GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the Man…” is sung.
At Palm 140
In Tone 4
6. You were a second Constantine in word and deed,
for he was born in a Christian age,
yet lived for many years among the pagans,
while you were born of heathen,
but loved Christ who loved you.
You have gone to Him rejoicing!
Pray ceaselessly to Him for those who honour your memory.
5. You were a second Constantine in word and deed,
for he was born in a Christian age,
yet lived for many years among the pagans,
while you were born of heathen,
but loved Christ who loved you.
You have gone to Him rejoicing!
Pray ceaselessly to Him for those who honour your memory.
4. Brightly shining Mount Sinai, rejoices eternally,
for it is sanctified by the law of Moses and has seen the invisible,
and your great city, Vladimir, also shines brightly and celebrates with joy,
beholding in the Spirit the Son glorified in you with the Father.
Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls!
3. Brightly shining Mount Sinai, rejoices eternally,
for it is sanctified by the law of Moses and has seen the invisible,
and your great city, Vladimir, also shines brightly and celebrates with joy,
beholding in the Spirit the Son glorified in you with the Father.
Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls!
2. For the people of Rus’, Vladimir, you were a father in spirit,
a king and true preacher;
an apostle of Christ, announcing the baptism of salvation.
And having thereby brightly illumined your people,
you sanctified them throughout all the lands of your kingdom, blessed one.
1. You were a root of the true faith, Vladimir,
watered by the Holy Spirit.
You put forth for us divinely planted branches with fragrant flowers:
the wondrous Boris, and Hlib, the zealot of godliness;
abundant sources of miracles for all the faithful.
Standing with them before Christ,
pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
In Tone 8, Glory…
Come, let us all hasten to celebrate the memory of Vladimir,
the father and guide of the people of Rus’.
He was born of heathens and came to love Christ who loved him,
he has gone to Christ, rejoicing with his grandmother Olga.
He taught all his people to believe and worship one God in Trinity;
he destroyed the idols, and trampled them underfoot.
He nurtured for us Boris and Hlib, his precious posterity.
We now honour their memory with joy and faith,
and keep the feast with love.
May they pray to the Lord
to grant victory to the orthodox Christians over their adversaries;
to grant peace to the whole world, and to save our souls!
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.
Readings
(1)1 Kings 8:22-30; (2) Isaiah 61:10-62:5; (3) Isaiah 60:1-14
Aposticha
In Tone 8
Most glorious wonder!
The wisdom of the proud perishes today, and all the forces of evil lament
at beholding Vladimir the great, our faithful ruler:
the wild branch that was divinely planted by the strength of God,
glorified and radiantly crowned by him.
I have exalted one chosen out of the people!
Marvellous depth of wonders!
Those who were hard-hearted in understanding and wandering in vain,
rejoice now in the holy Church, for this is the day of Vladimir.
Christ our God reigns, and has found another Paul,
setting him as faithful prince in his land,
for by holy baptism he has enlightened his people!
I have anointed him with my holy oil!
Rejoice, praise of Rus’!
Rejoice divine Vladimir, our ruler, and guide for the faithful!
Rejoice, bulwark of the faith, rejoice, miracle of miracles:
the calm haven for those who flee to you.
Rejoice, all-holy root of the faith;
the intercessor for those who sing your praises and faithfully magnify you!
Glory…
Assemblies of the orthodox faithful, let us praise Vladimir the great:
teacher of godliness, preacher of the faith, and first among the princes of Rus’.
Let us crown him as equal to the apostles, with praises and spiritual songs:
rejoice, most brave soldier of Christ!
For you wearied the enemy and caused him to perish
and having delivered us from his wiles, you led us to Christ, our King and God!
Now, most-blessed and praise-worthy prince,
pray that peace and health be granted to orthodox Christians,
and victory over their adversaries,
and for our souls, great mercy!
Now…
O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,
Yet You conceived God in the flesh
in a manner which words can never describe.
You thus became the Mother of God on high.
O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants
and grant us the cleansing of our sins.
Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.
Troparia
In Tone 4
You resembled the merchant who sought the pearl of great price,* O Vladimir, glorious in might:* seated on the throne of Kiev, the divinely saved mother of the cities of Rus’,* as a seeker you sent envoys to the Imperial City* to know the orthodox faith,* and found Christ the pearl, who chose you as another Paul,* and removed your blindness both spiritual and bodily in the holy font.* Therefore, we your people feast your falling asleep.** Pray that the leaders of Rus’ be saved with those entrusted to them.
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,** and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: You resembled the merchant who sought the pearl of great price,* O Vladimir, glorious in might:* seated on the throne of Kiev, the divinely-saved mother of the cities of Rus’,* as a seeker you sent envoys to the Imperial City* to know the orthodox faith,* and found Christ the pearl, who chose you as another Paul,* and removed your blindness both spiritual and bodily in the holy font.* Therefore we, your people, feast your falling asleep.* Pray that the leaders of Rus’ be saved with those entrusted to them.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: You emulated Paul the great apostle,* O glorious Vladimir;* late in life you abandoned your zeal for idols as childish thinking,* and as a full-grown man you were adorned with divine baptism’s royal purple.* Standing with joy in the presence of Christ the Saviour,* pray that the leaders of Rus’ may be saved with those entrusted to them.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)
Epistle
Galatians 1:11-19
Allleuia, Tone 6
verse: I have exalted one chosen from among My people.
verse: Indeed, My hand shall sustain him, and My arm shall make him strong. (Psalm 88:20,22)
Gospel
John 10:1-8
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)