The Song of Ascents, the first Antiphon of Tone IV.
Glory..., Now and ever..., in the same tone
After the first Reading from the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone V
Both canons from the Octoechos, without the martyria; and that of the greatmartyr, with 6 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “With songs do I hymn the Persian martyr James”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone II—
Glory..., Now and ever..., and the above Sessional hymn is repeated.
After the second Reading from the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV
We are thy servants, O Theotokos, having abandoned our slavery to sin forever and bowed our necks beneath the easy yoke of Christ. Wherefore, we hope to obtain the freedom of the children of God by thy fervent intercession for us, that unceasingly rejoicing in thee we may cry to thy Son and our God: O our Savior, glory to Thee!
Glory..., Now and ever..., the above Sessional hymn is repeated.
Then, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII
Rejoice, thou who art robed with the sun and dost shine ineffably with glory! Rejoice, Mother of the Almighty, who revealed to the world the preëternal Word and who most gloriously crushed the head of the serpent, who by thy birthgiving freed the race of Adam from corruption! Rejoice, thou who alone art Ever-virgin even after giving birth!
O ye faithful, with one voice let us hymn today her who doth bestow the gifts of her mercy abundantly upon all in need, who taketh under her mighty protection all who flee to her, who in her maternal love doth embrace the wicked as well as the good. Wherefore, come, ye monks and layfolk, ye rich and poor, and forming one choir, let the Church of heaven and of earth celebrate together, crying out with one voice to the Theotokos, and exclaiming: Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee!
After the Polyeleos, this Magnification
Meet it is to magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art more honorable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim.
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 raindrops 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
The most radiant feast of the Theotokos is at hand today, whereon the spiritual light of the world hath shone forth in her nativity, and wherein a great treasure hath been given to our land in the appearance of the most glorious icon of the Theotokos, bowing down to whom with fear we now cry out: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou salvation of the faithful!
Prokimenon, in Tone IV
I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.
Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke (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 Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth 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 II
Rejoice now, O monastery of Kursk! Adorn thyself and dance, O Russian land! For lo! the Queen of heaven herself with countenance most pure doth dwell in thy midst in her grace, and poureth forth her mercies abundantly upon the faithful. Wherefore, she doth hear from all unceasingly: Rejoice, O Theotokos Mary, thou wonder of wonders!
The Canon to the Theotokos, the acrostic whereof is: “I dare to offer thee praise, O Theotokos”, in Tone IV
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.