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Event Information:

  • Sun
    22
    Mar
    2020

    Fourth Sunday of the Great Fast – John Climacus, Tone 8; The Holy Priest-Martyr Basil, Presbyter of Ancyra (363); Passing into eternal life (1924) of Fr. Isidore Dolnytsky, hymnographer, professor and spiritual father of L’viv and the Greek College in Rome

    GREAT VESPERS

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

    At Psalm 140

    In Tone 8

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

    O Christ, during this spiritual service,* we sing to You these evening prayers,* commemorating the mercy You have shown us** by Your resurrection.

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

    O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;* but in Your kindness have mercy on us** through Your resurrection.

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

    Rejoice, O holy Zion,* the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;* for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins** through the resurrection.

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

    Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;* yet in these latter times,* He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.* By His death on the cross and His resurrection,** He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.

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

    O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection;* for by rising from the dead* You freed the race of Adam from the sufferings of Hades,* and as God You granted eternal life** and great mercy to the world.

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

    Glory to You, O Christ our Saviour,* the only-begotten Son of God;* for You were nailed to the cross,** and then arose from the dead on the third day.

    In Tone 8

    1. O holy father John,* truly have you ever carried on your lips the praises of the Lord,* and with great wisdom have you studied the words of Holy Scripture,* that teach us how to practice the ascetic life.* So have you gained the riches of grace,* and you have become blessed,** overthrowing all the purposes of the ungodly.
    2. O holy father John,* truly have you ever carried on your lips the praises of the Lord,* and with great wisdom have you studied the words of Holy Scripture,* that teach us how to practice the ascetic life.* So have you gained the riches of grace,* and you have become blessed,** overthrowing all the purposes of the ungodly.
    3. Most glorious father John,* with the fountain of your tears you have cleansed your soul,* and by keeping vigils through the night* you have gained God’s mercy.* You were raised on wings, O blessed one,* to the love of Him and of His beauty;* and as is right you dwell now in His unending joy,* with your fellow soldiers in the spiritual fight,** O holy saint of God.
    4. O holy father John,* through faith you have lifted up your mind on wings to God;* hating the restless confusion of this world,* you have taken up your Cross;* and, by following Him who sees all things* you have subjected your rebellious body to His guidance through ascetic discipline,** by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    In Tone 5, Glory…

    O holy father,* hearing the voice of the Gospel of the Lord,* you have forsaken the world, counting as naught its riches and its glory;* and so you have cried out to all:* “Love God,* and you shall find eternal grace.* Set nothing higher than His love,* that, when He comes in glory,* you may find rest with all the saints.”** At their prayers, O Christ, guard and save our souls.

    In Tone 8, Now...

    Out of his love for mankind * the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,* for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin* and was seen in the flesh He received from her.* He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.* Wherefore we profess and declare the truth * that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man. * O Mother, who knew not carnal union,** intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

    Aposticha

    In Tone 8

    O Jesus, You descended from heaven* so that You might ascend the cross.* O immortal Life, You came to die.* You are the true light to those who live in darkness,* and You are the resurrection of the fallen.** Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.

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

    Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls* Who arose from the dead.* For He took upon himself a soul and a body,* and during His passion He separated the one from the other.* His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,** while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.

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

    O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.* For by Your victory over death* You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,** and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.

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

    O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,* You are above all understanding.* Through Your passion on the cross* You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.* And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;* and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.* O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;* for by Your resurrection on the third day** You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.

    In Tone 2, Glory…

    Let us honour John, angel upon earth and man of God in heaven,* adornment of the world, joy of the good and virtuous, glory of the ascetics.* For planted in the house of God he has blossomed with the flower of holiness,* and spread abroad like a cedar in the desert,* causing the sheep of Christ’s spiritual flock to increase** in sanctity and righteousness.

    Now…

    O wondrous event exceeding every miracle that ever happened!* Who ever heard that a mother could conceive without a man,* and that she would hold in her arms the One who contains the whole universe?* This was the will of the One who was born of you.* Woman most pure,* never cease to intercede for those who honour you,* together with the One you carried in your arms as a child.* You have the power of a Mother:* therefore, intercede with Him that He may have mercy on us** and save our souls.

    Troparia

    In Tone 8
    You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,** glory be to You.

    Glory… Now…
    O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.** O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

     

    DIVINE LITURGY

    Troparia and Kontakia
    Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

    Troparion, Tone 1: O John, our God-bearing father,* you were shown to be a citizen of the desert,* an angel in bodily form,* and a worker of miracles.* Through fasting, prayers and vigils you received heavenly gifts* to heal the sick and the souls of those who, in faith, run to you.* Glory to Him who gives you strength.* Glory to Him who crowned you.* Glory to Him who works healing for all through you.

    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

    Kontakion, Tone 4: On the heights of true abstinence,* the Lord established you as a reliable star,* giving light for guidance to the ends of the earth,* O father John, our teacher.

    Prokeimenon, Tone 8
    Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
    verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)

    Prokeimenon, Tone 8
    verse: The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds. (Psalm 149:5)

    Epistle
    Hebrews 6:13-20; Ephesians 5:9-19

    Alleluia, Tone 8
    verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
    verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 94:1,2)
    verse: They who are planted in the hose of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:14)

    Gospel
    Mark 9:17-31; Matthew 4:25-5:12

    Hymn to the Mother of God
    In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before all ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider that all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.

    Communion Hymn
    Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)