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Event Information:
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Sun18Feb2024
First Sunday of the Great Fast: Sunday of Orthodoxy. Octoechos Tone 5. Our Holy Father Leo, Pope of Rome (461).
Great Fast Day 7. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated today.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
With Your precious cross, O Christ,* You have put the Devil to shame.* With Your resurrection You have deadened the sting of sin,* and have saved us from the gates of death.* We, therefore, glorify You, O only-begotten Son of God.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Christ, who granted resurrection to mankind,* You were led like a lamb to the slaughter.* Then the princes of Hades were struck with terror* as they saw the gates of their tearful domain being lifted up;* for Christ, the King of Glory, entered therein* and exclaimed to those in chains: Go forth from here!* And to those in darkness: Go forth into the light!
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
What a great wonder!* The Creator of invisible beings suffered in the flesh for mankind,* and rose from the dead as immortal.* Come, therefore, all you nations and adore Him;* for through His compassion we have been freed from the snares of the Devil,* and we have learned to praise the one God in three Persons.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We offer to You our evening worship,* O Light whom the darkness of night can never extinguish.* For in these latter days Your radiance has appeared to the world,* shining in Your flesh as light reflected from a mirror.* Your brilliance has descended even to the depths of Hades and dissolved its gloom.* O Lord, Giver of Light, glory to You;* for You have shown the radiance of Your resurrection to all the nations.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our Salvation;* for by His resurrection from the dead,* the world has been delivered from the deception of Satan.* The choirs of angels rejoice as the treachery of evil spirits vanishes.* Fallen Adam arises, and the devil is vanquished.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Those who guarded the tomb of Christ* were told by the evil men who hired them:* Take this silver and keep silent.* Tell no one of the resurrection of Christ;* rather tell everyone that while you were sleeping His body was stolen.* But who has ever heard of a body being stolen,* a body which had already been anointed?* Why would anyone take a body from the grave naked,* and leave the burial shroud in the tomb?* Do not deceive yourselves, O people of Judea.* Study the teachings of the prophets,* and you will come to understand that Jesus Christ is Almighty God,* and truly the Saviour of the world.
Tone 6
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The prophets, inspired by Your Spirit, O Lord,* foretold that You, whom nothing can contain or grasp,* and who has shone forth in eternity before the morning star* from the immaterial and bodiless womb of the Father,* was to become a child,* taking flesh from the Virgin,* being joined to men and seen by those on earth.* At the prayers of these Your prophets,* in Your compassion count us worthy of Your light,* for we sing the praises* of Your ineffable and holy Resurrection.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The divinely-inspired prophets preached You in word and honoured You in works,* and they received as their reward a life without end.* For they steadfastly refused, O Master,* to worship the creation instead of You, the Creator;* They renounced the whole world for the Gospel’s sake,* and in their suffering they were conformed to Your Passion which they had foretold.* At their intercessions, count us worthy to pass through the period of the Fast without offence,* for You alone are rich in mercy.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You who are uncircumscribed, O Master, in Your divine nature,* were pleased in the last times to take flesh and be circumscribed;* and in assuming flesh, You have also taken on Yourself all its distinctive properties.* Therefore we depict the likeness of Your outward form,* venerating it with an honour that is relative.* So we are exalted to the love of You,* and following the holy traditions handed down by the apostles,* from Your icon we receive the grace of healing.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
As a precious adornment* the Church of Christ has received the venerable and holy icons of the Saviour Christ,* of God’s Mother and of all the saints.* Celebrating now their triumphant restoration,* she is made bright with grace and splendour,* and drives away all heretics.* With great rejoicing* she gives glory to God who loves mankind,* and who for her sake* has endured His voluntary Passion.
Tone 2, Glory…
The grace of truth has shone upon us;* the mysteries darkly prefigured in the times of old have now been openly fulfilled.* For behold, the Church is clothed in a beauty that surpasses all things earthly,* through the icon of the incarnate Christ that was foreshadowed by the ark of testimony.* This is the safeguard of the orthodox faith;* for if we hold fast to the icon of the Saviour whom we worship,* we shall not go astray.* Let all who do not share this faith be covered with shame;* but we shall glory in the icon of the Word made flesh,* which we venerate but worship not as an idol.* So let us kiss it, and with all the faithful cry aloud:* O God, save Your people* and bless Your inheritance.
