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Event Information:
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Wed31Jul2024
🕃 Fore-feast of the Procession of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord; The Holy and Just Eudocimus.
VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed 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.
Now, as we celebrate the prefeast, * let all human nature leap with joy,* for the Tree of the Cross, the assurance of healing,* which gives release from all sickness, suffering and affliction, * will be set before all the faithful!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Come, O faithful, let us behold the strange wonder:* How the Tree of the Cross quenches the fire of every infirmity* and extinguishes the burning heat of the passions* in those who celebrate its prefeast with faith* and honour the celebration!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
All the living celebrate the prefeast with those who have died.* For the Tree of Life, the protector of all,* the Resurrection of the dead, which killed hell,* now comes to give true grace and healing to all.
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 blessed, divinely-wise Eudocimus,* your pure soul, shining with orthodox understanding,* and shedding the light of the radiance of virtue,* illumined the fullness of the faithful,* and dispelled the darkness of demons.* Therefore, we all honour you, O wondrous one,* for you share in ever-present grace.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Possessed of a compassionate soul, a chaste mind,* a vigilant heart, unwavering faith and truly sincere love,* you passed over from earth to the heavens,* and made your abode with the choirs of the righteous.* Therefore, we all honour you with sacred hymns* and call you blessed, O holy Eudocimus.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Strengthened by divine teachings,* you drove carnal passions away from your soul* and became a pure abode of the Holy Trinity.* Therefore, you have departed into divine delight,* since God has preserved your body incorrupt* by godly judgments known to Him alone,* Who clearly glorifies you, O Eudocimus.
Tone 1, Glory…
How can we not wonder at your goodness and wisdom?* How can we fail to praise your angelic life,* your pure thoughts, meekness, humility and inner stillness,* your constant almsgiving, O venerable Eudocimus?* For you were adorned with all the virtues, O blessed one.* Therefore, ineffable joy and the Kingdom of Heaven await you.
Now…
Of old, when you beheld your Son and Master* stretching forth His hands upon the Cross,* His side pierced by the spear,* О pure Mother, you cried out, lamenting:* “Woe is me! How is it that You suffer, ridding men of their suffering,* О Lover of mankind?”
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.
verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.
Aposticha
Tone 1
The Cross was set up on Golgotha,* and has blossomed forth immortality for us from the ever-flowing fountain* of the Saviour’s side.
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.
The precious Cross of the Saviour is for us an indestructible rampart;* for, placing our trust therein,* we all are saved.
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.
О how good was your barter, О saints!* For you traded your blood and inherited heavenly things;* and having undergone trials for a time, you rejoice everlastingly.* Of a truth your commerce was good!* For, having forsaken corruptible things, you received those things which were incorrupt;* and joining chorus with the angels, you unceasingly hymn* the consubstantial Trinity.
Tone 2, Glory… Now…
You are my mighty protection, O three-branched Cross of Christ.* Sanctify me with your power,* that I may bow down and glorify you with faith and love!
Troparia
Tone 1
Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.
Tone 8, Glory…
The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Eudocimus,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.
Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.
Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O father,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Eudocimus,* your spirit rejoices with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The heavens surpassed the sun in brilliance, * for the Cross illumines everything with its radiance; * enlighten our minds and senses by its power, * O true Lover of Mankind, Saviour of all creation. * We have the Cross as an armour of peace and a trophy of strength.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Divinely armed with purity of spirit* and mightily wielding the lance of unceasing prayers,* you overcame the powers of demons,* Venerable Eudocimus, pray without ceasing for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Exalt the Lord our God,* and bow in worship at the footstool of His feet for it is holy.
verse: The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble. (Psalm 99:5,1)
Epistle
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.
verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 74:2,12)
Gospel
Matthew 23:29-39
Communion Hymn
Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord,* shine upon us.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 4:7)