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Event Information:

  • Sun
    27
    Sep
    2020

    Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 8; Holy Martyr Callistratus and His Companions; Our Venerable Father Nilus, Founder and Hegumen of the Grottaferrata Monastery

    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.

    1. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

    We glorify You, O Lord;* for of Your own free will You suffered crucifixion for our salvation.* Almighty Saviour, we worship You.* We implore You not to cast us away from Your face;* but hear our prayer and save us by Your resurrection,* for You truly love mankind.

    In Tone 8

    1. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

    Martyred athlete Callistratus,* your mind illumined by the light of piety,* you unwaveringly trod the path to heavenly blessedness,* conquering all the snares of the enemy!* Therefore we praise you, honouring your sacred memory,* most blessed one!

    1. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

    Divinely wise martyr Callistratus,* enriched by the word of life, you guided to life* those who once were dead in the curse through ignorance!* They died with zeal, glorious one, for the Resurrection of us all!* Truly we believe they dwell with Christ:* Together with them, remember us to the all-good Lord!

    1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

    Sacred martyr Gymnasius,* beheaded by the sword* you indeed drowned the Pharaoh of falsehood in the torrent of your blood!* Now you pour forth healings on all who come to your temple with faith* praising your struggles and celebrating your honoured memory, blessed one!

    In Tone 4

    Glory…

    Before the time of your precious Cross,* death was fearful to men!* After your glorious passion,* man is feared by death!* Thus the victor was strengthened to such an extent* that all the power of the enemy was laid low!* By his prayers, O Christ, 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.

    Glory… Now…

    O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,* Yet You conceived God in the flesh* in a manner which words can never describe.* You thus became the Mother of God on high.* O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants* and grant us the cleansing of our sins.* Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.

    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 1

    Glory…

    Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.

    Now…

    O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called out to you:* Rejoice, O Virgin, full of grace,* the Lord of All became incarnate of you,* as the righteous David had foretold.* In bearing your Creator, you have shown yourself to surpass the vastness of the heavens.* We, therefore, cry out: Glory to Him who dwelt in you!* Glory to Him who came forth from you!* Glory to Him who has set us free* through your life-giving birth!

     

    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.

    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

    Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.

    Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

    Theotokion, Tone 8: To you, O Mother of God,* the invincible leader,* we, your servants, ascribe these victory hymns* in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil.* With your invincible power free us from all dangers* that we may cry out to you:* “Hail, O bride, and pure Virgin!”

    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)

    Epistle

    2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

    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)

    Gospel

    Matthew 15:21-28

    Communion Hymn

    Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)