Month: March 2014

Not only the Third Sunday of Great Lent, but the week that follows, are devoted to welcoming the Precious Cross of Christ. This adoration of the Cross does not have a penitential character, but rather the opposite: “through the Cross joy has come to the whole world.” Having reached the midpoint of Lent we take refreshment, as though at a spiritual oasis, in the shade of the Cross, which is the banner and emblem of Christ’s victory. The Cross is a sign of our joy in Christ’s triumph. The liturgical texts express this joy; all the hymns in praise of the Cross have a victorious note to them. The Canon of Sunday Matins resembles the Paschal Canon of Saint John of Damascus. Continue reading March 23, 2014 Third Sunday of the Great Fast – The Adoration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross Octoechos 3

Holy Priest-Martyr Basil, Presbyter of Ancyra

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 7

10. Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace;
I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord.
I now run to You and cry out:
I have sinned , O Lord, have mercy on me.

9. Like the prodigal, I have turned away from Your grace;
I have wasted the riches of Your goodness, O Lord.
I now run to You and cry out:
I have sinned , O Lord, have mercy on me.

In Tone 2

8. Since You did not love earthly delights, O martyrs,
you were worthy of the blessings of heaven,
and now you abide with the angels.
O Lord, through their prayers, have mercy on us and save us.

7. Through the prayers of the holy martyrs
and their songs of praise to Christ,
all error has come to an end,
and all people are saved by faith.

6. As they withstood the tortures,
the company of martyrs said:
We serve in the forces of the King.
Though you deliver us to fire and torment,
we shall not deny the power of the Trinity.

5. Great is the glory you obtained by faith, O saints;
for not only did you triumph over the Enemy in your sufferings,
but after death you healed the infirm and drove out evil spirits,
O physicians of souls and bodies.
Intercede before the Lord,
entreating Him to have mercy on our souls.

In Tone 4

4. Adorned with the garment of the priesthood,
you served God like an angel, Basil of great renown,
offering sacrifice to Him
Who for our sakes appeared in the substance of flesh.
Therefore you were sacrificed like a perfect lamb,
becoming a pure offering.
Now you have offered yourself upon the altar of heaven.
Therefore, with voices of joy,
we ever call you blessed, crying out to you:
Pray without ceasing that our souls may be saved!

3. Adorned with the garment of the priesthood,
you served God like an angel, Basil of great renown,
offering sacrifice to Him
Who for our sakes appeared in the substance of flesh.
Therefore you were sacrificed like a perfect lamb,
becoming a pure offering.
Now you have offered yourself upon the altar of heaven.
Therefore, with voices of joy,
we ever call you blessed, crying out to you:
Pray without ceasing that our souls may be saved!

2. You were flayed by the unjust judge,
enduring bodily pains, glorious one,
looking forward to a painless end
and to the honours prepared for those who suffer.
Tempered like steel in the fire,
you became a well-forged sword of heaven,
cutting down the hosts of the enemy, blessed one.
Therefore, every nation of believers rejoices and honours you today,
courageous-minded athlete, truly glorious Basil!

1. You were bound and adorned with wounds,
going from city to city,
binding the tyrant and rightly guiding the steps of your feet.
When you had just entered the city of Caesarea
you received there your blessed end.
You were crowned and ascended at once to the city of heaven.
Now you stand before God the King.
Entreat Him to save and enlighten our souls!

In Tone 2, Glory…

O what an ordeal must the soul endure
when it parts from the body!
O how profusely that soul weeps,
and there is no one to show it pity.
It turns its eyes to the angels and its prayer is in vain.
It extends its hands to people and finds no one to help.
Therefore, O beloved faithful,
considering the brevity of our life,
let us beseech from Christ mercy for our souls.

Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice;
instead of Moses Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Give us Your help against the foe,* for human help is vain.
verse: O God, You have rejected us and broken us. You have been angry; come back to us.

Reading I
Genesis 8:4-21

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O God, hear my cry!* Listen to my prayer!
verse: So I will always praise Your name; day after day I will fulfil my vows.

