New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Thu18Jan2024
Our Holy Fathers and Archbishops of Alexandria Athanasius (373) and Cyril (444).
VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
The prescribed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You braved dangers and patiently suffered persecution,* righteous Athanasius, divine orator.* You exposed the wicked lies of Arius and his followers;* you proclaimed the doctrine of the true faith:* the Son and Spirit are one essence with the Father,* most blessed priest!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The lightning-flash of your teaching* enlightens those in darkness.* You chase away all false doctrine.* You bore the brunt of battle for the faith,* Athanasius, uncompromised rock!* True shepherd and unshaken fortress of Christ's holy Church!* Therefore we assemble in your honour,* rejoicing to magnify you, all-praised one!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You persistently advance in all virtue, God-inspired one;* consecrated priest,* divinely instructed and anointed by the Holy Spirit,* shepherd of truth and warrior of faith.* All the Church glorifies your memory;* through you she is perfected in holiness and glorifies the Saviour!
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
By the fire of your teachings, wise one,* the dry wood and chaff of heresy is burned away.* The host of the impious are drowned;* the faithless sink in the abyss of your teachings.* By your doctrine, blessed Cyril,* every member of the believing Church is adorned,* and with a mighty voice honours you.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Cyril, by the eloquence of your words, * the whole Church is adorned with piety.* Honouring the fruits your teaching has borne,* she glorifies your memory,* leader of the right-believing Fathers,* who defended the all-holy Theotokos as a champion at the council!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Cyril, using the staff of your teachings, * you chased the spiritual wolves from the Church.* You encircled her with the retaining wall of your words,* presenting her to Christ with unblemished doctrine.* Beseech Him to deliver us now from persecution and corruption* as we celebrate your honourable memory.
Tone 6, Glory…
Assemble, lovers of feasts!* Praise your leaders with spiritual songs!* They are our exalted patriarchs,* the all-radiant enlighteners of the world!* They have revealed the mystery of Christ to us.* Let us cry out to them:* Rejoice, wise Athanasius!* Your name means the immortal one.* Drawing a string from the lyre of your inspired doctrine,* you made a sling to drive Arius the wolf from the flock of Christ.* Rejoice, bright star, all blessed Cyril!* Champion of the ever-Virgin one!* In the midst of the council at Ephesus,* you defended the Theotokos with a roaring voice!* Rejoice, fountains of theology!* ever-flowing rivers of divine wisdom,* flooding your banks with knowledge of God.* Never cease to beseech Christ, thrice-blessed Fathers,* for those who keep your holy memory with faith and love!
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!
Prokeimenon
of the day
Aposticha
In Tone 8
In their sincere love for You, O Lord,* the apostles detested all things,* that they might win You alone.* They surrendered their bodies to torture on Your behalf· ,* and, now in glory, they pray for our souls.
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.
O Lord, You magnified on earth* the memory of the apostles,* and now in their memory we glorify You.* For their sakes You grant us healing,
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.
What honour and praise can fittingly be ascribed to the saints?* They bowed their necks under the sword for You,* the One who left the heavens and came down.* They shed their blood for You,* the One who made Yourself of no account,* and who took upon Yourself the form of a servant.* By emulating Your poverty,* they humbled themselves unto death.* By their prayers, have mercy on us, O Lord,* according to Your compassion.
Tone 3, Glory…
Athanasius, named immortal* stands with us in the Church again* teaching us to adore the Trinity,* filling us with the understanding of God* and praying that our souls may be saved.
Now…
Many are my transgressions, O Maiden,* but by your kind intercession you rescue me from the* dreadful flame.* Correct and guide me on the paths of salvation* by your motherly prayers, O Most Pure One.
Troparia
Tone 4
God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.
Glory… Now…
God the Lord: O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: As teachers of virtue and the adornment of hierarchs,* the church sings your praises:* By your prayers grant to those who venerate you with love* the achievement of virtues and deliverance from temptations,* for you are invincible.
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
1 Peter 4:12-5:5
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
Mark 12:38-44
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)