Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

Commemorated on the Sunday between December 11 and 17

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In you seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was 75 years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to your seed" (Gen 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land", which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of 24 years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one 100th year of his life, when Sarah was in her 90th year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

Dismissal Hymn of the Forefathers (Second Tone)

By faith You justified the Forefathers, when through them You betrothed Yourself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare You seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Hypakoe

The fire was transformed into dew for the Children, and lament was changed into joy for the women. For in both, an Angel ministered the wonders; for the first he turned the furnace into a place of rest, and to the others he revealed the Resurrection on the third day. O Author of our life, Lord, glory be to You.

Kontakion (Plagal of the Second Tone)

Hand-wrought image you would not worship, O thrice blessed ones; but armed by the Undepictable Essence, you were glorified in your ordeal by fire. Standing in the midst of the irresistible flame, you called upon God, "Speed, O Compassionate One, and hasten, since You are merciful, to come unto our aid; for You are able, if it be Your Will".



	Sunday of the Holy Forefathers Commemorated on the Sunday between December 11 and 17 On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law. Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In you seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was 75 years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to your seed" (Gen 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land", which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of 24 years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one 100th year of his life, when Sarah was in her 90th year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days. Dismissal Hymn of the Forefathers (Second Tone) By faith You justified the Forefathers, when through them You betrothed Yourself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare You seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls. Hypakoe The fire was transformed into dew for the Children, and lament was changed into joy for the women. For in both, an Angel ministered the wonders; for the first he turned the furnace into a place of rest, and to the others he revealed the Resurrection on the third day. O Author of our life, Lord, glory be to You. Kontakion (Plagal of the Second Tone) Hand-wrought image you would not worship, O thrice blessed ones; but armed by the Undepictable Essence, you were glorified in your ordeal by fire. Standing in the midst of the irresistible flame, you called upon God, "Speed, O Compassionate One, and hasten, since You are merciful, to come unto our aid; for You are able, if it be Your Will".