GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is taken.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O all-compassionate Word,
You carried Elias the Tishbite away from the earth in a chariot of fire.
Through his intercession
save us who faithfully glorify You
and who joyously commemorate his feast.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O all-compassionate Word,
You carried Elias the Tishbite away from the earth in a chariot of fire.
Through his intercession
save us who faithfully glorify You
and who joyously commemorate his feast.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O blessed Elias,
you encountered God not in an earthquake but in the coolness of a gentle breeze.
O God-inspired one, you went up to heaven in a wondrous way,
on a chariot drawn by four horses.
Thus you became a marvel to all of us.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O blessed Elias,
you encountered God not in an earthquake but in the coolness of a gentle breeze.
O God-inspired one, you went up to heaven in a wondrous way,
on a chariot drawn by four horses.
Thus you became a marvel to all of us.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O all-wise Elias,
in your burning zeal for God,
you slew the shameful priests with a sword.
With the word of your mouth you dried up the clouds
so that it would not rain.
You perfected Elisha by the gift of your mantle,
filling him with heavenly graces.
In Tone 2
- 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 lampstands, Elias and Elisha,
illuminated the whole world.
One prevented raindrops from heaven,
reproved the king, and rose into heaven on a fiery chariot.
The other healed the barren waters,
and having received the two-fold grace,
divided the waters of the Jordan.
Now they sing with the angels
and pray for the salvation of our souls.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The fiery chariot took you up to heaven as in a whirlwind.
O Elias the Tishbite,
God graced you with a fiery zeal miracles.
You were created incorruptible,
so that you might not see death
until you knew beforehand the death of everyone.
Therefore, come and grant us a warning of your great accomplishments.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Prophet Elias, O lampstand of the Church which has no evening,
having been inflamed with divine zeal,
you closed up the rain from heaven;
you were fed by a raven;
you reproved the king and put the priests to death;
you commanded fire from heaven and slew two captains;
you provided abundantly for the widow by means of a little oil
and a small handful of meal;
you resurrected her son by your prayer;
you ignited the fire in water;
you crossed over the currents of the Jordan on foot.
Indeed, you were raised up to heaven by a fiery chariot.
You gave a two-fold grace to Elisha.
Pray unceasingly to God for the salvation of our souls.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Come, let us assemble, all you people of God,
in this holy place where we are to honour the two God-inspired Prophets.
Let us sing a special hymn of praise
to the glory of Christ God who chose them.
Let us cry out in joy, saying:
Rejoice, O earthly angel and heavenly man, Elias the Great.
Rejoice, O precious Elisha whom God has filled with the graces of heaven.
Rejoice, O fervent intercessors and mediators,
healers of the souls and bodies of the faithful who love Christ.
Deliver from the attacks of the enemy and from every danger
all those who celebrate your memory with honour.
Now…
Who would not bless you, O most holy Virgin?
Who would not praise the most pure manner in which you gave birth?
For the Only-begotten Son, Who proceeds eternally from the Father, came forth from you.
He took flesh from you in a manner that is beyond understanding.
He, Who by nature is God, took on our nature for our sake.
Yet He did not become divided into two persons;
rather, He remained one Person with two distinct and unconfused natures.
O most pure Lady, we implore you:
Beseech your Son and God to have mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) I Kings 17:1-24; (2) I Kings 18:1-46; 19:1-16; (3) I Kings 19:19-21 & II Kings 2:1, 6-14
Lytia
In Tone 4
You are a partaker, O blessed Prophet,
of the incorruptible company of God my Saviour.
Having divided the Jordan by prayer,
you crossed over on dry ground.
After leaving a two-fold grace for Elisha,
you were taken up into heaven on a fiery chariot.
Therefore, we beseech you,
although you were taken up from us in the flesh,
do not separate yourself from us in spirit,
and always pray to Christ that our souls may be saved.
