New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
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Sun16Aug2020
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 2; Post-feast of the Dormition; the Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Holy Icon “Not Made with Hands” of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, also Called the Holy Veil, and the Holy Martyr Diomedes (284-305)
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 Your 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.
In Tone 2
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
With unworthy lips we praise the Theotokos* who is more venerable than all creation* and more holy than the Cherubim and all the angels in heaven.* She is the unshakable throne of the King.* She is the house in which the Eternal One made His abode.* She is the salvation of the world and the sanctuary of God.* In her holy memory He richly gives great mercy to the faithful.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Virgin, what awesome hymns did the apostles of the Word,* standing around your bier, offer up at that time to you?* They cried out in amazement:* The palace of the King is departing.* The holy Tabernacle is being exalted.* Lift up, O you gates, for the Portal of God will enter in joy,* and, without ceasing, she beseeches great mercy for all the world.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
What spiritual hymns shall we offer to you today, O all-holy One?* The whole world has been sanctified by your Dormition.* You have departed into heaven to contemplate the beauty of the Almighty.* As Mother you rejoice together with Him.* The angelic ranks solemnly accompanied you, O pure One.* Together with them, ask for peace and great mercy* for us and for the souls of the just.
In Tone 2
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With what eyes shall we earth-dwellers gaze upon Your image, O Christ?* The hosts of angels cannot look upon it without fear;* it flashes with rays of divine lightning.* It triumphs over the assaults of godlessness today.* It sojourns among a royal priesthood, a pious people.* Its coming brings joy to all Orthodox Christians,* who fall before it in faith and fear!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
How shall we creatures of dust look upon Your image, Word?* How shall we, polluted in sin, dare to gaze upon the face of our sinless God?* How shall we, paralyzed in corruption,* come before the unapproachable One?* The cherubim veil their faces, not daring to look upon You;* the seraphim who carry You cannot gaze upon Your glory!* In fear they serve You, Creator!* Do not condemn us, merciful Christ,* for we embrace Your image in faith.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The praiseworthy day of the Master has come again!* He Who is enthroned on high now looks down upon us,* through the eyes of His most pure image.* He Who is above the cherubim, upon Whom none may gaze,* is made visible, as the scriptures say,* to those with whom He shares His own likeness,* for You wondrously fashioned us in Your image,* by the most pure finger of the Father,* and by worshipping You in faith, we are made pure.
In Tone 8
Glory…
Choirs of virgins mystically stand around the bier of the Virgin Mother,* and the souls of the just surround it.* The former bring the gift of virginity instead of myrrh;* the latter bring spiritual songs with virtue.* It is fitting for the Mother of God as a queen* to be surrounded by those who glow with virtues.* We who have entered upon a chaste life* shall go down together with them* to the burial of the Mother of God,* blessing her with hymns and spiritual songs.
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 8
Glory… Now…
Jesus, your Son and our God, O Theotokos,* confirming His two natures,* dies as a Man and arises as God!* It was His good pleasure, Mother of God,* that you also die lest unbelievers consider His dispensation a fantasy!* You were translated to the Kingdom of heaven, celestial Bride* taken up from the earth as from your dwelling chamber.* The air was sanctified by your passage* as the earth was illumined by your giving of birth.* The apostles send you forth and the angels bear you up.* As they buried your all-pure body, singing funeral hymns for you* they gazed in awe and spoke with fear:* This change is from the right hand of the Most High,* for He dwelt within you,* and you shall never be shaken!* All-hymned Mother, do not cease to watch over us,* for we are your people and the sheep of your pasture:* We call on your name,* asking salvation and great mercy for your sake.
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 1
Glory… Now…
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
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 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 9:2-12
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
Gospel
Matthew 18:23-35
Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)