GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
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.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
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.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
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.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
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 6
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having placed all their hope in heaven,
the saints laid up for themselves
a treasure which cannot be stolen away:
They freely received and freely give healing to the infirm!
Following the Gospel, they acquired neither silver nor gold,
but performed works of mercy for both men and beasts,
that obedient to Christ
they might pray with boldness on behalf of our souls!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Having placed all their hope in heaven,
the saints laid up for themselves
a treasure which cannot be stolen away:
They freely received and freely give healing to the infirm!
Following the Gospel, they acquired neither silver nor gold,
but performed works of mercy for both men and beasts,
that obedient to Christ
they might pray with boldness on behalf of our souls!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The two holy ones who shared a single character and single soul,
as like-minded companions,
disdained corruptible things on earth,
showing themselves to be citizens of heaven like the angels,
though dwelling in the body:
Therefore they grant healings to all who suffer,
performing good works for those in need without exacting any fee!
Let us fittingly honour them with an annual festival,
for they pray to Christ with boldness on behalf of our souls!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The two holy ones who shared a single character and single soul,
as like-minded companions,
disdained corruptible things on earth,
showing themselves to be citizens of heaven like the angels,
though dwelling in the body:
Therefore they grant healings to all who suffer,
performing good works for those in need without exacting any fee!
Let us fittingly honour them with an annual festival,
for they pray to Christ with boldness on behalf of our souls!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The divinely wise Cosmas and Damian,
the ever-memorable two,
made themselves wholly the dwelling of the Trinity!
They pour forth the waters of healing like torrents
from the life-giving source,
by their touch, their relics cure suffering
and their very names drive infirmities away from all those
who turn to the saving harbour of Christ!
They pray with boldness on behalf of our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Holy unmercenaries, Cosmas and Damian,
you scorned the tyranny of suffering,
trampling down in Christ, every snare of the evil serpent!
You were revealed to be as radiant as beacons,
ever illumining the whole world with divine signs,
driving away darkness and infirmities by grace;
showing yourselves to be the saviours of all who with steadfast faith
celebrate your glorious memory, all-wise ones!
In Tone 6, Glory…
Boundless is the grace of the saints
which they have received from Christ!
Therefore their relics continually work miracles by the power of God,
and their names, invoked with faith, heal incurable diseases.
Through them free us also from passions of soul and body,
Lord and Lover of mankind!
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.
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 6, Glory…
You ever have Christ working within you,
as you work wonders in the world and heal the sick!
Holy unmercenaries, your healing is an inexhaustible source:
Drawn from, it flows in abundance;
poured out, it gushes forth,
flowing every day in great quantity,
granting healing to all, yet remaining undrained!
Those who draw from it are filled with healing, yet it remains full!
Therefore what shall we call you?
Healing physicians of soul and bodies?
Healers of incurable sufferings who heal all?
You have received this gift from Christ the Saviour,
Who grants us great mercy!
Now…
Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,
came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.
He clothed Himself in our human flesh
to set us free from the original curse of Adam.
Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,
as the true Virgin Mother of God,
and we sing with the angels:
Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of our souls.
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…
Holy selfless physicians and wonderworkers, Cosmas and Damian, visit our infirmities.* Freely you have received, freely give to us.
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!
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.
Theotokion, Tone 6: Undaunted patroness of Christians,* O steadfast intermediary with the Creator,* turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners,* but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith.* Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead,* for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.
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)
Epistle
Ephesians 2:4-10
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)
Gospel
Luke 8:26-39
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)