New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Sun19Sep2021
Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross, Tone 8; Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedontus (276-82)
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.
The most holy Cross, the invincible trophy,* comes forth today like a hidden treasure revealed from the earth* enriching the whole world with rays of universal goodness.* Therefore, we glorify the all-good dispensation of Christ our God* Who willed to be crucified on it!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The Cross depicted of old by the divine prophet Moses,* the faithful seer and beloved of God,* routed the hordes of the strangers.* Now shown forth in divine elevation at the hands of sacred ministers,* it dispels the hordes of demons and assemblies of evil ones,* reproving the boldness of the ungodly!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Your Cross, our Saviour, is the invincible might of Christians!* By it multitudes of enemies are vanquished;* the peace of Your Church, O Christ, is given* to those who offer fitting glory.* As we venerate it now, we entreat You, lover of mankind:* count us worthy of a portion with Your saints!
In Tone 8
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Desiring to take pleasure in inexhaustible food,* Martyr Trophimus,* you strove with the pain of your body,* passing over from corruption to incorruption,* rejoicing and adorned with the witness of your martyrdom!* Therefore by your prayers entreat great mercy for us all!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The glorious Sabbatius,* having endured many torments,* has now been blessed to celebrate with great joy* in the courts of heaven!* Receiving honors for his struggles,* he is numbered among the assemblies of angels.* By his prayers, O Christ, grant Your people great mercy!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Destroying the counsel of the ungodly, Dorymedontus,* you steadied your mind with divine counsels!* You entered courageously upon the trials of tortures,* receiving trophies of honour!* Now you ever reign with Christ, praying for us all!
In Tone 4
Glory…
Let us clap our hands today* for the victory that is praised with hymns!* With radiant face and tongue let us cry aloud:* O Christ, for our sake You willed to be tried,* to be spat upon, scourged and arrayed in a purple robe.* You ascended the Cross!* Beholding You, the sun and moon hid their light* and the earth trembled with fear;* the veil of the temple was torn in two!* Grant us Your honoured Cross as a preserver and protector;* a dispeller of demons!* Venerating You, we all cry out to it:* Save us by your might, O Cross!* Sanctify us by your radiance, precious Cross!* Strengthen us by your Exaltation,* for you have been given to us as the light and salvation of 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.
In Tone 5
Glory… Now…
The words of Your prophets Isaiah and David are fulfilled, O God!* They said: All nations will come and bow down before You, Lord.* Behold the people filled with grace in Your courts in Jerusalem, good One!* You endured the Cross for us, granting us life through Your Resurrection:* Preserve and save 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… Now…
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.
DIVINE LITURGY
Antiphon 1
O God, my God, hear me; why have You forsaken me? The words of my transgressions put salvation far from me.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
O God, I will call to You by day but You will not listen; and by night, yet it will not be foolish of me.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
But You, the praise of Israel, dwell in the holy place.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…
Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
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 1: Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.
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 4: By Your own choice, O Christ our God,* You were lifted on the cross.* Grant Your mercies to Your new community* that bears Your Name.* By Your power gladden the faithful people,* and grant them victory against enemies.* May they have the help of Your instrument of peace,* the invincible sign of victory.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Exalt the Lord our God,* and bow in worship at the footstool of his feet, for it is holy.
verse: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble. (Psalm 98:5,1)
Epistle
Galatians 2:16-20
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)
Gospel
Mark 8:34-9:1
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the most precious cross of the Lord.
And the Irmos: You are a mystical Paradise, O Mother of God, who though untilled, have brought forth Christ. He has planted upon earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross. Therefore today as we raise it on high we bow low and we magnify you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord,* shine upon us.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 4:7)
At the end of Liturgy we sing:
To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection. (3)