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Good and Faithful
Servant
St. Nicholas Litia verse; Galician model melody
Good and faithful servant, laborer in the Vineyard of Christ, thou didst bear the burden of the day, and increased the talent given thee. Thou didst not envy those who came after thee; wherefore the gates of heaven were opened to thee. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, and pray for us, O Saint Nicholas!
St. Nicholas Kontakion; “Bulgarian” to the melody Today the Virgin
In Myra, O Saint, you proved yourself a true priest of God and servant of the divine mysteries. Fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you gave your life for your flock and saved the innocent from death. In this way you achieved true holiness as a great mystic of the Grace of God.
St. Nicholas Exapostilarion; to the melody Hearken, O women
Guardian of widows and orphaned ones, and feeder of the hungry, enricher of all the poor, and deliverer of captives, the savior of seafarers, art thou, O greatly blessed and most wise Nicholas.
Praise verses from the Nativity and Theophany Prefeast and Postfeast Matins; Galician model melody and Prosomia
vs. God shall come forth from Teman, and the holy one from the mountain overshadowed by the forest!
Proceed, O Angelic Powers! Go to Bethlehem. Prepare the manger, for the Word comes to be born.
Wisdom proceeds from the mouth of the Most High. Receive, O Church of God, the announcement of salvation; Enter into the joy of the Theotokos! Let us sing with gladness, O peoples: Blessed is He who comes: O our God, glory to Thee!
vs. From the womb before the morning star have I begotten Thee.
All creation, celebrate the feast with joy! Rejoice with us, you heavens! The Creator is born from the Virgin in the cave; a young child comes in the fullness of time. Let us cry out to Him: Blessed art Thou, our newborn God: Glory to Thee!
vs. The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid.
Proceed, O Angelic Powers! Advance from Bethlehem to the courses of the Jordan! Come forth, O John; forsake the wilderness! Prepare to rejoice, O river. Let all the earth exult, for Christ comes to purify the sins of Adam in His compassion.
vs. The sea saw it and fled, Jordan was turned back.
O my Jesus, Thou art Thyself the radiant Light, Who hast enlightened all mankind. Thou wast baptized in the streams of Jordan, O Light, one in essence with the Father of Lights! In Thee all creation shines brightly, and cries to Thee: Blessed is our God made manifest! Glory to Thee!
Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord! Alleluia!You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God!
Alleluia!
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to His name for He is gracious!
Alleluia!
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel as His own possession.
Alleluia!
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
Refrain: Alleluia! Alleluia! For His mercy endures forever. Alleluia!
It is He who remembered us in our low estate, Ref. and rescued us from our foes, Ref. He who gives food to all flesh, Ref. O give thanks to the God of heaven. Ref.
Christ is born; glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven; go to meet Him! Christ is on earth; be exalted. Sing to the Lord, all the earth, and praise Him with gladness, O people, for He has been glorified.
Ode III.
To the Son, begotten of the Father before all ages and incarnate of the Virgin without seed in these latter days, to Christ our God, let us cry out! Thou hast raised up our horn; Holy art Thou, O Lord!
Ode IV.
Stem and flower of the root of Jesse, Thou hast blossomed from the Virgin, O Christ. From the mountain overshadowed by the forest Thou art come, made flesh from her that knew no man. O God, not formed from matter — Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Ode V.
O God of Peace, Father of mercies, Thou hast sent Thine angel of great counsel to grant us peace. We are guided to the light of the knowledge of God, and keeping watch by night we glorify Thee, O Lover of man!
Ode VI.
The sea monster cast forth Jonah as it had received him, like a babe from the womb, and when the Word came to dwell in the Virgin and was made flesh, He came forth preserving her incorrupt. For as He Himself was not subject to decay, He kept His mother free from harm.
Ode VII.
The children brought up together in godliness scorned the impious decree of the tyrant. They were not afraid of the threat of fire; but standing in the midst of the flames they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our Fathers.
Ode VIII.
The furnace moist with dew was an image prefiguring a wonder beyond nature, for it did not burn the children whom it had had received. Nor did the fire of Divinity consume the Virgin’s womb when it entered it. So let us raise the song: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him throughout all ages.
Carpathian
A strange and most wonderful mystery do I see: the cave is heaven; The virgin the throne of the cherubim; the manger a room, in which Christ, the God whom nothing can contain, is laid. Him do we praise and magnify.
Nativity Exapostilarion, Traditional
Our Saviour the Dayspring from the East has visited us from on high, and we who were in darkness and shadow have found the Truth, for from the Virgin the Lord is born.
Nativity Litia verse; Carpathian “Bulgarian,” arr. Archbishop Job (Osacky)
Heaven and earth are united today, for Christ is born. Today has God come upon earth and man gone up to heaven. Today for man’s sake is seen in the flesh He who by nature is invisible. Therefore let us also give glory and cry aloud to Him: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace! Which Thy coming has bestowed upon us O Savior, glory to Thee!
O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father: O Jesus Christ. Now that we have come to the setting of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is at all times to worship Thee with voices of praise, O Son of God and Giver of life; therefore all the world doth glorify Thee.
