Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Festal Vespers Hymns

USED TOGETHER WITH VESPERS SERVICE BOOK

By the Grace of God 8/9 December

St Joachim & St Anna Conception
Also the Feast of St Hannah, Righteous Mother of St Samuel the Holy Prophet of God
St Sophronios, Archbishop & Wonderworker of Cyprus - St Stephen the New Light of
Constantinople St Anthimos, Hieromonk & Fool for Christ of Mount Athos The
Consecration of the Holy Church of St John Chrysostom in Cyprus in 1091
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GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA

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Our Eternal Gratitude to Pater Seraphim Dedes & all the contributing Translators for the
Greek & English texts that make our Worship much easier
RE-EDITED & PUBLISHED - 27 NOVEMBER 2017 to understand, to participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
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12. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R
 St John of Kronstadt
Blessed Elder Ephraim Katounakiotis
Excuses do not exist in Holy Scripture.
The Saints not only never used excuses, but they also We ought to have the most lively Spiritual Union
suffered knowingly for the sake of others. with the Heavenly Inhabitants,
with all the Saints, Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, Prelates,
the Venerable and the Rightous,
St John the Chrysostom as they are all Members of One Single Body
If good is not being done in a good way, then it is not the Church of Christ
good. to which we sinners also belong,
and the Living Head of which
is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
St Joseph the Hysychast This is why we call upon them in Prayer.
We converse with them,
Never despair due to the ceaseless temptations, sufferings
we thank them and we praise them.
and distresses that affect us so deeply, for with the Love
It is urgently necessary for all Christians
of our Lord we are able to lighten the heavy burdens of
anger and depression that threaten to overwhelm us. to be in Union with them if we desire
to make good Spiritiual Progress.
for the Saints are our friends.
They are out Guides to Salvation,
and they pray and Intercede for us.

2. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R 11.

 St Joachim & St Anna - Conception

St Tikhon of Zadonsk So much attention is paid by Christians to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the
Theotokos, Sanctified in every conceivable way, that there is a tendency
to overlook her parents.
Commemorated the day after the commemoration of their daughter, who is
remembered on other days as well, St Joachim and St Anna were the
Every Christian should consider the following: parents of a flesh-and-blood human being they called Mary and,
1) that the time of our life passes without stopping, therefore, the Grandparents of a flesh-and-blood human Being - in form
at least - Who died to Save the world.
2) that we cannot turn back time Considered in this light, this Righteous couple is appreciated most by
and the past is completely gone, Grandparents of the world.
3) that we cannot control the past and the future The Spiritual Beauty of St Anna is expressed in Holy Scripture, equalled by
but only the present that of her devoted husband, the too lightly regarded St Joachim.
which we live at this very moment, and Since there is no greater part of the Divine Plan of the universe than
4) that we do not know when our life will end. motherhood, it follows that St. Anna is given individual honour with an
This is why we should always be ready, observance of a Feast day in her name on 26 July.
This in no way diminishes the image of her husband, St Joachim.
every day, every hour, and every moment, Shrouded by twenty centuries of legend, close scrutiny by biblical scholars
through a state of continuous Repentance, has cleared away legend and established a more accurate and factual
while our Spiritual Situation account, however meagre, of St Joachim and St Anna.
should be as such as we would like it to be There is no denying the word of the Apostle, St James, who saw fit to go to
at the Hour of our death. great lengths to glean facts about the parents of our Lady, the Ever
Blessed Virgin Mary, which he described in a letter that somehow failed
to find official acceptance.
Conflicting views notwithstanding, it is definitely known that St Anna was of
the prestigious Hebrew Tribe of Levi and that she was the daughter of the
High Priest, Nathan, who was wed to a namesake, Mary.
This High Priest had two daughters besides Mary who mothered St Anna,
named Sovin and Anna, both of whom married and resided in
Bethlehem.
St Anna was married St Joachim in Galilee where their daughter, St Mary,
the Theotokos, was born.
There is no denying that St Joachim was favoured by God, Who answered
his Prayer that a child be born to the barren union with St Anna.

10. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R 3.

