Daily texts will return after June 20, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Sat13Jul2024
🕃 The Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel; Our Venerable Father Stephen the Sabbaite; Our Holy Father Julian, Bishop of Kenomane
VESPERS ON FRIDAY 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.
The pre-eternal Mind has by divine communion* fashioned of you a secondary luminary* who enlightens the whole universe, O Gabriel,* and reveals to us the truly great and divine mystery which was from of old:* of Him who became incarnate in the Virgin’s womb* and, though incorporeal, became man,* that He might save mankind.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Standing before the throne of the three-Sunned Godhead,* and shining richly with the divine splendours* which unceasingly emanate therefrom,* deliver from the gloom of the passions* we who with joy form a chorus on earth* and praise you, O Gabriel, supreme commander;* and illumine us with enlightenment, O intercessor for our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Cast down the insolence of the Hagarenes* who at times descend upon your flock;* heal the schisms of the Church;* still the tempest of our boundless temptations;* and from misfortunes and evil circumstances deliver us* who honour thee with love and have recourse to your protection,* O Gabriel, supreme commander, intercessor for our souls.
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.
O our God-bearing father Stephen,* having splendidly strengthened your mind with wisdom divine,* with love of wisdom you restrained all the power of the soul with righteousness,* your wrath with manliness, and your desire with chastity;* and you made your soul a comely chariot of the virtues;* and, seated thereon, you ascended, rejoicing,* to the heights, O glorious one.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O divinely eloquent father Stephen,* you fortified your mind with theology,* bearing your wrath as a spear aimed at the blasphemous heretics,* O venerable and blessed one,* and you yearned for heavenly sustenance.* And, vouchsafed to partake thereof, O glorious one,* you stood before the throne of the King and Ruler of all.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O divinely eloquent father Stephen,* having hedged your mind all round with temperance,* you ascended on high to the Cause of all things;* you quelled the turmoil of the world and stilled the tumult thereof;* you were made steadfast in purity of mind, a most wise one,* by Him who is truly the ultimate Desire,* O divinely wise and venerable one.
Tone 6, Glory…
Rejoice with us, O all you ranks of the angels,* for your commander and our helper, the great archangel*, appearing today in his most honoured temple, bestows sanctification.* Wherefore, raising hymnody as is meet, we cry out to him:* protect us with the shelter of your wings, O great archangel Gabriel.
Now…
Seeing You nailed to the Tree, the most pure one cried out:* “O my Son and God, what is this exceedingly glorious and strange report of You,* that You endured in Your great mercy?”
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 6
Those who suffered martyrdom for You, O Christ,* endured a multitude of torments,* and they ever intercede on behalf of our souls.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.
You Cross, O Lord, was an invincible weapon of the martyrs.* They saw death before them:* but, gazing upon the life that is to come,* they became strengthened with hope in You.* By their intercessions have mercy upon us.
Their souls* shall dwell amid good things.
Your command was to me my beginning and foundation.* For You willed to fashion me as a living creature* from natures visible and invisible:* You have made my body from the earth,* and given me a soul by Your divine and quickening breath.* Therefore, O Saviour, grant rest to Your servants in the land of the living,* in the tabernacles of the righteous.
Tone 8, Glory… Now…
As captain, champion and foremost leader of the angels, O supreme commander,* from all want and tribulation, infirmity and grievous offenses* free those who hymn you with faith and entreat you, O glorious one,* who, as you are immaterial, clearly behold the Immaterial One* and are illumined with the unapproachable light of the Master’s glory.* For in His love for mankind He received flesh for our sake from the Virgin,* desiring to save our race.
Troparia
Tone 4
Princes of the heavenly hosts,* we, though unworthy, beg you to encircle us through your prayers* under the shelter of the wings of your spiritual glory.* Guard us as we come to you and sincerely cry:* “Deliver us from dangers,* O princes of the powers on high!”
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Princes of the heavenly hosts,* we, though unworthy, beg you to encircle us through your prayers* under the shelter of the wings of your spiritual glory.* Guard us as we come to you and sincerely cry:* “Deliver us from dangers,* O princes of the powers on high!”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Princes of God’s hosts, ministers of divine glory,* leaders of angels and guides of men,* pray for our welfare and for great mercy,* O princes of the incorporeal powers.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 6: Undaunted patroness of Christians,* O steadfast intermediary with the Creator,* turn not away from the suppliant voices of sinners,* but in your kindness come to help us who cry out to you in faith.* Be quick to intercede, make haste to plead,* for you are ever the patroness of those who honour you, O Mother of God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
He makes spirits His angels and flaming fire His ministers.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, you are very great (Psalm 103:4,1)
Epistle
Romans 13:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 5
verse: Praise the Lord, all you His angels; praise Him, all you powers.
verse: For He spoke, and they came into being; He commanded and they were created (Psalm 148:2,5)
Gospel
Matthew 12:30-37
Communion Hymn
He makes spirits His angels,* and flaming fire His ministers.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 103:4)