GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 7
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,
Who destroyed the power of death
and enlightened the human race;
and let us cry out with the angels:
Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;
and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.
Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day
and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,
the Apostles were amazed,
and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:
This is the glory of the Church,
this is the richness of the Kingdom!
O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!
Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,
I still acknowledge You as my God,
and am not ashamed of You;
I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.
Your death is my life, almighty Lord,
and I extol Your resurrection.
O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
In Tone 6
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Old Law prescribed that we should observe the dedication,
but now at this time it is better to make it a time of renewal.
For the islands must be renewed before God
as the Prophet Isaiah said.
And these islands refer to the Churches of the Gentiles,
which were founded and dedicated to God.
For this reason we also keep the memory of this dedication,
and we observe it as a time of renewal.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us all rededicate ourselves today.
Put aside the old self who imposed restraints and promised death.
Mortify the members of the body;
despise the evil fruit of the tree
and live the life of the newly created.
For the sake of this new life remember to put aside the old.
Let us all be rededicated and honour this special day.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Christ, eternal Word,
You have set your Church as a pillar of might
because You founded it on the rock of faith.
Because of this, it is immovable for all ages.
You will remain with it to the end of days,
for You became man without change.
We, therefore, bless and praise You, saying:
You are without beginning and end.
O King, glory to You!
In Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Christ saw your good deeds, O Cornelius.
He heard your fervent prayers and sent a holy angel to you.
O praiseworthy one,
He enlightened you as well as the leader of the apostles
who had renewed you by water and the Spirit at your home.
He granted you holiness by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having been anointed with the oil of the priesthood,
you travelled to distant lands to announce the news of salvation.
O God-wise one, you rooted out the thorns of error
and sowed the true faith by the Spirit.
For this, O Cornelius we rejoice and bless you
as a God-inspired hierarch and courageous martyr.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O blessed one,
those who followed your good example were revealed as wise.
You died and were buried in the grave
according to the law of nature.
O God-inspired and wise Cornelius,
you are the source of many miracles.
You heal the sick and cast out evil spirits by the Holy Spirit.
In Tone 6, Glory…
O Lord, observing the memory of the Rededication,
we glorify and entreat You,
the Giver of holiness and knowledge,
to sanctify us through the prayers of the glorious sufferers of the passion,
O all-powerful Good One.
In Tone 7, Now…
Immaculate Mother of God,
you became a mother outside the laws of nature,
remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description
and human understanding.
The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,
for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,
and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:
for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.
Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,
and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Readings
(1) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; Proverbs 3:19-23; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11
Aposticha
In Tone 7
O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,
and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.
O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead
and enlightened all creation.
For by His resurrection on the third day,
He set us free from the oppression of Hades,
granting us life and His great mercy.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, Lover of mankind,
You descended into Hades and destroyed death.
Then You arose on the third day;
and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us
who glorify Your mighty resurrection.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.
Yet on the third day You arose in great power,
and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:
Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
In Tone 2, Glory…
Celebrating the Rededication of the holy Church of the Resurrection,
we glorify You, O Lord.
You blessed it, and it was completed through your renewing grace.
You received praise in it from the people through the holy Mysteries.
You accepted the unbloody and most pure sacrifice
from the hands of your servants,
and You gave great mercy and the right to cleanse sins
to all those who made offerings to You.
Now…
You have given the life-giving Cross of your goodness
to us unworthy ones, O Lord.
We make offerings to You in prayer,
asking that You save us
who pray to the Theotokos, O Lover of Mankind.
Troparia
In Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death;
You opened Paradise to the thief;
You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,
and charged the apostles to proclaim
that You are risen, O Christ our God,
offering great mercy to the world.
In Tone 4, Glory…
O Lord, as You had shown from on high the splendour of the firmament,
so did You show on earth
the splendour of the dwelling place of your holy glory.
Make it stand firm for ever and ever
and accept the supplications
which we offer unceasingly to You through your Mother.
O Lord, You are the Life and Resurrection of all of us.
Now…
We offer You the life-giving Cross, O Lord,
as a means of intercession and as a sign of your bounty
which You have given to us in spite of our unworthiness.
Save our country and your people
who offer You their supplications through your Mother,
for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 7: No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity,* for Christ went down shattering and destroying its powers.* Hades is bound.* The prophets exult with one voice.* The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying:* “Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 7: O all-praised treasury of our resurrection, we hope in you,* bring us up from the pit and depth of sin,* for you have saved those subject to sin* by giving birth to our Salvation,* O Virgin before childbirth, and Virgin in childbirth,* and still a Virgin after childbirth.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord, * and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm27:9, 1)
Epistle
Galatians 6:11-18
Alleluia, Tone 1
I have exalted one chosen from the people and with my holy oil anointed him.
verse: My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong. (Psalm 88:20-21, 22)
Gospel
John 3:13-17
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)