Menaion

October 9

PolyeleosThe holy apostle James Alpheus was one of the Twelve, a witness of the true words and miracles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a witness of his passion, resurrection, and ascension. After the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it fell to James to preach the Gospel in Eleutheropolis and the surrounding area. He suffered in Egypt in the town of Ostracina, being crucified by the pagans.

Our venerable father Andronicus and his wife Athanasia. Andronicus was a goldsmith in Antioch during the reign of emperor Theodosius the Great. Both he and his wife were very devout, and gave a third of all they eared to the poor. They had two children and lost both of them on the same day to death. After this, they took the monastic habit in Egypt. After many years of the monastic life, they died eight days apart; Athanasia first, and then Andronicus. (4th century) Andronicus and Athanasia are remembered at Compline.

Our righteous forefather Abraham and his nephew, Lot. Abraham is accounted patriarch and father of all believers. Calling to the Lord, he went out from the city of Ur of the Chaldees, his native land, and wandered through the land promised to him and to his descendants by God. Likewise he showed his total faith in God when, hoping against hope, he did not refuse to offer his only-begotten son Isaac to God in sacrifice. Isaac had been given to Abraham as an old man by the Lord from his sterile wife, Sarah. (cf. Genesis, chapters 12-25)

The holy martyr Denis, bishop of Paris. It is said that he was sent by the Roman Pontiff to Gaul and was made the first bishop of Paris. He died a martyr near Lutetia, together with the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius. (3rd century)

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

We sing “Blessed is the man.” There are eight stichera at "O Lord, I have cried."

Tone 4, special melody Dal jesi znamenie.  As radiant as the sun, * you shone forth, O apostle, * with the rays of the Spirit. * You illumined the whole world * with divine knowledge, O blessed one, * driving away the darkness of the many gods * with your divine preaching. * Therefore, celebrating your all-splendid and most illustrious festival today, * we glorify you with piety. (3 times)

You thundered forth sacred and saving doctrines * upon the whole world, O all-wise one. * You cleansed all creation of the madness of idolatry, * O divinely wise one, * and enlightened the people * with the radiance of the knowledge of God. And, demolishing the temples of the idols through grace, * you raised up churches to the praise of our God.. (3 times)

Seated in the heights of divine knowledge, O James, * you received the grace of the Spirit, * who appeared to you in the form of fire * and manifestly consumed all the idolatrous filth of impiety with a tongue of fire. Therefore, we praise you as an apostle and a herald of God, * celebrating today your holy festival. (twice)

Glory –  Tone 4.   Having received the grace of the divine Spirit, O holy James, * you were numbered among the apostles in their sacred band. * Filled with the Spirit by the tongues of fire * when the violent wind descended from heaven on high, * you set on fire the thorns of the pagans. * O holy apostle, pray to Christ our God * for the salvation of our souls.

Now and ever – the dogmatikon of Saturday evening, in the same tone, or (on Friday night or Saturday night) in the Tone of the week

Entrance with censer, and prokeimenon of the day.  Then three readings:

A reading from the First Universal Letter of Saint John (1 John 1:1-7).

A reading from the Universal Letter of Saint James (James 1:1-12).

A reading from the Universal Letter of Saint Jude (June 1-7, 17-25).

(Litija stichera)

(Aposticha)

Glory – Doxastikon, Tone 5.   With faith, we celebrate your sacred feast, O illustrious James, * commemorating not the son of Alpheus, * but the apostle of Christ, * the herald of his ineffable incarnation. * You exult ceaselessly before the throne of the Lord * with the angels, apostles and martyrs. * Hasten to fervently entreat the Savior, our God, for the salvation of our souls.

Now and ever – the aposticha theotokion of Saturday evening, in the same tone.

Troparion,  Tone 3.  O holy Apostle James, intercede with the merciful God * that he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Glory, now and ever – the festal theotokion of Saturday evening, in the same tone.

At the Divine Liturgy

music

Troparion,  Tone 3.  O holy Apostle James, intercede with the merciful God * that he may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Glory. now and ever – Kontakion, Tone 2.   Let us extol James with praises as a herald of God, * for he implanted the true faith deeply in the souls of all. * Now he stands before the throne of the Master * and rejoices in the company of angels, * praying for all of us unceasingly.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8 (Ps. 18:5,2). Through all the earth their voice resounds; * their message reaches to the end of the world.
V. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Epistle:  1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Alleluia, Tone 1 (Ps. 88:6,8). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. The heavens declare your wonders, O Lord, and your truth in the assembly of the holy.
V. God is glorified in the council of the holy, great and awesome above all who surround him.

Gospel: Luke 10:16-21

Communion Hymn (Ps. 18:5). Through all the earth their voice resounds; * their message reaches to the end of the world.