Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Sun

  17

  Nov

  2019

  Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, Octoechos Tone 6; Our Holy Father Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea (270-75); Passing into Eternal Life (1947) of Blessed Josaphat Kotsylovsky, Bishop of Peremyshl and Martyr

  GREAT VESPERS

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

  At Psalm 140

  In Tone 6

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

  O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,* You ascended the Cross so that You might raise up with Yourself* all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.* Almighty Saviour, You are free from death* and bestow life by Your divine light.* We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us.

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

  Today Christ has conquered Death.* He has risen from the grave as He foretold,* bestowing great joy upon the world.* Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:* O Fount of Life, O Light Whom no one can approach,* Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.

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

  O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,* for You are present in all creation?* You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.* Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.* O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.* Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?* We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:* O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.

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

  We exult in Your Cross, O Christ,* and we sing the glory of Your Resurrection.* For You are our God, and we have no other Lord but You.

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

  Glory to Your might, O Lord,* for You have conquered the power of death.* You have renewed us through Your Cross,* granting us life and incorruption.

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

  We forever bless the Lord and praise His resurrection,* for by suffering crucifixion,* He has destroyed death by His death.

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

  By Your death and burial, O Lord,* You broke asunder the bonds of Hades;* and by Your resurrection from the dead,* You enlightened the whole world.* We, therefore, exclaim: Glory to You, O Lord!

  In Tone 8

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

  What shall we call you, Gregory?* Master, for you subjected the passions to your mind!* Husbandman, for you reaped the fruit of wisdom!* One granted the vision of God and taught with heavenly theology!* A sacred performer of the mysteries* and most wondrous worker of miracles!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

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

  What shall I now call you, Gregory?* Mighty destroyer of godless impiety,* setting forth the laws of true worship!* Wise teacher and bestower of invincible peace!* Unvanquished conqueror of armies!* One who ever dwells in the mountains,* beholding those living in the cities!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

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

  What shall I now proclaim you, venerable one?* You followed the apostles as a worker of miracles!* You restrained the river by calling on Christ,* drying up the lake which was the cause of contention between brethren!* You dispersed the ungodly congregation,* increasing and enlightening Christian assemblies!* Pray that our souls may be saved!

  In Tone 6, Glory…

  You most wisely embarked upon the depths of knowledge,* hierarch of Christ! * You acquired the vision of the Trinity, * foreseeing steadfastly in the spirit Christ our God! * You poured forth on us a flood of miracles, * making solid the watery nature of the sea, * changing the pagan priest's dark delusion to belief! * You persuaded the persecutors truly to believe, * revealing yourself to them as a pillar of virtue! * You were called a prophet through your miracles! * therefore we beseech you,* ever pray for us to the Saviour that our souls may be saved!

  In Tone 6, Now…

  Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He Who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.

  Aposticha

  In Tone 6

  O Christ our Saviour,* the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your Resurrection;* make us on earth also worthy* to extol You with a pure heart.

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

  Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades,* and raised up fallen mankind.* Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

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

  Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old* by being nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb.* When the women came to anoint His body they tearfully cried out:* O, what sorrow afflicts us!* O Saviour of All, how could You consent to occupy a grave?* If you truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?* How were You removed?* What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?* O Lord, appear to us as You promised* and put an end to our tears.* As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:* Do not weep, but tell the Apostles that the Lord is risen,* granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.

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

  O Christ, You were crucified of Your free will,* and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.* As God, You rose in glory on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.

  In Tone 6, Glory…

  The watchfulness of God was given you, wise one,* as it was to Daniel the prophet: * For as a dream was revealed to him, * so the mystery of the faith was disclosed to you!* Therefore, venerable Father, pray that our souls may be saved!

  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 6
  Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!

  In Tone 4, Glory…
  The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Gregory.* Intercede with Christ, our God,* for the salvation of 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 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!

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

  Kontakion, Tone 6: With His life-giving hand* Christ our God, the Giver of life,* raised all the dead from the murky abyss* and bestowed resurrection upon humanity.* He is for all the Saviour,* the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.

  Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

  Theotokion, Tone 6: Undaunted patroness of Christians,* O steadfast intermediary with the Creator,* turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners,* but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith.* Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead,* for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.

  Prokeimenon, Tone 6
  Save Your people, O Lord, * and bless Your inheritance.
  verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)

  Epistle
  Ephesians 2:4-10

  Alleluia, Tone 6
  verse: He who lives in the aid of the Most High, shall dwell under the protection of the God of heaven.
  verse: He says to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge, my God, in Whom I hope. (Psalm 90:1,2)

  Gospel
  Luke 8:26-39

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