O heavenly Prophet, you appeared as a shining cloud,
raining a shower of an understanding of God to all the faithful.
Like a rich wine you filled with happiness
the faithful who were present in your most divine temple.
Therefore, we entreat you, O heavenly Prophet Elias who sees God,
grant our country victory over her enemies
and great mercy to our souls.
Having complete control of your mind,
you humbled your body, O heavenly Prophet Elias.
Thus you prepared for your divine ascension in your heart.
You reproved the unjust actions of the king;
you took away the curse of God’s anger;
and you destroyed the shameful priests with a sword.
You taught all to loudly cry out:
Truly Elias preaches the one true God.
In Tone 6, Glory…
The disgraceful king commanded fasting in order to commit murder;
for after the fasting, blood was shed and the law was broken.
Naboth the Jezreelite was killed.
Then, O Prophet, you revealed the message of the Lord:
Since you killed the Jezreelite man unjustly,
likewise your blood will also be spilled and harlots will bathe in your blood.
O Lover of mankind, by the prayers of Your prophet and preacher,
deliver our souls from such inhumanity.
Now..
O Mother of God, you are the true vine laden with the fruit of life.
There, we implore you, O Lady,
to intercede together with the Apostles and the Saints
so that we may obtain mercy for our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 8
Having been illuminated by a brilliant mind,
Elias, the awesome Prophet, was heavenly in his actions.
He became indignant when he saw the unjust judgment of the infamous king.
Therefore, by God’s judgment, Elias denounced him.
Likewise, he delivered to God’s judgment the unmerciful queen who loved evil.
Now, O Christ, as the merciful One,
we ask You to save us by the prayers of Elias, Your Prophet.
Among His priests were Aaron and Moses; among those who invoked His name was Samuel.
O Prophet, you declared:
How long, O Lord, is the way of the infamous one to continue?
You planted and they became rooted
and produced the fruit of iniquity.
Indeed, they perished because of their shameful actions.
They cry out to You, but You will not hear.
Why have You shown me the scandal of the judges of the lawbreakers.
You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
O great Elias, respected among the prophets,
your ascension is dear to those who celebrate.
By your prayers you deliver us from dangers and sorrows,
and you preserve us from the attacks of the Evil One.
O most glorious Prophet,
grant that we who are faithful followers of Christ
may always venerate you and bless you.
In Tone 6, Glory…
O Prophet who foretold the coming of Christ,
you are forever in the presence of God’s glory,
and you intercede for those who are suffering.
Since you serve the Majesty on High,
you bless the whole world and are glorified everywhere.
Now obtain for us the forgiveness of our sins.
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 4
The glorious Elias,* angelic in body, pillar of the prophets, second herald of Christ – * by sending grace upon Elisha from on high,* dispels disease, cleanses lepers, and overflows with healing for those who honour him. Twice
Rejoice Virgin Mary, Mother of God, full of grace* the Lord is with you!* Blessed are you among women,* And blessed is the Fruit of your womb.* For you have given birth to Christ* the Saviour and Deliverer of our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparion and Kontakion
Troparion, Tone 4: The glorious Elias, * incarnate messenger of God, pillar of the prophets, * and second forerunner of the coming of Christ, * sent grace from on high to Elisha * that he might cleanse lepers and heal sickness ** for all those who honour him.
Glory… Now…
Kontakion, Tone 2: O Prophet who foresaw the mighty deeds of our God, * O great Elias who through your prayers stopped rain, ** intercede for us with the only One who loves mankind.
Prokimenon, Tone 4
You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
verse: The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies the footstool of Your feet.”
Epistle
James 5:10-20
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Among His priests were Aaron and Moses; among those who invoked His name was Samuel.
verse: Light dawns for the just, and gladness for the upright of heart.
Gospel
Luke 4:22-30
Communion Hymn
The just shall be held in everlasting memory; * they need not fear an evil reputation. * Alleluia, Alleluia, * Alleluia.