• About this site
  • - Sheetmusic archive
  • - FAQ
• Cantor Institute
  • - What is a cantor?
  • - Our cantors
  • - Becoming a cantor
  • - Improving your skills
  • - Online classes
    
  • - Archived classes
    
• Liturgy
  • - Basic elements
  • - Daily cycle
  • - Weekly cycle
  • - Eight tones
  • - Liturgical year
  • - Divine Liturgy
  • - Holy Mysteries
  • - Occasional services
  • - Funeral services
    
  • - Living liturgically
• Menaion
  
• Musicianship
  • - Sound
    - Singing
  • - Intervals
  • - Scales
    - Notation
  • - Vocal course
• Prostopinije
  • - History
  • - Melodies
  • - Harmonies
  • - Rhythm
  • - Performance
• Choral music
  • - Our choirs
  • - Composers
  • - Resources
• Readings
  • - Lectionary
    - Pronunciation guide
• Setting the services
• Singing the services
  • - Preparation
  • - Leadership
  • - Pitch matching
• Spiritual songs
  • - The Hymnal Project
• Tools for learning
  • - Recording your voice
  • - Theta Music Trainer
  • - Using Moodle
  
  

Menaion

January 9

Post-festive day of the Theophany.

The holy martyr Polyeuct, of Melitene in Armenia, who as a soldier was ordered to sacrifice to the gods by the edict of the Emperor Decius. Instead, he destroyed the images; wherefore he suffered many tortures and at last was beheaded and baptized by the outpouring of his own blood. (230)

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

There are six stichera at "O Lord, I have cried": three for the post-feast, and three for the holy martyr.

Tone 8. In your humanity You presented yourself * to John in the Jordan, O Lord, * although You did not leave your heavenly throne. * You were seated with the Father, * yet You were baptized for us. * Since You are generous and the Lover of us all, * You have freed the world from slavery to the enemy.

In your humanity You clothed yourself * in the waters of the Jordan, O Lord. * You were given witness from on high * by the descent of the Spirit; * and the voice of the Father testified that You are his Son. * Now manifest yourself to us * and grant incorruption to our souls.

O Lord, from all eternity * You were begotten in a unchangeable way from the Father. * In latter times You came and received the likeness of a servant. * As the Creator You also renewed our likeness, * for in your baptism You granted incorruption to our souls.

Tone 1, special melody Nebesnych činov.  O martyr, Christ led you away from the error of idolatry * and from the mire of the earth, * just as David was led from the abyss of passion. * For He mystically placed your feet upon the rock of divine knowledge * and granted you a recognition of himself. * Implore Him that we may all be saved.

Neither the love for your wife, * nor the yearning for your children, * nor your high rank, nor the wealth of possessions and riches * shook your strength of soul away from the true faith; * for your trust is in Christ, O all-blessed Polyeuct.

Before the grace of your martyrdom, * you truly adorned yourself with righteous deeds. * Because of them you were made worthy * to be a faithful witness of Christ; * and you were devoutly baptized in his death by your blood.

Glory – Tone 1.  Today the angelic hosts dance with joy * in memory of the martyr Polyeuct; * and the human race faithfully celebrates and joyfully cries out: * Rejoice, all-praiseworthy one! * You overcame the snares of the deceitful one, * and you were crowned by Christ with the crown of victory. * Rejoice, warrior of the great King and our Savior; * you destroyed the altars of idols. * Rejoice, O strength of martyrs! * Pray that we may be delivered from every danger, * for in faith we observe your ever-precious memory.

Now and ever – Tone 2.  Today the Creator of heaven and earth * approaches the Jordan River in the flesh; * the One who is free from sin seeks to be baptized * in order to cleanse the human race from the error of the enemy; * the Master of all is baptized at the hand of the servant * in order to grant us the cleansing through water. * Therefore, let us cry out to Him: * O God who has appeared to us, glory to you!

The aposticha are for the post-feast:

Tone 6, special melody Tridneven.  O incomprehensible One, * you stood before everyone in the waters! * You bowed your head to the Forerunner. * O sinless One, by your baptism * you sanctified and delivered the world from slavery.

