SUNDAY, MARCH 15
2nd Sunday of Great Lent. St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica. Tone 6.
Epistles:
(304) Hebrews 1:10-2:3
(318) Hebrews 7:26-8:2 (Saint)
Gospels:
(7) Mark 2:1-12
(36) John 10:9-16 (Saint)
READER AND CHOIR CUES
HOURS
At the Third Hour:
Troparion, Resurrection
Glory…
Troparion, St. Gregory
Now and ever…
Theotokion from the Horologion
Kontakion, St. Gregory
At the Sixth Hour:
Troparion, Resurrection
Glory…
Troparion, St. Gregory
Now and ever…
Theotokion from the Horologion
Kontakion, Triodion
DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
BEATITUDES TROPARIA on 10, Tone 6: Resurrection–6; St. Gregory–4 (from Ode III).
In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, * when Thou comest in Thy kingdom.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, * for they shall be comforted.
10. Blessed are the meek, * for they shall inherit the earth.
Remember me, my God and Savior, / when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom // and save me as Thou alone lovest mankind.
9. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, * for they shall be filled.
Through the wood of the Cross Thou hast saved again Adam who was beguiled by the tree / and the thief as he cried aloud: // Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
8. Blessed are the merciful, * for they shall obtain mercy.
O Giver of life, having broken the gates and chains of hell, / Thou, O Savior, hast made all men rise crying aloud: // Glory to Thy Resurrection.
7. Blessed are the pure in heart, * for they shall see God.
Do Thou Who hast by Thy burial and Thy Resurrection / despoiled death, and filled all things with joy, // remember me as Thou art compassionate.
6. Blessed are the peacemakers, * for they shall be called the sons of God.
When the women bearing myrrh came to the tomb / they heard an angel crying: // Christ is risen filling the whole world with light.
5. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, * for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Let us all praise with one accord Christ / nailed to the wood of the Cross // thus delivering the world from error.
4. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, * and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Holding fast to thine inspired teaching, / we reject every false invention of the heretics, / and we put them all to flight // with thy holy writings, O Gregory.
3. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, * for great is your reward in heaven.
O blessed of God, / thou hast refuted the foolish wisdom of the heretics. / He Who is Himself the true Wisdom came to dwell in thy heart, // and with His aid triumphantly thou hast broken their rebellious pride.
2. Glory to the Father, * and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In thy wisdom thou hast put to death / every lust of the flesh that is condemned to perish, / and through asceticism thou hast brought thy soul to life, // devoting all its powers to the contemplation of God.
1. Now and ever, * and unto ages of ages. Amen.
With full knowledge and by my own free choice, /I have eagerly desired a shameful and prodigal life; / but through thy holy intercessions, O Virgin and Bride of God, // bind my heart with divine love.
TROPARIA & KONTAKIA
Troparion, Resurrection, Tone 6: The angelic powers were at Thy tomb; / the guards became as dead men. / Mary stood by Thy grave, / seeking Thy most pure body. / Thou didst capture hell, not being tempted by it. / Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. / O Lord Who didst rise from the dead, // glory to Thee!
[Troparion, Church (if of the Theotokos or Saint(s))]
Troparion, St. Gregory, Tone 8: O Light of Orthodoxy, Teacher of the Church. Its Confirmation! / O Ideal of Monks and invincible Champion of Theologians / O wonderworking Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of Grace! // Always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved!
[Kontakion, Triodion (if of the Theotokos)]
[Kontakion, Church (Patronal Saint(s))]
Glory…
Kontakion, St. Gregory, Tone 8: Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, / joyful trumpet of theology, / with one accord we sing thy praises, O Gregory inspired by God. / But since you stand now in mind and spirit before the Original Mind, guide our minds to Him, O father, // so that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O preacher of grace.
Now and ever…
[Kontakion, Church (if of the Theotokos). If not, then:]
Kontakion, Triodion, Tone 4: Now is the time for action! / Judgment is at the doors! / So let us rise and fast, / offering alms with tears of compunction and crying: / We have sinned more than the sands of the sea; / but forgive us, O Master of All, // so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns.
EPISTLES
Deacon: Let us attend!
Priest: Peace be unto all!
Reader: And to thy spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 5th Tone, a Psalm of David: Thou, O Lord, shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
Choir: Thou, O Lord, shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
Reader: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer any that is godly.
Choir: Thou, O Lord, shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
Reader: In the 1st Tone: My mouth shall speak wisdom, the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
Choir: My mouth shall speak wisdom, the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: The reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Deacon: Let us attend!
[(304) Hebrews 1:10-2:3] “Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Thy hands; * they shall perish, but Thou remainest; they shall all grow old like a garment, * like a mantle Thou shalt roll them up, and they shall be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall never end.” * But to what angel has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Thine enemies a stool for Thy feet”? * Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? * Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. * For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, * how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him.
[(318) Hebrews 7:26-8:2] Brethren: It was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. * He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people; He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. * Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect for ever. * Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, * a Minister in the Sanctuary and the true Tabernacle which is set up not by man but by the Lord.
Priest: Peace be unto thee, Reader.
Reader: And to thy spirit.
ALLELUIA
Deacon: Wisdom!
Reader: In the 6th Tone: AL-LE-LU-IA!
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: He that dwells in the aid of the Most High shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector and my refuge, my God. In Him will I trust!
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
GOSPELS
[(7) Mark 2:1-12] At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. * And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the word to them. * And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. * And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. * And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “My son, thy sins are forgiven.” * Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, * “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” * And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His Spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? * Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Thy sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up thy pallet and walk’? * But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — He said to the paralytic — * “I say to thee, rise, take up thy pallet and go home.” * And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
[(36) John 10:9-16] The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: I am the door; if any one enters by Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. * The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. * I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. * He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. * He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. * I am the good shepherd; I know My own and My own know Me, * as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. * And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
SPECIAL LITANY FOLLOWING THE AUGMENTED LITANY
Deacon: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Thine ineffable goodness, look down upon us, Thy people gathered in Thy holy name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. Thou knowest our weakness. Thou hearest our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord Who lovest mankind, deliver us from the impending threat of the Coronavirus. Send Thine angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy. Enable us to continue to serve our suffering brothers and sisters in peace, that together we may glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
INSTEAD OF “IT IS TRULY MEET…”, Tone 8:
NOTE: Traditionally sung according to a special melody, for example:
http://philipsokolov.com/music/all-of-creation.pdf
All of creation / rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace, / the assembly of angels / and the race of man. / O sanctified temple / and spiritual paradise, / the glory of virgins, / from whom God was incarnate / and became a child / our God before the ages. / He made thy body into a throne, / and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. / All of creation / rejoices in thee, O Full of Grace. // Glory to thee!
COMMUNION VERSES
Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise Him in the highest!
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not fear evil tidings.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Troparia on the Beatitudes are from the translations of Mother Mary and Metropolitan Kallistos (The Sunday Octoechos, The Lenten Triodion). The Kontakion to St. Gregory is also from the Lenten Triodion. Scriptures are according to the approved Revised Standard Version. Everything else is from standard OCA texts as published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, the Soroka family, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, the Department of Religious Education, and the Department of Liturgical Music and Translations. Rubrics follow the 2020 Liturgical Rubrics & Calendar published by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press. Prepared with the assistance of Reader Teodor Zajler.
