GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, during this spiritual service,
we sing to You these evening prayers,
commemorating the mercy You have shown us
by Your resurrection.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;
but in Your kindness have mercy on us
through Your resurrection.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Rejoice, O holy Zion,
the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;
for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins
through the resurrection.
Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;
yet in these latter times,
He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection,
He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.
In Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Martyr and athlete, Hermolaus,
once you hid yourself in fear from the evil ones.
You rejoiced to reveal the hidden mystery of devotion and understanding
to the passion-bearer Panteleimon.
Then you revealed yourself and zealously died for Christ
who was well-pleased to suffer for us in his goodness.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Martyr and athlete, Hermolaus,
you desired a holy life in sanctity.
You became a bishop of the almighty Jesus,
and by your life-bearing sermons and grace
you saved the people from the darkness of impurity.
You have passed over to the heavens, washed in the blood of your suffering,
blessed one of God!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us praise in faith with holy words the martyrs of the Lord,
Hermippus, Hermolaus and Hermocrates!
They suffered in a wonderful way, killing the evil one
and washing themselves in the water of baptism!
They were not defiled again with other impurities.
Therefore let us keep the feast and celebrate
their memory!
In Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Rome presents you as a garden of sweet-smelling flowers,
greatly-suffering Parasceve,
perfuming the thoughts of the faithful
with the fragrance of your virtues,
ever dispelling the stench of the passions with grace!
You are the beauty of martyrs, glorious one,
the boast of virtues and a sea of miracles!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Greatly suffering Parasceve,
you have been given to all by Christ our God as a priceless treasure!
You suffered in Rome and remained there.
Glorious martyr, by your assistance,
you drive the wickedness of demons from men!
Therefore today we all bless you and praise your holy sufferings.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Preserved by the power of Christ, most glorious Parasceve,
you ignored the pain of your body.
You entered upon your struggle with a courageous intention,
paying no heed to your feminine weakness!
Strengthened by hope, together with those who came before you,
you have received illumination!
In Tone 6, Glory…
O most glorious Parasceve, victorious virgin martyr,
through your mediations before God,
pray that, those who celebrate your suffering as is meet
may be delivered from temptations, and tribulations
and the judgment which is to come,
O most hymned martyr.
In Tone 8, 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.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O Jesus, You descended from heaven
so that You might ascend the cross.
O immortal Life, You came to die.
You are the true light to those who live in darkness,
and You are the resurrection of the fallen.
Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls
Who arose from the dead.
For He took upon himself a soul and a body,
and during His passion He separated the one from the other.
His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,
while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.
For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.
O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.
For by Your victory over death
You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.
O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,
You are above all understanding.
Through Your passion on the cross
You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.
And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;
and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.
O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;
for by Your resurrection on the third day
You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.
Glory… 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 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,** glory be to You.
In Tone 4
O Lord our God, Your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with Your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.** Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
In Tone 3, Glory…
Your personal pledge is like a marriage, for you promised your fidelity to the one faith,* and you inherited life, O Parasceve, the martyr named for Christ.* From your heritage you bestow health,** and you pray for the salvation of our souls.
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 8: You came down from oh high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 8: To you, O Mother of God,* the invincible leader,* we, your servants, ascribe these victory hymns* in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil.* With your invincible power free us from all dangers* that we may cry out to you:* “Hail, O bride, and pure Virgin!”
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:12, 2)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 95:1, 2)
Gospel
Matthew 14:22-34
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)