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Event Information:
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Mon30Sep2024
🕃 The Hieromartyr Gregory, Bishop of Great Armenia.
Saint with six stichera
VESPERS ON SUNDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms.
At Psalm 140
Tone 6
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having dyed your sacred vesture in the blood of your martyrdom,* you entered into the holy of holies, O right wondrous martyr,* where there is ineffable light, divine glory, and the voice of one who keeps festival,* receiving there the reward of your labours:* an imperishable crown, glory which is everlasting* and a dwelling-place in paradise, O wise Gregory.* Pray with boldness in behalf 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.
Having dyed your sacred vesture in the blood of your martyrdom,* you entered into the holy of holies, O right wondrous martyr,* where there is ineffable light, divine glory, and the voice of one who keeps festival,* receiving there the reward of your labours:* an imperishable crown, glory which is everlasting* and a dwelling-place in paradise, O wise Gregory.* Pray with boldness in behalf of our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
The threefold waves of tortures did not shake your soul,* nor did your long imprisonment, enclosed in a gloomy pit, O glorious athlete.* But you have shone forth like light upon those who languish in the darkness of vainglory,* and have shown them to be children of the day through the font of baptism,* through higher and saving regeneration, and truly divine life,* in that you are a God-pleasing hierarch, O most wise Gregory.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
The threefold waves of tortures did not shake your soul,* nor did your long imprisonment, enclosed in a gloomy pit, O glorious athlete.* But you have shone forth like light upon those who languish in the darkness of vainglory,* and have shown them to be children of the day through the font of baptism,* through higher and saving regeneration, and truly divine life,* in that you are a God-pleasing hierarch, O most wise Gregory.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Rhipsimia, loving You, the Master of all, the immortal Bridegroom,* accepted the flaying of the skin of her body,* having first through abstinence rent asunder the dark hairshirt of the passions;* and with her the ever-memorable Gmana also struggled,* leading an assembly of virgins who suffered mightily* and cast down the ancient deceiver of Eve.* Praising them as is meet,* we glorify You, O Christ.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Rhipsimia, loving You, the Master of all, the immortal Bridegroom,* accepted the flaying of the skin of her body,* having first through abstinence rent asunder the dark hairshirt of the passions;* and with her the ever-memorable Gmana also struggled,* leading an assembly of virgins who suffered mightily* and cast down the ancient deceiver of Eve.* Praising them as is meet,* we glorify You, O Christ.
Tone 6, Glory…
Who can recount the victories of your virtues as is meet?* What mouth can describe your endurance of torture?* For in both were you triumphant, O Gregory, O saint of God,* never cease to pray that our souls be saved,* for you have great boldness, O hieromartyr.
Now…
О Theotokos, who at the sound of the archangel’s voice* conceived in your womb the Word,* who with the Father and the Spirit is equally beginningless,* you have been revealed to be more exalted than the cherubim, seraphim, and thrones.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
And now bless the Lord,* all you servants of the Lord.
verse: Who stand in the temple of the Lord, in the courtyards of the house of our God.
Aposticha
Tone 2
Like the prodigal son I have sinned against You, О Saviour.* Accept me who am penitent, О Father.* Have mercy on me, О God!
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.
With the cry of the publican I cry out to You, О Christ my Saviour:* Cleanse me as You did him,* and have mercy on me, О God!
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.
Having hated the pleasures of the earth,* the passion-bearers were granted the good things of heaven* and became fellow citizens with the angels.* By their supplications, О Lord, have mercy and save us.
Tone 6, Glory…
Noetically entering into the impenetrable cloud of ineffable light,* the martyr and pastor learned the ineffable mysteries of Christ,* for he was enlightened as a martyr and taught the mysteries as a pastor.* That is why he has been crowned with a twofold wreath of heavenly glory,* ever beseeching Christ in behalf of our souls.
Now…
Like the Archangel, let us the faithful* hymn the bridal-chamber of heaven, the portal truly sealed:* Rejoice, for whose sake have budded forth to us Christ the Saviour of all,* the Bestower of life and God!* With your arm O Lady cast down the tyrants, our godless foes,* O most pure one, O hope of Christians!
Troparion
Tone 4
Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Gregory.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory… Now…
To the One who was reared in the Temple,* close to the Holy of Holies,* and who was full of faith, wisdom, and perfect virginity,* Gabriel, the captain and leader,* offered esteem and greetings from heaven when he said:* Rejoice, O blessed One! Rejoice, O glorified One!* The Lord is with you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON MONDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Gregory.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: Having piously lived among the hierarchs,* and having trod the path of suffering,* you extinguished the sacrifices to idols* and were a defender for your flock, O godly one.* Therefore, venerating you, we sincerely cry to you:* “Rescue us from dangers by your prayers, O our father, Gregory.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The venerable ones will exult in glory* and they shall be joyful in their beds.
verse: Sing to the Lord a new song; let His praise be in the assembly of the venerable ones. (Psalm 149:5,1)
Epistle
Philippians 2:12-16
A reading from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians.
Brethren, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; He has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)
Gospel
Luke 6:24-30
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him,
“Woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)