Chapter 19

The Entrance Into (Presentation In)

TEMPLE OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY, THE BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY

At the All-Night Vigil Service.

The Stanza (Stikhlra) 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. 1, 3-7, 9-1 1 ; Ezek. xliii. 2J % 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 receiveth the same : To-day doth the Holy of Holies rejoice, and the Angelic Choir doth mystically triumph. With them also keeping festival tCHday, 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 (Tropdr). 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 unt<^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.