January 2013 - Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

January 2013
Church Calendar
Great Martyr Anastasia, (c. 304)
Martyrs Chrysogonus, Theodota, Evodias, Eutychianus and others who suffered with them (c. 304).
Since the Eve of the Nativity of Christ falls this year on a Sunday, we celebrate on this day the
Royal Hours.
Royal Hours: 1st Hour: Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 1:18-25
3rd Hour: Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 2:1-12
6th Hour: Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Matthew 2:1-12
9th Hour: Hebrews 2:11-18; Matthew 2:13-23
There is no Liturgy on this day.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. the Royal Hours are officiated. The priest vested in a phelon carries
the Gospel book out through the Royal Doors to the centre of the Church and places it on an
analoi. Blessed is our God: Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God. O Heavenly King. Trisa gion.
After the Lord’s Prayer, Lord, have mercy 12 times: Glory: Both now: O Come, let us worship. And
the Psalms (at every Hour there are two special Psalms and one regular Psalm—see the Mena -
ion). During the reading of the Psalms a censing takes place, beginning from the analoi with
the Gospel (at the 1st Hour a great incensation, i.e. the altar and the entire temple; at the 3rd
and 6th Hours a small incensation, and at the 9th Hour a great incensation). At the Hours: the
tropar of the forefeast — Mary of the seed of David, after this, at every Hour, after the The o to -
kion — the special stykhyry (tropars with verses). Let us be attentive: The Pro keimen and Old
Testament reading. Epistle. Gospel. Then, we continue the reading of the Hour (at the first
Hour — Direct my steps; at the 3rd Hour Blessed is the Lord; etc.) At all Hours the kondak of
the pre feast Today the virgin. At the 9th Hour the last stykhyra — Today is born from a Virgin
— is so lemnly read at the beginning, and at the words We worship Thy Nativity, the priest, reader
and faithful all make three small metanias (bows to the waist). There is a custom to intone
the polychronion (mnoholittia) at this time. After this, the stykhyra is sung. At the 9th Hour af -
ter the reading of the Holy Gospel, it is carried into the Altar through the Royal Doors, which
are then closed, and the priest removes his phelon. After the prayer of the 9th Hour the Psalms
— Bless the Lord, O my soul; Praise the Lord, O my soul and the rest of the typica. The choir of
the saints: Both now (the Creed is not read, as the Li turgy will be served); Forgive, pardon and
remit: Our Father. The kondak of the forefeast — Today the Virgin. Lord, have mercy (40 times)
All-Holy Trinity. Priest: Wisdom. We sing: It is truly worthy to bless you, the Theotokos, Ever Bless -
ed and Most Pure, and the Mother of our God (and we make a small metania). Priest: Most Holy
The otokos, save us! And we sing More honourable. Priest: Glory to You, O Christ God. And we
sing Glory: Both now: Lord, have mercy (thrice) Bless. And the small dismissal of the day.
Saturday January 5, 2013/December 23, 2012
31st Week after Pentecost, Tone 5
Saturday before the Nativity of Christ.
Nativity fast, wine and oil allowed
Holy Ten Martyrs of Crete: Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zoticus,
Pom peius, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus (250).
St. Niphon, Bishop of Cyprus (IV).
St. Paul, Bishop of Neo-Caesaria (IV).
Saturday before the Nativity: Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 13:18-29
Ord.: Colossians 1:3-6; Luke 16:10-15
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