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Event Information:

  • Sun
    23
    Jun
    2019

    Second Sunday after Pentecost, Octoechos Tone 1; The Holy Martyr Agrippina

    GREAT VESPERS

    Kathisma Reading
    “Blessed is the man...” is sung.

    At Psalm 140

    In Tone 1

    1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

    Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,* and grant us forgiveness of sins,* for You alone manifested the Resurrection to the world.

    1. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

    O you people, walk around Zion and encompass her.* And there give glory to Him Who is risen from the dead.* For He is our God* Who delivers us from our sins.

    1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

    Come you people, praise and worship Christ.* Glorify His Resurrection from the dead;* for He is our God Who delivered the world* from the deceit of the enemy.

    1. Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

    Rejoice, O you heavens;* sound the trumpets, you foundations of the earth;* cry out with joy, O you mountains.* For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross;* the Giver of Life has put Death to death;* and the Lover of Mankind* has raised up Adam.

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

    Let us praise the Lord* Who for our sake was willingly crucified in the flesh.* He suffered, was buried, and rose from the dead.* Therefore, let us sing to Him:* O Christ, keep Your Church in the orthodox faith* and bring peace to our lives;* for You are gracious and love mankind.

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

    O Christ our God, as we stand unworthily before Your life-bearing grave,* we offer a hymn of praise to Your ineffable tenderness of heart.* For You, O Sinless One,* in Your loving-kindness have accepted the Cross and death* in order to grant* resurrection to the world.

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

    Let us praise the Word* Who is without beginning and co-eternal with the Father.* For our sake He was born of the Virgin;* He freely accepted the Cross and death, and rose in glory.* Therefore, let sing to Him:* Glory to You, O Lord,* the Giver of Life and Saviour of souls.

    In Tone 4

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

    You were brought forth, long-suffering Agrippina,* as a fragrant rose from the meadow of Rome,* perfuming the thoughts of the faithful with the sweet scent of virtue,* dispelling the foul odour of the passions by grace.* You are the firm support of the Church,* the adornment of martyrs, the boast of virgins,* an ocean of miracles, all-honourable one!

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

    After your contest in Rome,* Christ God gave your relics to Sicily as a precious treasure.* You came there, martyr, famous in hymns,* expelling the vile throng of devils by your authority!* Therefore we bless you and celebrate your struggle today,* long-suffering Agrippina!

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

    At the command of Him Who bears the universe,* all-praiseworthy Agrippina,* your friends Vassa and Paula bore your body on their shoulders.* As they passed from place to place,* you laboured by divine grace to perform a sea of far-reaching miracles,* while resting where God provides refreshment for those whose toils are ended!

    In Tone 1, Glory… Now...

    Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,* glory of the whole world!* She was herself formed by human seed,* yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,* the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.* She was seen as being heavenly* and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.* She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,* and brought peace in its place, she opened up the kingdom of heaven.* Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,* and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.* Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,* for He will fight our enemies for us, He is all-powerful!

    Aposticha

    In Tone 1

    O Christ, by Your Passion we have been freed from suffering;* and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.* O Lord, glory to You!

    The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

    Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,* let the nations clap their hands with joy.* For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,* has nailed our sins to the Cross;* He has put Death to death,* and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,* He has given life to all mankind.

    For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

    O God, You are above all understanding;* You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.* Yet of Your own free will,* You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.* When You descended below,* Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;* but the souls of the just received You with great joy.* Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.* What a wonder this is!* You are the life of all and have tasted death* in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

    Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

    The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief* as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;* but they did not find Your most pure body.* Instead, they found an angel* who proclaimed Your unique and glorious Resurrection,* and commanded them to announce to Your Apostles:* The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

    Glory… Now…

    O Mother of God, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled,* since you remained a virgin both before and after giving birth.* For it was God Who was born of you to restore our human nature.* Therefore, do not overlook your servants who supplicate you in your temple.* Since you have held the merciful Lord in your arms,* be compassionate toward your servants,* and beseech Him to save our souls.

    Troparia

    In Tone 1
    Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!** O only Lover of Mankind.

    In Tone 4, Glory…
    Your lamb, Agrippina, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

    Now…
    O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,*and saved our souls from death.

     

    DIVINE LITURGY

    Troparia and Kontakia
    Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans,* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day,* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan,* O only Lover of mankind.

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

    Kontakion, Tone 1: You arose in glory from the tomb* and with Yourself You raise the world.* All humanity acclaims You as God.* and death has vanished.* Adam exults, O Master,* and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy:* “You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.”

    Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

    Theotokion, Tone 1: When Gabriel uttered to you, O Virgin, his ‘Rejoice!’* at that sound the Master of all became flesh in you, the Holy Ark.* As the just David said,* you have become wider than the heavens carrying your Creator.* Glory to Him Who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him Who came forth from you!* Glory to Him Who freed us through birth from you!

    Prokeimenon, Tone 1
    Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
    verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)

    Epistle
    Romans 2:10-16

    Alleluia, Tone 1
    verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued people under me.
    verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48,51)

    Gospel
    Matthew 4:18-23

    Communion Hymn
    Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)