Tone 5, Now…
A symbol of the undefiled Virgin and bride* was revealed in the Red Sea.* There, Moses divided the waters;* here, Gabriel is the messenger of the miracle.* There, the Israelites crossed the deep and their feet were not even wet;* here, the Virgin gives birth to Christ without human seed.* There, the sea remained uncrossed after the passing of Israel;* here, the immaculate remained incorrupt after giving birth to Emmanuel.* Therefore, O immortal God, who appeared in the flesh as true Man,* have mercy on us!
Aposticha
Tone 5
O Christ our Saviour,* we lift up our voices in song to glorify You.* For, in Your love for mankind,* You became incarnate without leaving heaven;* You accepted the cross and death;* You cast down the gates of Hades;* and on the third day You arose from the dead* for the salvation of our souls.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
O Giver of Life,* streams of forgiveness, life, and salvation* poured forth from Your pierced side upon us all.* By accepting physical death, You granted us immortality;* by lying in the tomb, You freed us from Hades,* and as God, by rising from the dead,* You raised us with Yourself in glory.* Therefore, we cry out to You:* O Lover of mankind, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Lover of mankind,* Your crucifixion and descent into Hades are most wondrous.* For, as God, You thereby conquered the power of Hades,* and raised up in glory, with Yourself, those who were long imprisoned there.* You reopened Paradise and enabled them to enter.* Grant forgiveness of sins to us* who glorify Your resurrection on the third day,* for You alone are all-merciful.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Lover of mankind,* You accepted suffering in the flesh* and rose from the dead on the third day.* Therefore, heal the passions of our flesh,* raise us from our dreadful iniquities, and save us.
Tone 2, Glory…
Advancing from ungodliness to the true faith,* and illumined with the light of knowledge,* let us clap our hands and sing aloud,* offering praise and thanksgiving to God;* and with due honour* let us venerate the holy icons of Christ;* of the all-pure Virgin and the saints,* whether depicted on walls, on wooden panels or on holy vessels,* rejecting the impious teachings of the heretics.* For, as Basil says,* the honour shown the icon passes to the prototype it represents.* At the prayers of Your undefiled Mother and of all the Saints,* we beseech You, Christ our God,* to bestow upon us Your great mercy.
Now…
We now behold a new wonder,* greater than the wonders of old.* For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?* Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?* It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;* and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.* Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.* Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him* to have mercy on us and save our souls.
Troparia
Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Tone 2, Glory…
We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh* to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.
Now…
O Mother of God, the mysteries which surround you are exceedingly glorious,* and beyond the power of understanding.* For you retained the seal of purity,* and your virginity remained inviolate;* yet you are acknowledged, without doubt,* to be the Mother who gave birth to the true God.* We beg you, therefore, to entreat Him to save our souls.
SUNDAY MATINS
Usual Beginning
Hexapsalm
Great Litany
God the Lord, Tone 5
Troparia, Tone 5
Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. (2)
Tone 2, Glory…
We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.
Now…
O Mother of God, the mysteries which surround you are exceedingly glorious,* and beyond the power of understanding.* For you retained the seal of purity,* and your virginity remained inviolate;* yet you are acknowledged, without doubt,* to be the Mother who gave birth to the true God.* We beg you, therefore, to entreat Him to save our souls.
Psalter Reading
Stasis I: Psalms 9, 10
Stasis II: Psalms 11, 12, 13
Stasis III: Psalms 14, 15, 16Small Litany
Sessional Hymn I, Tone 5
Let us celebrate the Cross of the Lord,* let us honour His holy Burial with hymns,* and let us exulting, glorify His Resurrection.* For with Himself He has raised the dead from their graves,* and as God having despoiled the dominion of death* and the might of the devil,* He has shone forth light upon those in Hades.
Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hands be lifted on high; forget not Your poor to the end.
O Lord, You who put death to death, was called dead;* You who have emptied the tombs was placed in a tomb;* above, the soldiers stood guarding the grave,* below, You raised the dead from all ages.* O Lord, All-powerful and Incomprehensible,* glory be to You!
Glory… Now…
Rejoice holy mountain upon which God has walked;* Rejoice! living bush unconsumed by fire;* Rejoice! O only bridge of creation to God, who leads mortals to eternal life;* Rejoice! Maiden undefiled, who has born without wedlock* the salvation of our souls.
