Category: Texts

The First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325] decreed that the Church year should begin on September 1. The month of September was, for the Hebrews, the beginning of the civil year (Exodus 23:16), the month of gathering the harvest and of the offering of thanks to God. It was on this feast that the Lord Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21), opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the words: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). The month of September is also important in the history of Christianity, because Emperor Constantine the Great was victorious over Maxentius, the enemy of the Christian Faith, in September. Following this victory, Constantine granted freedom of confession to the Christian Faith throughout the Roman Empire. For a long time, the civil year in the Christian world followed the Church year, with its beginning on September 1. The civil year was later changed, and its beginning transferred to January 1. This occurred first in Western Europe, and later in Russia, under Peter the Great (Prologue of Ohrid)

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VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

10. We pray to the Creator today,
with the words given us by Christ,
who taught us to pray each day:
Our Father who art in heaven,
give us this day our daily bread,
and overlook all our sins.

9. We pray to the Creator today,
with the words given us by Christ,
who taught us to pray each day:
Our Father who art in heaven,
give us this day our daily bread,
and overlook all our sins.

8. On Mount Sinai You gave stone tablets.
Today in Nazareth You read the prophecy,
O Christ our God in the flesh.
You took and opened the scroll
to teach the people that the Scriptures
were fulfilled in Yourself.

In Tone 5

7. O venerable Father,
you found a beautiful ladder to heaven
while Elias found a chariot of fire.
He did not leave his ascent for others;
but after death, however, you have left your pillar.
O heavenly man and earthly angel,
ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,
O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

6. O venerable Father,
even if the pillar could talk,
it would never stop proclaiming your toils, your labours, and you weeping.
Even though it held you,
it was sustained by your tears, watered as a tree.
At your endurance the angels crowd about,
people stand in awe and demons tremble.
O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

5. O venerable Father,
by the might of the Holy Spirit,
you imitated your Master,
as on a cross you ascended the pillar.
The Lord erased the condemnation written against us;
you destroyed the rise of passions.
The Lord was a lamb, and you a victim;
the Lord was on a cross, and you on a pillar.
O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

In Tone 2

4. From the good root has come forth the most excellent Simeon;
from his infancy he was nourished more on grace than on milk.
In his body he dwelt upon the high place,
but in his spirit he was raised even higher to God.
Through his virtues he edified his lofty dwelling.
He journeyed in high places with the powers of heaven,
and he became a dwelling place of Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls.

3. You shall be remembered forever,
O venerable Father Simeon;
you were pleasing to God
in the kindness of your heart, O blessed one.
Even if you have passed from us, O good shepherd,
you did not leave us in spirit,
but stand before God in love,
and have joined the angels in heaven.
Together with them, plead for our salvation.

2. The tomb of your relics, O blessed Father,
is a fountain of healing,
and your holy soul rightly rejoices with the angels.
O venerable Father, as you have confidence before the Lord
and have joined the angels,
plead with Him for our salvation.

1. O God-bearing Father,
you loved the highest knowledge
and lived outside the world above visible things.
You became an untarnished mirror of God,
and ever united to the Light, you kept on receiving light,
with clearer insight attaining blessed perfection.
O wise Simeon, pray for our souls.

In Tone 6, Glory…

Divine Grace hovered over your relics, O holy Simeon.
We will hasten towards the sweet fragrance of your miracles,
drawing from them the healing of illnesses.
O venerable Father, plead with Christ our God for our souls.

Now…

O eternal Word and Son,
together with the Holy Spirit,
Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible,
bless the beginning of the year,
keep in peace all the faithful,
through the prayers of the Theotokos and all the saints.

 

Readings
(1) Isaiah 61:1-9; (2) Leviticus 26:3-24; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

 

Aposticha

In Tone 1

We have come to the beginning of the year,
gathering to honour these saints:
Callista and her brothers, Evod and Hermogenes;
Simeon, equal to the angels, and Joshua, the son of Nun;
the seven children of Ephesus, and the forty holy women.
O lovers of feasts, sharing in their remembrance,
with insistence we shout:
O Lord, bless the works of Your hands,
and make us worthy to pass this year in spiritual progress.

To You our praise is due in Sion, O God.

O Christ our God, You created all things in Your wisdom,
and brought them from nothingness into being.
Now bless the beginning of the year
and keep our city free from harm;
and in Your mercy grant peace and happiness to all the faithful,
granting to the world great mercy
through the prayers of the Theotokos.

In Tone 2

We are filled with the blessings of your house.

You are wonderful, O God, and wondrous are Your deeds.
Your ways are unsearchable;
You are the Wisdom of God, perfect person and power.
For though without beginning,
and equal in eternity and operation,
by Your infinite power You made Your home in our world.
Beyond understanding and without changing Your divinity,
You were born of a virgin mother;
You came to seek Your creation
which You had adorned with beauty;
and You set the times and circumstances for our salvation.
Therefore, we shout to You:
O Good Master, glory to You!

You crown the year with goodness.

In wisdom you created all things,
O Word of the Father before all ages;
by Your almighty word You arranged all creation.
Bless the beginning of the year by Your goodness,
and through the prayers of the Theotokos, overthrow all heresy;
for You are good and the Lover of Mankind.

In Tone 5, Glory…

O venerable Father,
you found a beautiful ladder to heaven
while Elias found a chariot of fire.
He did not leave his ascent for others;
but after death, however, you have left your pillar.
O heavenly man and earthly angel,
ever-watchful beacon to the whole world,
O venerable Simeon, pray for our salvation.

Now…

O King, You are eternal and remain forever.
Receive the petitions of us sinners as we pray for salvation.
O Lover of Mankind,
grant Your abundance to the earth with temperate and mild weather.
Fight with the faithful against all enemy attacks as You helped David;
for they have entered the tabernacle and defiled Your most holy place, O Saviour.
But grant victory over them, O Christ our God,
through the prayers of the Theotokos,
for You are ever the victory and boast of orthodox Christians.

 

Troparia

In Tone 2
O Lord, Maker of the universe, * who alone has power over seasons and times, * bless this year with Your bounty, preserve our country in safety, and keep Your people in peace. ** Save us through the prayers of the Theotokos.

In Tone 1, Glory…
You became a column of endurance and rivalled the forefathers, O holy one, * becoming like Job in your sufferings and like Joseph in your trials, * like the bodiless angels, though you lived in the flesh. * O Simeon, our holy Father, ** intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

In Tone 7, Now…
Rejoice, O woman full of grace, ever-virgin Mother of God, * harbour and protectress of the human race. * The Saviour of the universe received flesh from you, * for you are the only one to be both mother and virgin, * forever blessed, forever glorified. ** Intercede with Christ our God that He may grant peace to the whole world.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: Fashioner of all creation,* you fixed times and seasons by Your own authority;* bless the crown of the year, O Lord, with your goodness,* preserving our nation and Your city in peace;* and save us through the prayers of the Mother of God.

Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God, full of grace,* harbour and protection of the human race:* from you the Redeemer of the world was incarnate.* For only you – ever blessed and glorified – are Mother and Virgin.* Pray to Christ our God to grant peace to the world.

Troparion, Tone 1: O venerable saint, you became a pillar of endurance,* rivalling the forefathers: Job in afflictions and Joseph in trials,* and while still in the body you lived the life of the Bodiless ones.* O Symeon our father,* entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Seeking things above, you joined yourself to those on high;* you made your pillar a fiery chariot,* through which, O venerable one, you became a companion of the angels.* With them, unceasingly implore Christ God on our behalf.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: You dwell on high, O Christ the King,* Creator and Builder of all that is seen and unseen.* You made seasons and time and the day and night.* Now bless the crown of the present year.* Guard and protect our country, this city and your people,* O Lord, so rich in mercy.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Great is our Lord and great is His strength;* and of His knowledge there is no end.
verse: Praise the Lord for a psalm is good; may praise be sweet to Him. (Psalm 146:5)

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones. (Psalm 115:6)

Epistle
1 Timothy 2:1-7; Colossians 3:12-16

Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: To You, O God, is due a hymn in Sion, and to You shall a vow be paid in Jerusalem. (Psalm 64:2)
verse: You will bless the crown of the year with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments. (Psalm 111:6-7)

Gospel
Luke 4:16-22; Matthew 11:27-30

Communion Hymn
You will bless the crown of the year* with Your goodness. (Psalm 64:12)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. (Psalm 111:6-7)* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia.

After her Dormition [Falling-asleep], the Holy Theotokos gave her girdle [sash] to the Apostle Thomas. That girdle was later brought to Constantinople and kept in a sealed reliquary in the church of the Mother of God at Blachernae, the royal foundation [Zaduzbina] of Empress Pulcheria. This reliquary was never opened until the time of Emperor Leo the Wise (886-912 A.D.). Leo’s wife, the Empress Zoe, became mentally ill and, according to a mysterious vision, she desired that the girdle of the Holy Theotokos be placed on her. The emperor implored the patriarch and the reliquary was opened and the girdle was removed and placed on the ailing empress. The empress was immediately healed. This feast was instituted in commemoration of this miracle. One part of the girdle is to be found in Zugdid, Georgia. That is to say: the daughter of Emperor Romanus was healed with the aid of this girdle and later when her father married her to the Georgian Emperor Abuchaz, she took a part of that girdle with her. By order of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, a special church was built in Mingrelia in Zugdid where that part of the miracle-working garment of the Holy Theotokos is kept. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

 

Kathisma reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 3

10. By Your Cross, O Christ our Saviour,
the power of Death has been vanquished
and the deceit of the devil has been destroyed.
Therefore, mankind, saved by faith,
offers You hymns of praise forever.

9. O Lord, all creation has been enlightened by Your resurrection,
and Paradise has been reopened;
therefore, all creation extols You
and offers You hymns of praise forever.

8. I glorify the powers of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
and I praise the dominion of the undivided Divinity,
the consubstantial Trinity,
Who reigns forever and ever.

7. We adore Your precious Cross, O Christ,
and with hymns of praise we glorify Your Resurrection;
for by Your wounds we have all been healed.

In Tone 4

6. The shrine which holds your belt, O Theotokos,
is ever known by your servants to be an ark of sanctification.
It is our glory and boast; a sacred wall surrounding us;
a fountain of healings!
Therefore being divinely gathered today,
we hymn your mighty acts
and the vast abyss of your wonders!

5. The shrine which holds your belt, O Theotokos,
is ever known by your servants to be an ark of sanctification.
It is our glory and boast; a sacred wall surrounding us;
a fountain of healings!
Therefore being divinely gathered today,
we hymn your mighty acts
and the vast abyss of your wonders!

4. Behold the all-glorious place!
Behold the ever-radiant temple in which a treasure has been laid:
the belt of the Mother of the divine Son!
People, come!  Draw forth enlightenment and mercy,
and shout with a grateful heart: all-holy Virgin, we bless you,
for we have been saved by your childbearing!

3. Behold the all-glorious place!
Behold the ever-radiant temple in which a treasure has been laid:
the belt of the Mother of the divine Son!
People, come!  Draw forth enlightenment and mercy,
and shout with a grateful heart: all-holy Virgin, we bless you,
for we have been saved by your childbearing!

2. We rejoice and keep the feast of the placing of your belt, O Theotokos,
for today you have granted it to your people,
it is a sacred garment, wealth that cannot be stolen,
a precious gift and river of healings
overflowing with spiritual treasures!

1. We rejoice and keep the feast of the placing of your belt, O Theotokos,
for today you have granted it to your people,
it is a sacred garment, wealth that cannot be stolen,
a precious gift and river of healings
overflowing with spiritual treasures!

In Tone 2, Glory…

All-pure Theotokos, the Church of God is robed in your holy belt,
as with a supremely shining diadem!
It is radiant today and cries out to you rejoicing,
rejoice, sovereign Lady!
Precious diadem and crown of divine glory!
Rejoice, for you alone are the fullness of glory and everlasting gladness!
Rejoice, refuge of those who run to you:
our intercessor and salvation!

In Tone 3, Now…

O Lady most honourable,
how can we but be rapt in wonder
at you giving birth to the Incarnate God
who, without a mother, was born of the Father before all ages?
You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,
without a man instrumentality.
He is God and man whose two natures are intact,
neither one losing any of its properties.
Therefore, O Virgin Mother,
intercede with Him to save the souls
of those who believe and confess in true faith
that you are the Mother of God.

 

Readings
(1) Genesis 28:10-17; (2) Ezekiel 43:27; 44:1-4; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11

 

Aposticha

In Tone 3

O Christ, Who darkened the sun by Your passion
and enlightened all creation by Your resurrection,
accept our evening prayer; for You love mankind.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

O Lord, Your life-giving Resurrection has enlightened the entire universe
and has revived Your creation which lay in corruption.
Therefore, we, who have been released from the curse of Adam, cry out to You:
Almighty Lord, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O God, although in Your divine nature You are unchangeable,
yet in Your human nature You underwent change by suffering in the flesh.
All creation was prostrate with fear
when it saw You hanging on the Cross,
and it groaned in sorrow as it sang the praises of Your long-suffering.
But You descended into Hades and arose on the third day,
granting life and great mercy to the world.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

You suffered death, O Christ, to deliver mankind from death.
And when You arose from the dead on the third day,
You enlightened the world
and resurrected all who acknowledge You as God.

In Tone 2, Glory…

Having cleansed our heart and mind,
let us keep feast together with the angels,
joyfully addressing the song of David
to the maiden Bride of the King of all, Christ our God,
saying: arise, Lord, into your resting place,
both You and the ark of Your holiness!
For You have adorned her as a beautiful palace,
giving her as an inheritance to Your people, O Master,
to preserve and shelter them from their enemies,
by Your mighty power, through her supplications!

Now…

We now behold a new wonder,
greater than the wonders of old.
For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?
Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?
It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;
and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.
Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.
Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him

to have mercy on us and save our souls.

 

Troparia

In Tone 3
Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.

In Tone 8, Glory…
Protection of humans, ever-Virgin Mother of God* as a mighty bulwark for your city* you gave your pure body’s robe and sash.* They remained incorrupt by your giving birth without seed.* For in you are nature and time made new.* Therefore, we pray you, give peace to your city** and to our souls great mercy.

Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.* O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 3: Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice,* for the Lord has done a mighty deed with His arm.* He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead;* He saved us from the abyss of Hades* and granted great mercy to the world.

Troparion, Tone 8: Protection of humans, ever-Virgin Mother of God* as a mighty bulwark for your city* you gave your pure body’s robe and sash.* They remained incorrupt by your giving birth without seed.* For in you are nature and time maae new.* Therefore, we pray you, give peace to your city** and to our souls great mercy.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 3: You rose from the tomb, O compassionate Lord,* and led us out from the gates of death.* Today Adam exults and Eve rejoices,* and the prophets together with the patriarchs* unceasingly acclaim the divine might of Your power.

Nw and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: Your womb which received divinity* was girded about by your precious sash, O Mother of God.* It became an unconquerable force for your city* and a generous treasury of good things:* O you, the only virgin who ever gave birth.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
Sing to our God, sing; sing to our King, sing.
verse: Clap your hands, all you nations; shout unto God with the voice of joy. (Psalm 46:7,2)

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46)

Epistle
1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Hebrew 9:1-7

Alleluia, Tone 3
verse: In You, O Lord, have I hoped that I may not be put to shame for ever.
verse: Be a protector unto me, O God, and a house of refuge to save me. (Psalm 30:2,3)
verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)

Gospel
Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)

Eutyches was one of the lesser apostles and was born in Sebastopol. He was a disciple and imitator of the Apostle John the Theologian and the Apostle Paul. Even though he is not numbered among the seventy apostles, nevertheless, he is called an apostle because he was a disciple of the great apostles and, because in his evangelical service, he displayed true apostolic zeal. Consecrated a missionary bishop, St. Eutyches traveled much, having, an angel as his companion. In prison, he received heavenly bread from an angel. When his body was scrapped with a serrated iron rod, blood flowed from him with unusual fragrant myrrh. He was thrown into a fire and before wild beasts and finally beheaded with a sword in Sebastopol. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 2

10. Come, let us adore God the Word,
Who was born of the Father before all ages,
and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;
for of His own free will He suffered the Cross
and submitted Himself to burial,
and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.

9. Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,
by nailing it to the Cross;
and He abolished the dominion of Death.
Let us glorify His Resurrection on the third day.

8. Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;
for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.
He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power
to judge the world which He has fashioned.

7. Although You died and were buried,
the angel yet declared You as Master.
He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;
for He is risen as He foretold,
because He is almighty.
Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,
and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.

6. O Christ, You have abolished the curse of the tree by Your Cross;
You have destroyed the power of Death by Your burial,
and You enlightened the human race by Your Resurrection.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
O God and Benefactor, glory to You!

5. O Lord, the gates of death opened before You in fear,
and the gatekeepers of Hades were filled with dread at the sight of You.
You smashed the gates of brass and crushed the posts of iron.
Then You burst our chains asunder,
and led us out from the darkness, away from the shadow of death.

4. Let us all come and prostrate ourselves in the house of the Lord,
singing this hymn of salvation:
O Christ, You were crucified on the tree and rose from the dead;
and You now abide in the bosom of the Father.
Please cleanse us of our sins.

In Tone 8

3. Blessed Martyr Eutychus,
you were trained in holiness by the honoured disciple:
The Theologian and Preacher of the Word!
You were taught the whole of his most sacred revelation,
and were revealed yourself to be a light,
illumining every mind by grace through your sacred theology.
Therefore we honour your holy memory!

2. Wholly blessed one,
you tore down the fortress of error with the weapon of firm patience!
You endured imprisonment and a glorious death;
therefore you received immortality!
You dwell with the choirs of martyrs and the ranks of angels;
you are fully deified in a godly manner,
perfectly partaking in the higher communion!

1. When you were locked in a dungeon,
you received the heavenly bread of life!
When you were thrown into the flames, glorious one,
you remained unharmed!
You submitted to cruelly inflicted beatings,
taming the raging of wild beasts by your prayers!
When you were beheaded by the sword,
you were taken up into heaven as by the chariot of God!

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away
with the realization of grace.
For as the bush had burned without being consumed,
so you gave birth while a virgin
and you remained a virgin.
Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.
Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,
the Saviour of our souls.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 2

Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,
has enlightened the whole universe;
and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.
Almighty God, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,
You have abolished the curse of the tree;
by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;
and by Your Resurrection You enlightened the human race.
We, therefore, cry out to You:
O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,
the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.
The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,
and the people showed their ignorance of Your power
by asking that Your tomb be sealed.
But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial
and then arose on the third day.
O Lord, glory to You!

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Christ, Giver of Life,
You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.
In Your power You descended into Hades;
and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,
You placed them in Paradise.
Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your Resurrection,
and cleanse our souls.

Glory… Now…

We now behold a new wonder,
greater than the wonders of old.
For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?
Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?
It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;
and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.
Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.
Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him
to have mercy on us and save our souls.

 

Troparia

In Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”

In Tone 4, Glory…
Having shared the way of life of the apostles,* and having become a successor to their thrones,* labouring you found the divinely inspired way to contemplation.* Therefore, forthrightly ministering the word of truth,* you shed your blood for the faith, O hieromartyr, Eutyches.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

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 man,*and saved our souls from death.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and an unfailing hope of patronage,* for as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)

Epistle
1 Corinthians 9:2-12

Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)

Gospel
Matthew 18:23-35

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

Myron was a priest in the town of Achaia of wealthy and prominent origin and by nature was kind and meek, both a lover of God and of man. During the reign of Emperor Decius and, on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, pagans charged into the church, dragged Myron out from the service and subjected him to torture. During the time of torture in the fire, an angel appeared to him and encouraged him. After that, they began to cut his skin in strips from his head to his feet. The martyr grabbed one such strip of his skin and, with it, struck the torturer – the judge – on the face. The judge Antipater, as though possessed, took a sword and killed himself. Finally, they took Myron to the city of Cyzicus and there slew him with the sword in the year 250 A.D. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

 

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

10. Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,
and grant us forgiveness of sins,
for You alone manifested the Resurrection to the world.

9. O you people, walk around Zion and encompass her.
And there give glory to Him Who is risen from the dead.
For He is our God
Who delivers us from our sins.

8. Come you people, praise and worship Christ.
Glorify His Resurrection from the dead;
for He is our God Who delivered the world
from the deceit of the enemy.

7. Rejoice, O you heavens;
sound the trumpets, you foundations of the earth;
cry out with joy, O you mountains.
For behold, Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross;
the Giver of Life has put Death to death;
and the Lover of Mankind
has raised up Adam.

In Tone 2

6. With what lips shall we call the Theotokos blessed?
For we are poor and worthless!
She is truly more honourable than the whole creation;
more holy than the cherubim and all the angels!
She is the unshakable throne of the King;
the house in which the Most High came to dwell;
the holy place of God!
Today, on her divine memorial,
she richly grants the faithful great mercy!

5. What spiritual songs shall we now offer you, all-holy one?
For by your deathless Dormition you have sanctified the whole world,
and have passed over to the celestial places
where you contemplate the beauty of the King of all.
As His Mother, you rejoice at this
together with the ranks of escorting angels
and with the souls of the righteous!
With them, pure one, ask for us peace and great mercy!

4. What songs of awe did they offer you then, Virgin,
when all the apostles of the Word
stood around your deathbed and cried out with wonder:
The palace of the King is now departing;
the ark of holiness now is raised on high!
Let the gates be lifted up that the gate of God
may enter in with great joy,
unceasingly asking great mercy for the world!

In Tone 2

3. When the conflagration set by the godless was consuming every land
you were set ablaze, blessed one, by the burning of the Spirit.
You preached the Word, Who in His goodness,
wrapped himself in flesh taken from the divine Virgin Maiden!
Therefore, strengthened by the might of grace,
you endured fire, torments and cruel persecutions.

2. When the shameful enemy strove with flatteries
to sway you from your intention,
adorned with courage you opposed him steadfastly!
You endured the pains which brought you to a painless rest:
To the Kingdom of heaven and everlasting delight,
all-praised Martyr Myron!

1. Martyr, when the enemy flogged you with thongs of hide,
destroying your holy flesh with constant lashings,
you turned your gaze to Christ, the contest’s Judge.
He stretched out His hand of divine might to you!
Therefore, having completed the race,
you received great honours, all-courageous athlete Myron!

In Tone 2, Now…

She who is higher than the heavens
and more glorious than the cherubim;
who is honoured more highly than all creation;
who by reason of her surpassing purity
became the receiver of the ever-lasting Essence —
today commends her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son.
Together with her all things are filled with joy,
and she grants us great mercy!

In 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!

 

Aposticha

In Tone 1

O Christ, by Your Passion we have been freed from suffering;
and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.
O Lord, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,
let the nations clap their hands with joy.
For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,
has nailed our sins to the Cross;
He has put Death to death,
and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,
He has given life to all mankind.

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O God, You are above all understanding;
You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.
Yet of Your own free will,
You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.
When You descended below,
Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;
but the souls of the just received You with great joy.
Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.
What a wonder this is!
You are the life of all and have tasted death
in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.
O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief
as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;
but they did not find Your most pure body.
Instead, they found an angel
who proclaimed Your unique and glorious Resurrection,
and commanded them to announce to Your Apostles:
The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

In Tone 2, Glory… Now…

The all-immaculate Bride and Mother
in whom the Father was well-pleased:
She who was preordained by God to be the holy abode
of the union without confusion,
delivers her undefiled soul to her Maker and God today.
The bodiless powers receive her in a divine manner;
she who is truly the Mother of Life departs to life!
She is the lamp of the unapproachable Light
the salvation of the faithful and the hope of our souls.

 

Troparia

In Tone 1
Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your Kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan!** O only Lover of Mankind.

In Tone 1, Glory… Now…
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans,* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day,* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan,* O only Lover of mankind.

Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 1: You arose in glory from the tomb* and with Yourself You raise the world.* All humanity acclaims You as God.* and death has vanished.* Adam exults, O Master,* and Eve, redeemed from bondage now, cries out for joy:* “You are the One, O Christ, Who offer resurrection to all.”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)

Epistle
1 Corinthians 4:9-16

Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued people under me.
verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48,51)

Gospel
Matthew 17:14-23

Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* V

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

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The Lord Who, on Mt. Sinai, commanded by His Fifth Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), showed by His own example how one should respect one’s parent. Hanging on the Cross in agony, He remembered His mother and indicating to the Apostle John, said to her: “Woman behold your son” (St. John 19:26). After that, He said to John: “Behold your mother” (St. John 19:27). And so providing for His mother, He breathed His last. John had a home on Zion in Jerusalem in which the Theotokos settled and remained there to live out the end of her days on earth. By her prayers, gentle counsels, meekness and patience, she greatly assisted the apostles of her Son. Primarily, she spent her entire time in Jerusalem often visiting those places which reminded her of the great events and of the great works of her Son. She especially visited Golgotha, Bethlehem and the Mount of Olives. Of her distant journeys, her visit to St. Ignatius the Theophorus [God-bearer] in Antioch is mentioned, as well as her visit to Lazarus (whom our Lord resurrected on the fourth day), the Bishop of Cyprus, her visit to the Holy Mountain [Athos] which she blessed and her stay in Ephesus with St. John the Evangelist [The Theologian] during the time of the great persecution of Christians in Jerusalem. In her old age, she often prayed to the Lord and her God on the Mount of Olives, the site of His Ascension, that He take her from this world as soon as possible. On one occasion, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and revealed to her that within three days she will find repose. The angel gave her a palm-branch to be carried at the time of her funeral procession. She returned to her home with great joy, desiring in her heart once more to see in this life, all of the apostles of Christ. The Lord fulfilled her wish and all of the apostles, borne by angels in the clouds, gathered at the same time at the home of John on Zion. With great rejoicing, she saw the holy apostles, encouraged them, counseled them and comforted them. Following that, she peacefully gave up her soul to God without any pain or physical illness. The apostles took the coffin with her body from which an aromatic fragrance emitted and, in the company of many Christians, bore it to the Garden of Gethsemane to the sepulchre of [her parents], Saints Joachim and Anna. By God’s Providence, they were concealed from the evil Jews by a cloud. Anthony, a Jewish priest, grabbed the coffin with his hands with the intention of overturning it but, at that moment, an angel of God severed both his hands. He then cried out to the apostles for help and was healed since declaring his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Thomas was absent, again according to God’s Providence, in order that a new and all-glorious mystery of the Holy Theotokos would again be revealed. On the third day, Thomas arrived and desired to venerate [kiss] the body of the Holy All-pure one. But when the apostles opened the sepulchre, they found only the winding sheet and the body was not in the tomb. That evening, the Theotokos appeared to the apostles surrounded by a myriad of angels and said to them: “Rejoice, I will be with you always”. It is not exactly known how old the Theotokos was at the time of her Falling Asleep but the overwhelming opinion is that she was over sixty years of age. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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VESPERS

Kathisma
Blessed is the man… is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 1

8. O what a wonder! The Source of Life is placed in a tomb;
the grave becomes a ladder to heaven.
Rejoice, Gethsemane, holy chamber of the Mother of God!
As for us, O faithful,
let us cry out with Gabriel, the prince of angels:
Rejoice, O woman full of grace, the Lord is with you,
the Lord, Who because of you, bestows great mercy upon the world.

7. O what a wonder! The Source of Life is placed in a tomb;
the grave becomes a ladder to heaven.
Rejoice, Gethsemane, holy chamber of the Mother of God!
As for us, O faithful,
let us cry out with Gabriel, the prince of angels:
Rejoice, O woman full of grace, the Lord is with you,
the Lord, Who because of you, bestows great mercy upon the world.

6. O Lady, marvellous are your mysteries.
You have become the throne of the Most High,
and today you are taken from earth to heaven.
Your glory shines forth with the radiance of divine grace
and surpasses every other splendour.
Rise up to the heavens, all you virgins,
together with the Mother of our King, and cry out:
Rejoice, O Woman full of grace, the Lord is with you,
the Lord, Who because of you,
bestows great mercy upon the world.

5. O Lady, marvellous are your mysteries.
You have become the throne of the Most High,
and today you are taken from earth to heaven.
Your glory shines forth with the radiance of divine grace
and surpasses every other splendour.
Rise up to the heavens, all you virgins,
together with the Mother of our King, and cry out:
Rejoice, O Woman full of grace, the Lord is with you,
the Lord, Who because of you,
bestows great mercy upon the world.

4. Behold, all the heavenly hosts,
the Dominations, Thrones, and Principalities,
Virtues, Powers, Cherubim, and Seraphim,
sing a hymn of glory to your Dormition.
The entire human race rejoices at your glory;
and kings, together with the Angels and Archangels, sing out to you:
Rejoice, O Woman full of grace, the Lord is with you,
the Lord, Who because of you,
bestows great mercy upon the world.

In Tone 4

3. The heavens rejoice in your glorious Dormition,
and the angelic hosts are filled with joy;
all the universe is exalting
as they sing hymns of farewell to you,
O Mother of the Master of the universe,
O all-holy Virgin who did not know wedlock.
You have delivered mankind from the condemnation of old.

2. At the divine command
the chosen apostles hastened from the ends of the universe to bury you;
and, seeing you carried from earth to heaven,
they praised you with the words of Gabriel:
Rejoice, O bearer of the entire Divinity!
Rejoice, O Virgin, for you alone brought heaven and earth together
in giving birth to your Son.

1. You have given birth to Life,
and now by your holy Dormition
you have crossed the borders into eternal life.
The Angels, Principalities, and the Virtues,
the prophets, the apostles, and all creation form a procession,
and your Son receives your pure soul into His immaculate hands,
O Virgin Mother and Bride of God.

In Tone 1, Glory… Now…

The holy apostles were taken up from every corner of the world
and carried upon clouds by the command of God.
They gathered around you pure body, O Source of Life,
and kissed it with reverence.
As for the most sublime powers of heaven,
they came with their own leader
to escort and to pay their last respects to the most honourable body
that had contained Life itself.
Filled with awe, they marched together with the apostles in silent majesty,
professing to the princes of heaven in a hushed voice:
Lift up your gates and receive, with becoming majesty,
the Mother of the Light that never fades,
because, through her, salvation was made possible for mankind.
She is the One upon whom no one may gaze,
and to whom no one is able to render sufficient glory;
for the special honour that made her sublime is beyond understanding.
Therefore, O Most Pure Mother of God,
forever alive with your Son, the Source of Life,
do not cease to intercede with Him
that He may guard and save Your people from every trouble;
for you are our intercessor.
To you we sing a hymn of glory
with loud and joyful voice, now and forever.

 

Readings
(1) Genesis 28:10-17; (2) Ezekiel 43:27 – 44:4; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11

 

Lytia

In Tone 1

Because the disciples had been both the eyewitnesses and servants of the Word,
it was also fitting that they should witness the final mystery,
the Dormition of His Mother according to the flesh.
They not only saw the ascension of the Saviour from earth to heaven,
but they were also witnesses to the translation of the Mother who bore Him.
They came to Zion to escort the Virgin, who surpasses the Cherubim,
as she hastened in her journey to heaven.
With them, let us also bow low
before the One who intercedes for our souls.

In Tone 2

She is higher than the heavens,
more glorious than the Cherubim,
and more honourable than all creation.
Her outstanding purity became the dwelling place of eternal divinity.
Today she places her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son.
With her, the universe is filled with joy,
and the grace of salvation is given to us.

The most pure Spouse, the Mother of the One in Whom the Father is well-pleased,
she whom God had chosen to become the dwelling place of His natures
that had been united without confusion,
today delivers her most pure soul to her divine Creator.
The angels welcome her in a divine manner,
and the Mother of Life is now transferred to life.
She is the lamp of the inaccessible brightness,
the hope of our souls, and the salvation of believers.

In Tone 3

Come, all you ends of the earth,
let us praise the blessed passing of the Mother of God.
She delivers her sinless soul into the hands of her Son;
through her holy Dormition the world is given new life.
With psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles,
the whole world celebrates in joy
together with the angels and apostles.

In Tone 5, Glory…

Come, all you lovers of the feast,
let us form choirs and fill the Church with our hymns
in honour of the falling asleep of the Ark of God.
Today heaven indeed opens its bosom
to receive the Mother of the One whom the universe cannot contain.
The earth gives back the Source of Life
and receives the blessing of the Lord.
The choir of angels and apostles look with awe
as they see the One who gave birth to the Prince of Life
now herself pass from life to life.
Let us all bow together before her and say:
O Lady, do not forget the children of your house
who celebrate your holy Dormition in faith.

Now…

O people, sing to the Mother of our God;
for, on this day, she delivers her radiant soul into the most pure hands
of the One Who took flesh of her without seed.
In His presence she intercedes unceasingly
that He grant peace and great mercy to the world.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 4

All you peoples of the earth
sing together a hymn of glory
to the pure and most holy Virgin
from whom the Word of God came to us,
receiving flesh from her in a manner beyond understanding.
Let us cry out: Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is your womb that contained Christ,
into whose hands you committed your soul.
O pure Virgin, intercede with Christ that He may save our souls!

Go up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your strength.

O pure and most holy Virgin,
the choirs of angels in heaven and the assembly of people on earth
sing the praises of your glorious Dormition;
for you have become the Mother of the Creator of all, Christ our God.
We beg you to intercede constantly for us;
for, next to God, we have placed our hope in you,
O most glorious and ever-virgin Mother of God.

The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on His word.

With all the people of the earth,
let us sing to Christ the hymn of praise that David has sung of old.
Together with her escort of virgins,
with happiness and rejoicing, she will be led to the King;
for the fruit of David’s seed,
the One through whom we have been led to God,
has been lifted up to glory by her Son and Master
in a way that defies description.
Since she is the Mother of God,
we sing to her a hymn of glory and cry out:
Deliver us from all harm and guard our souls from tribulations.
We confess and proclaim that you are the Mother of God.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Mother of God,
at the time you were carried up to the One born of you
in a manner beyond understanding,
James and Peter were present;
James, the brother of the Lord and first bishop,
and Peter, the honourable head of the apostles and prince of theologians.
The whole college of apostles was also there,
all in one accord proclaiming things divine,
praising the astounding mystery of Christ,
and with joy, preparing your body, O most glorious One,
source of Life and temple of God.
The most holy angelic powers,
were rapt in wonder at the sight of this miracle,
and they said to each other:
Lift up your gates to receive the Mother of the Creator of heaven and earth.
Come, let us all sing hymns to her noble and holy body
that has contained the invisible Lord.
Therefore, we also celebrate your feast;
and, O woman worthy of all praise, we cry out:
O glorious Lady, exalt the Christian peoples
and intercede with Christ God that He may save our souls.

 

Troparion

In Tone 1

In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death. (thrice)

 

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FESTAL MATINS

The Lord is God, Tone 1

Troparion, Tone 1
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death. (twice)

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 1
The venerable choir of the divine apostles* was reunited in a marvellous manner* to bury your most pure body, O glorious Mother of God.* With them the multitude of angels also sang in honour of your passage to heaven* which we now celebrate in faith.

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 3
In giving birth, your conception was without seed;* in falling asleep, your body did not undergo corruption.* You have passed from one miracle to another, O Mother of God.* How did the Virgin who knew not man nourish an infant?* And how did the Mother of God know death?* Therefore, with the angels we cry out to you:* Rejoice, for you are full of grace.

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Polyeleos

Exaltation
We extol you,* O all-pure Mother of Christ our God,* and we honour* your all-glorious Dormition.
verses:
Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth; sing praise to his name; give to Him glorious praise…
Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, You and the ark of your strength…
I will make your name remembered from generation to generation…
Glory… Now…
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3 times)…

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4
Tell us, O David, what feast is now being celebrated?* The one, he said, of which I sang in the book of the Psalms.* Christ has transferred into the dwelling place above* the One who is virgin, daughter, and servant of God,* she who bore Him in her womb without seed.* Therefore, mothers and daughters and Christian spouses sing with joy and say:* Rejoice, O Virgin who has passed into the heavenly kingdom.

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Gradual Hymns
Take 1st antiphon of Sunday, Tone 4

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
I will make your name remembered* from generation to generation.
verse: Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.

Let Everything That Has Breath (Tone 4)

Gospel
Luke 1:39-49

Psalm 50

After Psalm 50
Tone 6, Glory…
Through the prayers of the Theotokos,* O merciful Lord,* cleanse us from the multitude of my transgressions.

Now…
Through the prayers of the Theotokos,* O merciful Lord,* cleanse us from the multitude of my transgressions.

Have mercy on me, God, in your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
O Tabernacle all-pure,* when the translation of your body took place,* the apostles gathered around your bier with fear and trembling.* They gazed upon you and were filled with awe.* In tears, Peter cried out to you:* O Virgin,* I see you laid out as one dead,* yet you gave birth to the Life of the universe.* I am struck with amazement,* for in you dwells the One who shall be our joy in the life beyond.* O pure Virgin, intercede unceasingly with your Son and God* to save the Christian people.

Canon

Ode 1, Tone 1
(Irmos) Your holy and noble death, O Virgin, is adorned with the splendid robe of divine glory. It brings all the faithful together in joy. Led by Miriam, with dances and timbrels they praise your only-begotten Son, for He has been greatly glorified.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
The heavenly choirs encircled your holy body in Sion while the choir of apostles, assembling from the ends of the earth, stood beside you, O Theotokos. Along with them, we also honour your holy memory, O most pure Virgin.
Glory… Now…
You have gained victory over nature by giving birth to God, O pure Virgin; yet, like your Son and Creator, you have followed the laws of nature while being above it. Therefore, through your death, you have risen to eternal life with your Son.
(Katavasia) Your holy and noble death, O Virgin, is adorned with the splendid robe of divine glory. It brings all the faithful together in joy. Led by Miriam, with dances and timbrels they praise your only-begotten Son, for He has been greatly glorified.

Ode 3, Tone 1
(Irmos) You are the Creator, Wisdom, and Power of God, O Christ; and You uphold all things by your will. Make your Church firm and faithful, for You alone are holy and dwell among the saints.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
O most pure Virgin, the holy apostles acknowledged you to be both a mortal and one who was beyond and above nature, the Mother of God. Therefore, they approached your body with fear and awe, and beheld you, the tabernacle that had contained God, radiant with glory.
Glory… Now…
The bold hands of the impudent one were quickly cut off by the righteousness of God in order to preserve the honour of the living Ark, the glory of the Divinity, from whom the Word had taken flesh.
(Katavasia) You are the Creator, Wisdom, and Power of God, O Christ; and You uphold all things by your will. Make your Church firm and faithful, for You alone are holy and dwell among the saints.

Ode 4, Tone 1
(Irmos) O Christ, the prophets foretold your incarnation from a virgin, and that You would be the glory and light of revelation to the Gentiles. The abyss cries out in joy to You: Glory to your power, for You alone love all people.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
Come all you faithful, and behold the mystery; for the holy mountain of the Lord is raised above the heavens as we look on. The earthly heaven takes up her dwelling in a heavenly and immortal land.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
O pure Virgin, your death was a passing over into a better and eternal life. It transported you from this earthly life to one that is divine and knows no end; now you behold your Son and Lord in joy.
Glory… Now…
The heavenly gates opened wide, and the heavenly choirs sang as Christ welcomed the virgin treasure of his own mother. The Cherubim served you in gladness, and the Seraphim praised you in joy.
(Katavaisa) O Christ, the prophets foretold your incarnation from a virgin, and that You would be the glory and light of revelation to the Gentiles. The abyss cries out in joy to You: Glory to your power, for You alone love all people.

Ode 5, Tone 1
(Irmos) I will speak of your divine and wondrous mysteries, O Christ. You have revealed yourself as the divine Son, radiant with eternal brightness, who took flesh from a virgin. You have risen as the sun, bestowing light to those who dwelt in the shadow of darkness.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
The choir of apostles was transported upon a cloud from the ends of the earth to Sion so that they might minister to you, O Virgin. From you, O swift cloud, the Almighty God, the Sun of Righteousness, bestowed light upon those who were in the shadow of darkness.
Glory… Now…
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostles sang out a burial hymn to the Mother of God in a voice louder than trumpets: Rejoice, O pure source of the Incarnation of God. Through you, salvation comes to the whole world.
(Katavasia) I will speak of your divine and wondrous mysteries, O Christ. You have revealed yourself as the divine Son, radiant with eternal brightness, who took flesh from a virgin. You have risen as the sun, bestowing light to those who dwelt in the shadow of darkness.

Ode 6, Tone 1
(Irmos) Your three-day burial, O Lord, was prefigured by the sea monster, breathing forth fire; Jonah was the interpreter of this mystery; for coming forth from the monster safe and sound, he cried out: I will offer hymns of praise to You, O Lord.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
The Divine King of all bestowed upon you gifts that are beyond nature. Just as He preserved your virginity in childbirth, He saved your body from suffering corruption in the tomb. He exalted you, his Mother, through your divine passage in glory.
Glory… Now…
O Virgin, your Son has granted that you dwell in the Holy of Holies as a bright lamp, burning with the immaterial fire, as a golden censer burning with divine coal. You are the vessel containing manna, the rod of Aaron, the tablet written by God, the holy Ark, and the table of the Bread of Life.
(Katavasia) Your three-day burial, O Lord, was prefigured by the sea monster, breathing forth fire; Jonah was the interpreter of this mystery; for coming forth from the monster safe and sound, he cried out: I will offer hymns of praise to You, O Lord.

Kontakion, Tone 2
The grave and death did not detain the Mother of God. * She prays perpetually and is our unfailing hope of intercession; * for He who dwelt in the womb of the ever-Virgin, * transferred to life the Mother of Life.

Ikos
O Saviour, encircle my heart so that I may praise this stronghold of the world, your most pure Mother; may my words be as strong as a fortress, and may my thoughts acquire power and strength. You always fulfill the petitions of those who come to You in faith. Therefore, grant me the words, the tongue, and the thoughts that are without shame; for every gift that enlightens us comes from You, the Enlightener of our souls, and the Lord who dwelt in a virginal womb.

Ode 7, Tone 1
(Irmos) Through the power of God’s love, the three youths overcame the anger and fire, extinguished the flames with dew, and scorned the anger of the tyrant. Inspired by God, they became as a three-stringed harp singing in the flaming furnace: Blessed are You, O most glorious God, for You are the God of our Fathers.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
Moses, overcome by wrath, destroyed the tablets made by God and inscribed by the Holy Spirit. But the God of Moses preserved the virginity of his own Mother in her childbirth, and now has carried her to the heavenly dwelling. Rejoicing with her, we sing out to Christ: Blessed are You, O most glorious God, for You are the God of our Fathers.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
O faithful, let us sing on this sacred and festive day of the Translation of the pure Virgin. With the cymbals of our pure lips, the melodious lyres of our hearts, the sweet-sounding trumpets of our uplifted minds, and the joyful clapping of our hands, let us say: Blessed are You, O most glorious God, for You are the God of our Fathers.
Glory… Now…
Inspired by God, the faithful have assembled to witness the passing over of God’s glorious Tabernacle from Sion to the heavenly dwelling place where the joyful singing of those celebrating the feast can be heard praising Christ and saying: Blessed are You, O most glorious God, for You are the God of our Fathers.
(Katavasia) Through the power of God’s love, the three youths overcame the anger and fire, extinguished the flames with dew, and scorned the anger of the tyrant. Inspired by God, they became as a three-stringed harp singing in the flaming furnace: Blessed are You, O most glorious God, for You are the God of our Fathers.

Ode 8, Tone 1
(Irmos) The mighty angel of God showed to the three holy youths a fire which was refreshing to them but destructive to the impious. He made the Theotokos a source of life gushing forth immortality to those who sing: Because we have been saved, we glorify the one and only Creator and praise Him above all forever.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us!
The choir of apostles attended the divine Ark of holiness in Sion while singing: O Tabernacle of the living God, where are you going? Continue to guard those who sing to you in faith: Because we have been saved, we glorify the one and only Creator and praise Him above all forever.
Glory… Now…
As the pure Virgin left the earth, she raised up her hands in which she had embraced the incarnate God, and she confidently spoke to her Son, saying: Remember forever those whom You have given me and who sing out to You: Because we have seen saved, we glorify the one and only Creator and praise Him above all forever.
(Katavasia) The mighty angel of God showed to the three holy youths a fire which was refreshing to them but destructive to the impious. He made the Theotokos a source of life gushing forth immortality to those who sing: Because we have been saved, we glorify the one and only Creator and praise Him above all forever.

