The Second Sunday of Lent is kept as a feast of Saint Gregory Palamas, the Archbishop of Thessaloniki in the fourteenth century. Like the restoration of the holy icons, this memorial of Saint Gregory has to do with historical events, but also relates to our understanding of the Christian vocation, and the possibility for every Christian to achieve genuine holiness. Saint Gregory taught that all Christians are called to union with God, which is the object of the Christian life. Saint Gregory was a great ascetic, and a great master of the monastic life, but he taught that this invitation to union with God is open to every Christian. This is the challenge of Lent, but that challenge faces us all year round. Likewise this is the challenge of monasticism, but not just for the monks and nuns. The Holy Father has expressed it very well: “…in the East, monasticism was not seen merely as a separate condition, proper to a precise category of Christians, but rather as a reference point for all the baptized, according to the gifts offered to each by the Lord; it was presented as a symbolic synthesis of Christianity.” (Pope John Paul II, Orientale Lumen, 9)
A reference point and a synthesis. The monks and nuns must always remember that in this way they are responsible to and for the whole Christian people, and all of us should seek to nourish our Christian lives with the values which the monastics particularly exemplify.
Saint Gregory Palamas himself has enjoyed an increasing popularity in the past fifty years or so. His spiritual theology is not absolutely binding, but he is an important and influential figure in patristic spirituality. At one time, Saint Gregory’s ideas were highly controversial, and his memorial was removed from our liturgical books after the Synod of Zamost’. But with the recent profound studies of Saint Gregory, and the deeper appreciation of the Christian East, the Holy See restored Saint Gregory’s memorial on the Second Sunday of Great Lent in the Anthologion published by the Oriental Congregation. Our own Patriarch Joseph Cardinal Slipyj made a strong and positive contribution to this restoration of Saint Gregory Palamas to Catholic liturgical practice… the new English translation of the Lenten Triodion contains the full service to St. Gregory Palamas, and … this will increase our understanding of our spiritual and theological tradition. (Our Paschal Pilgrimage by Bishop Basil Losten)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
10. Come, let us adore God the Word,
Who was born of the Father before all ages,
and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;
for of His own free will He suffered the Cross
and submitted Himself to burial,
and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.
9. Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,
by nailing it to the Cross;
and He abolished the dominion of Death.
Let us glorify His Resurrection on the third day.
8. Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;
for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.
He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power
to judge the world which He has fashioned.
7. Although You died and were buried,
the angel yet declared You as Master.
He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;
for He is risen as He foretold,
because He is almighty.
Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,
and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.
6. O Christ, You have abolished the curse of the tree by Your Cross;
You have destroyed the power of Death by Your burial,
and You enlightened the human race by Your Resurrection.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
O God and Benefactor, glory to You!
5. O Lord, the gates of death opened before You in fear,
and the gatekeepers of Hades were filled with dread at the sight of You.
You smashed the gates of brass and crushed the posts of iron.
Then You burst our chains asunder,
and led us out from the darkness, away from the shadow of death.
In Tone 2
4. What hymns of praise shall we sing in honour of the holy bishop?
He is the trumpet of theology,
the herald of the fire of grace, the honoured vessel of the Spirit,
the unshaken pillar of the Church, the great joy of the inhabited earth,
the river of wisdom, the candlestick of the light,
the shining star that makes glorious the whole creation.
3. What hymns of praise shall we sing in honour of the holy bishop?
He is the trumpet of theology,
the herald of the fire of grace, the honoured vessel of the Spirit,
the unshaken pillar of the Church, the great joy of the inhabited earth,
the river of wisdom, the candlestick of the light,
the shining star that makes glorious the whole creation.
2. What words of song shall we weave as a garland to crown the holy bishop?
He is the champion of true devotion and the adversary of ungodliness,
the fervent protector of the Faith, the great guide and teacher,
the well-tuned harp of the Spirit, the golden tongue,
the fountain that flows with water of healing for the faithful,
Gregory the great and marvellous.
1. With what words shall we who dwell in earth praise the holy bishop?
He is the teacher of the Church,
the herald of the light of God,
the initiate of the heavenly mysteries of the Trinity,
the chief adornment of the monastic life,
renowned alike in action and in contemplation,
the glory of Thessalonica;
and now he dwells in heaven with the great and glorious martyr Demetrius
whose relics flow with holy oil.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Thrice-blessed Saint, most holy father,
good shepherd and disciple of Christ the Chief Shepherd,
you have laid down your life for your sheep.
And now in your intercessions,
O God-bearing Gregory our father,
pray that great mercy may be granted to our souls.
In Tone 2, Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.
Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 2
Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,
has enlightened the whole universe;
and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.
Almighty God, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,
You have abolished the curse of the tree;
by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;
and by Your Resurrection You enlightened the human race.
We, therefore, cry out to You:
O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,
the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.
The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,
and the people showed their ignorance of Your power
by asking that Your tomb be sealed.
But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial
and then arose on the third day.
O Lord, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, Giver of Life,
You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.
In Your power You descended into Hades;
and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,
You placed them in Paradise.
Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your Resurrection,
and cleanse our souls.
In Tone 8, Glory…
Your tongue, watchful in teachings,
rings in the ears of our heart and wakens the souls of the slothful.
Your words, inspired by God,
are a ladder leading us from earth to heaven.
O Gregory, wonder of Thessaly,
pray to Christ without ceasing
that we who honour you may be illumined with the divine light.
Now…
O Virgin who knew not carnal union,
O you who ineffably carried God in the flesh,
O Mother of the Almighty God.
