Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist
Readings for the Vespers and Divine Liturgy
The Holy Orthodox Church

Vespers 1: Genesis 17:15-17, 19; 18:11-14; 21:1-8
Vespers 2: Judges 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21
Vespers 3: Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54
Matins Gospel: Luke 1:24-25, 57-58, 76, 80
Epistle: Romans 13:11-14:4
Gospel: 1:5-25, 57-68, 76, 80

___________________

Troparion - Tone 4
O Prophet and Forerunner of the presence of Christ, we who fervently honor you cannot worthily praise you. For by your revered and glorious birth the barrenness of your mother and the muteness of your father were unbound, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.

Kontakion - Tone 3
She that once was barren doth today bring forth Christ's Forerunner, John, the culmination and the crown of all the Prophets. For when he, in River Jordan, laid his hand on Him Whom the Prophets preached aforetime, he was revealed as God the Word's fore-chosen Prophet, His mighty preacher, and His Forerunner in grace.

Orthodox Divine Liturgy


Vespers, 1st Reading:
Genesis 17:15-17, 19; 18:11-14; 21:1-8

God said to Abraham, "As for Sar'ai your wife, her name shall not be called Sar'ai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her, and give you a child by her; and I will bless him, and he shall become nations, and kings of nations shall come from him."
        
And Abraham fell on his face and said to himself, "Shall there be born a son to one who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?" And God said to Abraham, "Yes. Behold, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him, for an everlasting covenant."
        
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in days. Sarah laughed to herself saying, "this has not as yet happened to me, even until now, and my lord is old." And the Lord God said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh to herself, saying, 'Shall I then indeed bear? but I am old'? Shall anything be impossible that is spoken by God?"
        
And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said. And she conceived, and bore Abraham a son in old age as the Lord God had spoken to him. And Abraham circumcised him on the eighth day, as the Lord God had commanded him.
        
And Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, "The Lord God has made laughter for me; for every one who hears shall rejoice with me." And she said, "Who shall say to Abraham that Sarah suckles a child? Yet I have borne him a child in my old age." And the child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Vespers, 2nd Reading:
Judges 13:2-8, 13-14, 17-18, 21

In those days, there was a certain man of the tribe of Dan, whose name was Mano'ah; and his wife was barren and bore not. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren. But you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be consecrated to God from the womb."
        
And the woman went and spoke to her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me, his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very bright. And he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; and now, drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, even until the day of his death."
        
Then Mano'ah prayed to God and said, "O Lord, let the man of God whom Thou didst send come again to us, and teach us what we are to do with the child that will be born." And the angel of the Lord came to Mano'ah, and said, "Of all things that I said to your wife, let her keep. Let her eat nothing that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink."
        
And Mano'ah said to the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, that, when your words come to pass, we may glorify you?" And the angel of the Lord said to him, "Why do you ask concerning my name, whereas it is wonderful?" And the angel of the Lord appeared no more to Mano'ah and his wife.

Vespers, 3rd Reading:
Isaiah 40, 41, 45, 48, 54

Thus saith the Lord: "Comfort, comfort My people," says God. "Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, you Priests, comfort her, for her humiliation is increased, her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for her sins. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight the paths of our God.'
        
"Go up to a high mountain, you who are proclaiming glad tidings to Zion, lift up your voice with strength, O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift it up, fear not! I the Lord God, I have heard the poor of Israel and will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the mountains, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the deserts pools of water, and the thirsty landsprings of water. Let the heavens rejoice from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth bring forth, and let it sprout forth mercy and cause righteousness to shine forth also.
        
"Declare this with a shout of joy, and let this be known, proclaim it to the end of the earth. Say, 'The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob!' And if they thirst, he shall lead them through the desert, He shall bring forth water for them out of the rock. Rejoice, O barren one who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry loud, you who have not been in travail! For more are the children of the desolate one than of her who has a husband

Matins Gospel:

Luke 1:24-25, 57-58, 76, 80

Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways."

So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Epistle

Romans 13:11-14:4

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Gospel

Luke 1:5-25, 57-68, 76, 80

 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’

 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zechariah’s Prophecy

 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
   for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
   for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.


Troparion - Tone 4
O Prophet and Forerunner of the presence of Christ, we who fervently honor you cannot worthily praise you. For by your revered and glorious birth the barrenness of your mother and the muteness of your father were unbound, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.

Kontakion - Tone 3
She that once was barren doth today bring forth Christ's Forerunner, John, the culmination and the crown of all the Prophets. For when he, in River Jordan, laid his hand on Him Whom the Prophets preached aforetime, he was revealed as God the Word's fore-chosen Prophet, His mighty preacher, and His Forerunner in grace.



 
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