Daily texts will return after June 20, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Fri01Nov2024
🕂 Hieromartyr Theodore Romzha, Bishop of Mukachevo; 🕃 The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian.
Passing into Eternal Life of Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky (1944).
Polyeleos Feast.
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
GREAT VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
Blessed is the man… is taken.
At Psalm 140
Tone 6
Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Father and priest-martyr Theodore,* you took the yoke of Christ upon your shoulders,* and served Him faithfully,* courageously defeating the attacks of the faithless,* and entering eternal life;* there, you shine like a star, before the throne of the King above all who reign,* and the Lord over all who rule.* Pray to Him unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.
Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Father and priest-martyr Theodore,* you took the yoke of Christ upon your shoulders,* and served Him faithfully,* courageously defeating the attacks of the faithless,* and entering eternal life;* there, you shine like a star, before the throne of the King above all who reign,* and the Lord over all who rule.* Pray to Him unceasingly for the salvation of our souls.
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having gathered in faith today, we all praise you, O priest-martyr Theodore;* you were revealed to be a good shepherd, not retreating from the truth,* you were an honest overseer, and so we sing to you in faith:* O all-blessed one, the praise of truly orthodox Christians,* pray for us to the Lord that He have mercy on 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 gathered in faith today, we all praise you, O priest-martyr Theodore;* you were revealed to be a good shepherd, not retreating from the truth,* you were an honest overseer, and so we sing to you in faith:* O all-blessed one, the praise of truly orthodox Christians,* pray for us to the Lord that He have mercy on our souls.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Father and Priest-Martyr Theodore,* for the sake of the Church of God, and of the future life,* you entered the den of thieves without fear.* You were never afraid of ferocious enemies,* and although, coming to you, they caused you much affliction,* yet, praying and trusting in the Lord, you did His will.* You suffered even unto death, O long-suffering one, and now you dwell in the heavens,* and so, praising you faithfully, we honor you.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Father and Priest-Martyr Theodore,* for the sake of the Church of God, and of the future life,* you entered the den of thieves without fear.* You were never afraid of ferocious enemies,* and although, coming to you, they caused you much affliction,* yet, praying and trusting in the Lord, you did His will.* You suffered even unto death, O long-suffering one, and now you dwell in the heavens,* and so, praising you faithfully, we honor you.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Father and Priest-Martyr Theodore,* you steadfastly obeyed the commandments of Christ.* Your ascetic labor was great, O pillar of our Church,* and our hope in Heaven,* in whom faithful Christians place their trust.* For, you imitated Christ, always walking upon His way,* accepting and carrying the Cross,* and now you glorify Him together with the ranks of angels.* You are our praise in the Kingdom of God,* and the joy of those who honor you this day.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Father and Priest-Martyr Theodore,* you steadfastly obeyed the commandments of Christ.* Your ascetic labor was great, O pillar of our Church,* and our hope in Heaven,* in whom faithful Christians place their trust.* For, you imitated Christ, always walking upon His way,* accepting and carrying the Cross,* and now you glorify Him together with the ranks of angels.* You are our praise in the Kingdom of God,* and the joy of those who honor you this day.
Tone 6, Glory….
Come, O Christians of the Carpathian lands.* Let us give praise to the wondrous adornment of our Church.* For, among the angels and choirs of saints in the heavens, there is joy;* and for the ferocious demon - embitterment.* For the good one completed the path, preserving the undivided faith unblemished.* He accepted the bright crown of victory from the hands of the almighty God.* And has settled in the radiant heavenly dwellings.* Therefore, in true faith and with fervent prayers, we run to you, O Theodore,* praying that you obtain from Christ God, salvation for our souls.
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Proverbs 10:6-7; 3:13-17; 8:6, 32-35; 8:4, 12, 14, 17; 8:5-9; 22:19-21; 15:4 (2) Proverbs 10:31-11:12 (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
Tone 8
Let all the faithful come,* and give praise: to the one who participates in the Rejoicing Church,* to the unquenchable lamp, the incorruptible flower of Paradise, the Priest-Martyr Theodore;* to the defender of the unity of the Church, who suffered to the end and found the indelible treasure,* who, today, contemplates the glory of the consubstantial Trinity,* and is an intercessor for us sinners.
Your priests shall clothe themselves with righteousness,* and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
You appeared as a servant of Christ God, O Priest-Martyr Theodore.* You suffered at the hands of the godless.* Today we run to you:* the well-spring of wisdom, for you recognized it and lived in piety;* today, give medicine from the Healer above all healers:* to us who honor you with faith.
Precious in the sight of the Lord,* is the death of His venerable ones.
Today the Land of Silver [fir trees] rejoices;* because it now has a communicant at the eternal banquet,* who taught God’s people,* to contemplate the brightness of the Thrice-radiant Light,* to achieve eternal life in unity.* Today, we see the good things of Jerusalem on high,* and within it an assiduous intercessor,* who prays for our souls.
Tone 5, Glory...
Ineffable and indescribable is the grace* that you received, O Priest-Martyr Theodore.* Today, glorifying you, we pray to God:* to forgive our sins, and accept us into His courts,* and show us His glory.* So that faithfully, with you, the all-blessed one, we may be satiated with divine food.* O Most Reverend Hierarch of Christ, worthy of praise,* make us worthy to be partakers in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now...
O most pure Virgin,* you are the temple, the gate, the palace, and the throne of the King.* Christ, my Deliverer and Lord,* appeared through you to those who slumbered in darkness.* For He, as the Sun of Righteousness,* wished to enlighten those whom He created with His own hands* according to His own image.* Therefore, we beseech you, whom we always praise in song,* to unceasingly intercede with Christ that our souls may be saved;* for, as His mother, you can approach Him with the greatest boldness.
Troparia
Tone 4
You followed the apostles’ way of virtue, O priest-martyr Theodore,* and as a good Shepherd you protected the flock of Christ,* giving up your soul for it.* You, O blessed one, were killed by the godless,* thus entering eternal joy.* Adorned with wounds, O long-suffering one,* you received the crown of glory from the Lamb of God,* pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Glory... Now...
O Theotokos, 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 man,* and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: You followed the apostles’ way of virtue, O priest-martyr Theodore,* and as a good Shepherd you protected the flock of Christ,* giving up your soul for it.* You, O blessed one, were killed by the godless,* thus entering eternal joy.* Adorned with wounds, O long-suffering one,* you received the crown of glory from the Lamb of God,* pray to Him for the salvation of our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: Holy selfless physicians and wonderworkers, Cosmas and Damian, visit our infirmities.* Freely you have received, freely give to us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: As a flower longs for the sun, so you loved the sun of truth, Christ God,* as a zealous Shepherd, you taught the wisdom of virtue through-out the Carpathian lands* revealing the deepest humility of life:* like a rock of faith, you blocked the way of the godless,* as a precious pearl, you accepted suffering even to the shedding of your blood,* and so today with heartfelt reverence we call upon you, O priest-martyr Theodore,* that you intercede for our sinful souls before the Throne of the All-Merciful One.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Having received the grace of cures, you are granting health to those in need,* O glorious wonder-working physicians.* Through your visitation cast down the boldness of the enemy,* healing people by your miracles.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.
verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 48:4,2)
Epistle
Hebrews 13:7-16
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.
verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)
Gospel
Luke 12:32-40
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear*. Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)