Psalter Reading
Stasis I: Psalm 17
Stasis II: Psalms 18, 19, 20
Stasis III: Psalms 21, 22, 23Small Litany
Sessional Hymn II, Tone 5
O Lord, after Your Resurrection on the third day,* and after the worship of the Apostles, Peter cried to You;* The women had courage, and I was afraid;* the Thief confessed You as God, and I denied You:* will You no longer call me a disciple,* or will You once again declare me a fisher of the deep?* Receive me in my penitence, O God, and save me!’
I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all You wonders.
O Merciful Lord, the lawless Ones nailed You between two condemned thieves* and pierced Your side with a lance,* but You, who destroyed the gates of Hades,* suffered burial and arose on the third day;* The women ran to see You and announced the Resurrection to Your Apostles.* O supremely exalted Saviour whom the Angels hymn,* O blessed Lord, glory be to You.
Glory… Now…
The Bride who knew not wedlock, the Birthgiver of God,* who turned Eve’s grief to joy,* we the faithful hymn and worship,* for you have redeemed us from the ancient curse.* And now, O All-hymned most holy one,* cease not to make intercession for the salvation of our souls.
Evoglitaria
Small Litany
Hypakoe, Tone 5
The Myrrh-bearing women, amazed in their minds by the vision of the Angel* yet enlightened in their souls by the divine Resurrection,* announced the glad tidings to the Apostles:* Proclaim among the nations the Resurrection of the Lord,* who works in us through wonders,* and who grants us great mercy.
Gradual Hymns, Tone 5
Antiphon 1
When I am troubled I sing to You like David,* O my Saviour:* Deliver my soul from a deceitful tongue.
Blessed is the life of those* who dwell in the desert places,* Divine love gives them wings.
Glory… Now…
By the Holy Spirit all things are unshaken,* both visible and invisible;* for He has sovereign power,* being undeniably one of the Trinity.
Antiphon 2
Lift up yourself to the mountains,* O my soul;* go to that place from whence comes our help.
Let Your right hand hover over me,* O Christ,* and guard me from every misfortune.
Glory… Now…
Let us sing to the Holy Spirit, as we contemplate God:* You are God, life, love, light, and intellect,* You are goodness,* and You reign to the ages.
Antiphon 3
Filled with great joy at the words of those who say to me:* “Let us go into the courts of the Lord,”* I offer up my prayers.
Fearful things are accomplished in the house of David;* for a fire is found there,* burning every shameful thought.
Glory… Now…
To the Holy Spirit belongs the lordship of life,* for from Him every living being hath its breath,* as also from the Father* together with the Son.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
Arise, O Lord my God, lift up Your hand*, for You shall reign forever.
verse: I will confess to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will recount all Your marvellous works.
Let everything that lives, Tone 5
Gospel
Luke 24:12-35
Hymn of Resurrection
Psalm 50
Tone 8, Glory…
Open to me the doors of repentance, O Giver of Life.* As we worship in Your temple this morning,* teach us how to purify the temples of our bodies,* and in Your compassion, purify me by the goodness of Your mercies.
Now…
Lead me to the paths of salvation, O Mother of God,* for I have condemned myself with shameful sins* and have wasted all my life in slothfulness.* By your intercession purify me from all sinfulness.
Tone 6
Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness. In Your compassion blot out my offense.
When I think upon the multitude of my evil deeds,* I tremble for the terrible day of judgment.* But trusting in the compassion of Your mercy, O Lord,* I cry to You like David:* Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy.
Canon, Tone 5
Ode 1
Irmos: Christ, who breaks the battles,* with uplifted arm shook horse and rider into the Red Sea,* but Israel he saved,* singing a song of victory.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
The congregation of the Hebrews preserved no mother’s love for you who gave them every good; they crowned you with thorns, O Christ, you who had loosed from the punishing thorns the first ancestor of man.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Giver of life, you bent down to the pit without danger of falling and raised me up who had fallen; you bore with my evil-smelling corruption, O Christ, yourself untouched, and made me fragrant with the sweet oil of the divine nature.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The curse is lifted, sorrow has ceased; O blessed one and full of grace, you have caused joy to spring up for the faithful for from you Christ has flowered, our blessing for ever.
Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea,* marched dry shod Israel of old,* and by Moses’ outstretched hands,* raised in the form of a cross,* the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Leaping up with joy, let us the faithful cry aloud today: How marvellous are Your works, O Christ! How great is Your might! For You have made us of one mind and brought about concord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
O Godly-wise people, come let us celebrate a day of joy; for heaven and earth now rejoices, with all the hosts of angels and all mankind, each making festival.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Seeing this great blessing we have received, let us clap our hands; for the divided members of Christ have been brought together, and we give praise to God Who has bestowed peace.
Glory…
Today a festival of victory hath been granted to the Church, through the divinely-inspired intent and council of Michael and Theodora, who piously uphold the faith of our Sovereigns.
Now…
The swords of impious heresies have failed: For in deep reverence, O all-immaculate pure One, gazing now upon your temple, beauteously adorned with icons, we rejoice with a most holy joy.
Katavasia: Through the deep of the Red Sea,* marched dry shod Israel of old,* and by Moses’ outstretched hands,* raised in the form of a cross,* the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.
Ode 3
Irmos: Your command fixed firm the earth upon nothing* and sovereignty poised its vast bulk;* make firm your Church on the immovable rock of your commandments,* O Christ, alone good and Lover of man.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Those who sucked honey from the rock brought you gall for your wonders in the wilderness, O Christ. Vinegar for manna the ungrateful sons of Israel gave you in exchange for your deeds of goodness.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Covered of old by a light-radiant cloud they laid life, O Christ, in the grave: but, you rose of your own power, and you granted mystically to all the faithful the Spirit’s overshadowing shining from above.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Mother of God, virginally and without a mother’s pain you bore him, the outshining of the untouched Father; therefore, since you conceived the Word made flesh, in true faith we proclaim you Bearer of God.
Irmos: Your Church, O Christ, rejoices in You crying aloud:* You, O Lord, are my strength,* my refuge and foundation.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
No longer now are the impious heretics exalted in their pride: For the power of God has firmly established Orthodoxy.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Let the prophets sprinkle upon us today the life-giving dew from heaven, at the restoration of the faith.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
In godly harmony, let the mystical trumpets of Christ’s apostles sound forth, proclaiming the re-establishment of the precious icons.
Glory…
Let us sing in praise of Christ, Who has appointed a devout and pious Empress to rule over us, together with her heir, crowned by God.
Now…
Shine now upon the faithful who have gathered in your holy house, O most pure One, the light of grace, we pray you.
Katavasia: Your Church, O Christ, rejoices in You crying aloud:* You, O Lord, are my strength,* my refuge and foundation.
Sessional Hymn, Tone 1
Depicting Your divine form in icons, O Christ,* we openly proclaim Your birth,* Your ineffable miracles and Your voluntary Crucifixion.* From whence devils are driven out in fear* and their fellow-workers – the heretics, lament in shame.
Glory…
The divine and beauteous images of the prophets,* of the apostles the holy martyrs, and of all the saints* are rendered in holy icons;* in which you, the unwedded Bride,* are also rendered beauteously with noetic splendour,* O Mother of Sion on high.
Now…
With love, O honoured Virgin, we venerate your holy icon; with one accord we proclaim you to be the true Mother of God, and in faith we bow down before you. Since you have power to do all things, be our guardian and our strong protection, and drive far from us every tribulation.
Ode 4
Irmos: Habakkuk in prophecy, O Christ, apprehending your divine emptying, in trembling awe cried out to you: For the salvation of your people, to make safe your anointed, you have come.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
O Good One, the most bitter streams of Meribah you sweetened by a tree, and thus in sign prefigured your pure cross which slays the bitter taste of sin.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You accepted a cross for the tree of knowledge, my Saviour, gall for sweet food, and for the corruption of death you shed the blood of God.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Untouched, you conceived incorruptibly in your womb; a Virgin, guarded to bring forth God in the flesh, you bore a child without pain and were virgin after the birth.
Irmos: Beholding You, the Sun of righteousness,* lifted up upon the cross,* the Church now stands arrayed and worthily cries aloud:* Glory be to Your power, O Lord!
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Through the divine descent of the Comforter sanctify Your temple, and by His coming banish the delusion of heresy, O plenteously merciful Word of God.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Deliver Your people from the aggression of the impious, and enkindle within them a zeal for piety, as they cry aloud to You in faith: Glory to Your power, O Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Seeing the churches of God radiant with the sacred depictions and images of Christ and the Theotokos, we rejoice with a holy joy.
Glory…
Adorned with her royal crown, the Empress, out of a true love for the Kingdom of Christ, has restored in all the churches His most pure icon and the images of the saints.
