Lectionary of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church (eBook)

FEAST OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - JANUARY 6

The Synaxis Psalm

Alleluia; alleluia:

The Lord has said to Me: You are My Son, today I have begotten You.

Psalm 2:7

A READING FROM
THE LETTER OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
TO TITUS

2:11-15

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

The Synaxis Alleluia

Alleluia; alleluia:

There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

1:18-25

About the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

THE RITE OF THE BLESSING OF WATER

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on a small table on the bema a large bowl filled with water shall be placed with three candles symbolizing the Holy Trinity, with a cross and the Gospel book. And they sing the hymn D}1 Lo/s i louso//Tone VII. Looys ee looso/Light from light. Then the presiding bishop/priest pours water from a pitcher into the bowl crosswise reciting Psalm 28 (29):3,1-10.

Alleluia; alleluia:

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters.

Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

The Lord sat enthroned at the flood, and the Lord sits as King forever.

The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

Now and always and forever and ever. Amen.

A READING FROM
THE PROPHET ISAIAH

12:3-6

Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

And in that day you will say:

“Praise the Lord, call upon His name;

Declare His deeds among the peoples,

Make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord,

For He has done excellent things;

This is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,

For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

A READING FROM
THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

1:14-17

So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

A READING FROM
THE BOOK OF EXODUS

15:22-27

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

A READING FROM
THE BOOK OF FOURTH KINGDOMS
(SECOND KINGS)

2:19-22

Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

A READING FROM
THE PROPHET EZEKIEL

47:1-12

Then the Spirit brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.

He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

A READING FROM
THE FIRST LETTER OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
TO THE CORINTHIANS

10:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all...