The birth of their long awaited daughter set in motion the world's greatest Amin. Amen
Faith, which was so overwhelming that St Joachim faded from view in ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA TONE 2
misty swirls that surrounded the Sweet Mysteries of Christianity. Simeron ek rizis tou David, Vasiliki Today a Royal Cloak of Purple and fine
It is enough to know St Joachim was the father of our Lady Theotokos - the porfiris ekvlastisasa, tou Iesse linen is woven from the Loins of
mother who bore Jesus Christ, our Divine Saviour Who changed the vlastanin aparhete, to Anthos to David, and the Mystical Flower of
Mystikon, en O Hristos O Theos imon Jesse is Blossoming: from it will
course of world history and set it on another Path which, if followed, exinthisen, O Sozon tas psihas imon. come forth Christ our God, the
leads us to Eternal Life. Saviour of our soul!
The fact that God moves in Mysterious Ways was evident when St Joachim NIN APOLIIS TON DOULON SOU...
TRISAGION PRAYERS & OUR LORDS
and St Anna ceaselessly prayed for a child not knowing whether they PRAYER
would be granted a son or a daughter and having no idea of what lay in FESTAL APOLYTIKION ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - TONE 4
store for them and for the world. Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte. Today the bonds of Childlessness are
St James the Holy Apostle of Christ quoted an Angel of the Lord who said Tou Ioakim gar ke tis Annis isakouon broken. For hearing the Prayers of
to St Anna: "The Lord has heard thy Prayer, and thou shalt conceive Theos, par elpida tekin aftous safos, Joachim and Anna, God promised
ipishnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi that against all Hope they would give
and bring forth, and thy Seed shall be spoken of in all the world." O aperigraptos, vrotos gegonos, di Birth to the Maiden of God. He, the
There was no mention of the gender of the child as St James said that St Angelou kelefsas voise afti. Here, Uncircumscribed, would be Born of
Anna accepted the Angelic Annunciation with the words: "As the Lord Heharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou. Her, and when He had become Man,
and by the Angels Example, He
my God lives, if I beget male or female, I will bring it as a Gift to the commands us to call to Her:
Lord my God; and it shall minister unto His Holy Things all the days of Rejoice, O Maiden Full of Grace, the
its life." Lord is with Thee!
The use of the word "it" indicates that St Anna may have had premonitions Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati, Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
but certainly no advance notice that 'it' was to be "she," who in turn, ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton and to the Holy Spirit, now and
eonon. forever, and to the Ages of ages.
would knowingly bring forth the Son of God.
Indeed God does move in Mysterious Ways!
Amin Amen
FESTAL APOLYTIKION THE CONSECRATION - TONE 4
An Orthodox Hymn states: As we celebrate the Remembrance of Thy
Righteous Grand-Parents, through them we beseech Thee, O Lord, to Os tou Ano Stereomatos tin evprepian, Thou hast made the Earthly Beauty of
ke tin kato sinapedixas oreotita, tou the Holy Tabernacle of Thy Glory to
Save our souls.". Agiou Skinomatos tis Doxis Sou Kyrie be like the Majesty of the Firmament
"Anna rejoices now that she is loosed from the bonds of barrenness, as she krateoson Afto is eona eonos, ke on High, O Lord. Make it strong
prosdexe imon tas en afto apafstos forever and ever, and accept our
nourishes the Most Pure One, calling all to praise Him Who has given prosagomenas Si deisis, dia tis Supplications that we unceasingly
the world Her who alone is Mother, yet has known no man." Theotokou, i panton Zoi ke Anastasis. bring to Thee there, at the
There can be no more touching tribute than to be mentioned in praise and Intercessions of the Theotokos. For
DISMISSAL BLESSINGS Thou art the Life and Resurrection
Prayer in the Sacred Music of the Church. of all.
The St Joachim and St Anna are an integral part of the Divine Liturgy,
always being mentioned in the Dismissal Prayers of our Holy Services:
"...May the Risen Christ, our True God, with the Prayers of His Pure and
Holy Mother, the Power of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, the
Protection of the Spiritual Powers of Heaven...the Holy and Righteous
Ancestors Joachim and Anna...and all the Saints whose memory we
celebrate have Mercy on us and Save us."
HTTP://WWW.STSPYRIDON.ORG.AU/OURFAITH

4. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R 9.
 gennisomenon, doton Si prosaxomen,
epevlogountes imnountes, ke
omofronos Doxazontes, tin Sin
Evsplaghnian, di is didote to kosmo,
to Mega Eleos.
Omose Kyrios to David alithian ke ou The
mi athetisi aftin.
Pale prosevhomeni Pistos, Anna i Sofron, Anna
ke Theo iketevousa, Angelou fonis
akouei, prosvaveountos afti, tin ton
etomenon Thian ekvasin, pros in O
asomatos, emfanos dielegeto. I deisis
Sou, pros ton Kyrion ingise, mi
skithopaze, ton dakrion apostithi.
Evkarpos hrimatisis gar, elea
vlastanousa, kladon oreon Parthon,
pagkalon Anthos anthisousan,
Hriston kata sarka, parehmenon to
kosmo to Mega Eleos.
Ek Karpou tis kilias Sou thisome epi
tou Thronou Sou.
Evgos karpogoni to septon, tin Thian
Damalin, ex is proelefsete, O Moshos
arrito logo, O sitevtos alithos, iper
olou kosmou prothiomenos. Dio
gegithotes, exomologisin apafston, en
katanixi, to Kyrio prosagousi, ke tin
simpasan, epofilousan ehousi.
Toutous oun Makarisomen, ke Pisti
horevsomen, en ti Sillipsi entheos tis
ex afton tou Thou imon, Mitros
tiktomenis, di is didote plousios, to
Mega Eleos.
Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati
FESTAL APOSTIHA THE CONSECRATION - TONE 2
Ton egkenismon telountes, tou panierou As we perform the Consecration of the
Naou tis Sis Anastasoe, Se
Doxazomen Kyrie, ton Agiasanta
touton, ke teliosanta i aftoteli Sou
Hariti. Ke terpomenon tes en afto
Ierourgoumenes, ipo Piston Mystikes
ke Ieres teletes. Ke prosdehomenon
ek hiros ton doulon Sou, tas
anamaktous ke ahrantous Thisias.
Antididonta te tis orthos prosferousi,
tin ton amartimaton Katharsin, ke to
Mega Eleos.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton
eonon.
8. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R
give Glory and Praise with Hymns
and sons to Thy Love through which
the world receives Great Mercy.
Lord swore to David His Truth,
and He shall not reject It.
besought our Lord in Fervent
Prayer for a Child. The Voice of the
Angel proclaimed to her: God has
granted Thee the desire of Thy
Prayer. Do not weep, for Thou shall
be a Fruitful Olive Tree, bearing the
Wondrous Branh of the Virgin, Who
will bring forth in the Flesh, the
Blossom, Christ, Who grants to the
world, Great Mercy!
I shall set upon Thy Throne one from
the Fruit of Thy Loins.
The Honourable Parents, Joachim and
Anna, hast given Birth to the Lamb
who will give Birth past
Understanding to the Lamb of God
Who is to be sacrificed for all
mankind. They offer to God
Unceasing and Humble Praise.
Therefore, let us Rejoice, and grant
them fervent Glory for the Birth of
the One born to them in a
Marvellous Manner, the Theotokos,
through whom the world receives
Great Mercy!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit
All Sacred Church of Thy
Resurrection, we Glorify Thee, O
Lord, for Thou hast Sanctified It and
Perfected It by Thine Absolutely
Perfect Grace. Thou art gladdened
by the Mystical and Holy Servies that
are performed in It by the Faithful;
