Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—
Joshua son of Nun, leading the people and the ark of God across the Jordan River, was a shadowy image of the benefaction which was to come: for, in the Spirit, the mystic crossing doth represent both an image of our restoration and a true picture of our regeneration. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.
At “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory…, that of the venerable one; Now & ever…, that of the feast.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
After the Polyeleos, sessional hymn in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine faith…”—
Beholding the Word, Who is equal in honor to the Father and the Spirit, incarnate and baptized in His loving-kindness, the choirs of the angels trembled. And the River Jordan, stricken with awe and fear, turned back, bearing up to the summit of salvation us who have become corrupt through the passions.
Glory…, Now & ever…: sessional hymn of the feast, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Polyeleos, and this Magnification—
We bless thee, O venerable father Theodosius, and we honor thy holy memory, thou instructor of monastics and converser with the angels.
Selected Psalm Verses—
A With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. [Ps. 39: 2]
B He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. [Ps. 39: 3]
A Lo, I have fled afar off and have dwelt in the wilderness. [Ps. 54: 8]
B I am become like a pelican of the wilderness. [Ps. 101: 7]
A I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the housetop. [Ps. 101: 8]
B My knees are grown weak through fasting. [Ps. 108: 24]
A And my flesh is changed for want of oil. [Ps. 108: 24]
B With tears will I water my couch. [Ps. 6: 4]
A For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me. [Ps. 21: 17]
B They have bent their bow, a bitter thing. [Ps. 63: 4]
A That they may shoot in secret at the blameless man. [Ps. 63: 4]
B I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. [Ps. 15: 8]
A All the nations compassed me round about, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off. [Ps. 117: 10]
B Blessed be the Lord Who hath not given us to be a prey to their teeth. [Ps. 123: 6]
A Let all Thy works, O Lord, give praise to Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
B And let the righteous ones bless Thee. [Ps. 144: 10]
A Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His righteous one. [Ps. 4: 4]
B He hath labored forever, and shall live to the end. [Ps. 48: 9-10]
A The Lord preserveth the souls of His saints. [Ps. 96: 10]
B The saints shall boast in glory and shall rejoice upon their beds. [Ps. 149: 5]
A Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. [Ps. 115: 6]
B Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. [Ps. 29: 5]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice
Lifting up thy hands to the divine summit, thou wast shown to be a pillar of light, resplendent with beams of prayer, O venerable one. For, furnishing thy mind with wings to soar aloft to the heavens, thou hast illumined all, as a partaker of ineffable things, praying to Christ God, that He grant us great mercy. Twice
Today the Master hath come to the Jordan, to be baptized in its waters by the divine Forerunner. And the Father hath borne witness from on high, saying: “This is My Son, in Whom I am well pleased!” And the Spirit hath appeared over Him in the strange form of a dove.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Wondrous is God in His saints, the God of Israel.
Stichos: What shall I render unto God for all that He hath rendered unto me?
“Let every breath praise the Lord.”
Gospel according to Luke, § 24 [Lk. 6: 17-23].
At that time, Jesus stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all. And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said: “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye who hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye who weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.”
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
O venerable father, report of thy corrections hath gone forth into all the earth. Wherefore, thou hast found the reward of thy labors in the heavens, hast destroyed hordes of the demons, and attained unto the ranks of the angels, whose life thou didst blamelessly emulate. As thou hast boldness before Christ God, ask peace for our souls.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.