Event Information:
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Sat18Jan2025
🕃 Our Holy Fathers and Archbishops of Alexandria Athanasius and Cyril.
Saint with Six Stichera.
VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
There are no appointed psalms to be chanted tonight.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You braved dangers and patiently suffered persecution,* righteous Athanasius, divine orator.* You exposed the wicked lies of Arius and his followers;* you proclaimed the doctrine of the true faith:* the Son and Spirit are one essence with the Father,* most blessed priest!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The lightning-flash of your teaching* enlightens those in darkness.* You chase away all false doctrine.* You bore the brunt of battle for the faith,* Athanasius, uncompromised rock!* True shepherd and unshaken fortress of Christ's holy Church!* Therefore we assemble in your honour,* rejoicing to magnify you, all-praised one!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
You persistently advance in all virtue, God-inspired one;* consecrated priest,* divinely instructed and anointed by the Holy Spirit,* shepherd of truth and warrior of faith.* All the Church glorifies your memory;* through you she is perfected in holiness and glorifies the Saviour!
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
By the fire of your teachings, wise one,* the dry wood and chaff of heresy is burned away.* The host of the impious are drowned;* the faithless sink in the abyss of your teachings.* By your doctrine, blessed Cyril,* every member of the believing Church is adorned,* and with a mighty voice honours you.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Cyril, by the eloquence of your words, * the whole Church is adorned with piety.* Honouring the fruits your teaching has borne,* she glorifies your memory,* leader of the right-believing Fathers,* who defended the all-holy Theotokos as a champion at the council!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Cyril, using the staff of your teachings, * you chased the spiritual wolves from the Church.* You encircled her with the retaining wall of your words,* presenting her to Christ with unblemished doctrine.* Beseech Him to deliver us now from persecution and corruption* as we celebrate your honourable memory.
Tone 6, Glory…
Assemble, lovers of feasts!* Praise your leaders with spiritual songs!* They are our exalted patriarchs,* the all-radiant enlighteners of the world!* They have revealed the mystery of Christ to us.* Let us cry out to them:* Rejoice, wise Athanasius!* Your name means the immortal one.* Drawing a string from the lyre of your inspired doctrine,* you made a sling to drive Arius the wolf from the flock of Christ.* Rejoice, bright star, all blessed Cyril!* Champion of the ever-Virgin one!* In the midst of the council at Ephesus,* you defended the Theotokos with a roaring voice!* Rejoice, fountains of theology!* ever-flowing rivers of divine wisdom,* flooding your banks with knowledge of God.* Never cease to beseech Christ, thrice-blessed Fathers,* for those who keep your holy memory with faith and love!
Tone 1, Now…
Let us sing a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary,* glory of the whole world!* She was herself formed by human seed,* yet she became the Mother of the Master, the Gate of heaven,* the theme of the angels’ hymn and beauty of the faithful.* She was seen as being heavenly* and the Tabernacle of the Godhead.* She indeed tore down the wall of enmity between God and man,* and brought peace in its place.* She opened up the kingdom of heaven.* Let us therefore cling fast to her for she is the anchor of faith,* and let us receive as our stronghold the Lord Who was born of her.* Be of good cheer, then, and have confidence, O people of God,* for He will fight our enemies for us,* He is all-powerful!
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 1
O all-praised martyrs, you were not buried in the earth,* yet heaven has received you;* the gates of Paradise were opened to you,* and entering within you have partaken of the tree of life.* Pray to Christ that He grant peace* and great mercy to our souls.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and taken to Yourself, О Lord.
What pleasure in this life remains unmarked by sorrow?* What glory can endure upon this earth unchanged?* All is feebler than a shadow,* more deceptive than a dream;* for death in a single moment takes away all things.* But in the light of Your countenance, O Christ,* and in the joy of Your beauty,* grant rest to those whom You have chosen,* for You are the Lover of mankind.
Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.
No man is free from sin,* none save You, who alone art immortal.* Therefore, O compassionate God,* grant to Your servants a dwelling-place in the Light,* with the choirs of Your angels.* In Your loving-kindness overlook their transgressions,* and grant them forgiveness.
Glory… Now…
Truly wondrous beyond understanding* are the mighty works of your birthgiving, O Bride of God,* of which all the prophets proclaimed,* and your conception and birth giving are most glorious, O all-hymned one,* whereby your Offspring has incomprehensibly and ineffably saved the world,* in that He is merciful.
Troparia
Tone 4
God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, 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,* and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: God of our fathers, You always treat us fairly.* Deprive us not of Your mercy,* but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: As teachers of virtue and the adornment of hierarchs,* the church sings your praises:* By your prayers grant to those who venerate you with love* the achievement of virtues and deliverance from temptations,* for you are invincible.
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
Ephesians 5:1-8
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Your priests shall clothe themselves with justice, and Your venerable ones shall rejoice.
verse: For the Lord has chosen Sion; he has chosen it for His dwelling. (Psalm 131:9,13)
Gospel
Luke 14:1-11
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)