Wednesday, September 11

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The leave-taking of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

The Holy Bishop-Martyr Autonomus (c. 300).

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Priest: Blessed be our God, always, now and for ever and ever.

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Choir: Amen.

 

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You!

 

Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,* Who are everywhere present and fill all things,* Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life, come and dwell within us;* cleanse us of all that defiles us,* and, O Good One, save our souls.

 

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)

 

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

 

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us.* Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord;* pardon our transgressions, O Master;* look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One;* for the sake of Your name.

 

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

 

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

 

Our Father, Who art in heaven,* hallowed be Thy name.* Thy kingdom come.* Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.* Give us this day our daily bread,* and forgive us our trespasses* as we forgive those who trespass against us.* And lead us not into temptation,* but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

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Choir: Amen. 

 

Lord, have mercy. (12x)

 

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

 

Come, let us adore the King, our God.

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Come, let us adore Christ, the King and our God.

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Come, let us adore and bow down to the only Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God.

Psalm 103

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Bless the Lord, O my soul!* You are very great, O Lord, my God,

Clothed in pomp and brilliance;* arrayed with light as with a cloak.

Stretching out the sky as a tent-cloth,* covering Your lofty halls with water,

 

You make the clouds Your conveyance;* You surge on the wings of the wind.

You make spirits Your messengers,* and flaming fires Your attendants.

You settle the earth on its firm foundation;* it shall stand unmoved from age to age.

The abyss covers it like a garment;* waters stand over the mountains.

At Your rebuke they will take flight;* at the peal of Your thunder they will fear.

They hurdle the hills and run down the dales,* to the place You have chosen for them.

You have set up a boundary not to be passed;* they shall never return to cover the earth.

Down in the gullies, You make springs to rise;* water shall go down between the mountains.

They shall give drink to the beasts of the field;* wild asses will seek them to quench their thirst.

The birds of the sky will abide by them;* from among the rocks they will raise their song.

From Your lofty halls You refresh the mountains;* the earth shall be fed with the fruit of Your works.

You make green pastures for the cattle,* and food plants for the service of all,

So that bread may be brought forth from the earth,* and wine that gladdens the heart of all;

So that oil may put a gleam upon his face;* and that bread may strengthen the heart of all.

The trees of the plain will be satisfied,* the cedars of Lebanon that He planted.

The sparrows will build their nests in them;* and the herons will call them their home.

To the deer belong high mountains,* to rodents, the shelter of the rocks.

You have made the moon to mark the seasons;* the sun knows the time of its setting.

You establish darkness, and it is night,* wherein all the forest creatures prowl around.

Young lions roar for their prey,* and call out to God for their meat.

As the sun rises, they will come together,* and lay themselves down in their dens.

Man will go out to his labor,* and work until eventide.

How great are Your works, O Lord!* In wisdom You have wrought them all.

The earth is filled with Your creatures.* Even the wide and open sea itself,

Within it there are countless creeping things,* living beings small and large.

Upon it there are ships a-sailing,* and that great beast You made to have fun therein.

All of them look up to You,* to give them their food in due time.

You provide and they gather up;* You open Your hand and they are full.

You hide Your face and they cringe;* You suspend their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

You send forth Your breath and they live;* You renew the face of the earth.

May the Lord's glory endure forever;* may the Lord rejoice in His works;

He looks upon the earth and makes it quake;* He touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;* I will praise my God as long as I last.

Would that my thoughts be pleasing to Him:* and I will rejoice in the Lord.

May sinners vanish from the earth, and may the wicked be no more.* Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God (3x).

Litany of Peace

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Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy (and after each petition).

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Priest: For the peace from on high and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For peace throughout the whole world, for the well-being of God's holy churches, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For this holy church and for all who enter it with faith, reverence, and fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For our most holy universal Pontiff, N., Pope of Rome, for our most blessed Patriarch, N., our most reverend Metropolitan, N., our God-loving Bishop, N., the reverend priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, and all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For this city (or For this village, or For this holy monastery), for every city and country and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

 

For seafarers and travelers, for the sick and the suffering, for those held captive, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

 

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and misfortune, let us pray to the Lord.

 

Help us, save us, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

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Priest: Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

 

Choir: To You, O Lord.

 

Priest: For all glory, honor, and worship befit You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen.

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Psalm 140

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The choir sings the first two verses of Psalm 140 according to the tone of the first sticherion.

O Lord, I have cried to You,* hear me; hear me, O Lord!* O Lord, I have cried to You, hear me;* receive the voice of my prayer* when I call upon You.* Hear me, O Lord!

Let my prayer rise like incense before You;* and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.* Hear me, O Lord!

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth* and a portal around my lips.

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Incline my heart away from evil dealings,* from finding excuses for sinful deeds.

In company with those who work iniquity,* let me not partake of what they choose.

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May the just chasten me with justice and reprove me;* may the oil of the wicked never touch my head.

Yet even then shall I pray for their welfare.* Their rulers were swallowed near the rock.

My words will be heard,* for they were sweet.

