Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

1 October

Troparion, Tone 4.
Today we Orthodox people joyfully keep festival, overshadowed by thy coming among us, O Mother of God; and as we gaze upon thy most pure image, we say with compunction: Shelter us with thy precious Protection; and deliver us from every evil; and entreat thy Son, Christ our God, that He save our souls.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion, Tone 3.
The Virgin today doth stand before us in the church, and together with the choirs of the saints she doth invisibly pray to God for us. The angels worship with the hierarchs; the Apostles exult with the Prophets; for the Theotokos prayeth for us to Christ, the pre-eternal God.

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 Hebrews.
Hebrews §320 (9:1-7).
Brethren: The former covenant had justifications of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the holy. And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holy of holies: having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna, and the rod of Aaron, that had blossomed, and the tables of the testament. And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly. Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of sacrifices. But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own, and the people’s ignorance.

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.

Zadostoinik.
Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious Protection of the Mother of God.
Irmos: Let every earthborn man leap up, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences hold festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let it cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, thou pure Ever-virgin!

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