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Event Information:
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Thu30Jun2022
Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious , and All-Praiseworthy Twelve Apostles
GREAT VESPERS
Psalm Reading
of the day.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
You have given as the pride and glory of Your Church, Lover of mankind,* the holy apostles Peter and Paul.* They shine upon the world as spiritual stars;* through them You have enlightened our darkness,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
You have given as the pride and glory of Your Church, Lover of mankind,* the holy apostles Peter and Paul.* They shine upon the world as spiritual stars;* through them You have enlightened our darkness,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You have given two mighty pillars to Your Church, Lord:* Peter the rock and Paul the wise.* They proclaim the truth and chase away the errors of godlessness.* Their words reveal Your glory to us,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You have given two mighty pillars to Your Church, Lord:* Peter the rock and Paul the wise.* They proclaim the truth and chase away the errors of godlessness.* Their words reveal Your glory to us,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You have given two models of conversion to the faithful, Lord:* your blessed apostles Peter and Paul.* One repented, after denying you at the time of Your Passion;* the other believed, after opposing Your preaching:* now they both stand among the first of Your friends,* almighty Jesus, the Saviour of our souls!
In Tone 4
- 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 bless the honourable disciples!* They were the eye-witnesses of the Incarnate Word.* They shine upon the world like flashes of lightning;* as spiritual giants they bring sweetness to our souls.* They are rivers of paradise,* flowing with living water for the refreshment of the churches!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Let us honour Christ’s fellow-labourers!* They are lightning bolts hurled to earth by the might of the Spirit;* workers of miracles and witnesses of the mysteries,* tablets of divine love written by the hand of God,* honourable masters of the divine law!
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The foolishness of the philosophers is corrected by the rod of the fishermen!* The vanity of the orators is put to confusion by divine wisdom!* The apostles proclaimed the infinite goodness of the Gospel;* now they exult in the communion of eternal blessedness:* the joy of the angels and the unfading crown of glory.
In Tone 6
Glory…
Assemble, chosen members of Christ’s holy Church!* The feast of the honourable apostles dawns upon the earth,* bringing salvation for us all!* Clap your hands, all peoples; cry out in exultation:* rejoice, twin rays of the sun, enlightening us who sit in darkness!* Rejoice, Peter and Paul, unshakeable pillars of divine doctrine!* Rejoice, friends of Christ and chosen vessels!* Come, and be present with us in spirit:* grant us spiritual gifts as we celebrate your sacred memory in song!
Now…
Who will not bless you, most holy Virgin?* Who will not sing of your most pure child bearing?* The only-begotten Son shone timelessly from the Father,* but from you He was ineffably incarnate!* God by nature, yet man for our sake!* Not two persons, but one, known in two natures!* Entreat Him, pure and all blessed Lady,* to have mercy on our souls!
Aposticha
In Tone 4
When the Saviour asked the twelve apostles, who do men say that I am?* Peter the leader of the disciples, received heavenly grace.* He cried out in a clear voice: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!* He is worthy of our highest praise,* for he was given this revelation from the Father in heaven!* He has justly won the power of binding and loosing.
Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!
Paul, you were called not by man, but by God.* Mist and darkness covered your bodily eyes* when the misery of unbelief was revealed to you.* Heavenly light flashed before the eyes of your heart,* showing you the beauty of Jesus Christ, our Lord.* You came to know Him, who brings forth light from darkness:* plead with Him to enlighten and save our souls!
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork!
Peter, it is right to call you the rock!* The Lord established the unshaken faith of the Church on you.* He made you the chief shepherd of His reasonable sheep.* He has entrusted you with the keys of the heavenly gates.* In His goodness, He commanded you to open to all who draw near in faith.* Your master counted you worthy to be crucified.* Plead with Him to enlighten and save our souls!
In Tone 6
Glory...
A joyful feast dawns upon the earth today:* the memorial of Peter and Paul, the wise leaders of the apostles.* Let Rome rejoice and be glad with us!* Let us keep feast, brethren, in songs and hymns.* Rejoice, apostle Peter, true friend of Christ our God!* Rejoice, beloved Paul, herald of the faith and teacher of the universe!* You have boldness before Him, chosen pair:* pray unceasingly that our souls may be saved!
Now…
Theotokos, you are the true vine who blossomed for us the fruit of life:* implore Him, we pray you, Lady, together with the apostles and all the saints,* that He will have mercy on our souls!
Troparia
In Tone 8
O saints, your message has spread throughout the world,* for receiving the Spirit in tongues of fire you torched the idols’ deceit.* With the net of your words you caught those who were lost and brought them to faith.* Therefore the heavens declare your glory* and the firmament which God created adds its voice* and we with them cry out feasting your memory:* Save us all, O God, by the prayers of your twelve apostles.
In Tone 4
Glory… Now…
You are chief apostles and teachers of the world. * Beseech the Lord of all * to grant peace to the world * and abundant mercy to our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: As the leaders of the apostles* and teachers of the whole world,* intercede with the Master of all* to grant peace to the world* and to our souls great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen
Kontakion, Tone 2: You received Your inspired and steadfast preachers, Your chief disciples,* into the enjoyment of Your good things and into repose.* You, Who alone know the heart, accept their labours and death* more gladly than any holocaust.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 11:21-12:9
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess Your wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Peter the solid rock of Christ’s Church and Paul her chosen vessel.
and the Irmos, Tone 4: You, most glorious Bride and all holy Mother of God,* in song do we magnify;* for the Maker of all things seen and unseen* was born of you.
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)