Prophetess Hannah – Feast Day: December 9th
Prophet Samuel – Feast Day: August 20th
& Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Christ (Sunday between 11th-17th of December)
The Life of Prophetess Hannah and Prophet Samuel: When she had given birth to him and weaned him, she took him to the town of Shiloh, where the Ark of God was then, and, although he was still an infant, she dedicated him, in accordance with her promise, to the service of God, and she gave thanks to Him, singing the Third Canticle of the Old Testament: “My heart is strengthened in the Lord….”
+
Prayers to the Prophetess Hannah
Troparion: We celebrate the memory of Your Prophetess Hannah, O Lord; through her we entreat You, save our Souls.
Kontakion: Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; for you saw things far off as if they were near. Therefore, we honour you, blessed and glorious Prophetess Hannah.
+
Prayers to the Prophet Samuel
Troparion: You were given to a barren womb as a most precious gift, and were sacrificed to your Lord as a whole burnt offering. You served Him with Holiness and righteousness; therefore O Samuel, God’s Prophet, we honour you as an intercessor for our Souls.
Triparion: You arrived by your mother’s Prayers, bearing the name “God has heard.” You were called by the Lord from infancy, O revered Prophet Samuel, you shepherded the rebellious people well and became the founder of the kingdom of Israel; entreat the True God for us who honour you with faith that He may save our Souls.
Kontakion: You were dedicated to God as a revered gift before your conception, and from an early age you served Him like an Angel, O most blessed one, and you were worthy to Prophesy concerning the future. Therefore, we cry to you: “Rejoice, O Samuel, God’s Prophet and great High Priest.”
Kontakion: O great Samuel, who anointed the Holy God-seer David, hasten to ask that we may be anointed with the peace of the Holy Spirit, and to be strangers to evil, as David was for Saul’s tormented Soul.
+
I Samuel 1:27-28
“For this child I Prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.”
+
Prophetess Hannah’s song of thanksgiving, seen below, is a beautiful Prayer and can be compared to the Magnificat, which is the Prayer of the Theotokos…
“My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in your victory. There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let arrogance not come from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird themselves with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low; he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with royalty and inherit a seat of honour. For the pillars of the Earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness, for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries will be shattered; the Most High will thunder in Heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the Earth; He will give strength to His king and exalt the power of His anointed.”
+