Omit Magnificat

Ode 9
Seeing the Dormition of the Most Pure One, the angels were filled with awe at how the Virgin went from earth to heaven.
(Sung before each of the following)
In you, O pure Virgin, the laws of nature were overcome: in giving birth you remained a virgin, and in your death, heralded life. You remained a virgin after giving birth and remained alive after death, always saving your descendants, O Mother of God.
The heavenly choirs were astonished as they beheld their Master in Sion holding the soul of a woman in his hands. As a Son, it was fitting that He spoke to her who had given birth to Him without stain and said: Come and share the glory of your Son and your God.
Glory… Now…
The assembly of apostles gathered around your body which had contained God. Beholding it with awe, they cried out with a clear voice: Save your people as you pass over to the heavenly mansions of your Son.

Hymn of Light, Tone 3
O holy apostles of Christ, gathered here from the ends of the universe,* carry my body to the garden of Gethsemane and place it in the tomb.* And You, my Son and my God, receive my breath and my spirit. (3)

At the Praises

In Tone 4

The heavens rejoice in your glorious Dormition,
and the angelic hosts are filled with joy;
all the universe is exalting
as they sing hymns of farewell to you,
O Mother of the Master of the universe,
O all-holy Virgin who did not know wedlock.
You have delivered the human race from the condemnation of old.

The heavens rejoice in your glorious Dormition,
and the angelic hosts are filled with joy;
all the universe is exalting
as they sing hymns of farewell to you,
O Mother of the Master of the universe,
O all-holy Virgin who did not know wedlock.
You have delivered the human race from the condemnation of old.

At the divine command, the chosen apostles
hastened from the ends of the universe to bury you;
and, seeing you carried from earth to heaven,
they praised you with the words of Gabriel:
Rejoice, O bearer of the entire Divinity!
Rejoice, O Virgin, for you alone brought heaven and earth together
in giving birth to your Son.

You have given birth to Life,
and now by your holy Dormition
you have crossed the borders into eternal life.
The Angels, the Principalities, and the Virtues,
the prophets, the apostles, and all creation form a procession,
and your Son receives your pure soul into his immaculate hands,
O Virgin Mother and Bride of God.

In Tone 6, Glory… Now…

For your holy Dormition, O Mother of God and Mother of Life,
the clouds carried the apostles through the air.
Those who had been scattered throughout the world
were brought together in a single choir;
and, burying your most pure body with respect,
they sang the words of Gabriel:
Rejoice, O full of grace, O unwedded Virgin;
the Lord is with you!
Intercede with your Son and our God to save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 1
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and unfailing hope of patronage,* for, as the Mother of Life, she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Prokeimenon, Tone 3
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour.
verse: Because he has regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Epistle
Philippians 2:5-11

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Rise up, O Lord, to the place of Your rest, You and the ark of Your holiness.
verse: The Lord swore an oath to David, and will not go back on His word. (Psalm 131:8,11)

Gospel
Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28

Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* V

Communion Hymn
I will take the cup of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 115:13)

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Raised in virtue, O Father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

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VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

6. At the sound of the cymbals, let us sing resounding hymns,
anticipating the feast of her departure.
Let us lift our voices in a brilliant chorus before her sepulchre.
For the Mother of God and the golden Tabernacle
now prepares to pass from earth to heaven,
to the new life and the divine splendour.

5. O choir of the holy apostles,
you are gathered together from the ends of the earth.
The Living City of the One who reigns over all
departs in glory to the heavens.
She goes to rejoice with her Son, the King.
With the angelic hosts, sing a farewell hymn to her divine burial.

4. O choir of the holy priests,
O kings, princes, and ranks of virgins, now come together!
All you people, let us come before her holy tomb and sing a hymn,
for the Queen of all entrusts her soul into the hands of her Son
to be taken to the heavenly home.

3. O venerable Father, when you accepted the ascetic life for your salvation,
then you were enlightened invisibly from heaven
and were shown to be an exorciser of evil spirits.
By divine will you received gold,
which, in your generous mercy, you gave to those in need.
You filled their empty vessels with produce,
preparing for the Saviour, those who were in distress.
O preacher of the faith of Christ our God,
pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

2. The appearance of your holy relics came like a great light,
understood to be like the angelic splendour.
The great Stephen ran quickly with longing and joy,
seeing them coming in the distance.
He found your body whole and incorrupt
and glorified Christ our God.
O Father, pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

1. When those who wished to bear your body
came to the cave where you were buried,
they rejoiced on opening the tomb;
for they saw your most holy remains whole and untouched by corruption,
the hair framing your glorious face,
and your eyes and mouth joined in praises of Christ our God.
Pray to Him to save and enlighten our souls.

In Tone 6, Glory…

In faith we are all called together to celebrate this feast.
Let us hasten today to commemorate
the transferal of your holy relics, O venerable Father,
and let us say:
Rejoice, O consecrated dwelling of the divine Spirit and pillar of piety;
rejoice, boast of ascetics,
for you increased the talent given you by God;
rejoice, bright beacon to the world and our consolation.
As you now stand before the throne of Christ,
beg Him to deliver us from all trouble and distress
and to attain the future glory;
for we celebrate your memory in faith.

In Tone 4, Now…

O pure and most holy Virgin,
the choirs of angels in heaven and the assembly of people on earth
sing the praise of your glorious Dormition;
for you have become the Mother of the Creator of all, Christ our God.
We beg you to intercede constantly for us;
for, next to God, we have placed our hope in you,
O most glorious and ever-virgin Mother of God.
Readings
(1) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (2) Wisdom 3:1-9; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15

 

Aposticha

In Tone 2

O marvellous wonder! O new sign of mystery!
How is it that the life-bearing Maiden
has been given over to death
and is now being concealed in a tomb?

Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest, You and the ark of your strength.

May all creatures sing out
because the Virgin, the daughter of Adam,
is going up into heaven.

The Lord swore an oath to David; He will not go back on his word.

Let us imagine the Virgin’s bier
surrounded by the apostolic choir,
and let us sing at her departure.

In Tone 8, Glory…

The multitude of monks praise you as their teacher,
O Theodosius our Father,
for by your paths you truly showed us the way we should go.
You are a blessed servant of Christ;
you unmasked the power of the enemy.
O dweller with angels and companion of the monks and the just,
pray with them that the Lord grant mercy to our souls.

In Tone 2, Now…

She is higher than the heavens,
more glorious than the Cherubim,
and more honourable than all creation.
Her outstanding purity became the dwelling place of the eternal divinity.
Today she places her all-pure soul into the hands of her Son.
With her, the universe is filled with joy,
and the grace of salvation is given to us.

 

Troparia

In Tone 8
Raised in virtue, O Father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

In Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* It is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: Raised in virtue, O Father Theodosius,* from childhood you loved the monastic life* and attained your desire courageously.* You lived in a cave adorning your life with fasting and radiance* and abided in prayer like the bodiless powers.* You shone like a beacon in the land of Rus’.* Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion, Tone 4: O peoples, dance with joy and clap your hands with fervour.* Gather today in eagerness and jubilation, and sing with glee;* for the Mother of God is about to rise in glory,* going up from the earth into heaven.* it is to her we always sing hymns of praise,* for she is the Mother of God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Today the whole universe dances with joy* at your glorious memory, O Mother of God,* and it cries out to you:* Rejoice, O virgin, pride of Christians.

Now and forever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 3: Today we revere the star of Rus’, blessed Theodosius,* who shone from the east and same to the West;* for he enriched this whole land and all of us* with gentleness and miraculous wonders* by the practice and the grace of the monastic rule.

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
Hebrews 13:7-16

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
Matthew 11:27-29

Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)

When Pope Stephen was slain (August 2), then St. Sixtus, who was an Athenian by birth, was appointed in his place. At first, Sixtus was a philosopher and, after that, a Christian. At that time, the Bishops of Rome were slain one after the other, so that, to become Bishop of Rome meant to be taken out to death. Emperor Decius was determined to destroy Christianity and Pope Sixtus was quickly brought to trial with two of his deacons, Felicicius and Agapitus. As they were led to prison, Lawrence said to the pope: “Where are you going Father, without your son? Where O bishop, without your Archdeacon?” The pope consoled him, prophesying to Lawrence that he will undergo even greater tortures for Christ and that he [Lawrence] will shortly follow him [Sixtus]. And indeed, as soon as they had beheaded Sixtus and his two deacons, Lawrence was apprehended. Beforehand, Lawrence had placed all of his affairs and the affairs of the church in order. As treasurer and Oikonomos [steward] of the church, he removed all of the church’s valuables to the home of the widower, Cyriacus. On that occasion, he healed Cyriacus of a terrible head pain by the touch of his hand and restored the sight of a blind man, Crescention. Thrown into prison, even there Lawrence healed Lucillus, a prisoner of many years, of blindness and after that baptized him. Witnessing this Hippolytus, the jailer, was also baptized, and later suffered for Christ (August 13). Since Lawrence did not want to deny Christ but, on the contrary, advised Emperor Decius to reject his false gods, he was beaten on the face with stones and beaten on his entire body with a scorpion [a whip, curved at the end like the tail of a scorpion] i.e., by a chain with sharp teeth. Romanus, a soldier present at the torture, believed in Christ and was immediately beheaded. Finally, they placed Lawrence naked on a gridiron and lighted a fire. Roasting in the fire, St. Lawrence thanked God and mocked the emperor for his paganism. After Lawrence gave up his pure and heroic soul to God, his body was removed at night by Hippolytus and taken, at first, to the home of Cyriacus and afterwards to a cave where Hippolytus honorably buried him. St. Lawrence, with the others, suffered in the year 258 A.D. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

 

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 8

10. O Christ, during this spiritual service,
we sing to You these evening prayers,
commemorating the mercy You have shown us
by Your resurrection.

9. O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;
but in Your kindness have mercy on us
through Your resurrection.

8. Rejoice, O holy Zion,
the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;
for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins
through the resurrection.

7. Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;
yet in these latter times,
He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.
By His death on the cross and His resurrection,
He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.

In Tone 4

6. Come, let us rejoice and mount up from the earth!
Let us come to the height of the contemplation of the virtues:
Let us be transformed today into a higher state,
directing our minds to heavenly things;
being formed anew in piety into the image of Christ.
For in His mercy the Saviour of our souls
has transfigured human nature become disfigured,
causing Him to shine with light on Mount Tabor!

5. Let us who desire to see and hear things past understanding
behold Christ mystically as He shines like lightning
radiant with divine splendour!
Let us cause the Father’s voice to resound
proclaiming Him His well-beloved Son!
On Mount Tabor He makes the weakness of humanity radiant,
granting enlightenment to our souls.

4. Let the assembly of all on earth and in heaven
come to praise Christ our God,
the Lord of both the living and the dead.
For when He was divinely transfigured on Tabor
as the Saviour of our souls
it was His good pleasure to have beside Him
the leaders and preachers of both the law and grace.

3. O Martyr, you were given a bed of burning coals,
but our Lord and Master came to your aid.
You hastened to put off this earthly tent,
and so you won immortal life in His Kingdom.
Therefore we sing of your holy memory,
blessed Lawrence, bearer of victory!

2. Broiled in the coals, blessed one,
you extinguished the deluding flames of idolatry.
Your flesh was purified by the fire;
you cast away the heaviness of earth!
Death’s curse lay on all of Adam’s seed,
but you followed the Master, Whose death is our blessing!
Pray that those who honour your radiant memory
may be delivered from the unquenchable flames.

1. The invincible martyrs were not conquered by the flames;
they shone with the radiance of the Spirit of God.
They chased away the deceit of the godless;
their zeal kindled torches of righteousness.
Truly blessed Lawrence is numbered in their honoured ranks:
The deacon of the Saviour, worker of wonders!

