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Event Information:
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Sun15Nov2020
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 7; The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas (284-305) and Abibus (313-24)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 7
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,* Who destroyed the power of death* and enlightened the human race;* and let us cry out with the angels:* Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;* and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.* Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day* and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,* the Apostles were amazed,* and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:* This is the glory of the Church,* this is the richness of the Kingdom!* O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,* I still acknowledge You as my God,* and am not ashamed of You;* I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.* Your death is my life, almighty Lord,* and I extol Your resurrection.* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
In fulfilment of the prophecy of David,* Christ revealed His majesty to His disciples in Sion.* He showed Himself to be worthy of equal praise* with His Father and the Holy Spirit;* for He existed from all eternity as God the Word, without a body;* then, out of love for mankind, He became incarnate,* and for our sake He was put to death as a man;* finally, by His own power He arose from the dead.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Christ, of Your own free will, You descended into Hades;* and, as God the Lord, You destroyed death.* On the third day You arose from the dead and raised up Adam* from the bonds of Hades and corruption.* In joy he cried out and said:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Lord, You were placed in the tomb as one sleeping,* and on the third day You arose in might and power.* You raised up Adam from the corruption of death,* for You alone are almighty.
In Tone 4
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The most wise Abibus, the wondrous Samonas, and the glorious Gurias,* the three passion-bearers who have formed a common choir for the faithful,* now join our chorus and rejoice with us;* for God has granted to the souls of the martyrs* to behold spiritually the things that are taking place.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You endured pain and unbearable torments,* you suffered valiantly, O Samonas, Abibus, and blessed Gurias,* martyrs who are equal in number to the Trinity.* Now you enjoy the bliss of the eternal delight of Christ,* Who grants you the reward of your labours.* Entreat Him fervently that our souls may be saved!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having gone over to the serene harbour,* to the quiet life and to the all-tranquil haven,* you have exchanged your pains for abiding dispassion.* You have received fitting honours from God* as a reward from God for your labours,* O blessed passion-bearing martyrs.
In Tone 2
Glory…
Edessa rejoices, for she is enriched with the shrine of the three martyrs,* holy Abibus, Samonas and Gurias.* She cries out, summoning the Christ-loving flock:* “Come, all who love the martyrs,* be illumined on their splendid memorial!* Come and rejoice, all who love the feasts of the Church!* Come and behold the heavenly lights who lived on earth!* Come and hear what a bitter death the valiant and steadfast ones* endured for the sake of everlasting life!* As guarantors of the Truth they saved the virgin who was thrown alive in a grave,* committing the pitiless murderer who reviled them to condemnation.* They pray earnestly to the Holy Trinity* that those who celebrate their memory in faith* may be delivered from corruption, temptations and all evil.
In Tone 7
Now...
Immaculate Mother of God,* you became a mother outside the laws of nature,* remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description* and human understanding.* The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,* for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,* and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:* for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.* Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,* and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 7
O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,* and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.* O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead* and enlightened all creation.* For by His resurrection on the third day,* He set us free from the oppression of Hades,* granting us life and His great mercy.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, Lover of mankind,* You descended into Hades and destroyed death.* Then You arose on the third day;* and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us* who glorify Your mighty resurrection.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.* Yet on the third day You arose in great power,* and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
In Tone 2
Glory…
Come, O lovers of the martyrs,* let us honour with hymns Christ’s most excellent martyrs,* Gurias, Abibus, and Samonas.* They most wonderfully worked miracles,* for they did not refuse to respond to the oath of the maiden,* but, fulfilling her request, they saved the daughter,* and requited the lawless Goth.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God,* save our souls, as You are good and the Lover of man!
Now...
We now behold a new wonder,* greater than the wonders of old.* For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?* Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?* It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;* and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.* Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.* Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him* to have mercy on us and save our souls.
Troparia
In Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
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 cried 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 7: By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 7: No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity,* for Christ went down shattering and destroying it s powers.* Hades is bound.* The prophets exult with one voice.* The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying:* “Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!”
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 7: O all-praised treasury of our resurrection, we hope in you,* bring us up from the pit and depth of sin,* for you have saved those subject to sin* by giving birth to our Salvation,* O Virgin before childbirth, and Virgin in childbirth,* and still a Virgin after childbirth.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The Lord will give strength to His people;* the Lord will bless His people with peace.
verse: Bring to the Lord, O you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams. (Psalm 28:11,1)
Epistle
Ephesians 2:14-22
Alleluia, Tone 7
verse: It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
verse: To announce Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night. (Psalm 91:2,3)
Gospel
Luke 8:41-56
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)