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Event Information:
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Thu16May2024
Post-feast of the Ascension. Our Venerable Father Theodore the Sanctified, Disciple of Saint Pachomius (364).
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having achieved the salvation of all mankind,* You went up to the Mount of Olives O Christ,* from where You were taken to heaven before Your disciples,* being borne there in glory.* Wherefore, amazed by the mystery,* the lower orders cried out to the higher powers:* Lift up the gates, that the sovereign God of all may enter therein* from where He had departed, as He had willed,* to wondrously effect the salvation of the world.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
As the choir of the disciples’ looked upon You ascending, they cried aloud:* O Master, why do You leave Your servants behind?* To where do You journey, O You who hold all of creation in Your hands?* Behold, we have left all things to follow after You rejoicing,* with the hope that we would ever abide and dwell with You:* Leave us not orphaned,* but as You promised, O compassionate Saviour,* send the Comforter and Saviour of our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
As You granted a final blessing to Your friends, O Master,* You taught them the mystery:* Behold, O my friends, I go to the Father,* I shall send forth to you the Comforter.* I shall not leave My beloved sheep which I have gathered,* I shall not forget those on whom I bestowed my love.* Endowed with power of the Most High God,* you shall go forth and preach to all the world the good tidings,* of the salvation of the race of mankind.
Tone 6
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The Master who of old appointed the ascent of the clouds,* later, having come down into Egypt on the light cloud,* foretold that His chosen ones would shine forth, caught up on the clouds,* in that they are divinely wise.* And with them our father Theodore the sanctified,* the unshakable pillar, steadfast in virtue,* shining with the all-radiant effulgence of Christ,* prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Egypt, which before was driven insane by demonic sacrifices and passions,* is now adorned with ranks of fasters* and is shown to be bedecked with diverse beauties and divine virtues.* Among them has shone forth the namesake of divine gifts,* the venerable Theodore, who beheld and pleased God,* and who, emulating Christ in wondrous humility,* prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
From his youth, the wise Theodore, the great faster, the divinely wise,* showed forth asceticism, abstinence, humility, patience,* the avoidance of evil and the acquisition of the virtues,* in that he is a lover of divine love,* and the wondrous one, rejoicing, has transcended all things visible,* being exalted by his manner of life;* and, conversing with God, he now prays with boldness in behalf of our souls.
Tone 6, Glory… Now…
God is gone up in jubilation,* the Lord with the voice of the trumpet,* to raise the fallen image of Adam,* and to send the Comforting Spirit to sanctify our souls.
Aposticha
Tone 2
The Lord spoke to His friends saying:* I will not leave you whom I have gathered orphaned,* but I will send to you the Most-holy Spirit.
Clap your hands, all nations;* shout to God with a voice of rejoicing.
The Angels cried aloud to the most wise Apostles saying:* O men of Galilee, in such a manner as you see Him ascend,* so shall He come again.
God is gone up in jubilation,* the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.
Descending from the Mount of Olives with great joy,* Your disciples, O Word, glorified and hymned* Your divine Ascension.
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
Having ascended into the heavens,* from where You also descended,* leave us not orphaned, O Lord;* let Your Spirit come, bringing peace to the world;* show to the sons of men the works of Your might,* O Lord and Lover of mankind.
Troparion
Tone 1
A dweller in the desert, an angel in the flesh and a wonder-worker* were you thou shown to be, O our God-bearing father Theodore.* Having received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer,* you heal the infirm and the souls of those who have recourse to you with faith.* Glory to Him who has given you strength!* Glory to Him who has crowned you!* Glory to Him who works healings for all through you!
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
You ascended in glory, O Christ our God;* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through Your blessing* that You are the Son of God,** the Redeemer of the world.
DIVINE LITURGY
First Antiphon
Clap your hands, all you nations;* shout to God with the voice of joy.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
For the Lord most high is awesome,* a great king over all the earth.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
He has subdued peoples to us,* and nations under our feet.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
God ascended amid shouts of joy;* the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save, us.
Glory… Now… Only-Begotten Son…
Third Antiphon
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord,* let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise,* and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord,* the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship* and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, who ascended in glory,* save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* giving joy to Your disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit,* and assuring them through your blessing* that You are the Son of God,* the Redeemer of the world.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 6: When you had fulfilled Your plan for us* and united things on earth with those in heaven,* You ascended in glory, O Christ our God,* in no way distant, but remaining inseparable,* You cried to those who love You:* I am with You and there is none against you.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;* above all the earth be Your glory.
verse: My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. I will sing and make music in my glory. (Psalm 56:6,8)
Epistle
Acts 25:13-19
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: God ascended amid shouts of joy; the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:6,2)
Gospel
John 16:23-33
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord who in glory ascended bodily into the heavens.
And the Irmos: O Mother of God,* you transcended both mind and word,* and in time, ineffably bore the Timeless One:* it is you who, with one accord,* we, the faithful, magnify.
Communion Hymn
God ascended amid shouts of joy;* the Lord at the sound of the trumpet.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 46:6)
Instead of We have seen the true light we sing:
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.
Instead of Let our mouths be filled we sing three times:
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, above all the earth be Your glory.