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Event Information:
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Thu07Nov2024
The Thirty-Three Holy Martyrs of Militene; Our Venerable Father and Wonderworker Lazarus, Hermit of Mount Galesius.
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You were fittingly revealed* as a divinely assembled regiment, greatly glorious ones:* a sacred army, a godly company, a holy nation;* a legion of martyrs inspired by God,* a noble gathering and unbreakable alliance,* inhabitants of the city on high!* Therefore you are rightly called blessed!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us all assemble and honour Nicander,* with Hesychius, Athanasius and Mamas,* the divine Barachius and Callinicus, Theogenes and Nicon,* Longinus and Theodore, Valerius and Xanthius,* Theodulus, Callimachus and Eugene,* the godly Theodochus and Ostrychius!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Let us together hymn the true witnesses with faith:* the valiant Hieron, the glorious Epiphanius, Maximian and Ducitius, Claudian and Theophilus* and the godly Gigantius, Dorotheus and Theodotus,* Castrycius, Anicetas and Themelius,* and also Eutychius!
Tone 6
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Having set aside all the folly of the passions* and made your flesh subject to your spirit,* you became a rule of virtue, the confirmation of monastics, * a model for those who fast, the adornment of the venerable ones!* Now you behold the ineffable beauty of your Creator* and are ever nurtured by the Spirit on the beauties of heaven!* Therefore we have assembled to celebrate with hymns and sweet songs* your honoured and most festive memory!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You cut off all the heavy burden of material things* and the great turmoil of the flesh.* Wise one, controlling even your breath,* you remained untouched by the passions,* your courageous mind strong as a pillar surrounded by spiritual armor!* Now you have truly received the divine vision and splendour* and have taken your place before Him whom you desired,* where made divine by your manner,* you delight in His never-ending radiance!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You loved the Light, like Elijah and John the Forerunner. * You observed stillness in the mountains and arid deserts,* ever learning to ascend towards God and excelling in the virtues.* Therefore you have gained your ultimate desire, all-wise one,* and you stand rejoicing before the triply-radiant light of the Trinity* from whom you received divine splendour!* Intercede with boldness on behalf of our souls!
Tone 5, Glory...
Venerable father, you did not give sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids,* until you freed your soul and body from the passions,* preparing yourself to be a dwelling-place of the Spirit!* Christ, coming with the Father, made His dwelling in you!* Since you are a favourite of the consubstantial Trinity,* great preacher, Lazarus our father,* ever pray on behalf of our souls!
Now…
O strange, awesome and great mystery!* The Uncircumscribable One has made His abode within a womb,* and a Mother remains a Virgin even after birthgiving,* for from her she gave birth to God Incarnate.* To Him, then, let us cry aloud, to Him let us raise a hymn, chanting with the angels:* Holy are You, O Christ God, who was incarnate for our sake!* Glory be to You!
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 7
О glorious apostles, pillars of the Church, preachers of the Truth, radiant beacons:* With the fire of the Spirit you consumed all delusion* and illumined the race of mankind with faith.* Wherefore, we beseech you: Entreat our Saviour and God,* that He grant peace to the world and save 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.
О apostles of Christ, husbandmen of the Saviour,* bearing the Cross upon your shoulders as a plough,* and having cleared the earth made hard by the delusion of idolatry,* you sowed the word of faith*. And you are fittingly honoured, О holy apostles of Christ.
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 most praised martyrs, spiritual lambs,* reason-endowed holocausts, acceptable sacrifices well-pleasing to God:* the earth could not hide you, but heaven received you,* and you have become communicants with the angels.* With them entreat our Saviour and God,* we pray you, that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.
Tone 6, Glory…
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth, venerable father Lazarus!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons* and reached the ranks of angels whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,* entreat peace for our souls!
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 4
O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Tone 8, Glory…
Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.
Now…
O pure Mother of God, you are the gate of spiritual life,* save from all dangers those who run to you with confidence* to glorify your holy birthgiving* for the salvation of our souls.
DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyrs* have deserved the crown of immortality* on account of their good fight.* Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion, Tone 8: Your falling tears and constant prayers soaked the pillar,* and the thoughts of your heart produced fruit a hundred-fold.* You were a shepherd, and you obtain remission for all.* O father Lazarus, beg Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 8: The radiant choir of martyrs in festal robes* adorns the Church today by their presence among us.* We celebrate their precious memory* and beg favour from you, O Saviour.* By their prayers keep us from all troubles* so that we can sing to you: Alleluia!
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: The Church of Christ praises you with a host of psalms,* for you have become one of her lights.* Do not cease your prayers to Christ,* that we may obtain the remission of our sins.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)
Epistle
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Alleluia, Tone 6
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Luke 13:1-9
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)