GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, during this spiritual service,
we sing to You these evening prayers,
commemorating the mercy You have shown us
by Your resurrection.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;
but in Your kindness have mercy on us
through Your resurrection.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Rejoice, O holy Zion,
the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;
for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins
through the resurrection.
In Tone 2
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Our Light that enlightens all
comes to be baptized.
The Forerunner sees Him and rejoices in His soul.
His hand trembles as he shows Him to the people:
“Behold, the Redeemer of Israel,
the One Who frees us from corruption.”
O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
A servant baptized our Redeemer,
and the coming of the Spirit bore witness to Him.
The hosts of Angels saw this and shook with fear.
And the voice of the Father was heard from heaven:
“This One on Whom the Forerunner lays his hand,
He is My beloved Son; I am well pleased in Him.”
O Christ our God, glory to You!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The streams of the Jordan received You, their Source,
and the Comforter descended in the form of a dove.
He Who bowed the heavens now bows His head.
The Clay cries aloud to the Potter:
“Why do you command me to do what is beyond me;
for I rather should be baptized by You?”
O sinless One, Christ our God, glory to You!
In Tone 5
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Righteous Father, holy Gregory:
flute played by the breath of the Paraclete,
filled with the clear melody of godliness,
candlestick enlightening many with divine light,
herald of truth, foundation of theology,
fountain of heavenly doctrine,
torrent of teaching sweet as honey,
lyre, playing songs written by God,
gladdening the hearts of the faithful!
Wise one, pray without ceasing to Christ,
Who was baptized in the streams of Jordan for the renewal of the world,
that He may save our souls!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Righteous Father, all praised Gregory,
battle axe hewing down the assaults of heresy!
Two-edged sword of the Paraclete,
dagger piercing the heart of false doctrine,
fire consuming the brushwood of error,
fan skillful to separate the chaff of vanities from the kernel of doctrine,
rule measuring the way to salvation with precision!
Pray without ceasing to Christ,
Who was baptized in the streams of Jordan for the renewal of the world,
that He may save our souls!
In Tone 1
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
He, who once threatened to destroy the whole earth,
and boasted that he would blot out all the sea,
is shown today to be mocked by the faithful as a sparrow,
and more the butt of scorn than the little gnat,
whose shape was stripped away like that of a scarecrow,
and is trampled underfoot by the servant of Christ.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Today, O faithful,
Dometian calls us to a holy feast most pleasing to God.
Let us gather joyfully and with cheerful spirit
celebrate his wonderful achievements,
entreating the Savior of our souls That He grant peace to the world!
In Tone 4, Glory…
Gregory of Nyssa,
you were adorned with wise words and valiant deeds.
You gladden the faithful with your God-proclaiming voice;
you enlighten us with knowledge
explaining the unity of the Trinity.
You defeated alien teachings with true doctrine;
you established the faith with strength!
Now you stand before Christ with His bodiless servants:
Pray that He may grant peace and great mercy to our souls!
In Tone 8, Now…
Out of his love for mankind
the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,
for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin
and was seen in the flesh He received from her.
He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.
Wherefore we profess and declare the truth
that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.
O Mother, who knew not carnal union,
intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O Jesus, You descended from heaven
so that You might ascend the cross.
O immortal Life, You came to die.
You are the true light to those who live in darkness,
and You are the resurrection of the fallen.
Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls
Who arose from the dead.
For He took upon himself a soul and a body,
and during His passion He separated the one from the other.
His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,
while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.
For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.
O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.
For by Your victory over death
You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.
O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,
You are above all understanding.
Through Your passion on the cross
You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.
And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;
and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.
O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;
for by Your resurrection on the third day
You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.
In Tone 4, Glory…
God-revealing Gregory,
you passed your life in godliness.
You made your actions radiant through contemplation,
you desired divine wisdom for your love;
you were enriched with graces flowing from the Spirit!
Your words drip with sweetness, like honey from the comb,
you gladden the Church of God with your divine thoughts!
Now you gaze upon the Lord in heaven:
Never cease to pray for us who honour your memory.
Now…
John the Baptist saw You draw near.
Who cleanse the sin of the world by Spirit and by fire.
He cried aloud in fear and trembling and said:
I dare not touch Your immaculate head.
Sanctify me, Master, by Your Epiphany,
only Lover of mankind!
Troparia
In Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
In Tone 4, Glory…
O God of our Fathers,* who always deals with us according to your everlasting compassion,* take not your mercy away from us;* but through the prayers of our fathers,* guide our lives along the ways of peace.
In Tone 1, … Now…
When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ God,** who appeared and enlightened the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
When Israel came forth from Egypt, the house of Jacob from an alien people.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
The sea beheld this and fled,* the Jordan turned back on its course.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Why was it, O sea, that you fled,* that you, O Jordan, turned back on your course?
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, baptized by John in the Jordan, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from oh high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
Troparion, Tone 1: When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan,* worship of the Trinity was revealed;* the voice of the Father bore witness to You,* naming You the beloved Son,* and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the word’s certainty.* Glory to You, O Christ God,* who appeared and enlightened the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today, You have appeared to the world* and Your light, O Lord, has been signed on us,* who with knowledge sing Your praises.* You have come, You have appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in you.
verse: rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:2,1)
Epistle
Ephesians 4:7-13
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.
verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)
Gospel
Matthew 4:12-17
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King, baptized in the Jordan.
and the Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise you as is your due, O Mother of God. Even a spirit from above is filled with dizziness when seeking to sing your praises. But since you are good accept our faith, for you know well our love inspired by God. For it is you who protect all Christians; therefore, we magnify you.
Communion Hymn
The grace of God has appeared* bringing salvation to all. (Titus 2:11)* Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)
Instead of “Blessed is He who comes…” we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan.
Instead of “We have seen the true light…” we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan.
Instead of “May our mouths…” and “Blessed be the Name…” we sing: All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is baptized in the Jordan. (3)