Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Tue

  06

  Feb

  2024

  Leave-taking of the Feast of the Encounter of Our Lord. Our Venerable Father Boucolus, Bishop of Smyrna. Holy Priest-Martyr Sylvanus, Bishop of Emessa and Those with Him.

   

  VESPERS

  Kathisma Reading

  The prescribed psalms are chanted.

  At Psalm 140

  Tone 1

  If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

  The Creator of all things, and our God,* is being brought into the Temple by the virgin Mother.* The aged Simeon receives Him and cries out with joy:* Now You may dismiss your servant in peace,* according to your will, O good One.

  I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

  Receiving from the Virgin the One begotten before all ages,* Simeon took Him in his arms and cried out:* I have seen the Saviour,* the Illumination of your glory to the ends of the earth.* Now You may dismiss your servant in peace, O good One,* since I have seen You today.

  From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

  Near the end of his long life,* Simeon carried in his arms the Saviour* who was born for the salvation of all*  Rejoicing, he cried out:* I have seen the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel.* Now You may dismiss your servant from here, O God,* according to your command.

  Tone 6

  For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

  You glistened with the light of sanctifying virtues, O priestly one.* You mystically placed the light on the lampstand of the divine Church.* You illuminate it by your sacred teachings, O Father.

  Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

  The Holy Spirit sanctified you, O priestly Bucolus.* Through you, O Godbearer,* He gives sanctity, enlightenment, and deliverance* to all those who approach through faith.

  Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

  Preaching the utter goodness of our God,* you bless the afflicted, O wise one.* Since you are a very holy priest,* you lead the people to the Saviour through grace.

  Tone 5, Glory… Now…

  Search the Scriptures as Christ our God said in the Gospels;* for in them we find Him who was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes,* the One laid in a manger and fed upon milk,* who received circumcision and was carried by Simeon.* Not in fancy nor in imagination,* but in very truth has He appeared to the world.* Let us cry out to Him:* Glory to You, O pre-eternal God!

  Aposticha

  Tone 2

  The immaculate and most pure Virgin* is carrying the Creator and Master* as an infant in her arms,* and she is entering the Temple today.

  Now You may dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word, in peace.

  O Simeon, receive the Lord of glory,* as it was made known to you by the Holy Spirit.* Behold, He now comes into the Temple.

  A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people, Israel.

  My eyes have seen You, the Promised One.* Quickly release me, your servant,* O Gracious God and Lover of Mankind.

  Tone 5, Glory… Now…

  He who is ancient of days and young in the flesh* is being brought to the Temple by his virgin Mother.* He fulfils the promise of his own law.* Simeon receives Him and says:* Now You may dismiss your servant, according to your word, in peace,* for my eyes have seen your salvation, O Lord.

  Troparia

  Tone 4

  The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people* as a teacher of moderation,* a model of faith, and an example of virtue.* Therefore, you attained greatness through humility,* and wealth through poverty.* O Father and Archbishop Bucolus,** ask Christ our God to save our souls.

  Tone 1, Glory… Now…

  Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,** who grants is resurrection.

   

  DIVINE LITURGY

  Troparia and Kontakia

  Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.

  Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Boucolus.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

  Kontakion, Tone 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Boucolus.

  Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

  Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.

  Prokeimenon, Tone 3

  My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit has rejoiced in God, My Saviour.

  verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46,48)

  Epistle

  Jude 1-10

  Alleluia, Tone 8

  verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.

  verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)

  Gospel

  Luke 22:39-42; 22:45-23:1

  Hymn to the Mother of God

  O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.

  and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.

  Communion Hymn

  I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)