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Event Information:
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Fri19Jan2024
Our Venerable Father Macarius of Egypt (c. 390).
VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
The prescribed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 8
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
O most glorious wonder!* the holy cross, the tree that bears life, is exalted today.* All the ends of the earth rejoice,* and the forces of the Devil are afraid.* O, what a gift has been bestowed upon those on earth!* By it, O Compassionate Christ, save 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.
O most glorious wonder!* Like a branch full of life borne by the Most High,* the cross is seen today exalted upon earth.* By it we have all been drawn toward God,* and death has been utterly swallowed up,* O most precious Wood.* Glorifying Christ through it,* we have received the food of immortality in Eden.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
How great is Your goodness toward us, O Christ God;* for You humbled yourself and became man.* You deigned to suffer for us,* enduring for Your worthless servants the cross and a shameful death.* What gift worthy and suitable for God shall we offer You?* In thanksgiving we can only give You glory.
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.
Reaching out, inspired one,* for blessedness surpassing thought,* you took abstinence for luxury;* poverty for wealth,* lack of possessions as true abundance* and humility for glory!* As you intended, you reached your heart's desire, Macarius:** Now you dwell in the mansions of the saints!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You completed the course of ascetic life without wavering,* and you kept the faith, Father!* Thus you gained a crown of righteousness prepared for you by Christ,* Who grants the prizes of victory,* bestowing the gifts and rewards of labours.** Pray now, God-bearing one, that we also may run this course!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You denied yourself every pleasure,* divinely-wise one:* You pummelled your body and embittered your senses* through labours of hardship and abstinence,* through long-suffering in temptations and patience in adversities.* In their place you have received unending joy,**everlasting delight and ineffable glory!
Tone 8, Glory…
Rejoice, Egypt! You blossomed forth a great protector:* Macarius, the blessed!* He shone with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit,* transcending all asceticism with his virtuous way of life.* We offer him as mediator, beseeching him** that he may intercede with Christ that our souls may be saved!
Now…
Beholding You, O Jesus and Master, nailed on the cross* and voluntarily accepting the passion,* Your Mother, the Virgin, cried out: O my sweet Child!* How unjustly You suffer these wounds, O Physician;* through Your mercy You have healed our infirmity,* and delivered all from corruption.
Prokeimenon
of the day
Aposticha
In Tone 8
Raised upon the cross,* O Christ our God, You have saved mankind.* We glorify Your sufferings.
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.
Crucified upon the cross,* O Christ our God, You opened the gates of Paradise.* We glorify Your Divinity.
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.
O Martyrs of the Lord,* you sanctify all places,* and you heal all diseases.* Therefore, we implore you:* Pray that our souls be delivered* from the snares of the enemy.
Tone 6, Glory…
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth, venerable Father!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons* and reached the ranks of angels whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,** entreat peace for our souls!
Now…
By the prayers of her who gave birth to You, O Christ,* and of Your martyrs apostles, and prophets* of the prelates, holy monks, the righteous ones, and all Your saints,* give rest to Your servants who have fallen asleep.
Troparia
Tone 1
Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body!* You were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing father Macarius!* You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer:* Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* Glory to Him Who gave you strength!* Glory to Him Who granted you a crown!* Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to all!
Glory… Now…
O pure One, we have obtained your protection.* Through your intercession, we have been kept from harm* and surrounded at all times with the grace of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we exalt you with great devotion.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body!* You were a wonder-worker, our God-bearing father Macarius!* You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer:* Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith:* Glory to Him Who gave you strength!* Glory to Him Who granted you a crown!* Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to all!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Holy father Macarius,* the Lord placed you in the desert as a radiant star,* where your self-denial shines as an example to the ends of the earth!
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
2 Peter 1:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Mark 13:1-8
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)