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Event Information:
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Sun15Dec2019
Sunday of the Holy-Forefathers, Octoechos Tone 2; The Holy Priest-Martyr Eleutherius; Our Venerable Father Paul of Latra (956); Our Holy Father Stephen the Confessor, Archbishop of Surozh (8th century)
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.
In Tone 8
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Today we commemorate the Forefathers of Christ.* Sing with fervour a hymn of praise to Christ the Saviour* who exalted them among the nations.* He is the Lord who does wondrous deeds* because He is powerful and almighty.* From them He brought forth a royal sceptre,* the Immaculate Maiden of God and Virgin Mary.* From her, Christ our God came forth* to give life and eternal salvation for all.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Lord and Master,* You rescued the three holy youths from the fire.* You saved Daniel from the mouths of the lions;* You blessed Abraham, Isaac Your servant, and Jacob his son.* You willed to be like one of us by choosing to be born from them* in order that You might save our Forefathers who had fallen.* By Your Cross and Resurrection You tore apart the bonds of death.* You raise up all those who for ages had been among the dead* and who bow to You, O Christ, the eternal King.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The three holy youths were refreshed by the Holy Spirit* when they walked in the fire as though in a cool place.* In them the Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ* were prefigured in a mystical manner.* By their wisdom and faith* they overcame the power of fire.* As for the just Daniel, he stopped the mouths of lions.* Through their intercession, we beseech You:* O Saviour and Lover of Mankind,* protect us from eternal fire* and make us worthy of Your heavenly Kingdom.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
When the three holy youths stood in the flaming furnace* as if covered with dew,* they mystically prefigured Your coming from the Virgin,* giving light to us without being consumed.* And Daniel, the just and wondrous prophet,* clearly saw in a vision Your second divine coming.* He said: “I saw thrones set up and the Judge seated* and the river of fire flowing in His presence.”* Through their intercession* deliver us from this fire, O Lord.
In Tone 6, Glory…
O believers, let us give praise today* to all the fathers who lived before the Law:* Abraham who was beloved by God,* Isaac who was born according to the promise,* Jacob and the Twelve Patriarchs,* the very meek David and the favoured prophet Daniel.* Let us also glorify with them the three youths* who changed the fiery furnace into a place of refreshing dew.* Let us beg forgiveness of our sins from Christ our God* who is glorified in His Saints.
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 3, Glory…
Come, O lovers of the feast,* let us sing a hymn of praise to the assembly of the Forefathers:* Adam, the father of mankind,* Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.* Let us also honour those who came after the Law:* Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, and David;* together with Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel,* Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets;* likewise Elijah, Elisha, and all the others;* also Zechariah and the Baptist,* and all those who preached Christ, the Life and Resurrection of our race.
Now…
O Virgin Mother, you conceived the Son of God without seed* by the will of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.* He was begotten of the Father, without a mother, from all eternity.* Yet for our sake, He was born of you in the flesh without a human father,* and you nursed Him as an infant with your milk.* Therefore, never cease to entreat Him to deliver our souls from affliction.
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 2, Glory… Now…
By faith you justified Your ancestors* and through them in advance you betrothed the Church taken from the nations.* The saints exult in glory;* from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.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 2: By faith You justified Your ancestors* and through them in advance You betrothed the Church taken from the nations.* The saints exult in glory;* from their seed comes the blessed fruit, the one who bore You without seed.* By their prayers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: Armed by the Being that defies description,* you defied the man-made idol, O thrice blessed youth.* In the midst of the unbearable flames you stood and cried out to God:* “In Your mercy, O gracious One, hasten and come to our aid,”* for You can do whatever You will.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)Epistle
Colossians 3:4-11Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: They called on the Lord and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)Gospel
Luke 14:16-24Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1).* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous (Psalm 32:1).* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.