O you who obtain for all of us the cleansing of sins
accept now our supplication
and intercede for the salvation of us all.
Troparia
In Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
In Tone 8, Glory…
Light of orthodoxy, teacher of the Church; its confirmation!* Ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians.* Wonder-working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace:* always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved!
Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.** O Saviour, save Your despairing people!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Troparion, Tone 8: Light of orthodoxy, teacher of the Church; its confirmation!* Ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians.* Wonder-working Gregory, glory of Thessalonica and preacher of grace:* always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved!
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The time for action is now revealed;* the Judge is at the door.* Let us rise and keep the fast,* offering tears of contrition with alms and crying aloud:* our sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea,* but forgive us, O Maker of all, that we may receive incorruptible crowns.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard us* and will keep us* from this generation* and forever.
verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man.
Epistle
Hebrews 1:10-2:3
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
Gospel
Mark 2:1-12
Hymn to the Mother of God
In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before the ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider than all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
2-а Неділя Посту. Неділя святого отця нашого Григорія Палами.
Згідно Типікону в цей день служиться літургія св. Василія Великого.
Тропар (глас 2): Коли зійшов Ти до смерти, Життя безсмертне,* тоді ад умертвив ти блистінням Божества.* Коли ж і умерлих із глибин підземних воскресив Ти,* всі сили небесні взивали:* Життедавче, Христе Боже наш, слава Тобі.
Тропар (глас 8): Православ’я наставнику, святителям окрасо,* богословам непереможного переможця,* Григоріє чудотворче, Солуня велика похвало, проповіднику благодаті,* моли Христа Бога, щоб спаслися душі наші.
+Слава Отцю, і Сину, і Святому Духові. І нині, і повсякчас, і на віки вічні. Амінь.
Кондак (глас 4): Нині час для діяння явився,* при дверях суд,* востаньмо, отже, постячися,* принесім сльози благання з милостинями, взиваючи:* Ми согрішили більше піску морського,* але ослаби, Творче всіх, щоб ми прийняли нетлінні вінці.
Прокімен (глас 5): Ти, Господи, збережеш нас* і захистиш нас від роду цього і повік (Пс 11,8).
Стих: Спаси мене, Господи, бо не стало праведного. (Пс. 11,2).
Апостол: (Євр 1,10-2,3): «Ти, Господи, напочатку заснував землю і небеса – діло рук твоїх. Вони загинуть, ти ж перебуваєш; усі, мов одежа, постаріються. Ти їх, неначе одежину, згорнеш і, немов одежа, вони зміняться. Ти ж – той самий, і літа твої не скінчаться.» До кого з ангелів він коли мовив: «Сідай праворуч мене, доки не покладу твоїх ворогів підніжком під твої ноги?» Хіба ж не всі вони служебні духи, що їх посилають до послуг тим, які мають успадкувати спасіння? Тому ми мусимо вважати дуже пильно на те, що почули, щоб, бува, нас не знесло з дороги. Бо коли слово, оголошене ангелами, було таке зобов’язуюче, що всякий його переступ і непослух приймав справедливу кару, то як утечемо ми, коли занедбаємо таке велике спасіння? Воно, спочатку проповідане Господом, було підтверджене нам тими, що його чули.
Алилуя (глас 2): Алилуя, aлилуя, aлилуя!
Стих: Вислухає тебе Господь у день печалі, захистить тебе ім’я Бога Якова (Пс 19,2).
Стих: Господи, спаси царя і вислухай нас, коли будемо взивати до Тебе (Пс 19,10).
Євангеліє: (Мр 2,1-12): У той час коли прийшов Ісус до Капернауму, чутка пішла, що він у домі. І там зібралося стільки народу, що не було більш місця, навіть перед дверима; а він промовляв до них словом. І от прийшли до нього, несучи розслабленого; несли його четверо. А що із-за народу не могли донести до нього, розкрили стелю над місцем, де він був, й отвором спустили ліжко, на якому лежав розслаблений. Ісус, уздрівши їхню віру, до розслабленого й каже: “Сину, відпускаються тобі твої гріхи.” А були й деякі книжники, що сиділи там та міркували собі: “І як може цей так говорити? Він богохульствує! Хто може прощати гріхи, крім одного лише Бога?” Ісус же, вмить збагнувши духом, що вони таке собі думають, до них і каже: “Чого таке ось намислюєте у ваших серцях? Що легше – сказати розслабленому: Відпускаються тобі гріхи, а чи сказати: Встань, візьми твоє ліжко й ходи? Та щоб ви знали, що Син Чоловічий має владу на землі гріхи відпускати, – мовить до розслабленого: Кажу тобі: Встань, візьми твоє ліжко і йди до свого дому.” Устав той – і зараз же, взявши ліжко, вийшов на очу всіх; тож чудувалися всі, хвалили Бога й мовляли: “Ніколи ми такого не бачили!”
Замість Достойно: Тобою радується, Благодатная, всяка твар, ангельський собор і чоловічеський рід, освященний храме і раю словесний, дівственна похвало, що із неї Бог воплотився і младенцем став – перед віками сущий Бог наш. Лоно бо твоє престолом сотворив і утробу твою просторішою небес учинив. Тобою радується, Благодатная, всяка твар, слава тобі.
Причасний: Хваліте Господа з небес,* хваліте Його на висотах (Пс 148,1). Алилуя (х3).
Epistle (Hebrews 1:10-2:3): ‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.’ But to which of the angels has he ever said, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’? Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.
Gospel: (Mark 2:1-12): At that time, when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’