They were prominent and wealthy citizens of Constantinople. Xenophont and his wife Maria lived a God-pleasing life and dedicated all their attention to the Christian upbringing of their sons. When their sons reached majority, they were sent to study in Beirut; but it so happened that a storm capsized their boat. By the Providence of God, John and Arcadius were somehow saved. They were tossed ashore by the waves but in two different places so that each thought the other was drowned. Out of grief for each other, they both became monks in two different monasteries. After two years, their grieving parents came to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to pay homage before the holy shrines. There, with the help of the “discernment” of a spiritual father, first the brothers met and, after that, the parents with their children. Out of gratitude to God, Xenophont and Maria distributed their entire estate to the poor and both of them were tonsured. The history of these four souls is touching and it shows how the Lord wonderfully guides the fate of those who believe in Him; how He permits pain and sorrow upon them that they may, later on, be strengthened in faith, in order to lead them into still greater joy. They lived and died in the Lord in the fifth century. (Prologue of Ohrid)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 3
10. By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,
the power of Death has been vanquished
and the deceit of the devil has been destroyed.
Therefore, mankind, saved by faith,
offers You hymns of praise forever.
9. O Lord, all creation has been enlightened by Your resurrection,
and Paradise has been reopened;
therefore, all creation extols You
and offers You hymns of praise forever.
8. I glorify the powers of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
and I praise the dominion of the undivided Divinity,
the consubstantial Trinity,
Who reigns forever and ever.
7. We adore Your precious Cross, O Christ,
and with hymns of praise we glorify Your Resurrection;
for by Your wounds we have all been healed.
6. Let us sing the praises of the Saviour,
Who was incarnate of the Virgin;
for He was crucified for our sake,
and on the third day He arose from the dead,
granting us His great mercy.
5. Christ descended into Hades and announced to those confined there:
Take courage, for today I have conquered death.
I am the Resurrection, the One Who will set you free.
I shattered the gates of the realm of death.
4. O Christ our God, we unworthily stand in Your most pure temple,
and offer to You our evening hymns.
From the depths of our souls we cry out to You:
O Lover of Mankind, Who has enlightened the world
by Your Resurrection on the third day,
deliver Your people from the hands of Your enemies.
In Tone 2
3. The glory of your soul shone brilliantly,
for you illumined yourself with faith and almsgiving.
You rejoiced to distribute your wealth to the poor!
Your righteousness abides for ever in the unfading light
which shone out from you, Father.
There you behold your children and her that gave them birth,
dwelling in the heavenly city.
2. You turned away from corruptible glory
and were counted worthy of the glory that is incorruptible and divine.
Having trampled down all the pleasures of life, God-bearers,
you indeed desired greatly the all-beautiful Christ.
He saved you from the triple waves and tempest of the world
and guided you to the calm and radiant life, most wealthy ones!
1. You killed the passions of the flesh
and clothed yourselves in the garments of dispassion
woven from the purity of your life.
While yet in the body you manifested a life equal to the angels!
You were great in wisdom
and have been counted worthy of the glory of the angels on high,
where you delight in the radiance of God!
In Tone 3, Glory… Now…
O Lady most honourable,
how can we but be rapt in wonder
at you giving birth to the Incarnate God
who, without a mother, was born of the Father before all ages?
You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,
without a man instrumentality.
He is God and man whose two natures are intact,
neither one losing any of its properties.
Therefore, O Virgin Mother,
intercede with Him to save the souls
of those who believe and confess in true faith
that you are the Mother of God.
Aposticha
In Tone 3
O Christ, Who darkened the sun by Your passion
and enlightened all creation by Your resurrection,
accept our evening prayer; for You love mankind.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
O Lord, Your life-giving Resurrection has enlightened the entire universe
and has revived Your creation which lay in corruption.
Therefore, we, who have been released from the curse of Adam, cry out to You:
Almighty Lord, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O God, although in Your divine nature You are unchangeable,
yet in Your human nature You underwent change by suffering in the flesh.
All creation was prostrate with fear
when it saw You hanging on the Cross,
and it groaned in sorrow as it sang the praises of Your long-suffering.
