Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sedalion, in Tone I: Automelon—
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, thrice.
Let the choir of the angels marvel at the wonder! And let us mortals lift up our voices in hymnody, beholding the ineffable condescension of God; for He Who alone loveth mankind, before Whom the hosts of heaven tremble, do the arms of the elder now embrace.
Canon of the feast, its irmoi chanted twice, with the troparia repeated to make up 12.
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sedalion, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Let the choir of the angels…”—
He Who is with the Father on the holy throne, coming to earth was born of the Virgin; He Who is unlimited by time became a babe; and Symeon, receiving Him in his arms, said, rejoicing: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart, O Compassionate One, gladdening me!”
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Polyeleos, and this magnification—
We magnify Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life, and we honor Thine all-pure Mother, by whom Thou hast now been borne into the temple of the Lord in accordance with the law.
Selected Psalm verses—
A My heart hath poured forth a good word. [Ps. 44: 2]
B I speak of my works to the King. [Ps. 44: 2]
A My tongue is the pen of a swiftly writing scribe. [Ps. 44: 2]
B Comely art Thou in beauty more than the sons of men. [Ps. 44: 3]
A Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One. [Ps. 44: 4]
B And bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king. [Ps. 44: 5]
A Because of truth and meekness and righteousness. [Ps. 44: 5]
B Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. [Ps. 44: 8]
A Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear. [Ps. 44: 11]
B And forget thine own people and thy father’s house. [Ps. 44: 11]
A And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty. [Ps. 44: 12]
B For He Himself is thy Lord, and thou shalt worship Him. [Ps. 44: 12]
A The rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance. [Ps. 44: 13]
B The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord, in heaven is His throne. [Ps. 10: 3-4]
A Thy processionals have been seen, O God. [Ps. 67: 25]
B The processionals of my God, of my King Who is in His sanctuary. [Ps. 67: 25]
A Holy is Thy temple, wonderful in righteousness. [Ps. 64: 5-6]
B Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days. [Ps. 92: 6]
A I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. [Ps. 44: 18]
B For it is good before Thy saints. [Ps. 52: 11]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
After the Polyeleos, this sedalion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
Thou didst become a babe for my sake, O Ancient of days, and didst partake of purification, O most pure God, that Thou mightest assure me of the flesh Thou didst receive from the Virgin. And Symeon, taught thereby, recognized Thee as God appearing in the flesh, and the elder kissed Thee, our Life, and, rejoicing, cried out: “Release me, for I have seen Thee, the Life of all!”
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.
Stichos: My heart hath poured forth a good word.
Gospel according to Luke, § 8 [Lk. 2: 25-32]
At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
Let the gates of heaven be opened today; for the unoriginate Word of the Father, receiving a beginning under time, without abandoning His divinity, is of His own will borne by His Virgin Mother into the temple of the law as a babe forty days old. And Symeon taketh Him in his arms, crying: “Let Thy servant depart, O Master, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation! O Lord Who hast come into the world to save the human race, glory be to Thee!”
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.