Journal

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Today the Church remembers the 350 Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council under the holy Patriarch Tarasius. The Synod of 787, the second to meet at Nicea, refuted the Iconoclast heresy during the reign of Empress Irene and her son Constantine VI. The Council decreed that the veneration of icons was not idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5), because the honour shown to them is not directed to the wood or paint, but passes to the prototype (the person depicted). It also upheld the possibility of depicting Christ, Who became man and took flesh at His Incarnation. The Father, on the other hand, cannot be represented in His eternal nature, because ‘no man has seen God at any time’ (John 1:18).

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

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

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

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.

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 : Hebrews 13:7–16
A Reading from the letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Hebrews:
Brothers and Sisters, remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

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 : John 17:1–13
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.’

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

[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

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 4 October 2020.

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 forever 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.

Epistle : 2 Corinthians 9:6–11
A Reading from the second letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
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 for ever.’ 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: 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.

Gospel : Luke 5:1–11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’ Simon said in reply, ‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, ‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’ For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’ When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 27 September 2020.

Video removed due to technical error.

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 forever 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 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.

Epistle : 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1
A Reading from the second letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Sisters and Brothers, 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 1
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.

Gospel : Matthew 15:21–28
At the time the Jesus 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.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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 before the Exaltation of the Cross

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 13 September 2020.

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!

Troparion, Tone 4
O Lord, as You had shown from on high the splendour of the firmament, * so did You show on earth * the splendour of the dwelling place of Your holy glory. * Make it stand firm for ever and ever * and accept the supplications * which we offer unceasingly to You through Your Mother. * O Lord, You are the Life and Resurrection of all of us.

Troparion, Tone 4
We offer You the Life-giving Cross, O Lord, * as a means of intercession, and as a sign of Your bounty * which You have given to us in spite of our unworthiness. * Save our country and Your people * who offer You their supplications through Your Mother, * for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.

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.

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

Kontakion, Tone 4
You have made the Church a resplendent heaven, enlightening all the faithful. * Therefore, we stand in the midst of this holy dwelling place and cry out to You: * Make firm this house, O Lord.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 8
Today we see the saving Tree which blossomed from earthy seed. * It is lifted up in the Church by the hands of the bishop. * The universe adores and greets It with awe. * Save us by It, O Lord.

Prokeimenon, Tone 5
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 27:9,1)

Epistle : Galatians 6:11–18
A Reading from the letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Galatians:
Brothers and Sisters, see with what large letters I am writing to you in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good appearance in the flesh who are trying to compel you to have yourselves circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those having themselves circumcised observe the law themselves; they only want you to be circumcised so that they may boast of your flesh. But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: I have exalted one chosen from the people and with my holy oil anointed him.
Verse: My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.
(Psalm 88:20-21,22)

Gospel : John 3:13–17
The Lord said, ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.’ For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) *
O Lord, I love the house where you dwell, * the place where your glory abides.
(Psalm 25:8) * 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.]

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 6 September 2020.

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 Humankind. * And so we cry out: ‘Save us, O Lord.’

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 5
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.

Epistle : 2 Corinthians 1:21–2:4
A Reading from the second letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first instalment. But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth. I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith. So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you. For I wrote to you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Alleluia, Tone 3
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.

Gospel : Matthew 22:1–14
The Lord spoke this parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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.]

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 30 August 2020.

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 forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, 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 3
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.

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 16:13–24
A Reading from the first letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people, and of everyone who works and toils with them. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such people. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord. All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Alleluia, Tone 3
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.

Gospel : Matthew 21:33–42
At that time the Lord told this parable: ‘There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.” They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?’ They answered him, ‘He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?”’

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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.]

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 23 August 2020.

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
In giving birth you retained your virginity, * in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God. * You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life, * and by your prayers * you deliver our souls from death.

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

Kontakion, Tone 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.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2
The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, * unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage, * for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life * by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)
Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 15:1–11
A Reading from the first letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, now I should remind you, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

Alleluia, Tone 3
Verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever.
Verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me. (Psalm 30:2,3)
Verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
Verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)

Gospel : Matthew 18:23–35
Now someone approached Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?’ He answered him, ‘Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He asked him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus replied, ‘“You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honour your father and your mother'; and 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”’ The young man said to him, ‘All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible’

Instead of “It is truly...” we sing: Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature, * for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life. * Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God, * never cease to save your inheritance.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) *  I will take the chalice of salvation; * and I will call upon the name of the Lord. (Psalm 115:13) * Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia.

