GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You faithfully observed the Law
and worked unceasingly for God the Creator.
He granted you motherhood, Anna:
your child brought forth Christ in the flesh.
With the Virgin Mother we honour you,
and celebrate today your holy dormition.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You faithfully observed the Law
and worked unceasingly for God the Creator.
He granted you motherhood, Anna:
your child brought forth Christ in the flesh.
With the Virgin Mother we honour you,
and celebrate today your holy dormition.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Divinely wise Anna, you gave birth to the Bearer of Life!
You presented your pure child to a life with God.
Together with the heavenly hosts, you rejoice in the riches from on high.
We commemorate your falling asleep,
and on this day we honour the divine wisdom in faith!
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Divinely wise Anna, you gave birth to the Bearer of Life!
You presented your pure child to a life with God.
Together with the heavenly hosts, you rejoice in the riches from on high.
We commemorate your falling asleep,
and on this day we honour the divine wisdom in faith!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having divine wisdom, you gave birth to the Door of Heaven,
and you achieved heavenly glory forever!
We celebrate your holy dormition, Anna,
and ask you to pray that the turmoil of passions not destroy us,
and that we be spared from fear and desolation.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having divine wisdom, you gave birth to the Door of Heaven,
and you achieved heavenly glory forever!
We celebrate your holy dormition, Anna,
and ask you to pray that the turmoil of passions not destroy us,
and that we be spared from fear and desolation.
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
The Theotokos came forth from a barren womb:
through her we were saved by Christ our God!
The chaste Bridegroom’s grandparents were Joachim and Anna.
He placed them in the heavenly realm.
They sing together with their daughter the holy Virgin, and the angels,
praying for the sake of the world.
We honour them, crying aloud:
Ancestors of God, for the sake of the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary,
pray that our souls may be saved!
Readings
(1) Wisdom 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Rejoice, spiritual swallow:
you announced the springtime of grace to us!
You lived well and blamelessly in chastity,
preserving the treasure of virginity.
You gave birth with the pangs of a mother to the all-pure Theotokos
who alone knew not a man!
You are the honoured ewe lamb who gave birth
to the heifer who at the angel’s word bore the Word:
the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world,
and has translated you from the earth,
Anna, grandmother of the Lord!
Pray to Him now that He will grant great mercy to our souls!
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; praise befits the upright!
God-receiving Joachim and divine and all-honourable Anna;
honourable couple, desired of God!
You were chosen in holiness by the splendours of the Law!
By grace you publish glad tidings,
since you gave birth to her who bore Christ, the Author of our life!
Lamps who lighted the unshaded Candle,
who guided well the grace that is the all-pure Theotokos!
Pray with her that Christ may grant our souls great mercy!
Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.
Rejoice, divine and blessed Anna!
Grandmother of Christ our God!
You are the blessed ground who caused to blossom
the earth which brought forth God for the world!
You unceasingly studied the Law of God,
inscribing grace for all!
By your giving birth you broke the bond of barrenness;
you overcame death with incorruption;
you passed over to divine splendour,
after you gave birth to the Theotokos, the Light-bearing Lamp.
Pray with her that great mercy may be granted to our souls!
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Come together, all creation!
Let us praise the divinely-wise Anna on cymbals and with psalms!
Through her womb she gave birth to the divine Mountain.
Today she is translated to the spiritual mountain and mansions of paradise!
Let us cry out to her: blessed is your womb
which bore her who carried the Light of the world in her womb!
Entreat Him that He may deliver us from all tribulation
and assaults of the enemy
and that He may save our souls!
Troparia
In Tone 4
O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,** and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: We feast the memory of the forebears of Christ* as with faith we beseech them to help us* and rescue from every affliction* those who cry out: Our God is with us,* the God whose will it was to glorify them.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: Bless God in the churches, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
Galatians 4:22-31
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their protector in time of trouble.
verse: The Lord will help them and rescue them; He will deliver them from sinners and save them, for they hoped in Him. (Psalm 36:39,40)
Gospel
Luke 8:16-21
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)