Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
16 May 2010
7th Sunday of Pascha
Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
Afterfeast of Holy Ascension
Priest: Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Through the blessing they were assured
that Thou art the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world. (3)
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. (2)
O Lord, open Thou my lips and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.
Blessed is the Kingdom...
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!
Troparion Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
Ascension granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
(Tone 4) Through the blessing they were assured
that Thou art the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world.
Troparion Most glorious art Thou, O Christ our God!
1st Council Thou hast established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth!
(Tone 8) Through them Thou hast guided us to the true faith!
O greatly Compassionate One, glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion The apostles' preaching and the fathers' doctrines have
1st Council established one faith for the Church.
(Tone 8) Adorned with the robe of truth woven from heavenly theology;
great is the mystery of piety which it defines and glorifies.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion When Thou didst fulfill the dispensation for our sake,
Ascension and unite earth to heaven:
(Tone 6) Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God,
not being parted from those who love Thee,
but remaining with them and crying:
I am with you and no one will be against you.
Prokeimena
(Tone 4) Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers and praised and greatly glorified is Thy name forever!
(Tone 7) Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens and Thy glory over all the earth!
Holy Scriptures
Acts 1:1-12 Luke 24:36-53
Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 John 17:1-13
Instead of the Hymn to the Theotokos
(Tone 6) Magnify, O my soul,
Christ the Giver of Life, who has ascended from earth
to heaven!
We magnify you, the Mother of God,
who beyond reason and understanding gave birth in time
to the Timeless One!
Communion Hymn verse
Fathers Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!
Praise befits the just!
Ascension God has gone up with a shout;
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet!
After Communion:
Priest: O God save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance!
Troparion Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
Ascension granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit.
(Tone 4) Through the blessing they were assured
that Thou art the Son of God,
the Redeemer of the world.
Priest: Always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!
People: Amen. Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord...
And the remainder of the Divine Liturgy as usual
Epistle for the Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 4th Tone: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers and praised and greatly glorified is Thy name forever!
People: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers and praised and greatly glorified is Thy name forever!
Reader: For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us!
People: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers and praised and greatly glorified is Thy name forever!
Reader: And in the 7th Tone: Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens and Thy glory over all the earth!
People: Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens and Thy glory over all the earth!
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles
Priest: Let us attend!
(Ascension - Acts 1:1-12)
Reader: In the first book, O Theoph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth." And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.
(Fathers - Acts 20:16-18, 28-36)
Then Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: The Lord, the God of gods, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: Gather to me my venerable ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: God has gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel for the Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
Priest: Wisdom! Let us attend! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be unto all!
People: And to your spirit.
Priest: The Reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. John.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
(Fathers - John 17:1-13)
Priest: Let us attend! At that time, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
(Ascension - Luke 24:36-53)
Then Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN