Daily texts will return after June 20, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Thu31Oct2024
Holy Apostles Stachys, Amplias and others with them. Holy Martyr Epimachus (250).
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY 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.
Throughout all the earth your proclamation of salvation has gone forth,* O glorious apostles of the Lord,* illumining the ends of all the earth with the radiance of grace,* and dispelling the gloom of deception.* Wherefore, make supplication, that He grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The most godly Stachys, the preacher and apostle of Christ,* and the wondrous Apellius, Aristobulus and Urban,* Amplias and the divine Narcissus,* who preached the most Holy Trinity,* have enlightened the nations and delivered from bondage* all who bless them with faith.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O most radiant beacons of Christ, most pure vessels* who, through your faith, contained all the effulgence of the Spirit,* O pillars of the Church, all-glorious heavens* declaring the glory of God:* entreat Him that He grant to our souls* peace and 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 were shown to be a divine habitation* by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, O glorious Epimachus,* and, receiving from Him the ability to accomplish healings,* you richly imparted health to the sick who ever cry out:* O Jesus, Bestower of life,* You are the gladness, the glory and boast of Your martyrs.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
With boldness you preached the truth, O glorious one,* as a most lawful warrior of Christ,* unafraid of the bestial rage of him who judged you.* By your divinely inspired words you put to shame* him who commanded you to worship gods who do not exist, O athlete,* and preached to all our God who reigns over all.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
In that your feet are beautiful, they were adorned* to traverse the path of martyrdom unhindered,* and, finishing your course, you preserved the faith,* and have received a crown from the hand of the Master.* Entreat Him that those who with faith celebrate your all-honoured memory* may be delivered from corruption and tribulations.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
I have been cast down to the ground,* I have been slain by sins, by passions, spiritual and bodily;* wherefore, I am covered with the darkness of despair.* But raise me up now, guiding me to the life of incorruption and to the homeland on high,* where the pure voice of those who keep festival is heard,* O all-holy Bride of God.
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 6
Once, the apostles trolled the depths of the sea with nets, О Lord,* and likewise the heights of the kingdom for the sake of their doctrines.* In the first, they skilfully tested the unfathomable depths;* and in the other they attained through faith Your infinite bosom,* and they proclaimed Your timeless Son to the world.* By their supplications and those of all the saints,* have mercy on us.
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.
Once, when Your disciples were tempest-tossed in a boat, О Christ,* they cried out: “O Master, save us! For we are perishing!” *And we now cry aloud:* We pray You, О our Saviour and Lover of mankind,* deliver us from our tribulations!
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 Cross was the invincible weapon of the martyrs, О Lord;* for they looked upon imminent death, foreseeing the life which is to come,* and they were strengthened by hope in You.* By their prayers have mercy upon us!
Glory… Now…
The eye of my heart longingly seeks you, O Lady;* disdain not my feeble sigh.* At the hour when your Son shall judge the world,* be my protection and helper.
Troparia
Tone 3
Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Tone 4, Glory…
Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Now…
O Virgin Mother of God,* we acknowledge that the Word of the Father, Christ our God,* was incarnate of you, the only pure one and the only blessed one.* Therefore, we sing to you a hymn of praise and we exalt you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God* to grant to our souls forgiveness of sins.
Troparion, Tone 4: Your martyr, Epimachus, O Lord,* by his passion acquired the crown of incorruptibility from You, our God.* For possessing Your power he overcame the torturers* and shattered the feeble insolence of demons.* By his supplications, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: You became branches of Christ’s vineyard, o wise ones,* bearing the grapes of good works,* and pouring forth for us* the wine of salvation.* Receiving it and filled with gladness,* we celebrate your precious memorial.* Therefore pray that we may be granted great mercy and forgiveness of sins,* O apostles of the Lord.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: As a bright and unerring star you appeared to the world* proclaiming with your rays the Sun, that is, Christ, O martyr, Epimachus,* and you have extinguished all error.* But to us you give light, praying without ceasing for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Luke 11:47-12:1
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)