The Entrance of the Theotokos

At the All-Night Vigil Service.

The Stanza (Stikhira) for: Lord, I have cried: In Tone I. To-day let us faithful exult, singing unto the Lord in psalms and songs, and doing honour unto his holy Tabernacle, the Ark imbued with life, which containeth the uncontainable Word: for in wise supernatural is she brought unto the Lord, being still of tender age in the flesh, and Zacharias, the High Priest, doth with joy receive her, as the abode of God. (Twice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After thy nativity, O Lady, Bride of God, thou didst come into the temple of the Lord, as one consecrated, to be reared in the Holy of Holies. Then, also, was Gabriel sent unto thee, O all-undefiled One, bearing nourishment unto thee. All the powers of Heaven were amazed when they beheld the Holy Spirit take up its abode in thee. Wherefore, O most pure and undefiled Mother of God, who art glorified in heaven and on earth, save thou our race.

The Gradual (Prokimen) for the Day.

The Parables (Paremii). Exodus xl. 1-5, 9, 10, 16, 34, 35; I Kings viii. I, 3-7, 9-1 1; Ezek. xliii. 27, xliv. 1-4.

The Stanza at the Litiyd, in Tone IV To-day is the Tabernacle which containeth God, even the Birth-giver of God, brought into the temple of the Lord, and Zacharias receive th the same: To-day doth the Holy of Holies rejoice, and the Angelic Choir doth mystically triumph. With them also keeping festival to-day, let us cry aloud with Gabriel: Hail, thou that art full of grace! The Lord most merciful is with thee.

The Hymn for the Day (Tropar). To-day is the foreshadowing of the beneficence of God which is to come, and the heralding of man's salvation. The Virgin is clearly manifested in the temple of God, and in anticipation announceth Christ unto all men. Unto her let us, also, cry aloud: Hail, thou who art the fulfilment of the Creator's providence! (Thrice.)

The Exaltation (Velitchdnie). We magnify thee, O all-holy Virgin, Maiden chosen by the Lord, and do homage to thy Presentation in the temple of the Lord.

The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. Hearken, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear.

Verse (Stikh): My heart is inditing of a good matter. The Gospel. Luke i. 39-49, 56.

The First Canon. Tone IV. (The Blessed George.)

Theme-Songs (Irmosi). I. I will open my mouth, and it shall be filled with the Spirit, and will utter a saying to the Queen-Mother; I will reveal myself, as one keeping high festival, and with joy will I sing her Presentation.

III. O Birth-giver of God, Fountain living and inexhaustible! Spiritually establish thou those who hymn thee, convoked in a festival choir, and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory for the sake of thine august Presentation.

IV. As he contemplated the unfathomable counsel of God concerning the incarnation by a Virgin, of thee, the Most High, Habakkuk the Prophet cried aloud: Glory to thy power, O Lord!

V All creation marvelled at thine august Presentation; for thou, O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, didst enter into the temple of God as the Temple most pure, giving peace unto all those who sing thy praises.

VI. In celebration of this divine and all-honourable feast of the Mother of God, come, O ye godly -minded, let us clap our hands and glorify God, who was born of her.

VII. The godly-minded ones obeyed not the creature rather than the Creator, but valiantly trampling under foot the threatened fire, they rejoiced in song, saying: Blessed be thou, O Lord and God of our fathers, exceedingly praised.

VIII. Hearken, O Maiden, Virgin pure! Let Gabriel announce the true will of the Most High, which was from of old. Make thou ready to receive God; for through thee the Uncontainable hath dwelt among men: For which cause I cry aloud with joy: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord!

IX. Let no hand profane in any wise touch the living Ark of God; but let the lips of the faithful unceasingly chanting the Salutation of the Angel to the Birth-giver of God, cry aloud with rejoicing: Thou art, in very truth, higher than all men, O Virgin pure!

In place of: My soul doth magnify the Lord: the Refrains:

The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the All-pure One: how that with glory she entered into the Holy of Holies.

The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the Virgin: how that with glory she entered into the Holy of Holies.

O ye Angels and men, let us do homage to the Presentation of the Virgin: for with glory hath she entered into the Holy of Holies.

The Angels marvelled when they beheld the Presentation of the Virgin: how she who was well-pleasing unto God did enter into the Holy of Holies.

Ye Angels, with the Saints, leap for joy! Ye Virgins, sing together with exultation! For the God-Maiden hath entered into the Holy of Holies.

O ye Angels and men, let us magnify the Virgin in Hymns: for in godlike wise hath she entered into the Holy of Holies.

At the Liturgy.

The Introit: The Hymn for the Day. (See page 171.)

The Collect-Hymn (Konddk). The all-pure Temple of the Saviour, the most precious Bridal-chamber and Virgin, the Treasure-house of the glory of God, to-day is led into the temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the Spirit Divine; whom also the Angels of God do celebrate in song: This is the Abode of Heaven.

The Gradual (Prokimen), in the Fourth Tone. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Verse (Stikh): For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

The Epistle. Heb. ix. 1-7

Alleluia. (Tone VIII.) Hearken, O daughter, and behold, and incline thine ear.

Verse: A rich nation shall worship before thy presence.

The Gospel. Luke x. 38-42, xi. 27, 28.

The Hymn in place of: Meet is it: The Ninth Theme-Song of the Canon: Let no hand profane. (See above.)

The Communion Hymn. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the Lord.