Menaion

January 25

Our holy father Gregory the Theologian, archbishop of Constantinople, the friend of St. Basil; bishop of Sebaste, and then of Constantinople, and finally Nazianzus. He defended the divinity of the Word with great ardor, for which reason he is also named "the Theologian." During his time as patriarch of Constantinople, he presided over the Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 381). (389)

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

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

Tone 1, special melody Vsechval'niji mučenicy. O holy father Gregory, * the grave, which brings oblivion, * did not seal your lips nor your voice, * for you were the mouth of the purest theology. * Even now you make the whole world understand the teachings of the Faith. * Intercede with God that he might grant our souls peace and great mercy. (twice)

O holy father Gregory, * you wisely repelled the hostile rebellion of the flesh. * Mounting the chariot of the virtues, * you took flight heavenward toward the ineffable Beauty. * Filled by it, you grant our souls peace and great mercy.

O holy father Gregory, * through grace you became a faithful mediator between God and man. * Now by your confident prayers, * you obtain for us the good graces of Christ. * O venerable father, you never cease to intercede with Christ * that he might grant our souls peace and great mercy.

Tone 2, special melody Kijmi pochval'nimy. Come, let us praise the divinely eloquent Gregory with sacred hymns, * for he is the eye of grace, the most wise mouth of the Holy Spirit, * the radiant beacon of the whole world, * the great catechizer of the Church, * the most wondrous stream of theology, * the ever-rushing river of divine dogmas, * the ever- flowing well-spring of the divine water of incorruption. (twice)

With spiritual love let us hymn the bishop today, * the peer of the apostles, * the champion of piety, the deluge of eloquence, * the exceeding sweet torrent of teaching, * the fortress of high-sounding words, * the mouth of heavenly thunder, * the fiery tongue, the treasure of wisdom, * the preacher of the Word, the adornment of the faithful.

With fitting hymns let us all praise the theologian, * the guardian of the flock of Christ, * the hunter of the wolves of evil, * the most wise uprooter of base weeds * and most wondrous sower of right dogmas, * the exceeding mighty dispeller of heretics, * who truly increased the talents of Christ * by his divine vigilance, as is good, * and illumined the world with the divine radiance of his doctrines.

Glory – Tone 8. Your voice, always prepared and ready to teach, * resonates in our hearts, * waking the souls of even the most slothful. * In your divine words, a ladder is found * which leads them from earth to God. * Therefore, O holy Gregory the Theologian, * we beg you to intercede with Christ * to save our souls from all danger

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 Proverbs (Composite I).

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Composite II).

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Wisdom 4:7-15).

Stichera at the litija:

Tone 4 Bolhar. You opened your mouth for the Word of God, breathing out the Spirit of wisdom. Filled with grace, you made the divine teachings sound forth, O thrice-blessed Gregory. Then, as a communicant in the knowledge of the angels, you preached the undivided yet triple Light. Illumined by your holy teachings, we bow down in true worship before the Holy Trinity, revealed as the only divinity, for the salvation of our souls.

With your tongue of fire, O Gregory the Theologian, you consumed the impious babblings of heresies. Now you truly appear as a divine mouth proclaiming in the Holy Spirit the wonderful works of God, and making known in your writings the secret mysteries of the Trinity, one in essence. Ceaselessly intercede for our souls as you stand before the triple Sun which illumines the earthly world through its splendor.

Glory – Tone 4 (Bolhar?). In conformity with the Law, you purified your body and soul by your holy deeds, O bishop Gregory, before ascending the mountain to speak to the Lord as an initiate in the divine mysteries. Entering the impenetrable cloud, you received the divinely redacted code on which was traced the Trinity, one in essence. Because of you, we can bow down in true worship before him, singing and proclaiming, "O God, Unity revealed in Trinity, have mercy on us!"

Now and ever – in the same tone. Mercifully regard the supplications of your servants, O all-immaculate one, quelling the uprisings of the cruel demons against us, delivering us from every sorrow; for we have you alone as a steadfast and sure confirmation, and we have acquired your intercession. O Lady, let us not be ashamed, who call upon you. Hasten to answer the prayer of those who cry out to you with faith: Rejoice, O help, joy and protection of all, and salvation of our souls.

(Slavonic menaion gives only the first words of the theotokion, implying that it is well known.)

The aposticha are for the feast:

Tone 5, special melody Radujsja. Rejoice, O fountain of pure theology, source of deep contemplation. Having examined the heavenly heights with faith, you clearly proclaimed to all the intimate union of the three lights in the one Radiance coming from their identical divinity in three persons. By the purity of your life and the splendor of your words, you taught the adoration of the Holy Trinity. O divinely-inspired bishop, beg him to send our souls great mercy.

My lips will speak words of wisdom; understanding will be the theme of my heart.

By your resplendent theology, you scattered the shadows of heresy: for by your wise and divine understanding, you arrived at the very source of all light, encountering the radiance flowing from the age to come. You made your spirit a clear mirror, O holy father, and brilliantly reflected the undivided and triple light of God, tasting the fullness of his unique radiance. Now beg him to grant our souls great mercy.

The mouth of the just will utter wisdom, and his tongue will pronounce judgment.

Rejoice, O great river of God, flowing with the waters of grace at all times, giving joy to the whole city of Christ our King by your words and your holy teachings: a torrent of delights, an inexhaustible sea, the faithful and careful steward of orthodoxy, the fervent defender of the Holy Trinity, the instrument of the Spirit, the discerning mind, the interpreter of the depths of the Scriptures in a harmonious fashion. Now beg Christ to grant our souls great mercy.

Glory – Tone 8. With your voice as a plow, you cultivated the hearts of the faithful * to make the immortal fruits of the faith grow in them, * O bishop Gregory, * and to offer them to the Lord. * By pulling out all thorns of heresy by the roots, * you gave thoughts their purest beauty. * Receive our praises as the lyre of God, O ever-watchful Theologian, * shepherd of shepherds, who drive away the wolves from your flock. * Intercede ceaselessly before the Word for our souls.

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

Troparion, Tone 1. The sweet melody of your theological teachings * has overcome the noisy blasts of orators. * For God has granted you the power of penetrating spiritual depths * and the gift of brilliant literary talent. * Gregory, our father, intercede with Christ our God that he may save our souls. (twice)

Glory, now and ever – Theotokion, Tone 4. Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos! * Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you! * Blessed are you among women, * and blessed is the fruit of your womb. * For you gave birth to Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

At the Divine Liturgy

music - see the January Menaion

Glory – Kontakion, Tone 3. O glorious Gregory, your theological knowledge has solved the problems raised by orators. * You have robed the Church with pure theology inspired from on high. * The Church puts on this robe and cries out with us, your children: * Rejoice, O father whose theological knowledge is so great.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1 (Ps. 48:4,2). My lips will speak * words of wisdom; * understanding will be the theme of my heart.
V. Hear this, all you nations; give heed, all who dwell in the world.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Alleluia, Tone 2 (Ps. 77:1,2). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Give heed, my people, to my teaching; turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
V. I shall open my mouth in a parable and reveal hidden lessons of the past.

Gospel: John 10:9-16

Communion Hymn (Ps. 111:6,7). The just man will be remembered forever; evil news he will not fear. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!