Reading II
Proverbs 10:31-11:12

Venerable Fathers Martyred by the Saracens at the Monastery of St. Sabbas

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

10. Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

9. Like the prodigal I squandered my paternal inheritance,
and now I am in desolation.
I dwell in the land of the wicked.
In my folly, I became like the unreasoning beasts,
stripped of all divine grace.
So I return and cry out to You:
O merciful and compassionate Father,
I have sinned, O God.
Receive me as a penitent and have mercy on me.

8. O martyrs of the Lord,
you are living sacrifices and spiritual offerings
and perfect incense burnt to God.
You are sheep that know God and are known to Him,
and wolves cannot break into His fold.
Pray that we may be led with you
to pasture beside the still waters.

In Tone 6

7. O apostles who have seen God,
and who reflect the light of the spiritual Sun for us,
pray for the illumination of our souls
and deliver us from the gloomy darkness of suffering.
Intercede that we may behold the day of salvation.
Through your prayers and intercessions
cleanse our heart which the Evil One has wounded,
so that, saved by faith, we may ever honour you
who brought the world salvation through your all-wise preaching.

6. Into an evil land I have wandered,
prodigal that I am;
the wealth You gave to me, O compassionate Father,
I have squandered in a life filled with vice.
And now in hunger I long for the good I lost;
I am clothed with the shame of my transgression.
I have been stripped of righteous deeds and of divine grace.
Now I cry out that I have sinned.
But I know Your righteousness, O Christ;
in Your kindness receive me as Your hired servant,
through the prayers of Your apostles who love You.

5. Apostles of the Lord and bright lights of the universe,
you made us the recipients of salvation,
and like the heavens you proclaim the glory of God;
you are adorned with wonders and bright miracles.
Intercede for us unceasingly before the Lord,
that He may receive our prayers as a pleasing aroma,
and grant that with love we may contemplate and kiss His life-giving Cross.
In Your love for humankind,
grant mercy to us who bow low before Your Cross, O Saviour.

In Tone 4

4. Completely loving the highest of all desires,
you counted the beauties of life to be refuse, venerable Fathers.
Through vigil and prayer, through rain and burning heat,
you acquired those things which alone abide.
You lived together as one soul
and by grace were shown to be companions of the angels!

3. Completely loving the highest of all desires,
you counted the beauties of life to be refuse, venerable Fathers.
Through vigil and prayer, through rain and burning heat,
you acquired those things which alone abide.
You lived together as one soul
and by grace were shown to be companions of the angels!

2. You were beaten with clubs, stoned with rocks,
and cut down by swords.
Yet, martyrs, you did not break the unity of your mind
bound together by love and fraternal desire!
Together you were put to death and cut limb from limb.
You placed yourselves upon the altar of God
as unblemished sacrifices, passion-bearers!

1. Suffocated and consumed by fire,
you committed your souls into the hands of the King of all
as unblemished sacrifices, glorious martyrs!
You have joined yourselves to the choirs of the bodiless powers
and inherited the everlasting glory.
Ever pray that those who sing praises to you
may also share in that glory!

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

The Word of God, equal in honour to the Father and the Holy Spirit,
has shone forth from the Virgin in these latter days as a mighty sun,
illuminating heaven and earth from end to end.
He has sent you, O glorious apostles, as light
to illumine with the light of faith all nations living in the darkness of ignorance,
and by divine teachings to lead them to the true faith.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
I trust in the goodness of God* forever and ever.
verse: I will thank You forevermore; for this is Your doing.

Reading I
Genesis 7:6-9

Prokeimenon II, Tone 4
When God delivers His people from bondage,* then Jacob will be glad and Israel rejoice.
verse: Fools have said in their hearts: There is no God above.

Reading II
Proverbs 9:12-18

The Second Sunday of Lent is kept as a feast of Saint Gregory Palamas, the Archbishop of Thessaloniki in the fourteenth century. Like the restoration of the holy icons, this memorial of Saint Gregory has to do with historical events, but also relates to our understanding of the Christian vocation, and the possibility for every Christian to achieve genuine holiness. Saint Gregory taught that all Christians are called to union with God, which is the object of the Christian life. Saint Gregory was a great ascetic, and a great master of the monastic life, but he taught that this invitation to union with God is open to every Christian. This is the challenge of Lent, but that challenge faces us all year round. Likewise this is the challenge of monasticism, but not just for the monks and nuns. The Holy Father has expressed it very well: “…in the East, monasticism was not seen merely as a separate condition, proper to a precise category of Christians, but rather as a reference point for all the baptized, according to the gifts offered to each by the Lord; it was presented as a symbolic synthesis of Christianity.” (Pope John Paul II, Orientale Lumen, 9) Continue reading March 16, 2014

Holy Martyr Agapius and His Six Companions

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

10. Behold, this is the acceptable time,
this is the day of salvation.
Visit my soul in the abundance of Your love,
and in Your unique goodness, lighten the load of my sins.

