All-Night Vigil Feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The barren Anna leaped for joy* when she gave birth to Mary the Virgin* who in turn will give birth in the flesh to God the Word.* Overflowing with happiness, she cried out:* Rejoice with me, all tribes of Israel,* for I have conceived and put aside my burden of childlessness* as the Creator has deigned.* He heard my prayer and healed the pains of my yearning heart.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Anna, the One who made waters gush forth from a rock* bestows as a fruit of your womb, the ever-Virgin Lady.* Through her, our salvation will come.* Because of this you were delivered from shame.* No longer will you be on earth as a fruitless soil,* for you have produced an earth* which will bring forth the Tree of Life.* According to His will, He delivered mankind from all shame* when He became man out of His compassionate mercy.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The sayings of the prophets are now being fulfilled:* the holy mountain is planted in the womb;* the divine ladder is set up;* the throne of the great king is ready;* the God-inspired city is being adorned.* The unburnable bush is beginning to bud forth,* and the treasure house of grace is overflowing.* It is spreading over the rivers of unfruitfulness of the God-wise Anna* whom we glorify.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The sayings of the prophets are now being fulfilled:* the holy mountain is planted in the womb;* the divine ladder is set up;* the throne of the great king is ready;* the God-inspired city is being adorned.* The unburnable bush is beginning to bud forth,* and the treasure house of grace is overflowing.* It is spreading over the rivers of unfruitfulness of the God-wise Anna* whom we glorify.
In Tone 2
Glory…
Today the mystery which has been announced from eternity,* whose depth angels and men cannot measure,* appears in the arms of Anna.* Mary, the maiden of God is prepared* to be the dwelling of the Kings of the ages* who will renew our human nature.* Let us entreat her with a pure heart and say:* Since you are the intercessor for all Christians,* implore your Son and God to save our souls.
Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Readings
(1) Genesis 28:10-17; (2) Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11
Litiya
In Tone 1
It is fitting that the Queen of heaven and earth,* who is more precious than the Cherubim,* and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim,* be conceived and remain immaculate as the angels,* so that they who are servants of the Lord* can boast of their own Queen, the Mother of God.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
It is fitting that the unique and chosen woman* be conceived without sin,* and the power of Satan is now taken away;* for the Mother of God will never bow before him.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
It is fitting that the Second Eve* be created and remain without sin* in the manner of the Second Adam;* for the rebirth of mankind now takes place,* just as the fall came through the first Adam and the first Eve.* Christ has renewed all through his new birth,* and it was Mary that gave birth to Him.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
Glory… Now…
Before the nativity of the Son of God,* it was fitting for the Father* to bestow the most pure conception upon the Mother of God,* who is betrothed of the Holy Spirit,* that she might be filled with heavenly gifts* in a manner beyond all other creatures.* Glory and praise to the Lord who willed it so,* the Creator of all things.
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Anna, whose name means divine grace,* once cried out in her prayer, asking for a child.* She invoked the God and Creator of all, saying:* Lord of Hosts, You know what shame it is to be barren.* Heal the pains of my heart.* Make my fruitless womb fruitful* so that we may offer to You the child who is born as a gift,* and that with one mind,* we may bless, praise, and glorify Your love* through which the world obtains great mercy.
The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on His word.
Anna was praying with great fervour, beseeching the Lord for a child,* when she heard the voice of an angel* who told her that God had granted her wish, saying plainly:* Do not doubt, for your prayer has reached the Lord.* Wipe away your tears,* for you shall be an olive tree bringing forth a beautiful branch.* You will bring forth the Virgin* from whom will blossom the flower, Christ-in-the-flesh,* who will grant great mercy to the world.
A Son, the fruit of your body, will I set upon your throne.
Joachim and Anna, the righteous couple,* gave birth to the precious heavenly fruit, the ewe-lamb,* who in turn will give birth in a manner beyond understanding* to the Lamb of God who is to be sacrificed for all.* Because of this, they offer to the Lord* an unceasing and humble hymn of praise.* Let us, therefore, praise them with fervour.* And let us joyfully celebrate the birth of the One who was born of them,* Mary, the Mother of God;* because through her, great mercy is granted to all of us.
In Tone 2
Glory… Now…
On this day the royal purple appears,* descending from the root of David.* The mystical flower of Jesse buds forth;* from her shall blossom Christ our God,* the Saviour of our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 1
Rejoice, Mother of God, Virgin Mary full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have borne Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls. (2)
In Tone 4
Today the chains of barrenness are shattered,* for having heard the prayer of Joachim and Anna,* against all hope God has openly promised* the birth of the Maiden of God,* from whom the very Infinite One will be born as a man,* the One who commanded the angels to cry to her:* Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Today the chains of barrenness are shattered,* for having heard the prayer of Joachim and Anna,* against all hope God has openly promised the birth of the Maiden of God,* from whom the very infinite One will be born as a man,* the One who commanded the angels to cry to her:* rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.
