From my mother’s womb the Lord called me by my name, and made of me a sharp-edged sword; He concealed me in the shadow of His arm, and made me a polished arrow.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to Your name, Most High.

From my mother’s womb the Lord called me by my name, and made of me a sharp-edged sword; He concealed me in the shadow of His arm, and made me a polished arrow.

O God, Who made this a day most worthy of our celebration because of blessed John; grant Your people the grace of spiritual joys and direct the minds of all the faithful into the path of eternal salvation.

Lesson from the book of Isaias

Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb He gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of His arm. He made me a polished arrow, in His quiver He hid me. You are My servant, He said to me, Israel, through whom I show My glory. And now says the Lord Who formed me as His servant from the womb, I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. When kings shall see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves because of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel Who has chosen you.

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I dedicated you.

The Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth, and said to me. Alleluia, alleluia.

You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; you shall go before the Lord to prepare His ways. Alleluia.

Continuation + of the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Elizabeth’s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him by his father’s name, Zachary. And his mother answered and said, Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of your kindred that is called by this name. And they kept inquiring by signs of his father what he would have him called. And asking for a writing-tablet he wrote the words, John is his name. And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were spoken abroad in all the hill country of Judea. And all who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and wrought redemption for His people.

We heap Your altar with gifts, O Lord, celebrating the birth of him who announced the coming of the Saviour of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, and made His presence known.

You, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.

May Your Church, O God, rejoice at the birth of blessed John the Baptist, through whom she knew the author of her own rebirth, Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt, go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways: