Canon of Hypapante (=Meeting) of the Lord (February 2)

The Canon of the Hypapante (=Meeting) of the Lord (February 2)

            Composed by Kosmas the Jerusalemite, Bishop of Maiouma (†c.754)

Ὁ Κανών, Κανών, οὗ ἡ ἀκροστιχίς. Χριστὸν γεγηθὼς Πρέσβυς ἀγκαλίζεται. Ποίημα Κοσμᾶ Μοναχοῦ ᾨδὴ α' Ἦχος γ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Χέρσον ἀβυσσοτόκον πέδον ἥλιος, ἐπεπόλευσέ ποτε· ὡσεὶ τεῖχος γὰρ ἐπάγη, ἑκατέρωθεν ὕδωρ, λαῷ πεζοποντοποροῦντι, καὶ θεαρέστως μέλποντι. ᾌσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ· ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται». Ῥανάτωσαν ὕδωρ νεφέλαι· Ἥλιος ἐν νεφέλῃ γὰρ κούφη, ἐποχούμενος ἐπέστη, ἀκηράτοις ὠλέναις, Χριστὸς ἐν τῷ ναῷ ὡς βρέφος· διὸ πιστοὶ βοήσωμεν. ᾌσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ· ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται. Ἰσχύσατε χεῖρες Συμεών, τῷ γήρᾳ ἀνειμέναι, καὶ κνῆμαι παρειμέναι δὲ Πρεσβύτου, αὐθυβόλως κινεῖσθε Χριστοῦ πρὸς ὑπαντήν. Χορείαν σὺν Ἀσωμάτοις στήσαντες, ᾄσωμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ· ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται. Συνέσει ταθέντες οὐρανοὶ εὐφράνθητε, ἀγάλλου δὲ ἡ γῆ· ὑπερθέων γὰρ ἐκ κόλπων, ὁ τεχνίτης φοιτήσας, Χριστὸς ὑπὸ Μητρὸς Παρθένου, Θεῷ Πατρὶ προσάγεται, νήπιος ὁ πρὸ πάντων· ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται. ᾨδὴ γ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Τὸ στερέωμα, τῶν ἐπὶ σοὶ πεποιθότων, στερέωσον Κύριε τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, ἣν ἐκτήσω, τῷ τιμίῳ σου αἵματι». Ὁ πρωτότοκος ἐκ Πατρὸς πρὸ αἰώνων, πρωτότοκος νήπιος, Κόρης ἀφθόρου, τῷ Ἀδὰμ χεῖρας προτείνων ἐπέφανε. Νηπιόφρονα, τὸν γεγονότα ἀπάτῃ, πρωτόπλαστον ἔμπαλιν ἐπανορθώσων, Θεὸς Λόγος, νηπιάσας ἐπέφανε. Γῆς ἀπόγονον, παλινδρομήσασαν ταύτῃ, Θεότητος σύμμορφον φύσιν ὁ Πλάστης, ὡς ἀτρέπτως νηπιάσας ἀνέδειξε. ᾨδὴ δ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Ἐκάλυψεν οὐρανούς, ἡ ἀρετή σου Χριστέ· τῆς κιβωτοῦ γὰρ προελθών,τοῦ ἁγιάσματός σου, τῆς ἀφθόρου Μητρός, ἐν τῷ ναῷ τῆς δόξης σου, ὤφθης ὡς βρέφος, ἀγκαλοφορούμενος, καὶ ἐπληρώθη τὰ πάντα τῆς σῆς αἰνέσεως». Γηθόμενος Συμεών, τῶν ἀπορρήτων μύστα, ἡ Θεοτόκος ἐβόα, ὃν ὑφ' ἁγίου πάλαι κεχρημάτισαι Πνεύματος, νηπιάσαντα Λόγον, Χριστὸν ἐναγκαλίζου, κράζων αὐτῷ· Ἐπλήσθη τὰ πάντα τῆς σῆς αἰνέσεως. Ἣν ἤλπισας Συμεὼν ἡλικιώτην βρεφῶν, χαίρων ὑπόδεξαι Χριστόν, τοῦ lσραὴλ τοῦ θείου τὴν παράκλησιν, τὸν νόμου Ποιητὴν καὶ Δεσπότην, πληροῦντα νόμου τάξιν, κράζων αὐτῷ· Ἐπλήσθη τὰ πάντα τῆς σῆς αἰνέσεως. Θεώμενος Συμεὼν Λόγον τὸν ἄναρχον, μετὰ σαρκός, ὡς ἐν θρόνῳ Χερουβικῷ, Παρθένῳ ἐποχούμενον, τὸν αἴτιον τοῦ εἶναι τὰ πάντα, ὡς βρέφος, ἐκπλαγεὶς ἐβόα αὐτῷ· Ἐπλήσθη τὰ πάντα τῆς σῆς αἰνέσεως. ᾨδὴ ε' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Ὡς εἶδεν Ἡσαΐας συμβολικῶς, ἐν θρόνῳ ἐπηρμένῳ Θεόν, ὑπ' Ἀγγέλων δόξης δορυφορούμενον, ὦ τάλας! ἐβόα, ἐγώ· πρὸ γὰρ εἶδον σωματούμενον Θεόν, φωτὸς ἀνεσπέρου, καὶ εἰρήνης δεσπόζοντα». Συνεὶς ὁ θεῖος Πρέσβυς, τὴν προφανεῖσαν, πάλαι τῷ Προφήτῃ δόξαν, χερσὶ Λόγον βλέπων Μητρὸς κρατούμενον, ᾧ χαίροις, ἐβόα Σεμνή· ὡς γὰρ θρόνος περιέχεις τόν Θεόν, φωτὸς ἀνεσπέρου, καὶ εἰρήνης δεσπόζοντα. Προκύψας ὁ Πρεσβύτης, καὶ τῶν ἰχνῶν ἐνθέως ἐφαψάμενος, τῆς ἀπειρογάμου καὶ Θεομήτορος, πῦρ, ἔφη, βαστάζεις Ἁγνή, βρέφος φρίττω ἀγκαλίσασθαι Θεόν, φωτός ἀνεσπέρου, καὶ εἰρήνης δεσπόζοντα. Ῥύπτεται Ἡσαΐας, τοῦ Σεραφὶμ τὸν ἄνθρακα δεξάμενος, ὁ Πρέσβυς ἐβόα τῇ Θεομήτορι· σὺ ὥσπερ λαβίδι χερσὶ λαμπρύνεις με, ἐπιδοῦσα ὃν φέρεις, φωτὸς ἀνεσπέρου, καὶ εἰρήνης δεσπόζοντα. ᾨδὴ ς' ὈΕιρμὸς «Ἐβόησέ σοι, ἰδὼν ὁ Πρέσβυς, τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τὸ σωτήριον, ὃ λαοῖς ἐπέστη· Ἐκ Θεοῦ Χριστὲ σὺ Θεός μου». Σιὼν σὺ λίθος, ἐναπετέθης, τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσι προσκόμματος, καὶ σκανδάλου πέτρα, ἀρραγὴς πιστῶν σωτηρία. Βεβαίως φέρων, τὸν χαρακτῆρα, τοῦ πρὸ αἰώνων σε φύσαντος, τὴν βροτῶν δι' οἶκτον, νῦν ἀσθένειαν περιέθου. Υἱὸν Ὑψίστου, Υἱὸν Παρθένου, Θεὸν παιδίον γενόμενον, προσκυνήσαντά σε, νῦν ἀπόλυσον ἐν εἰρήνῃ. ᾨδὴ ζ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Σὲ τὸν ἐν πυρὶ δροσίσαντα, Παῖδας θεολογήσαντας, καὶ Παρθένῳ, ἀκηράτῳ, ἐνοικήσαντα, Θεὸν Λόγον ὑμνοῦμεν, εὐσεβῶς μελῳδοῦντες· Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν». Ἀδὰμ ἐμφανίσων ἄπειμι, εἰς ᾍδου διατρίβοντι, καὶ τῇ Εὔᾳ προσκομίσων εὐαγγέλια, Συμεὼν ἀνεβόα, σὺν Προφήταις χορεύων· Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Γένος χοϊκὸν ῥυσόμενος Θεός, ἕως τοῦ ᾍδου ἥξει, αἰχμαλώτοις δὲ παρέξει πᾶσιν ἄφεσιν, καὶ ἀνάβλεψιν πονηροῖς, ὡς ἀλάλοις βοῆσαι· Εὐλογητός, ὁ Θεὸς ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν. Καὶ σοῦ τὴν καρδίαν ἄφθορε, ῥομφαία διελεύσεται, Συμεὼν τῇ Θεοτόκῳ προηγόρευσεν, ἐν Σταυρῷ καθορώσης, τὸν Υἱὸν ᾧ βοῶμεν· Εὐλογητὸς ὁ Θεός, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.  ᾨδὴ η' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Ἀστέκτῳ πυρὶ ἑνωθέντες, οἱ θεοσεβείας προεστῶτες Νεανίαι, τῇ φλογὶ δὲ μὴ λωβηθέντες, θεῖον ὕμνον ἔμελπον· Εὐλογεῖτε πάντα τὰ ἔργα τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε, εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας». Λαὸς Ἰσραὴλ τὴν σὴν δόξαν, τὸν Ἐμμανουὴλ ὁρῶν παιδίον ἐκ Παρθένου, πρὸ προσώπου τῆς θείας κιβωτοῦ νῦν χόρευε· Εὐλογεῖτε πάντα τὰ ἔργα τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε, εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἰδού, Συμεὼν ἀνεβόα, τὸ ἀντιλεγόμενον σημεῖον οὗτος ἔσται, Θεὸς ὢν καὶ παιδίον, τούτῳ πίστει μέλψωμεν· Εὐλογεῖτε πάντα τὰ ἔργα τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε, εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ζωὴ πεφυκὼς οὗτος ἔσται, πτῶσις ἀπειθοῦσι, νηπιάσας Θεὸς Λόγος, ὡς ἀνάστασις πᾶσι, τοῖς πίστει μέλπουσιν· Εὐλογεῖτε πάντα τὰ ἔργα τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ὑπερυψοῦτε, εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰῶνας. ᾨδὴ θ' Ὁ Εἱρμὸς «Ἐν νόμῳ, σκιᾷ καὶ γράμματι, τύπον κατίδωμεν οἱ πιστοί, πᾶν ἄρσεν τὸ τὴν μήτραν διανοῖγον, ἅγιον Θεῷ· διὸ πρωτότοκον Λόγον, Πατρὸς ἀνάρχου Υἱόν, πρωτοτοκούμενον Μητρί, ἀπειράνδρῳ, μεγαλύνομεν». Τοῖς πρὶν νεογνῶν τρυγόνων ζεῦγος, δυάς τε ἦν νεοσσῶν, ἀνθ' ὧν ὁ θεῖος Πρέσβυς, καὶ σώφρων Ἄννα προφῆτις, τῷ ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντι, καὶ οἵῳ γόνῳ Πατρός, ἐν τῷ ναῷ προσιόντι, λειτουργοῦντες ἐμεγάλυνον. Ἀπέδωκάς μοι ἐβόα Συμεών, τοῦ σωτηρίου σου Χριστὲ ἀγαλλίασιν΄ ἀπόλαβέ σου τὸν λάτριν, τὸν τῇ σκιᾷ κεκμηκότα, νέον τῆς χάριτος, ἱεροκήρυκα μύστην, ἐν αἰνέσει μεγαλύνοντα. Ἱεροπρεπῶς ἀνθωμολογεῖτο, Ἄννα ὑποφητεύουσα, ἡ σώφρων καὶ Ὁσία, καὶ Πρέσβυρα τῷ Δεσπότῃ, ἐν τῷ ναῷ διαρρήδην, τὴν Θεοτόκον δὲ ἀνακηρύττουσα, πᾶσι τοῖς παροῦσιν ἐμεγάλυνεν.	The Canon, which bears the acrostic Joyously the elder embraceth Christ. Composition of the Monk Cosmas ODE I Tone 3 The Heirmos “The sun once shone with its rays upon dry land in the midst of the deep; for the water on both sides became firm as a wall while the people crossed the sea on foot, chanting this song in manner pleasing to God: Let us sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously!” Let the clouds drop down rain, for Christ the Sun, riding upon a swift cloud, is borne by pure hands as a Babe into the temple. Wherefore, let us cry aloud, O ye faithful: Let us sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously! Be strong, O ye hands of Simeon, made feeble by age, and ye weak legs of the elder, make haste straightway to meet Christ. And, forming a choir with the bodiless powers, let us sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously! Sing, O heavens made by His excellent wisdom; and be joyful, O earth; for Christ the Craftsman, Who came forth from the bosom of the Godhead and who was before all things, is offered as a newborn Babe to God His Father in the temple by His Mother the Virgin: for He hath triumphed gloriously! ODE III The Heirmos “O Lord, Thou firm foundation of them that put their trust in Thee, do Thou confirm the Church, which Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood.” He Who is the firstborn of the Father before all ages hath appeared