May 28, 2017
Sunday of the Fathers of the First Council of Nicea (325)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

  1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,
You ascended the Cross so that You might raise up with Yourself
all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.
Almighty Saviour, You are free from death
and bestow life by Your divine light.
We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us. Continue reading May 28, 2017 Sunday of the Fathers of the First Council of Nicea (325)

May 26, 2017
Post-feast of the Ascension; Third Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; The Holy Apostle Carpus, One of the Seventy Disciples

GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 2

  1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Ascending to heaven, from where You came,
do not leave us as orphans, Lord.
Let Your Spirit come, bringing peace to the world;
show the children of mankind the works of Your power,
Lord and Lover of mankind! Continue reading May 26, 2017 Post-feast of the Ascension; Third Finding of the Precious Head of the Holy, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; The Holy Apostle Carpus, One of the Seventy Disciples

May 25, 2017
Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 6

  1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

The Lord ascended into heaven
to send the Comforter into this world.
The heavens prepared His throne and the clouds were His ladder;
the angels marvelled at the sight of a man more exalted than themselves.
Today, the Father receives again in His bosom
the One who was in Him from all eternity,
and the Holy Spirit gives a command to all the angels:
Lift up your lintels, O you gates!
O you nations of the earth, clap your hands,
for Christ ascends to the place
where He had been from all eternity. Continue reading May 25, 2017 Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 21, 2017
Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Man Born Blind; Holy Great Rulers Constantine (337) and Helen (330), Equals-to-the-Apostles

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is taken.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 5

  1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

With Your precious Cross, O Christ,
You have put the Devil to shame.
With Your Resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin
and have saved us from the gates of Death.
We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God. Continue reading May 21, 2017 Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Man Born Blind; Holy Great Rulers Constantine (337) and Helen (330), Equals-to-the-Apostles

May 14, 2017
Fifth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman; Post-feast of Mid-Pentecost; Holy Martyr Isidore (249-51)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

We never cease to adore Your life-giving Cross, O Christ our God,
and we glorify Your Resurrection on the third day.
For You, almighty One, have thereby restored the corrupted nature of all
and reopened the way to heaven,
since You alone are gracious and You love mankind. Continue reading May 14, 2017 Fifth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman; Post-feast of Mid-Pentecost; Holy Martyr Isidore (249-51)

May 11, 2017
Holy Cyril and Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs and Equals to the Apostles

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma
Blessed is the man… is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

  1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

By Your death, O Christ, You destroyed the dominion of death;
by Your glorious rising, You gave life to mankind!
You raised the human race with Yourself by Your condescension,
so we sing to You in grateful praise,
celebrating the feast of Your radiant Resurrection on the third day,
for the midpoint of these precious days has shone for us!
Benefactor of our souls, Jesus, the Giver of life! Continue reading May 11, 2017 Holy Cyril and Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs and Equals to the Apostles

May 10, 2017
Mid-Pentecost; Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma
Blessed is the man… is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

  1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

The middle of the fifty days has come,
beginning with the Saviour’s Resurrection,
and sealed by the holy Pentecost.
The first and the last glisten with splendour!
We rejoice in the union of both feasts,
as we draw near to the Lord’s Ascension:
The sign of our coming glorification. Continue reading May 10, 2017 Mid-Pentecost; Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot

May 9, 2017
The Transfer of the Relics of Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma
Blessed is the Man… is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

  1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

With Your pure hand, You created mankind;
You came to heal the sick, compassionate Christ!
You raised the paralytic at the sheep’s pool by Your word,
You cured the woman of her painful hemorrhage.
You had mercy on the Canaanite woman’s daughter.
You did not reject the centurion’s request.
Therefore we cry to You:
Glory to You, almighty Lord! Continue reading May 9, 2017 The Transfer of the Relics of Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari

May 8, 2017
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Our Venerable Father Arsenius the Great (408-50)

GREAT VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

  1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

Most strange wonder!
The Creator of all became a Beggar,
clothing Himself in our fleshly nature.
He wished to live with mankind in his compassion.
He showed the Hebrews a multitude of wonders:
He healed the paralytic in Bethsaida, saying to him:
Rise, take up your bed and walk! Continue reading May 8, 2017 The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian; Our Venerable Father Arsenius the Great (408-50)

May 7, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Paralytic; Commemoration of the Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross over Jerusalem at the Third Hour of the Day during the Reign of Constantine (351); the Holy Martyr Acacius (286-305)

GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140

In Tone 3

  1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,
the power of Death has been vanquished,
and the deceit of the devil has been destroyed.
Therefore, mankind, saved by faith,
offers You hymns of praise forever. Continue reading May 7, 2017 Fourth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Paralytic; Commemoration of the Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross over Jerusalem at the Third Hour of the Day during the Reign of Constantine (351); the Holy Martyr Acacius (286-305)