At Matins

Songs of Ascent, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Canon of the forefeast, with 6 troparia, including the irmos, in Tone I; and that of the saint, with 8 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “My life is in Christ, to Whom I chant for all ages,” in Tone IV—

Glory..., Now and ever..., of the forefeast, in Tone IV—

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV—

Thou didst despise neither stranger nor sojourner, O father John, but wast kind and merciful and compassionate unto all: a father for orphans and a defender for widows, vesture for the naked and food for the hungry. Remember us also, thy poor children, and deny us not thy gracious love.

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the forefeast, twice; Glory…, that of the hieromartyr; Now & ever…, that of the forefeast, once.

Canon of the forefeast, with 8 troparia, including the irmos; and that of the hieromartyr, with 6 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever..., of the forefeast, in Tone VI, Spec. Mel: “The angelic hosts...”—

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone V—

Glory…, Now & ever…, of the forefeast, in Tone I—

Be glad, O Bethlehem! Make ready, O Ephratha! For, lo! the Ewe-lamb, bearing the great Shepherd in her womb, cometh to give birth; and the magi, seeing the divine star beforehand, rejoice, chanting with the shepherds in uprightness of heart.

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII—

He that bowed down the heavens and made His abode in the Virgin now cometh forth in the flesh to be born in the cave of Bethlehem as it was written, and He Who imparteth life to infants in the womb is seen as a babe Himself. Rejoicing now, let us all go forth to meet Him with uprightness of heart.

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

Strengthened by divine power, thou didst overcome the temptations of the invisible foe and hast passed on to the unwaning light. Heal thou the sufferings of our souls and direct us by thy counsel, for thou hast been given by God to all as a physician and comforter, O John, our father.

He Who bowed down the heavens and made His abode within the Virgin cometh in the flesh, to be born in the cave of Bethlehem as was written, and to be seen as a babe, imparting life to babes in the womb. Wherefore, rejoicing, let us now greet Him with uprightness of heart.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…”—

Rejoice exceedingly, O Sion! Make ready, O Bethlehem! The Sustainer of all, sending a star before Him, hath proclaimed His infinite condescension. He before Whom the hosts of heaven do tremble, is in very truth born without change of a Virgin, for He alone loveth mankind.

O ye virgins, anticipate the joy of the Virgin! O mothers, with the magi and the angels, the shepherds and us, praise ye the journey of the Mother of Christ our God; for the Virgin cometh to give birth in the city of Bethlehem to a Son, the preëternal God, Who saveth the world from corruption.

After the Polyeleos, this Magnification—

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone—

We magnify thee, O holy and righteous father John, and we honor thy holy memory, for thou dost entreat Christ God in our behalf.

Rejoice, O Sion! Adorn thyself, O Bethlehem! For the Sustainer of all, sending forth a star, hath announced His infinite condescension, before which the hosts of heaven tremble: Truly He Who alone loveth mankind is immutably born of the Virgin!

Selected Psalm verses—

A Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. [111: 1]

B In His commandments shall he greatly delight. [111: 1]

A His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. [111: 2]

B And his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [111: 3]

A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [111: 6]

B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [91: 13]

A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [63: 11]

B Lo, my lips I shall not restrain, O Lord. [39: 10]

A Thou hast understood My righteousness and My truth.

B And my tongue shall treat of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day long. [Ps. 34: 28]

A A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]

B The generation of the upright shall be blessed. [Ps. 111: 2]

A With glory and honor hast Thou crowned him. [Ps. 8: 6]

B For Thou shalt bless the righteous, O Lord. [Ps 5: 13]

A As with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us. [Ps. 5: 13]

B Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. [Lk. 1: 78]

A To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. [Lk 1: 79]

B To guide our feet into the way of peace. [Lk. 1: 79]

Glory…, Now & Ever…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

A fiery minister of the Word of God and a vessel of faith wast thou, O divinely inspired John; wherefore, the Lord appointed thee a new Abraham, a father of many. Pray thou therefore, O holy father, that we all may be children of God and that our souls may be saved.

As the shepherds were piping songs, the angelic host called out and stopped them, saying: Cease now, ye who abide in the fields tending your flocks; and cry aloud and sing that Christ the Lord is born, Whose good pleasure it is, as God, to save the race of man!

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131:9]

Stichos: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. [Ps. 131:1]

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

The Gospel according to John

§ 35, from the midpoint [Jn. 10: 1-8].

The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

O earthly angel, friend of men, instrument of the Spirit Comforter, bearer of the love of Christ, griever over all the world and mouth of all the faithful, consolation of the grieving and sorrowful, help of the persecuted, physician of our souls and bodies, father and intercessor, holy and righteous John: come thou and stand with us, that with thee we may offer up praise and thanksgiving unto God the Savior, performing this great solemnity.