Reading from the Gospel
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
On the Beatitudes, eight troparia: four from Ode III and four from Ode VI of the canon of the holy hierarch.
In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them.
Prokimenon, in Tone I—
Stichos: I beheld the Lord ever before me.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
Epistle to the Hebrews, § 330
Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.
[Heb. 11: 33-40]
Reading from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews §318 (7:26-8:2).
Brethren: All the saints who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Brethren: Such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Alleluia, in Tone IV—
Alleluia, in Tone II—
Stichos: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulation.
Stichos: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.
Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, but the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.
Stichos: The law of God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be tripped.
Gospel according to Luke, § 67
according to St. John §36 (10:9-16).
[Lk. 12: 32-40]
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
The Lord said: Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Communion Verse—
Communion Verse—
In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.
An akathist hymn to St. Joasaph is available as item #85
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.