Great Prokimenon; Carpathian, arr. Archbishop Job
Turn not Thy face from Thy servant, for I am troubled. Hear me speedily; attend to my soul and deliver it. vs. Let Thy salvation, O God, uphold me.
Turn not Thy face from Thy servant, for I am troubled. Hear me speedily; attend to my soul and deliver it. vs. Seek God, and your soul shall live.
Turn not Thy face from Thy servant, for I am troubled. Hear me speedily; attend to my soul and deliver it.
Galician; from Cantus Ecclesiasticus secundum traditionem Basilianem. Rome: Press of the General Curia of the Order of St. Basil the Great
All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace, the assembly of angels and the race of men. 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 your body into a throne, and your womb became more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace. Glory to you!
From the Presanctified Liturgy; sung in English and Church Slavonic; Carpathian, arr. Archbishop Job
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Refrain (Slavonic): Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Lord, I have cried to Thee, hear me! Hear the voice of my prayer, when I cry to Thee. Ref.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and keep the door of my lips. Ref.
Incline not my heart to any evil thing, nor to practice wicked deeds. Ref.
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
Lazarus Saturday Koinonikon; composed by Monk Martin (Gardner) Refrain: Out of the mouths of babes and infants Thou hast fashioned perfect praise. vs. Because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest destroy the enemy and avenger. vs. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth. vs. For Thy magnificence is lifted high above the heavens. vs. His praise abides forever, and unto ages of ages.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Doxasticon for Great and Holy Wednesday; adapted from a Bulgarian folk melody
The woman who had fallen into many sins, O Lord, yet when she perceived Thy divinity, she joined the ranks of the myrrh-bearing women. In tears she brought Thee myrrh before Thy burial. She cried, “Woe is me! I live in the night of licentiousness, shrouded in the dark and moonless love of sin. But accept the fountain of my tears, Thou who didst gather the waters of the sea into clouds. Bow down Thine ear to the sighing of my heart, Thou who didst bow the heavens in Thine ineffable condescension. Once Eve heard Thy footsteps in paradise in the cool of the day, and in fear she ran and hid herself. But now I will tenderly embrace those pure feet, and wipe them with the hair of my head. Who can measure the multitude of my sins, or the depth of Thy judgments. O Savior of my soul, despise not Thy servant, for Thy mercy is beyond measure.”
Thy bridal chamber I see adorned, O my Savior, and
I have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver
of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save
me.
Offertory Hymn and Koinonikon for Great and Holy Thursday; Carpathian Tone 6 Canon Melody
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies, neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
Elevation of the Cross Exapostilarion; composed by Maia Aprahamian
The Cross is the guardian of the whole earth; the Cross is the beauty of the Church. The Cross is the strength of kings; the Cross is the support of the faithful. The Cross is the glory of angels and the wounder of demons.
Elevation of the Cross Koinonikon; composed by Maia Aprahamian Refrain: The light of Thy countenance has been signed on us. vs. Thou hast given a sign unto them that fear Thee, that they may flee from the face of the bow. vs. Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; shepherd them and exalt them forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Sung in place of Alleluia at Holy Saturday Liturgy; arranged by Johann Von Gardener, English adaptation by Vladimir Morosan
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to Thee belong all the nations! Refrain: Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to Thee belong all the nations!
Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Ref.
Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the sinner. Ref.
Let all the foundations of the earth be shaken. I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men, and fall like any prince.” Ref.
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to Thee belong all the nations!
Very Early in the Morning
7th Resurrectional Gospel Verse; Tone 7 Carpathian
Behold, it is still dark very early in the morning. Why are you standing at the tomb with great darkness covering your mind, O Mary? Why do you ask where Jesus had been laid? See the disciples hastening to the tomb. Through the testimony of the shroud and napkin they confess His resurrection foretold in the scriptures. Through them we have come to believe, and with them we sing Your praises, O Christ the Giver of life!
ქრისტე აღსდგა — Christ is risen
Paschal Troparion sung in Georgian
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those tombs bestowing life.
Serbian Canon Melody, sung in Church Slavonic, with Paschal trezvon
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those tombs bestowing life.
Exapostilarion for All Saints of North America; to the melody Our Savior, the Dayspring
Our Saviour, the Dayspring from the East, has sent you out as rays of light, and those who were in darkness and shadow have found the Truth. Saints of America, the Lord is glorified in you.
Verse for All Saints of North America; Tone 6, to the melody Having set all their hope
Rejoice, O hills of Northern California! Leap for joy, O Mountains of Alaska! Rise up, O fertile plains of North America; the elect of Christ who dwelt in you are glorified, men and women who left their homes for a new land. With faith, hope and patience as their armor, the courageously fought the good fight! Comforted by the beauty of the Orthodox Faith, they labored in mines and mills, they tilled the land, the braved the challenges of the great cities, enduring many hardships and sufferings. Never failing to worship God in spirit and truth and unyielding in devotion to His most pure Mother,
they erected many temples to His glory! Come, assembly of the Orthodox; praise with love the holy women, men and children, those known to us and those known only to God, and let us cry out to them: Rejoice, All Saints of North America and pray to God for us!
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America in San Anselmo, CA.