Hymn of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.
Two canons for the Theotokos: the first with 8 troparia, including its irmos; the second with 6 troparia —
Glory..., Now & ever...: The foregoing sessional hymn is repeated.
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone V —
Ease thou the pain of mine anguished soul, O thou who hast wiped every tear from the face of the earth; for thou dost drive pain away from men and dost put an end to the sorrows of the sinful. Thee have we all acquired as our hope and confirmation, O all-holy Virgin Mother.
At “God is the Lord...,” the first troparion, twice; Glory..., Now & ever..., the second troparion, once.
Glory..., Now & ever...: The foregoing sessional hymn is repeated.
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VI —
O good Virgin Theotokos, thou hope of the world, we implore thine awesome intercession alone: Take pity upon helpless people and entreat the merciful God, that our souls be delivered from every threat, O thou who alone art blessed.
Canon of the martyrs, with 4 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “With songs we hymn the assembly of martyrs with divine beauty”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VIII —
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
After the Polyeleos, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VI —
At the Polyeleos, this Magnification —
Glory..., Now & ever...: The foregoing sessional hymn is repeated.
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 —
A Lord, remember David and all his trouble. [Ps. 131:1]
B How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed a vow unto the Almighty God of Jacob. [Ps. 131:2]
A Lo, we heard of the same at Ephrata; and found it in the wood. [Ps. 131:6]
B Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou city of God. [Ps. 86:2]
A God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed. [Ps. 45:5]
B The Lord hath made a faithful oath unto David, and he shall not shrink from it. [Ps. 131:11]
A Of the fruit of thy body shall I set upon thy seat. [Ps. 131:12]
B For the Lord hath chosen Sion to be an habitation for himself; he hath longed for her. [Ps. 131:14]
A The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most Highest. [Ps. 45:4b]
B Power and honor are in his sanctuary. [Ps. 95:6b]
A Holy is thy temple, wonderful in righteousness. [Ps. 64:4b-5a]
B Holiness becometh thine house for ever. [Ps. 92:6b]
A I will remember thy Name from one generation to another. [Ps. 44:18a]
B Praised be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen. [Ps. 88:50b]
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
The comfort of the sorrowing and release for the ailing, art Thou, O all-hymned Theotokos. Save thy city and thy people, O pacification of those who do battle, calm of the tempest-tossed, O thou who alone art the intercessor for the faithful.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV —
I will remember thy Name from one generation to another.
Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear.
Let every breath praise the Lord.
Gospel According to St. Luke § 4
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 Spirit: 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 who 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 Who 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 —
O ye faithful, like the archangel let us hymn her who is truly the threshold of heaven and the door which is shut, crying out: Rejoice, thou for whose sake sprang forth for us Christ, the Savior of all, our God, the Bestower of life. Cast thou down tyrants, our godless foes, by thy hand, O all-pure one, thou hope of Christians.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.