In Tone 4, Glory…

When You were transfigured before Your Crucifixion, Lord,
the mountain became as heaven
and a cloud spread itself out like a canopy
and the Father bore witness to You.
There were present Peter with James and John,
since they were to be with You at Your betrayal,
that seeing Your wonders they might not be dismayed at Your sufferings.
Grant in Your great mercy
that we too may be counted worthy to venerate Your sufferings in peace!

In Tone 8, Now…

Out of his love for mankind
the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,
for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin
and was seen in the flesh He received from her.
He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.
Wherefore we profess and declare the truth
that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.
O Mother, who knew not carnal union,
intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 8

O Jesus, You descended from heaven
so that You might ascend the cross.
O immortal Life, You came to die.
You are the true light to those who live in darkness,
and You are the resurrection of the fallen.
Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls
Who arose from the dead.
For He took upon himself a soul and a body,
and during His passion He separated the one from the other.
His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,
while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.

For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.
For by Your victory over death
You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,
and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.

O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,
You are above all understanding.
Through Your passion on the cross
You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.
And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;
and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.
O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;
for by Your resurrection on the third day
You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.

In Tone 4, Glory… Now…

Before Your Crucifixion, Lord,
taking the disciples up into a high mountain,
You were transfigured before them,
enlightening them with the bright rays of Your power:
from love of mankind and in Your sovereign might,
it was Your desire to show them the splendour of Your Resurrection!
Grant that we too may be counted worthy of this splendour in peace, O God,
for You are merciful and the Lover of mankind!

 

Troparia

In Tone 8

You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

In Tone 7, Glory… Now…
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Antiphon 1
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from oh high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly*, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:12,2)

Epistle
1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 95:1,2)

Gospel
Matthew 14:22-34

Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.

And the Irmos, Tone 4: Your forgiving birth was received as incorrupt; for it was God who came forth from your womb; He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)

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Matthias was born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. He studied with St. Simeon the “Receiver of God” in Jerusalem. When the Lord went out to preach about the Kingdom of God Matthias then joined the others who loved the Lord, for he himself loved Him with all his heart and with delight did he hear His words and witnessed His works. In the beginning, Matthias was numbered among the Seventy Lesser Disciples of Christ but following the resurrection of the Lord, since the place of Judas was vacated, the apostles, by drawing lots, chose this Matthias in place of Judas as one of the Twelve Great Apostles. “And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias. And they prayed and said: ‘You Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which of these two You have chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place’ ” (Acts 1:23-26). Receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Matthias set out to preach the Gospel, first of all in Judea and after that in Ethiopia where he endured great tortures for the sake of Christ. It is held that he preached throughout Macedonia where they wanted to blind him but he became invisible to his torturers and thus escaped danger. Being in prison, the Lord appeared to him, encouraged him and freed him. Finally, he returned again to his work in Judea. There he was accused and brought to court before the high priest Ananias before whom he fearlessly witnessed for Christ. Ananias, the same Ananias, who before that, slew the Apostle James, condemned Matthias to death. They led Matthias out, stoned him to death and, after that, decapitated him with an axe (this was the Roman manner of killing a person who was sentenced to death and the hypocritical Jews applied this method on the dead man so as to show the Romans that the slain person was an enemy of Rome). Thus, this great apostle of Christ died and took up habitation in the eternal joy of his Lord. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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VESPERS

At Psalm 140

In Tone 2

8. Come, let us faithfully celebrate the brilliant, divine Transfiguration.
Having been renewed in spirit,
we shall climb to the summit of virtue;
and having learned with the apostles
the revelation of the strange mysteries,
we shall glorify the Lord and Saviour.

7. Rejoice and be happy, O faithful!
The Church now celebrates this precious and bright feast.
The Master of all is transfigured.
He is resplendent in the dawn of ineffable splendour,
shining more brightly than the sun.

6. This is the God and the Creator of all.
Through his great mercy He took on the appearance of a slave.
He now heals the wounds of ancient times.
By his gleaming countenance
He revealed the glow of divinity in his body.
The terrified apostles fell to the ground;
they bowed before the Master of all.

In Tone 1

5. O holy apostle Matthias,
you filled the choir from which Judas fell away.
You cast out the darkness of idol-worship
with the splendour of your wise words.
Now pray that Christ may grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

4. O holy apostle Matthias,
you filled the choir from which Judas fell away.
You cast out the darkness of idol-worship
with the splendour of your wise words.
Now pray that Christ may grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

3. O blessed Matthias,
you flowed like a river filled with divine water
and watered the earth with your mystical streams,
thus causing it to bear much fruit.
Pray that Christ may grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

2. O blessed Matthias,
you flowed like a river filled with divine water
and watered the earth with your mystical streams,
thus causing it to bear much fruit.
Pray that Christ may grant peace and great mercy to our souls.

1. O God-inspired Matthias,
the universe shines in the brightness of your inspired teaching;
for your instructions have illumined and enlightened all.
They have guided all to an understanding of God;
they have transformed into dwellings of brightness
those who had lived in the darkness of vain illusions
and in the darkness of life without God.

In Tone 6, Glory…

Grace was poured out through your lips, O glorious apostle Matthias.
You were a luminary in the Church of Christ.
You taught the disciples to believe in the consubstantial Trinity,
in the one divinity.

In Tone 2, Now…

O God of goodness, your light has sanctified the whole universe,
and You were transfigured on the high mountain,
revealing your power to your disciples.
You have redeemed the world from sin.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
O Lord of mercy, save our souls!

 

Readings
(1) Acts 1:15-26; (2) 1 John 3: 21 through 4: 6; (3) 1 John 4: 11 -16

 

Aposticha

In Tone 6

In your compassion, O Christ,
You appeared from the Virgin
in the humanity of the first Adam;
indeed, You became the new Adam.
O my Saviour, You were transfigured on Mount Tabor,
and thus You revealed your divinity.

The heavens are yours; the world is yours.

The crowns of grace and the law
were amazed to see your holy Transfiguration
on Mount Tabor, O Christ.
Together with them we bow down to You,
to the Father, and the Divine Spirit.

Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at your name.

Creation is brightly illumined by your Transfiguration
in the presence of the holy apostles on Tabor, O Christ.
Indeed, You revealed to Moses and Elijah
that You are God, more radiant than the sun.

In Tone 2, Glory…

Filled with divine ambition, O apostle Matthias,
you laboured zealously for God the almighty
who revealed you worthy of divine miracles.
Now you abide with the heavenly hosts and behold our God.
Pray to the Word, Christ our God,
to grant his great mercy to us.

Now…

You were transfigured in glory on Mount Tabor, O Christ our God,
and You showed your disciples the glory of your divinity.
Now also pour out the light of your knowledge upon us
and, in your goodness and your love for all of us,
guide us in the way of your divine commandments.

 

Troparia

In Tone 3
O holy apostle Matthias, intercede with the all-merciful God* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

In Tone 7, Glory… Now…
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God** O Giver of Light, glory to You!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Antiphon 1
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Antiphon 3
Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, transfigured on the mountain, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

Troparion, Tone 3: O holy apostle Matthias, intercede with the all-merciful God* that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 4: Your radiant message,* O wondrous apostle Matthias,* has shone like the sun throughout the world* enlightening the Church of the nations with grace.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly*, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord, You have made all things in wisdom.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord, my God, You are exceedingly great. (Psalm 103:24,1)

Epistle
Acts 1:12-17,21-26

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Yours are the heavens, and Yours the earth.
verse: Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, they will walk in the light of Your countenance, O Lord. (Psalm 88:12,16)

Gospel
Luke 9:1-6

Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.
And the Irmos, Tone 4: Your forgiving birth was received as incorrupt; for it was God who came forth from your womb; He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.

Communion Hymn
We will walk in the light of Your face, O Lord,* and rejoice in Your name forever.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 88:16, 17)

In the third year of His preaching, the Lord Jesus often spoke to His disciples of His approaching passion but at the same time of His glory following His suffering on the Cross. So that His impending passion would not totally weaken His disciples and that no one would fall away from Him, He, the All-wise, wanted to partially show them His divine glory before His passion. For that reason, He took Peter, James and John with Him and, with them, went out at night to Mt. Tabor and there was transfigured before them: “And His face shone as the sun and His garments became white as snow” (St. Matthew 17:2). There appeared along side Him, Moses and Elijah, the great Old Testament prophets. And, seeing this, His disciples were amazed. Peter said: “Lord, it is good for us to be here: if You will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (St. Matthew 17:4). While Peter still spoke, Moses and Elijah departed and a bright cloud overshadowed the Lord and His disciples and there came a voice from the cloud saying: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear Him” (St. Matthew 17:5). Hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground on their faces as though dead and remained that way, lying in fear, until the Lord came near to them and said: “Arise and be not afraid” (St. Matthew 17:7). Why did the Lord take only three disciples on Tabor and not all? Because Judas was not worthy to behold the divine glory of the Teacher, Whom he will betray and the Lord did not want to leave him [Judas] alone at the foot of the mountain so that the betrayer would not, by that, justify his betrayal. Why was our Lord transfigured on a mountain and not in a valley? So as to teach us two virtues: love of labor and godly-thoughts. For, climbing to the heights required labor and height represents the heights of our thoughts, i.e., godly-thoughts. Why was our Lord transfigured at night? Because, the night rather than the day is more suitable for prayer and godly-thoughts and because the night, by its darkness, conceals all the beauty of the earth and reveals the beauty of the starry heavens. Why did Moses and Elijah appear? In order to destroy the error of the Jews, as though Christ is one of the prophets; Elijah or Jeremiah or some other that is why He appears as a King above the prophets and that is why Moses and Elijah appear as His servants. Until then, our Lord manifested His divine power many times to the disciples but, on Mt. Tabor, He manifested His divine nature. This vision of His Divinity and the hearing of the heavenly witness about Him as the Son of God, should serve the disciples in the days of the Lord’s passion, in strengthening of an unwavering faith in Him and His final victory. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma
“Blessed is the man…” is sung only if the feast falls on a Sunday or Monday

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 4

8. O Lord, when You were transfigured before being crucified,
Mount Tabor was made to resemble heaven;
for a cloud was extended as a canopy,
and the Father bore witness to You.
Peter, James, and John were present there,
the same three apostles who were to be with You
at the time of the betrayal of Judas,
so that, having seen You in glory,
they would not be dismayed at the time of Your suffering.
Likewise, O Lord, make us worthy to recognize You as our God
in the same sufferings You endured in Your great mercy,
and to adore You.

7. O Lord, when You were transfigured before being crucified,
Mount Tabor was made to resemble heaven;
for a cloud was extended as a canopy,
and the Father bore witness to You.
Peter, James, and John were present there,
the same three apostles who were to be with You
at the time of the betrayal of Judas,
so that, having seen You in glory,
they would not be dismayed at the time of Your suffering.
Likewise, O Lord, make us worthy to recognize You as our God
in the same sufferings You endured in Your great mercy,
and to adore You.

6. O Lord, as a preparation to Your crucifixion,
You led some of Your disciples to a high mountain
and became transfigured before them,
enlightening them with the light of Your glory.
In this way, You showed the reality of the resurrection
You are to grant to us in Your love for mankind
and in Your almighty power as God.
Make us worthy of this resurrection, O God
for You are gracious and the Lover of mankind.