+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the whole world celebrates* the conception by Anna,* which was brought about by God Himself,* for she has ineffably borne the one who will bear the Word.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle: Galatians 4:22-31 (NRSV)
Brothers and Sisters, for it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs;
for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than the children of the one who is married.”
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their protector in time of trouble.
verse: The Lord will help them and rescue them; He will deliver them from sinners and save them, for they hoped in Him. (Psalm 36:39,40)
Gospel: Luke 8:16-21 (NRSV)
The Lord said: “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the glorious conception of the Mother of God.
and the Irmos, Tone 1: Let us the faithful magnify the Mother of God,* wellspring ever-flowing and life-receiving,* the light-bearing lamp of grace,* the living temple and tabernacle all pure,* even more spacious than heaven and earth.
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)
Зачаття святої Анни, коли зачала Пресвяту Богородицю. 9 грудня [пилипівка].
Тропарі і Кондаки
Тропар (глас 4): Днесь узи бездітности розрішаються,* Йоакима бо й Анну, вислухавши,* Бог проти надії явно обіцює,* що вони родитимуть Богодівицю,* з якої сам родився неописанний,* що, ставши чоловіком,* ангелові повелів співати їй:* Радуйся, благодатна. Господь з тобою.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові. І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Кондак (глас 4): Празнує днесь вселенна зачаття Анни,* що сталося від Бога,* бо вона породила понад усяке слово ту,* що родила Слово.
Прокімен (глас 4):
Дивний Бог у святих своїх,* Бог Ізраїлів (Пс 67,36).
Стих: В церквах благословіть Бога, Господа, ви – з джерел ізраїлевих (Пс 67,27).
Апостол: Гл 4,22-31
Браття і Сестри, Авраам мав двох синів: одного від рабині, а другого від вільної. Та той, що від рабині, народився за тілом, а той що від вільної – за обітницею. Це має інше значення: оті дві жінки – то два завіти; один з гори Синаю, що рабів родить, це – Агар; а гора Синай в Арабії і відповідає теперішньому Єрусалимові, що дійсно поневолений з дітьми своїми. А вишній Єрусалим – вільний, він мати всім нам. Написано бо: “Звеселися, неплідна, що не родиш! Викликуй, рада та весела, ти, що мук не знала, бо у покинутої більше дітей, ніж у тієї, що має чоловіка.” Ви ж, брати, як Ісаак, діти обітниці. Та як тоді, хто народився за тілом, гонив того, хто родився за духом, так і тепер. Тільки ж що Письмо каже: “Прожени рабиню та її сина, бо син рабині не успадкує з сином вільної.” Отак, брати, ми сини не рабині, а вільної.
Алилуя (глас 1):
Стих: Спасення праведним від Господа і оборонець він їм у часі скорби (Пс 36,39).
Стих: І поможе їм Господь, і ізбавить їх, і забере їх від грішників, і спасе їх, бо повали на нього (Пс 36,40).
Євангеліє: Лк 8,16-21:
Сказав Господь: “Ніхто не засвічує світила, щоб його вкрити посудиною або поставити під ліжко, а, навпаки, його ставлять на свічнику, щоб ті, що входять, бачили світло. Нічого бо нема захованого, що б не стало явним, ані нічого тайного, що б не стало знаним і на яв не вийшло. Вважайте, отже, як слухаєте: бо хто має, тому дасться; а хто не має, заберуть і те, що йому здається, нібито має.” Мати його й брати прийшли були до нього, та зачерез народ не могли до нього доступитись. Його повідомили: “Мати твоя і брати твої стоять надворі, хочуть побачитися з тобою.” Він же у відповідь сказав їм: “Мати моя і брати мої це ті, що слухають слово Боже й його виконують.”
Замість Достойно співаємо віддання:
Величай, душе моя, преславне зачаття Божої Матері.
Ірмос (глас 1): Життєприймаюче джерело, завжди текуче,* світлоносний світильник благодаті,* храм одушевлений,* скинію пречисту,* від небес до землі просторішу* – Богородицю, вірні, величаємо.
Причасний:
Радуйтеся, праведні, у Господі, правим належить похвала (Пс 32,1). Алилуя (х3).