At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV

Canon of the feast, with 6 troparia, including its irmos; and that of the saint, with 6 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever...: The foregoing is repeated.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “When the stone had been sealed...”—

Having become a babe for my sake, Thou wast borne into the temple, O Life of all; and having of old engraved the law on stone tablets on Mount Sinai, Thou hast placed Thyself under the law, that Thou mightest set all free from the ancient servitude to the law. Glory to Thy compassion, O Savior! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind!

At “God is the Lord...,” the troparion of the feast, thrice.

Canon of the feast of the Meeting, with 6 troparia, including the irmos, and that of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia.

Glory..., Now and ever...: the foregoing is repeated.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father is equally without beginning...”—

O Savior, Creator, Master and Bestower of the law, fulfilling the customs, Thou wast borne into the temple; and by Thine own good pleasure Thou art carried in the flesh in the arms of Symeon, O Thou Who art awesome to all and sustainest all creation. Thou didst desire to reveal Thy light to all of us, O Thou Who alone art compassionate.

At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory…, that of the holy hierarch; Now & ever…: that of the feast, once.

Glory...; Now and ever...,

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “That which was mystically commanded…”—

Receiving a command from on high in the temple of God, that thou go forth to be an apostle for Japan, and armed with the cross of monasticism and the grace of the priesthood thou didst leave thy homeland and didst depart unto a distant and pagan land. Yet struggling zealously with the help of grace, thou didst reap as fruits of joy many souls of the saved.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone I: automelon—

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.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…”—

Elevated by God to the rank of an apostle, thou didst receive the covenant of Christ in the depths of thy soul; and though thou wast like a lamb among wolves, thou wast in nowise afraid, but, baptizing the people, building churches and raising up temples, thou didst fulfill the commandment in godly manner. Wherefore, for thee an incorruptible crown of righteousness hath been reserved.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Let the choir of 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!”

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—

We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Nicholas, equal of the apostles, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ our God in our behalf.

Selected Psalm verses—

A O hear this, all ye people; ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world. [Ps. 48:1]

B My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48:3]

A Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33:11]

B I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39:11a]

A My talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation. [Ps. 39:12b]

B I will declare thy Name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. [Ps. 21:22]

A That I may show the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25:7]

B Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth. [Ps. 25:8]

A I have hated the congregation of the wicked, and will not sit among the ungodly. [Ps. 25:5]

B Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth. [Ps. 17:21]

A The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom, and his tongue will be talking of judgment. [Ps. 36:31]

B His righteousness endureth for ever. [Ps. 110:3b]

A Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints sing with joyfulness. [Ps. 131:9]

B Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be alway praising thee. [Ps. 83:4]

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice

Having drunk deeply of the wisdom of God in thy home, and in the churches and streets of Russia with mind and heart, thou becamest a wellspring of the waters which flow forth unto life everlasting; and wherever thou wast, thou didst give the Spirit of life as drink to all around thee. Thou didst convert the Japanese to Orthodoxy, and starting from the beginning didst establish a foundation for the Church in Japan; and thou art hymned today, as is meet. Entreat Christ God to prosper thy work and grant remission of offenses unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.

Thou didst become a babe for my sake, O Ancient of days, and didst partake of cleansing, O most pure God, that Thou mightest assume 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!”

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to John, §35,

from the midpoint [10: 1-9]

The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He who 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. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out, and find pasture.”

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

Thou hast hastened from earth to the heavens, O holy hierarch Nicholas, and didst live, not for thyself, but for thy Savior, Who hath commanded us to lay down our lives for our friends; and in Japan thou didst announce the Gospel of salvation, and didst lead to Christ many people, who see in thee the image of Christ.