Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

Sunday between 11 and 17 December

Resurrectional Troparion of the Tone.

Troparion of the Forefathers, Tone 2.
By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, and through them didst Thou betroth to Thyself beforehand the Church that is from among the nations. The saints boast in glory; for from their seed came the fruit of her who gave birth to Thee without seed. By their prayers, O Christ our God, do Thou save our souls.

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion of the Fathers, Tone 6.
A hand-wrought image ye would not worship, O thrice blessed ones; but, armed by the undepictable Essence, ye were glorified in your fiery ordeal. Standing in the midst of the unbearable flames, ye called upon God: Make haste, O Compassionate One, and, as Thou art merciful, hurry to help us; for what Thou willest, Thou canst do.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4.
Daniel 3:26,27a.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers: and Thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever.
Verse: For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done to us.

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
Colossians §257 (3:4–11).
Brethren: When Christ shall appear, Who is your life, then you also shall appear with Him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols. For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief, in which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth. Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of Him that created him. Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all.

Alleluia, Tone 4.
Psalm 98:6.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: Moses and Aaron among His priests: and Samuel among them that call upon His name. Alleluia.
Verse 2: They called upon the Lord, and He heard them. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §76 (14:16–24).
The Lord spoke this parable: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready. And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused. And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame. And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper. Many are called, but few are chosen.

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