as the firstborn child of the undefiled Virgin, extending His outstretched hand to Adam. God the Word hath appeared as a Child, that He might restore the first-formed man who, through deception, had become childish in his mind. The Creator, having without change become a young Child, hath reshaped our nature, which shall return unto the ground out of which it was taken, according to the form of His divinity. ODE IV The Heirmos “Thy virtue, O Christ, hath covered the heavens; for, coming forth from the Ark of Thy holiness, from Thine immaculate Mother, Thou hast appeared in the temple of Thy glory as a Babe in arms, and the whole world hath been filled with Thy praise.” The Theotokos cried: Rejoice, O Simeon, initiate of ineffable mysteries, and take thou in thine arms Christ the Word become a Babe, of Whom thou wast told of old by the Holy Spirit; and cry unto Him: The whole world hath been filled with Thy praise! O Simeon, receive with joy the infant Christ, the Consolation of God's Israel, upon which thou hast set thy hope, the Maker and Master of the Law Who fulfilleth the ritual of the Law; and cry unto Him: The whole world hath been filled with Thy praise! Beholding the Word that is without beginning, the Cause of all being, carried as a Babe in the flesh by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, Simeon marveled and cried out to Him: The whole world hath been filled with Thypraise! ODE V The Heirmos “When, in a vision, Isaiah saw God sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and borne in triumph by angels of glory, he cried out: "Woe is me! for I have seen beforehand God made flesh, the Light that knoweth no evening and the King of peace.” The godly elder, seeing before him the Word held in His Mother's arms, understood that this was the Glory made manifest of old to the prophet, and cried out: "Rejoice, O holy Lady, for as a throne dost thou bear God, the Light that knoweth no evening and the King of peace." Bowing down and reverently touching the feet of the Mother of God who kneweth not wedlock, the elder said: "O pure Lady, thou dost bear Fire. I am afraid to embrace the infant God, the Light that knoweth no evening and the King of peace." "Isaiah was purged, receiving the live coal from one of the seraphim," cried the elder to the Mother of God; "And thou dost enlighten me, as thou dost entrust to me, with thy hands as with tongs, Him whom thou bearest, the Light that knoweth no evening and the King of peace." ODE VI The Heirmos “The elder, having seen with his eyes the salvation which was come to all people, cried aloud unto Thee: "O Christ that earnest from God, Thou art my God!” Thou hast been set up in Zion to be a stumbling stone and a rock of offense for the disobedient, but unto the faithful salvation which cannot be broken. Bearing faithfully the likeness of Him Who begat Thee before the ages, Thou hast now for pity's sake put on the weakness of mortal man. Now lettest Thou depart in peace him that doth worship Thee as Son of the Most High and Son of the Virgin: God become a Babe. ODE VII The Heirmos “We praise Thee, O Word of God, Who in the midst of the fire bedewed the children as they discoursed on things divine, and hast made Thy dwelling within the pure Virgin, and piously we chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!” Simeon cried: "I depart to declare the glad tidings to Adam and Eve abiding in hell;" and with the prophets he sang, rejoicing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou! "To deliver our race, formed of the dust of the ground, God will go down even unto hell; and He will redeem all the captives, and give sight to the blind; and the dumb shall cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!" ''Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy heart, O all-pure Virgin," Simeon prophesied to the Theotokos, "When thou shalt see Thy Son upon the Cross, to Whom we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!" ODE VIII The Heirmos “Standing together in the