Now…
You bore the Divine Word incarnate, O divinely glorious One, revealed as one full of grace, wherefore we consecrate your bright and splendid temple.
Katavasia: Beholding You, the Sun of righteousness,* lifted up upon the cross,* the Church now stands arrayed and worthily cries aloud:* Glory be to Your power, O Lord!
Ode 5
Irmos: To you, clothed with light as a garment,* early I rise and cry out.* Lighten my darkened soul,* O Christ, only compassionate.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
In dishonour and inglorious form, of his own will the Lord of glory hung upon the cross, and inconceivably thus procured for me divine glory.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You have changed my clothing for the garment of incorruption, O Christ, for uncorrupted you tasted the corruption of death in the flesh, and on the third day rose from the tomb.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Mother of God, you set free our first father’s nature from the curse, for without seed you gave birth to Christ our righteousness and redemption.
Irmos: You, O Lord, who came into the world,* art my light,* a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance* those who sing Your praises in faith.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Firmly establish Your church, O Lord, that unto the ages of ages she may stand unshaken by the tempest of heresy.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
O You Who alone are good and the source of goodness, raise up the horn of the Orthodox who honour Your image.
Glory…
The never-setting light of piety has shone forth upon us, by the divinely-inspired commandment of our faithful pastors.
Now…
Renew for us the ancient splendours, O most pure Mother of God, and sanctify this your dwelling with your grace.
Katavasia: You, O Lord, who came into the world,* art my light,* a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance* those who sing Your praises in faith.
Ode 6
Irmos: Lord Christ, calm the soul-destroying waves of the raging sea of passions* and, O compassionate, lead me up from corruption.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Our first ancestor fell into corruption, Lord Christ, tasting forbidden fruit; and he was brought back to life by your Passion.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
You, the life, came to Hell and to the corrupter became corruption; thus, Lord Christ, through corruption you brought, as fountain springing, resurrection.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
The Virgin bore a child and after bearing still was pure; holding him up in her arms who supports the whole creation she is truly Virgin Mother.
Irmos: The church cries out to You O Lord,* “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of praise”* having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’* by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Your side.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The Master’s countenance is depicted, honoured with faith, and venerated; whereby the Church regains her boldness before God, reverently glorifying the Saviour.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The Church of Christ has been delivered from the darkness of heresy: putting on a robe of gladness, she is clothed in the light of divine grace.
Glory…
The Orthodox people have regained the light and glory which it had of old, through the decree of the Empress Theodora and her pious son the Emperor Michael.
Now…
Who of old commanded Moses to make the ark of the covenant, came to dwell within you, as if in a noetic ark: He alone is supremely glorified, making your temple glorious with miracles.
Katavasia: The church cries out to You O Lord,* “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of praise”* having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’* by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Your side.
Kontakion, Tone 8
The uncircumscribed Word of the Father* became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God,* and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory,* He suffused it with the beauty of God.* Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word,* we portray it in images.
Ikos
Enlightened by this mystery of God’s providence, the divinely-inspired prophets foretold it of old; and this they did for our sakes, who see the fulfilment of the ages. Receiving through this mystery divine knowledge, we know one Lord and God, glorified in three Hypostases, and Him alone do we worship; we have one faith, one baptism, and clothed in Christ, we confess in deed and word our salvation, depicting it in the holy icons.
Ode 7
Irmos: The Lord of the fathers, most highly exalted,* quenched the fire and rained his dew* on the young men in unison singing:* Blessed are you, O God.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Clothed with flesh as bait for the hook, by your divine power you dragged the serpent down, and brought back those who cried: Blessed are you, O God.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
He, the unbounded, who brought into being and knitted together the boundless immensities of earth, in the flesh was concealed in the grave; and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
All-holy, you bore one person in two natures, God has taken bodily form and we sing to him: Blessed are you, O God.
Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham,* burning with a love of piety rather than by a flame of fire,* cried aloud saying:* Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Let the hosts of angels share in the joy of the Church, that with love and divine wisdom, they may cry aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The triumphant assembly and Church of the firstborn rejoices now as it beholds the people of God with one accord crying aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”
Glory…
Delivered from the dark heresies of the past through the decision of the honoured Empress Theodora, we cry aloud: “Blessed are You, O Lord, in the temple of Your glory.”
