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Event Information:
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Sun25Jul2021
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 8; The Dormition of Saint Anna, Mother of the Most Holy God-bearer (Theotokos); Holy Women Olympiada and Eupraxia (5th c.)
Polyeleos Feast.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“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 Sion,* 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.
In Tone 4
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You faithfully observed the Law* and worked unceasingly for God the Creator.* He granted you motherhood, Anna:* your child brought forth Christ in the flesh.* With the Virgin Mother we honour you,* and celebrate today your holy dormition.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You faithfully observed the Law* and worked unceasingly for God the Creator.* He granted you motherhood, Anna:* your child brought forth Christ in the flesh.* With the Virgin Mother we honour you,* and celebrate today your holy dormition.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Divinely wise Anna, you gave birth to the Bearer of Life!* You presented your pure child to a life with God.* Together with the heavenly hosts, you rejoice in the riches from on high.* We commemorate your falling asleep,* and on this day we honour the divine wisdom in faith!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Divinely wise Anna, you gave birth to the Bearer of Life!* You presented your pure child to a life with God.* Together with the heavenly hosts, you rejoice in the riches from on high.* We commemorate your falling asleep,* and on this day we honour the divine wisdom in faith!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having divine wisdom, you gave birth to the Door of Heaven,* and you achieved heavenly glory forever!* We celebrate your holy dormition, Anna,* and ask you to pray that the turmoil of passions not destroy us,* and that we be spared from fear and desolation.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having divine wisdom, you gave birth to the Door of Heaven,* and you achieved heavenly glory forever!* We celebrate your holy dormition, Anna,* and ask you to pray that the turmoil of passions not destroy us,* and that we be spared from fear and desolation.
In Tone 8
Now…
The Theotokos came forth from a barren womb:* through her we were saved by Christ our God!* The chaste Bridegroom’s grandparents were Joachim and Anna.* He placed them in the heavenly realm.* They sing together with their daughter the holy Virgin, and the angels,* praying for the sake of the world.* We honour them, crying aloud:* Ancestors of God, for the sake of the Theotokos and ever virgin Mary,* pray that our souls may be saved!
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) Wisdom 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
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 8
Glory…
Come together, all creation!* Let us praise the divinely-wise Anna on cymbals and with psalms!* Through her womb she gave birth to the divine Mountain.* Today she is translated to the spiritual mountain and mansions of paradise!* Let us cry out to her: blessed is your womb* which bore her who carried the Light of the world in her womb!* Entreat Him that He may deliver us from all tribulation* and assaults of the enemy* and that He may save our souls!
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 4
Glory…
O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.
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: O godly-minded Anna,* you bore in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave birth to Life.* Rejoicing, therefore, in glory* you have passed today to a heavenly inheritance,* where those who exult have their dwelling.* There you intercede for the forgiveness of sins* of those who love you, O ever-blessed one.
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.
Kontakion, Tone 2: We feast the memory of the forebears of Christ* as with faith we beseech them to help us* and rescue from every affliction* those who cry out: Our God is with us,* the God whose will it was to glorify them.
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 75:12,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
verse: God is wonderful in His saints,* the God of Israel.
Epistle
1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Galatians 4:22-31
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)
verse: The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their protector in time of trouble. (Psalm 36:39)
Gospel
Matthew 14:22-34; Luke 8:16-21
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.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)