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Event Information:
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Wed09Mar2022
The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (321-23)
GREAT VESPERS
ON TUESDAY EVENINGKathisma Reading
According to Lenten schedule
At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You stretched out your most pure hands upon the Cross, Lord,* gathering the ends of the earth.* Therefore, I cry to You:* Gather together my scattered reasoning,* enslaved and beguiled by passions.* Show me to be a partaker of Your sufferings,* by being purified through abstinence.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Of old, the fast strengthened the holy youths,* and as it is written,* showed them to be stronger than the burning fire!* Fast, therefore, my humble soul!* Kindle in yourself love towards the Master!* So will you be able to avoid the future Gehenna,* and burn up the wicked passions.
In Tone 3
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The time of Lent is a time of gladness!* With radiant purity and pure charity* filled with resplendent prayer and all good deeds,* let us sing with joy:* Most holy Cross of Christ that blossomed the sweetness of life,* enable us all to bow down before you with pure hearts,* granting us purification and great mercy!
In Tone 2
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Bravely enduring the present happenings and rejoicing in things hoped for,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* We have not stripped ourselves of a garment,* but we have put off the old person.* The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet.* Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment.* Let us not bow down, O captains.* We suffer a little at present* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ,* since He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Throwing off their garments and going into the lake without trembling,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* Since we have lost Paradise,* let us not care for a corruptible garment today.* Having once been clothed in corruption through the serpent,* let us now beseech resurrection for all.* Let us despise the icy destroying cold and scorn the flesh,* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ * for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Looking upon the tortures as pleasures* and hastening towards the icy lake as towards the heat,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* Let us stand fearless in the winter season* that we may escape the dreadful fire of Hades.* Let a foot be burnt that it may rejoice forever;* let a hand be lost that it may be lifted towards the Lord;* let us not spare the dying nature.* Let us now accept death* that we may receive crowns of victory from Christ,* for He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
Glory…
Bravely enduring the present happenings* and rejoicing in things hoped for,* the holy martyrs said to each other:* We have not stripped ourselves of a garment,* but we have put off the old person.* The winter is bitter but Paradise is sweet.* Although the chill is painful, it becomes sweet enjoyment.* Let us not bow down, O captains.* We suffer a little at present* that we may receive the crowns of victory from Christ,* since He is God and the Saviour of our souls.
Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 6
Lord, save Your people* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: To You, Lord, will I call, my God!
Reading I
Genesis 4: 8-15
Prokeimenon II, Tone 7
The Lord shall give strength to His people,* the Lord shall bless His people with peace!
verse: Offer to the Lord, you mighty; offer young rams to the Lord!
Reading II
Proverbs 5: 1-15
Readings for the Martyrs
Isaiah 43:9-14; Wisdom 3:1-9; Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
In Tone 3
You were crucified in the flesh, Lord,* crucifying our old man with Yourself.* Your side was pierced with a spear,* and the serpent that enticed man was speared to death.* Nail my flesh to the fear of You,* wound my soul with Your love,* that fully understanding Your Passion,* I may strictly fulfill the order of Lent,* closing not only my mouth, the entrance of food,* but also the doors of any other sins!* For my past transgressions I will offer You* a contrite soul and a broken heart!* Deliver me from them, Lover of mankind!
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
You were crucified in the flesh, Lord,* crucifying our old man with Yourself.* Your side was pierced with a spear,* and the serpent that enticed man was speared to death.* Nail my flesh to the fear of You,* wound my soul with Your love,* that fully understanding Your Passion,* I may strictly fulfill the order of Lent,* closing not only my mouth, the entrance of food,* but also the doors of any other sins!* For my past transgressions I will offer You* a contrite soul and a broken heart!* Deliver me from them, Lover of mankind!
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
The prophets, apostles, and martyrs of Christ* taught us to praise the consubstantial Trinity!* Having enlightened the nations that had gone astray,* they made sons of men companions of the angels!
Glory… Now…
Seeing your Son suspended on the wood,* you cried out, blameless one:* My Child, ordained from all eternity!* Where has your radiant goodness gone//* which enriched human nature?
Troparion
In Tone 1
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.
Glory… Now…
O Holy Tabernacle, when Gabriel called 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!
LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS
ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGAt Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O faithful, to undertake a spiritual fast,* we must speak no deceit with our tongues* nor place obstacles in the path of each other.* But by repentance let us brighten the lamp of our souls,* that with tears we may call out to Christ:* Forgive our trespasses, for You love humankind.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O martyrs, worthy of praise,* though the earth may not have covered you, heaven received you,* opening to you the gates of Paradise, where you dwell,* delighting in the Tree of Life.* Beseech Christ to grant our souls peace and great mercy.
In Tone 3
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Through the prayers of the divine apostles, O righteous Lord,* grant that this time of the Fast may be well spent.* In Your kindness grant repentance to our hearts,* that we all may be saved and give glory to You.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Your coming will be great and fearful, O Lord,* when You shall sit in just judgment.* Do not pass sentence on me,* for I am already condemned;* but show Your divine favour toward me,* through the intercession of Your apostles.
In Tone 6
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O apostles of Christ who shine your light on all mortals,* you are the treasuries of the holy knowledge of God.* Through your prayers deliver from temptation those who praise you.* Guide us successfully through the course of this Fast;* direct our lives in peace,* so that with our eyes lifted up to the Passion of Christ,* we may with courage give praise to our God.
In Tone 1
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us in faith raise a magnificent song as is fitting* to the all-praised Codratus and the great Cyprian,* with the two named Dionysius and Anectus,* together with Crescens and the glorious Paul!* They are divinely crowned athletes of the Lord* and our most fervent intercessors!
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Let us in faith raise a magnificent song as is fitting* to the all-praised Codratus and the great Cyprian,* with the two named Dionysius and Anectus,* together with Crescens and the glorious Paul!* They are divinely crowned athletes of the Lord* and our most fervent intercessors!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Today another choir of holy martyrs appears: victorious and triumphant!* A brilliant assembly of divine passion-bearers,* a steadfast regiment, a chosen army!* Codratus is its captain.* He is revealed as an all-glorious conqueror!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
All-praised Codratus, with your cutting words* you slashed through the twisted webs of the philosophers' wisdom like fog!* You taught in faith and suffered in patience for Christ.* Well-adorned in both teaching and suffering,* you have been crowned with the passion bearers!
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
Attend to the groaning of my broken heart, O bride of God.* Accept the lifting up of my hands.* Do not reject me, O Mary, spotless Virgin, full of love,* so that I may praise and magnify* Him, who in you magnified the human race.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 8
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,* exult, O you just!
verse: Blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted.
Reading I
Genesis 4:16-26
Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod opposite Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael; and Mehujael begot Methushael; and Methu-shael begot Lamech. Then Lamech took two wives for himself: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. So Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother's name was Jubal. He is the one who invented the psaltery and harp. As for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, a smith and a manufacturer of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. Then Lamech said to his wives Adah and Zillah:
“Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech,
And listen carefully to my words,
Because I killed a man for wounding me
And a young man for hurting me.
If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”Again Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Seth, saying, “God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” As for Seth, to him also a son was born. He named him Enosh, and he hoped in the Lord God and called upon His name.
Prokeimenon II, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us* as we have hoped in You.
verse: Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Reading II
Proverbs 5:15-6:3
Drink waters from your vessels
And from the fountains of your spring.
Do not let the waters from your fountain be spilled by you,
But let your waters pass through your wide places;
Let them be only for you,
And let no stranger partake with you;
Let the fountain of your water be for you alone,
And rejoice together with the wife of your youth.
Let your loving deer and graceful colt keep company with you,
And let her alone go before you and be with you at all times;
For in living with her love, you will be great.
Do not be intimate with a strange woman,
Neither cling to the embrace of a woman not your own;
For the ways of man are before the eyes of God,
And He keeps close watch on all his paths.
Lawless women ensnare a man,
But each man is bound by the chains of his own sins.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed
And is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance;
And he is destroyed by lack of discernment.
My son, if you assume the debt of your friend,
You will deliver your hand to an enemy;
For a man's own lips become a strong snare to him,
And he is conquered by the utterances of his own mouth.
My son, do what I command you, and you will save yourself;
For you came into the hands of evil things through your friend.Prokeimenon, Tone 5
You, O Lord, will guard 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
Hebrews 12:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
verse: For You, O God, have tested us, You have tried us by fire as silver is tried. (Psalm 65:2,10)
Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)