GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the Man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
With what crowns of praises shall we honour the praised martyrs,
the kind intercessors of the faithful people,
the adornment of Rus’-Ukraine and joy of the world?
Though separated in body, they were united in spirit.
By their wisdom they conquered the diabolical powers with the help of Christ,
who gives great mercy to the world.
Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
With what crowns of praises shall we honour the praised martyrs,
the kind intercessors of the faithful people,
the adornment of Rus’-Ukraine and joy of the world?
Though separated in body, they were united in spirit.
By their wisdom they conquered the diabolical powers with the help of Christ,
who gives great mercy to the world.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
With what ornaments shall we adorn the praised Borys,
who manfully endured sufferings,
and Hlib, who equalled him in zeal?
Both are bright shining lights,
which illumine all pious souls with the radiance of virtue.
Having learned Christ’s commandments,
they worthily achieved glory
and entreat Him who grants to all great mercy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
With what spiritual hymns shall we celebrate the splendorous feast
of the glorious martyrs who for the sake of the Christ,
spurned the corruptible glory of the world?
One was pierced in the side with a spear
while the other was slaughtered like a lamb.
Christ God worthily glorified them;
for this they have received the gift of healing
and implore great mercy for all.
In Tone 8
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O praiseworthy Martyrs of Christ,
you considered attacks by persecutors and violent death to be as nothing.
Boldly you armed yourselves with courage for battle,
and robed yourselves in glorious victory.
You were numbered with all the Just
with whom we bless you in constant praise.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O praiseworthy Martyrs of Christ,
you considered attacks by persecutors and violent death to be as nothing.
Boldly you armed yourselves with courage for battle,
and robed yourselves in glorious victory.
You were numbered with all the Just
with whom we bless you in constant praise.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O most blessed Martyrs of Christ,
you gave yourselves up freely to be sacrificed.
With your blood you sanctified the earth,
you brightened the air by your departure from this life.
Now you live in heaven, in a never-setting light.
O Martyrs, who see God, always pray for us.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O invincible Martyrs of Christ,
with the dew of divine grace
you pass through the pain of fire without harm.
You are considered worthy to live by the waters of peace,
since you received a crown of victory.
With joy we celebrate your holy feast,
and we give glory to Christ.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Come, let us extol the wonderworkers and martyrs
who suffered and overcame the opposing enemy.
Today, gleaming with light, they stand before Christ rejoicing.
Therefore, let us with joy and love celebrate their memory crying out:
Rejoice, intercessors of the world and victors over the enemies!
Rejoice, physicians of the sick and routers of demons!
Rejoice, amiable twins, excellent brothers, glorious Borys and wonderful Hlib!
As lovers of Christ implore the Holy Trinity for us,
for the peace of the world and the salvation of our souls.
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?
Who would not sing a hymn of praise
to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?
The Only-begotten Son Himself,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
was made flesh out of you in a manner
that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!
And for our sake, He Who is God by nature
assumed the nature of a man.
He is not divided into two persons;
He is understood to have two natures
without commixion or confusion.
O noble and blessed Woman,
intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Isaiah 43:9-14; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
In Tone 4
Come, you lovers of chastity;
let us venerate with a pure heart and humble soul the holy brothers
who loved Christ who rules over all:
Borys, the glorious martyr, and Hlib, the gentle one.
For they, being pure in soul and body, overcame the demons.
When the just cry our, the Lord hears.
You, glorious brothers, sprouted forth from a holy root
and in truth loved nobility.
You desired incorruptible glory
and chose eternal life and an incorruptible kingdom.
Having suffered for the truth, you received a crown of victory,
O martyrs and intercessors of our souls.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delvers from them all.
By words and deeds you fulfilled Christ’s commandments and precepts.
Without hatred you confronted the enemy who came to kill you unjustly.
Like the first martyr Stephen, you prayed:
Do not hold this against them,
O Christ our God, the Lover of mankind.
In Tone 8, Glory…
Come, faithful of the Ukrainian churches,
and behold how innocently the martyr Borys accepts the sentence,
whose side they pierced at the instigation of the devil,
causing him the shedding of blood.
Behold Hlib who like a lamb was slaughtered by his brother Sviatopolk.
They received crowns while their brother perished in oblivion.
They received glory and pray for our souls.
Now…
O most pure Virgin, who ineffably conceived God in the flesh,
O Mother of the Most High God,
accept the supplications of your servants, all pure One,
and grant us the forgiveness of sins
and the salvation of our souls.
Troparion
In Tone 2
O genuine passion-bearers and true followers of the Gospel of Christ,* chaste Borys and innocent Hlib,* you did not oppose your brother turned enemy* who killed you bodies but could not touch your souls.* Therefore let the wicked lover of power shed tears of lament* while you rejoice in the presence of the Holy Trinity with angelic choirs.* Pray that the land of your kinsmen may be pleasing to God* and that all the children of Rus’ may be saved.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: O genuine passion-bearers and true followers of the Gospel of Christ,* chaste Borys and innocent Hlib,* you did not oppose your brother-turned-enemy* who killed your bodies but could not touch your souls.* Therefore let the wicked lover of power shed tears of lament* while you rejoice in the presence of the Holy Trinity with angelic choirs.* Pray that the land of your kinsmen may be pleasing to God* and that all the children of Rus’ may be saved.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today your all-glorious memory has shone forth,* O noble passion- bearers of Christ, Borys and Hlib,* summoning us to gather for the praise of Christ our God.* Wherefore, we who hasten to your relics,* receive the gift of healing by your prayers, O saints, for you are godly physicians.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
Romans 8:28-39
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
John 15:17-16:2
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)