[A private prayer of spiritual communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in these Holy Gifts!
I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot receive You now,
I place before You my whole life and hope, O loving Master;
and I ask, pray, and entreat You: Make me worthy to partake in a mystical way
and with a pure conscience of Your awesome and heavenly Mysteries:
for forgiveness of sins, for the pardon of offences, for communion of the Holy Spirit,
for the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, for confidence before You,
and not for judgment or condemnation.
I embrace You as You enter and abide in me, and I unite myself completely to You.
Permeate my soul and body, and never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.]

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 16 August 2020.

Troparion, Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal, * You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity. * When You raised the dead from the nether world, * all the powers of heaven cried out: * ‘O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!’

Troparion, Tone 1
In giving birth you retained your virginity, * in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God. * You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life, * and by your prayers * you deliver our souls from death.

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

Kontakion, Tone 2
You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour; * and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose. * Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults. * And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2
The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, * unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage, * for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life * by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
Verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 9:2–12
A Reading from the first letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, if I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defence to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.’ Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever ploughs should plough in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Alleluia, Tone 2
Verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
Verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)

Gospel : Matthew 18:23–35
The Lord told this parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.” Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, “Pay back what you owe.” Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.” But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.’

Instead of “It is truly...” we sing: Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature, * for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life. * Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God, * never cease to save your inheritance.

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

[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.]

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 9 August 2020.

Antiphons commemorate the Feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated this past Thursday.

Antiphon 1
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Verse: The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Verse: You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.
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, transfigured on the mountain, 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, transfigured on the mountain, 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, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance Verse: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Refrain: Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

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 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God, * showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear. * Make Your eternal light shine * also on us who are sinners, * through the prayers of the Mother of God, * O Giver of Light, glory to You!

Troparion, Tone 3
O holy apostle Matthias, intercede with the all-merciful God * that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

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.’

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

Kontakion, Tone 4
Your radiant message, * O wondrous apostle Matthias, * has shone like the sun throughout the world * enlightening the Church of the nations with grace.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God, * and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could; * that when they saw You crucified * they might know that You suffered willingly *, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

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.

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 4:9–16
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honour, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day. I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.

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: Yours are the heavens, and Yours the earth. (Psalm 88:12)

Gospel : Matthew 17:14–23
And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.’ And Jesus answered, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’ As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’ And they were greatly distressed.

Instead of “It is truly...” we sing: O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.
Irmos, Tone 4: Your giving birth was revealed as incorrupt; * for it was God who came forth from your womb; * He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. * Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) *
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, * and their word unto the ends of the world. * Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)

[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.]

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 2 August 2020.

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 forever 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 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.

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 3:9–17
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and Sisters, we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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.

Gospel : Matthew 14:22–34
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost,’ they said, and they cried out in fear. At once (Jesus) spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’ After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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

[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.]

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 26 July 2020.

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.

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 forever and ever, Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 7
O all-praised treasury of our resurrection, we hope in you, * bring us up from the pit and depth of sin, * for you have saved those subject to sin * by giving birth to our Salvation, * O Virgin before childbirth, and Virgin in childbirth, * and still a Virgin after childbirth.

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)

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 1:10–18
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Corinthians: Brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarrelling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptised none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptised in my name. (I did baptise also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptised anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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 14:14–22
At that time, when Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

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

[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.]

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 19 July 2020.

Propers of the day were not available at the time of posting this.

[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.]

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 12 July 2020.

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 Humankind. * And so we cry out: ‘Save us, O Lord.’

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 5
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.

Epistle : Romans 12:6–14
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Romans: Brothers and Sisters, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honour. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, and serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, and persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them.

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.

Gospel : Matthew 9:1–8
At that time Jesus entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.’ At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, ‘Why do you harbour evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Rise and walk”? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic, ‘Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.’ He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. *
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.]

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

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

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 forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3
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.

Epistle : Romans 1-:1–10
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Romans: Brothers and Sisters, my heart‘s desire and prayer to God on their behalf is for salvation. I testify with regard to them that they have zeal for God, but it is not discerning. For, in their unawareness of the righteousness that comes from God and their attempt to establish their own (righteousness), they did not submit to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for the justification of everyone who has faith. Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from (the) law, ‘The one who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will go down into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).’ But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we preach), for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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.

Gospel : Matthew 8:28–9:1
At that time Jesus came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?’ Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, ‘If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then!’ They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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 All Saints of Rus’-Ukraine

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 21 June 2020.

