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Event Information:
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Tue21May2019
The Holy Great Rulers Constantine (337) and Helen (330), Equals-to-the-Apostles
GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Creator of all and Giver of life,
the Word, co-eternal with the divine Father,
Who willed to take flesh from the Virgin, becoming a man,
has manifested the ineffable teachings of wisdom to all!- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
In the midst of the Jewish feast, O Christ,
You stood in the Temple, Master of the law,
teaching with authority and rebuking the scribes,
amazing all with the wisdom of Your words and wondrous signs!- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The Giver of wisdom and Bestower of blessings,
pouring out divine streams from the inexhaustible fountain, cried:
Come to me, you who thirst, and draw the water of life!
Rivers of divine gifts shall flow from you!In Tone 4
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
You gave Your precious cross as a most powerful weapon to the emperor.
Through it he reigned righteously on earth, shining with godliness.
And by Your compassion he was counted worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.
Therefore with him we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,
Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
As the King of kings, the Lord who reigns over all,
You, Lover of mankind, granted Your servant the wisdom of Solomon
the meekness of David, and the orthodox faith of the Apostles!
Therefore we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,
Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Emperor of eternal memory,
first you willingly submitted the purple to Christ,
recognizing Him as true God and King of all,
the great Benefactor and Source of victory.
You saw Him set above every principality and power.
Therefore Jesus made the kingdom prosper for you, lover of virtue,
for He is the Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!In Tone 2, Glory…
Constantine the great, most powerful emperor,
you received the finest of rich gifts from God making you pre-eminent.
Enlightened by the rays of the most Holy Spirit through baptism,
you appeared invincible while you reigned,
receiving the world as a free gift of the Creator.
You ruled the city with faithfulness.
Since therefore you have boldness before Him,
never cease to pray to Christ
that all who celebrate your memory in faith
may be granted forgiveness of sins and great mercy!In Tone 2, Now…
When You came to the Temple, O Christ, in the midst of the feast,
You taught the people, saying:
Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, he shall live!
The Jews: Pharisees and Saducees and Scribes, were enraged and cried:
Who is this man to utter blasphemies?
They did not understand that You are our God,
glorified with the Father and the Spirit before the ages! Glory to You!Readings
(1) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; (2) Isaiah 61:10-62:5; (3) Isaiah 60:1-16Aposticha
In Tone 2
You received the sceptre from God, Constantine, first emperor of Christians.
The hidden symbol of salvation appeared to you on earth.
Having the life-giving Cross as an invincible weapon, blessed saint,
you brought all the nations to the feet of Rome,
and yourself were led to God.I have exalted one chosen out of the people!
The womb that bore you is truly blessed and sanctified, divinely crowned Constantine:
beloved of the world, and joy of Christians!
You are the glory, wealth and champion of orphans and widows,
the protector of the lowly and those in need;
you restore the afflicted, and rescue those in bonds!God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness!
With longing and love for Christ,
the mother of a sweet offspring made haste to come to holy Sion,
to the sacred place where our Saviour was crucified in His desire to save us.
Raising the Cross there, she cried, rejoicing:
glory to Him who has given me what I desired!In Tone 3, Glory… Now…
In the middle of the feast,
let us glorify Him Who worked salvation in the midst of the earth!
The Life was hanging on the Tree, between two thieves.
He was silent with the one who blasphemed,
but the one who believed heard: Today you will be with Me in Paradise!
He descended into the tomb, snatching hell,
and arose on the third day, saving our souls!Troparia
In Tone 8
After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!Troparion, Tone 8: After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today Constantine and Helen his mother reveal the cross,* the all-precious wood which shames those who refuse to believe.* Rulers with faith possess it as a weapon against foes;* a glorious standard frightful in battle revealed for the sake of all.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: At the mid-point of the Feast according to the Law,* Maker of all things and Master,* You said to those present, O Christ God:* Come, and draw the water of immortality.* And so we fall before You crying out with faith: Grant us Your mercies , for You are the source of our life.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
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 146:5,1)Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)Epistle
Acts 12:25-13:12; Acts 26:1-5, 12-20Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)
verse: I have exalted one chosen from among My people.
verse: O Lord, by Your power the king shall rejoice, and shall greatly exult in Your salvation. (Psalm 88:20; 20:2)Gospel
John 8:51-59; John 10:1-8Hymn to the Mother of God
Virginity is alien to mothers and child-bearing is foreign to virgins; yet in you, O Mother of God, both of them came together. Therefore, we and all the nations of the earth without ceasing magnify you.Communion Hymn
Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood* abide in Me and I in them, says the Lord. (John 6:56)* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)