Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Fri

  10

  May

  2019

  The Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot

  GREAT VESPERS

  At Psalm 140

  In Tone 8

  6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

  After following in the steps of Christ,
  serving Him with devotion, Myrrh-bearers,
  you did not forsake Him even after His death.
  Moved by compassion, you went, bearing myrrh with tears.
  Therefore we celebrate your sacred memory!

  5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

  The divine company of women
  desiring to see the Life, slain, in the tomb,
  came in the night and heard from the angels:
  Christ is risen, as He said!
  Go with haste and tell the disciples:
  Drive away the sorrow from your souls!
  Instead of tears, accept ineffable joy!

  4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

  Myrrh-bearers, today we faithful rejoice in your memory,
  glorifying the most gracious Lord Who glorified you!
  Entreat Him to grant us eternal glory, the joy of the saints:
  For you always have boldness before Him, blessed ones!

  In Tone 4

  3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

  The wondrous Simon, boast of the apostles,
  passed across the earth like a brilliant lightning bolt!
  He dispelled the darkness of idolatry
  with his saving, brilliant and divine teachings!
  He enlightened all people to glorify one God in Three Persons,
  indivisible and undivided!

  2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

  Like a rolling wheel, the blessed Simon ran swiftly through the ends of the earth!
  He burned away the madness of idolatry from all the land,
  lighting brilliant beacons with piety,
  he kindled luminous fires of grace for the faithful
  that they may worship one God in Three Persons,
  indivisible and undivided!

  1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

  The most radiant and all-wondrous apostle Simon,
  the teacher of the nations, the net of God,
  draws us up from the depth of perdition with the height of theology!
  The true preacher now wisely leads all to the knowledge of Christ.
  He sets before us his accomplishments
  as a pleasing feast of all good things!

  In Tone 2, Glory…

  You were called the namesake of zeal, admirable Simon,
  for you zealously imitated the all-powerful God!
  He revealed you to be filled with divine miracles,
  for having unusual zeal, blessed one, you were aptly called "the Zealot,"
  and obtained a calling consistent with your character!
  Therefore, as you dwell on high with the choirs of heaven,
  entreat the Word, O seer of God,
  that He may grant us great mercy!

  In Tone 2, Now…  

  The Myrrh-bearers came early to Your tomb, O Christ,
  seeking You, to anoint Your most pure body,
  enlightened by the angel's words,
  they proclaimed joyous things to the apostles:
  The Leader of our salvation is risen!
  He has captured death!
  Granting to the world eternal life and great mercy!

  Readings
  (1) 1 John 3:21-4:6; (2) 1 John 4:11-16; (3) 1 John 4:20-5:5

  Aposticha

  In Tone 1

  Ever-memorable Simon, you drank of the torrent of sweetness,
  drinking with divine wisdom the understanding of God which you fervently desired!
  Now you have passed over with joy to Him,
  deified by the all-splendid glory of the Trinity
  and immeasurable peace!

  Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe! 

  All-wondrous Simon, you contemplate the beauty of God,
  looking upon it as far as you are able,
  delighting in it through a higher union and deified by His gifts!
  You reached with joy the only divine One whom you desired,
  ever memorable preacher of Christ
  and now you dwell with the angels!

  The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!

  Most blessed Simon,
  you have shown yourself to be a faithful mediator between God and men!
  Now by your truly bold supplications, turn Christ to us in steadfast love
  and never cease to pray to the Lord
  that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!

  In Tone 6, Glory...

  Most holy Simon, disciple and apostle of Christ,
  like a high flying eagle you soared over creation!
  You burned up the falsehood of idolatry with the fiery sound of your teachings,
  leading the nations out of the depths of ignorance
  into the knowledge of God.
  Now pray to Christ that He be merciful to us on the day of judgment!

  In Tone 6, Now...

  Joseph begged the body of Jesus.
  He placed it in his own new tomb.
  It is fitting for Him to come forth from it as from a wedding chamber!
  You destroyed the dominion of death
  and opened the gates of paradise to mankind:
  Glory to You!

  Troparia

  In Tone 3
  Holy Apostle Simon, intercede with the merciful God* to grant forgiveness of sins to our souls.

  In Tone 2, Glory…
  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!”

  Now…
  The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the tree.* He wrapped it with a clean shroud and aromatic spices* and placed it in a new tomb.* But on the third day You arose, O Lord,* granting the world Your great mercy.

   

  ---

  DIVINE LITURGY

  After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.

  Paschal Troparion
  Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.

  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 2: The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the tree.* He wrapped it with a clean shroud and aromatic spices* and placed it in a new tomb.* But on the third day You arose, O Lord,* granting the world Your great mercy.

  Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostle Simon, intercede with the merciful God* to grant forgiveness of sins to our souls.

  Kontakion, Tone 2: With praises let all of us call blessed* the divinely eloquent Simon.* He diligently planted the teachings of wisdom in the hearts of the godly* and stands now at the throne of glory* rejoicing with the bodiless powers and praying unceasingly for all of us.

  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

  Kontakion, Tone 2: You commanded the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, O Christ God,* and ended the grief of our mother Eve by Your Resurrection.* You ordered the apostles to proclaim to all:* "The Saviour is risen from the tomb."

  Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

  Kontakion, Tone 8: Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your Apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.

  Prokeimenon, Tone 6
  Save Your people, O Lord, * and bless Your inheritance.
  verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)

  Prokeimenon, Tone 8
  Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Psalm 18:5)

  Epistle
  Acts 8:40-9:19; 1 Corinthians 4:9-16

  Alleluia, Tone 8
  verse: You have shown favour to Your land, O Lord; You brought back the captives of Jacob.
  verse: Mercy and truth have met; righteousness and peace have embraced. (Psalm 84:2,11)
  verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
  verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)

  Gospel
  John 6:48-54; Matthew 13:54-58

  Hymn to the Mother of God
  The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.

  Communion Hymn
  Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)