Saturday before Cheesfare (Forgiveness) Sunday;

Cheesefair Sunday - expulsionSaturday before Cheesfare (Forgiveness) Sunday;
Leave-taking of the Feast of the Encounter of Our Lord; the Holy Martyr Nicephorus; February 09.

Text from “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship”; Pg. 613

Troparion (Tone 4): God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.

+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion (Tone 8): You enlightened the assembly of the God-bearers, O Lord,* making them preachers of godliness.* They silenced impiety* and shone upon the whole world.* By their supplications* keep in perfect peace those who glorify and magnify You* that they may sing: Alleluia.

Prokimenon (Tone 4): The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds (Ps 149:5).

verse: The exaltations of God are in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands (Ps 149:6).

Epistle (Romans 14:19-23): Brethren, let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

 Epistle (Galatians 5:22-6:2) (Ascetical Fathers): Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Alleluia (Tone 2): Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God (Ps 91:14).
verse: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O you righteous; and boast all of you that are upright in heart (Ps 31:11).

Gospel (Matthew 6:1-13): The Lord said: ‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

Gospel (Matthew 11:27-30) (Ascetical Fathers):The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him: All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Communion Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous (Ps 32:1). Alleluia! (3x).

 

PDF – Saturday before Cheesfare Sunday – ENGLISH
PDF – Saturday before Cheesfare Sunday – UKRAINIAN

PDF – Saturday before Cheesfare Sunday – ENG-UKR

PDF – Feb Liturgical Booklet – ENG/UKR