Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
3 January 2010
30th Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday Before Theophany
Forefeast of Theophany
After the Little Entrance
Troparion Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word,
Resurrection coeternal with the Father and the Spirit,
(Tone 5) born for our salvation from the Virgin;
for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh,
to endure death,
and to raise the dead,
by His glorious Resurrection!
Troparion Today the Lord enters the Jordan and cries out to John:
Forefeast "Be not afraid to baptize me,
(Tone 4) for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man!"
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion Thou didst descend to hell, O my Savior,
Resurrection shattering its gates as almighty;
(Tone 5) resurrecting the dead as Creator,
and destroying the sting of death,
Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man,
and we all cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion Prepare, O Zebulon,
Forefeast and adorn yourself, O Naphtali!
(Tone 4) Cease flowing, O River Jordan,
to receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized.
O Adam, rejoice with our first mother,
and do not hide yourself as you did of old in Paradise;
for having beheld you naked,
Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first garment,
for He has appeared to renew all of creation!
Prokeimenon
(Tone 5) Thou, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever!
Scripture Readings
2 Timothy 4:5-8 Mark 1:1-8
Epistle
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 5th Tone: Thou, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever!
People: Thou, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever!
Reader: Save me, O God, for there is no longer any that is godly!
People: Thou, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever!
Reader: Thou, O Lord, shall protect us.
People: And preserve us from this generation forever!
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading is from the 2nd Epistle of holy Apostle Paul to the Timothy.
Priest: Let us attend!
(2 Timothy 4:5-8)
Reader: Timothy, my child, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Thy truth from generation to generation.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: Thou hast said: mercy will be established forever. Thy truth will be prepared in the heavens.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel
Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. Mark.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
(Mark 1:1-8)
Priest: Let us attend! The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You." "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' " John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN