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Event Information:
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Sun30Jun2019
Third Sunday after Pentecost, Octoechos Tone 2; The Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Twelve Apostles
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us adore God the Word,* Who was born of the Father before all ages,* and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;* for of His own free will He suffered the Cross* and submitted Himself to burial,* and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,* by nailing it to the Cross;* and He abolished the dominion of Death.* Let us glorify His Resurrection on the third day.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;* for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.* He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power* to judge the world which He has fashioned.
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Although You died and were buried,* the angel yet declared You as Master.* He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;* for He is risen as He foretold,* because He is almighty.* Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,* and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.
In Tone 4, for Sts.Peter and Paul
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You have given as the pride and glory of Your Church, Lover of mankind,* the holy apostles Peter and Paul.* They shine upon the world as spiritual stars;* through them You have enlightened our darkness,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You have given two mighty pillars to Your Church, Lord:* Peter the rock and Paul the wise.* They proclaim the truth and chase away the errors of godlessness.* Their words reveal Your glory to us,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You have given two models of conversion to the faithful, Lord:* your blessed apostles Peter and Paul.* One repented, after denying you at the time of Your Passion;* the other believed, after opposing Your preaching:* now they both stand among the first of Your friends,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
In Tone 4, for the Twelve Apostles
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Let us bless the honourable disciples!* They were the eye-witnesses of the Incarnate Word.* They shine upon the world like flashes of lightning;* as spiritual giants they bring sweetness to our souls.* They are rivers of paradise,* flowing with living water for the refreshment of the churches!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Let us honour Christ’s fellow-labourers!* They are lightning bolts hurled to earth by the might of the Spirit;* workers of miracles and witnesses of the mysteries,* tablets of divine love written by the hand of God,* honourable masters of the divine law!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The foolishness of the philosophers is corrected by the rod of the fishermen!* The vanity of the orators is put to confusion by divine wisdom!* The apostles proclaimed the infinite goodness of the Gospel;* now they exult in the communion of eternal blessedness:* the joy of the angels and the unfading crown of glory.
In Tone 6, Glory…
Assemble, chosen members of Christ’s holy Church!* The feast of the honourable apostles dawns upon the earth,* bringing salvation for us all!* Clap your hands, all peoples; cry out in exultation:* rejoice, twin rays of the sun, enlightening us who sit in darkness!* Rejoice, Peter and Paul, unshakeable pillars of divine doctrine!* Rejoice, friends of Christ and chosen vessels!* Come, and be present with us in spirit:* grant us spiritual gifts as we celebrate your sacred memory in song!
In Tone 2, Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 2
Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,* has enlightened the whole universe;* and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.* Almighty God, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,* You have abolished the curse of the tree;* by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;* and by Your Resurrection You enlightened the human race.* We, therefore, cry out to You:* O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,* the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.* The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,* and the people showed their ignorance of Your power* by asking that Your tomb be sealed.* But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial* and then arose on the third day.* O Lord, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, Giver of Life,* You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.* In Your power You descended into Hades;* and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,* You placed them in Paradise.* Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your Resurrection,* and cleanse our souls.
In Tone 6, Glory...
A joyful feast dawns upon the earth today:* the memorial of Peter and Paul, the wise leaders of the apostles.* Let Rome rejoice and be glad with us!* Let us keep feast, brethren, in songs and hymns.* Rejoice, apostle Peter, true friend of Christ our God!* Rejoice, beloved Paul, herald of the faith and teacher of the universe!* You have boldness before Him, chosen pair:* pray unceasingly that our souls may be saved!
Now…
Theotokos, you are the true vine who blossomed for us the fruit of life:* implore Him, we pray you, Lady, together with the apostles and all the saints,* that He will have mercy on our souls!
Troparia
In 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!”In Tone 8, Glory…
O saints, your message has spread throughout the world,* for receiving the Spirit in tongues of fire you torched the idols’ deceit.* With the net of your words you caught those who were lost and brought them to faith.* Therefore the heavens declare your glory* and the firmament which God created adds its voice* and we with them cry out feasting your memory:* Save us all, O God, by the prayers of your twelve apostles.In Tone 4, Now…
You are chief apostles and teachers of the world. * Beseech the Lord of all * to grant peace to the world * and abundant mercy to our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY
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 8: O saints, your message has spread throughout the world* for receiving the Spirit in tongues of fire you torched the idols’ deceit.* With the net of your words you caught those who were lost and brought them to faith.* Therefore the heavens declare your glory* and the firmament which God created adds its voice* and we with them cry out feasting your memory.* Save us all, O God, by the prayer of your twelve apostles.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Christ the Rock today valiantly glorifies the rock of faith,* the most splendid of the disciples, along with Paul and the council of the twelve.* As we celebrate their memory with faith we glorify the One who glorified them.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and an unfailing hope of patronage,* for as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)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)
Epistle
Romans 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 4:9-16Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
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
Matthew 6:22-33; Mark 3:13-19Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)