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Event Information:
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Thu08Feb2024
Holy Great-Martyr Theodore the General (286-305). Holy Prophet Zechariah (c. 520 BC).
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.
Through the prayers of Your honourable and holy apostles,* grant peace to Your servants, O bountiful Lover of mankind.* You alone are merciful;* save from all harm those singing praises to You* and worshiping You in faith.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O blessed and holy apostles,* when you sit upon the twelve thrones with the Judge of All* in judgment of the entire creation* do not show me to be condemned,* but deliver me from every anguish and darkness.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Your divine voice has truly resounded throughout the world,* O apostles of the Lord.* You have illumined the darkness of the nations* and offered to God as incense* all those who have acknowledged your voice.
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.
The Holy Spirit showed you to be a courageous athlete* and an invincible warrior!* You cast down the adversary with the wisdom of your words* and the enduring testimony of your deeds, O wise one.* Therefore, you have received crowns of victory* and have been joined to the choirs on high,* great martyr Theodore!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You were shown to be a pillar of godly devotion, most wealthy one,* for you despised the temples of the ungodly.* You were brought as a most perfect lamb, an acceptable sacrifice,* to the blameless One Who was sacrificed for your sake!* He has glorified your holy memory* and has given you to those that are in the world,* as a treasury of miracles, Theodore!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You were lifted up on the cross,* your flesh was torn and you were pierced with sharp arrows.* You were tormented by all the craft of the art of torture* and beheaded by the sword.* You were shown to be steadfast and invincible* through the power of Him who was nailed to the Cross,* Theodore, the glory of the martyrs!
Tone 8, Glory…
Faithful, let us fittingly bless the great and noble martyr Theodore,* for he is the namesake of the gifts of God* and the heir of His blessedness;* the champion of the world who prays to God for us!
Now…
Listen to the sighs of my contrite heart, O Bride of God;* look, as one who loves mankind, at my arms raised in prayer;* and do not despise them, O Pure Virgin Mary,* but permit me to sing and praise you,* O All-pure One who has exalted mankind.
Aposticha
Tone 3
Your teaching has gone forth to all the earth, O holy apostles.* You have destroyed the captive power of idols* by proclaiming the knowledge of God.* This is your good work, O holy ones.* For this we praise and glorify your memory.
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.
You are the branches of the Life-bearing Vine, O glorious apostles.* You have brought to God the fruit of piety,* and so you have confidence before Him.* Therefore, beseech Him to grant peace and great mercy to our souls.
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.
Your martyrs, O Lord, have been confirmed by faith* and strengthened by hope.* By the love of Your cross they have been spiritually fortified,* and so have overcome the anguish of suffering.* They have obtained the crowns,* and, together with the angels, they pray for our souls.
Glory… 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.
Troparion
Tone 4
Recruited by the truth, passion-bearer Theodore,* you proved yourself a capable general for heaven’s King.* You equipped yourself wisely with the arms of faith* and conquered the legions of demons!* Because you showed yourself a victorious athlete, we ever bless you in faith!
Glory… Now…
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: Recruited by the truth, passion-bearer Theodore,* you proved yourself a capable general for heaven’s King.* You equipped yourself wisely with the arms of faith* and conquered the legions of demons!* Because you showed yourself a victorious athlete, we ever bless you in faith!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You put on the whole armour of faith with courage* and took the Word of God as a spear in your hand.* You conquered the enemy, Theodore, great among martyrs!* Together with them, never cease to pray to Christ God for the sake of us all!
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)
Epistle
Jude 11-25
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: The just man shall flourish like the palm tree; and he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.
verse: They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish the courts of our God. (Psalm 91:13,14)
Gospel
Luke 23:1-34, 44-56
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)