9. Behold, this is the acceptable time,
this is the day of salvation.
Visit my soul in the abundance of Your love,
and in Your unique goodness, lighten the load of my sins.

In Tone 1

8. Through the supplication of all the saints and of the Theotokos,
grant us Your peace, O Lord, and save us,
since You alone are compassionate.

7. O saints, your confession of faith in the arena
destroyed the strength of devils and set us free from delusion.
When you were beheaded, you cried out:
O Lord, may the sacrifice of our souls be acceptable in Your sight;
for in our love for You, the Lover of humankind,
we have despised this temporal life.

6. How beautiful is the manner of your exchange, O saints;
for you have given your blood and received heaven.
Truly, you have done well!
You have obtained immortality by forsaking corruptible things.
Making a single choir with the angels,
you sing unceasingly the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.

5. O martyrs, worthy of praise,
though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,
opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,
delighting in the Tree of Life.
Beseech Christ to grant our souls
peace and great mercy.

In Tone 8

4. You seven martyrs of Christ
counted the assaults of the torturers and violent death to be nothing!
You hastened to battle with readiness and courage,
covering yourselves with the glory of victory!
You are numbered among all the righteous;
we call you blessed, glorifying you with them forever!

3. You seven martyrs of Christ
counted the assaults of the torturers and violent death to be nothing!
You hastened to battle with readiness and courage,
covering yourselves with the glory of victory!
You are numbered among all the righteous;
we call you blessed, glorifying you with them forever!

2. Martyred athlete Agapius,
you loved the well-spring of good things and the summit of desires!
You hastened to drain the cup of martyrdom,
calling on the divine name of the living God.
What courage was yours; what endurance,
by which you were openly given the gift of glory and splendor!

1. All-blessed martyrs,
you gave yourselves to voluntary slaughter;
you sanctified the earth with your blood
and illumined the air with your passage.
Now in the image of God you live in the heavens
ever praying for us to the never-fading Light!

In Tone 1, Glory…

What earthly delight endures unmingled with grief?
What earthly glory remains immutable?
All things are less than a shadow, more deluding than a dream.
In a single moment all these are effaced by death.
But in the light of Your countenance, O Christ, and in the enjoyment of Your beauty,
grant rest to those whom You have chosen;
for You love humankind.

Now…

Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,
glory of the whole world!
She was herself formed by human seed,
yet she became the Mother of the Master,
the Gate of heaven, the theme of the angels’ hymn and the beauty of the faithful.
She was seen as being heavenly and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.
She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man, and brought peace in its place.
She opened the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,
and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord who was born of her.
Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,
for He will fight our enemies for us;
He is all-powerful!

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 4
Your merciful love and Your truth* will guard me forever.
verse: I waited, I waited for the Lord and He stooped down to me; He heard my cry.

Reading I
Genesis 5:32–6:8

Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
As for me, I said: Lord, have mercy on me;* heal my soul for I have sinned against You.
verse: Blessed are those who consider the poor and the weak. The Lord will save them in the evil day.

Reading II
Proverbs 6:20–7:1

 

LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS

At Psalm 140

 

In Tone 1

10. O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,
we must speak no deceit with our tongues
nor place obstacles in the path of each other.
But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,
that with tears we may call out to Christ:
Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

9. O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,
we must speak no deceit with our tongues
nor place obstacles in the path of each other.
But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,
that with tears we may call out to Christ:
Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.

8. O martyrs, worthy of praise,
though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,
opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,
delighting in the Tree of Life.
Beseech Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.

In Tone 3

7. Through the prayers of the divine apostles, O righteous Lord,
grant that this time of the Fast may be well spent.
In Your kindness grant repentance to our hearts,
that we all may be saved and give glory to You.

