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Event Information:
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Sun07Jun2020
First Sunday after Pentecost. All Saints Sunday, Tone 8
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 6
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Through faithfulness the disciples of the Lord* became instruments of the Spirit* and were scattered to the ends of the earth* to proclaim His sacred word and the doctrine of truth.* From these roots, an army of Martyrs blossomed forth* by the grace of the Divine Gardener.* By their numberless torments and by fire,* they imitated the holy passion of Christ,* and now they intercede for 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.
Inflamed by the love of the Lord,* the venerable Martyrs of Christ despised the fire;* and being consumed as living coals,* they burned the dried grass of the arrogance of error;* they bridled the mouths of the beasts by their prayers;* and by their beheading, they severed the hosts of the enemy.* Having courageously shed their blood,* they watered the Church with the seed of their faith.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Truly the heroic Martyrs have wrestled with beasts* and were torn apart by their claws;* they fell under the edge of the sword* and were mutilated and tortured;* they were thrown into fire and burned alive,* dismembered and pierced with swords.* All this they bore courageously,* seeing in advance what was to come:* the unfading crowns and the glory of Christ.* And now they intercede for our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Let us celebrate with songs of praise* the deeds of all the Saints over all the earth,* honouring them, as it is fitting:* the Apostles and Martyrs,* the Bishops and Holy Women.* While living on earth, they joined with the heavenly spirits,* and by the grace of Christ,* they received immortality through their sufferings.* They shine as bright stars for us,* and now they intercede for our souls.
Glory…
You are pillars of the Church* and the fulfilment of the Gospel,* O divine ranks of Martyrs.* By your deeds you have fulfilled the words of the Saviour;* for through you the gates of Hades,* once opened against the Church, have now been closed;* and through the shedding of your blood* you dried up the sacrifices poured out for the idols.* And having built up the faith of believers through your martyrdom,* you filled the heavenly spirits with admiration.* You stand before Christ, wearing your crowns;* intercede with Him for 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.
Readings
(1) Isaiah 43:9-14; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
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 6
Glory…
Come, O faithful, let us exalt with joy:* let us celebrate in faith on this day* the feast of all the Saints;* and let us venerate their glorious memory, saying:* Rejoice, Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs,* O Bishops, O Just and Blessed Ones,* together with the ranks of the Holy Women.* Intercede with Christ for us,* that He may grant peace to the world* and great mercy to our souls.
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 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.
In Tone 4, Glory…
Clothed as in purple and fine linen* with the blood of Your martyrs throughout the world,* Your Church cries out to You through them, O Christ God:* send down Your loving-kindness on Your people;* grant peace to Your community,* and to our souls great mercy.
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 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 4: Clothed as in purple and fine linen* with the blood of Your martyrs throughout the world,* Your Church cries out to You through them, O Christ God:* send down Your loving-kindness on Your people;* grant peace to Your community,* and to our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: O Lord, Master of nature,* the world offers You the godly martyrs as the first-fruits of nature.* By their supplications, through the Mother of God,* preserve Your Church and Your people in profound peace,* O most merciful One.
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 76:12,2)
Epistle
Hebrews 11:33-12:2
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
Communion 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.