unbearable fire, yet unharmed by the flame, the Children, champions of piety, chanted a divine hymn: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, and exalt Him above all for ever.” O ye children of Israel, beholding your glory, Emmanuel, the Child of the Virgin, offered before the Ark of God, dance now and sing together: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, and exalt Him above all for ever. Simeon said, Behold, this Child, Who is both God and man, is set for a sign which shall be spoken against. In faith let us sing unto Him: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, and exalt Him above all forever. He that is Life, God the Word, hath here become a little Child; and He is set for the fall of the disobedient and the rising again of all them that sing with faith: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, and exalt Him above all for ever. ODE IX The Heirmos “In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern the prototype: Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Wherefore, we magnify the firstborn Word and Son of the unoriginate Father, Who became the firstborn Child of the Mother who kneweth not man.” Of old the people offered a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons, for an atonement; but in their stead the godly elder and Anna, the chaste prophetess, ministered and gave glory to the only-begotten Son of the Father, the Child of the Virgin, as He was brought into the temple. "Thou hast vouchsafed unto me the exceeding joy of Thy salvation, O Christ," cried Simeon. "Take Thy servant, who is weary of the shadow of the Law, and make him a sacred herald of the new mystery of grace, as he doth magnify Thee in praise!" The holy Anna, sober in spirit and of a great age, reverently confessed the Master openly in the temple; and proclaiming the Theotokos, she magnified her before all who were present.	TONE THREE Canticle One (Irmos) The sun once shone with its rays upon dry land in the midst of the deep. For the water on both sides became firm as a wall while the people crossed the sea on foot, offering this song acceptable to God: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified. Once did the sun look down upon the surface of the dry abysm-bearing plain; # for the water like a wall on either side was congealed, # for a people walking crossed the sea, making God-appealing melody. # Sing to the Lord for He has been gloriously glorified. Let the clouds drop with rain: for Christ the Sun, riding upon a swift cloud,* is carried by pure hands as a babe into the temple. Therefore let us, the faithful, cry aloud: Let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.                                    *Isaiah 19:1 Ye hands of Simeon, weakened by age, be strong,* and ye, the feeble legs of the Elder, run straight to meet Christ. Forming a choir with the bodiless powers, let us sing to the Lord, for He has been greatly glorified.       *Isaiah 35:3 Be joyful, O heavens stretched out in wisdom, and be ye exceeding glad, O earth.* For Christ the Artificer, who came forth from the bosom of the Godhead and who was before all things, as a newborn child is offered to God His Father in the temple by His Mother the Virgin: for He has been greatly glorified.   *Psalm 135:5; Isaiah 49:13 Canticle Three (Irmos) O Lord, the firm foundation of those that put their trust in Thee, do Thou confirm the Church, which Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood. As the firm support of those who hope in You firmly, # O Lord, now confirm the Church that You established, # which You purchased for yourself with Your precious Blood. The firstborn of the Father before all ages has appeared from an undefiled Maiden as a firstborn child and He stretches out His hands to Adam. That He might restore the first-formed man, who through beguilement had become childish in his mind,* God the Word has appeared as a child.   *Ephes 4:14 The Creator, having become a young child without undergoing change, has reshaped according to the form of His divinity our nature, taken from the earth and destined to return to earth once more. Canticle Four (Irmos) Thy virtue, O Christ, has covered the heavens, for proceeding forth from the Ark of Thy sanctification, * from Thine undefiled Mother, Thou hast appeared in the temple of Thy glory as an infant in arms, and the whole world has been filled with Thy praise.            *Psalm 131:8 The heavens were covered by Your virtue, O Christ. # For coming forth from the Ark of Your holiness, Your Mother who sustained no corruption, # You appeared today in Your glorious Temple, as an infant held in arms. # And the entire creation was filled with Your praise. The Theotokos cried: 'O Simeon, knower of mysteries past speech, with rejoicing take in thine arms Christ the Word become a child, concerning whom thou wast told long since by the Holy Spirit * and shout aloud to Him: The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.'                                 *Luke 2:26 O Simeon, receive with joy Christ in age a babe, the Consolation of God's Israel, * for which thou hast hoped, the Maker and Master of the Law who fulfils the order of the Law; and cry unto Him: 'The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.'              *Luke 2:25 Simeon was amazed when he beheld incarnate the Word that is without beginning, carried by the Virgin as on the throne of the cherubim, the Cause of all being, Himself become a babe; and he cried aloud to Him: 'The whole world has been filled with Thy praise.' Canticle Five (Irmos) In a figure Isaiah saw God upon a throne, lifted up on high and borne in triumph by angels of glory; and he cried: 'Woe is me ! For I have seen beforehand God made flesh; Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace. *                             *Isaiah 6: 1-5 Isaiah once symbolically saw God # seated on an elevated throne # with a host of glorious Angels standing with Him. # He cried, "Woe is me; I am lost! # With my eyes I have foreseen incarnate God, # and He is the Master of never-setting light and peace." The aged servant of God, seeing before him the Word held in the arms of His Mother, understood that this was the Glory made manifest of old to the Prophet [Isaiah];  and he cried, 'Rejoice! O holy Lady; for as a throne dost thou carry God, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.' The Elder bent down and reverently touched the foot prints of the Mother of God who knew not wedlock, and he said: 'O pure Lady, thou dost carry Fire. I am afraid to take, God as a babe in my arms, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.' 'Isaiah was cleansed by receiving the coal from the seraphim', * cried the old man to the Mother of God. 'Thou dost fill me with light as thou dost entrust to me, with thy hands as with tongs, Him whom thou holdest, Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.'                            *Isaiah 6:6 Canticle Six (Irmos) The Elder, having seen with his eyes the salvation that was come to the peoples, cried aloud unto Thee: 'O Christ that comest from God, Thou art my God.' The Elder cried out # when with his own eyes # he clearly saw Your salvation, O Lord, # which is for all peoples,# "God from God are You, Christ my Savior." Thou hast been set up in Zion as a stumbling stone and rock of offence for the disobedient, * but unto the faithful Thou art salvation which cannot be broken.   *Is 8:14, 28:16 ;Lk 2:34; Rom 9:33 Bearing faithfully the image of Him who begat Thee before all ages, Thou hast now from pity put on the weakness of mortal man. Now lettest Thou depart in peace him who worships Thee as Son of the Most High and Son of the Virgin, God become a child. Canticle Seven (lrmos) O Word of God who in the midst of the fire hast dropped dew upon the Children as they discoursed on things divine, and who hast taken up Thy dwelling in the pure Virgin: Thee do we praise as with piety we sing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou. In the fire You refreshed with dew the three Youths as they theologized; # and You dwelt within the Virgin who was undefiled. # God the Logos, we hymn You, # and we chant devoutly, # saying, "Blessed are You, the God of our Fathers." 