July 25; Dormition of St. Anna, Mother of the Most Holy Theotokos

GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

You faithfully observed the Law* and worked unceasingly for God the Creator.* He granted you motherhood, Anna:* your child brought forth Christ in the flesh.* With the Virgin Mother we honour you,* and celebrate today your holy dormition.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Divinely wise Anna, you gave birth to the Bearer of Life!* You presented your pure child to a life with God.* Together with the heavenly hosts, you rejoice in the riches from on high.* We commemorate your falling asleep,* and on this day we honour the divine wisdom in faith!

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Having divine wisdom, you gave birth to the Door of Heaven,* and you achieved heavenly glory forever!* We celebrate your holy dormition, Anna,* and ask you to pray that the turmoil of passions not destroy us,* and that we be spared from fear and desolation.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

In Tone 8

Glory… Now…

The Theotokos came forth from a barren womb:* through her we were saved by Christ our God!* The chaste Bridegroom’s grandparents were Joachim and Anna.* He placed them in the heavenly realm.* They sing together with their daughter the holy Virgin, and the angels,* praying for the sake of the world.* We honour them, crying aloud:* Ancestors of God, for the sake of the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary,* pray that our souls may be saved!

Readings

(1) Wisdom 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

Aposticha

In Tone 5

Rejoice, spiritual swallow:* you announced the springtime of grace to us!* You lived well and blamelessly in chastity,* preserving the treasure of virginity.* You gave birth with the pangs of a mother to the all-pure Theotokos* who alone knew not a man!* You are the honoured ewe lamb who gave birth* to the heifer who at the angel’s word bore the Word:* the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world,* and has translated you from the earth,* Anna, grandmother of the Lord!* Pray to Him now that He will grant great mercy to our souls!

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; praise befits the upright!

God-receiving Joachim and divine and all-honourable Anna;* honourable couple, desired of God!* You were chosen in holiness by the splendours of the Law!* By grace you publish glad tidings,* since you gave birth to her who bore Christ, the Author of our life!* Lamps who lighted the unshaded Candle,* who guided well the grace that is the all-pure Theotokos!* Pray with her that Christ may grant our souls great mercy!

Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.

Rejoice, divine and blessed Anna!* Grandmother of Christ our God!* You are the blessed ground who caused to blossom* the earth which brought forth God for the world!* You unceasingly studied the Law of God,* inscribing grace for all!* By your giving birth you broke the bond of barrenness;* you overcame death with incorruption;* you passed over to divine splendour,* after you gave birth to the Theotokos, the Light-bearing Lamp.* Pray with her that great mercy may be granted to our souls!

In Tone 8

Glory… Now…

Come together, all creation!* Let us praise the divinely-wise Anna on cymbals and with psalms!* Through her womb she gave birth to the divine Mountain.* Today she is translated to the spiritual mountain and mansions of paradise!* Let us cry out to her: blessed is your womb* which bore her who carried the Light of the world in her womb!* Entreat Him that He may deliver us from all tribulation* and assaults of the enemy* and that He may save our souls!

Troparia

In Tone 4

O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.

Glory… Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,* and saved our souls from death.

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 4: O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: We feast the memory of the forebears of Christ* as with faith we beseech them to help us* and rescue from every affliction* those who cry out: Our God is with us,* the God whose will it was to glorify them.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.

verse: Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)

Epistle

Galatians 4:22-31

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

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)