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Event Information:
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Wed10Apr2024
Holy Martyrs Terence, Pompeius and others with them.
VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
Paschal Beginning
Kathisma Reading
The assigned 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 Lover of mankind, who after three days had arisen, said to Thomas:* Touch and see My hands and the wounds upon My feet,* and the laceration in My side,* and recognize that I am the eternal God,* that has assumed human nature,* and have undergone the Passion in an earthen form.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The Twin was in doubt as he beheld the imprints on the Master’s feet and hands;* and was struck with awe at the fearful wonder,* stretching forth his hand to touch the pure side,* he saw clearly and without doubt showed to the nations,* the three-day arising from the tomb.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
I take great delight as I behold Your arising, O my Saviour,* confirmed by that which You deemed the Twin worthy to touch.* Hence, we now proclaim that You are both God and man,* comprised in one single Person yet inseparable,* with two uncommingled natures and energies.
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 company of athletes of many names* steadfastly endured multifarious tortures,* and rejoicing, they passed over to our one God,* and rejoice with the myriads of the sacred incorporeal hosts;* for they vanquished the many myriads of the serpent* by their firm opposition* and the grace of the Spirit.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Let the all-glorious Maximus and the great Terence,* the all-wise Pompeius, the godly Mircanus and Macarius,* be honoured with hymns,* and with them the rest of the company of martyrs* who with their own blood purchased the kingdom on high* and are full of everlasting glory.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Neither starvation, nor tribulations,* neither life nor death, O glorious ones,* was able to separate you from the love of the Creator;* wherefore, you have inherited the kingdom of heaven,* inexhaustible delight and gladness without end.* Yet you also ask for us the cleansing of grace and mercy.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O Lord, by the unendurable brilliance of Your Divinity,* You came while the doors were shut;* and standing in the midst of the disciples,* You laid bare Your side and showed to them the wounds of Your hands and feet,* thereby dispelling their melancholy,* and You clearly cried aloud:* As you behold in Me the assumption of the flesh, O friends,* so in like manner I bear not the nature of a spirit.* And You compelled the doubting disciple to touch with fear, saying to him:* Now that you have examined all, come, therefore and be not doubting.* And when with his hand he perceived Your twofold nature,* he, drawn by faith, cried out in faith and fear:* O my Lord and my God,* glory be to You.
Aposticha
Tone 1
The Cross was affixed on Calvary* and blossomed forth incorruption for us* from the ever-flowing well-spring,* from the side of the Saviour.
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, O peoples, let us hymn and worship Christ* glorifying His Resurrection from the dead:* for He is our God, who has redeemed the world* from the wiles of the adversary.
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 how excellent is the trade you made, O Saints,* for having given your blood you inherited the Heavens;* and tried but for a season, you rejoice eternally.* Truly good is the trade you made!* For disdaining things corruptible, you received things incorruptible;* and rejoicing now with the angels,* you unceasingly praise the consubstantial Trinity.
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
O Thomas, touch My side with your hand, says Christ,* and come, feel the imprints of the nails.* Examine them in faith;* believe in Me, and be not unbelieving.* And when Thomas touched the Master with his finger, he cried out with a great voice:* You are my God and Lord;* O compassionately loving One, glory be to You.
Troparia
Tone 1
Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
Tone 7, Glory… Now…
While the tomb was sealed, O Christ God, You dawned as life from the sepulchre, and while the doors were shut, You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all, renewing a right spirit in us through them, according to Your great mercy.
DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
After the priest has exclaimed, Blessed be the Kingdom… and the people have responded, Amen, the clergy sing the Paschal Troparion once and the people repeat it. Then, the clergy sing the first half, and the people conclude it.
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: While the tomb was sealed, O Christ God, You dawned as life from the sepulcher, and while the doors were shut, You came to Your disciples, the Resurrection of all, renewing a right spirit in us through them, according to Your great mercy.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: With his searching hand, Thomas explored Your life-giving side, O Christ God. For when You entered while the doors were shut, he called out to You with the rest of the Apostles: You are my Lord and my God!
Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to our God. (Psalm 146:5,1)
Epistle
Acts 4:13-22
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: For God is the great Lord and the great king over all the earth. (Psalm 94:1,3)
Gospel
John 5:17-24
Hymn to the Mother of God
The Angel cried out to the One full of Grace: O chaste Virgin, rejoice! And again I say, Rejoice! Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day, and raised the dead. Let all people rejoice! Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Exult now and be glad, O Sion! And you, O chaste Mother of God, take delight in the resurrection of your Son.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem.* Praise your God, O Sion.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm147:1)
Instead of Blessed is He Who comes… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of May our mouths be filled… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
Instead of Blessed be the name of the Lord… we sing three times:
Christ is risen from the dead,* trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs* giving life.
At the dismissal, instead of Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. we chant:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death,* and to those in the tombs giving life.
After the final Amen, the Troparion Christ is risen is sung as at the beginning of the Liturgy, but with the addition:
And to us He has granted life eternal;* we bow down before His resurrection on the third day.