GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
The doors being shut and the disciples assembled,
You appeared to them as almighty, Jesus, our God.
You stood in their midst giving them peace;
You granted the Holy Spirit to them,
commanding them to wait in Jerusalem
until clothed with the power from on high.
Therefore we cry to You:
Our Illumination and Resurrection and peace, glory to You!
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
The doors being shut and the disciples assembled,
You appeared to them as almighty, Jesus, our God.
You stood in their midst giving them peace;
You granted the Holy Spirit to them,
commanding them to wait in Jerusalem
until clothed with the power from on high.
Therefore we cry to You:
Our Illumination and Resurrection and peace, glory to You!
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Eight days after Your Resurrection, Lord,
You came to Your apostles
proclaiming: Peace be with you all!
To the doubting disciple, You showed Your hands and side.
He believed and cried to You:
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Eight days after Your Resurrection, Lord,
You came to Your apostles
proclaiming: Peace be with you all!
To the doubting disciple, You showed Your hands and side.
He believed and cried to You:
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Thomas, who is called the twin,
was not with the disciples, Christ,
when You came to them through closed doors.
Therefore he doubted their word.
You did not reject him for his faithlessness!
When he saw Your side and the wounds in Your hands and feet,
his faith was made certain!
Having desired to see You,
he confessed You to be truly God, not only man,
crying: My Lord and my God, glory to You!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Thomas, who is called the twin,
was not with the disciples, Christ,
when You came to them through closed doors.
Therefore he doubted their word.
You did not reject him for his faithlessness!
When he saw Your side and the wounds in Your hands and feet,
his faith was made certain!
Having desired to see You,
he confessed You to be truly God, not only man,
crying: My Lord and my God, glory to You!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The disciples were assembled on the eighth day,
and the Saviour appeared to them!
He gave them peace and said to Thomas:
Come, apostle! Feel my hands, which were pierced by the nails!
Most wonderful doubt of Thomas!
It brought the hearts of the faithful to knowledge!
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The disciples were assembled on the eighth day,
and the Saviour appeared to them!
He gave them peace and said to Thomas:
Come, apostle! Feel my hands, which were pierced by the nails!
Most wonderful doubt of Thomas!
It brought the hearts of the faithful to knowledge!
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
In Tone 2
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
After Your rising, Lord,
though the doors were shut,
You came to Your assembled disciples.
You granted them peace.
Even Thomas believed, seeing Your hands and side!
He confessed You as Lord and God,
Who save those who hope in You, Lover of mankind!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
When the doors were shut,
Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples.
He calmed their hearts and granted them peace.
Then He spoke to the apostle Thomas:
Do you not believe that I am risen from the dead?
Bring your hands here, and touch My side!
Be no longer an unbeliever!
Proclaim My passion and My Resurrection to all,
that everyone may join your cry:
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
In Tone 6, Glory… Now…
When the doors were shut,
Jesus came to his disciples.
The apostle Thomas was not with them,
so he spoke these words:
Unless I see the Master myself,
unless I see His side flowing with baptismal blood and water,
unless I see those wounds which have healed all mankind,
unless I see not a spirit, but flesh and bones,
I will not believe.
Glory to You, O Lord,
for You confirmed Thomas in faith,
and have trampled death by death!
Litya
In Tone 4
Lord, shining with the splendour of Your divinity,
You came through closed doors to Your disciples,
showing Your pierced side, the wounds from the nails,
dispelling all sadness and sorrow!
O friends, see that I am not a spirit, but truly man!
The disciple who did not believe, You commanded to see,
saying: Prove to yourself, then come and believe!
He touched Your side with his own hand and cried in faith and fear:
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
In Tone 8
Touch my side with your hand, O Thomas.
Come and feel the scars of the nails.
Know in faith and do not be faithless, but believing!
Thomas, when he touched the Master, cried:
You are my God and Lord,
O compassionate one, glory to You!
Glory… Now…
The disciples were assembled and the doors were closed.
Jesus appeared in the midst and said to Thomas:
Come, see and feel the marks of the nails,
stretch out your hand and touch My wounds.
Do not disbelieve,
but in faith proclaim my Resurrection from the dead!
Aposticha
In Tone 4
Glorious wonder!
Doubt bore certain faith!
Thomas said: unless I see, I shall not believe!
By touching His side, he blessed the incarnate Son of God
Who suffered in the flesh,
and he proclaimed the resurrected God,
crying out with joy: My Lord and my God, glory to You!
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! Zion, praise your God!
Glorious wonder!
Thomas placed his hand on the fiery side of Jesus Christ, God!
He was not scorched by this,
his doubt changed to certain faith and he cried fervently:
You are my Master and God,
resurrected from the dead.
O Lord, glory to You!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your sons within you.
Glorious wonder!
John the apostle leaned on the Saviour’s breast,
and Thomas was made worthy to touch his side.
The one thus understood the depths of theology;
the other was privileged to announce the mystery of the Resurrection to us,
crying: My Lord and my God, glory to You!
In Tone 5, Glory… Now…
How great is the multitude of your compassion, Lover of mankind!
Because of Your long-suffering You were struck by the Jews,
You were examined by an apostle and touched by those who denied You!
How are You incarnate?
How are You crucified?
You have not known sin!
Make us understand like Thomas that we may call out to You:
My Lord and my God, glory to You!
Troparion
In Tone 7
When the tomb was sealed, O Christ God,* You dawned as life from the sepulchre,* and while the doors were shut,* You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all,* renewing a right spirit in us through them,* according to Your great mercy. (3)
DIVINE LITURGY
After “Blessed is the kingdom…” the priest sings “Christ is risen…” in its entirety twice, and again: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death.” The people then sing: “And to those in the tombs, giving life.”
Antiphon 1
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,* sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Say unto God, “How awesome are Your works* Because of the greatness of Your strength Your enemies will flatter You.”
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Let all the earth worship You and sing to You,* let it sing to Your name, O Most High!
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, risen from the dead, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparion and Kontakion
Troparion, Tone 7: While the tomb was sealed, O Christ God, You dawned as life from the sepulchre, and while the doors were shut, You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all, renewing a right spirit in us through them, according to Your great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: With his searching hand, Thomas explored Your life-giving side, O Christ God. For when You entered while the doors were shut, he called out to You with the rest of the Apostles: You are my Lord and my God!
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to our God.
Epistle
Acts 5:12-20
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth.
Gospel
John 20:19-31
Hymn to the Mother of God
The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem! for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem.* Praise your God, O Sion.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
Notes
Instead of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” we sing: “Christ is risen.”
Instead of “We have seen the true light” we sing: “Christ is risen.”
Instead of “May our lips be filled,” we sing “Christ is risen,” thrice.
Instead of “Blessed be the name of the Lord” we sing “Christ is risen” thrice.
After the priest sings: “Glory to You, Christ God,” the people sing: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs, giving life.* Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.* Give the blessing.”
Then we sing “Christ is risen,” thrice. At the end the following is sung: “And to us He granted life eternal, we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.”