As a lump of clay broken on the ground,* so their bones were strewn near the grave.

To You, Lord, O Lord, my eyes are lifted up.* In You have I hoped; let not my soul be lost.

Keep me from the snare that was set for me,* and from the stumbling-blocks of the wicked.

The wicked shall fall into their own nets, * while I remain alone until I can escape.

Psalm 141

With my voice I cried to the Lord;* with all my voice I implored the Lord.

Before Him I pour out my supplications;* before Him I declare my distress.

When my breath was escaping me,* then you knew my paths;

On the road upon which I was walking,* they set up snares for me.

I looked to my right and observed* there was no one friendly to me;

Even flight was denied me;* there was no one to take care of my life.

I cried out to You, O Lord, and said:* You are my hope, my share in the land of the living.

Listen to my supplication,* for I am laid very low.

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Deliver me from my oppressors;* for they have overwhelmed me.

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

 

The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

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Psalm 129

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Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

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Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

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

 

(Tone 6.)  Today God who dominates the spiritual thrones of heaven * welcomes on earth the holy throne which he had prepared for himself. * In his love for the human race, * he who established the heavens in wisdom has established a living heaven. * From a barren stem he has brought forth for us his Mother * as a branch full of life. * O God of miracles and hope of those who have no hope, * O Lord, glory to you!

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

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This is the day of the Lord: * Rejoice, therefore, O nations! * Behold, the chamber of Light and the scroll of the living Word * has come forth from the womb. * The gate that opens to the Rising Sun * and is ready for the entrance of the High Priest, is here today. * She is the only one who introduced Christ, and Christ alone, into the world * for the salvation of our souls.

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

 

Indeed some famous barren women have given birth by the will of God * but the nativity of Mary surpasses all nativities * in honor and splendor * as it is worthy of the majesty of God. * For she was born in a miraculous way of a barren mother, * and she herself gave birth in the flesh to the God of all, * incarnate in her womb without human seed * against the laws of nature. * She alone is the door through which the only-begotten Son of God * has passed while leaving it sealed * as he had planned in his eternal wisdom. * Thus did he bring salvation to all. 

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

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Today the barren gates are opened, * and the Virgin, the Gate of God, comes forth. * Today grace begins to bear fruit, * showing forth to the world the Theotokos, * through whom earth is united to heaven * for the salvation of our souls. 

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Psalm 116

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

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Today glad tidings go forth to the whole world. * Today sweet fragrance is sent forth * by the proclamation of salvation. * Today is the end of the barrenness of our nature; * for the barren one becomes a mother, * the mother of the one who will not cease to be a virgin, even after giving birth to the One who by nature is Creator and God. * He it is who took flesh by which he brought salvation to the lost; * he is Christ, the Lover of us all, * and the Savior of our souls.

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

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Today Anna, the barren one, gives birth to the maiden of God * who had been chosen from all the human generations * to become the dwelling place of the Creator, * Christ our God and the King of all. * In her he fulfilled his divine plan * through which our human nature was renewed * and by which we were to be transferred * from corruption to eternal life.

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Glory be: Now and for ever:  (Tone 6)  Today God who dominates the spiritual thrones of heaven * welcomes on earth the holy throne which he had prepared for himself. * In his love for the human race, * he who established the heavens in wisdom has established a living heaven. * From a barren stem he has brought forth for us his Mother * as a branch full of life. * O God of miracles and hope of those who have no hope, * O Lord, glory to you!

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Priest (or deacon): Wisdom! Stand aright.

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Choir: Tranquil Light,* of the holy glory of the immortal* heavenly, holy blessed Father,* O Jesus Christ:* as we come upon the sunset,* as we see the evening light,* we sing to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. At all times You are worthy* of being hymned by joyful. voices;* O Son of God, You are the giver of life.* For this the whole world glorifies You.

Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace † be with all. Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

The choir sings the prokimenon.

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On Wednesday Evening; Ps. 53 (Tone 5)

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O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.

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Verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.

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Deign, O Lord

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Deign, O Lord, * to keep us this evening without sin.

Blessed are You, O Lord God of our Fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* because we have set our hope in You.

Blessed are You, O Lord,* teach me Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Master,* make me understand Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Holy One,* enlighten me with Your laws.

O Lord, Your mercy endures forever;* do not despise the work of Your hands.

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It is proper to praise You,* and hymns belong to You.

Glory belongs to You,* Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Now and for ever* and ever. Amen.

Litany

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Priest: Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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Priest: Help and save, have mercy and protect us, O God, by Your grace.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy.

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Priest: That this whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.

 

Choir: Grant this, O Lord (after each petition).

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For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.

 

For the forgiveness and remission of our sins and offenses, let us ask the Lord.

 

For all that is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.

 

That we may spend the rest of our lives in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.

 

For a Christian end to our lives, one that is painless, unashamed, and peaceful; and for a good

defense at the awesome tribunal of Christ, let us ask the Lord.

 

Remembering our most holy and immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever-virgin Mary, together with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life, to Christ our God.