The sea fled at the sight; the Jordan turned back on its course. (or: The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back.)

The Father's voice spoke from on high and said: * This is my beloved Son. * And the Spirit gave witness, O Christ. * The mystery of the Trinity was made known * through Him who was baptized in the Jordan.

Why is it, O sea, that you fled; O Jordan, that you turned back?

You sanctified the waters of the Jordan, O Savior, * as well as the nature of water. * Therefore, the human race glorifies you * and praises your divine Ephiphany.

Glory, now and ever – Tone 4.  The One who clothes himself with light as with a robe * deigned, for our sakes, to become as we are. * Today He is clothed in the streams of the Jordan * even though He has no need to be purified. * He refashions us through the cleansing that He receives. * What a marvelous wonder! * He creates anew without fire * and refashions without tearing apart; * He grants salvation to those enlightened in Him, * Christ our God, the Savior of our souls.

Troparion of the holy martyr, Tone 4.  Your martyr Polyeuct, O Lord our God, * in his struggle, received an incorruptible crown from you. * With your strength, he brought down the tyrants * and broke the cowardly valor of demons. * Through his prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory, now and ever – Troparion of Theophany, Tone 1.  At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * for the Father's voice bore witness to You, calling You his beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove * confirmed the truth of these words. * O Christ God, who appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!

At the Divine Liturgy

music - see the January Menaion

First Antiphon (Ps. 113:1-3,5):
When Israel came forth from Egypt, Jacob's sons from an alien people,
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.

Judah became the Lord's temple, Israel became his kingdom.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.

The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back.
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.

Why is it, O sea, that you fled; O Jordan, that you turned back?
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.

Glory... now and ever...
Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, save us.

Second Antiphon (Ps. 114:1-5):
I love the Lord because he will hear my voice in supplication.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

For he will turn his ear to me in the day when I call him.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

They surrounded me, the snares of death, with the anguish of the tomb; they caught me, sorrow and distress. I called on the Lord's name.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion.
Refrain: O Son of God, born of the Virgin, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

Glory... now and ever...
O Only-begotten Son and Word of God...

Third Antiphon (Ps. 94:1):
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim God our Savior!
Refrain: O Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

Entrance Hymn (Ps. 94:6):
Come, let us worship and bow before Christ.
Refrain: O Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to you: Alleluia!

Troparion of Theophany, Tone 1.  At your baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, * worship of the Trinity was revealed; * for the Father's voice bore witness to You, calling You his beloved Son, * and the Spirit in the form of a dove * confirmed the truth of these words. * O Christ God, who appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!

Troparion of the holy martyr, Tone 4.  Your martyr Polyeuct, O Lord our God, * in his struggle, received an incorruptible crown from you. * With your strength, he brought down the tyrants * and broke the cowardly valor of demons. * Through his prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Glory, now and ever – Kontakion of the holy martyr, Tone 4.   When our Savior bowed his head in the Jordan River, * the heads of the serpents were crushed, * and when Polyeuct was beheaded, * he put the demons to shame.

Glory, now and ever – Kontakion of Theophany, Tone 4.   You have revealed yourself to the world today; * and your light, O Lord, has set its seal on us. * We recognize you and exclaim to you: * You have come and revealed yourself, O Unapproachable Light.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4 (Ps. 117:26-27).  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. * The Lord is God and has revealed himself to us.
V.Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

Epistle: (of the day)

Alleluia, Tone 4 (Ps. 28:1-3). Alleuia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. Bring to the Lord, you sons of God; bring to the Lord glory and honor.
V. The voice of the Lord over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord over many waters.

Gospel: (of the day)

Magnification. Extol, O my soul, Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.

Irmos, Tone 2. Every tongue is at a loss * to fittingly extol you; * and even a supernatural mind is overwhelmed * when it glorifies you, O Theotokos. * But in your goodness accept our faith, * since you recognize our godly love. * You are the intercessor for Christians, * and we extol you.

Communion Hymn (Titus 2:11). The saving grace of God has appeared to all. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!