Upcoming Days

Event Information:

• Fri

  09

  Feb

  2024

  Holy Martyr Nicephorus

  According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.

  VESPERS

  Kathisma Reading

  The prescribed psalms are chanted.

  At Psalm 140

  In Tone 3

  Although You are passionless in Your divine nature, O Lord,* in Your human nature You endured suffering.* You were nailed to the cross,* and Your side was pierced by a lance,* pouring forth for me two streams of ineffable mysteries.

  Your head was circled with a crown of thorns, O King of All,* destroying the penalty of the sin that pierces like a thorn, O Saviour.* Taking the reed into Your hands,* You inscribed in the book of heaven* all those who believe in You.

  You willed to be nailed to a cross* and You offered yourself as a sacrifice to Your Father for us.* In this way You ended the sacrifice to the idols,* and You crushed the kingdom of the Evil One;* O King of the Ages, You are rich in goodness.

  Tone 2

  Submitting to the laws of Him who, for our sake, assumed our flesh on earth* and endured His honoured Passion, O divinely blessed one,* you showed love for your neighbour,* which is the epitome of the law and the prophets.* Wherefore, you received a blessed end, O Nicephorus,* and stand now before the Wellspring of love.

  You bend your neck to God, before whom all knees do bend, O wondrous martyr;* your head is severed and parted from your comely body,* and with your most honoured mind you are united to Christ, the Head of all.* And now drawing close to His light, O Nicephorus,* beseech enlightenment for us who praise you.

  You have sanctified the earth with the streams of your blood shed for Christ, O martyr,* and by your spirit you have gladdened the spirits of the incorporeal hosts,* and have enlightened the whole flock of the martyrs, O blessed one,* united with them as a valiant warrior and an invincible martyr;* and you pray to God in our behalf.

  Tone 6, Glory…

  O athlete Nicephorus, you have clearly shown to all* that he who loves not his neighbour cannot love the Master;* wherefore, in purity you loved your own neighbour Sapricius.* Hence, you took wing to divine Desire,* and lay down your life in confession of Christ and the Faith.* But Sapricius of ill repute,* having conceived for you an implacable hatred,* showed himself also a betrayer of Christ the Master.* Standing now before Him, pray that our souls be saved.

  Now…

  O all-pure Mistress, a sword pierced your heart, as Symeon said,* when you beheld Him who shone forth from you in manner past recounting* lifted up on the Cross by the iniquitous as One condemned,* given vinegar and gall to drink, His side pierced,* His hands and feet run through with nails;* and, lamenting, you exclaimed, crying out maternally:* “What is this new mystery, O my Child most sweet?”

  Aposticha

  Tone 2

  For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

  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.

  For those who steadfastly venerate the Cross of Christ,* it is a bridle restraining all manner of sensuality, and a law of abstinence.* For, ever looking upon Him who was crucified thereon,* they crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts.* Let us also flee from such things;* fasting in purity, that we become one with Him,* who out of love for mankind* has made Himself one with us by suffering the Passion,* enabling us to share in His own passionlessness;* for He has great mercy

  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.

  Having no desire for earthly pleasure, O passion-bearers,* you were granted heavenly blessings,* and became fellow-citizens with the angels.* By their prayers, O Lord, have mercy on us and save us.

  Glory… Now…

  When you beheld, O pure Virgin, the unblemished Vine,* whom you conceived within your womb, hanging upon the Tree,* lamenting, you cried aloud:* O Child, O sweetness which drives away the drunkenness of the passions,* O Benefactor, grant this for the sake of me who has given birth to You, by Your divine comforting,* since You are Compassionate.

  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.

  Lord, have mercy. (12)

  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.