The Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

Sunday between 13 and 19 July

Resurrectional Troparion of the Tone.

Troparion of the Holy Fathers, Tone 8.
Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our fathers as luminaries on earth, and thereby hast guided us all to the true faith. O Most Merciful One, glory to Thee.

Resurrectional Kontakion of the Tone.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion of the Fathers, Tone 8.
The preaching of the Apostles and the teaching of the Fathers hath sealed the Church with a single faith; and wearing the garment of truth, woven from supernal theology, she doth define and glorify the great mystery of piety.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion of the Tone, or
Kontakion, Tone 6.
O advocate of Christians, who cannot be put to shame, constant mediatrix before the Creator, despise not the imploring voices of sinners, but in thy goodness advance to the aid of us who call to thee in faith: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever help them that honour thee, O Mother of God.

Prokeimenon of the Tone.

Prokeimenon of the Fathers, Tone 4.
Daniel 3:26.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers: and Thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.

Apostle of the Sunday.

Apostle of the Fathers.
Hebrews §334 (13:7-16).
Brethren: remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever. Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the heart be established with grace, not with meats; which have not profited those that walk in them. We have an altar, whereof they have no power to eat who serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holies by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to His name. And do not forget to do good, and to impart; for by such sacrifices God’s favour is obtained.

Alleluia of the Tone.

Alleluia of the Fathers, Tone 1.
Psalm 49:1, 5.
Verse: The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and He hath called the earth: from the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof.

Gospel of the Sunday.

Gospel of the Fathers.
Saint John §56 (17:1-13).
At that time: Jesus, lifting up His eyes to heaven, said: Father, the hour is come, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee. As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He may give eternal life to all whom Thou hast given Him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now glorify Thou Me, O Father, with Thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with Thee. I have manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou hast given Me out of the world. Thine they were, and to Me Thou gavest them; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known, that all things which Thou hast given Me, are from Thee: because the words which Thou gavest Me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom Thou hast given Me: because they are Thine: and all My things are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me; that they may be one, as We also are. While I was with them, I kept them in Thy name. Those whom Thou gavest Me have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture may be fulfilled. And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy filled in themselves.

Communion of the Sunday.