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Event Information:

  • Sun
    24
    Oct
    2021

    Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 5; The Holy Martyr Aretas and those with him (523)

    GREAT VESPERS

    Kathisma Reading

    “Blessed is the man...” is sung.

    At Psalm 140

    In Tone 5

    1. Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

    With Your precious cross, O Christ,* You have put the Devil to shame.* With Your resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin,* and have saved us from the gates of death.* We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God.

    1. The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

    O Christ, who granted resurrection to mankind,* You were led like a lamb to the slaughter.* Then the princes of Hades were struck with terror* as they saw the gates of their tearful domain being lifted up;* for Christ, the King of Glory, entered therein* and exclaimed to those in chains: Go forth from here!* And to those in darkness: Go forth into the light!

    1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

    What a great wonder!* The Creator of invisible beings suffered in the flesh for mankind,* and rose from the dead as immortal.* Come, therefore, all you nations and adore Him;* for through His compassion we have been freed from the snares of the Devil,* and we have learned to praise the one God in three Persons.

    1. Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

    We offer to You our evening worship,* O Light whom the darkness of night can never extinguish.* For in these latter days Your radiance has appeared to the world,* shining in Your flesh as light reflected from a mirror.* Your brilliance has descended even to the depths of Hades and dissolved its gloom.* O Lord, Giver of Light, glory to You;* for You have shown the radiance of Your resurrection to all the nations.

    1. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

    Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our Salvation;* for by His resurrection from the dead,* the world has been delivered from the deception of Satan.* The choirs of angels rejoice as the treachery of evil spirits vanishes.* Fallen Adam arises, and the devil is vanquished.

    1. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

    Those who guarded the tomb of Christ* were told by the evil men who hired them:* Take this silver and keep silent.* Tell no one of the resurrection of Christ;* rather tell everyone that while you were sleeping His body was stolen.* But who has ever heard of a body being stolen,* a body which had already been anointed?* Why would anyone take a body from the grave naked,* and leave the burial shroud in the tomb?* Do not deceive yourselves, O people of Judea.* Study the teachings of the prophets,* and you will come to understand that Jesus Christ is Almighty God,* and truly the Saviour of the world.

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

    O Lord our Saviour,* who subjected hell and conquered Death,* and enlightened the world through Your precious cross,* have mercy on us.

    In Tone 4

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

    You opposed your courage, most praised Martyr Arethas,* to the savagery of evil men!* By the grace of God, you were shown to be victorious!* Glorious one, you brought to Christ,* a choir of martyrs formed by soldiers of all ages and races!

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

    You formed a beautiful choir, most glorious Arethas* of your holy fellow martyrs!* You struggled with them, completing the good race* and the good fight of your courageous contest! Therefore entreat Christ that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!

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

    The godly minded virgin martyrs* enkindled by the love of Christ,* did not heed the weakness of their nature.* Manifestly strengthened by the power of God* they trampled down the delusion of the enemy!* They were not afraid of the pain of torture* and did not fear the fiery furnace!

    In Tone 4

    Glory…

    Today with unity of mind and with hymns, faithful,* let us honour the glorious chief shepherd Arethas and his companions!* He denounced the evil one and shed his blood in confession of Christ!* Therefore a pillar of fire consumed the face of the earth* in reproof of the ungodliness of the enemy!* Therefore, Christ God, as You strengthened the athletes for Your glory,* by the prayers of Your saints,* preserve us also from temptations and tribulations,* for You are the Master of all!

    In Tone 5

    Now…

    A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!

    Aposticha

    In Tone 5

    O Christ our Saviour,* we lift up our voices in song to glorify You.* For, in Your love for mankind,* You became incarnate without leaving heaven;* You accepted the cross and death;* You cast down the gates of Hades;* and on the third day You arose from the dead* for the salvation of our souls.

    The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

    O Giver of Life,* streams of forgiveness, life, and salvation* poured forth from Your pierced side upon us all.* By accepting physical death, You granted us immortality;* by lying in the tomb, You freed us from Hades,* and as God, by rising from the dead,* You raised us with Yourself in glory.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!

    For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

    O Lover of mankind,* Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are most wondrous.* For, as God, You thereby conquered the power of Hades,* and raised up in glory, with Yourself, those who were long imprisoned there.* You reopened Paradise and enabled them to enter.* Grant forgiveness of sins to us* who glorify Your resurrection on the third day,* for You alone are all-merciful.

    Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

    O Lover of mankind,* You accepted suffering in the flesh* and rose from the dead on the third day.* Therefore, heal the passions of our flesh,* raise us from our dreadful iniquities, and save us.

    In Tone 8

    Glory…

    Understanding beforehand the wicked and evil plan of unbelieving men,* you struggled to suffer for Christ with a bold spirit!* You struggled for Him Who in days of old in the time of the law* saved from Egypt through the wilderness* those who condemned Him to the Cross!* So now also, those who were infected with unbelief,* went from words to deeds as they condemned you to the fire.* You suffered with strong patience and unity of mind,* showing yourselves to be great among martyrs!* Since you have boldness before God,* entreat Him that our souls may be delivered from sins!

    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 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.

    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 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.

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

    Kontakion, Tone 5: You, my Saviour, descended to Hades,* and as the Almighty, You shattered its gates.* With Yourself You, as the Creator, raised the dead and shattered the sting of death,* and delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind.* And so we cry out: “Save us, O Lord.”

    Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

    Theotokion, Tone 5: Rejoice, O impassable door of the Lord!* Rejoice, O rampart and protection of those who have recourse to you!* Rejoice, O tranquil haven and Virgin,* who gave birth in the flesh to your Maker and God!* Fail not to intercede for those* who sing and worship the Child you bore.

    Prokeimenon, Tone 5

    You, O Lord, will guard us and will keep us* from this generation and for ever.

    verse: Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer left a just man. (Psalm 11:8,2)

    Epistle

    Galatians 6:11-18

    Alleluia, Tone 5

    verse: Your mercies, O Lord, I will sing for ever; from generation to generation I will announce Your truth with my mouth.

    verse: For You have said: Mercy shall be built up for ever; in the heavens Your truth shall be prepared. (Psalm 88:2,3)

    Gospel

    Luke 16:19-31

    Communion Hymn

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