Variable Portions of the Divine Liturgy
9 December
Conception by the Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
Daily Antiphons
1st Antiphon Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!
2nd Antiphon Through the prayers of all Thy Saints, O Savior, save us!
Glory... Now and ever...
Only-begotten Son and Immortal Word of God...
3rd Antiphon O Son of God, who art wondrous in Thy saints,
save us who sing to Thee. Alleluia!
People: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ,
Who art wondrous in Thy saints,
save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
After the Little Entrance
Troparion Today the bonds of barrenness have been broken,
Conception for God has heard the prayers of Joachim and Anna.
(Tone 4) He has promised them beyond all their hopes
to conceive the pure Maiden of God
by whom the Uncircumscribed One was born as mortal man,
Who commands the angel to cry to her:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion Today the universe rejoices,
Conception as Anna conceives the Theotokos through God's dispensation,
(Tone 4) For she brought for the one who is to bear the Ineffable Word!
Prokeimenon
(Tone 4) God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel!
Scripture Readings
Galatians 4:22-31 Luke 8:16-21
Communion Hymn verse
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the just!
Epistle
Priest: Let us attend! Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to your spirit.
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 4th Tone: God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel!
People: God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel!
Reader: God is wonderful in His saints.
People: The God of Israel!
Priest: Wisdom!
Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Priest: Let us attend!
(Conception - Galatians 4:22-31)
Reader: For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-- for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-- but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Priest: Peace be unto you, Reader!
Reader: And to your spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
People: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Reader: The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord.
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!
(Conception - Luke 8:16-21)
Then Jesus said, "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
People: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!
This content has been generously provided by Fr. Jerome Cwiklinski, CAPT, CHC, USN