Song of ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone I —
Hymns of thanksgiving do we offer unto thee, O Theotokos, before thy holy icon “of the three hands”, which beareth witness to thine ineffable mercy toward our venerable father John of Damascus. Thereby save us also, and all who piously bow down before it.
On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the icon, thrice.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone II —
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
One canon from the Octoechos, with 6 troparia; and two for the saints, with 8 troparia.
After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII —
O most hymned Virgin Mistress, save all who place their trust in thee and have recourse to thy precious icon, which is a token of thy goodwill toward us. Kissing it, we cry out to thee: Forget us not, O our ever-wakeful preserver!
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Polyeleos, and this magnification —
We magnify thee, O all-holy Virgin, divinely chosen Maiden, and we honor thy holy image, whereby thou pourest forth healings upon all who have recourse to it with faith.
Selected Psalm verses —
A O God, give Thy judgment to the king [71: 1]
B And Thy righteousness to the son of the king. [71: 1]
A That he may judge Thy people with righteousness. [71: 2]
B And Thy poor with judgment. [71: 2]
A He shall judge the beggars among the people, and shall save the sons of the poor. [71: 4]
B Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God. [cf. 95: 2]
A The Lord shall give speech with great power to those who bring good tidings. [67: 12]
B The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it. [131: 11]
A Of the fruit of thy loins will I set upon thy throne. [131: 11]
B He shall come down like rain upon a fleece. [71: 6]
A And like rain-drops that fall upon the earth. [71: 6]
B And He bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet. [17: 10]
A For the Lord hath elected Sion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. [131: 13]
B The Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle. [45: 5]
A God is in the midst of her, she shall not be shaken. [45: 6]
B He shall spare the poor man and the pauper, and the souls of the poor shall He save. [71: 13]
A All the nations shall serve Him. [71: 11]
B All the day long shall they bless Him [71: 15]
A He shall be a support in the earth on the summits of the mountains. [71: 16]
B His name shall be blessed unto the ages. [71: 17]
A And in Him shall be blessed all the tribes of the earth. [71: 17]
B Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone doeth wonders. [71: 18]
A And blessed is the name of His glory forever, and unto the ages of ages. [71: 19]
B And all the earth shall be filled with His glory. So be it. So be it. [71: 19]
Glory…, Now & ever…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
Illumine us with thy light, O most pure one, and grant us a helping hand, for we know and confess that it would be better for us that the sun be extinguished that to be deprived of thy mediation for us before God.
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; I speak of my works to the king.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel according to Luke, §4
[Lk. 1: 39-49, 56]
In those days, Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zechariah, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.” And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI —
Falling down before thy precious image, O all-pure Theotokos, we render thee homage; for thee alone do we all have as a refuge and bulwark, and we glorify thee without ceasing, O Mother who lovest thy children.
Canon of the Theotokos, the acrostic whereof is “We flee beneath thy protection, O Theotokos”, the composition of Archpriest Mirko, in Tone IV —
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.