6. Your coming will be great and fearful, O Lord,
when You shall sit in just judgment.
Do not pass sentence on me,
for I am already condemned;
but show Your divine favour toward me,
through the intercession of Your apostles.

In Tone 6

5. O apostles of Christ who shine your light on all mortals,
you are the treasuries of the holy knowledge of God.
Through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you.
Guide us successfully through the course of this Fast;
direct our lives in peace,
so that with our eyes lifted up to the Passion of Christ,
we may with courage give praise to our God.

In Tone 1

4. The streams of your wisdom
were drawn from the spiritual clouds,
pouring forth a fountain of Orthodoxy upon the world.
We the faithful draw forth the sweetness from there
and we turn from the outpourings of heresy
as from the bitter waters of Marah!

3. The streams of your wisdom
were drawn from the spiritual clouds,
pouring forth a fountain of Orthodoxy upon the world.
We the faithful draw forth the sweetness from there
and we turn from the outpourings of heresy
as from the bitter waters of Marah!

2. As your most pure body lay in the tomb,
it did not in any way decay.
It was found to be whole, most blessed Nicephorus!
We bear it forth with zeal.
we rejoice, fed by the Orthodox faith,
and we bless you, divinely-wise one!

1. The Church which is honored by the name of the apostles,
received you, most blessed one,
for through your godly deeds,
you became a temple of God.
After your burial you are again buried in a holy manner
and you have buried the foolish talk of the heretics!

In Tone 1, Glory… Now…

We are caught in the stormy sea of temptations and sins,
striving in the tempest to reach your tranquil haven.
O Mother of God, we beg you, hear our cry;
stretch out your steady hand to your servants,
and rescue us from the raging of the enemy.

 

Prokeimenon I, Tone 8
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,* exult, O you just!
verse: Blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.

Reading I
Genesis 4:16-26

Prokeimenon II, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in You.
verse: Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Reading II
Proverbs 5:15-6:3

The First Sunday of Great Lent is kept as the anniversary of the restoration of the Holy Icons to veneration and honour after the final defeat of the iconoclast heresy. The Seventh Ecumenical Council in the year 787 condemned the iconoclast heresy, but the final restoration of the Holy Icons did not take place until 843, with a solemn procession on the first Sunday of Lent in that year. Ever since then, all the churches of the Byzantine tradition, including our Ukrainian Catholic Church, remember that event joyfully. The reference to “Orthodoxy” in the title of this First Sunday of Lent is not denominational; it refers to all those who venerate the Holy Icons properly in divine worship. The Catholic Church fully accepts the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the proper veneration and use of the Holy Icons. So the restoration of the Holy Icons is a cause of joy for all Christians who accept the proper use of the Holy Icons. In our own times, we rejoice further to see an increasing appreciation of the importance of the Holy Icons among Anglicans, Lutherans and other Western Christians. Continue reading March 9, 2014 First Sunday of the Great Fast – Sunday of Orthodoxy, Octoechos Tone 1 Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING

 

Kathisma Reading
There is no Kathisma reading.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. The angels praise You without ceasing, O King and Master,
and I fall before You crying like the Publican:
God be merciful to me and save me.

9. Since you are immortal, O my soul,
be not overwhelmed by the waves of this life;
but return to soberness and cry to Your Benefactor:
God be merciful to me and save me.

8. Give me tears, O God, as once You gave them to the woman that had sinned,
and count me worthy to wash Your feet
that have delivered me from the way of error.
As sweet-smelling ointment let me offer You a pure life,
created in me by repentance;
and may I also hear those words for which I long:
‘Your faith has saved you, go in peace.’

7. When I call to mind the many evil I have done,
and I think upon the fearful day of judgment,
seized with trembling I flee to You for refuge, O God who loves mankind.
Turn not away from me, I beseech You, who alone are free from sin;
but before the end comes grant compunction
to my humbled soul and save me.

In Tone 2

6. Let us all make haste to humble the flesh by abstinence,
as we set out upon the God-given course of the holy Fast;
and with prayers and tears let us seek our Lord and Saviour.
Laying aside all memories of evil, let us cry aloud:
We have sinned against You, Christ our King;
save us as the men of Nineveh in days of old,
and in Your compassion
make us sharers in Your heavenly Kingdom.

