Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria & All Africa

Archdiocese of Good Hope

Festal Vespers Hymns

USED TOGETHER WITH VESPERS SERVICE BOOK

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

Our Eternal Gratitude to Pater Seraphim Dedes & all the contributing Translators for the
Greek & English texts that make our Worship much easier
to understand, to participate and to appreciate.
Glory to God for His Great Mercy!
www.agesinitiatives.com

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8. FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER

 S T J OAC H IM
Simeron ek rizis tou David, Vasiliki
porfiris ekvlastisasa, tou Iesse
vlastanin aparhete, to Anthos to
Mystikon, en O Hristos O Theos imon
exinthisen, O Sozon tas psihas imon.
St Joachim & St Anna - Conception “NIN APOLIIS TON DOULON SOU...” –
TRISAGION PRAYERS & OUR LORD’S
PRAYER ➜
So much attention is paid to the Ever Blessed Virgin Theotokos, that there is a F E STAL AP OLY TIKION –S T J
tendency to overlook her Venerable Parents, St Joachim and St Anna, who by
natural means conceived a flesh-and-blood human being whom they named Simeron tis ateknias desma dialionte.
‘Mary’ and are therefore, the Righteous Grandparents “... according to the flesh “ Tou Ioakim gar ke tis Annis isakouon
of our Incarnate Lord God and Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ. Theos, par’ elpida tekin aftous safos,
The Spiritual Beauty of St Anna and her devoted husband, St Joachim is briefly ipishnite Theopeda, ex is aftos etehthi
expressed in Holy Scripture, and as there is no greater part of the Divine Plan of O aperigraptos, vrotos gegonos, di’
the Universe than Sacred Motherhood, St. Anna is granted individual honour Angelou kelefsas voise afti. Here,
with the observance of a Feast Day on 26 July. Heharitomeni, O Kyrios meta Sou.
Close scrutiny of Sacred Texts by biblical scholars has finally cleared away twenty
centuries of legend and established a more accurate and factual account,
however meagre, of St Joachim and St Anna, for there is no denying the word of
the Holy Apostle, St James, who went to great lengths to record true facts about
the Righteous Parents of our Lady, the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, which he ✞ Doxa Patri ke Io ke Agio Pnevmati,
described his Protoevanglia. ke nin ke ai ke is tous Eonas ton
St Anna was of the prestigious Hebrew Tribe of Levi and was the daughter of the eonon.
High Priest, Nathan, and his wife, Mary, who had two other draughters as well,
named Sovin and Mary, who resided in Bethlehem after they were married, Amin
while St Anna and St Joachim lived in Galilee where their daughter, St Mary, the F E STAL A P OLY TIKION – T
Theotokos, was born. Os tou Ano Stereomatos tin evprepian,
St Joachim and St Anna were favoured by God, Who answered their constant
ke tin kato sinapedixas oreotita, tou
Prayers with the birth of their longed for daughter, which, according to the Will
Agiou Skinomatos tis Doxis Sou Kyrie
of God, schanged the course of history and set us on another Path that - if
krateoson Afto is eona eonos, ke
followed - leads us to Eternal Life.
prosdexe imon tas en afto apafstos
St Gabriel, the Archangel of God – His Bearer of Good Tidings - told St Anna: "The
prosagomenas Si deisis, dia tis
Lord hath heard Thy Prayers, and Thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and Thy Theotokou, i panton Zoi ke Anastasis.
Seed shall be spoken of in all the world."
St Anna accepted the Angelic Annunciation with the words: "As the Lord my God D ISM ISSAL BL E SSINGS ➜ Thou art the Life and Resurrection
lives, if I beget male or female, I will bring it as a Gift to the Lord my God; and it
shall minister unto His Holy Things all the days of its life."
St Joachim and St Anna are an integral part of the Divine Liturgy, always being
mentioned in the Dismissal Prayers of our Holy Services.
2. FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER
& S T A NNA – T ONE 2
Today a Royal Cloak of Purple and fine
linen is woven from the Loins of
David, and the Mystical Flower of
Jesse is Blossoming: from it will
come forth Christ our God, the
Saviour of our soul!
OAC H IM & S T A NNA - T ONE 4
Today the bonds of Childlessness are
broken. For hearing the Prayers of
Joachim and Anna, God promised
that against all Hope they would give
Birth to the Maiden of God. He, the
Uncircumscribed, would be Born of
Her, and when He had become Man,
and by the Angel’s Example, He
commands us to call to Her:
“Rejoice, O Maiden Full of Grace, the
Lord is with Thee!”
✞ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, now and
forever, and to the Ages of ages.
Amen
H E C ONSEC RATION - TO NE 4
Thou hast made the Earthly Beauty of
the Holy Tabernacle of Thy Glory to
be like the Majesty of the Firmament
on High, O Lord. Make it strong
forever and ever, and accept our
Supplications that we unceasingly
bring to Thee there, at the
Intercessions of the Theotokos. For
of all.
7.
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
F E STAL A P OSTIHA – THE C
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.
Amin.
6. FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER
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
ONSE CRATION - T ONE 2
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.
Amen
Festal Vespers Hymns – St Joachim & St Anna
KINDLY USE THE SERVICE BOOK UNTIL THIS POINT, THEN CAREFULLY FOLLOW
INSTRUCTIONS WITH REGARD TO THESE HYMNS
H Y MN OF THE EV ENING I NCE NSE
THE CONGREGATION MUST STAND
P SALM 140/141 – T ONE 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!
F E STAL P ROSOM IA – S T J OACH IM & S T A NNA - T ONE 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
FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER 3.

