Taught by the priest Ermolaus* you received your vocation to heal from heaven.* You embraced the faith of your Mother* and suffered valiantly for it rejoicing.* You obtained the grace to heal ailments, and so we turn to you:* Heal our infirmities, O glorious Great-Martyr Panteleimon,* that we might honour your memory with praises. (Troparion, Tone 8)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
10. 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.
9. Today Christ has conquered Death.
He has risen from the grave as He foretold,
bestowing great joy upon the world.
Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:
O Fount of Life, O Light Whom no one can approach,
Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.
8. O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,
for You are present in all creation?
You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.
Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.
O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.
Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?
We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:
O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.
7. We exult in Your Cross, O Christ,
and we sing the glory of Your Resurrection.
For You are our God, and we have no other Lord but You.
In Tone 4
6. Because of your spiritual inheritance you were named Panteleimon.
By lovingly caring for the souls of all men and healing their bodies,
you were shown to be worthy of the wealth of your name.
By acquiring the reward of virtue and retribution of piety, O martyr,
you were revealed as a crown-bearing and invincible warrior of Christ our God.
Implore Him to save and enlighten our souls.
5. Because of your spiritual inheritance you were named Panteleimon.
By lovingly caring for the souls of all men and healing their bodies,
you were shown to be worthy of the wealth of your name.
By acquiring the reward of virtue and retribution of piety, O martyr,
you were revealed as a crown-bearing and invincible warrior of Christ our God.
Implore Him to save and enlighten our souls.
4. You unceasingly drew the grace of divine healing
from the spiritual fountains of the Saviour,
abundantly pouring them out upon those who came to you, blessed one!
Illumine by your divine grace
those who in faith keep your glorious, all-holy and light-bearing feast.
In Tone 2
3. You freely dispense grace to men glorious martyr Panteleimon.
You drive away evil spirits
and grant sight to the blind by your intercession to Christ.
Implore the Physician, holy one, since truly you are pleasing to Him,
to grant lasting peace to the world and great mercy to those who love you.
2. Desiring the faith of your pious mother,
reproving the impiety of your father,
you were confirmed in the faith and baptized by Hermolaus,
glorious Panteleimon, martyr of the merciful God.
Physician of the sick and dispeller of passions,
pray for deliverance from dangers for those
who keep your most honourable memory in faith.
1. You rejected the temptation of your father, all-glorious one,
and earnestly accepted the words of your mother.
According to the instructions of the Lord
you bore fruits greater than gold.
You revealed yourself as a worthy physician glorious martyr Panteleimon.
Walking on the way of grace
you found an infant lying poisoned beneath a venomous serpent.
By your fervent prayer to God you resurrected him,
tearing the serpent in sunder!
Therefore, remember us who keep your memorial in faith,
that we may obtain mercy on the day of judgment.
In Tone 6, Glory…
The honourable memorial of the unmercenary has dawned on us today,
calling the faithful to a mystical feast,
leading the company of feast-lovers to a celebration of triumph!
For the wonderworking physician Panteleimon, the great passion-bearer,
now comes to us, healing the infirmities of all,
and praying fervently to the Lord to save our souls!
In Tone 6, 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) Isaiah 49:9-13; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
In Tone 6
O Christ our Saviour,
the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your Resurrection;
make us on earth also worthy
to extol You with a pure heart.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades,
and raised up fallen mankind.
Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:
O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old
by being nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb.
When the women came to anoint His body they tearfully cried out:
O, what sorrow afflicts us!
O Saviour of All, how could You consent to occupy a grave?
If you truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?
How were You removed?
What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?
O Lord, appear to us as You promised
and put an end to out tears.
As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:
Do not weep, but tell the Apostles that the Lord is risen,
granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, You were crucified of Your free will,
and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.
As God, You rose in glory on the third day,
granting life and great mercy to the world.
In Tone 8, Glory…
You came to love the piety of your mother,
and reject the godlessness of your father.
You became a warrior; a true physician of souls!
You instructed yourself in the healing arts.
You were well skilled in matters of both soul and body:
a true physician and destroyer of sufferings.
As you acquired steadfastness in suffering
and perseverance in prayer, Panteleimon, martyr of Christ,
pray fervently that our souls may be saved!
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 6
Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory to You!
In Tone 8, Glory…
Taught by the priest Ermolaus* you received your vocation to heal from heaven.* You embraced the faith of your Mother* and suffered valiantly for it rejoicing.* You obtained the grace to heal ailments, and so we turn to you:* Heal our infirmities, O glorious Great-Martyr Panteleimon,* that we might honour your memory with praises.
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 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
Troparion, Tone 8: Taught by the priest Ermolaus* you received your vocation to heal from heaven.* You embraced the faith of your Mother* and suffered valiantly for it rejoicing.* You obtained the grace to heal ailments, and so we turn to you:* Heal our infirmities, O glorious Great-Martyr Panteleimon,* that we might honour your memory with praises.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Kontakion, Tone 6: With His life-giving hand* Christ our God, the Giver of life,* raised all the dead from the murky abyss* and bestowed resurrection upon humanity.* He is for all the Saviour,* the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 5: Emulating Him who is all-merciful,* martyr for Christ God, O Panteleimon,* you received the grace to heal diseases.* Cure our inner ailments by your prayers to Christ* ever driving out the foe’s temptations* from those who in faith cry out: Lord, save us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord,* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm27:9,1)
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel. (Psalm 67:36)
Epistle
Romans 15:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: He who lives in the aid of the Most High, shall dwell under the protection of the God of heaven.
verse: He says to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, in Whom I hope. (Psalm 90:1,2)
verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.
verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)
Gospel
Matthew 9:27-35; John 15:17-16:2
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)