Jan. 15 – 31 Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 6
Sunday before Theophany; Forefeast of the Theophany. St. Sylvester, pope of Rome (335). Hieromartyr Theogenes, bishop of Parium on the Hellespont (320). St. Sylvester of the Kyiv Caves (12th c.).
2 Тim. 4:5-8; Mk. 1:1-8;
Gal. 5:22–6:2 ; Lk. 6:17-23;
From January 7th till January 18th is a Fast-free period.
Resurrectional Tropar, Tone 6
The angelic powers were at Your Tomb. The guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Your Grave seeking Your Most Pure Body. You captured Hades, not being tempted by it. You came to the Virgin, granting Life, Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You.
Tropar for the Forefeast, Tone 4
Make ready, Zebulon and prepare Nephtali. You Jordan River, stop your flow and receive with great joy the Master coming to be baptized. You, Adam, rejoice with the First Mother Eve and hide not as you did in Paradise. For at the sight of your nakedness Christ has come to clothe you with the robe of innocence. Christ has appeared to renew all creation.
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 St. Sylvester, Tone 4
The truth of things you revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and teacher of abstinence. Wherefore, you did acquire exalted things by humility and riches by poverty, O father Sylvester. Entreat Christ God, that our soul be saved.
Resurrectional Kondak, Tone 6
When Christ God, the Giver of Life, with His Life-giving Hand raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery, He bestowed Resurrection on the human race. He is the Savior, the Resurrection, the Life and the God of all.
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 St. Sylvester, Tone 4
As a converser with the ascetics, you became a priest among the priests of God the King; wherefore, you rejoice now with the angelic choirs. O father Sylvester, you are God-bearing shepherd, dwelling in the heavens, save those who with love celebrate your memory.
Now and Ever …
Kondak for the Forefeast, Tone 4
Today, the Lord has appeared at the waters of the Jordan River. He cries out to John, saying: "Be not afraid at having to baptize Me, for I have come to save Adam, the First-created One!"
Prokimens
Priest: Let us be attentive! Peace be with you all!
Reader: And with your spirit!
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokimen in Tone 6: O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: V. To You, Lord, will I call: My God, be not silent to me.
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 Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Son Timothy, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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 God be gracious to us and bless us.
Verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.
Communion Verses
The Lord has sent deliverance to His people. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. They shall not be afraid of any evil report. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.