I've updated our daily e-mail (and RSS feed, iPhone app, and web page) so that at the end of the readings for the Divine Liturgy and other prayers of the day, the variable parts of that day's Divine Liturgy may now be found.
These, of course, have been selected from our typikon, as well as our most recently published liturgical books (Greek and Arabic).
The texts are, as usual, available in Arabic, English, and Portuguese.
A sample, taken from the Feast of the Nativity, may be found below.
Lastly, don't forget you can find out more about these e-mails, the RSS feed, the iPhone app, and the web pages at
http://www.melkites.org/en/readings , or just contact me.
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Litany of Peace
These petitions replace the four following: “For our most Reverend Archbishop…”. We then the remaining petitions follow as usual.
That the Nativity of Christ become a realisation of the hymn of the angels: "Glory to God, and peace on earth, and good will towards men." Let us pray to the Lord.
That Christ restore us to paradise by His birth and bestow on us the grace of adoption. Let us pray to the Lord.
That the world be illuminated by Christ's saving birth, with the lights of justice, reconciliation, and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.
That we grow in age, wisdom, and grace and that the civilisation of love grow in the world. Let us pray to the Lord.
Antiphons
Antiphon Prayer
Christ God in all eternity, Who by His birth from a Virgin have come on earth in His human nature to enlighten the whole creation, steady our footsteps in the way of Your commandments, and grant us to know and love You, by the intercession of Your all Pure and ever Virgin Mary and all Your Saints.
For You are our Light and our Redemption, O Christ God, and we render glory to You and to Your all Eternal Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
First antiphon (Psalms 111:1,3,9)
Ref. O Son of God, Who have been born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
v1. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
v2. Full of honour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever.
v3. Holy and awesome is his name.
Second antiphon (Psalms 112:1,3)
v1. Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments.
v2. Wealth and riches are in their houses.
v3. And their righteousness endures for ever.
Third antiphon (Psalms 110:1,2,3)
v1. The Lord says to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’
v2. The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty sceptre. Rule in the midst of your foes.
v3. Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day you lead your forces on the holy mountains.
Eisodikon
Entrance song (Ps 110:3,4)
From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.’
O Son of God, Who have been born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia
Troparion (fourth tone)
Your nativity, O Christ our God, has shed the light of knowledge upon the world. Through it, those who had been star-worshippers learnt through a star to worship You, O Sun of Justice, and recognise in You the One who rises from on high. O Lord, glory to You! (x3)
Hypakoe
Hypacoi (eighth tone)
O Little Child lying in a manger, by means of a star, heaven has called and led to you the Magi, the first-fruits of the gentiles, astounded to behold, not sceptres and thrones, but extreme poverty. What, indeed, is lower than a cave? What is humbler than swaddling clothes—and yet the splendour of Your divinity shone forth in them resplendently. O Lord, glory to You!
<NB We do not chant the troparion of the titular of the church/monastery today.>
Final Kontakion
Final Kontakion (tone 3)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent in Essence, and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels with the shepherds sing his glory, and the Wise Men with the Star travel on their way, for to us is born a New Child, who is God from all eternity.
Trisagion
Instead of the Trisagion:
Choir: All of you who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ. Alleluia.(Thrice)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and always and for ever and ever.
You have put on Christ. Alleluia.
All of you who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ. Alleluia.
Hirmos of the 9th Ode of Orthros
On the day of the feast, throughout the period of its service, and on its leave-taking, we chant one of the following two hirmoi, alternately.
Hirmos (tone 1)
Magnify, O my soul, the Virgin more glorious than the heavenly powers.
Behold a strange and wonderful mystery: the cave is heaven, the Virgin a cherubic throne, the manger a noble place where reposes Christ the Uncontainable God. Let us praise and magnify him!
Second Hirmos (tone 1)
The Magi and the shepherds bring gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
O Virgin, we should prefer to be silent, for silence is harmless, and our love is too great, when compared to our poor attempts at singing your perpetual praise, O Mother, grant us the ability to match the greatness of our desire.
Koinonikon
Koinonikon (Ps 111:9)
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Alleluia.
Replace 'We have seen the True Light ...' with the Troparion of the Feast.
Troparion (fourth tone)
Your nativity, O Christ our God, has shed the light of knowledge upon the world. Through it, those who had been star-worshippers learnt through a star to worship You, O Sun of Justice, and recognise in You the One who rises from on high. O Lord, glory to You!
Verses to be included in the Great Dismissal (Apolysis)
who was born in a cave and laid in a manger for our salvation …
and through the intercession of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, and of our God-bearing fathers