'I depart', cried Simeon, 'to declare the good tidings to Adam abiding in hell and to Eve'; and with the prophets he sang rejoicing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou. 'To deliver our kind formed from dust, God will go down even unto hell: He will give freedom to all the captives and sight to the blind, and will grant the dumb to cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.' 'And a sword shall pierce thy heart, O All-Pure Virgin,' * Simeon foretold to the Theotokos, 'when thou shalt see thy Son upon the Cross to whom we cry aloud: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.'                       *Luke 2:35 Canticle Eight (Irmos) Standing together in the unbearable fire yet not harmed by the flame, the Children; champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the' Lord and exalt Him above all for ever. The Youths, being piety's defenders, # as if joining battle with the unbearable fire, # and uninjured by the flame, sang a divine hymn exultantly, # "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, # and exalt supremely unto all the ages." O people of Israel, beholding thy Glory, Emmanuel the Child of the Virgin, offered before the Ark of God, dance now and sing together: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever. 'Lo', cried Simeon, 'this is He who is at once God and a child, who shall become a sign that is spoken against. * Unto Him in faith let us sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.'   *Lk 2:34 He that is Life, God the Word, has here become a little child: and He shall be the fall of the disobedient and the rising again of all those who sing with faith: * O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.                                  *Luke 2:34 Canticle Nine  (Irmos) In the shadow and the letter of the Law, let us, the faithful, discern a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God.* Therefore do we magnify the firstborn Word and Son of the Father without beginning, the firstborn Child of a Mother who had not known man. *Ex13:2 O believers, come let us perceive # a type in the law, and the shadow and the letter. # Every male that opens the womb shall be holy to God. # So the unoriginate Father's firstborn Logos and Son, # who is the firstborn of the Mother who knew not man, we magnify. Of old the people offered a pair of doves and two young pigeons. * In their stead the godly Elder and Ann the prophetess, sober in spirit, ministered and gave glory to the Child of the Virgin, the Only-begotten Son of the Father, as He was brought into the temple.                                    *Leviticus 2:8 A pair of doves or young pigeons was required# of old. Now instead of these, the divine Elder# and the chaste Anna, the prophetess,# minister to the Father's progeny,# who was born of the Virgin, and who was brought by her# to the Temple. And Him they magnified. 'Thou hast committed to me the exceeding joy of Thy salvation, O Christ', cried Simeon. 'Take Thy servant, who is weary of the shadow, and make him a new preacher of the mystery of grace, as he magnifies Thee in praise.' O Master Christ, You restored to me the joy # of Your salvation, cried Symeon the Elder in the Temple.# And now receive me Your servant,# who is weary of the shadow,# and yet a new initiate and preacher of Your grace,# and who praises You and magnifies. Holy Ann, sober in spirit and venerable in years, with reverence confessed the Master freely and openly in the temple; and proclaiming the Theotokos, she magnified her before all who were present. The chaste and devout and elderly # Anna was openly professing the divine will# in the Temple; and with sacred reverence# she gave thanks to the Master.# And to all who were there # she proclaimed the Theotokos, whom she magnified.
