Dec. 18 – 27th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 2
St. Sabbas the Sanctified (532). Martyr Anastasias. St. Karion (Cyrion) and his son St. Zachariah of Egypt (4th c.).
Eph. 6:10-17 Lk. 17:12-19
Gal. 5:22–6:2; Mt. 11:27-30
Resurrectional Tropar, Tone 2
When You descended to death, Life Immortal, You slew Hades with the splendor of Your Divinity. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the Powers of Heaven cried out: Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You.
Tropar of our church, Tone 4
Prophet and Forerunner of the coming of Christ, we who honor you with love can find no manner of praising you worthily. For the barrenness of one who bore you and the silence of your father have been ended by your being born of divine grace and you have proclaimed to the world the Incarnation of the Son of God.
Tropar to Venerable, Tone 8
With streams of your tears you did irrigate the barren desert, and with sighs from the depths of your soul you did cause it to bear fruit a hundredfold. And you were a beacon to the whole world, radiating miracles. O Sabbas our father, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved!
Resurrectional Kondak, Tone 2
Hades became fearful, Almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Your Resurrection from the tomb. The dead arose and all creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with You and the world, my Savior, praises You forever.
Kondak of our church, Tone 3
She who was previously barren now bears the Forerunner of Christ who is the fulfillment of every prophecy. For the prophets proclaimed beforehand that having laid hands on Him in the Jordan, he would be manifest as Prophet, Preacher and Forerunner of the Word of God.
Glory… Kondak to Venerable, Tone 8
In your virtue you offered thyself from childhood unto God as an unblemished sacrifice, O blessed Sabbas, becoming a gardener in the garden of piety. Thus, you were an adornment for the venerable and a right laudable citizen of the desert. Wherefore, we cry to you: Rejoice, O Sabbas most rich!
Now and Ever …
Theotokion, Tone 6
Protection of Christians not put to shame, unwavering Mediation before the Creator; despise not the prayer of sinners, but because you are good, quickly come to help us who call on you in faith. Be swift to intercede and make haste to supplicate, Birth-Giver of God, who always protects those who honor you.
Prokimens
Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!
Reader: And with your spirit!
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokimen in Tone 2: The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: Vs. The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: The Second Prokimen in Tone 7: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy ones.
Choir: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy ones.
Epistles
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Verse: May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. May the Name of the God of Jacob protect you.
Verse: Lord, save the king and hear us on the day we call out to You.
Verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
Communion Hymns
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the highest. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The righteous man shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not fear evil tidings. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.