5. O Lord, as a preparation to Your crucifixion,
You led some of Your disciples to a high mountain
and became transfigured before them,
enlightening them with the light of Your glory.
In this way, You showed the reality of the resurrection
You are to grant to us in Your love for mankind
and in Your almighty power as God.
Make us worthy of this resurrection, O God
for You are gracious and the Lover of mankind.

4. O Lord, when You were transfigured on a high mountain
in the presence of Your foremost disciples,
You radiated with glory,
showing how those who lead an outstanding life of virtue
will be made worthy of the glory of heaven.
Elias and Moses, conversing with the Lord,
showed Him to be the Lord of the living and the dead,
God who spoke through the Law and the Prophets,
the same to whom the Father’s voice bore witness
out of the bright cloud, saying:
“Hear Him, for it is He, who through His Cross despoiled Hades
and granted eternal life to the dead.”

3. O Lord, when You were transfigured on a high mountain
in the presence of Your foremost disciples,
You radiated with glory,
showing how those who lead an outstanding life of virtue
will be made worthy of the glory of heaven.
Elias and Moses, conversing with the Lord,
showed Him to be the Lord of the living and the dead,
God who spoke through the Law and the Prophets,
the same to whom the Father’s voice bore witness
out of the bright cloud, saying:
“Hear Him, for it is He, who through His Cross despoiled Hades
and granted eternal life to the dead.”

2. Indeed, O Lord, the mountain that had been dark with smoke
today becomes honourable and holy because You stood on it.
The mystery hidden from the beginning of the world
becomes manifest in Your transfiguration before Peter, James and John.
They fell with their faces to the ground,
unable as they were to bear the light of Your countenance
and the splendour of Your clothing.
A further marvel was the vision of Moses and Elias,
conversing with You on Your future,
and the voice of the Father bearing witness and saying:
“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!
He is the One who will convey great mercy upon the world.”

1. Indeed, O Lord, the mountain that had been dark with smoke
today becomes honourable and holy because You stood on it.
The mystery hidden from the beginning of the world
becomes manifest in Your transfiguration before Peter, James and John.
They fell with their faces to the ground,
unable as they were to bear the light of Your countenance
and the splendour of Your clothing.
A further marvel was the vision of Moses and Elias,
conversing with You on Your future,
and the voice of the Father bearing witness and saying:
“This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!
He is the One who will convey great mercy upon the world.”

In Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O Christ our God, when You willed to prefigure Your resurrection,
You chose three disciples, Peter, James, and John;
and You went up with them to Mount Tabor.
At the moment of Your Transfiguration, O Saviour,
the mountain was flooded with light,
and Your disciples fell with their faces to the ground;
for they could not bear the sight of Your countenance
upon which no one may gaze, O Word.
Angels attended with trembling and awe;
the heavens were afraid;
and the earth shook to its very foundations
when they saw the Lord of glory come upon the earth.

 

Readings
(1) Exodus 24:12-18; (2) Exodus 33:11-23; 34:4-6, 8; (3) I Kings 19:3-9, 11-13, 15-16

 

At the Lytia

In Tone 2

O God of goodness, Your light has sanctified the whole universe,
and You were transfigured on the high mountain,
revealing Your power to Your disciples.
You have redeemed the world from sin.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
“O Lord of mercy, save our souls!”

You were transfigured in glory on Mount Tabor, O Christ our God,
and You showed Your disciples the glory of Your divinity.
Now also pour out the light of Your knowledge upon us
and, in Your goodness and Your love for all of us,
guide us in the way of Your divine commandments.

Christ, the light that shone before the sun,
dwelt on earth in a human form.
Wishing to fulfil the divine work of salvation before His Cross,
today He mystically reveals the image of the Trinity on Mount Tabor.
He took aside His three chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John;
and for a short time He concealed His incarnation.
He was transfigured before them,
manifesting the splendour of the original beauty.
By this He strengthened them in their faith;
yet He spared them from losing their life at the sight,
and so their eyes saw only as much as they could behold.
He also called upon Moses and Elias,
the most venerable of the prophets,
to witness to His divinity,
testifying that He is indeed the reflection of the Father,
the Lord of the living and the dead.
A cloud also enveloped them as a tent,
and the voice of the Father bore witness on high, saying:
“This is My beloved Son; hear Him!
I have begotten Him before the daystar in a virginal manner;
I have sent Him to save those baptized in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
those who confess in faith that the power of the divinity is one and indivisible.”
O Christ our God, You love all mankind;
make us shine in the brightness of Your inaccessible glory;
and in Your supreme goodness,
make us worthy to inherit Your never-ending Kingdom.

In Tone 5, Glory…

Come, let us ascend the mountain of the Lord
and go into the house of our God.
Let us contemplate the glory of His Transfiguration,
the glory of the only-begotten Son of God the Father.
From His light, let us receive light;
and raised up by the Holy Spirit,
let us sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity forever.

Now…

Moses who saw God, and Elias who was taken up in the flaming chariot,
contemplated You in the cloud, O Christ our God;
for You are the author of the Law and the fulfilment of the Prophets.
They were witnesses of Your Transfiguration.
With them make us worthy of that same brightness,
that we may sing Your praises forever, O Lord.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 1

He who mysteriously spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai
and said: “I Am Who Am,”
today manifests Himself to His disciples on Mount Tabor
and reveals through His person
that human nature was re-established in its original splendour.
As witnesses to this grace and partakers of this joy,
He raised up Moses and Elias,
the forerunners of the glorious and saving Resurrection
made possible by the Cross of Christ.

The heavens are Yours, the world is Yours. You founded the earth and all it holds.

When David, the forefather of the Lord,
foresaw in spirit Your coming in the flesh,
he invited the whole creation to rejoice,
crying out prophetically:
O Saviour, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Your name,
for indeed You ascended the mountain with Your disciples.
Through Your Transfiguration
You returned Adam’s nature to its original splendour,
restoring its very elements to the glory and brilliance of Your divinity.
Therefore, we cry out to You:
O Creator of all, glory to You!

Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at Your name.

O Christ without a beginning,
when on the Mount of the Transfiguration,
Your disciples saw the Light that was Yours
and Your unapproachable divinity,
they were rapt in amazement and completely changed.
They were enrobed in a radiant cloud,
and they heard the Father’s voice
confirming the mystery of Your incarnation;
for even after coming in the flesh,
You remained the only-begotten Son and the Saviour of all.

In Tone 6, Glory… Now…

O Lord, today on Mount Tabor,
You have manifested the glory of Your divinity
to Your chosen disciples, Peter, James, and John;
they saw Your clothing radiant as light
and Your face more brilliant than the sun.
Unable to bear Your overwhelming radiance or look upon You,
they fell to the ground
and heard a voice bearing witness from heaven:
“This is My beloved Son who came into the world to save His people.”

 

Troparion

In Tone 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God** O Giver of Light, glory to You! (thrice)

 

 

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FESTAL MATINS

The Lord is God – Tone 7

Troparion, Tone 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God** O Giver of Light, glory to You! (twice)

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 4
Showing the change that mortals will undergo, O Lord,* when they enter your glory at your second and awesome coming,* You were transfigured on Mount Tabor.* Elijah and Moses conversed with You;* and seeing your glory, the three disciples whom You had chosen* were struck with your splendour, O Lord.* As You covered them with your brightness,* also send your light upon our souls.

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 4
You were transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Jesus;* a bright cloud covered your apostles with your glory as with a tent, O Lord.* They cast their faces to the ground,* unable to gaze upon the inaccessible glory of your resplendent face,* O Christ our God and eternal Saviour.* As You covered them with your brightness,* also send your light upon our souls.

Glory… Now… (repeat)

Polyeleos

Exaltation
We extol You,* O Christ the Source of life,* and we venerate the holy Transfiguration* of your most pure flesh.
verses:
The Lord is great and worthy to be praised in the city of our God and on his holy mountain.
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place?
Glory… Now…
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to You, O God! (3)

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4
When You went up to the mountain with your disciples, O Lord,* and You were resplendent with the glory of the Father,* Elijah and Moses stood there with You;* for the Law and the Prophets serve You as God.* The Father attested to your divine filiation and called You his beloved Son.* With You we praise Him in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

In Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Through the splendour hidden under the flesh of your nature,* You showed the disciples the splendour of your divine beauty on Mount Tabor.* Thus You enlightened the disciples who were with You, O Christ our Benefactor.* Realizing that your beauty was unbearable, they cried out: Holy are You!* For You are the One whom no one can approach;* yet the world has seen You in the flesh.* And You alone are the Lover of Mankind.

Gradual Hymns
Take 1st antiphon of Sunday, Tone 4

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Tabor and Hermon shout with joy at your name.
verse: The heavens are yours; the world is yours.

Gospel
Luke 9:28-36

After Psalm 50
Glory…

In Tone 2, Today the whole world is filled with joy,* for Christ is transfigured before his disciples on Mount Tabor.

Now…

Today the whole world is filled with joy,* for Christ is transfigured before his disciples on Mount Tabor.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion, blot out my offence.

In Tone 5: Having revealed a small ray of your divinity* to those who climbed the mountain with You, O Saviour,* You made them partakers of your boundless glory.* Therefore, they cried out in awe to You:* It is good for us to be here.* Together with them, we shall forever praise You, O Christ our Saviour,* who was transfigured for us.

Canon

Ode 1
Irmos When Israel walked upon the deep sea as upon dry land, they saw Pharaoh, their pursuer, drowning; and they exclaimed: Let us sing a hymn of victory to God.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
Christ spoke to his apostles the words of life concerning the kingdom of God by saying: When you see Me shining with the unapproachable light, you shall know that the Father is in Me, and you will joyfully cry out: Let us sing a hymn of victory to God.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
My friends and disciples, you shall overcome the power of the Gentiles, and their riches shall be your boast; for when I appear shining more brilliantly than the sun, you shall be filled with glory and joyfully cry out: Let us sing a hymn of victory to God.
Glory… Now…
Just as He promised, Christ appeared in glory today on Mount Tabor, clearly revealing to his disciples the image and reflection of his divinity. Filled with the divine brightness and splendour, the disciples cried out: Let us sing a hymn of victory to God.
Katavasia When Israel walked upon the deep sea as upon dry land, they saw Pharaoh, their pursuer, drowning; and they exclaimed: Let us sing a hymn of victory to God.

Ode 3
Irmos The weak have clothed themselves with strength, and the weapon of the mighty has become powerless; therefore, my heart is strengthened in the Lord.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
O Christ, You have clothed yourself completely in the nature of Adam, thereby refashioning what had been corrupted. Through your becoming human, You transfigured and glorified our nature.
Glory… Now…
In ancient times Christ led Israel through the desert by means of a pillar of fire and a cloud; today He brilliantly shines forth in glory upon Mount Tabor.
Katavasia The weak have clothed themselves with strength, and the weapon of the mighty has become powerless; therefore, my heart is strengthened in the Lord.

Small Ekteny

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4
You were transfigured on Mount Tabor, Christ God,* between Moses and Elijah the wise,* in the presence of James, Peter and John;* and Peter as he stood there, spoke to You:* it would be good to make three tabernacles here:* one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for You, Christ our Master.* You have shone on them with your light, now enlighten our souls!

