The Scripture Readings
John 21:1-14 (10th Matins Gospel)
Hebrews 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40 Sunday Before
Matthew 1:1-25 Sunday Before
HIDE TROPARIATroparion of the Sunday, Tone VII
By Thy Cross, Thou didst destroy death! / To the thief, Thou didst open Paradise! / For the myrrhbearers,
Thou didst change weeping into joy! / And Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ
God, / to proclaim that Thou art risen, / granting the world great mercy!
Hymn to the Theotokos, Tone VII
Since you are the treasure of our resurrection, / we put our hope in you, O all-praised one. /
Lead us from the abyss of transgressions, / for you have saved those guilty of sin, / O evervirgin
Mother of our salvation.
Kontakion of the Sunday, Tone VII
The dominion of death / can no longer hold men captive, / for Christ descended, shattering
and destroying its powers! / Hell is bound, while the prophets rejoice and cry: /The Savior
has come to those in faith! / Enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!
Sunday Before the Nativity of the Savior, Troparion, Tone II
Great are the accomplishments of faith,/ for the Three Youths rejoiced in
the fountain of flames as though in the waters of rest;/ and the prophet
Daniel appeared/ a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep.// So by
their prayers O Christ God save our souls
Kontakion, Tone I
Rejoice O Bethlehem! Prepare yourself O Ephratha!/ The Lamb is on her way
to give birth to the Chief Shepherd she carries in her womb./ The God-bearing
forefathers will rejoice beholding Him// and the shepherds will glorify her
nursing Him.
Martyr Juliana of Nicomedia, Troparion, Tone IV
Thy ewe-lamb Juliana crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus:/
"I love Thee, O my Bridegroom,/ and, seeking Thee, I pass through many
struggles:/ I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism,/
and suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;/ I die for Thee that I
might live with Thee./ As an unblemished sacrifice accept me,/ who sacrifice
myself with love for Thee// By her supplications save Thou our souls, in that
Thou art merciful.
Troparion of the Forefeast, Tone IV
Make ready, O Bethlehem!/ Open unto all, O Eden!/ Adorn thyself, O
Ephratha!/ For the Tree of life hath blossomed forth from the Virgin in the
cave./ Her womb is shown to be a noetic paradise,/ wherein lieth a divine
garden,/ eating from whence we live,/ not dying like Adam.// Christ is born to
raise up His image which before was fallen.
Kontakion of the Martyr, Tone III "Today the Virgin
Rendered wholly pure by the beauties of virginity,/ and having now been
crowned with wreaths of martyrdom, O virgin Juliana,/ thou grantest healing and
salvation/ unto those in need and affliction who approach thy shrine, for Christ
poureth forth divine grace and life everlasting.
Kontakion of the Forefeast, Tone II "Seeking the highest"
Beholding Him Who holdeth the whole world in His hands/ wrapped in
swaddling-bands in Bethlehem,/ let us offer up hymns of the forefeast to her who
gave birth to Him;/ for she rejoiceth maternally,// holding the Son of God at
her bosom.