Liturgical Resources for Sunday, June 23rd, 2024 

Gospel: (Matthew 8:28-9:3)
 
When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region. Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
 

The First Sunday Antiphon
 
Shout to the Lord, all the earth: sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
 
Say unto God, “How awesome are your works! Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter You.”
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
 
Let all the earth worship You and sing to You, let it sing to Your name, O Most High.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Savior, save us.
 

 
 

Apostolos (Romans 10:1-10)
 
Prokimenon: How great are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all.
 
Stichon: Bless the Lord, O my soul! You are very great indeed, O Lord my God!
 
Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans:
 
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God in their behalf is for salvation. For I bear witness to them that they have zeal for God, but a zeal that is not informed. For ignorant of God’s holiness and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the sanctification offered by God. For Christ is the consummation of the Law in terms of justification for everyone who believes.
 
For Moses has written that the man who brings about that justification which is of the Law shall live by it. But the justification which is of faith says, Do not ask in your heart, who shall go up to heaven- that is, to bring down Christ. Or, Who will descend into the abyss that is, to bring up Christ from the dead? But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.  –that is, the word of faith which we preach. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For a man believes with the heart and attains justification, but he professes his faith with his mouth and attains salvation.
 
Alleluia: String your bow, go forth, reign for the sake of truth, meekness and righteousness, and your right hand shall lead you wonderfully.
 
Stichon: You loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.
 


 
 

Instead of: “It is truly right…”
 
No change. We sing “It is truly right…”
 
Kinonikon
 
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise him in the highest.
 
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
 

Tropars
 
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead:* He saved us from the abyss of Hades and granted great mercy to the world.
 
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
 
You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.
 
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Today the Virgin stands before us in the church,* and together with the choirs of saints invisibly prays to God for us.* Angels are worshipping with hierarchs, apostles exult with prophets,* for the Mother of God prays in our behalf to the eternal God.