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.
F E STAL P ROSOM IA – T HE
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
from all shame, by taking on our pantes anthropi, anakenizonte psihin, lamps. This is how we honour
human form and becoming Man, for pros ipsos Ouranion. Consecrations. Thus we Glorify our
He is Rich in Mercy. Creator, by Whom is everyone
From the morning watch until night; Renewed in soul and is revived for
Life in Celestial Heights.
from the morning watch until night
– let Israel Hope in the Lord. ✞ Doxa Patri, ke Io, ke Agio Pnevmati ✞ Glory to the Father, and to the
Behold! The Promises of the Prophets Son, and to the Holy Spirit
are fulfilled! The Holy Mount is Tin Mnimin ton Egkenion epitelountes As we perform the Consecration, we
planted in the Womb. The Divine Kyrie, Se ton tou Agiasmou dotira Glorify Thee, the Giver of
Ladder is set up – the Great Throne Doxazomen, doemeni Agiasthine Sanctification, asking Thee to
of the King is ready. The place for imon, ta esthitiria ton psihon, ti Sanctify the senses of our soul, at
the Lord’s Passage is prepared. The presvia ton Endoxon athlogoron, the Intercession of Thy Glorious
Dry Bush, which Fire could not Agathe Pantodiname. Martyrs, O Good Almighty Lord.
consume, is Blossomming. The
Treasury of Grace is an abundant S T J OAC H IM & S T A NNA – T ONE 1
Flow of Blessing, which Heals the
Barrenness of Anna, whom we To aporriton tis Angelis, ke anthropis Today the Great Mystery announced
Glorify with Faith. megalion, ke ap’ eonos from all Eternity whose depths
C ONSECRATION – TO NE (6) P L AGAL 2 hrismodotoumenon, Mystion Angels and mankind cannot
paradoxon, simeron en tis lagosi tis perceive, appears in the barren
the Lord there is Mercy, and sofronos Annis vefourgite, Maria i womb of Anna. Mary, the Maiden of
with Him is Abundant Redemption; Theopes, etimaomeni is katikian, tou God, is prepared to be the Dwelling
and He will Redeem Israel from all pamvasileos ton eonon, ke is of the Eternal Kind, Who will Renew
his transgressions. anaplasin tou genous imon, in en our human nature. Let us entreat Her
Master Christ our God, as Thou art katharo sinidoti kathiketevsomen, with a pure heart and say: “Intercede
anavoontes pros aftin. Presveve to So for us with Thy Son and our God
Immortal Wisdom, from on High
Iio ke Theo os prostasia iparhousa that our soul may be Saved!”
look down and visit this Sacred
imon ton Hristianon, tou Sothine tas
Temple preserve it immovable to the
psihas imon.
end of the Age and forever. And
grant to those who ever enter that Ke nin ke Ai ke is tous eonas ton Now and ever, and to the Ages of
they experience Thine eonon. ages.
Unapproachable Light, since Thou Amin Amen
art Compassionate.
Praise the Lord, all Gentiles! Praise ISODOS/ENTRANCE- “FOS ILARON...” ➜
Him, all you people! PROKEIMENO N OF TH E D AY
KINDLY PROKEIMENON
Solomon of old, when the Temple was REFER TO THE
OF THE DAY

constructed, offered blood of beasts
as a sacrifice to Thee, O Lord. O NO READINGS – FERVENT
Friend of Man, that Temple SUPPLICATIONS

prefigured the one Thou acquired F E STAL A P OSTIHA – ST JOACHIM & S T A NNA
willingly by Thy own Blood, O T ONE (5) PLAGAL 1
Saviour. We join him now to
importune Thee, the Only Anna, i Thia Haris pote, prosevhomeni Anna, named for Divine Grace, cried out
Compassionate that Thou iper teknou evoise, to panton Theo ke in her Prayer, beseeching our Creator
continually send the Upright Holy Ktisti. Adonai Savaoth, to tis apedias and God of all: “O Master, Thou
Spirit to It. 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
For His Mercy rules over us; and the katarraktas dianizon, ke tin akarpon, womb to make it fruitful, that we
Truth of the Lord endures forever. karpoforon anadixon, opos to may off Thee the Child as a Gift, and
gennisomenon, doton Si prosaxomen, give Glory and Praise with Hymns
Brethren, one and all, let us festively be epevlogountes imnountes, ke and sons to Thy Love through which
merry. Come and let us form now a omofronos Doxazontes, tin Sin the world receives Great Mercy.”
Spiritual Choir. With oil let us Evsplaghnian, di’ is didote to kosmo,
brighten our soul together with our to Mega Eleos.

4. FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER FESTAL VESPERS – ST JOACHIM & ST ANNA - CONCEPTION- 9 DECEMBER 5.