Jan. 29 – 33 Sunday after Pentecost, of Zacchaeus. Tone 8
Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Apostle Peter. Martyrs Speusippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus, their grandmother Leonilla, and with them Neon, Turbo, and Jovilla (ca. 161-180). Martyr Danax the Reader (2nd c.).
1 Тim. 4:9-15; Lk. 19:1-10;
Acts 12:1-11; Jn. 21:15-25;
Resurrectional Tropar, Tone 8
You descended from on High, Merciful One. You accepted the three day burial to free us from our passions. Lord, our Life and Resurrection. 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 Ap. Peter, Tone 4
You came to us without leaving Rome / through the precious chains that you wore. / First-enthroned of the apostles, / we bow down to them in faith and pray: / "Through your prayers to God grant us great mercy."
Resurrectional Kondak, Tone 8
By rising from the tomb, You raised up the dead. Adam is risen and Eve exults in Your Resurrection. The entire world celebrates Your rising from the dead, Greatly Merciful One.
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 Ap. Peter, Tone 2
Let us glorify the great Peter, the chief and first-enthroned of the Apostles, / the divine disciple of Truth, / kissing his chains with faith, / and receiving the forgiveness of our transgressions.
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 8: Pray and give glory to the Lord our God.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: V. In Judah God is known; His Name is great in Israel.
Choir: (repeats the prokimen)
Reader: The Second Prokimen in Tone 8: Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Choir: Their proclamation went forth into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.
Epistles
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Son Timothy, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
Deacon: Let us be attentive.
Reader: Brethren, now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
Priest: Peace be with you.
Reader: And with your spirit. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Verse: Come let us rejoice in the Lord. Let us shout with jubilation to God our Savior.
Verse: Let us come before His Face with thanksgiving; with psalms let us shout in jubilation to Him.
Verse: The heavens, O Lord, shall declare Your wonders and Your Truth in the assembly of the saints.
Communion Verses
The Lord has sent deliverance to His people. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.