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Event Information:
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Sun21May2023
Seventh Sunday after Pascha. Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea; The Holy Great Rulers Constantine (337) and Helen (330), Equals-to-the-Apostles
GREAT VESPERS
Psalm Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,* You ascended the Cross so that You might raise up with Yourself* all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.* Almighty Saviour, You are free from death* and bestow life by Your divine light.* We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Today Christ has conquered Death.* He has risen from the grave as He had foretold,* bestowing great joy upon the world.* Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:* O Fount of Life, O Light whom no one can approach,* Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,* for You are present in all creation?* You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.* Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.* O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.* Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?* We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:* O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Before the morning star You were begotten of the Father;* before the ages You were conceived without a mother,* even though Arius believed You to be created, and not God.* He shamelessly confused the Creator with his creatures,* thus deserving eternal punishment.* Yet the Council of Nicea proclaimed You as the Son of God* who is enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Who has severed Your garment, O Saviour?* It was Arius who divided the Trinity* who is equal in glory and eternal majesty.* For he denied that You are one of the most Holy Trinity.* He taught the transgressing Nestorius* to say that the Virgin is not the Mother of God;* but the Council of Nicea proclaimed You as the Son of God* who is enthroned with the Father and 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.
Declaring that the Light could not be seen,* Arius fell into the pit of the impious ones;* his body was torn apart by the justice of God,* and he gave up his soul in a violent manner.* He was another Judas by his thoughts and deeds.* But the Council of Nicea proclaimed You as the Son of God* who is enthroned with the Father and the Spirit.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The foolish Arius divided the unity of the Holy Trinity* into three different and unequal substances.* But the God-bearing Fathers came together in Council.* Burning with the zeal of Elijah the Tishbite* and with the sword of the Holy Spirit,* they cut down these shameful blasphemies;* for they were directed by the Spirit.
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.
You gave Your precious cross as a most powerful weapon to the emperor.* Through it he reigned righteously on earth, shining with godliness.* And by Your compassion he was counted worthy of Your heavenly kingdom.* Therefore with him we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
As the King of kings, the Lord who reigns over all,* You, Lover of mankind, granted Your servant the wisdom of Solomon* the meekness of David, and the orthodox faith of the Apostles!* Therefore we glorify Your dispensation, almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Emperor of eternal memory,* first you willingly submitted the purple to Christ,* recognizing Him as true God and King of all,* the great Benefactor and Source of victory.* You saw Him set above every principality and power.* Therefore Jesus made the kingdom prosper for you, lover of virtue,* for He is the Saviour of our souls, and Lover of mankind!
In Tone 6, Glory…
Let us honour today those mystical trumpets of the Spirit,* namely, the God-mantled Fathers,* who speaking of divine things,* sang in the midst of the Church a hymn in unison,* teaching that the Trinity is one,* not differing in substance or Godhead,* refuting Arius and defending the orthodox faith.* They always intercede with the Lord* to have mercy on our souls.
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He Who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Genesis 14:14-20; (2) Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17; (3) Deuteronomy 10:14-21; (4) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; (5) Isaiah 61:10-62:5; (6) Isaiah 60:1-16
Aposticha
In Tone 6
O Christ our Saviour,* the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your Resurrection;* make us, on earth, also worthy* to extol and glorify You with a pure heart.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades* and raised up fallen mankind.* Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to you!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old* by being nailed to a Cross and placed in a tomb.* When the women came to anoint His body, they tearfully cried out:* O, what sorrow afflicts us!* O Saviour of all, how could You consent to occupy a grave?* If You truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?* How were You removed?* What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?* O Lord, appear to us as You promised* and put an end to our tears.* As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:* Do not weep, but tell the apostles that the Lord is risen,* granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, You were crucified of Your own free will,* and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.* As God, You rose in glory on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.
In Tone 4, Glory…
O believers, let us come together today* to celebrate in faith and true worship* the remembrance of the God-inspired Fathers* who had come together from throughout the world,* in the splendid city of Nicea.* They rejected the doctrine of the impious Arius* and banished him from the universal Church* by a decree of the Council.* They instructed all to openly profess the Son of God,* that He is consubstantial and co-eternal with the Father before eternity,* and they clearly wrote this in the Symbol of Faith.* Therefore, following their divine doctrines,* let us worship the Son in true faith,* together with the Father and the Holy Spirit,* the Trinity consubstantial in one Godhead.
Now…
O Lord most merciful,* after fulfilling the mystery hidden from all eternity,* You, the Creator and Master of all,* went up to the Mount of Olives with Your disciples and Your Mother.* For the one who, at the sight of Your Passion,* had suffered more than anyone else in her motherly heart,* had more than anyone else the right to share the joy that fills us* as we witness Your ascending into heaven.* We glorify Your infinite mercy overflowing upon us.
Troparia
In Tone 6
Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory to You!
In Tone 8, Glory…
After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.
In Tone 4, Now…
You ascended in glory, O Christ our God;* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through Your blessing* that You are the Son of God,** the Redeemer of the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
First Antiphon
Clap your hands, all you nations;* shout to God with the voice of joy.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
For the Lord most high is awesome,* a great king over all the earth.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
He has subdued peoples to us,* and nations under our feet.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
God ascended amid shouts of joy;* the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Third Antiphon
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord,* let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise,* and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord,* the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship* and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
Troparion, Tone 4: You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through your blessing* that You are the Son of God,* the Redeemer of the world.
Troparion, Tone 8: Christ our God, You are glorified above all,* You established our fathers as beacons on earth* and through them guided all of us to the true faith.* Glory to You, most compassionate Lord.
Troparion, Tone 8: After seeing the image of Your cross in the heavens, O Lord,* and receiving like Paul the summons that was not from men,* Your apostle among kings entrusted into Your hands the imperial city.* Always save it in peace by the prayers of the Mother of God,* only Lover of mankind.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ doctrine* confirmed the Church’s one faith,* and wearing the garment of truth* woven from theology that descends from on high,* she rightly imparts* the mystery of godliness* and sings its glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today Constantine and Helen his mother reveal the cross,* the all-precious wood which shames those who refuse to believe.* Rulers with faith possess it as a weapon against foes;* a glorious standard frightful in battle revealed for the sake of all.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: When you had fulfilled Your plan for us* and united things on earth with those in heaven,* You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* in no way distant, but remaining in separable,* You cried to those who love You:* I am with You and there is none against you.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your Name forever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything that You have done to us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their word unto the ends of the world.
Epistle
Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; Acts 26:1-5, 12-20
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The God of gods, the Lord, spoke and summoned the earth from the rising of sun to its setting.
verse: Gather to Him His devout ones, who with sacrifice make covenant with Him. (Psalm 49:1,5)
verse: I have exalted one chosen from among My people. (Psalm 88:20)
Gospel
John 17:1-13; John 10:1-8
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord who in glory ascended bodily into the heavens.** O Mother of God,* you transcended both mind and word,* and in time, ineffably bore the Timeless One:* it is you who, with one accord,* we, the faithful, magnify.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest (Psalm 148:1).* Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous (Psalm 32:1).* Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their word unto the ends of the world (Psalm 18:5)* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.
Instead of We have seen the true light we sing:
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.
Instead of Let our mouths be filled we sing three times:
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.