Now…
O all-pure One, you are exalted above the choirs on high, for alone among women you have become Mother of the Creator of all. Wherefore in joy we cry aloud: “Blessed are you among women, O all-immaculate Lady.”
Katavasia: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham,* burning with a love of piety rather than by a flame of fire,* cried aloud saying:* Blessed are You in the temple of Your glory, O Lord.
Ode 8
Irmos: The young men in the furnace devised a chorus of all creation for you, the Creator of all,* and in song they proclaimed it:* All you his works, sing to the Lord,* and highly exalt him throughout all the ages.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
As if it were against your will, of that so longed for cup of your saving Passion you prayed that it might not be: two wills to two natures corresponding you bear, O Christ, throughout all the ages.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
At your descent, Creator of all, Hell the fool gave up all those who of old had been slain by deceit, and who now, O Christ, highly exalt you throughout all the ages.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
O Virgin, beyond thought, in divine and human manner, by the word you bore the Lord, while remaining virgin; we, his creatures, bless and highly exalt you throughout all the ages.
Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws in their den;* while the zealously pious youths, girded with virtue,* quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud:* Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Keeping the laws of the Church that we have received from the Fathers, we write icons, and with our lips and heart and we venerate them as we cry aloud: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The honour and veneration shown to the icon, is ascribed to the prototype it represents, following the divinely-inspired teachings, wherefore with faith we cry aloud to Christ: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!
Her mind enlightened by the illumination of the divine Spirit, the honoured Empress, filled with the fruits of divine wisdom, and with love of the splendour of Christ’s Church, along with all the faithful, blesses Jesus, the God-Man.
Now…
Illumined by rays of noetic light, Your holy house overshadows all with the cloud of the Spirit, and sanctifies the faithful who sing with one accord: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
We praise, bless and worship the Lord, chanting and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages.
Katavasia: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws in their den;* while the zealously pious youths, girded with virtue,* quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud:* Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Magnificat
Ode 9
Irmos: Rejoice and sing, Isaiah,* the Virgin has conceived and bears a son, Emmanuel,* God and man, his name the Dayspring;* we magnify him and we call the Virgin blessed.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Fallen man, Lord Christ, you assumed; wholly joined to him in a virginal womb, sin alone excepted, wholly you have freed him from corruption by your pure sufferings.
Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.
Your pure and life-giving side, Lord Christ, was emptied of the blood which flowed from God, and sacrifice to idols ceased; and all we of the earth bring to you the sacrifice of praise.
Most holy Theotokos, save us!
Not God bodiless, nor yet mere man, the pure and honourable Maid bore to us, but perfect man and perfect God, in very truth; we magnify him, together with the Father and the Spirit.
Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin,* was cut from thee the unhewn mountain:* even Christ, Who has joined together the disparate natures;* therefore rejoicing we magnify you, O Theotokos.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
Seeing the honourable Church once more adorned with divinely-written images, let us make haste and with reverence cry aloud to God: We magnify You, O Thrice-Holy One.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
As a mark of glory and honour, the Church possesses Your Cross and the honourable icons, and depictions of the saints, and with joy and gladness O Master, she magnifies You.
Glory…
Shine upon our rulers with Your divine glory, O compassionate One, and encompass them about with the protection of the angelic hosts, bringing into subjection, the haughtiness of the heathen, O Master.
Now…
The condemnation of our first mother Eve has been abolished, since you, O pure One, beyond understanding, have given birth to the Master of all; and now we kiss His likeness in the icons.
Katavasia: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin,* was cut from thee the unhewn mountain:* even Christ, Who has joined together the disparate natures;* therefore rejoicing we magnify you, O Theotokos.
Small Litany
Holy is the Lord
Hymn of Light
Tone 5
Christ our Way and our Life,* after His resurrection from the dead,* accompanied Luke and Cleopas,* who had recognized Him at Emmaus in the breaking of the bread.* Their hearts and souls were inflamed as He spoke to them on the way,* explaining to them all the Scriptures that pertained to Him.* Let us, therefore, shout with them, saying:* Truly, the Lord is risen and has appeared to Peter.
Tone 3, Glory…
Leap for joy and clap your hands,* and with gladness sing aloud:* How strange and wonderful are Your works, O Christ!* And who can tell of all Your mighty acts, O Saviour,* Who has united in harmony and with one accord the Church!
