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Event Information:
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Sun07Nov2021
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Tone 7; The Thirty-Three Holy Martyrs of Militene (284-305); Our Venerable Father and Wonderworker Lazarus, Hermit of Mount Galesius (1054)
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!
In Tone 4
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You were fittingly revealed* as a divinely assembled regiment, greatly glorious ones:* a sacred army, a godly company, a holy nation;* a legion of martyrs inspired by God,* a noble gathering and unbreakable alliance,* inhabitants of the city on high!* Therefore you are rightly called blessed!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us all assemble and honour Nicander,* with Hesychius, Athanasius and Mamas,* the divine Barachius and Callinicus, Theogenes and Nicon,* Longinus and Theodore, Valerius and Xanthius,* Theodulus, Callimachus and Eugene,* the godly Theodochus and Ostrychius!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us together hymn the true witnesses with faith:* the valiant Hieron, the glorious Epiphanius, Maximian and Ducitius, Claudian and Theophilus* and the godly Gigantius, Dorotheus and Theodotus,* Castrycius, Anicetas and Themelius,* and also Eutychius!
In Tone 6
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Having set aside all the folly of the passions* and made your flesh subject to your spirit,* you became a rule of virtue, the confirmation of monastics,* a model for those who fast, the adornment of the venerable ones!* Now you behold the ineffable beauty of your Creator* and are ever nurtured by the Spirit on the beauties of heaven!* Therefore we have assembled to celebrate with hymns and sweet songs* your honoured and most festive memory!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You cut off all the heavy burden of material things* and the great turmoil of the flesh.* Wise one, controlling even your breath,* you remained untouched by the passions,* your courageous mind strong as a pillar surrounded by spiritual armor!* Now you have truly received the divine vision and splendour* and have taken your place before Him whom you desired,* where made divine by your manner,* you delight in His never-ending radiance!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You loved the Light, like Elijah and John the Forerunner.* You observed stillness in the mountains and arid deserts,* ever learning to ascend towards God and excelling in the virtues.* Therefore you have gained your ultimate desire, all-wise one,* and you stand rejoicing before the triply-radiant light of the Trinity* from whom you received divine splendour!* Intercede with boldness on behalf of our souls!
In Tone 5
Glory...
Venerable father, you did not give sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids,* until you freed your soul and body from the passions,* preparing yourself to be a dwelling-place of the Spirit!* Christ, coming with the Father, made His dwelling in you!* Since you are a favourite of the consubstantial Trinity,* great preacher, Lazarus our father,* ever pray on behalf of our souls!
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 6
Glory…
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth, venerable father Lazarus!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons* and reached the ranks of angels whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,* entreat peace for our souls!
Now...
Christ the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer,* came forth from your womb, O most pure Virgin.* He clothed Himself in our human flesh* to set us free from the original curse of Adam.* Therefore, O Mary, we praise you, without ceasing,* as the true Virgin Mother of God,* and we sing with the angels:* Rejoice, O Lady, advocate, protector, and salvation of 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 4
Glory…
Your holy martyrs, O Lord, through their sufferings* have received their incorruptible crowns from You, our God!* For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,* and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.* Through their intercessions, save our souls!
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 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)