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 4
O you, who glorified Christ: * princes and bishops, * monastics and martyrs, * and steadfast confessors of Christian Ukraine throughout all times, * pray Christ God to look with favour on our people * and to grant them the grace to persevere in the faith * that the souls of prayerful faithful * who revere your sacred memory * may be saved.

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

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.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4
You shine as bright beacons, * O God-inspired and righteous saints of our Church. * By your encouraging example, * you serve communities of faithful throughout the Christian world. * Therefore we humbly bow our heads to you * thanking our great and all gracious God * Who has made you our intercessors in heaven * where you pray for our souls.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy.

Epistle : Romans 6:18–23; 8:28–39
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Romans: Brothers and Sisters, freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature. For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness for lawless ness, so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. But what profit did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Alleluia, Tone 1
Verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever.
Verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me.
Verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly.

Gospel : Matthew 8:5–13
At that time, when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.’ He said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion said in reply, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come here,” and he comes; and to my slave, “Do this,” and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ And Jesus said to the centurion, "‘You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.’ And at that very hour (his) servant was healed.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous.* 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.]

Third Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 21 June 2020.

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 forever.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 2
The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God, * unceasingly 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.

Epistle : Romans 5:1–10
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Romans: Brothers and Sisters, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Alleluia, Tone 1
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.

Gospel : Matthew 6:22–33
The Lord said: ‘The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be. No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, “What are we to eat?” or “What are we to drink?” or “What are we to wear?” All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.‘

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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.]

Second Sunday after Pentecost

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 14 June 2020.

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

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

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 8
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.

Epistle : Romans 2:10–16
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Romans: Brothers and Sisters, glory and honour and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

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.

Gospel : Matthew 4:18–23
At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * 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 All Saints

While public liturgies at our Nanaimo parish have resumed on Saturday mornings, under COVID-19 social distancing measures and stay-at-home advice for at-risk individuals, we will continue to live-stream Sunday Divine Liturgy from Victoria.

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 7 June 2020.

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 4
Clothed as in purple and fine linen * with the blood of Your martyrs throughout the world, * Your Church cries out to You through them, O Christ God: * send down Your loving-kindness on Your people; * grant peace to Your community, * and to our souls great mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8
O Lord, Master of nature, * the world offers You the godly martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. * By their supplications, through the Mother of God, * preserve Your Church and Your people in profound peace, * O most merciful One.

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

Epistle : Hebrews 11:33–12:2
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Apostle Paul to the Hebrews: Brothers and sisters, the saints 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, without 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 1
Verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
Verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them.

Gospel : Matthew 10:32–33; 37–38; 19:27–30
The Lord said to his disciples: ‘Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.’ Then Peter said to him in reply, ‘We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

Сommunion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens; * praise Him in the highest. * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; * praise befits the righteous. 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 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, celebrated by Father Yuriy at Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Parish, Victoria. 10AM 24 May 2020.

First Antiphon
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; * shout to God with the voice of joy.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

Verse: For the Lord most high is awesome, * a great king over all the earth.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

Verse: He has subdued peoples to us, * and nations under our feet.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.

Verse: God ascended amid shouts of joy; * the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.
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, who ascended in glory, 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, who ascended in glory, 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, who ascended in glory, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance Verse: Come, let us worship, and fall down before Christ.
Refrain: Son of God, who ascended in glory, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

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!

Troparion, Tone 4
You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, * giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit, * and assuring them through your blessing * that You are the Son of God, * the Redeemer of 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.

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

Kontakion, Tone 8
The apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ doctrine * confirmed the Church’s one faith, * and wearing the garment of truth * woven from theology that descends from on high, * she rightly imparts * the mystery of godliness * and sings its glory.

Now and forever and ever, Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6
When you had fulfilled Your plan for us * and united things on earth with those in heaven, * You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, * in no way distant, but remaining in separable, * You cried to those who love You: * I am with You and there is none against you.

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 : Acts 20:16–18, 28–36
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles: For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. When they came to him, he said to them: ‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”’ When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.

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

Gospel : John 17:1–13
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.’

Instead of “It is truly...” we sing: O my soul, magnify the Lord who in glory ascended bodily into the heavens.
Irmos, Tone 5: O Mother of God, * you transcended both mind and word, * and in time, ineffably bore the Timeless One: * it is you who, with one accord, * we, the faithful, magnify.

Сommunion 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.]

As the month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, every Sunday in May after Divine Liturgy we will celebrating Moleben (prayers of intercession) to the Mother of God [PDF]