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Event Information:
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Sat11May2019
The Holy Cyril (869) and Methodius (885), Teachers of the Slavs and Equals-to-the-Apostles and the Dedication of the City of Constantinople (330); the Holy Priest-Martyr Mocius (284-305); Passing into Eternal Life of Blessed Vasyl (Basil) Hopko, Auxiliary Bishop of Presvov (+1976)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Early in the morning,
the Myrrh-bearing women brought spices to the tomb of the Lord.
They found the stone unexpectedly rolled away,
and they asked among themselves:
Where are the seals of the tomb? Where are Pilate's guards?
The radiant angel came to the wondering women and proclaimed to them:
Why do you seek weeping the Life who gives life to the human race?
Christ our God has risen from the dead as almighty,
granting life to all; incorruption, enlightenment and great mercy!- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Women disciples,
why do you open the Myrrh with tears?
The stone is gone; the tomb is empty:
Behold corruption destroyed by Life!
The seals witness that the guards of the godless have watched in vain.
Mortal nature has been saved by the flesh of God.
Hell is wailing.
Go with joy, and proclaim to the apostles:
Christ has slain death as the first-born of the dead.
He awaits you in Galilee!- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Myrrh-bearing came early to Your tomb, O Christ,
seeking You to anoint Your most pure body.
Enlightened by the angel's words
they proclaimed joyous tidings to the apostles:
The Leader of our salvation has been raised;
He has captured death,
granting the world eternal life and great mercy!In Tone 2
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
With what crowns of praise shall we adorn the divinely-wise teachers,
the voices of wisdom sounding amid clouds of darkness,
enlightening those in the shadow of death with the light of the Gospel!
The great preachers of the undivided Trinity who grafted barren unbelievers
as branches into the fruitful tree of the orthodox Church
that they might obtain from Christ our God peace and great mercy.- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
With what crowns of praise shall we adorn the divinely-wise teachers,
the voices of wisdom sounding amid clouds of darkness,
enlightening those in the shadow of death with the light of the Gospel!
The great preachers of the undivided Trinity who grafted barren unbelievers
as branches into the fruitful tree of the orthodox Church
that they might obtain from Christ our God peace and great mercy.- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With what songs of praise shall we glorify the divinely-wise teachers:
the golden-mouthed Cyril
who reached the heights of wisdom through his sweet preaching,
humbling the fierce pride of Islam!
And Methodius, the lover of solitude,
who in silence received the fruits of the Spirit.
Through their prayers, Christ our God, grant us great mercy.- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
With what hymns of praise shall we magnify the divinely-wise teachers:
Cyril, who chose to live with wisdom in his youth.
He multiplied his talents to the glory of God;
and Methodius who renounced the things of this world for love of Christ.
He strove like an angel for the kingdom of heaven.
Through them, we have come to know God,
the eternal Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
receiving from Christ our God great mercy!- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
With what spiritual songs shall we magnify you, most blessed teachers?
For the sake of the salvation of the Slavs you became equals to the apostles.
You laboured to enlighten them by the lamp of the Word of God,
opening for them the door of the written Word.
As we enter, we understand the blessed teaching of Christ,
receiving from Him peace and great mercy.In Tone 6, Glory...
Come, lovers of feasts!
Let us glorify the apostolic labourers with songs of praise:
the pride of hierarchs, the enlighteners and fervent intercessors for the Slavic people!
Rejoice, Cyril, golden herald of the Word of God,
lighting up the mysteries of the Holy Trinity as the sun,
closing the blaspheming mouths of Islam!
Again, rejoice, Methodius!
You assisted him with prayers and miracles.
Most blessed fathers, never cease to intercede before Christ our God
for those who praise you with faith and love!In Tone 6, Now…
The Myrrh-bearing women reached Your tomb
and saw the seals of the tomb broken.
They wailed as they did not find Your most pure body:
Who has stolen our Hope?
Who has taken the dead One, naked and anointed?
the sole consolation of His Mother?
How can the Life of the dead have died?
How can the Capturer of hell have been buried?
But arise in three days as You said, Saviour, and save our souls!Readings
(1) Deuteronomy 1:8-17; (2) Deuteronomy 10:14-21; (3) Wisdom 3:1-9Aposticha
In Tone 8
The light of your lives, teachers equals-to-the-apostles,
has enlightened the Church like the stars.
The strength of your teaching has brought many nations to Christ.
You approached the unapproachable Light,
and now you dwell with the angels.
Therefore pray for us who honour your blessed memory!Let Your priests be clothed in righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy!
Come, all you faithful, let us magnify the teachers:
equals-to-the-apostles, and the glory of the Slavs.
Through them we are delivered from the snares of the devil,
receiving the blessing of Christ,
and learning the eternal Word which cleanses us from the darkness of sin.The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue utters justice!
Divinely-wise Cyril, and God-loving Methodius,
apostles and first teachers of the Slavic church,
protectors of the faithful and lovers of righteousness,
sweet voices of the Holy Spirit!
You have great boldness before Christ, the great high priest:
pray for us, who honour your blessed memory,
that He will deliver our lives from corruption, as the greatly merciful One!Glory...
Rejoice, blessed ones who enlightened us with the knowledge of God!
Rejoice, Cyril, living source of spiritual wisdom:
you quenched the thirst of the Slavic people!
Rejoice, Methodius, pure dwelling of prayer:
now you stand in the glory of Christ.
Therefore never cease to pray that we may glorify Him
as we magnify you throughout the ages!In Tone 5, Now…
When Joseph together with Nicodemus,
had taken You down from the tree,
and beheld You dead, naked and unburied,
though You clothe Yourself with light as with a garment,
that compassionate man lamented with weeping:
Woe is me, my sweetest Jesus!
The sun, as it beheld You upon the Cross
hid itself in darkness.
The earth trembled with fear; the veil of the temple was torn in two.
Look: Now I behold You, Who for my sake freely endured death.
How shall I bury You, my God?
Or with what linen shall I wrap You?
With what hands shall I touch Your pure body?
What songs shall I sing at Your departure, merciful One?
I magnify Your Passion!
I glorify Your burial, singing Your Resurrection and crying,
O Lord, glory to You!Troparion
In Tone 4
As equals to the apostles in the way you lived* and teachers of the Slavic lands,* O Cyril and Methodius, divinely wise,* intercede with the Master of all* to confirm the Slavic nations in orthodoxy and oneness of mind;* to grant peace to the world and save 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 4: As equals to the apostles in the way you lived* and teachers of the Slavic lands,* O Cyril and Methodius, divinely wise,* intercede with the Master of all* to confirm the Slavic nations in orthodoxy and oneness of mind;* to grant peace to the world and save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Let us extol our two sacred teachers.* By their translation of Scriptures* they tapped for us a well that brings knowledge of God.* Drawing from it abundantly to this very day* we call you blessed, O Cyril and Methodius.* As you stand before the throne on high,* fervently pray to God to save our souls.
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.
iUnto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)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)
Epistle
Acts 9:20-31; Hebrews 7:26-8:2Alleluia, 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: 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 15:17-16:2; John 10:9-16Hymn 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
Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* 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)