GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Josaphat, you are worthy of glory.
Your sacred vestment was stained with your martyr’s blood,
and now you have entered into the Holy of Holies
with the Lord who rejoices for you.
From Him you have received victory for your labours,
an eternal crown, everlasting beauty, and the life of Paradise.
O great martyr Josaphat,
now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Josaphat, you are worthy of glory.
Your sacred vestment was stained with your martyr’s blood,
and now you have entered into the Holy of Holies
with the Lord who rejoices for you.
From Him you have received victory for your labours,
an eternal crown, everlasting beauty, and the life of Paradise.
O great martyr Josaphat,
now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O all-precious orator,
you first offered yourself as an unbloody sacrifice to God.
Like the unblemished fruit, your holy work was an acceptable sacrifice.
Then you brought yourself to Christ, by means of your blood,
as a true and great martyr.
Now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to 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.
O all-precious orator,
you first offered yourself as an unbloody sacrifice to God.
Like the unblemished fruit, your holy work was an acceptable sacrifice.
Then you brought yourself to Christ, by means of your blood,
as a true and great martyr.
Now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You destroyed the vanity of the dissenters
by your sanctifying words.
You also strengthened the faith of the weakened hearts.
You have entered into the eternal life,
having suffered for the cause of unity.
You were a witness to the Lord, O great martyr Josaphat.
Now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to 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.
Your sacred vestments were stained crimson by your blood, O holy one.
So you received from Christ a two-fold crown, O generous father.
You also rejoice with the angels in heaven
as you stand in the presence of the Blessed Trinity.
Now also pray that God may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O great martyr Josaphat,
in chastity you yearned for an honourable life.
You worshiped Christ the Almighty,
and you led the people into union with Him
by your precious words and by his grace.
You washed yourself with the blood of martyrdom, O blessed one of God.
You have entered into eternity.
Now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
In thought you ascended into the unsetting cloud of the ineffable Light.
You, a great martyr and shepherd,
knew the ineffable mysteries of Christ.
As a martyr you were enlightened,
and as a shepherd you were mystically taught.
Because of that, you also received two crowns from the glory on high.
Now also pray that He may grant unity and peace to our Churches
and great mercy to our souls.
In Tone 6, Glory…
O great martyr Josaphat,
you were a true priest until the time of your death.
As a priest you were a minister of the ineffable mysteries of Christ.
You poured out your blood as did Christ our God,
presenting yourself as an acceptable sacrifice.
Because of that, you are confident in his presence.
Pray for the faith of those who observe and venerate your all-holy memory,
so that your flock and the whole world
may be delivered from all dangers, invasions, enemies, and sieges.
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) Proverbs 3:13-16; 8:35, 4-6, 8, 9; (2) Wisdom 4:7, 16-20; 5:1-7; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Litiya
In Tone 1
Come, let us all celebrate in spirit with heavenly priestly words
the memory of the great martyr Josaphat.
Because he cleared the thorns of division
and with abundant virtue through the fruit of the sanctuary,
he planted the teachings of salvation
for our souls.
As a priest you acted according to the divine gospel.
You sealed the divine teachings with your blood
at the hands of the flock in disunity, O great martyr Josaphat.
You dried up the river of demons,
and you went up into heaven
as a conqueror receiving the crown of victory.
O great martyr Josaphat,
the Eastern Church possessed you and your priestly works.
Now you protect her in an unshakeable manner from hostile wolves
as she preaches about your courage and extols you, O blessed one.
In Tone 5, Glory…
The Church celebrates your light-bearing feast,
and she rejoices, O great martyr Josaphat.
She faithfully venerates you.
As a shepherd do not cease to bless her.
Pray for the salvation of all.
Now…
O most pure Virgin,
you are the temple, the gate, the palace, and the throne of the king.
Christ, our Redeemer and Lord,
appeared through you to those who slumbered in darkness.
For He, as the Sun of Righteousness,
wished to enlighten those whom He created with his own hands
according to his own image.
Therefore, O Lady, whom we always praise In song,
we beseech you to intercede with Christ for the salvation of our souls,
for as his mother you can approach Him with the greatest confidence.
Aposticha
In Tone 4
Like a very bright sun
you shone upon the firmament of the Church.
By the splendour of your words, by your God-inspired teaching,
and by your life equal to that of an angel,
you enlightened the souls that were darkened by the wickedness of the enemy.
You led back onto the way of truth those who had strayed.
Because of that, we rejoice today
and observe your light-bearing and holy memory.
Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; your faithful shall ring out their joy.
O great martyr Josaphat,
you were equal in honour to the apostles.
You received an understanding like theirs.
You did not fear the cruelty of malicious torturers,
but manfully and courageously you preached the unity of the faith.
You suffered many varied wounds and torments.
And now you have received a great reward for your long-suffering
from the Source and Judge of victory, Christ our God.
Implore Him for all who in faith venerate your holy memory.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord Is the death of his faithful.
O great martyr Josaphat,
offering up precious service and a spotless sacrifice to the Master, Christ our God,
you offered yourself as a perfect holocaust to Him.
You courageously suffered out of love for Him by spilling your blood.
As a true shepherd and follower of Christ,
you did not cease to cry out:
O Father, protect everyone in your name.
All-blessed Josaphat, now pray that the Churches and all people be reunited
and that we may be saved.
Glory…
Your good deeds are radiant like the sun upon heaven and earth,
O conciliator of Christ, all-blessed great martyr Josaphat.
You rightly preached to us the true and spotless faith of Christ.
For this, as a good shepherd, you also laid down your life,
following the wellspring of shepherds, Christ our God.
O all-blessed sanctifier, O God-bearer,
Implore that all may be saved
who lovingly celebrate the precious memory of your sufferings.
Now…
O most pure Virgin, hear the petitions of your servants.
Remove the burdens which oppress us
and deliver us from our sorrows;
for you are the only firm and constant support on whom we rely.
O Mother of God, never permit us who call upon you
to be overwhelmed by our cares.
Hasten to fulfil the supplications of all who, in faith, cry out to you:
Rejoice, O Lady, helper of all mankind,
the joy, the refuge, and the salvation of our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 4
You appeared as a radiant light,* O priest-martyr Josaphat.* Like the Good Shepherd, you lay down your life for your sheep;* killed by enemies who loved division, you entered the holy of holies to dwell with the bodiless powers.* Therefore we pray you, long-suffering saint:* beg Christ, the Prince of Shepherds,** to number us among the sheep at His right hand and to save our souls. (twice)
In Tone 1
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
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: You appeared as a radiant light,* O priest-martyr Josaphat.* Like the Good Shepherd, you lay down your life for your sheep;* killed by enemies who loved division, you entered the holy of holies to dwell with the bodiless powers.*Therefore we pray you, long-suffering saint:* beg Christ, the Prince of Shepherds,* to number us among the sheep at His right hand and to save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Enlightened in childhood* by the flame from the crucified Christ,* you resembled the angels in your life as a monk,* and as bishop you lived in godliness.* You clearly preached unity and with your martyr’s blood, you calmed hearts inflamed by love for dispute.* From Christ you received the crown.* And so remember us as we cry to you:* Rejoice, O unshakeable pillar of unity.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)
Epistle
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)
Gospel
John 10:9-16
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)