HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH 45:11-17
King James Version
11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.
14 Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.
16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
17 But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
GENESIS 22:1-18
King James Version
22 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
King James Version
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Although often publicly encouraged by His Eminence Archbishop Chrysostomos, of blessed memory, that Orthodox Christians should be ashamed to neglect reading at least the epistle and gospel each day, the Paragon can also offer other encouragement to accelerate the transition from this age of deception into our permanent homes. And yes, while yet in this life! What are the accelerants you may ask? Stop for a moment and consider the things you do to accelerate you're interest and participation in things you desire. For instance sports. We watch the scores, the personal lives of the athletes, and so on, which results in accelerating our desire to become "fans". Is it not much the same in the change from "life" to "LIFE"? Why "life" and "LIFE"? The time we have here is only "life" because it transitions into death. "LIFE" is timeless, eternal and without death, suffering or pain, etc. Subsequently, if "life" is focused entirely on Christ, then death is merely its transitions into "LIFE".
AKATHISTOS TO OUR MOST HOLY
IMMACULATE EVER-VIRGIN MOTHER
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
From Pascha through the Apodosis of Pascha, "Heavenly King..."and the "Trisagion"
are NOT read but rather Christ is risen from the dead...3x
Glory to Thee O our God,
Glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good gifts and the Giver of life: come and abide in us,
and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us.
(x 3)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins;
Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, which art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit both now and ever and unto the ages. Amen.
Coming to the knowledge of that which was commanded in secret,
the bodiless Angel hastened to stand before the dwelling of Joseph, saying to her who knew not wedlock:
He Who bowed down the Heavens by His descent is contained wholly in thee without change.
Beholding Him in thy womb, taking the form of a servant, I marvel, crying unto thee:
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
To thee, O Guardian Leader, do I, thy City, ascribe hymns of victory and thanksgiving,
having been delivered from perils, O Theotokos; but as thou hast dominion invincible,
do thou free me from dangers of every kind, that I might cry to thee:
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
An Angel, first in rank, was sent from Heaven
to say to the Theotokos
Rejoice
Most Holy Theotokos
Save us
3x
And beholding Thee, O Lord, assuming bodily form, he stood marveling,
and with his bodiless voice cried unto her such things as these:
Rejoice, thou through whom joy shall shine forth;
Rejoice, thou through whom the curse shall vanish.
Rejoice, Restoration of fallen Adam;
Rejoice, Redemption of the tears of Eve.
Rejoice, Height hard to scale for human thoughts;
Rejoice, Depth hard to fathom, even for the eyes of Angels.
Rejoice, thou that art the Throne of the King;
Rejoice, thou who holdest the Upholder of all.
Rejoice, Star showing forth the Sun;
Rejoice, Womb of the Divine Incarnation.
Rejoice, thou through whom the created world is made new;
Rejoice, thou through whom the Creator was born a babe.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Being aware of her own innocence, the Holy one said boldly to Gabriel:
The strangeness of thine utterance striketh my soul as hard to accept;
indeed, how speakest thou of birth from a seedless conception?
And she cried:
Alleluia!
Craving to know knowledge unknown, the Virgin cried to the ministering Angel:
From chaste loins, how is it possible for a Son to be born? Tell thou me.
Then he spake to her in fear, with joy as songs, cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, Vine bearing the unfading Shoot;
Rejoice, Land yielding the unspoiled Fruit.
Rejoice, thou who tendest the Yeoman Who loveth mankind;
Rejoice, thou who engenderest the Tender of our life.
Rejoice, Tilled land sprouting forth a rich harvest of tender mercies;
Rejoice, Table laden with an abundance of lenities.
Rejoice, for thou causest the Meadow of Delight to blossom anew;
Rejoice, for thou preparest a Harbor for souls.
Rejoice, acceptable Incense of intercession;
Rejoice, Reconciliation for the whole world.
Rejoice, Goodwill of God to mortals;
Rejoice, Bold Access of mortals to God.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Feeling within himself a tempest of doubtful thoughts,
the prudent Joseph was troubled, seeing thee unwed,
and he suspected an illicit union, O Blameless one;
but learning of thy conception from the Holy Spirit, he said:
Alleluia!
Gladly did the Angels hymn Christ’s Advent in the flesh;
hearing this, the shepherds, running as to a Shepherd,
beheld Him Who grazed in Mary’s womb
as a blameless Lamb, and her they hymned, saying:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and Shepherd;
Rejoice, Fold of the rational sheep.
Rejoice, Defense against invisible foes;
Rejoice, thou Who openest the portals of Paradise
Rejoice, for the things of Heaven rejoice with the earth;
Rejoice, for the things of earth join chorus with the Heavens.
