The Conception of the All-Pure Mother of God

9 December

Tropar’, Tone 4.
Today the bonds of barrenness are loosed; for Joachim and Anna have been heard by God. Beyond all expectation they will indeed bring into the world the Maiden of God, from whom the Infinite Himself is pleased to be born as an earthly man; and He commanded the angels to cry out to her: Rejoice, thou that art full of grace; the Lord is with thee.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kondak, Tone 4.
Podóben: Thou hast appeared.
Today the Church doth celebrate Anna’s conception, which was brought to pass by God; for she gave birth to her who beyond words hast borne the Word.

Prokimen, Tone 4. Psalm 67:36,27.
God is wonderful in His saints: the God of Israel.
Verse: In the churches bless ye God the Lord: from the fountains of Israel.

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians.
Galatians §210c (4:22-31).
Brethren: Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sinai, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar: For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free.

Alleluia, Tone 1. Psalm 36:39, 40.
Verse 1: The salvation of the just is from the Lord: and He is their protector in the time of trouble.
Verse 2: The Lord will help them and deliver them: and He will rescue them from the wicked, and save them, because they have hoped in Him.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §36 (8:16-21).
The Lord said: “No man lighting a candle covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it upon a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light. For there is not any thing secret that shall not be made manifest, nor hidden, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and whosoever hath not, that also which he thinketh he hath, shall be taken away from him.” And His mother and brethren came unto Him; and they could not come at Him for the crowd. And it was told Him: “Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to see Thee.” Who answering, said to them: “My mother and My brethren are they who hear the word of God, and do it.”

Zadostoinik.
Magnify, O my soul, the wondrous Conception of the Mother of God.
Irmos: O ye faithful, let us bless the Theotokos: the Life-receiving and ever-flowing fountain, the Light-bearing lamp of grace, the animate temple, the all-pure tabernacle which is more spacious than heaven and earth.

Communion. Psalm 32:1.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

22 December 2025