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Event Information:
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Mon10May2021
The Holy Apostle Simon the Zealot
Polyeleos Feast
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 5
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
The lamp of the body is the eye,* and You are Yourself the soundness of human sight, O Word of God!* From a mixture of spittle and dust* You restored the blind man’s sight!* Your fingers anointed his eyes:* Mud brings vision - ineffable wonder!* From his birth, he never saw the sun,* now his first sight is You, the sweet Sun of righteousness,* the Image of the Father,* Who created us in His boundless compassion.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
The man who was blind from birth,* without sight, even from his mother’s womb,* stumbled every day upon the stones,* his feet were bruised, for they were ungoverned by the body’s highest sense,* but when he saw You, the Light of the world,* the Architect of the human body,* he received Your rich gift, and his loss was made gain,* and he confessed to every created thing* that You are God and Master, Lord of lights!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
When he who was blind had been given his sight,* he perceived that the scribes had become blind.* You see no truth, but only falsehood, he said.* You accuse the Saviour and blind yourselves.* Christ, the most sweet Sun* has risen for those held in the darkness of the law.* He Who made the Sabbath also refashioned my eyes!* He has lifted the veil that darkened me,* He has opened the eyes of the blind!* they proclaim Him to the world as the Fountain of light.
In Tone 4
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The wondrous Simon, boast of the apostles,* passed across the earth like a brilliant lightning bolt!* He dispelled the darkness of idolatry* with his saving, brilliant and divine teachings!* He enlightened all people to glorify one God in Three Persons,* indivisible and undivided!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The wondrous Simon, boast of the apostles,* passed across the earth like a brilliant lightning bolt!* He dispelled the darkness of idolatry* with his saving, brilliant and divine teachings!* He enlightened all people to glorify one God in Three Persons,* indivisible and undivided!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Like a rolling wheel, the blessed Simon ran swiftly through the ends of the earth!* He burned away the madness of idolatry from all the land,* lighting brilliant beacons with piety,* he kindled luminous fires of grace for the faithful* that they may worship one God in Three Persons,* indivisible and undivided!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Like a rolling wheel, the blessed Simon ran swiftly through the ends of the earth!* He burned away the madness of idolatry from all the land,* lighting brilliant beacons with piety,* he kindled luminous fires of grace for the faithful* that they may worship one God in Three Persons,* indivisible and undivided!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The most radiant and all-wondrous apostle Simon,* the teacher of the nations, the net of God,* draws us up from the depth of perdition with the height of theology!* The true preacher now wisely leads all to the knowledge of Christ.* He sets before us his accomplishments* as a pleasing feast of all good things!
In Tone 2
Glory…
You were called the namesake of zeal, admirable Simon,* for you zealously imitated the all-powerful God!* He revealed you to be filled with divine miracles,* for having unusual zeal, blessed one, you were aptly called "the Zealot,"* and obtained a calling consistent with your character!* Therefore, as you dwell on high with the choirs of heaven,* entreat the Word, O seer of God,* that He may grant us great mercy!
In Tone 2
Now…
The man blind from birth asked himself:* Was I born blind because of my parents’ sins?* Or am I a living sign of the peoples’ faithlessness?* I am not content to continue asking whether it is night or day.* My feet can no longer endure tripping on the stones!* I have seen nothing: neither the sun shining, nor the image of my Maker.* But I entreat You, Christ God, look upon me and have mercy on me.
Readings
(1) 1 John 4:9-16; (2) 1 John 4:20-5:5; (3) 1 John 3:21-4:6
Aposticha
In Tone 1
Ever-memorable Simon, you drank of the torrent of sweetness,* drinking with divine wisdom the understanding of God which you fervently desired!* Now you have passed over with joy to Him,* deified by the all-splendid glory of the Trinity* and immeasurable peace!
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the universe!
All-wondrous Simon, you contemplate the beauty of God,* looking upon it as far as you are able,* delighting in it through a higher union and deified by His gifts!* You reached with joy the only divine One whom you desired,* ever memorable preacher of Christ* and now you dwell with the angels!
The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!
Most blessed Simon,* you have shown yourself to be a faithful mediator between God and men!* Now by your truly bold supplications, turn Christ to us in steadfast love* and never cease to pray to the Lord* that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
In Tone 6
Glory...
Most holy Simon, disciple and apostle of Christ,* like a high flying eagle you soared over creation!* You burned up the falsehood of idolatry with the fiery sound of your teachings,* leading the nations out of the depths of ignorance* into the knowledge of God.* Now pray to Christ that He be merciful to us on the day of judgment!
In Tone 2
Now...
Jesus, passing by the Temple,* met a man blind from birth.* He had compassion on him and put spittle on his eyes,* saying: Go wash in the pool of Siloam.* He washed himself and then gave glory to God!* His neighbours asked him: Who opened your eyes, which no one could heal before?* A man called Jesus said to me:* Wash in Siloam! And now I see:* He is truly the Christ, the Messiah whom Moses foretold in the law.* He is the Saviour of our souls!
Troparion
In Tone 3
Holy Apostle Simon, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls* forgiveness of sins.
In Tone 5
Glory… Now…
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
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 5: Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostle Simon, intercede with the merciful God* to grant forgiveness of sins to our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 2: With praises let all of us call blessed* the divinely eloquent Simon.* He diligently planted the teachings of wisdom in the hearts of the godly* and stands now at the throne of glory* rejoicing with the bodiless powers and praying unceasingly for all of us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Blinded in the eyes of my soul,* I come to You, O Christ, like the man who was blind from birth,* and I cry in repentance:* You are the brilliant light of those in darkness.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your Apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:12,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 0
verse: Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Epistle
Acts 17:1-15; 1 Corinthians 4:9-16
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Look upon me and have mercy.
verse: Direct my steps according to Your word. (Psalm 118:131-132)
verse: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints. (Psalm 88:6)
Gospel
John 11:47-57; Matthew 13:54-58
Hymn to the Mother of God
The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.
Communion Hymn
Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)
Instead of “Blessed is He Who comes…” we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of “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.
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.
At the dismissal, instead of “Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.” we chant:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
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.