January 14
Leave-taking of the Theophany.
Transferred to January 13 (because of the leave-taking):
Our venerable fathers killed by the Arabs in Sinai and Raitho in 312. A group of holy monks living on the height of Mt. Sinai were killed by Bedouin tribesmen.
The Commemoration of the passion of the holy equal-to-the-apostles Nina, Enlightener of the Georgians, who was taken as a captive into that country and converted the king through her example and miraculous cures. (4th century)
At Vespers
Daily Vespers is celebrated. There are six stichera at "O Lord, I have cried" for the feast of the Theophany.
There are eight stichera at "O Lord, I have cried."
Tone 2 samohlasen. When the Forerunner saw the One who is our enlightenment, * the One who has brought light to all, * coming
to be baptized, * his heart rejoiced and his hand trembled. *
He pointed Him out to the people and said: * This is the Savior
of Israel who delivered us from corruption. * O Christ our God, O Sinless One, glory to You! (twice)
O our Savior, the armies of angels trembled * when they saw You baptized by your servant, * and the Holy Spirit bearing witness and descending, * and when they heard the voice of the Father speaking from heaven: * This One upon whom the Forerunner lays his hands * is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. * O Christ our God, glory to You! ((twice)
When the Jordan River received You, O Fountainhead, * the Comforter descended in the form of a dove. * Now behold the marvel: * the One who bowed the heavens bows his head to the Forerunner, * and the one made of clay cries out to his Maker: * Why do You command me to perform what is beyond my power? * It is I who need to be baptized by You. * O Christ our God, O Sinless One, glory to You!
O God and Lord, when You resolved to save those who had strayed from You, * You condescended to take the form of a servant, * for it was fitting that You assumed our human nature for us. * And when You were baptized in the flesh, O our Redeemer, * it made us worthy of your forgiveness. * Therefore, we cry out to You: * O Christ our God, our Benefactor, glory to You!
Glory, now and ever – Tone 2. You have bowed your head before the Forerunner, * and You have crushed the heads of the demons. * You have descended into the waters * and given light to all things * that they may glorify You, O Savior, * the Enlightenment of our souls.
But if it is Friday evening, we sing: Glory.... You have bowed your head... Now and ever... and the dogmatikon in the Tone of the Week.
There is no entrance. Prokeimenon of the day.
The aposticha are from Compline for the feast:
Tone 2 samohlasen. O Lord, when John saw You approaching him at the Jordan River, he cried out: * How do You, O Lord who are sinless, come to me your servant? * In whose name shall I baptize You? * In the name of the Father whom You possess in yourself? * In the name of the Son, while You are the very Son in the flesh? * In the name of the Holy Spirit whom You grant to the faithful * with the breath of your mouth? * O God who has appeared to us, have mercy on us.
The sea fled at the sight; the Jordan turned back on its course. (or: The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back.)
The waters have seen You. * When the waters saw You, O Lord, they trembled, * for the very Cherubim do not dare to look upon your glory, * nor can the Seraphim rest their eyes upon You. * They stand in awe before You, * some on guard, others glorifying your might. * Together with them, we proclaim your praise, O Merciful One, and say: * O God who has appeared to us, have mercy on us.
Why is it, O sea, that you fled; O Jordan, that you turned back?
Today the Creator of heaven and earth * approaches the Jordan River in the flesh; * the One who is free from sin seeks to be baptized * in order to cleanse the human race from the error of the enemy; * the Master of all is baptized at the hand of the servant * in order to grant us the cleansing through water. * Therefore, let us cry out to Him: * O God who has appeared to us, glory to You!
Glory, now and ever – Tone 6. Today the Creator of heaven and earth * approaches the Jordan River in the flesh; * the One who is free from sin seeks to be baptized * in order to cleanse the human race from the error of the enemy; * the Master of all is baptized at the hand of the servant * in order to grant us the cleansing through water. * Therefore, let us cry out to Him: * O God who has appeared to us, glory to You!
Troparion, Tone 1. At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * for the Father's voice bore witness to You, calling You his beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove * confirmed the truth of these words. * O Christ God, who appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You! (once, without theotokion)
At the Divine Liturgy
music - see the January Menaion
First Antiphon (Ps. 113:1-3,5):
When Israel came forth from Egypt, Jacob's sons from an alien people,
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Judah became the Lord's temple, Israel became his kingdom.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Why is it, O sea, that you fled; O Jordan, that you turned back?
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Glory... now and ever...
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.
Second Antiphon (Ps. 114:1-5):
I love the Lord because he will hear my voice in supplication.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
For he will turn his ear to me in the day when I call him.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
They surrounded me, the snares of death, with the anguish of the tomb; they caught me, sorrow and distress. I called on the Lord's name.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Glory... now and ever...
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God...
Third Antiphon (Ps. 94:1):
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim God our Savior!
Refrain: O Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Entrance Hymn (Ps. 94:6):
Come, let us worship and bow before Christ.
Refrain: O Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!
Troparion, Tone 1. At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * for the Father's voice bore witness to You, calling You his beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove * confirmed the truth of these words. * O Christ God, who appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!
Glory, now and ever – Kontakion, Tone 4. You have revealed yourself to the world today; * and your light, O Lord, has set its seal on us. * We recognize you and exclaim to you: * You have come and revealed yourself, O Unapproachable Light.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4 (Ps. 117:26-27).
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. * The Lord is God and has revealed himself to us.
V.Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.
Epistle: (of the day)
Alleluia, Tone 4 (Ps. 28:1-3). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Bring to the Lord, you sons of God; bring to the Lord glory and honor.
V. The voice of the Lord over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord over many waters.
Gospel: (of the day)
Magnification. Extol, O my soul, Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
Irmos, Tone 2. Every tongue is at a loss * to fittingly extol you; * and even a supernatural mind is overwhelmed * when it glorifies you, O Theotokos. * But in your goodness accept our faith, * since you recognize our godly love. * You are the intercessor for Christians, * and we extol you.
Communion Hymn (Titus 2:11). The saving grace of God has appeared to all. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!