 

Choir: To You, O Lord

 

Priest: For You are a merciful, gracious, and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen.

 

Priest: Peace † be with all.

 

Choir: And with Your spirit.

 

Priest: Bow your heads to the Lord.

 

Choir: To You, O Lord.

 

Priest (quietly): O Lord our God, You lowered the heavens when You came down for the salvation of the human race.Now look upon Your servants and upon Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads to You, the Judge, both awesome and loving. They do not await human help, but look for Your mercy and are ready to receive Your salva-tion. Guard them at all times, this evening and tonight, against all enemies, against the devil's assaults, against vain thoughts and evil dreams.

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Priest: May the might of Your kingdom be blessed and exalted, Father Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen.

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Aposticha

 

(Tone 4. ) On this day a great joy has shone upon us * from the two just ones, Joachim and Anne; * and this joy is the most honorable Virgin. * Because of her purity, she will become a living temple of God. * She alone will be recognized as the Mother of God. * Through her intercessions, 0 Christ our God, * send down peace upon the world * and your great mercy upon our souls.

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Listen, O daughter, and see and incline your ear.

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O Virgin, today you were born a most noble child * from the two just ones, Joachim and Anne, * as the angel had promised in his announcement. * To God you are a heaven, a throne, and
a vessel of holiness; * to the whole world, a herald of joy, * the cause of our life, the blessing that wiped out the curse. * You are the reason for all the blessings of God. * O Maiden whom
God has chosen, * on this day of your nativity * obtain peace and great mercy for our souls.

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The rich among the people will seek your favor.

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Today Anna, the barren one, claps her hands for joy. * The earth is bathed in light and kings sing their happiness, * priests enjoy all blessings and the whole universe rejoices; * for the Queen and immaculate Bride of the Father * comes forth from the root of Jesse. * Behold, no woman will ever again bear a child in sorrow or anxiety, * for joy has come forth in abundance and life has filled the world. * Joachim's offerings shall no more be rejected, * for the tears of Anne have now been turned into joy. * And now Anne can say: * Rejoice with me, all you chosen ones of Israel, * for the Lord has given me the palace of his divine and living glory * to be a place of joy and happiness for the whole universe * and for the salvation of our souls.

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Glory, now and ever (– Tone 8.)  Come all you faithful, and let us hasten to the Virgin; * for long before her conception in the womb, * the one who was to be born of the root of Jesse * was destined to be the Mother of our God. * The one who is the treasury of virginity, * the flowering rod of Aaron, the object of the prophecies, * the child of Joachim and Anne is born today, * and the world is renewed in her. * Through her birth, the Church is clothed with splendor. * O holy Temple, vessel of the Godhead, * model of virgins and strength of kings, * in you the wondrous union of the two natures of Christ was realized. * We worship Him and glorify your most pure birth, * and the whole world extols you.

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Canticle of Simeon

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Now, O Master, You have kept Your promise;* let Your servant go in peace.* With my own eyes I have seen the salvation* which you have prepared in the sight of every people;* a light to reveal You to the Gentiles,* and the glory of Your people Israel!

 

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)

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

Trinity most holy, have mercy on us.* Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord;* pardon our transgressions, O Master;* look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One;* for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. (3x)

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

Our Father, Who art in heaven,* hallowed be Thy name.* Thy kingdom come.* Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.* Give us this day our daily bread,* and forgive us our trespasses* as we forgive those who trespass against us.* And lead us not into temptation,* but deliver us from evil.

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Priest: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

 

Choir: Amen.

 

 

(Troparion of the Nativity,  Tone 4.)  Your birth, O Virgin Theotokos, * heralded joy to the universe; * for from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God. * Removing the curse, he gave the blessing, * and by destroying death, * he granted us eternal life.

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Litany

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Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, in the greatness of Your compassion, we pray You, hear us, and have mercy.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy (3x).

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We also pray for our most holy universal Pontiff, N., Pope of Rome; for our most blessed Patriarch, N.; our most reverend Metropolitan, N.; our God-loving Bishop, N., for those who serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and for all our brethren and sisters in Christ.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy (3x).

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We also pray for our nation under God, for our government, and for all the military.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy (3x).

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We also pray for the people here present who await Your great and bountiful mercies, for those who have been kind to us, and for all orthodox Christians.

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Choir: Lord, have mercy (3x).

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Priest: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.

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Choir: Amen.

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Dismissal.

 

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Deacon: Wisdom!

 

Choir: More honorable than the cherubim* and by far more glorious than the seraphim;* ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word,* O true Mother of God, we magnify you.

Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You.

 

Choir: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen. Lord, have mercy (3x). Give the blessing.

Priest: Christ our true God, risen from the dead, through the prayers of His immaculate Mother whose Nativity feast we solemnly today celebrate; the holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles, among the saints our father hieromartyr Nykyta, and of all the saints, will have mercy and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

 

Choir: Amen.

After Vespers

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On Weekdays: O Lady, receive the prayers of your ser-vants,* and deliver us from all sorrows and tribulations.