Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Wed

  07

  Feb

  2024

  Our Venerable Father Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus (312-37). Passing into Eternal Life (1957) of Blessed Petro Verhun, apostolic Visitator of Forced Labourers in Germany and Martyr of Siberia.

  According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

  VESPERS

  Kathisma Reading

  The prescribed psalms are chanted.

  At Psalm 140

  Tone 3

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

  By Your crucifixion, creation was changed, O Lord.* The sun hid its rays in fear, and the veil in the temple was torn,* and every one that believes has been saved.* Therefore, we glorify Your immeasurable riches.

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

  God the Master assumed our flesh in His love for us,* and delivered it to the cross.* He was pleased in His compassionate mercy to be lifted up in the body,* thus lifting up our unworthy selves.

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

  The drops of blood and water that flowed forth* as a divine and abundant stream from Your side fashioned the world anew.* You washed away the sins of all with water, O Lord.* You write their pardon in Your blood.

  Tone 1

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

  The great Parthenius, the namesake of Virginity,* the beacon of Lampsacus,* the radiant morning star of miracles,* calls us all together by his memorial* that we who sing hymns to Christ the Saviour* may keep the spiritual feast!

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

  You bore God within yourself from childhood* by the fire of your prayers, all-blessed and wise one!* You burned up legions of the demons* and guided the flock of Lampsacus.* Casting down the temples of idols,* you renewed yourself for God!

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

  The fish that was thrown away, breathless yet life-giving;* the fruit of the barren field and vineyard;* the generous rain promised to those who wept,* all proclaimed your wonder!* Your works are wonderful, celebrant of sacred mysteries!* therefore, pray that we may be saved.

  Tone 1, Glory… Now…

  When you beheld your Son and Lord* with arms outstretched upon the cross* and His side pierced with a lance,* O Pure Mother weeping, you cried out:* How intensely You suffer, O Lover of mankind* who takes away the suffering of all.

  Aposticha

  Tone 1

  With great joy let us accept, O faithful, the godly inspired tidings of the Fast,* as did the Ninevites of old,* and also the harlots and the publicans* who hearkened to the preaching of repentance by John.* Through abstinence let us prepare ourselves to attend the Master’s divine mystery in Sion.* With tears let us wholly cleanse ourselves before the sacred washing of the feet;* and let us pray that we may behold the fulfilment and revelation of the true Passover.* Let us make ready to worship the Cross and resurrection of Christ God,* that we may cry aloud to Him:* Deprive us not of our expectation, O Lover of mankind.

  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.

  With great joy let us accept, O faithful, the godly inspired tidings of the Fast,* as did the Ninevites of old,* and also the harlots and the publicans* who hearkened to the preaching of repentance by John.* Through abstinence let us prepare ourselves to attend the Master’s divine mystery in Sion.* With tears let us wholly cleanse ourselves before the sacred washing of the feet;* and let us pray that we may behold the fulfilment and revelation of the true Passover.* Let us make ready to worship the Cross and resurrection of Christ God,* that we may cry aloud to Him:* Deprive us not of our expectation, O Lover of mankind.

  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.

  Wise was the trade that you made, O saints!* Giving your blood, and inheriting heaven as your reward;* having suffered tribulation for a time, you now rejoice eternally.* Truly wisely have you traded:* forsaking things corruptible, you have received things incorruptible;* and rejoicing with the choirs of angels you now continually hymn the praises* of the consubstantial Trinity.

  Glory… Now…

  Once, when the unblemished Virgin beheld on the Tree* Him to whom she had given birth from her seedless womb,* unable to endure the wounding of her womb, she said, rending her hair:* “O You who sustain all creation,* how have You been uplifted upon the Cross as one condemned,* desiring to save mankind in every way?”

  Then the Song of Simeon and the Trisagion Prayers, and then:

  Tone 1

  Rejoice, Mother of God, Virgin Mary, full of grace!* The Lord is with you.* Blessed are you among women,* and blessed is the fruit of your womb.* For you have borne Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls.

  (full prostration)

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

  O Baptist of Christ, remember us all,* that we may be delivered from all our iniquities,* for to you is given grace to intercede for us!

  (full prostration)

  Now and for ever and ever.

  Pray for us, O holy apostles and all the saints,* that we may be delivered from perils and sorrows,* for you are our fervent intercessors before the Saviour!

  (full prostration)

  Beneath your compassion we take refuge, O Theotokos,* do not reject our supplication in adversity, but deliver us from perils,* O only pure and only blessed one!

  Kyrie, eleison. (40)

  Priest: Blessed is He-Who-Is, Christ our God, at all times both now and for ever.

  All: Amen.

  Priest: O Heavenly King, strengthen the Church, uphold the faith, calm the nations, give peace to the world, protect this holy city, grant our departed fathers and brethren a share in the dwelling of the just, and lead us to repent and confess our sins, for You are good and You love mankind.

  All: Amen.

  Lord, have mercy. (3)

  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.

  More honourable than the cherubim, and by far more glorious than the seraphim, ever a Virgin you gave birth to God the Word; O true Mother of God, we magnify you!

  Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord!

  Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us.

  All: Amen.

  Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

  O Lord and Master of my life! Keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power, and idle chatter.

  (full prostration)

  Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love.

  (full prostration)

  O Lord and King! Grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brothers and sisters; for You are blessed, now and forever and ever. Amen.

  (full prostration)

  God, be merciful to me a sinner!
  God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me!
  I have sinned without number, forgive me, O Lord! (4)

  O Lord and Master of my life! Keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power, and idle chatter. Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love. O Lord and King! Grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brothers and sisters; for You are blessed, now and forever and ever. Amen.

  Priest: Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You.

  All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,* now and for ever and ever. Amen.* Lord, have mercy. (3)* Give the blessing.

  Priest: Christ our true God…

  All: Amen.