New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Mon14Aug2023
Transfer of the Precious Relics of Our Venerable Father Theodosius, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Caves at Kiev (1091); Fore-feast of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God; Holy Prophet Micah (8th c. BC)
GREAT VESPERS
At Psalm 140
In Tone 4
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
At the sound of the cymbals, let us sing resounding hymns,* anticipating the feast of her departure.* Let us lift our voices in a brilliant chorus before her sepulchre.* For the Mother of God and the golden Tabernacle* now prepares to pass from earth to heaven,* to the new life and the divine splendour.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
At the sound of the cymbals, let us sing resounding hymns,* anticipating the feast of her departure.* Let us lift our voices in a brilliant chorus before her sepulchre.* For the Mother of God and the golden Tabernacle* now prepares to pass from earth to heaven,* to the new life and the divine splendour.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O choir of the holy apostles,* you are gathered together from the ends of the earth.* The Living City of the One who reigns over all* departs in glory to the heavens.* She goes to rejoice with her Son, the King.* With the angelic hosts, sing a farewell hymn to her divine burial.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O choir of the holy apostles,* you are gathered together from the ends of the earth.* The Living City of the One who reigns over all* departs in glory to the heavens.* She goes to rejoice with her Son, the King.* With the angelic hosts, sing a farewell hymn to her divine burial.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O choir of the holy priests,* O kings, princes, and ranks of virgins, now come together!* All you people, let us come before her holy tomb and sing a hymn,* for the Queen of all entrusts her soul into the hands of her Son* to be taken to the heavenly home.
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, when you accepted the ascetic life for your salvation,* then you were enlightened invisibly from heaven* and were shown to be an exorciser of evil spirits.* By divine will you received gold,* which, in your generous mercy, you gave to those in need.* You filled their empty vessels with produce,* preparing for the Saviour, those who were in distress.* O preacher of the faith of Christ our God,* pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
The appearance of your holy relics came like a great light,* understood to be like the angelic splendour.* The great Stephen ran quickly with longing and joy,* seeing them coming in the distance.* He found your body whole and incorrupt* and glorified Christ our God.* O Father, pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
When those who wished to bear your body* came to the cave where you were buried,* they rejoiced on opening the tomb;* for they saw your most holy remains whole and untouched by corruption,* the hair framing your glorious face,* and your eyes and mouth joined in praises of Christ our God.* Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.
In Tone 6, Glory…
In faith we are all called together to celebrate this feast.* Let us hasten today to commemorate* the transferal of your holy relics, O venerable Father,* and let us say:* Rejoice, O consecrated dwelling of the divine Spirit and pillar of piety;* rejoice, boast of ascetics,* for you increased the talent given you by God;* rejoice, bright beacon to the world and our consolation.* As you now stand before the throne of Christ,* beg Him to deliver us from all trouble and distress* and to attain the future glory;* for we celebrate your memory in faith.
In Tone 4, Now…
O pure and most holy Virgin,* the choirs of angels in heaven and the assembly of people on earth* sing the praise of your glorious Dormition;* for you have become the Mother of the Creator of all, Christ our God.* We beg you to intercede constantly for us;* for, next to God, we have placed our hope in you,* O most glorious and ever-virgin Mother of God.
Readings
(1) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 2
O marvellous wonder! O new sign of mystery!* How is it that the life-bearing Maiden* has been given over to death* and is now being concealed in a tomb?
Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, You and the ark of your strength.
May all creatures sing out* because the Virgin, the daughter of Adam,* is going up into heaven.
The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on his word.
Let us imagine the Virgin’s bier* surrounded by the apostolic choir,* and let us sing at her departure.
In Tone 8, Glory…
The multitude of monks praise you as their teacher,* O Theodosius our Father,* for by your paths you truly showed us the way we should go.* You are a blessed servant of Christ;* you unmasked the power of the enemy.* O dweller with angels and companion of the monks and the just,* pray with them that the Lord grant mercy to our souls.
In Tone 2, Now…
She is higher than the heavens,* more glorious than the Cherubim,* and more honourable than all creation.* Her outstanding purity became the dwelling place of the eternal divinity.* Today she places her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son.* With her, the universe is filled with joy,* and the grace of salvation is given to us.
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 4, Glory… Now…
O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* It is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
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.
Troparion, Tone 4: O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* it is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the whole universe dances with joy* at your glorious memory, O Mother of God,* and it cries out to you:* Rejoice, O virgin, pride of Christians.
Now and forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Today we revere the star of Rus’, blessed Theodosius,* who shone from the east and same 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.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)
Epistle
Hebrews 13:7-16
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)
Gospel
Matthew 11:27-29
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)