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Event Information:
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Sun02Jan2022
Sunday before Theophany; Octoechos Tone 7; Our Holy Father Sylvester, Pope of Rome (335).
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!
Tone 4
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us piously sing the prefestive hymns* of the honourable baptism of our God.* Behold, He desires to come in the flesh to His own Forerunner,* and to ask for the baptism of salvation* for the re-creation of those who are enlightened through the faith* and who are partakers of the Spirit.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Christ is revealed and God appears, as it is written;* He comes to His servant to be baptized.* O River Jordan, O land and sea, O mountains and hills,* be filled with happiness;* O hearts of the faithful,* joyfully celebrate and receive the great Light.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O all-powerful Lord,* how will the streams of the river receive You?* As it is written, You are the river and the stream of peace;* how will You enter the stream without a garment?* For You are the One who covers the heavens with clouds;* You are the One who stripped away all evil of the enemy* and who clothed the human race with immortality.
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.
O holy Father Sylvester, bishop of God,* through the light of the priesthood you were enlightened.* You have illumined the faithful through your clear teachings* in order to honour the dwelling of the three Persons in one nature;* you also cast away the darkness of heresies.* For this reason, we rejoice today* and gloriously celebrate your light-bearing memory.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O holy Father Sylvester, bearer of God,* you revealed yourself to be a pillar of fire.* You convoked a sacred council and were the cloud which gives shade.* You led the faithful away from the Egyptian heresy* and always brought them to the divine land by your true teaching.* Therefore, we venerate your blessed and all-holy memory.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O holy Father Sylvester, herald of God,* by the streams of your prayers you firmly silenced the many-faced serpent.* We are amazed at your priestly work.* You brought a multitude of pagans to God;* you quieted the harshness of the heretics;* you publicly performed great miracles before them.* Therefore, we venerate you and call you blessed.
Tone 6
Glory…
Christ the Truth is coming to the Jordan* to be baptized by John,* and the Baptizer says to Him:* I should be baptized by You, but You are coming to me.* I do not dare to put straw to the fire.* O Master, sanctify me by your divine Theophany.
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!
Tone 3
Glory…
O come all you faithful ones.* Leaving the regions of Judea, we shall cross the wilderness of the Jordan;* and today we shall see Him who revealed himself in the flesh for our sake.* In the streams of the Jordan,* He is asking the Forerunner for baptism.* John refuses and cries out in fear:* I do not dare to touch the divine Fire with my hand of clay.* The Jordan and the sea fled, O Saviour, and then returned.* And I, how shall I place a hand on your head which even the Seraphim fear?* The Jordan fled when Elisha received the mantle of Elijah;* how will it not go into the Abyss* and into the depths when it sees You unclothed in the stream?* How will the Jordan not burn me when I touch the fire?* The Jordan then cries out to John:* Why do you hesitate to baptize my Lord?* Why do you delay the purification of so many people?* He has already sanctified all creation.* Let me also be sanctified together with the nature of the waters.* For this reason, He has come into the world.
In Tone 7
Now...
All of us on earth hasten to take refuge in you, O Lady;* and we cry out to you:* O Mother of God, you are the only hope for us;* deliver us from our countless sins, and save 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.
Tone 4
Glory…
The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people* as a teacher of moderation,* a model of faith, and an example of virtue.* Therefore, you attained greatness through humility,* and wealth through poverty.* O Father and Archbishop Sylvester,* ask Christ our God to save our souls.
Now…
Make ready, O Zabulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O River Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in Paradise.* For, having seen you unclothed,* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe;* He has appeared to renew all creation.
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.
Troparion, Tone 4: Make ready, O Zebulon,* and prepare yourself, O Nephtali;* O River Jordan, stop and receive with joy* the Master coming to be baptized.* O Adam, rejoice with the first mother, Eve,* and do not hide yourselves as before in Paradise.* For, having seen you unclothed,* Christ has appeared to clothe you with the first robe;* He has appeared to renew all creation.
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 its 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.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the Lord stood in Jordan’s current telling John:* Do not be afraid to baptize Me,* for I have come to save Adam, the first man.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord,* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)
Epistle
2 Timothy 4:5-8
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: God, be merciful to us and bless us.
verse: Make the light of Your face shine upon us and have mercy on us. (Psalm 66:2)
Gospel
Mark 1:1-8
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)