Now…
The swords of hostile heresy now have failed,* and every memory of it, with all its tumult, has vanished away.* For we see your temple, O all-pure One, in all its splendour,* adorned with the grace of the precious icons,* and we all are filled therewith.
Praises
Stichera of the Praises, Tone 5
You came forth from the grave, O Lord, which had been sealed by the transgressors of the law,* just as You were born of the Theotokos.* For the bodiless angels did not know how You were incarnate.* Likewise, the guardian soldiers did not see the moment of your Resurrection;* for these two marvels were concealed from the curious minds* but were revealed to those who worshiped the mystery in faith.* Therefore, grant joy and great mercy to us who offer You praise.
O Lord, You demolished the gates of everlasting damnation,* and You broke asunder the chains of the grave.* You rose from the tomb leaving your wrappings in the grave* in testimony of your three-day burial;* and leaving the guards watching at the tomb,* You preceded your disciples into Galilee.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy upon us.
O Lord, who suffered for us,* the women hastened to your tomb to behold You.* When they arrived, they saw an angel sitting on the stone of the grave.* He said to them: The Lord is risen!* Go and tell the disciples that the Saviour of our souls is risen from the dead.
O Lord and Saviour,* You came into the midst of your disciples though the doors were closed* just as You came out of the sealed tomb,* showing the sufferings of the flesh which You accepted;* for You submitted to suffering patiently since You are of the seed of David.* But since You are the Son of God, You saved the world.* Great is your mercy, O Lord whom the whole world cannot contain.* O Saviour, have mercy on us.
Tone 4
O Lover of mankind,* the Church now rejoices in You, her Bridegroom and Founder,* for by Your divine Will You have delivered her from the error of idolatry,* and by Your precious Blood You have betrothed her to Yourself.* With joy she accepts the restoration of the holy icons,* and with faith she sings in praise of You* and in faith renders You glory.
Having restored the representations of Your flesh, O Lord,* affectionately kissing them, we elucidate the great mystery of Your dispensation.* For You did not appear to us, O Lover of mankind, merely in outward semblance,* as say the followers of Mani, the enemies of God,* but in the full and true reality of the flesh;* and so the icons that depict Your flesh* lead us to the desire and love of You.
A feast of joy and gladness has been revealed to us today.* For the dogmas of the true Faith shine forth,* rendering the Church of Christ bright with splendour,* adorning her with the holy icons which have now been restored;* whereby God has granted to the faithful unity of mind.
Tone 6
Moses, in the season of abstinence,* received the Law and proclaimed it to the people.* Elijah by fasting closed the heavens;* and the three Children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant.* Count us also worthy, O Christ,* through fasting to attain the Feast of Your Resurrection, as we cry aloud:* Holy God, Holy and Mighty, and Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Tone 6, Glory…
Moses, in the season of abstinence,* received the Law and proclaimed it to the people.* Elijah by fasting closed the heavens;* and the three Children of Abraham through fasting overcame the lawless tyrant.* Count us also worthy, O Christ,* through fasting to attain the Feast of Your Resurrection, as we cry aloud:* Holy God, Holy and Mighty, and Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.
Tone 2, Now…
You are truly most blessed, O virgin Mother of God.* Through the One who was incarnate of you,* Hades was chained, Adam revived, the curse wiped out,* Eve set free, Death put to death,* and we ourselves were brought back to life.* That is why we cry out in praise;* Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who finds in this your good pleasure. Glory to You!
Great Doxology
Trisagion Prayers
Troparion, Tone 2
Today salvation has come to the world.* Let us sing to Him who is risen from the tomb,* the Author of Life who has crushed Death by his death* and bestowed on us victory and great mercy.
Insistent Litany
Litany of Supplication
Great Dismissal
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 5: Let us the faithful acclaim and worship the Word,* co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit,* and born of the Virgin for our salvation.* For He willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to suffer death* and to raise the dead by His glorious resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 2: We bow before Your most pure image, O kind Lord,* and beg pardon for our sins, O Christ our God.* Of Your own will You consented to ascend the Cross in the flesh to free Your handiwork from enslavement to the enemy.* In thanksgiving we cry aloud to You:* by coming to save the world, our Saviour, You filled all things with joy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The uncircumscribed Word of the Father* became circumscribed when He took flesh of you, O Mother of God,* and when He restored the divine image to its ancient glory,* He suffused it with the beauty of God.* Therefore, confessing our salvation in deed and word,* we portray it in images.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Blessed are You, Lord God of our fathers,* and praised and glorified is Your Name for ever.
verse: For You are righteous in everything You have done to us. (Daniel 3:26,27)
Epistle
Hebrews 11:24-26,32-40; 12:1-2
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: Moses and Aaron are among His priests and Samuel among those who call upon His name.
verse: They called on the Lord, and He heard them. (Psalm 98:6)
Gospel
John 1:43-51
Hymn to the Mother of God
In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before all ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider that all the heavens. In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1) * Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
I cease not from sin, O Lord,* nor do I perceive the love You show me.* Vanquish my blindness, for You alone are good,* and have mercy on me.
