Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
15 November 2009
23rd Sunday After Pentecost
After the Little Entrance
Troparion The angelic powers were at Thy tomb;
Resurrection the guards became as dead men.
(Tone 6) Mary stood by Thy grave,
seeking Thy most pure Body.
Thou didst capture hell, not being tempted by it.
Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life.
O Lord who didst rise from he dead:
glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion When Christ God, the Giver of Life,
Resurrection raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery
(Tone 6) with His mighty hand,
He bestowed resurrection on the human race.
He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life,
and the God of all.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Apolytikon Steadfast Protectress of Christians,
(Tone 6) constant Advocate before the Creator:
do not despise the cry of us sinners,
but in your goodness come speedily to help us
who call on you in faith.
Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us,
O Theotokos,
for you always protect those who honor
you.
Prokeimenon
(Tone 6) Thou, O Lord, shall protect us
and preserve us from this generation forever!
Scripture Readings
Ephesians 2:4-10 Luke 10:25-37
Today is the first day of Nativity Lent (Advent)
Epistle
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 6th Tone: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
People: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Reader: To Thee, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to me!
People: O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.
Reader: O Lord, save Thy people.
People: And bless Thine inheritance.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading is from the holy Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
Priest: Let us attend!
(Ephesians 2:4-10)
Reader: Brethren, God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: He who dwells under the protection of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of Heaven.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: He will say to the Lord: "Thou art my refuge and my stronghold; He is my God, and I will hope in Him.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Gospel
Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
(Luke 10:25-37)
Priest: Let us attend! And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN