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Event Information:
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Sun20Oct2019
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Octoechos Tone 2; The Holy Great-Martyr Artemius (360-363)
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.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O Christ, You have abolished the curse of the tree by Your Cross;* You have destroyed the power of Death by Your burial,* and You enlightened the human race by Your Resurrection.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O God and Benefactor, glory to You!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Lord, the gates of death opened before You in fear,* and the gatekeepers of Hades were filled with dread at the sight of You.* You smashed the gates of brass and crushed the posts of iron.* Then You burst our chains asunder,* and led us out from the darkness, away from the shadow of death.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us all come and prostrate ourselves in the house of the Lord,* singing this hymn of salvation:* O Christ, You were crucified on the tree and rose from the dead;* and You now abide in the bosom of the Father.* Please cleanse us of our sins.
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 did not reject Christ, divinely wise Artemius,* nor did you sacrifice to idols* but you gave your long-suffering and tortured body to scourging* and the torments of many wounds!* You were patient as though another suffered in your place.* You awaited future rewards and immortal glory!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You were suspended from a height and mangled,* broken by stones,* you were burned on all sides by heated irons* and finally beheaded by the sword.* Yet you remained steadfast, glorious one,* for you set the foundation of your soul's house on the spiritual Rock!* Therefore you are filled with ineffable light through your victories,* joining the angels and the martyrs!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Your relics, glorious one, ever pour the grace of healing* on those who love you,* drowning passions and infirmities, Artemius,* putting to flight legions of evil demons.* They water the hearts of the faithful,* causing the divine fruits of the virtues to spring forth,* together with the knowledge of true worship!
In Tone 2, Glory…
Let us honour Artemius,* the spiritual beacon of faith,* for he denounced the evil emperor* and God has robed the church with the purple of his martyr's blood!* Therefore he has received the abundant grace of healing,* curing the infirmities of those who approach his relics in faith!
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…
You suffered for Christ according to the law, Artemius,* despising both an earthly emperor and the spiritual enemy.* You fittingly received a crown from the Saviour,* the Judge Who determined your contest!* Now you rejoice in the heavens with the ranks of angels,* openly delighting in the fullness of light on high,* partaking abundantly of the one and tri-personal Light!* Therefore, we Orthodox believers, loving the martyrs,* cry out with hymns to you:* Rejoice, invincible rock and mighty warrior of Christ!* Rejoice, destroyer of the falsehood of idolatry,* the radiant champion of the truth!* Entreat the Lord that through you we also may receive a place* before the throne of His majesty!
Now…
Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,* came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.* He clothed Himself in our human flesh* to set us free from the original curse of Adam.* Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,* as the true Virgin Mother of God,* and we sing with the angels:* Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of 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 4, Glory…
Your martyr, Artemius, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, 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 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!”Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
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.
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)Epistle
2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9Alleluia, 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)Gospel
Luke 6:31-36Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)