Philip was born in Bethsaida beside the Sea of Galilee, as were Peter and Andrew. Instructed in Holy Scripture from his youth, Philip immediately responded to the call of the Lord Jesus and followed Him (John 1:43). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Philip zealously preached the Gospel throughout many regions in Asia and Greece. In Greece, the Jews wanted to kill him, but the Lord saved him by His mighty miracles. Thus, a Jewish high priest that rushed at Philip to beat him was suddenly blinded and turned completely black. Then there was a great earthquake, and the earth opened up and swallowed Philip’s wicked persecutor. Many other miracles were manifested, especially the healing of the sick, by which many pagans believed in Christ. In the Phrygian town of Hierapolis, St. Philip found himself in common evangelical work with his sister Mariamna, St. John the Theologian, and the Apostle Bartholomew. In this town there was a dangerous snake that the pagans diligently fed and worshiped as a god. God’s apostle killed the snake through prayer as though with a spear, but he also incurred the wrath of the unenlightened people. The wicked pagans seized Philip and crucified him upside-down on a tree, and then crucified Bartholomew as well. At that, the earth opened up and swallowed the judge and many other pagans with him. In great fear, the people rushed to rescue the crucified apostles, but only Bartholomew was still alive; Philip had already breathed his last. Bartholomew ordained Stachys as bishop for those whom he and Philip had baptized. Stachys had been blind for forty years, and Bartholomew and Philip had healed and baptized him. The relics of St. Philip were later translated to Rome. This wonderful apostle suffered in the year 86 in the time of Emperor Dometian. (Prologue of Ohrid)
GREAT VESPERS FOR POLYELEOS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
8. Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!
7. Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!
6. Having established action, blessed one, as an entrance into true vision,
and vision as the end of divine action,
you implored Christ to show you the ineffable glory of the Father,
for every reasonable creature desires witness of God.
You received the desired, glorious one, of which the Son is the image!
Pray to Him boldly for our souls!
5. As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!
4. As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!
3. As Moses of old, you were instructed by divine ascent.
Desiring to see God you spiritually saw His image.
You accepted the Son as knowledge and testimony of the Father,
for they are known as one Being: the Unity honourably exalted by all,
the kingdom, power, glory and worship!
2. God-seer Philip, you proclaimed with divine inspiration
and the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
sounding the Saviour’s heavenly Gospel in the world with a fiery tongue.
You burned all deceit to ashes like dried grass.
You proclaimed the Lord Christ in the universe,
Who is master over all.
1. God-seer Philip, you proclaimed with divine inspiration
and the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
sounding the Saviour’s heavenly Gospel in the world with a fiery tongue.
You burned all deceit to ashes like dried grass.
You proclaimed the Lord Christ in the universe,
Who is master over all.
Glory…
You burn with the brilliance of a great light, O Philip,
shining as a light of the universe.
Seeking the light of God you found illumination in the Son,
whose image is equal to the first image.
Implore Him, Apostle, to save those sealed by divine blood.
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 Peter 1:1-2:6; 1 Peter 2:21-3:9; 1 Peter 4:1-11
Aposticha
In Tone 6
Your heavenly proclamation, O blessed one,
has resounded throughout the world,
filling it with divine dogmas,
mystically blessing the Father, Son and Spirit!
apostle, we glorify the one essence.
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the universe!
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!
Thrice-blessed Philip,
as the light-bearer of Christ’s apostles,
you possess the bright light of the honourable church.
Our souls, all-praised one, are enlightened by your prayers,
and delivered from fierce calamities.
The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork!
Worthy Philip,
having finished your task by suffering on the cross,
you were given the crown of victory.
Therefore you have entered the heavenly kingdom!
Apostle, as you stand before Christ, implore him to save us!
In Tone 2, Glory…
Apostle Philip, your mouth is a vessel of sweet spices,
pouring out a life-giving drink for the faithful.
Entering by action into vision, you welcomed and followed Christ.
You adorned the barren and childless church of the pagans,
by teaching and increasing her children.
You can do much since you are near to God:
pray that the church may be saved from need and distress!
Now…
O wondrous event exceeding every miracle that ever happened!
who has ever heard that a mother could conceive without a man,
and that she would hold in her arms the One who contains the whole universe
This was the will of the One who was born of you.
Woman most pure,
Never cease to intercede for those who honour you,
Together with the One you carried in your arms as a child.
You have the power of a Mother:
Therefore intercede with Him that
He may have mercy on us
And save our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 3
O holy apostle Philip,* pray to the merciful God* that he may grant to our souls* remission of our transgressions!
Glory… Now…
We sing your praises, O Virgin;* for, as the Mother of God, you always intercede for the salvation of the human race.* It is from you that our God and Your Son took flesh. * Then, by suffering the passion on the Cross,** and out of love for mankind, He delivered us from corruption.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: O Philip, proclaimer of God’s word,* the world is adorned and Ethiopia dances for joy* for it is arrayed in beauty as with a crown.* Enlightened by you it feasts your memory.* For you taught all to believe in Christ,* finishing the course of the Gospel as is right.* And so, Ethiopia boldly lifts up its hands to God.* Pray to Him to grant great mercy to us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The God-inspired Philip,* Your friend, disciple and imitator of the Passion,* proclaimed You as God to the whole world,* O Christ, all merciful.* By his intercessions* and those of the Mother of God* guard Your Church and every city* from lawless enemies.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 4:9-16
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
John 1:43-51
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)