The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, from fear of You I tremble,* yet I cease not from doing evil.* When called to trial, who does not fear the judge?* What man, desiring to be healed, angers the physician as I do?* Take pity on my weakness, O forbearing Lord,* and have mercy on me.
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Woe is me, for I am like the barren fig tree,* and I fear that I also shall be cursed and cut down.* But, heavenly Husbandman, Christ my God,* make my dry and barren soul bear fruit.* Receive me as the Prodigal Son,* and have mercy on me.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O Lord born of the Virgin,* pass over my manifold transgressions and wipe out all my sins.* Grant me the firm intent to turn back to You, for You alone love mankind,* and have mercy on me.
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Grant me compunction, and estrangement from evil, * and perfect amendment, * for I am sunk in the depths of carnal passions * and separated far from Thee, O God, the King of all; * and I have no other hope but Thee. * In the abundance of Thy goodness * save me, the prodigal, O Jesus all-Powerful, ** the Savior of 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.
The great Moses, cleansed by fasting, * saw the God for whom he longed. * Eagerly follow his example, O my humble soul; * make haste to cleanse thyself from evil in the day of abstinence, * and so thou shalt behold the Lord who granteth thee forgiveness, ** for He is all-powerful and the Lover of mankind.
Tone 4
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us now set out with joy upon the second week of the Fast; * and from day to day, O brethren, let us fashion for ourselves, * a fiery chariot as did Elijah the Tishbite, * from the four great virtues; * let us exalt our minds through freedom from the passions; * let us arm our flesh with purity, ** putting to flight and gaining victory over, the enemy.
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With the light of his discourse, Archippus illumined the people* and delivered them from the darkness of unbelief;* and having suffered and trampled down the enemy,* he made haste to the never-waning Radiance and rejoices now with the angels.* Through his prayers, O Master, bestow great mercy upon all.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Dragged along, pierced through,* and beset by all manner of other cruel tortures, O blessed one,* you did not deny Christ, nor did you render worship to graven images.* Wherefore, you received a crown, and pray that great mercy be granted to all.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
With the divine streams of your blood* you sanctified the earth, O divinely wise martyr;* by your wounds you wounded a multitude of evil demons,* and, ever pouring forth healings, you heal the most grievous of sufferings.* Wherefore, in your supplications, O blessed one, ask that all receive great mercy.
Glory… Now…
O Mistress, rescue me from the hands of the serpent* who slays mankind, and who wishes to devour me utterly in his wickedness.* Crush his jaws, I pray you, and destroy his snares;* that, delivered from his talons, I may magnify your aid.
Great Prokeimenon
You have given an inheritance, O Lord, to those who revere You.
verse: From the ends of the earth, I have cried to You.
verse: I will take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
verse: So, I will sing praises to Your Name forever.
Aposticha
Tone 8
Come, let us cleanse ourselves with almsgiving* and acts of mercy to the poor,* not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity.* Let not our left hand know what our right hand does;* and let not vainglory scatter the fruits of our kindness;* but in secret let us call upon Him who knows all secrets:* Father, forgive us our trespasses, for You love 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.
Come, let us cleanse ourselves with almsgiving* and acts of mercy to the poor,* not sounding a trumpet or making a show of our charity.* Let not our left hand know what our right hand does;* and let not vainglory scatter the fruits of our kindness;* but in secret let us call upon Him who knows all secrets:* Father, forgive us our trespasses, for You love 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.
O martyrs of the Lord, you make holy every place* and heal all manner of infirmities;* and now we entreat you to pray on our behalf* that our souls be delivered from the snares of the enemy.
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
Those in heaven hymn you, O joyously blessed Mother unwedded,* and we glorify your inscrutable birthgiving, O Theotokos;* pray that our souls be saved!