Event Information:
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Fri31Jan2025
🕃 The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John; Venerable Father John Bosco.
Saint with Six Stichera. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The prescribed 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.
Illumining the whole world with rays of miracles,* O Cyrus and John, all radiant beacons,* you were like to the heavens in grace,* displaying like stars* the virtues of your exalted life.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Illumining the whole world with rays of miracles,* O Cyrus and John, all radiant beacons,* you were like to the heavens in grace,* displaying like stars* the virtues of your exalted life.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O martyrs of the Lord, O rain-bearing clouds* who excelled in manifold miracles of grace,* you water the whole world noetically,* prevailing upon the healthy* to offer hymnody to God.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Truly receiving from God the skill to heal the sufferings of soul and body,* O martyrs of the Lord, you supernaturally heal all* not by means of human medicines,* but by the inspiration of God.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Surrounded by the hosts of heaven,* O radiant luminaries Cyrus and John, O valiant athletes,* you heal the bodies of those on earth and wounded souls for Christ’s sake.* Entreat Him, that He save us.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Following Christ, the Fountain of glory,* you have been shown to all as wellsprings of immortality,* and pour forth sweet streams which cure and heal men’s bodies and souls;* for you zealously shed streams of blood for Christ.
Tone 8, Glory…
Two martyrs have shone forth upon us today, healing the pangs of our souls:* Cyrus and John, the wonder-workers.* The one, embracing the angelic life and living it to the end,* united himself to Christ by the blood of martyrdom;* and the other, shining forth among the military ranks,* is now enrolled in the armies of heaven.* Wherefore, they impart healing to those who with faith celebrate their memory,* praying for our souls.
Now…
“I cannot bear to see You, O my Child,* Who gives vigilance to all,* asleep upon the Tree,* that You may bestow divine and saving wakefulness* upon those who of old fell into the sleep of perdition* by eating the fruit of disobedience!” the Virgin said, weeping.* Her do we magnify.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.
verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.
Aposticha
Tone 3
I bow down, О Christ, before Your precious Cross:* the guardian of the world, the salvation of us sinners,* the great purification and boast of the whole world.
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.
Lifting up his arms in the form of the Cross on the mountain, Moses vanquished Amalek;* and You, О Saviour, stretched out upon the precious Cross, embraced me,* saving me from slavery to the enemy,* and gave it to me as the sign of life,* enabling me to evade the arrows of my adversaries.* Wherefore, О Word, I bow down before Your precious Cross.
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.
Great is the power of Your Cross!* For it was planted in one place, yet works throughout the world;* and it made apostles of fishermen and martyrs of the heathen,* that they might pray on behalf of our souls.
Tone 2, Glory…
Come, O assembly of the faithful,* and with hymns let us crown Cyrus and John today:* the soldiers of grace and most generous fulfillers of petitions;* for in manifold ways they have been shown to all as most splendid physicians.* Wherefore, they pray for our souls.
Now…
When you beheld the most ripe Cluster,* Who you produced in your womb without cultivation, O pure one,* hanging upon the Tree, you exclaimed, lamenting, and cried out:* “O my Child, let fall a drop of sweetness,* whereby all the drunkenness of the passions may be banished!* O Benefactor, be entreated in Your loving-kindness* for the sake of me who gave You birth!”
Troparia
Tone 5
Christ our God, You have granted us the miracles of Your holy martyrs, Cyrus and John,* as a stronghold and protection.* Through their prayers, strengthen those in authority in every good deed,* for You alone are merciful and the Lover of mankind!
Glory… Now…
Since you are all-pleasing to God,* may the error of idol worship be destroyed,* and may the power of demons be trodden underfoot* by the might of your Son’s cross.* Therefore, we the faithful always sing to you in humility;* we bless you and we exalt you,* professing that you are truly the Mother of God.
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 5: Christ our God, You have granted us the miracles of Your holy martyrs, Cyrus and John,* as a stronghold and protection.* Through their prayers, strengthen those in authority in every good deed,* for You alone are merciful and the Lover of mankind!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Holy ones, you received as a grace the power of miracles:* Do not cease to pour out your wonders on us.* By spiritual skill, cut out our passions, two great physicians,* divinely inspired Cyrus and holy John!
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land,* the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.
Epistle
1 Peter 1:1-2, 10-12; 2:6-10
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together.
verse: For the Lord confers His blessing and life for ever. (Psalm 132:1,3)
Gospel
Mark 12:1-12
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.