Polyeleos Feast
GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
10. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
We pray to the Creator today,* with the words given us by Christ,* who taught us to pray each day:* Our Father who art in heaven,* give us this day our daily bread,* and overlook all our sins.
9. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
We pray to the Creator today,* with the words given us by Christ,* who taught us to pray each day:* Our Father who art in heaven,* give us this day our daily bread,* and overlook all our sins.
8. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
On Mount Sinai You gave stone tablets.* Today in Nazareth You read the prophecy,* O Christ our God in the flesh.* You took and opened the scroll* to teach the people that the Scriptures* were fulfilled in Yourself.
In Tone 5
7. Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O venerable father,* you found a beautiful ladder to heaven* while Elias found a chariot of fire.* He did not leave his ascent for others;* but after death, however, you have left your pillar.* O heavenly man and earthly angel,* ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O venerable father,* even if the pillar could talk,* it would never stop proclaiming your toils, your labours, and you weeping.* Even though it held you,* it was sustained by your tears, watered as a tree.* At your endurance the angels crowd about,* people stand in awe and demons tremble.* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
5. 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 father,* by the might of the Holy Spirit,* you imitated your Master,* as on a cross you ascended the pillar.* The Lord erased the condemnation written against us;* you destroyed the rise of passions.* The Lord was a lamb, and you a victim;* the Lord was on a cross, and you on a pillar.* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
In Tone 2
4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
From the good root has come forth the most excellent Simeon;* from his infancy he was nourished more on grace than on milk.* In his body he dwelt upon the high place,* but in his spirit he was raised even higher to God.* Through his virtues he edified his lofty dwelling.* He journeyed in high places with the powers of heaven,* and he became a dwelling place of Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls.
3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You shall be remembered forever,* O venerable father Simeon;* you were pleasing to God* in the kindness of your heart, O blessed one.* Even if you have passed from us, O good shepherd,* you did not leave us in spirit,* but stand before God in love,* and have joined the angels in heaven.* Together with them, plead for our salvation.
2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The tomb of your relics, O blessed father,* is a fountain of healing,* and your holy soul rightly rejoices with the angels.* O venerable father, as you have confidence before the Lord* and have joined the angels,* plead with Him for our salvation.
1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O God-bearing father,* you loved the highest knowledge* and lived outside the world above visible things.* You became an untarnished mirror of God,* and ever united to the Light, you kept on receiving light,* with clearer insight attaining blessed perfection.* O wise Simeon, pray for our souls.
In Tone 6
Glory…
Divine Grace hovered over your relics, O holy Simeon.* We will hasten towards the sweet fragrance of your miracles,* drawing from them the healing of illnesses.* O venerable father, plead with Christ our God for our souls.
Now…
O eternal Word and Son,* together with the Holy Spirit,* Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible,* bless the beginning of the year,* keep in peace all the faithful,* through the prayers of the Theotokos and all the saints.
Readings
(1) Isaiah 61:1-9; (2) Leviticus 26:3-24; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 1
We have come to the beginning of the year,* gathering to honour these saints:* Callista and her brothers, Evod and Hermogenes;* Simeon, equal to the angels, and Joshua, the son of Nun;* the seven children of Ephesus, and the forty holy women.* O lovers of feasts, sharing in their remembrance, with insistence we shout:* O Lord, bless the works of Your hands,* and make us worthy to pass this year in spiritual progress.
To You our praise is due in Sion, O God.
O Christ our God, You created all things in Your wisdom,* and brought them from nothingness into being.* Now bless the beginning of the year* and keep our city free from harm;* and in Your mercy grant peace and happiness to all the faithful,* granting to the world great mercy through the prayers of the Theotokos.
In Tone 2
We are filled with the blessings of your house.
You are wonderful, O God, and wondrous are Your deeds.* Your ways are unsearchable;* You are the Wisdom of God, perfect person and power.* For though without beginning,* and equal in eternity and operation,* by Your infinite power You made Your home in our world.* Beyond understanding and without changing Your divinity,* You were born of a virgin mother;* You came to seek Your creation* which You had adorned with beauty;* and You set the times and circumstances for our salvation.* Therefore, we shout to You:* O Good Master, glory to You!
You crown the year with goodness.
In wisdom you created all things,* O Word of the Father before all ages;* by Your almighty word You arranged all creation.* Bless the beginning of the year by Your goodness,* and through the prayers of the Theotokos, overthrow all heresy;* for You are good and the Lover of mankind.
In Tone 5
Glory…
O venerable father,* you found a beautiful ladder to heaven* while Elias found a chariot of fire.* He did not leave his ascent for others;* but after death, however, you have left your pillar.* O heavenly man and earthly angel,* ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,* O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.
Now…
O King, You are eternal and remain forever.* Receive the petitions of us sinners as we pray for salvation.* O Lover of mankind,* grant Your abundance to the earth with temperate and mild weather.* Fight with the faithful against all enemy attacks as You helped David;* for they have entered the tabernacle and defiled Your most holy place, O Saviour.* But grant victory over them, O Christ our God,* through the prayers of the Theotokos,* for You are ever the victory and boast of orthodox Christians.
Troparia
In Tone 2
Fashioner of all creation* You fixed times and seasons by Your own authority;* bless the crown of the year, O Lord, with Your goodness,* preserving our nation and Your city in peace;* and save us through the prayers of the Mother of God.
In Tone 1, Glory…
O venerable saint, you became a pillar of endurance,* rivalling the forefathers: Job in afflictions and Joseph in trials,* and while still in the body you lived the life of the Bodiless ones.* O Symeon our father,* entreat Christ God to save our souls.
In Tone 1, Now…
Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God, full of grace,* harbour and protection of the human race:* from you the Redeemer of the world was incarnate.* For only you – ever blessed and glorified – are Mother and Virgin.* Pray to Christ our God to grant peace to the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: Fashioner of all creation,* you fixed times and seasons by Your own authority;* bless the crown of the year, O Lord, with your goodness,* preserving our nation and Your city in peace;* and save us through the prayers of the Mother of God.
Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God, full of grace,* harbour and protection of the human race:* from you the Redeemer of the world was incarnate.* For only you – ever blessed and glorified – are Mother and Virgin.* Pray to Christ our God to grant peace to the world.
Troparion, Tone 1: O venerable saint, you became a pillar of endurance,* rivalling the forefathers: Job in afflictions and Joseph in trials,* and while still in the body you lived the life of the Bodiless ones.* O Symeon our father,* entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Seeking things above, you joined yourself to those on high;* you made your pillar a fiery chariot,* through which, O venerable one, you became a companion of the angels.* With them, unceasingly implore Christ God on our behalf.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You dwell on high, O Christ the King,* Creator and Builder of all that is seen and unseen.* You made seasons and time and the day and night.* Now bless the crown of the present year.* Guard and protect our country, this city and your people,* O Lord, so rich in mercy.
Prokeimenon, Tone 0
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to Him. (Psalm 146:5)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones. (Psalm 115:6)
Epistle
1 Timothy 2:1-7; Colossians 3:12-16
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: To You, O God, is due a hymn in Sion, and to You shall a vow be paid in Jerusalem. (Psalm 64:2)
verse: You will bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. (Psalm 111:6)
Gospel
Luke 4:16-22; Matthew 11:27-30
Communion Hymn
You will bless the crown of the year* with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. (Psalm 111:6-7)