Sunday before Theophany

Text from “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship”; Pg. 780 & Pg. 357 (Tone 8)

Troparion (Tone 8): You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion (Tone 8): When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead* O most merciful One.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion (Tone 8):  To You, O Mother of God,* the invincible leader,* we, Your servants, ascribe these victory hymns* in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil.* With Your invincible power free us from all dangers* that we may cry out to You:* “Hail, O Bride, and pure Virgin!”

Prokimenon (Tone 6): Save Your people, O Lord* and bless Your inheritance. (Ps 27:9).

verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord my God, lest You turn from me in silence (Ps 27:1).

Epistle: (2 Timothy 4:5-8): My son Timothy, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Alleluia (Tone 8): Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
verse: God, be merciful to us and bless us (Ps 66:2).
verse: Make the light of Your face shine upon us and have mercy on us (Ps 66:2)

Gospel: (Mark 1:1-8): The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

Communion Verse: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest (Ps 148:1). Alleluia! (3x).