THE FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (JUNE 15TH)

15th Century Russo-Byzantine Icon of the Holy Trinity, 

Figured in the Hospitality of Abraham, by Rublev

For the Divine Liturgy of St. James of Jerusalem According to the Use of the Ancient Church of the West 

INTROIT

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, and the undivided Unity: we will confess him, because he hath shewed his mercy upon us.

Psalm 8. O Lord our Governour: how excellent is thy Name in all the world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, and the undivided Unity: we will confess him, because he hath shewed his mercy upon us.

COLLECT FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: we beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A COLLECT FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE WEEK OF SAINTS - STS. MEDARD, BRON, COLUMBA, ITHAMAR, TERNAN, AND TRILLO

O God of our fathers, who didst raise up thy faithful servants Medard of Noyon, Bron of Cassel-Irra, Columba of Iona, Ithamar of Rochester, Ternan of Banchory, and Trillo of Llandrillo, to shine as lights in the ancient Church of the West: Grant that we, beholding their steadfast faith, their bold confession, and their tireless labours in thy vineyard, may with like devotion preach thy Gospel, endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ, and walk in humility, purity, and peace.

As thou didst cause Saint Medard to be a father to the poor and a comforter in storms, and Saint Bron to be a disciple of Saint Patrick and a shepherd in the wild places; as thou didst make Saint Columba a prince turned pilgrim, a founder of monasteries, and a herald of peace among the nations; as thou didst adorn Saint Ithamar with wisdom and meekness, being the first of the English to wear a bishop’s mitre; and as thou didst send Saint Ternan to soften the hearts of the Picts and Saint Trillo to bring forth wells in dry places: so pour upon us thy Holy Spirit, that, being rooted in their example, we may daily die to sin and rise to righteousness, bearing fruit unto holiness, and at the last be joined with them in the communion of thy saints in light;

Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE COLLECT FOR ST. BARNABAS THE APOSTLE (JUNE 11TH) 

O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost, that he should be a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and that much people should be added unto the Church: Grant, we beseech thee, that by his example and intercession, we may be ever ready to give up ourselves to the service of thy Gospel, and to be counted worthy to be fellow-heirs with the saints in light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: EXODUS 24

And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.

And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.

And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.

And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.

And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.

And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.

And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

READER: The Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God 

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13–17

We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

READER: The Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God

THE EPISTLE READING: REVELATION 4:1-11

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

READER: The Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God

GRADUAL AND ALLELUIA

Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the Cherubim.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

Alleluia.

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN 3:1-15

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

READER: The Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

ALL: Praise be to Thee, Lord Christ 

OFFERTORY

Blessed be God the Father, and the only-begotten Son of God, and likewise the Holy Spirit: for he hath shewed his mercy upon us.

SECRET

O Lord God Almighty, we humbly beseech thee, that by the power of thy holy Name, thou wouldest vouchsafe to sanctify this oblation of our sacrifice: that we may thereby be enabled evermore to present ourselves unto thee to be an oblation acceptable in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PREFACE OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty,

that we should at all times, and in all places,

give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God:

who, with thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost,

art one God, one Lord,

not one only Person, but three Persons in one Substance.

For that which we believe of thy glory, O Father,

the same we believe of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost,

without any difference of inequality.

That in the confession of the true and everlasting Godhead,

distinctness in Persons, unity in Essence, and equality in Majesty may be adored.

Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim, praise;

who cease not daily to cry out with one voice, saying:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts,

heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.

COMMUNION

We bless the God of heaven, and extol him before all the living: for he hath shewed his mercy upon us.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Eternal Lord God, who hast given unto us to acknowledge the Holy and eternal Trinity to be likewise one undivided Unity: mercifully grant that we, who have now received thy holy sacraments, may thereby be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.