to you: * Rejoice, O unshakeable pillar of unity.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The Lord will give strength to His people; * the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams.
(Psalm 28:11,1)

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.

Epistle: Ephesians 2:14–22
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Alleluia, Tone 7
Verse: It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
Verse: To announce Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night.
(Psalm 91:2,3)
Verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice. (Psalm 131:9)

Gospel: Luke 8:41–56
At that time, came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ ¶While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1). * The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. (Psalm 111:6) * 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.]

Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 5 November 2023.

Troparion, Tone 6
Angelic powers were upon Your tomb * and the guards became like dead men; * Mary stood before Your tomb * seeking Your most pure body. * You captured Hades without being overcome by it. * You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead, * glory be to You!

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

Kontakion, Tone 6
With His life-giving hand * Christ our God, the Giver of life, * raised all the dead from the murky abyss * and bestowed resurrection upon humanity. * He is for all the Saviour, * the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 6
Undaunted patroness of Christians, * O steadfast intermediary with the Creator, * turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners, * but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith. * Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead, * for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord, * and bless Your inheritance.
Verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9)

Epistle: Ephesians 2:4–10
Brothers and Sisters, God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Alleluia, Tone 6
Verse: He who lives in the aid of the Most High, shall dwell under the protection of the God of heaven.
Verse: He says to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, in Whom I hope. (Psalm 90:1)

Gospel: Luke 8:26–39
At that time Jesus arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 29 October 2023.

Troparion, Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word, * co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, * and born of the Virgin for our salvation. * For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death * and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.

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

Kontakion, Tone 5
You, my Saviour, descended to Hades, * and as the Almighty, You shattered its gates. * With Yourself You, as the Creator, raised the dead and shattered the sting of death, * and delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind. * And so we cry out: “Save us, O Lord.”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 5
Rejoice, O impassable door of the Lord! * Rejoice, O rampart and protection of those who have recourse to you! * Rejoice, O tranquil haven and Virgin, * who gave birth in the flesh to your Maker and God! * Fail not to intercede for those * who sing and worship the Child you bore.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us and will keep us * from this generation and for ever.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man. (Psalm 11:8,2)

Epistle: Galatians 6:11–18
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and Sisters,
see what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Alleluia, Tone 5
Verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.
Verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)

Gospel: Luke 16:19–31
The Lord told this parable:
 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 22 October 2023.

Troparion, Tone 4
When the disciples of the Lord learned from the angel * the glorious news of the resurrection * and cast off the ancestral condemnation, * they proudly told the apostles: * ‘Death has been plundered! * Christ our God is risen, * granting to the world great mercy.’

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

Kontakion, Tone 4
My Saviour and Deliverer from the grave * as God raised out of bondage the children of the earth * and shattered the gates of Hades; * and as Master, He rose on the third day.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 4
By your birth, O immaculate one, * Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, * and Adam and Eve * from the corruption of death. * And your people, redeemed from the guilt of their sins, * celebrate as they cry out to you: * ‘The barren one gives birth to the Mother of God * and nourisher of our life.’

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord * You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, You are exceedingly great.
(Psalm 103:24,1)

Epistle: Galatians 2:16–20
Brothers and Sisters, 
we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Alleluia, Tone 4
Verse: Poise yourself and advance in triumph and reign in the cause of truth, and meekness, and justice.
Verse: You have loved justice and hated iniquity. (Psalm 44:5,8)

Gospel: Luke 8:5–15
The Lord spoke this parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ ¶Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.” ¶‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Commemoration of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 15 October 2023.

Troparion, Tone 3
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice, * for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm. * He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead; * He saved us from the abyss of Hades * and granted great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 8
Christ our God, You are glorified above all, * You established our fathers as beacons on earth * and through them guided all of us to the true faith. * Glory to You, most compassionate Lord.

Kontakion, Tone 3
You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord, * and led us out from the gates of death. * Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices, * and the prophets together with the patriarchs * unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.

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

Kontakion, Tone 6
The Son who ineffably shone from the Father * was born two-fold of nature from a woman. * Beholding Him, we do not reject the image of His form; * but depicting it, we revere it faithfully. * Therefore the Church, holding the true faith, * kisses the icon of Christ’s becoming man.

Now and forever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 6
Undaunted patroness of Christians, * O steadfast intermediary with the Creator, * turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners, * but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith. * Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead, * for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, * and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
Verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26-27)

Epistle: Galatians 1:11–19
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and Sisters, I want you to know that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: The God of gods, the Lord, spoke and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Verse: Gather to Him His devout ones, who with sacrifice make covenant with Him. (Psalm 49:1,5)

Gospel: Luke 7:11–16
At that time, the Lord went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favourably on his people!’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens, * praise Him in the highest. * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. (Psalms 184:1; 32:1) * 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.]

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 8 October 2023.

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!’

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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 2
The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, * unceasing in her intercession and an 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)

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11:31–12:9
Brothers and Sisters, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

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)

Gospel: Luke 6:31–36
The Lord said, do to others as you would have them do to you. ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.’

