The Advent Journey With the Saints: the Prophet Haggai

Wednesday December 16/29: the Holy Prophet Haggai.

The Holy Prophet Haggai was the tenth of the Twelve Minor Prophets. He was of the Tribe of Levi and he prophesied during the times of the Persian emperor Darius Hystaspis (prior to 500 B.C.). Upon the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity, he persuaded the people to build the Second Temple at Jerusalem, and he proclaimed that the Messiah would appear in this Temple in the last times.

 

The Canon of the prophet, the acrostic whereof is: “We sing the divinely given words of Haggai”, a composition of Theophanes, in Tone VII:

Ode I, Irmos: Unto our Immutable God, * Who brought Israel out from the Red Sea, * let us chant a hymn of victory * for He hath been glorified.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Standing before God as a true prophet with divine sight, O blessed one, be thou mindful of those who hymn thine honoured memory.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Having set thyself firmly upon the steadfast foundation of the virtues, O divinely blessed one, thou didst build thyself up as an animate temple.

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

Thy most pure mind which ever gazed at God as far as it was able, O blessed one, was illumined with the gifts of heaven shining from afar.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Having in her womb conceived Thee in the flesh, the Word of God Who wast begotten without mother before time, the Virgin gave birth to Thee, her Son, without a father.

Ode III, Irmos: The Church of Christ hath been confirmed by faith; * wherefore she crieth out unceasingly in hymns, chanting: * Holy art Thou, O Lord! * and my spirit doth hymn Thee!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Having released us from a cruel captivity to the demons by Thy divine power, O Saviour, show us forth as Thine honored temples, who cry aloud: Holy art Thou, Who savest our souls!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

O prophet, who abidest in the highest and fillest the whole world with sanctity, the temple showeth thee crying aloud: Holy art Thou, Who savest our souls!

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

The divine Spirit Who sendeth down grace upon all, dwelt in thy heart and taught thee to cry aloud: Holy art Thou, O Lord, Who savest our souls!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who is the Lover of mankind, Who wisely fashioned all creation by His word, fashioned Himself into our form through thee, O Theotokos, becoming a man in His loving-kindness.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 

Sessional Hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith …”: Possessed of a mind illumined by the divine Spirit, O all-blessed Prophet Haggai, thou didst foretell the mysteries of God, disclosing the revelation of things to come, and speaking of the fulfilment of things. Entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Stavrotheotokion: Thy pure Mother who hath not known wedlock, O Christ, * upon seeing Thee hanging dead upon the Cross, * said, weeping maternally: * How hath the iniquitous and ungrateful synagogue of the Jews repaid Thee, * which hath enjoyed Thy many and great wonders, ** O my Son?

Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard report of Thee, O Lord, * that Thou hast appeared on earth to save us. * Wherefore, we cry aloud: * Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

To Thy prophet, O Christ, Thou didst reveal the Virgin – the animate temple, pleasing to Thee, from whence Thou didst come. And with him we cry aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Thou hast gathered to Thee all the rejected ones, O Lord, freeing us from slavery to the enemy, as the God-pleasing prophet hath said.

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

The salvation of the nations which would come afterwards didst Thou reveal to Thy prophet, O Christ, who crieth out to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou didst turn the curse of Adam into a blessing, O Lady, giving birth to Christ for our sake. To Him do we cry: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Ode V, Irmos: I rise at dawn to Thee, * and I cry unto Thee O compassionate Lord: * do Thou illumine my soul, darkened by sins, * with the light of Thy commandments, and guide it!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Grant, O blessed one, that those who celebrate thy radiant memory may become temples of the living God, establishing them on the rock of the dogmas by thy supplications.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

In that thou art our Benefactor, O Lord, grant us Thy peace, the peace which edifieth the soul, of which the godly Haggai foretold in the divine Spirit.

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

Truly great will be the glory of the Church of the incarnate Word Who hath shared human nature, surpassing that of the assembly of Israel of old.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O blessed and exceedingly glorious Mother who knew not a man, impart life to my soul, which hath been slain by sins and buried by mine unrestrained passions.

Ode VI, Irmos: Jonah cried out from the belly of Hades: * Lead my life up from corruption! * And we cry aloud unto Thee: * O almighty Saviour, have mercy on us!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Teaching piety to the youth, O blessed one, thou didst erect a sanctified temple to the Master of all, promising an abundance of good things.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

O Saviour, Thou didst lead us up from far captivity and the uttermost depths, bringing us up to the city on high, in that Thou lovest mankind.

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

Rejoicing, O prophet, through the illumination of the Spirit thou didst utter beforehand words of action, teaching us piety through justification.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Having of his own will fallen, Adam was expelled from paradise; but the Word Who was incarnate from the Virgin, calleth him back and leadeth him up to delight on high.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, in Tone 4: Spec. Mel.: “Today You have shown forth…”: Enlightened by the Spirit, thy pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; / for thou didst see things far off as if they were near. / Therefore, we honour thee, blessed and glorious Prophet Haggai.

Ode VII, Irmos: Cast into the fiery furnace, * the venerable children transformed the fire
into dew, * crying aloud thus in hymnody: * Blessed art Thou O Lord, the God of our fathers!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Having purified thy mind, thou didst manifestly receive the effulgence of the Spirit, O prophet, prophesying splendidly and crying aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Having purified thy mind, thou didst manifestly receive the effulgence of the Spirit, O prophet, prophesying splendidly and crying aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

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

Beholding thee passing through a most sacred life, God appointed thee the prophet of His coming, wherefore thou didst cry aloud unto all: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who saved the three children in the fiery furnace, having made His abode within thy womb, O Virgin, doth save those who trust in Him and cry aloud: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O all-pure one!

Ode VIII, Irmos: The King of glory, who is alone without beginning, * Before Whom all the powers of heaven stand in awe * and the hosts of angels tremble: * O ye priests praise, and ye people * supremely exalt Him throughout the ages.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

We hymn Thee, the Master of all, Whom Haggai, the prophet of divine vision, hath taught us to worship and praise, singing: O ye priests praise! and Ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

We hymn Thee, the Master of all, Whom Haggai, the prophet of divine vision, hath taught us to worship and praise, singing: O ye priests praise! and Ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

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

When the unoriginate Word appeared in latter times, O prophet of vision divine, thou didst manifestly proclaim Him, crying: O ye priests praise! and Ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who before was invisible and infinite in essence became finite and visible in thy womb, O all-pure one. To Him do we cry aloud with faith: O ye priests praise! and Ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Ode IX, Irmos: O all-hymned one, * who art higher in eminence than the heavens: * having seedlessly conceived the unoriginate Word * thou hast given birth to the incarnate God for all mankind. * Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Having tasted divine vision which transcendeth description, thou didst put away earthly cares, O prophet, and worthily standest before our supremely glorious God. Wherefore, all of us, the faithful, call thee blessed.

Holy prophet, Haggai, pray to God for us.

Thy godly and wondrous life hath shown thee to be an intercessor before God, O blessed and divinely wise one; and thou dwellest eternally with the incorporeal choirs. Wherefore, we all ever call thee blessed.

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

It was fitting for thee, as a teacher of piety, to be with God and to mingle in His light, O blessed one: Entreat Him now, that He deliver our souls from temptation.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Truly didst thou supra-naturally become the dwelling-place and golden ark of the King of all, having Christ, the only incarnate Bestower of the law, within thee, O Birthgiver of God.

Troparion, in Tone 2: We celebrate the memory of Thy prophet Haggai, O Lord; through him we beseech Thee: save our souls.