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Event Information:
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Tue19Nov2024
The Holy Prophet Obadiah; The Holy Martyr Barlaam.
Nativity Fast.
VESPERS ON MONDAY 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.
As a splendid receptacle of the Spirit and one illumined by Him,* O Obadiah of vision most divine,* you were enriched by the image of prophecy,* the foreknowledge of things to come, and the knowledge of the truth.* Pray now that He grant 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.
Of the primary traits and essential proofs by which God is depicted* the glorious and honourable prophets partake as a gift secondarily* through communion and grace when the Lord illumines His favoured ones* with His effulgence.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Full of never-waning light,* beholding glory which transcends understanding and reason,* and standing before the Master of all,* you were a glorious prophet and a divine herald of God.* Entreat Him that He grant 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 firmer than a pillar, stronger than brass, and mightier than iron;* for, when heated by fire, each of them disintegrates and is straightway destroyed, overcome by force thereof;* but your unwavering right hand, outstretched over the burning coals, O most wise one,* triumphed most gloriously.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
As though you were a priest standing before God and coming before Him,* not with another's blood, but with your own most of all, O blessed one,* you offered an incense of sweet savour with your martyr’s hand,* not to demonic illusions, but to Christ, the Saviour and Master,* who reigns forever.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
A priest who offers and a lamb which is offered:* we joyously call you both, O most lauded one;* for as both were you immolated in the fire of torment* as an unblemished sacrifice to God.* Entreat Him that He save them that ever honour your most glorious memory.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
With the showers of the all-holy Spirit* bedew my thought, O all-pure one,* who gave birth to Christ, the gentle Rain from heaven,* who, by His compassions, washes away the incalculably boundless iniquities of men;* dry up the wellspring of my passions, and ever vouchsafe to me a torrent* of the sweetness of life by your supplications.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
The Lord hears me* when I cry out to Him.
verse: Whenever I called, the God of my justice heard me.
Aposticha
Tone 1
Great is the abyss of my many transgressions, О Saviour,* and I am grievously engulfed because of my offenses.* Grant me Your hand, as You did to Peter, О God.* Save me and have mercy upon me!
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.
In that I have been condemned for wicked thoughts and deeds, О Saviour,* grant me the thought of returning to You, О God,* that I may cry aloud: Save me, О good Benefactor,* and have mercy upon me!
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.
The confession you made before the tribunal reviled the power of the demons,* and freed mankind from delusion, О saints.* Wherefore, when you were beheaded you cried aloud:* О Lord, may the sacrifice of our lives be well-pleasing to You,* for having loved You, we have spurned this transitory life,* О Lover of mankind.
Glory… Now…
O all-hymned Virgin,* in whom Moses beheld a mystery with prophetic eyes* the bush that burned yet remained unconsumed;* for the fire of the Godhead did not burn your womb, O pure one.* Wherefore, we beseech you, as the Mother of our God:* beg peace and great mercy for the world
Troparia
Tone 2
Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.
Tone 4, Glory…
O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Now…
Let us poor sinners hasten with fervour to the Mother of God;* let us humbly kneel before her and say from the depth of our hearts:* O Lady, be kind to us and help us.* Hasten, for we are perishing under a multitude of sins.* Do not turn away your servants empty-handed,* for you are their only hope and protection.
DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: Celebrating the memory of your prophet Obadiah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord our God, your holy martyr Barlaam* has deserved the crown of immortality* on account of his good fight.* Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors* and crushed Satan’s dreadful might.* Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 1: Receiving clarity of mind from divine illumination,* the great Obadiah sees the future through the Holy Spirit.* We piously and wisely keep his memory today,* and venerate him to find light for our hearts.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 4: You became a renowned person because of your might,* and you offered yourself like incense as a sacrifice in the fire to Christ.* You received a crown of honour, O martyr Barlaam;* now pray for us at all times.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The just man shall be glad in the Lord and shall hope in Him.
verse: Hear, O God, my voice when I make my petition to You. (Psalm 63:11,2)
Epistle
1 Timothy 5:11-21
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 17:26-37
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)