At Vespers

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the feast, in Tone VIII, Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

Troparion of the apostles, in Tone III—

O all-glorious wonder, the ineffable future is now described beforehand, understood today in visible images; for she who shone forth the divine light upon the world is led like a bride to the holy temple. Let us praise her as the all-resplendent temple, holy and radiant, of Christ God, the Bestower of life.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Troparion of the feast, in Tone IV—

Truly the wise Joachim and Anna have manifestly offered their right acceptable firstfruits, the Virgin Mary, the divine maiden, unto Him Who willed to grant her to them as a divine fruit, whereby the debt of grief hath been canceled. In gladness let us piously hymn her, for she hath become the mediatress of joy for all the world.

Come, let us now mystically hasten and, adorned with lamps of faith, let us begin now the procession of the Virgin; for she gloriously entereth the temple of God, betrothed to Christ, the King of all. We all celebrate her beauteous solemnity, keeping festival in godly manner at her entry.

And 3 stichera of the apostle, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—

As a branch of the Vine of life, O glorious Philemon, thou hast poured forth the wine of divine knowledge upon those in pain of soul, and hast gladdened hearts downcast by the darkness of deception and held fast in the gloom of the madness of idolatry; wherefore, in gladness we celebrate thy divinely radiant memory.

The city of Gaza doth honor thee, having through thee come to see the light of understanding, O blessed one, and the Colossians, possessing thy divine body as a treasure, have healings and grace which ever floweth forth; wherefore, celebrating thy memory, O glorious Philemon, we are preserved from misfortunes by thy supplications.

With faith let us send up praises to the wise hierarch Archippus and the honorable Apphia, lauding Philemon and Onesimus, the sacred preachers of God, the honorable teachers, who by their discourse uprooted the falsehood of polytheism and planted the knowledge of the Truth for all who ever honor them with piety.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Doxasticon of the feast, in Tone I—

Let heaven rejoice today from on high, and let the clouds drop down gladness at the exceeding all-glorious mighty works of our God! For, lo! the portal which faceth east, who was born of a barren woman according to God’s promise, and became a dwelling-place sanctified for God, is brought forth as an unblemished offering. Let David rejoice, striking his harp! For he said: “The virgins that follow after her shall be brought before the King; those near her shall be brought unto the tabernacle of God, into His sanctuary, to be reared in the dwelling-place of Him Who, for the salvation of our souls, was incorruptibly begotten of the Father before time.”

At the aposticha, these stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O house of Ephratha…”—

Having lit their candles today, the assembly of virgins, chanting hymns, doth splendidly precede her who alone is most immaculate.

Stichos: The virgins that follow after her shall be brought unto the King, those near her shall be brought unto Thee.

O prophet, receive her who alone is most immaculate: the noetic mountain, the divine table, the bridge and the jar.

Stichos: They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing, they shall be brought into the temple of the King.

Opening the portals of the sanctuary, O Prophet Zachariah, truly accept thou the Mother of God, the only Ever-virgin.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Idiomelon, in Tone II—

Today the most immaculate Virgin is brought to the temple, to the habitation of God, the King of all, the Nourisher of our whole life. Today the most pure and holy one, is led to the Holy of holies like a heifer, three years of age. Let us cry out unto her like the angel: “Rejoice, thou who alone art blessed among women!”

O holy apostles, entreat the merciful God, that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.

Today is the prelude of God’s good will and the proclamation of the salvation of man. The Virgin hath manifestly appeared in the Temple of God and proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation!