Menaion

September 1

PolyeleosThe Beginning of the Church Year (“Indiction”).  The First Ecumenical Council (325) decreed that the Church’s year should begin on September 1.  The lunar month corresponding to September on the Jewish calendar was the beginning of the civil year (cf Exodus 12:2); it was at this time that our Lord Jesus went into the synagogue at Nazareth and read the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...to proclaim ‘the acceptable year of the Lord.’ (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4: 16-21).

Our venerable father Simeon the Stylite and his mother.  Simeon lived near Antioch in Syria. He was a monk, who lived for many years standing atop a column (in Greek, stylus), hence he received the nickname “Stylite.”  His life and admirable conversation were remarkable. (459)

Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God of Miasena.

The holy martyr Aeithalas, who suffered in Persia. (380)

The forty holy women martyred with their instructor, Ammon the deacon, during the time of the emperor Licinius at Heraclea in Thrace (313).

The holy martyr Callista and her two brothers, Evodius and Hermogenes, who were martyred in Nicomedia.  (309)

The just Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the Lord.  When the hand of Moses was placed on him, he was filled with the spirit of wisdom.  He led the people of Israel after the death of Moses through the Jordan River to the promised land.

At Vespers

music (samohlasen)

We sing “Blessed is the man.” There are ten stichera at "O Lord, I have cried": three for the Indiction, and seven for Simeon.

Tone 1, special melody Nebesnych činov.  We pray to the Creator today, * with the words given us by Christ, * who taught us to pray each day: * Our Father who are in heaven, * give us this day our daily bread, * and overlook all our sins. (twice)

On Mount Sinai You gave stone tablets. * Today in Nazareth, you read the prophecy, * O Christ our God in the flesh. * You took and opened the scroll * to teach the people that the Scriptures were fulfilled in yourself.

Tone 5.   O venerable Father, * you found a beautiful ladder to heaven, * while Elijah found a chariot of fire. * He did not leave his ascent for others; * but after death, however, you have left your pillar. * O heavenly man and earthly angel, * ever-watchful beacon to the whole world, * O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

O venerable Father, * even if the pillar could talk, * it would never stop proclaiming your toils, your labors, and your weeping. * Even though it held you, * it was sustained by your tears, watered as· a tree. * At your endurance the angels crowd about, * people stand in awe, and the demons tremble. * O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

O venerable Father, * by the might of the Holy Spirit, * you imitated your Master, * as on a cross you ascended the pillar. * The Lord erased the condemnation written against us; * you destroyed the rise of passions. * The Lord was a lamb, and you a victim; * the Lord was on a cross, and you on a pillar. * O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

Tone 2.   From the good root has come forth the most excellent Simeon; * from his infancy he was nourished more on grace than on milk. * In his body he dwelt upon the high place, * but in his spirit he was raised even higher to God. * Through his virtues he edified his lofty dwelling. * He journeyed in high places with the powers of heaven, * and he became a dwelling place of Christ our God, the Savior of our souls.

You shall be remembered forever, * O venerable Father Simeon; * you were pleasing to God * in the kindness of your heart, O blessed one. * Even if you have passed from us, O good shepherd, * you did not leave us in spirit, * but stand before God in love, * and have joined the angels in heaven. * Together with them, plead for our salvation.

The tomb of your relics, O blessed Father, * is a fountain of healing, * and your holy soul rightly rejoices with the angels. * O venerable Father, as you have confidence before the Lord * and have joined the angels, * plead with him for our salvation.

O God-bearing Father, * you loved the highest knowledge * and lived outside the world above visible things. * You became an untarnished mirror of God, * and ever united to the Light, * you kept on receiving light, * with clearer insight attaining blessed perfection. * O wise Simeon, pray for our souls.

Glory –  Tone 6.   Divine grace hovered over your relics, O holy Simeon. * We will hasten towards the sweet fragrance of your miracles, * drawing from them the healing of illnesses. * O venerable Father, plead with Christ our God for our souls.

Now and ever.   O eternal Word and Son, * together with the Holy Spirit, * Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible, * bless the beginning of the year, * keep in peace all the faithful, * through the prayers of the Theotokos and all your saints.

Entrance with censer, and prokeimenon of the day.  Then three readings:

A reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1-9).
        The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release of the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God, to comfort all who mourn; to place on those who mourn in Zion a diadem instead of ashes, to give them oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit. They will be called oaks of justice, planted by the Lord to show his glory.
        They shall rebuild the ancient ruins, the former wastes they shall raise up and restore the ruined cities, desolate now for generations. Strangers shall stand ready to pasture your flocks, foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers. You yourselves shall be named priests of the Lord, ministers of our God you shall be called. You shall eat the wealth of the nations and boast of riches from them.
        Since their shame was double and disgrace and spittle was their portion, they shall have a double inheritance in their land, everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I, the Lord, love what is right, I hate robbery and injustice; I will give them their recompense faithfully, a lasting covenant I will make with them. Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them as a race the Lord has blessed.

A reading from the Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 26:3-12,14-17,19-24).

A reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Wisdom 4:7-15).

The aposticha are for the Indiction:

Tone 1.   We have come to the beginning of the year, * gathering to honor these saints: * Callista and her brothers, Evod and Hermogenes; * Simeon, equal to the angels, and Joshua, the son of Nun; * the seven children of Ephesus, and the forty holy women. * O lovers of feasts, sharing in their remembrance, * with insistence we shout: * O Lord, bless the works of your hands, * and make us worthy to pass this year in spiritual progress.

To You our praise is due in Zion, O God.

O Christ our God, You created all things in your wisdom, * and brought them from nothingness into being. * Now bless the beginning of the year * and keep our city free from harm; * and in your mercy grant peace and happiness to all the faithful, * granting to the world great mercy * through the prayers of the Theotokos.

We are filled with the blessings of your house.

Tone 2.   You are wonderful, O God, and wondrous are your deeds. * Your ways are unsearchable; * You are the wisdom of God, perfect person and power. * For though without beginning, * and equal in eternity and operation, * by your infinite power You made your home in our world. * Beyond understanding and without changing your divinity, * you were born of a virgin mother; * you came to seek your creation * whom you had adorned with beauty; * and you set the times and circumstances for our salvation. * Therefore, we shout to you: * O Good Master, glory to You!

You crown the year with your goodness.

In wisdom You created all things, * O Word of the Father before all ages; * by your almighty word You arranged all creation. * Bless the beginning of the year by your goodness, * and through the prayers of the Theotokos, overthrow all heresy; * for you are good and the Lover of us all.

 Glory – Tone 5.  O venerable Father, * you found a beautiful ladder to heaven * while Elijah found a chariot of fire. * He did not leave his ascent for others; * but after death, however, you have left your pillar. * O heavenly man and earthly angel, * ever-watchful beacon to the whole world, * O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

 Now and ever.  O King, You are eternal and remain forever. * Receive the petitions of us sinners as we pray for salvation. * O Lover of us all, * grant your abundance to the earth with temperate and mild weather. * Fight with the faithful against all enemy attacks as You helped David; * for they have entered the tabernacle and defiled your most holy place, O Savior. * But grant victory over them, 0 Christ our God, * through the prayers of the Theotokos, * for You are the victory and boast of Christians of the true faith.

Troparion of the Indiction,  Tone 2.  O Lord, Maker of the universe, * who alone has power over seasons and times, * bless this year with your bounty, * preserve our country in safety, and keep your people in peace. * Save us through the prayers of the Theotokos.

Glory – Troparion of Simeon, Tone 1.  You became a column of endurance and rivaled the forefathers, O holy one, * becoming like Job in your sufferings and like Joseph in your trials, * like the bodiless angels, though you lived in the flesh. * O Simeon, our holy Father, * intercede with Christ our God that he may save our souls.

Now and ever – Theotokion, Tone 7.  Rejoice, O woman full of grace, ever-virgin Theotokos, * harbor and protectress of the human race. * The Savior of the universe received flesh from you, * for you are the only one to be both mother and virgin, * forever blessed, forever glorified. * Intercede with Christ our God * that he may grant peace to the whole world.

At the Divine Liturgy

music

Troparion of the Indiction, Tone 2.  O Lord, Maker of the universe, * who alone has power over seasons and times, * bless this year with your bounty, * preserve our country in safety, and keep your people in peace. * Save us through the prayers of the Theotokos.

Troparion of the Synaxis of the Theotokos, Tone 7.   Rejoice, O woman full of grace, ever-virgin Mother of God, * harbor and protectress of the human race. * The Savior of the universe received flesh from you, * for you are the only one to be both mother and virgin, * forever blessed, forever glorified. * Intercede with Christ our God that he may grant peace to the whole world.

Troparion of Simeon, Tone 1.   You became a column of endurance and rivaled the forefathers, O holy one, * becoming like Job in your sufferings and like Joseph in your trials, * like the bodiless angels, though you lived in the flesh. * O Simeon, our holy Father, * intercede with Christ our God that he may save our souls.

Glory – Kontakion of Simeon, Tone 2.   You looked to heaven and became like an angel. * You made of your pillar a fiery chariot. * Now that you are among the angels, * join them in praying to Christ that he might save our souls, O Father.

Now and ever – Kontakion of the Indiction, Tone 3.   O Creation and Master of time and eternity, * God of all, O merciful One, bless the course of this year, * and in your boundless mercy, * save all those who worship you, our one and only Master, * and who cry  out to you in fear: * O Savior, grant a happy year to all people.

Prokeimenon of the Indiction, Tone 3 (Ps. 146:5,1). Great is our Lord * and great is his power. * His understanding is without measure.
V. Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good. May praise delight our God.

Epistle:  (Indiction) 1 Timothy 2:1-7;  (Simeon)  Colossians 3:12-16

Alleluia of the Indiction, Tone 4 (Ps. 64:1,12a). Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
V. To you our praise is due in Zion, O God. To you we pay our vows, you who hear our prayer.
V. You crown the year with your goodness.

Gospel:  (Indiction) Luke 4:16-22; (Simeon) Matthew 11:27-30

Communion Hymn (Ps. 64:12a). You crown the year with your goodness. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!