Dec 09: The Conception of St. Anna,
When She Conceived the Most Holy Mother of God
Text from “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship”; Pg. 734
Troparion (Tone 4): Today the chains of barrennes are shattered,* for having heard the prayer of Joachim and Anna,* against all hope God has openly promised* the birth of the Maiden of God,* from whom the very Infinite One will be born as a man,* the One who commanded the angels to cry to her.* Rejoice, O full of grace, the Lord is with you.
+Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion (Tone 4): Today the whole world celebrates* the conception by Anna,* which was brought about by God himself,* for she has ineffably borne the one who will bear the Word.
Prokimenon (Tone 4): God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel (Ps 67:36).
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel (Ps 67:27).
Epistle: (Ga 4:22-31): Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, ‘Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.’ Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’ So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.
Alleluia: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their protector in time of trouble (Ps 36:39).
verse: The Lord will help them and rescue them; He will deliver them from sinners and save them, for they hoped in Him (Ps 36:40).
Gospel: (Lk 8:16-21) (Feast): The Lord said: ‘No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.’ Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’
Instead of “It is truly…”: O my soul, magnify the most glorious conception of the Mother of God.
Irmos (Tone 1): Let us magnify the Mother of God,* wellspring everflowing and life-receiving,* the light-bearing lamp of grace,* the living temple and tabernacle all pure,* even more spacious than heaven and earth.
Communion Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous
(Ps 32:1). Alleluia! (3x)
Great Vespers (RoyalDoors.net):
PDF – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
DOC – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
G-DOC – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
Divine Liturgy:
PDF – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
PDF – Dec 09 – The Conception of St. Anna – UKRAINIAN
PDF – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
DOC – Dec 09- The Conception of St. Anna – ENGLISH
DOC – Dec 09 – The Conception of St. Anna – UKRAINIAN