Canons of the forefeast, the hieromartyr, and St. John. Katavasiae: Christ is born…. Exapostilaria of the hieromartyr, St. John; Glory…, of the hieromartyr; Now & ever…, of the forefeast.
Stichos: Hearken, O God, unto my prayer, when I make supplication unto Thee.
His heart is ready to hope in the Lord.
On “Lord, I have cried…”, 10 stichera: 3 of the forefeast, 3 of the hieromartyr, and 4 of St. John. Readings from the service of St. John. At Litia, the stichera of St. John. On the Aposticha, the stichera of St. John; Glory…, doxasticon of the hieromartyr; Now & ever…, of the forefeast. At the Blessing of the Loaves, the troparion of St. John, twice; and that of the forefeast, once.
On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III of the canon of the forefeast, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the saint.
Stichos: Hearken, O God, unto my prayer, when I make supplication unto Thee.
If it be desired, the service of the holy Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer, to whom Christ pointed and said: “If ye be not as this child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heave,” may be combined with those of the forefeast of the nativity of Christ and the commemoration of St. John of Kronstadt, as follows:
Prokimenon, in Tone VII—
The righteous man shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Reading from the First Epistle General of John (4:7-11).
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Alleluia, in Tone IV—
Stichos: A good man is he that is compassionate and lendeth.
Reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke §26 (6:31-36).
The Lord said: As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Communion Verse—
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
At Matins, on “God is the Lord…”, troparion of the forefeast, once; that of the hieromartyr, once; Glory…, that of St. John; Now & ever…, that of the forefeast.
Great Doxology. Troparion of St. John; Glory…, Now & ever…, of the forefeast.
An Akathist Hymn in honor of St. John is available from the Press as #S175.
On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III of the canon of the forefeast, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the hieromartyr.
Prokimenon, in Tone VII—
The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him.
Epistle to the Hebrews, §311 [4: 14-5: 6]
Brethren: As we have a great High Priest Who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on those who are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but He that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made a high priest, but He that said unto Him: Thou art My Son; today have I begotten Thee. As He saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Alleluia, in Tone IV—
Stichos: The righteous man shall flourish like a palm-tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied.
Stichos: They that are planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of our God they shall blossom forth.
Gospel according to St. Mark, §41 [9: 33-41]
At that time, Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but Him Who sent me. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Communion Verse—
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.