Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
6 December 2009
26th Sunday After Pentecost
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
After the Little Entrance
Troparion When the stone had been sealed by the Jews;
Resurrection while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure Body;
(Tone 1) Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior,
granting life to the world,
the powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life:
glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Thy Kingdom!
Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou who lovest mankind!
Troparion You were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
Saint as an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence.
(Tone 4) You have reached the heights by your humility,
and by poverty riches were granted unto you!
O holy Father Nicholas,
pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion In Myra, O Saint, you proved to be a minister of sacred things:
Saint having fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O righteous one,
(Tone 3) you laid down your life for your people,
and saved the innocent from death.
Wherefore, you are sanctified, as a great initiate
of the grace of God.
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.
Prokeimena
(Tone 1) Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us
as we have set our hope on Thee!
(Tone 7) The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord and shall set his hope on Him.
Scripture Readings
Ephesians 5:9-19 Luke 17:12-19
Hebrews 13:17-21 Luke 6:17-23
Communion Hymn
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance!
He shall not fear evil tidings!
Epistle
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 1st Tone: Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee!
People: Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee!
Reader: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous! Praise befits the just!
People: Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 7th Tone: The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord and shall set his hope on Him.
People: The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord and shall set his hope on Him.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading is from the holy Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
Priest: Let us attend!
(Ephesians 5:9-19)
Reader: Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
(St. Nicholas - Hebrews 13:17-21)
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people under me!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: He magnifies the salvation of the King, and deals mercifully with His Christ, with David and his seed forever.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness and Thy saints shall rejoice!
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 17:12-19)
Priest: Let us attend! At that time, Jesus entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
(St. Nicholas - Luke 6:17-23)
Then He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN