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Event Information:
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Sun27Feb2022
Sunday of Cheesefare - Sunday of Forgiveness; Octoechos Tone 7; Our Venerable Father and Confessor Procopius the Decapolitan (716-40)
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 7
10. 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!
9. 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!
8. 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!
7. 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!
6. If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
In fulfilment of the prophecy of David,* Christ revealed His majesty to His disciples in Sion.* He showed Himself to be worthy of equal praise* with His Father and the Holy Spirit;* for He existed from all eternity as God the Word, without a body;* then, out of love for mankind, He became incarnate,* and for our sake He was put to death as a man;* finally, by His own power He arose from the dead.
5. I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Christ, of Your own free will, You descended into Hades;* and, as God the Lord, You destroyed death.* On the third day You arose from the dead and raised up Adam* from the bonds of Hades and corruption.* In joy he cried out and said:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!
In Tone 6
4. From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The Lord my Creator took me as dust from the earth* and formed me into a living creature* breathing into me the breath of life and giving me a soul;* He honoured me,* setting me as a ruler upon the earth over all things visible,* and making me a companion of the angels.* But Satan the deceiver,* using the serpent as his instrument,* enticed me by food;* he parted me from the glory of God* and gave me over to the earth* and to the lowest depths of death.* But, O Master, in compassion, call me back again.
3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
In my wretchedness I have cast off the robe woven by God,* disobeying Your divine command, O Lord, at the counsel of the enemy;* and I am clothed now in fig leaves and in garments of skin.* I am condemned to eat the bread of toil in the sweat of my brow,* and the earth has been cursed so that it bears thorns and thistles for me.* But, Lord, who in the last times was made flesh of a Virgin, call me back again* and bring me into Paradise.
2. Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O precious Paradise, unsurpassed in beauty,* tabernacle built by God, unending gladness and delight,* glory of the righteous, joy of the prophets and dwelling of the saints,* with the sound of your leaves* pray to the Maker of all:* may He open to me the gates which I closed by my transgression,* and may He count me worthy* to partake of the Tree of Life* and of the joy that was mine* when I dwelt in you before.
1. Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Adam was banished from Paradise through disobedience and cast out from delight,* beguiled by the words of a woman.* Naked he sat outside the garden, lamenting, “Woe is me!”* Therefore let us all make haste to accept the season of the Fast* and hearken to the teaching of the Gospel,* that we may gain Christ’s mercy* and receive once more a dwelling-place in Paradise.
Glory…
Adam sat before Paradise and lamenting his nakedness,* he wept: “Woe is me!* By evil deceit was I persuaded and led astray,* and now I am an exile from glory.* Woe is me!* In my simplicity I was stripped naked,* and now I am in want.* O Paradise, no more shall I take pleasure in your joy;* for I shall return to the earth from whence I was taken.* O merciful and compassionate Lord,* to You I cry aloud: I am fallen, have mercy on me.”
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…
Adam was cast out of Paradise through eating from the tree.* Seated before the gates he wept,* lamenting with a pitiful voice and saying:* “Woe is me,* what have I suffered in my misery!* I transgressed one commandment of the Master,* and now I am deprived of every blessing.* O most holy Paradise, planted for my sake and shut because of Eve,* pray to Him that made you and fashioned me,* that once more I may take pleasure in your flowers.”* Then the Saviour said to him:* “I desire not the loss of the creature which I fashioned,* but that he should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth;* and when he comes to me I will not cast him out.”
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.
Glory... Now...
O Mother of God, we sing your praises,* for you were a virgin before conceiving,* and remained a virgin after giving birth.* And since you have given birth to our Salvation, Jesus Christ,* you have become a treasury of assistance* for all who seek resurrection and eternal life.* Therefore, lift us up from the depth of our transgressions,* for we place our hope in you.
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, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: O Master, Guide to Wisdom*, Bestower of prudent counsel,* Instructor of the foolish and Defender of the poor ones;* make firm my heart and give it understanding.* Give me a word, O Word of the Father:* Behold, I shall not stop my lips from crying out to You:* In Your mercy, have mercy on me who am fallen.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.* 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)
Epistle
Romans 13:11-14:4
Alleluia, Tone 6
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
Matthew 6:14-21
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)