Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God

8 September

Troparion, Tone 4.
Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, hath proclaimed joy to all the world; for from thee hath dawned the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Annulling the curse, He hath bestowed a blessing; and having done away with death, He hath given us eternal life.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion, Tone 4.
Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O most pure one, by thine holy Nativity, which thy people, delivered from the guilt of sin, celebrate as they cry unto thee: A barren woman beareth the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3.
Saint Luke 1:46-48.
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Verse: Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians.
Philippians §240 (2:5-11).
Brethren: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia, Tone 8.
Psalm 44:11a, 13b.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: Hearken, O daughter, and see: and incline thine ear. Alleluia.
Verse 2: The rich among the people: shall entreat thy countenance.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §54 (10:38-42; 11:27-28).
At that time: Jesus entered into a certain town: and a woman named Martha, received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard His word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast Thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? Speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: but one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her. And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him: Blessed is the womb that bore Thee, and the paps that gave Thee suck. But He said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.

In the place of “It is truly meet.”
Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious nativity of the Mother of God.
Irmos: Foreign to mothers is virginity, and strange is childbirth for virgins, yet both were accomplished in thee, O Theotokos. Wherefore, we and all generations of the earth without ceasing do magnify thee.

Communion.
Psalm 115:4.
I will take the chalice of salvation: and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.