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Event Information:
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Tue03May2022
The Repose of our Venerable Father Theodosius, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Caves at Kyiv and Organizer of the Cenoebitic (Common) Life in Rus’ (1074) and the Holy Martyrs Timothy and Maura (286-305)
GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
When the Myrrhbearers first reached the tomb* they lamented Christ, seeing the stone rolled away,* not understanding the empty tomb.* But when they heard the angel's sayings,* confirming the Resurrection of the One Who died for us,* the disciples of Christ rejoiced!
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
The Myrrhbearing disciples of Christ* fulfilled the command of the radiant angel, who said:* Hell has been emptied!* The King Who died for us has risen to save us all!* They heralded everlasting, divine joy to the disciples!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The women disciples of Christ,* forsaking their fountain of tears,* hurried to the apostles with tidings of joy.* We have seen Him Who is our joy!* The Lord is risen from the tomb!* Hear the voice of joy; cast sorrow away!* Receive our news, and rejoice!
In Tone 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 venerable father, God-bearing Theodosius!* You laboured greatly during this earthly life:* with hymns, fasting, and persistent prayer* you became a model for your disciples.* Today you celebrate with the bodiless ones the angels,* unceasingly glorifying Christ, the Word of God, the Redeemer,* Who died on the cross and delivered the human race from deceit.* Pray to Him, venerable father,* that He grant peace and great mercy to the world.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O venerable father, God-bearing Theodosius!* You laboured greatly during this earthly life:* with hymns, fasting, and persistent prayer* you became a model for your disciples.* Today you celebrate with the bodiless ones the angels,* unceasingly glorifying Christ, the Word of God, the Redeemer,* Who died on the cross and delivered the human race from deceit.* Pray to Him, venerable father,* that He grant peace and great mercy to the world.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O venerable father, God-bearing Theodosius!* You truly merited the divine life,* having obtained it through purity and fasting;* for while still alive you renounced everything,* and passed over to the true life.* You now are glorifying with the heavenly hosts Him,* Who mystically took flesh from the Virgin and overthrew Hades* and raised those who had fallen asleep from time beyond memory.* Intercede with Him, O venerable father,* that He may grant peace and great mercy to the world.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O venerable father, God-bearing Theodosius!* You truly merited the divine life,* having obtained it through purity and fasting;* for while still alive you renounced everything,* and passed over to the true life.* You now are glorifying with the heavenly hosts Him,* Who mystically took flesh from the Virgin and overthrew Hades* and raised those who had fallen asleep from time beyond memory.* Intercede with Him, O venerable father,* that He may grant peace and great mercy to the world.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O venerable father, God-bearing Theodosius!* You found life because you loved purity,* and the grace of the Holy Spirit dwelled in within you,* like a most pure light shining upon you.* You now are unceasingly glorifying Christ, Who is one God in two natures,* Who suffered on the cross in the flesh,* but as God was incapable of suffering.* Pray to Him, venerable father,* that He may grant peace and great mercy to the world.
In Tone 8
Glory…
Come, let us all gather together and extol our father, Theodosius!* For already in his youth he received a calling from above,* and was given the name Theodosius which means, “God’s gift.”* To Christ-loving princes He was a teacher of the true faith,* to the nobles an unwavering intercessor,* to orphans a merciful father,* to widows an unwearied defender,* to the afflicted a consolation,* to the poor a treasure,* to the monastics a ladder leading to the heavenly heights;* and to those who directly go to him a sprig of ever-flowing water.* He prays unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.
In Tone 6
Now…
The Myrrhbearing women reached Your tomb * and saw the seals of the tomb broken. * They did not find Your most pure body, so they wailed: * Who has stolen our Hope? * Who has taken the dead One, naked and anointed? * The sole consolation of His Mother? * How can the Life of the dead have died? * How can the Capturer of hell have been buried?* But arise in three days, Savior, as You said, and save our souls!
Readings
(1) Wisdom 4:7-15; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 5:15-6:3
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O God-wise Theodosius!* From childhood you have been drawn to God* and have completely dedicated yourself to the almighty King.* You brought to Him the fruits of your ascetical labours* crowned with the garlands of virtue.* For this, O glorious one, you have gained a reward* for your good deeds.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His faithful.
You are a teacher of ascetics a most radiant star of the land of Rus’* which illuminates the whole nation with miracles.* from your youth God chose you as a pastor of spiritual sheep.* For this reason, the assembly of venerable ascetics accepted you.* We beseech you: pray with them,* that the sins of your flock may be forgiven.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all His commandments.
Rejoice, O ever-praised Virgin,* who by means of a pillar of fire pointed out the pasture,* where the spiritual flock was to graze.* There, Theodosius erected in your honour a beautifully adorned church* where the faithful, standing before the relics of your ambassador,* honour your falling-asleep, O most pure Mother of God.
In Tone 8
Glory…
Countless monks honour you, father Theodosius, as their teacher,* following in your footsteps,* we have truly learned to live righteously.* Blessed are you who have toiled for Christ and have brought low the power of the enemy,* O friend of the angels and companion of the venerable ascetics.* pray with them to the Lord,* that He may have mercy on our souls.
In Tone 6
Now…
Joseph, beg the body of Jesus;* place it in your own new tomb.* It is fitting for Him to come from it as from a wedding chamber!* You destroyed the dominion of death,* opening the gates of paradise to mankind:* Glory to You!
Troparia
In Tone 8
Raised in virtue, O father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.** Entreat Christ God to save our souls.
In Tone 2
Glory… Now…
The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the tree.* He wrapped it with a clean shroud and aromatic spices* and placed it in a new tomb.* But on the third day You arose, O Lord,* granting the world Your great mercy.
DIVINE LITURGY
After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
Troparion, Tone 2: The noble Joseph took down Your most pure body from the tree.* He wrapped it with a clean shroud and aromatic spices* and placed it in a new tomb.* But on the third day You arose, O Lord,* granting the world Your great mercy.
Troparion, Tone 8: Raised in virtue, O father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You commanded the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, O Christ God,* and ended the grief of our mother Eve by Your Resurrection.* You ordered the apostles to proclaim to all:* "The Saviour is risen from the tomb."
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today we revere the star of Rus’, blessed Theodosius,* who shone from the east and came to the west;* for he enriched this whole land and all of us* with gentleness and miraculous wonders* by the practice and the grace of the monastic rule.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: Though You descended into a tomb, O Immortal One,* yet You destroyed the power of Hades;* and You rose as victor, O Christ God,* calling to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice!* and giving peace to Your Apostles:* You, who grant Resurrection to the fallen.
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)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones. (Psalm 155:15)
Epistle
Acts 8:5-17; Hebrews 13:7-16
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: You have shown favour to Your land, O Lord; You brought back the captives of Jacob.
verse: Mercy and truth have met; righteousness and peace have embraced. (Psalm 84:2,11)
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
Gospel
John 6:27-33; Matthew 11:27-30
Hymn to the Mother of God
The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.
Communion Hymn
Receive the Body of Christ;* taste the fountain of immortality.* Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)
Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:
And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.