and Thou accept from the hands of
Thy Servants, the Immaculate
Sacrifies, without the shedding of
blood. And to those who offer these
correctly, Thou render Purification
from sins and Great Mercy.
Now and ever, and to the Ages of
ages.
Festal Vespers Hymns St Joachim & St Anna
Kindly use the Service Book until this point, then carefully follow instructions
with regard to these Hymns
HYMN OF THE EVENING INCENSE
THE CONGREGATION MUST STAND
PSALM 140/141 TONE 2
Kyrie ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou. Lord, I cry out to Thee: hear me,
Isakouson mou, Kyrie. Kyrie, O Lord! O Lord, when I cry
ekekraxa pros Se, isakouson mou, out to Thee, hear me! Hear
proshes ti foni tis deiseos mou, en to my voice, when I cry out to
kekragene me pros Se, isakouson Thee! Hear me, O Lord!
mou Kyrie.
Katevthinthito i prosevhi mou os Let my Prayer rise before Thee
thimiama enopion Sou. Eparsis ton like incense - the lifting up of
hiron mou Thisia Esperini. Isakouson my hands as the Evening Sacrifice.
mou Kyrie! Hear me, O Lord!
FESTAL PROSOMIA ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - TONE 4
Ean anomias paratirisis, Kyrie, Kyrie, If Thou, O Lord, should mark
tis ipostisete? Oti para Si O ilasmos transgression, O Lord, who would
estin. stand? For there is Forgiveness
with Thee.
Karpogonousa i stira par elpida, The Barren Anna leapt for Joy when
Parthenon tin mellousan, tiktin Theon she conceived Mary the Virgin, Who
en sarki, agalliasi fedrinete, horevi in turn would Conceive in the Flesh
Heri, megalofonos Anna God the Word. From the Fullness of
kravgazousa. Phile mi sigharite, her Joy, she cried out: Rejoice with
apase tou Israil, kioforo ke to onidos me, all you Tribes of Israel, for I have
tis apedias, enapotitheme, os conceived according to the Will of
iidokisen, O evergetis epakousas mou, God my Saviour! He has answered
tis prosevhis ke katodinon, my Prayer and ended my shame, in
Therapefsas kardian, di odinon os Fulfilment of His Promise. He will
ipesheto. Heal the pains of my heart, through
the pain of childbirth.
Eneken tou Onomatos Sou ipemina Se, Because of Thy Law, O Lord, I waited
Kyrie; Ipeminen i psihi mou is ton for Thee; my soul waited for Thy
Logon Sou, ilpisen i psihi mou epi Word. My soul Hopes in the Lord.
ton Kyrion.
O ex anikmou pigasas idor petras, He who made waters gush forth from
karpon ti kilia Sou, Anna harizete, tin the rock, permitted Thy Womb to
Aiparthenon Despinan, ex is to idor, carry the Ever Virgin Mary through
tis Sotiria melli proerhesthe. Ouketi Whom our Salvation will come. By
os akarpos, gi parikis ipi Gis, this, Thou were Delivered from
onidismou illotiose. Gin gar vlastisis, shame no longer will Thou dwell
karpoforousan ois ton astahin, ton ta on Earth as barren, for Thou will
onidi aferoumenon, panton vroton os bear the Earth, bringing forth the
iidokise, dia splaghna eleous, Tree of Life. According to His Will,
morfothine to allotrion. He had Delivered the human race
F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R 5.