ᾨδὴ θ' ΜΕΓΑΛΥΝΑΡΙΑ Ψαλλόμενα ἐν τῇ ᾨδῇ ταύτῃ Ἦχος γ' The Magnificat and Greater in honour than the cherubim are not sung, but before the irmos and the troparia we sing the following megalynaria: * *Since the megalynaria differ widely in the Greek and Slavonic books, the texts of both have been included. Ἀκατάληπτόν ἐστι, τὸ τελούμενον ἐν σοί, καὶ Ἀγγέλοις καὶ βροτοῖς, Μητροπάρθενε ἁγνή. (Greek) That which is fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of angels and mortal men, O pure Virgin Mother. Past the understanding of # all the angels, mortals, too, # Virgin Mother, Lady pure, # is that which occurred in you. (Slav) That which is fulfilled in thee is beyond the understanding of angels and mortal men, O pure Virgin Mother. Ἀγκαλίζεται χερσίν, ὁ Πρεσβύτης Συμεών, τὸν τοῦ νόμου Ποιητήν, καὶ Δεσπότην τοῦ παντός. (Greek) Simeon the Elder takes in his arms the Maker of the Law and Master of all. In his arms the Elder one, # Symeon, embraces You, # the Creator of the Law # and the Governor of All. (Slav) O Godbearing Simeon, come thou and lift up Christ, whom the pure Virgin bore. Βουληθεὶς ὁ Πλαστουργός, ἵνα σώσῃ τὸν Ἀδάμ, μήτραν ᾤκησε τὴν σήν, τῆς Παρθένου καὶ ἁγνῆς. (Greek) The Creator, wishing to save Adam, took up His dwelling in thy pure and virgin womb. Wishing Adam to be saved, # He who fashioned us abode # in the womb immaculate # of the Virgin Lady pure. (Slav) O Christ, the King of all, grant Orthodox Christians victory over their enemies. Γένος ἅπαν τῶν βροτῶν, μακαρίζει σε Ἁγνή, καὶ δοξάζει σε πιστῶς, ὡς Μητέρα τοῦ Θεοῦ.  (Greek) All mankind blesses thee, O pure Virgin, and in faith glorifies thee as Mother of God. Every generation of # mortal nature blesses you, # and, as Mother of our God, # gives you glory, Lady pure. (Slav) O Maiden Mary, enlighten my soul which is grievously darkened by the lusts of life. Δεῦτε, ἴδετε Χριστόν, τὸν Δεσπότην τοῦ παντός, ὃν βαστάζει Συμεών, σήμερον ἐν τῷ ναῷ. (Greek) Come ye and behold Christ the Master of all, whom Simeon carries today in the temple. Come and see the Christ who is # Lord and Master of all things, # who today by Symeon # to the Temple now is borne. (Slav) Simeon the Elder takes in his arms the Maker of the Law and Master of all. Ἐπιβλέπεις πρὸς τὴν γῆν, καὶ ποιεῖς τρέμειν αὐτήν, καὶ πῶς γέρων κεκμηκώς, σὲ κατέχει ἐν χερσὶ; (Greek) 'Thou dost look down upon the earth and make it tremble: how then can I, aged and weary, hold Thee in mine arms?' You look down upon the earth # and thereby You make it quake; # how then does a worn old man # hold You now within his arms? (Slav) Ann, sober in spirit, makes terrible things known, as she confesses Christ Creator of heaven and earth. Ζήσας ἔτη Συμεών, ἕως εἶδε τὸν Χριστόν, καὶ ἐβόα πρὸς αὐτόν. Νῦν ἀπόλυσιν ζητῶ.  (Greek) Simeon had lived for many years when he beheld: Christ and cried aloud to Him: 'Now do I seek my release.' Symeon lived many years, # till the Christ he was to see, # then to Him he called aloud, # "My departure now I seek." (Slav) 'It is not the old man who holds Me, but I uphold him: for he begs Me to let him depart.' Ἡ λαβὶς ἡ μυστική, ἡ τὸν ἄνθρακα Χριστόν, συλλαβοῦσα ἐν γαστρί, σὺ ὑπάρχεις Μαριάμ. (Greek) Mary, thou art the mystic Tongs, who hast conceived in thy womb Christ the live Coal. *      *Isaiah 6:6 You indeed, O Mariam, # have become the mystic tongs, # which enclosed the burning coal, # Christ conceived within your womb. (Slav) O mystical Tongs, * how dost thou bear the Coal How dost thou feed Him who gives food to all?      *Isaiah 6:6 Θέλων ἐνηνθρώπησας, ὁ προάναρχος Θεός, καὶ ναῷ προσφέρεσαι, τεσσαρακονθήμερος. (Greek) O God, who wast before all things began, of Thine own will Thou hast become man and art carried, a child forty days old, into the temple. You, the pre-eternal God, # willed that You would take on flesh; # and so after forty days, # to the Temple You are brought. (Slav) O Virgin Theotokos, thou good Helper of the world, protect and preserve us from all necessity and grief. Κατελθόντ' ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, τὸν Δεσπότην τοῦ παντός, ὑπεδέξατο αὐτόν, Συμεὼν ὁ Ἱερεύς. (Greek) Simeon the priest received the Lord of all, come down from heaven. Having come from heav'n above # is the Master of all things; # He is welcomed to His home # by the priest called Symeon. (Slav) O daughter of Phanuel [Ann the prophetess (Lk 2:36)], come and stand with us, and give thanks to Christ our Saviour, the Son of God. Λάμπρυνόν μου τὴν ψυχήν, καὶ τὸ φῶς τὸ αἰσθητόν, ὅπως ἴδω καθαρῶς, καὶ κηρύξω σε Θεόν. (Greek) Illuminate my soul and the light of my senses, that I may see Thee in purity: and I will proclaim that Thou art God. Make my soul to shine, O Lord, # with the light perceptible, # that I purely look on You, # and proclaim You as my God. (Slav) O Christ, the King of all, give me warm tears; that I may weep for my soul which I have lost in evil. Μητροπάρθενε ἁγνή, τί προσφέρεις τῷ ναῷ, νέον βρέφος ἀποδούς, ἐν ἀγκάλαις Συμεών; O pure Virgin Mother, why dost Thou bring into the temple a newborn babe and commit Him into the hands of Simeon? Virgin Mother, Lady pure, # to the Temple what bring you? # "I now offer my new babe # to the arms of Symeon." (Slav) The pure Dove, the Ewe without blemish, brings the Lamb and Shepherd into the temple. Νῦν ἀπόλυσιν ζητῶ, ἀπὸ σοῦ τοῦ Πλαστουργοῦ, ὅτι εἶδόν σε Χριστέ, τὸ σωτήριόν μου φῶς. (Greek) 'From Thee, the Creator, I now seek release: for I have seen Thee, O Christ, my Salvation and my Light.' Now departure do I seek # from my Lord and Fashioner, # for I saw You, O my Christ, # You, who are my saving Light. Ὃν οἱ ἄνω λειτουργοί, τρόμῳ λιτανεύουσι, κάτω νῦν ὁ Συμεών, ἀγκαλίζεται χερσί. Him whom the Ministers at the Liturgy on high entreat with trembling, here below Simeon now takes in his arms. Him, whom liturgists above # trembling praise in litany, # now below does Symeon # hold, embracing in his arms. Δόξα... Ἡ τῇ φύσει μὲν Μονάς, τοῖς προσώποις δὲ Τριάς, φύλαττε τοὺς δούλους σου, τοὺς πιστεύοντας εἰς σέ.  (Greek) O Thou by nature One but in Persons Three; watch over Thy servants who put their faith in Thee. You by nature are but One, # yet in persons Trinity; # set a guard around those who, # serving, do believe in You. (Slav) Let us praise in piety the threefold Light of the Godhead in three Persons. Καὶ νῦν... Θεοτόκε ἡ ἐλπίς, πάντων τῶν Χριστιανῶν, σκέπε φρούρει φύλαττε, τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας εἰς σέ. (Greek) O Theotokos, thou Hope of all Christians, protect, watch over, and guard all those who put their hope in thee. Theotokos, as the hope # of us Christians, one and all, # guard and shelter and protect # those who put their hope in you. (Slav) O Virgin Theotokos, thou Hope of all Christians, watch over, and guard all those who put their hope in thee.
This insert is a gift from our Byzantine School.  We invite you to join us on the last Wednesday of each month at 6 pm, as we explore the selection of liturgy “specials” for each week, and other issues related to the liturgical services of our Church. Next mtg – 02/26/14. Please consult the Sunday Bulletin for our regular announcements, or contact Tasos Ioannides, ioanniam@uc.edu or (513)556-3137.  Translation Sources: http://documents.ocanwa.org/documents/DailyStichera/02_February/02-08.pdf from St John of Chicago Orthodox Church, OCA, Rogers, AR; Kallistos Ware and Mother Mary, The Festal Menaion.  Father Seraphim Dedes, http://www.ematins.org/matins.htm