Rejoice, never-silent Mouth of the Apostles;
Rejoice, invincible Courage of victorious Athletes.
Rejoice, steadfast Bulwark of the Faith;
Rejoice, radiant Emblem of Grace.
Rejoice, thou through whom Hades was laid bare;
Rejoice, thou through whom we have been clad with glory.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Having gazed upon the Star that showed the way to God,
the Wise Men followed its radiance,
holding it as a lantern before them; therewith they went
in search of a powerful King, and reaching the Unreachable,
they rejoiced and cried to Him:
Alleluia!
In the Virgin’s hands, the sons of the Chaldees saw Him Who with His Hand fashioned man; and recognizing Him as Master,
even though He had assumed the form of a servant, they hastened with gifts to do homage
and to cry unto her who is blessed:
Rejoice, Mother of the never-setting Star;
Rejoice, Dawn of the mystic Day.
Rejoice, thou who hast quenched the fiery furnace of deception;
Rejoice, thou who enlightenest the initiates of the Trinity.
Rejoice, thou who didst expel from power the inhuman tyrant;
Rejoice, thou who hast shown forth Christ, the Lord Who loveth mankind.
Rejoice, thou who redeemest from heathen religion;
Rejoice, thou who deliverest from the mire of evil deeds.
Rejoice, thou who hast brought to an end the worship of fire;
Rejoice, thou who freest us from the flame of passions.
Rejoice, Guide of Prudence for the Faithful;
Rejoice, Gladness of all generations.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Kingly and God-bearing messengers did the Wise Men become, returning to Babylon;
they fulfilled Thy Divine revelation and preached Thee, the Christ, unto all, leaving Herod as a prattler who knew not how to chant:
Alleluia!
Lightening in Egypt the luminosity of truth, Thou didst cast out the darkness of deception;
for, the idols thereof, O Savior, unable to stand up to Thy strength,
fell down; and those delivered therefrom cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, uplifting of men;
Rejoice, downfall of demons.
Rejoice, thou who didst trample upon the delusion of fraud;
Rejoice, thou who didst check the craft of idols.
Rejoice, Sea which covered with water the spiritual Pharaoh;
Rejoice, Rock which gave water to those thirsting for Life.
Rejoice, fiery Pillar, guiding those in darkness;
Rejoice, Protection of the world, more spacious than a cloud.
Rejoice, Sustenance, Heir to Manna;
Rejoice, Minister of holy delight.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Marveling at Thine ineffable wisdom
when Thou wast presented to him as a Babe, Symeon,
who was about to pass from the present age of deception,
recognized Thee also as perfect God, and he cried:
Alleluia!
New was the Creation which the Creator showed
to those created by Him, when He appeared
springing from a seedless womb;
He preserved it incorrupt, as it was, in order that,
seeing the miracle, we might cry to her in hymns:
Rejoice, Flower of incorruption;
Rejoice, Crown of continence.
Rejoice, thou who makest the Type of the Resurrection to shine forth;
Rejoice, thou who makest manifest the life of the Angels.
Rejoice, Tree of splendid Fruit by which the Faithful are nourished;
Rejoice, Bough of well-shading leaves by which many are covered.
Rejoice, thou who carriest the Guide of those who have lost their way;
Rejoice, thou who engenderest the Redeemer of captives.
Rejoice, Adjuration before the Just Judge;
Rejoice, Forgiveness for the many who err.
Rejoice, Vesture of boldness for the naked.
Rejoice, Fondness vanquishing every desire.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
On beholding the strange childbirth, let us be estranged from the world,
diverting our minds to Heaven; indeed to this end God on High appeared on earth as a lowly man,
wishing to draw aloft those who cry to Him:
Alleluia!
Present wholly among those below, and in no wise absent from those above,
was the Indescribable Word;
for this was a Divine condescension, and not a change of place,
and the birth was from a Virgin Divinely-inspired, who heard words like these:
Rejoice, Confine for the unconfinable God;
Rejoice, Portal of the venerable mystery.
Rejoice, doubtful Tiding for the faithless;
Rejoice, undoubted Boast of the Faithful.
Rejoice, all-holy Chariot of Him Who rideth upon the Cherubim;
Rejoice, all-excellent Habitation of Him Who is above the Seraphim.
Rejoice, thou who makest contrary things to agree; Rejoice, thou who yokest together Virginity and Childbirth.
Rejoice, thou through whom transgression is brought to naught.
Rejoice, thou through whom Paradise is opened.
Rejoice, Key to the Kingdom of Christ;
Rejoice, Hope of eternal good things.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Quandary beset all Angel-kind at the great work of Thine Incarnation;
for they beheld as Man, approachable to all, Him Who is, as God, unapproachable,
not only living His life together with us, but hearing from all:
Alleluia!
Rhetors of many words do we see mute as fish before thee O Theotokos;
for they are at a loss to say how thou both remainest a Virgin
and art able to give birth; but we, marveling at the mystery, cry with faith:
Rejoice, Receptacle of the wisdom of God;
Rejoice, Repository of His Providence.
Rejoice, thou who showest philosophers unlearned;
Rejoice, thou who provest logicians illogical.
Rejoice, for the clever disputants have been stupefied;
Rejoice, for the composers of myths have faded away.
Rejoice, thou who tearest asunder the webs of the Athenians;
Rejoice, thou who fillest the nets of the Fishermen.
Rejoice, thou who drawest forth from the depth of ignorance;
Rejoice, thou who enlightenest many with knowledge.
Rejoice, Raft for those wishing to be saved;
Rejoice, Harbor for those sailing on the sea of life.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Salvation did He Who directeth all things wish to grant unto the world,
and He came thereunto as He Himself had promised.
And being, as God, a Shepherd, for our sake He appeared like unto us,
as a Man; indeed, calling like unto like, as God He heareth:
Alleluia!
Thou, O Virgin Theotokos art a wall for virgins and for all those who run to thee; for the Maker of Heaven and earth formed thee, O Immaculate One,
and dwelt in thy womb, and taught all to address thee:
Rejoice, Pillar of virginity;
Rejoice, Gate of salvation.
Rejoice, Initiator of spiritual reformation;
Rejoice, Endower of Divine goodness
Rejoice, for thou didst regenerate those ignobly conceived;
Rejoice, for thou didst bring back to their senses those dispossessed of their spiritual minds.
Rejoice, thou who dost bring to naught the corrupter of minds;
Rejoice, thou who didst give birth to the Sower of innocence.
Rejoice, Bridal Chamber of a seedless wedlock;
Rejoice, thou who renderest the Faithful suitable to the Lord
Rejoice, good Nursing-Mother of virgins; Rejoice, Bridal Escort of holy souls.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Unable to prevail is every hymn that striveth to comprehend the multitude of Thy many tender mercies; for if we were to offer unto Thee, O Holy King, odes equal in number to the sands, we will have done nothing worthy of that which Thou hast given unto us, who cry to Thee:
Alleluia!
Verily, as a Light-Bearing Lantern which hath appeared to those in darkness
do we behold the Holy Virgin; for she kindleth the Immaterial Light
and guideth all to Divine knowledge; and illuminating our minds
with the light of dawn, she is honored by these our cries:
Rejoice, Beam of the Spiritual Sun;
Rejoice, Ray of unwaning brilliance.
Rejoice, Lightning that lighteth up our souls;
Rejoice, thou who dost, as Thunder, stun our foes;
Rejoice, for thou dost make the refulgent Luminescence to dawn;
Rejoice, for thou dost cause the superfluent River to gush forth.
Rejoice, thou who portrayest the type of the Font;
Rejoice, thou who dost wash away the filth of sin.
Rejoice, Laver that washeth the conscience clean;
Rejoice, Bowl for mixing the wine of rejoicing.
Rejoice, Sweet Scent of the fragrance of Christ;
Rejoice, Life of mystic feast.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Wishing to bestow Grace, He Who releaseth all men from their ancient debts,
came of His own to dwell with those who had gone away from His Grace;
and rending asunder the handwriting against them, He thus heareth from all:
Alleluia!
Yea, singing of thy childbirth, we all hymn thee, O Theotokos, as a living temple; for in thy womb dwelt the Lord, Who holdeth all things in His hand, and sanctifying and glorifying it, He taught all to cry to thee:
Rejoice, Tabernacle of God the Word;
Rejoice, Saint loftier than the Saints.
Rejoice, Ark made golden by the Spirit;
Rejoice, inexhaustible Treasury of Life.
Rejoice, precious Diadem of pious Kings;
Rejoice, venerable boast of devout priests.
Rejoice, unshakeable Tower of the Church;
Rejoice, unassailable Rampart of the Kingdom.
Rejoice, thou through whom trophies are raised on high;
Rejoice, thou through whom our foes are cast down.
Rejoice, healing of my flesh;
Rejoice, salvation of my soul.
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Zealously-hymned Mother,
O thou who didst bear the Word,
Holiest of all Holies
Most Holy Theotokos Save Us 3x
Receiving the offering that we now make, deliver us from all calamity
and redeem from future chastisement those who cry to thee:
Alleluia!
To thee, O Guardian Leader, do I, thy City, ascribe hymns of victory and thanksgiving,
having been delivered from perils, O Theotokos; but as thou hast dominion invincible, do thou free me from dangers of every kind, that I might cry to thee:
Rejoice, unwedded Bride
Through the Prayers of our Holy Fathers,
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us.
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