But You descended into Hades and arose on the third day,
granting life and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
You suffered death, O Christ, to deliver mankind from death.
And when You arose from the dead on the third day,
You enlightened the world
and resurrected all who acknowledge You as God.
Glory… Now…
O Virgin Mother, you conceived the Son of God without seed
by the will of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
He was begotten by the Father, without a mother, from all eternity.
Yet for our sake, He was born of you in the flesh without a human father,
and you nursed Him as an infant with your milk.
Therefore, never cease to entreat Him to deliver our souls from affliction.
Troparia
In Tone 3
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.
In Tone 8, Glory…
The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O fathers,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Xenophon and Maria,* your spirits rejoices with the angels.
Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.* O Saviour, save Your despairing people!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs* unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 3: Today the Virgin stands before us in the church* and together with the choirs of saints invisibly prays to God for us.* Angels are worshipping with hierarchs,* Apostles exult with prophets,* for the Mother of God prays in our behalf to the eternal God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)
Epistle
1 Timothy 1:15-17
Alleluia, Tone 3
verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever.
verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me. (Psalm 30:2,3)
Gospel
Luke 18:35-43
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)
DIVINE LITURGY (UKRAINIAN)
31-а Неділя по Зісланні Св. Духа
Тропар (глас 3): Нехай веселяться небесні, нехай радуються земляни, бо показав владу рукою Своєю Господь. Він смертю смерть подолав, первістком з-поміж мертвих став, визволив нас із глибин аду, і подав світові велику милість.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові.
Кондак (глас 3): Воскрес Ти нині з гробу, Щедрий, і нас вивів із брам смерти; нині Адам веселиться і радіє Єва, разом же і пророки з патріярхами безустанно оспівують божественну могутність влади Твоєї.
І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Богородичний (глас 3): Діва сьогодні стоїть перед нами у храмі та з хорами святих невидимо за нас молиться Богу. Ангели з архиєреями поклоняються, апостоли ж з пророками радуються, бо за нас благає Богородиця споконвічного Бога.
Прокімен (глас 3): Співайте Богові нашому, співайте; співайте цареві нашому, співайте (Пс 46,7).
Стих: Всі народи, заплещіть руками, кликніть до Бога голосом радости (Пс 46,2).
Апостол: (1Тм 1,15-17): Сину Тимотею, вірне це слово й повного довір’я гідне, що Христос Ісус прийшов у світ, щоб спасти грішних, з яких я – перший. Але я був на те помилуваний, щоб Ісус Христос на мені першім показав усю свою довготерпеливість, на приклад тим, що мають увірувати в нього на вічне життя. Цареві ж віків, нетлінному, невидимому, єдиному Богу честь і слава на віки вічні! Амінь.
Алилуя (глас 3): Алилуя, Алилуя, Алилуя!
Стих: На тебе, Господи, уповаю, щоб не осоромитися навіки (Пс 30,2).
Стих: Будь мені Богом захисником і домом пристановища, щоб спасти мене (Пс 30,3).
Євангеліє: (Лк 18,35-43) (Неділя): У той час, як Ісус наближався до Єрихону, один сліпий сидів край дороги й просив милостині. Почувши, що народ іде мимо, він спитався, що б воно могло бути. Йому сказали, що це Ісус Назарянин проходить. І він почав голосно кричати: “Ісусе, Сину Давидів, змилуйся надо мною!” Ті, що йшли попереду, сварилися на нього, щоб замовчав, та він кричав ще дужче: “Сину Давидів, змилуйся надо мною!” Ісус зупинився і звелів привести його до себе. І коли той наблизився до нього, спитав: “Що хочеш, щоб я зробив тобі?” “Господи”, – сказав той, – “щоб я прозрів!” Ісус сказав до нього: “Прозри! Віра твоя спасла тебе.” І вмить прозрів той і пішов за Ісусом, славлячи Бога. І ввесь народ, побачивши те, віддав хвалу Богові.
Причасний: Хваліте Господа з небес, хваліте Його на висотах (Пс 148,1). Алилуя (х3).