Apo Filaktis proias mehri niktos, apo
filakis proias, elpisato Israil epi ton
Kyrion.
Ton Profiton e prorrisis ekplirounte.
Oros gar to Agion, lagosin idrite.
Klimax i Thia fitevete, Thronos O
Megas, tou Vasileos proetimazete.
Topos evtrepizete O Theovadistos.
Vatos iaflektos arhete, anavleastanin,
i Myrothiki tou Agiasmatos, idi igazi
tis stiroseos, tous potamous
anastellousa, tis Theofronos Annis, in
en Pisti Makarisomen.
FESTAL PROSOMIA THE CONSECRATION TONE (6) PLAGAL 2
Oti para to Kyrio to Eleos ke polli par For with
afto Litrosis. Ke aftos Litrosete ton
Israil ek pason ton anomion aftou.
Despota Hriste, i Athanatos Sofia,
vlemmati to So, epifitison ex ipsous,
en touto to Temeni, ke asalevton
filaxon, eos sintelias tou eonos, tous
de Pistos Hriste en touto, ai
prostrehontas, tou aprositou Sou
Fotos, axioson Efsplaghne.
Enite ton Kyrion panta ta Ethni!
Epenesate Afton pantes i Lai!
Pale Solomon, ton Naon ikodomisas,
zoon emata, is Thisian Si prosigen, is
tipon tou Naou Sou, ou ektiso
Filanthrope, to idio emati voulisi,
meth ou ke nin Se disopoumen, ton
Monon Efsplaghnon, opos to Pnevma
to evthes, pempis en touto ai.
Oti ekrateothi to Eleos Aftou ef imas,
ke i alithia tou Kyriou meni is ton
eona.
Defte Adelphi, evranthomen fileortos,
ke pnevmatikin, sistisometha
fedrinomen. Outo gar Egkenia
timonte, outo Doxazete O Ktistis, O
6. F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R
from all shame, by taking on our
human form and becoming Man, for
He is Rich in Mercy.
From the morning watch until night;
from the morning watch until night
let Israel Hope in the Lord.
Behold! The Promises of the Prophets
are fulfilled! The Holy Mount is
planted in the Womb. The Divine
Ladder is set up the Great Throne
of the King is ready. The place for
the Lords Passage is prepared. The
Dry Bush, which Fire could not
consume, is Blossomming. The
Treasury of Grace is an abundant
Flow of Blessing, which Heals the
Barrenness of Anna, whom we
Glorify with Faith.
the Lord there is Mercy, and
with Him is Abundant Redemption;
and He will Redeem Israel from all
his transgressions.
Master Christ our God, as Thou art
Immortal Wisdom, from on High
look down and visit this Sacred
Temple preserve it immovable to the
end of the Age and forever. And
grant to those who ever enter that
they experience Thine
Unapproachable Light, since Thou
art Compassionate.
Praise the Lord, all Gentiles!
Him, all you people!
Solomon of old, when the Temple was
constructed, offered blood of beasts
as a sacrifice to Thee, O Lord. O
Friend of Man, that Temple
prefigured the one Thou acquired
willingly by Thy own Blood, O
Saviour. We join him now to
importune Thee, the Only
Compassionate that Thou
continually send the Upright Holy
Spirit to It.
For His Mercy rules over us; and the
Truth of the Lord endures forever.
Brethren, one and all, let us festively be
merry. Come and let us form now a
Spiritual Choir. With oil let us
brighten our soul together with our
pantes anthropi, anakenizonte psihin, lamps. This is how we honour
pros ipsos Ouranion. Consecrations. Thus we Glorify our
Creator, by Whom is everyone
Renewed in soul and is revived for
Life in Celestial Heights.
Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati Glory to the Father, and to the
Son, and to the Holy Spirit
Tin Mnimin ton Egkenion epitelountes As we perform the Consecration, we
Kyrie, Se ton tou Agiasmou dotira Glorify Thee, the Giver of
Doxazomen, doemeni Agiasthine Sanctification, asking Thee to
imon, ta esthitiria ton psihon, ti Sanctify the senses of our soul, at
presvia ton Endoxon athlogoron, the Intercession of Thy Glorious
Agathe Pantodiname. Martyrs, O Good Almighty Lord.
ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA TONE 1
To aporriton tis Angelis, ke anthropis Today the Great Mystery announced
megalion, ke ap eonos from all Eternity whose depths
hrismodotoumenon, Mystion Angels and mankind cannot
paradoxon, simeron en tis lagosi tis perceive, appears in the barren
sofronos Annis vefourgite, Maria i womb of Anna. Mary, the Maiden of
Theopes, etimaomeni is katikian, tou God, is prepared to be the Dwelling
pamvasileos ton eonon, ke is of the Eternal Kind, Who will Renew
anaplasin tou genous imon, in en our human nature. Let us entreat Her
katharo sinidoti kathiketevsomen, with a pure heart and say: Intercede
anavoontes pros aftin. Presveve to So for us with Thy Son and our God
Iio ke Theo os prostasia iparhousa that our soul may be Saved!
imon ton Hristianon, tou Sothine tas
psihas imon.
Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton Now and ever, and to the Ages of
eonon. ages.
Amin Amen
Praise ISODOS/ENTRANCE- FOS ILARON...
PROKEIMENON - FRIDAY EVENING - PSALM 58:
O Theos, antiliptor mou i. To Eleos Sou Thou art my Defender, O Lord, and Thy
propsithasi me. Mercy shall go before me.
STIHOS Exelou me ek ton ehthron mou, VERSE Deliver me from my enemies, O
O Theos, ke ek ton epanistmenon ep God, and Protect me from those who
emi Litrose me. rise up against me.
O Theos, antiliptor mou i. To Eleos Sou Thou art my Defender, O Lord, and Thy
propsithasi me Mercy shall go before me
LITANY OF FERVENT SUPPLICATION
FESTAL APOSTIHA ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - TONE (5) PLAGAL 1
Anna, i Thia Haris pote, prosevhomeni Anna, named for Divine Grace, cried out
iper teknou evoise, to panton Theo ke in her Prayer, beseeching our Creator
Ktisti. Adonai Savaoth, to tis apedias and God of all: O Master, Thou
idas onidos, aftos tin odinin mou, tis perceive the shame of barrenness
kardias dialison, ke tous tis mitras, Heal the pain of my heart! Open my
katarraktas dianizon, ke tin akarpon, womb to make it fruitful, that we
karpoforon anadixon, opos to may off Thee the Child as a Gift, and
F E S T A L W E E K D A Y V E S P E R S S T J O A C H I M & S T A N N A - 9 D E C E M B E R 7.