January 8
Post-festive day of the Theophany.
Our venerable father George the Chozebite, a Cypriot monk at the Monastery of the Mother of God at Chozeba near Jericho. (614)
Our venerable mother Dominica, born in Carthage in North Africa, lived a life of asceticism and died in Constantinople under the reign of the Emperor Zenon. (474)
Our holy father and confessor Emilian. A native of Vannes (in what is now France), he was a recluse. (767)
At Vespers
There are six stichera at "O Lord, I have cried": three for the venerable father, and three for the venerable mother.
Tone 4, special melody Jako doblja. The defensive wall of your soul * was not shaken by the attacks of your thoughts, O blessed one, " because you set up your rule of fasting as a rampart. * You preserved yourself completely unharmed by the wicked enemy. * And now you are in the presence of the Master of all * and are crowned with victory.
By lying on the floor in secret * and by being filled with tears, * by spending whole nights standing in vigil, * you were a great model for the monks. * You were a universal rule and a crown of praise * because you satisfied every form of piety; * and by your self-discipline, O wise one, * you manifested yourself to be an heir to the heavenly kingdom.
O venerable one, neither the length of the way * nor the harshness of the trials * could weaken the fervor of your journey to God. * Therefore, you are now happy in the places where the feet of our God walk. * You had no other concern but to reach the heavenly Zion * through self-discipline and struggles.
Tone 4, special melody Dal jesi znamenie. Manifesting * the depths of your love, O glorious one, * you soaked the ground with tears of repentance * and wiped the footstool of Christ with your hair. * Indeed, you thought of Him as though you saw Him present. * You loved Him, and in your thoughts you followed in his footsteps. * You enlightened your soul * through divine visions.
You shone forth * from the West to the East, O all-blessed one; * you were like a bright star, O venerable one, * glittering with the rays of your good deeds. * You illumined the thoughts of the faithful * by the splendor of your miracles. * Therefore, we bless you and venerate your memory; * and we extol Christ who glorified you.
O all-praiseworthy Dominica, * you wounded yourself with the love of Christ and followed Him. * You turned away from corruptible glory, * the pleasures of the flesh, and the other delights of life. * Because of this, Christ, the Lover of us all * and the Savior of our souls, * has settled you in a splendid bridal chamber.
Glory, now and ever – Tone 1. The One who clothes the heavens with clouds * today is clothed in the waters of the Jordan; * and He who takes away the sin of the world * today is cleansed that I may be washed clean. * The only-begotten Son of the almighty Father * receives the witness of the consubstantial Spirit from on high. * Therefore, let us Sing out to Him: * O Christ God who has revealed yourself and saved us, glory to You!
The aposticha are for the post-feast:
Tone 6, special melody Anhelskija predidite sily. You have shone forth as a resplendent One who enlightens all. * You are a shining Light, O Jesus, * and You are baptized in the streams of the Jordan. * O Light who is consubstantial with the Father, * all creation is enlightened through You. * It calls out to You: * Blessed are You, O Christ our God, * who have manifested yourself. Glory to You!
The sea fled at the sight; the Jordan turned back on its course. (or: The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back.)
Let us purify our feelings and our thoughts * that we may be full of divine glory. * For having seen Christ who was baptized in the flesh, * and who crushed the head of the wicked one, * we shall worthily sing hymns and cry out to Him: * Blessed are You, O Christ our God, * who have manifested yourself. Glory to You!
Why is it, O sea, that you fled; O Jordan, that you turned back?
Through your compassion in the River Jordan, O Jesus, * You have satisfied with living water * those who were burning with thirst, O Lover of us all. * Having drunk from your immortal and life-bearing fountain, * O Christ, we cry out to You: * Blessed are You, O Christ our God, * who have manifested yourself. Glory to You!
Glory, now and ever – Tone 2. O Lord, when John saw You approaching him at the Jordan River, he cried out: * How do You, O Lord who are sinless, come to me your servant? * In whose name shall I baptize You? * In the name of the Father whom You possess in yourself? * In the name of the Son, while You are the very Son in the flesh? * In the name of the Holy Spirit whom You grant to the faithful * with the breath of your mouth? * O God who has appeared to us, have mercy on us.
Troparion of the venerable father, Tone 4. Come, O people, and piously honor the memory of George. * Sing praises for his wonderful fasting * and praise Emilian for his teachings. * Let us sing out: Save our souls, O Christ, * through the intercession of these holy monks.
Glory – Troparion of the venerable mother, Tone 8. In you, O mother, the divine image was strictly preserved; * taking up your cross, you followed Christ. * You taught us by example how to spurn the flesh, for it passes away, * and how to care for the soul which is immortal. * Therefore, O venerable Dominica, your soul rejoices with the angels.
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 venerable father, Tone 4. Come, O people, and piously honor the memory of George. * Sing praises for his wonderful fasting * and praise Emilian for his teachings. * Let us sing out: Save our souls, O Christ, * through the intercession of these holy monks.
Glory, now and ever – Kontakion of the venerable father, Tone 4. O George, you have become a brilliant source of light, * enlightening all those who come to you in faith. * Intercede for us with Christ our God * who appeared in the flowing waters and enlightened all of us.
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!