5. When I think of my works, deserving every punishment,
I despair of myself, O Lord.
For see, I have despised Your precious commandments
and wasted my life as the Prodigal.
Therefore, I entreat You:
Cleanse me in the waters of repentance,
and through prayer and fasting make me shine with light,
for You alone are merciful;
abhor me not, O Benefactor of all, supreme in love.

4. Let us set out with joy upon the season of the Fast,
and prepare ourselves for spiritual combat.
Let us purify our soul and cleanse our flesh;
and as we fast from food,
let us abstain also from every passion.
Rejoicing in the virtues of the Spirit
may we persevere with love,
and so be counted worthy
to see the solemn Passion of Christ our God,
and with great spiritual gladness
to behold His holy Passover.

In Tone 1

3. Martyrs, three in number,
you contended mightily against those who cruelly condemned you!
You endured many cruel pains with faith
and received the kingdom on high.
Therefore, pray that God will grant our souls peace and great mercy!

2. Let us praise Eutropius with spiritual songs,
together with the steadfast Cleonicus and Basiliscus!
By the grace of piety,
they utterly consumed the tinder of ungodliness with fire.
Now they illumine the ends of the earth
like brilliant beacons with divine and fiery radiance,
casting all delusion into darkness.

1. When your heads were cut off, courageous athletes,
you crushed the head of the enemy beneath your beautiful feet.
You are unwavering stars and living sacrifices,
treasures of the temple of heaven.
Glorious Eutropius, Basiliscus and Cleonicus,
entreat for peace for us all!

In Tone 8, Glory… Now…

O how glorious is the miracle!
How did you enclose in your womb the God of All?
How did you carry the Creator of All as an infant?
Truly the mind and thought are confused;
your carrying of such a Child is beyond words.
O all-blessed and pure Theotokos,
pray to Him always to have mercy on our souls.

 

Great Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Do not turn Your face away from your son, for I am afflicted; hear me quickly. Be attentive to my soul and deliver it.
verse: Let Your salvation, Lord, help me.
verse: Let the poor see it and be glad.
verse: Seek God, and your souls shall live.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 4

Your grace has shone forth, O Lord,
it has shone forth and given light to our souls.
Behold, now is the accepted time:
behold, now is the season of repentance.
Let us caste off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
that having sailed across the great sea of the Fast,
we may reach the third-day Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of our souls.

To You have I lifted up my eyes, O You that dwell in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hands of their master, as the eyes of the handmaiden look to the hands of their mistress, so do our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until He take pity on us.

Your grace has shone forth, O Lord,
it has shone forth and given light to our souls.
Behold, now is the accepted time:
behold, now is the season of repentance.
Let us caste off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
that having sailed across the great sea of the Fast,
we may reach the third-day Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of our souls.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we are utterly humiliated. Let shame come upon them that prosper, and abatement on the proud.

You are glorified in the memorial of Your saints, O Christ our God:
at their intercessions
send down on us Your great mercy.

Glory… Now…

The ranks of angels glorify You, O Mother of God,
for you have given birth to Him that is God,
who dwells ever with the Father and the Spirit,
who created the angelic hosts out of nothing by an act of His will.
Entreat Him, all-pure Lady, to save and illumine the souls
of those who with true worship sing your praise.

 

After the Song of Simeon and the Trisagion Prayers, we follow the regular Lenten format for the end of Vespers.

On this night, we also follow the ceremony of mutual forgiveness (often a sermon is preached before the exchange of forgiveness). This ceremony of forgiveness may be celebrated every Sunday night up to the fifth week of the Great Fast.

 

Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness

The clergy kneel facing the faithful and say:

Clergy: Bless me, brothers and sisters, and forgive me a sinner all the sins which I have committed this day, and every day of my life, in thought, word and deed.

All: May God forgive you, reverend Father!

The faithful kneel and say in turn:

All: Bless us, reverend Father, and forgives us sinners all the sins we have committed this day and every day of our lives in thought, word, and deed.

Clergy: May God forgive you and have mercy on you!

Now, all approach and venerate the icon, and then exchange forgiveness with everyone.

Forgive me!

God forgives! Forgive me and pray for me!