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 1 October 2023.

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 we believers radiantly celebrate, * flooded in light by your coming to us, O Mother of God; * beholding your pure image, * we say with contrition: * shelter us with your precious protection * and deliver us from every evil, * entreating Your Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.

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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
Today the Virgin stands before us in the church * and together with the choirs of saints invisibly prays to God for us. * Angels are worshipping with hierarchs, * Apostles exult with prophets, * for the Mother of God prays in our behalf to the eternal God.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 9:6–11
Brothers and Sisters, 
the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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)

Gospel: Luke 5:1–11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, 
and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Communion 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.]

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 24 September 2023.

Troparion, Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One, * and accepted three days of burial * to free us from our sufferings. * O Lord, our life and our resurrection, * glory be to You.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8
When You rose from the tomb, * You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam. * Eve exults in Your resurrection, * and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead, * O most merciful One.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 8
To You, O Mother of God, * the invincible leader, * we, Your servants, ascribe these victory hymns * in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil. * With Your invincible power free us from all dangers * that we may cry out to You: * ‘Hail, O Bride, and pure Virgin!’

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
Verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1
Brothers and sister, what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.

Alleluia, Tone 8
Verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour. (Psalm 94:1)
Verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 94:2)

Gospel: Matthew 15:21–28
At that time, Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * 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.]

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
(Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross)

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria.
10AM 17 September 2023.

Antiphon 1
Verse: O God, my God, hear me; why have You forsaken me? The words of my transgressions put salvation far from me.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Verse: O God, I will call to You by day but You will not listen; and by night, yet it will not be foolish of me.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Verse: But You, the praise of Israel, dwell in the holy place.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Antiphon 3
Verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Refrain: Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Refrain: Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Verse: For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Refrain: Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance verse: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Refrain: Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparion, Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death; * You opened Paradise to the thief; * You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy, * and charged the apostles to proclaim * that You are risen, O Christ our God, * offering great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 1
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance. * Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies, * and protect Your community by Your cross.

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

Kontakion, Tone 7
No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity, * for Christ went down shattering and destroying it s powers. * Hades is bound. * The prophets exult with one voice. * The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying: * ‘Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!’

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4
By Your own choice, O Christ our God, * You were lifted on the cross. * Grant Your mercies to Your new community * that bears Your Name. * By Your power gladden the faithful people, * and grant them victory against enemies. * May they have the help of Your instrument of peace, * the invincible sign of victory.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Exalt the Lord our God, * and bow in worship at the footstool of his feet, for it is holy.
Verse: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble. (Psalm 98:5,1)

Epistle : Galatians 2:16–20
A reading from the epistile of Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Brothers and Sisters, 
yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
Verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)

Gospel: Mark 8:34–9:1
At that time, 
Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’

Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the most precious cross of the Lord.
And the Irmos, Tone 8: You are a mystical Paradise, O Mother of God, who though untilled, have brought forth Christ. He has planted upon earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross. Therefore today as we raise it on high we bow low and we magnify you.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord, * shine upon us. (Psalm 4:7) * Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.

At the end of Liturgy we sing:
To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection. (3)

[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.]

Our Bishop Elect, Very Rev. Michael Kwiatkowski, will be ordained and enthroned in November. His episcopal ordination will take place in Winnipeg, where he is currently Chancellor, and he will then travel to British Columbia to be enthroned and to celebrate his first Divine Liturgy as Bishop of New Westminster.

NOMINATION
6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 7
Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr & Olha, Winnipeg

CHEIROTONÍA (EPISCOPAL ORDINATION)
10:00 am, Wednesday, November 8
Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr & Olha, Winnipeg

FAREWELL
Divine Liturgy, Sunday, November 12
Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Winnipeg

ENTHRONEMENT (INSTALLATION)
10:00 am, Saturday, November 18
Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Vancouver

WELCOME and FIRST SOLEMN HIERARCHICAL DIVINE LITURGY
10:00 am, Sunday, November 19
Holy Eucharist Cathedral, New Westminster

ЧИН АРХИЄРЕЙСЬКОГО НАЙМЕНУВАННЯ
18:00, вівторок, 7 листопада
Собор Святих Володимира і Ольги, Вінніпег

ЄПИСКОПСЬКА ХІРОНІЯ
10:00, середа, 8 листопада
Собор Святих Володимира і Ольги, Вінніпег

ПРОЩАЛЬНА ЛІТУРГІЯ
Божественна Літургія, неділя, 12 листопада
Парафія Пресвятої Діви Марії, Вінніпег

ІНТРОНІЗАЦІЯ
10:00, субота, 18 листопада
Парафія Покрови Пресвятої Богородиці, Ванкувер

УРОЧИСТА АРХИЄРЕЙСЬКА БОЖЕСТВЕННА ЛІТУРГІЯ
10:00, неділя, 19 листопада
Собор Пресвятої Євхаристії, Нью-Вестмінстер