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Event Information:
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Thu24Oct2024
The Holy Martyr Aretas and those with him.
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Traversing all the earth, you sowed divine teachings,* bearing the Word alone as a lamp and all riches, О disciples of the Lord;* and thereby you put emperors and torturers to shame,* and rent asunder the vain arguments of the philosophers and rhetors as though they were spiders’ webs,* calling all to recognize the Creator,* and abolishing the vain worship of demons.* Wherefore, I pray that, by your prayers,* you deliver me from those who are irrational.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
By your supplications to God, deliver us all from the turmoil of temptations,* the cruel deception of shameful heresies, the evil counsel of the demons,* the fire which burns in the absence of light,* the everlasting worm, the gnashing of teeth, and all other torments;* and beseech Him that, for the sake of your temperance and toils,* we may receive the reward of the virtues,* the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, and great mercy.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Clearly receiving all the effulgence,* and the reflected light of the ineffable dispensation of the Trinity,* insofar as human nature can so do,* the all-praised twelve perfectly manifested themselves, bringing with them the seventy-two,* and enlightening the ends of the world, darkened by the darkness of wicked heresy,* pray to Christ that He grant the world great mercy.
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.
You opposed your courage, most praised Martyr Arethas,* to the savagery of evil men!* By the grace of God, you were shown to be victorious!* Glorious one, you brought to Christ,* a choir of martyrs formed by soldiers of all ages and races!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You formed a beautiful choir, most glorious Arethas* of your holy fellow martyrs!* You struggled with them, completing the good race* and the good fight of your courageous contest! Therefore entreat Christ that He may grant our souls peace and great mercy!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The godly minded virgin martyrs* enkindled by the love of Christ,* did not heed the weakness of their nature.* Manifestly strengthened by the power of God* they trampled down the delusion of the enemy!* They were not afraid of the pain of torture* and did not fear the fiery furnace!
Tone 4, Glory…
Today with unity of mind and with hymns, faithful,* let us honour the glorious chief shepherd Arethas and his companions!* He denounced the evil one and shed his blood in confession of Christ!* Therefore a pillar of fire consumed the face of the earth* in reproof of the ungodliness of the enemy!* Therefore, Christ God, as You strengthened the athletes for Your glory,* by the prayers of Your saints,* preserve us also from temptations and tribulations,* for You are the Master of all!
Now…
O all-pure one, who have contained the infinite God in your womb* who, in His love for mankind, has become a man,* and has received our substance from you, deifying it:* disdain me not who am now sorrowing, but quickly take pity* and free me from diverse enemies and the malice of the evil one.
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.
verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.
Aposticha
Tone 5
As eyewitnesses to the mysteries of the Saviour, О disciples,* you preached the Invisible One who has no beginning, saying:* In the beginning was the Word.* You were not created before the angels, nor were you taught of men,* but by the wisdom of the Most High.* Wherefore, as you have boldness, pray on behalf of our souls.
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.
Together let us praise the apostles of the Lord with hymns,* for, having arrayed themselves in the armour of the Cross,* they abolished the delusion of the demons* and were revealed to be crowned victors.* By the supplications of them and all the saints, О God, have mercy on us.
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.
Your souls filled with insatiable love, О holy martyrs,*you did not deny Christ;* and enduring the diverse wounds of sufferings,* you cast down the audacity of the tormentors;* and having preserved the Faith intact and unharmed,* you were translated to the heavens.* Wherefore, as you have boldness before Him, ask that He grant us great mercy.
Tone 8, Glory…
Understanding beforehand the wicked and evil plan of unbelieving men,* you struggled to suffer for Christ with a bold spirit!* You struggled for Him Who in days of old in the time of the law* saved from Egypt through the wilderness* those who condemned Him to the Cross!* So now also, those who were infected with unbelief,* went from words to deeds as they condemned you to the fire.* You suffered with strong patience and unity of mind,* showing yourselves to be great among martyrs!* Since you have boldness before God,* entreat Him that our souls may be delivered from sins!
Glory… Now…
I flee to your protection, O holy Virgin Theotokos,* for I know that through thee I shall obtain salvation;* for you are able to help me, O pure one.
Troparia
Tone 1
Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for our souls.
Glory… Now…
You have borne the fire of the Godhead without being burned;* you have given birth to the Lord, the Source life,* O Mother of God and woman full of grace,* save all those who exalt you.
DIVIKNE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Opposing the vile king and reproaching his disbelief in Christ,* this martyr acted bravely and suffered torture and death.* For this the angels praise you, O Arethas, and those who suffered with you,* and generations of the faithful will always bless you* as a sure intercessor for 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: Today is the truly splendid feast of the martyrs.* an intercession of happiness is ours today.* Let us celebrate this feast and bless the Lord in heaven.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
1 Thessalonians 2:9-14
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Luke 11:14-23
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)