GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us adore God the Word,
Who was born of the Father before all ages,
and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;
for of His own free will He suffered the Cross
and submitted Himself to burial,
and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,
by nailing it to the Cross;
and He abolished the dominion of Death.
Let us glorify His Resurrection on the third day.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;
for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.
He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power
to judge the world which He has fashioned.
In Tone 1
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Living joyfully in the heavenly abode, O Father,
you always stand with the angels before the throne of the Lord.
Pray that He grant the remission of sins
to those on earth who observe your memory.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Through prayer and discipline, O Father Gregory,
you cut the thorns of passion.
You turned up the spiritual ground
and cast into it the seeds of piety.
In this manner, you reaped fruits of healing for 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 venerable one, all those who honour you
call you a harbour of virtues.
O Gregory, you were a friend of silence and a keeper of vigils.
You are a model of continence, a safe abode of prayer,
a treasury of miracles, and a mediator before God.
In Tone 1
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Most venerable Mother Josaphata,
you willingly followed Christ,
and left us your example of holiness of life,
readiness for sacrifice and tireless servitude to the needs of our neighbour.
Today, you rejoice in heaven with the glory of the blessed,
praying for us to the ever-gracious Lord,
so that we would be holy like you.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Having heard the call of Christ to a life of perfection,
you, Josaphata, similar to Mary – the first servant of the Lord
answered: “Here I am, Lord,”
giving life to the new Congregation of Servants of Mary Immaculate,
that became the living light for the dark children of Rus’-Ukraine.
Pray for us to the Most Holy Trinity,
that we become holy like you.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O, our Mother Josaphata,
you taught your sisters to work for neighbours,
raising small children and the youth,
giving them the example of Christian virtues and a labour-loving life,
caring after the sick and poor in the villages,
and serving them and preparing for a pious death;
caring about the cleanliness and beauty of God’s house,
that is the dwelling of the living God.
Your sacrifice lit young hearts
that wished to be holy.
In Tone 5
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
At God’s command,
the star in Zhuzhel was lit,
the light began to shine on Ukrainian cities and villages.
And you, Josaphata, with your sympathetic look
were able to see the thirst of those hearts,
that were in foreign lands.
That is why today, from all the ends of the earth,
we lift the gift of gratitude to God, who has glorified you.
In Tone 8, Glory…
Your holy relics grant healing for all the afflicted,
who approach with faith and ask your grace,
most venerable Mother Josaphata.
Therefore, pray for us that God may grant us his great mercy.
In Tone 2, Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.
Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 2
Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,
has enlightened the whole universe;
and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.
Almighty God, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,
You have abolished the curse of the tree;
by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;
and by Your Resurrection You enlightened the human race.
We, therefore, cry out to You:
O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,
the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.
The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,
and the people showed their ignorance of Your power
by asking that Your tomb be sealed.
But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial
and then arose on the third day.
O Lord, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, Giver of Life,
You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.
In Your power You descended into Hades;
and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,
You placed them in Paradise.
Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your Resurrection,
and cleanse our souls.
In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
Come all you people,
and let us praise the only-immaculate One
who was foretold by the prophets
and is being led into the Temple.
She was chosen from eternity to be the Mother;
and in time she was revealed as the Theotokos.
O Lord, by her prayers
grant us your peace and mercy.
Troparia
In Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mysteries which surround you are exceedingly glorious,* and beyond the power of understanding.* For you retained the seal of purity,* and your virginity remained inviolate;* yet you are acknowledged, without doubt,* to be the Mother who gave birth to the true God.* We beg you, therefore, to entreat Him to save our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
Troparion, Tone 4: Anne is now preparing a great joy for all of us,* for she has given birth to the only ever-Virgin who is a joy that dispels all sadness.* Today Anne fulfills her vow with gladness,* presenting to the Temple of the Lord* the One Who is the true temple of God’s Word* and His pure Mother.
Troparion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata* you inspire us through your spirit of service and love.* Тeach us to uplift and renew the hearts of the people* wherever we are sent to minister,* to serve where the need is the greatest,* all for the glory of God.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: O Blessed Josaphata,* co-foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate,* you began your mission in Ukraine for your people,* and brought light into the darkness of their abandonment.* By educating children and youth,* you gave parents renewed strength and hope.* You tended the sick and the poor, for you saw in them the image of God.* You cared for the beauty of God’s temple,* instilling in people the beauty of liturgy.* The Lord led you to sanctity through great suffering.* Thus, you became a woman for all times.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Filled with joy today because of the happy feast of the Mother of God,* the universe cries out:* This is the holy tabernacle!
Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel. (Psalm 67:36)
Epistle
Ephesians 6:10-17; Galatians 2:16-20
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
verse: With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and He was attentive to me, and He heard my prayer.
verse: He brought me out of the pit of misery and the mud of the swamp. (Psalm 39:2,3)
Gospel
Luke 13:10-17; Mathew 26:6-13
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)