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Event Information:
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Sat09May2020
The Transfer of the Relics (1087) of Our Holy Father Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari; Holy Prophet Isaiah (8th c. BC); Holy Martyr Christopher (249-51)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma
“Blessed is the Man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
The Creator of all and Giver of life,* the Word co-eternal with the divine Father,* Who willed to take flesh from the Virgin, becoming a Man,* has manifested the ineffable teachings of wisdom to all!
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
In the midst of the Jewish feast, O Christ,* You stood in the Temple, Master of the law,* teaching with authority and refuting the scribes,* since it was of You that Moses wrote!* amazing all with the wisdom of Your words and wondrous signs!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Giver of wisdom and Bestower of blessings* pouring out divine streams from the inexhaustible fountain, cried:* Come to me, all who thirst, and draw the water of life!* Rivers of divine grace shall flow from you!
In Tone 8
- 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 reached the heights of virtue, O blessed ambassador of Christ,* and have become the glorious wonder-worker of Myra.* While your body rests in Bari, receiving worthy veneration,* in spirit you visit the faithful everywhere,* delivering them from misfortune, O blessed one of the hierarchs.* Today, we call upon you with supplications and earnestly beseech you:* Pray, O bishop Nicholas, to the Saviour of all,* that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You have reached the heights of virtue, O blessed ambassador of Christ,* and have become the glorious wonder-worker of Myra.* While your body rests in Bari, receiving worthy veneration,* in spirit you visit the faithful everywhere,* delivering them from misfortune, O blessed one of the hierarchs.* Today, we call upon you with supplications and earnestly beseech you:* Pray, O bishop Nicholas, to the Saviour of all,* that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.
- 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 the faithful honour with joy and hymns of praise* the translation of the precious relics of our intercessor,* who enlightens every nation with miracles,* consoles the sorrowing, and protects the poor.* For the sake of almsgiving, he fell into God’s debt;* for this he received a hundredfold reward.* To him we all cry out:* Pray, O bishop Nicholas, to the Saviour of all,* that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Let us the faithful honour with joy and hymns of praise* the translation of the precious relics of our intercessor,* who enlightens every nation with miracles,* consoles the sorrowing, and protects the poor.* For the sake of almsgiving, he fell into God’s debt;* for this he received a hundredfold reward.* To him we all cry out:* Pray, O bishop Nicholas, to the Saviour of all,* that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Because of your virtues you, O God-bearing Nicholas,* have entered the palaces of the angels and stand before your Master Christ,* Whose most humble servant you have become.* From your relics you exude myrrh;* you help the faithful by your miracles,* and lead the true believers to God.* Not from Bari do we call upon you, but from the heavenly Jerusalem,* where you are rejoicing with the apostles, prophets, and bishops.* Pray today to the Saviour of all,* that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.
In Tone 6
Glory…
Let us all together venerate with canticles of praise* the beauty of the hierarchs and the glory of the fathers,* the fountain of miracles and the great intercessor of the faithful,* crying out: Rejoice, O protector of the laity,* honourable archbishop and unshakeable pillar!* Rejoice, universal lamp that illumines all nations with miracles!* Rejoice, holy joy of the afflicted and sincere defender of the downtrodden!* Do not cease, O all-praised Nicholas,* even today to pray to Christ God for those who with faith and love* always honour your blessed and sacred memory.
In Tone 3
Now…
O Lady most honourable,* how can we but be rapt in wonder* at you giving birth to the Incarnate God* who, without a mother, was born of the Father before all ages?* You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,* without a man instrumentality.* He is God and man whose two natures are intact,* neither one losing any of its properties.* Therefore, O Virgin Mother,* intercede with Him to save the souls* of those who believe and confess in true faith** that you are the Mother of God.
Readings
(1) Proverbs 10:6-8; 8:6-21; (2) Proverbs 10:13-32; 11:1-10; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 5
Rejoice, O priestly leader, spotless vessel of virtue,* model of divine priesthood, great shepherd of your flock,* bearer of the torch of victory.* You hear the prayers of those who call upon you;* you grant petitions of the poor;* you rescue all who praise your name.* Now we ask you to Implore Christ* that He may shower abundant mercy on the world.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful.
Rejoice, O saintly Father, temple of the Trinity;* pillar of the Church, protector of the faithful,* helper of all in trouble.* You are a star whose rays of prayer dispel the darkest trouble.* You are a quiet harbour for the storm-tossed,* for all adrift in the sea of life.* Pray to Christ to save our souls with his great mercy.
Your priests shall be clothed with holiness; your faithful shall ring out their joy.
Rejoice, O zealous man of God.* You appeared in a dream,* and you saved from death the ones unjustly sentenced.* You are a fountain in Myra, overflowing with scented myrrh.* You inspire us to keep from sin.* You are a sword that cuts the woods of error* you proved Arius to be a false teacher.* Pray to Christ to save our souls with His great mercy.
In Tone 4
Glory…
O bishop Nicholas, by sea, * You made your journey from Myra in Lycia to the city of Bari.* Your coffin was removed from the tomb* and transferred from the East to the far off West, O most glorious Nicholas.* It was followed by pious monks* who, by the will of God, performed services at your tomb.
In Tone 1
Now…
You came to the Holy of Holies, Wisdom of God* in the middle of the feast,* to teach and edify the Jews: the Scribes and the Pharisees:* Let him who thirsts come to Me and drink the water of life* that he may never thirst!* Whoever believes in me, streams of living water shall flow from Him!* How great is Your goodness and compassion, Christ God! Glory to You!
Troparia
In Tone 4
The day of radiant feasting is here,* the city of Bari rejoices, and the world exults with hymns and spiritual songs.* For today is the sacred feast* of the transfer of the precious and healing relics of the bishop and wonder-worker Nicholas.* Like a never-setting sun* he shines with radiant beams of light* dispelling the gloom of temptations and grief* from those who cry with faith:* Save us, great Nicholas, for you intercede for us.
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!
DIVINE LITURGY
After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: At the mid-point of the Feast, O Saviour,* water my thirsty soul with streams of true godliness;* for You cried out to all: Let any who thirst, come to Me and drink.* O Source of Life, Christ our God, glory to You!
Troparion, Tone 4: The day of radiant feasting is here,* the city of Bari rejoices, and the world exults with hymns and spiritual songs.* For today is the sacred feast* of the transfer of the precious and healing relics of the bishop and wonder-worker Nicholas.* Like a never-setting sun* he shines with radiant beams of light* dispelling the gloom of temptations and grief* from those who cry with faith:* Save us, great Nicholas, for you intercede for us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Like a star your relics have moved from east to west,* and the sea is hallowed by your passage;* holy bishop Nicholas, the city of Bari receives grace through you,* for you are revealed as one who works wonders:* illustrious, awesome, and merciful.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: At the mid-point of the Feast according to the Law,* Maker of all things and Master,* You said to those present, O Christ God:* Come, and draw the water of immortality.* And so we fall before You crying out with faith: Grant us Your mercies , for You are the source of our life.
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord, and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to Him. (Psalm 146:5,1)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
verse: The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds.
Epistle
Hebrews 13:17-21
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice. (Psalm 131:9)
Gospel
Luke 6:17-23
Hymn to the Mother of God
Virginity is alien to mothers and child-bearing is foreign to virgins; yet in you, O Mother of God, both of them came together. Therefore, we and all the nations of the earth without ceasing magnify you.
Communion Hymn
Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood* abide in Me and I in them, says the Lord. (John 6:56)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)
Instead of “Blessed is He Who comes…” and “We have seen the true light…” we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of “May our mouths be filled…” we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life. (3)
Instead of “Blessed be the name of the Lord…” we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life. (3)
After the final “Amen”, the Troparion “Christ is risen” is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:
And to us he has granted life eternal;* we bow down before his resurrection on the third day.