GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
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.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
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.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
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.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
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
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
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.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
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.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
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.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
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!
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 1
Come, people, let us hymn the valiant athlete Panteleimon
for he struggled for the faith!
Let us say: rejoice, steadfast champion of the faith,
equal to the apostles and prophets!
Rejoice, bearer of Christ, imitating Paul in your deeds!
Calm haven for those bestormed at sea!
Rejoice, our boast and the joy of the faithful!
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon!
You found the good path in your childhood,
anointing your heart with Christ’s mercy.
Now you in turn heal the infirmities of those who earnestly entreat you;
you raised the dead by your prayers,
and have received the kingdom of heaven,
O most blessed Panteleimon!
They are planted in the house of the Lord, and flourish in the courts of our God!
Let us praise the athlete of Christ, the wise Panteleimon!
He slew the serpent with the power of the Cross,
and through the prayers of the martyr Hermolaus,
he raised a young man from the dead,
putting to shame words of ungodly wisdom.
He prays unceasingly that we may be granted forgiveness of our sins!
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 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… 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 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, 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 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
verse: In the churches bless God, the Lord from the fountains of Israel. (Psalm 67:36,27)
Epistle
2 Timothy 2:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 4
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
John 15:17-16:2
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay, he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)