Ode 4
Irmos O Christ our God, your wondrous plan of salvation has been revealed to me: how your birth from a Virgin would rescue from the power of evil those who call upon You by saying: Glory to your power, O Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
You appeared upon Mount Sinai, O Christ our God, in the midst of a cloud, the fire and darkness, the thunder and storm. It was there You revealed the written Law. Glory to your power, O Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
O Christ, as eternal God You make your dwelling in the heavens; as a sign of your glorious plan of salvation, You brilliantly shone forth in glory on Mount Tabor.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
In ancient times You appeared to your servants amid clouds of fire, darkness, and the whisper of the wind, and spoke with them, O Christ our Master. Glory to your power, O Lord!
Glory… Now…
Moses, who had previously recognized You in the fire of the burning bush, and Elijah, who was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot, appeared with You on Tabor and revealed your death upon the Cross.
Katavasia O Christ our God, your wondrous plan of salvation has been revealed to me: how your birth from a Virgin would rescue from the power of evil those who call upon You by saying: Glory to your power, O Lord!

Ode 5
Irmos In the beginning You, as their Creator, separated the light from the darkness so that your works may glorify You in light, O Christ. Now guide our steps in the light of your paths.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
When You deigned to transform our human nature, O Christ, the mountains prostrated before You; and the sun placed its brilliant rays of light, which fill the heavens, at your feet.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
Moses and Elijah praised the Saviour on Mount Tabor, and their words lingered in the ears of the disciples: Behold Christ whom we have proclaimed in former times as our God.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
The unchangeable nature of God, when united with human nature, shone forth with a brilliant light. It revealed to the apostles of Christ a reflection of the immaterial divinity.
Glory… Now…
When the disciples beheld You, O Christ the eternal Light, radiating the brilliance of the Father, they cried out to You: Guide our steps in the light of your paths.
Katavasia In the beginning You, as their Creator, separated the light from the darkness so that your works may glorify You in light, O Christ. Now guide our steps in the light of your paths.

Ode 6
Irmos When beset with trials, I called to the Lord, and the God of my salvation heard me.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
Christ our Saviour, shining forth on Mount Tabor as the Light surpassing even the brightness of the sun, has enlightened us.
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
You were transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Christ, thereby overcoming the darkness of error with the glory of your light.
Glory… Now…
The glorious apostles recognized You as God on Mount Tabor, O Christ; and, struck with fear and awe, they fell to their knees before You.
Katavasia When beset with trials, I called to the Lord, and the God of my salvation heard me.

Small Ekteny

Kontakion, Tone 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ our God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly,* and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

Ikos
Awake from the lethargy that has overcome you, do not lie there on the ground; and you thoughts which weigh heavily upon my soul, arise and ascend to the summit of godliness. Let us hasten to join Peter and the sons of Zebedee, that we may behold with them the glory of God on Mount Tabor and hear the voice from heaven which they themselves heard. It impelled them to proclaim to the world that they had witnessed the glory of the Father.

Ode 7
Irmos The three youths of Babylon, who were sons of Abraham, trampled upon the flames in the fiery furnace, singing this song of praise: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
When the apostles were clothed in the brilliance of your dazzling radiance on Mount Tabor, O Christ, they cried out: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
O Christ, the apostles rejoiced in your glorious majesty, in the revelation of the divine voice, and in the cloud that rained dew, and they sang: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
When Peter beheld your unapproachable glory on Mount Tabor, O Christ, he cried out: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!
Glory… Now…
The sons of Zebedee were with Christ, the Source of life, when He shone with divine brightness, and they sang out: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!
Katavasia The three youths of Babylon, who were sons of Abraham, trampled upon the flames in the fiery furnace, singing this song of praise: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!

Ode 8
Irmos Zealously aflame with love of God, the three youths courageously conquered the threat of the wicked king in Babylon. They stood in the midst of the fire as though covered with dew – and sang: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
Your feet have ascended Mount Tabor, O Lord, even though You keep all things in existence by your will. At that time your face became brighter than the light of the sun; and present with You were the chosen of the Law and the Prophets, singing: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
When the glory of the Father who bestows majesty to all creation, the infinite Light that knows no evening, indescribably appeared in brilliant glory on Mount Tabor, He deified our human nature so that all may sing: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
Overcome with awe, Moses and Elijah clearly witnessed the appearance of Christ on Mount Tabor. Seeing his divine person brilliantly shining with the brightness of the Father, they sang: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Refrain: Glory to your holy Transfiguration, O Lord!
In times past, the face of Moses was radiant when he heard the divine voice in the darkness, but Christ clothes himself with light and glory as with a robe. For He who is the Creator of light by nature gives light to those who sing: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Glory… Now…
When the disciples beheld Christ on Mount Tabor surrounded by a cloud of light, they fell to the ground. Filled with spiritual brightness, they praised Him, together with the Father and the Spirit, by singing this hymn: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!
Katavasia Zealously aflame with love of God, the three youths courageously conquered the threat of the wicked king in Babylon. They stood in the midst of the fire as though covered with dew – and sang: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord!

Magnificat is omitted

Ode 9
Megalynarion: O my soul, extol the Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor.
Irmos You gave birth without blemish; for it was God who came forth from your womb, appearing in the flesh upon the earth and dwelling among us. Therefore, O Mother of God, we all extol you.
Megalynarion: O my soul, extol the Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor.
Overcome with awe and enlightened with a heavenly brightness, the disciples looked at one another and fell to the ground in their fear and worshiped You, O Master of all.
Megalynarion: O my soul, extol the Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor.
Confirming this mystery, the voice of God was heard from the cloud; for the Father of lights spoke to the apostles and said: This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!
Megalynarion: O my soul, extol the Lord transfigured on Mount Tabor.
The disciples of the Word beheld an extraordinary mystery on Tabor; and when they heard the voice of the Father, they cried out: This is our Saviour, the Image of the Father.
Glory… Now…
We praise You, along with the Father and the Spirit, O faithful Image of the One-Who-Is, O Seal that cannot be taken away or changed, Son and Word, Wisdom and Arm of God, Right Hand and Power of the Most High.
Irmos You gave birth without blemish; for it was God who came forth from your womb, appearing in the flesh upon the earth and dwelling among us. Therefore, O Mother of God, we all extol you.

Hymn of Light, Tone 2
O Word and unchangeable Light,* O Light of the Unbegotten Father,* today we see in your light on Tabor* the light of the Father and the light of the Spirit* which gives light to the whole world.

At the Praises

In Tone 4

Before your noble suffering and cross, O Master,
You took your chosen apostles to Mount Tabor,
showing them your glory.
When they saw You transfigured and more brilliant than the sun,
they fell to the ground and cried out:
You are the eternal Light and the radiance of the Father;
and although unchanged, You appear in the flesh.

Before your noble suffering and cross, O Master,
You took your chosen apostles to Mount Tabor,
showing them your glory.
When they saw You transfigured and more brilliant than the sun,
they fell to the ground and cried out:
You are the eternal Light and the radiance of the Father;
and although unchanged, You appear in the flesh.

O God the Word, You are from all eternity,
and You are clothed with light as with a robe.
Transfigured before your disciples, You shone more brightly than the sun.
Moses and Elijah stood at your side
revealing You as Lord of the living and the dead.
They glorified your ineffable work of salvation,
your mercy, and great compassion,
by which You saved the world which was lost in sin.

You were born of a virginal cloud and became flesh
and were transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Lord.
A bright cloud surrounded You;
the voice of the Father clearly told the disciples that You are his beloved Son,
for You are the same essence as He and You share his throne.
At this sight, Peter spoke with wonder and said:
is good for us to be here.
He did not realize what he said, O most merciful Benefactor.

In Tone 8, Glory… Now…

Christ took his disciples, Peter, James, and John,
and was transfigured on a high mountain in their presence.
His face became as bright as the sun,
and his garments were whiter than the snow.
Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Him,
and a bright cloud came over them;
a voice was heard from the clouds, saying:
This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!

Troparion, Tone 7
You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God** O Giver of Light, glory to You!

 

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Antiphon 1
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, sing now to His name, give glory to His praise.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; Your lightning lit up the world.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.
You have clothed Yourself in praise and splendour; You robe Yourself in light as with a cloak.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Antiphon 3
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Sion which cannot be moved.
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!
The mountains surround it, and the Lord surrounds His people henceforth and forever.
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!
Lord, who will stay in Your dwelling place, or abide on Your holy mountain?
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!
Who will ascend the Lord’s mountain, or stand in His holy place?
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

Entrance
Lord, send forth Your light and Your truth, these have guided and led me to Your holy mountain.

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* showing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear.* Make Your eternal light shine* also on us who are sinners,* through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Giver of Light, glory to You!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 7: You were transfigured on the mount, O Christ God,* and Your disciples saw Your glory as much as they could;* that when they saw You crucified* they might know that You suffered willingly*, and might proclaim to the world* that You are truly the brightness of the Father.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4
How great are Your works, O Lord, You have made all things in wisdom.
verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord, my God, You are exceedingly great. (Psalm 103:24,1)

Epistle
2 Peter 1:10-19

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Yours are the heavens, and Yours the earth.
verse: Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, they will walk in the light of Your countenance, O Lord. (Psalm 88:12,16)

Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9

Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify the Lord transfigured on the mountain.
And the Irmos, Tone 4: Your forgiving birth was received as incorrupt; for it was God who came forth from your womb; He appeared on earth in the flesh, and made His dwelling among us. Thus, O Mother of God, all of us magnify you.

Communion Hymn
We will walk in the light of Your face, O Lord,* and rejoice in Your name forever.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 88:16,17)

Venerable Isaac is celebrated again separately on May 30. At first, St. Dalmatus was an officer during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Great whom the emperor held in great esteem. When the spirit awakened in him, he despised all earthly things, resigned his rank and took his only son Faust and, with him, went to the community of St. Isaac in the outskirts of Constantinople where they both were tonsured as monks. Dalmatus was completely devoted to a god-pleasing life for which the elder Isaac rejoiced. When Isaac approached the hour of death, he appointed Dalmatus as abbot in his place. Later, this community was named after him – the so-called Dalmatus. Dalmatus devoted himself to fasting, at times for forty days. By fasting he conquered the invisible demonic power. He participated in the Third Ecumenical Council [Ephesus 431 A.D.] and fought against the Nestorian heresy. Pleasing God, he died peacefully in the fifth century. His son Faust supported his father in everything and, after a God-pleasing life, died peacefully in this Dalmatus community. (Prologue of Ohrid)

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GREAT VESPERS

 

Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.

 

At Psalm 140

In Tone 7

10. Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,
Who destroyed the power of death
and enlightened the human race;
and let us cry out with the angels:
Glory to You, our Creator and Saviour!

9. O Saviour, for our sake You suffered crucifixion and burial;
and, as God, You destroyed death by Your death.
Therefore, we adore Your resurrection on the third day
and we sing: Glory to You, O Lord!

8. On seeing the resurrection of the Creator,
the Apostles were amazed,
and they sang an angelic hymn of praise:
This is the glory of the Church,
this is the richness of the Kingdom!
O Lord, Who suffered for our sake, glory to You!

7. O Christ, although You were taken captive by Your enemies,
I still acknowledge You as my God,
and am not ashamed of You;
I will not hide the fact that You were nailed to the Cross.
Your death is my life, almighty Lord,
and I extol Your resurrection.
O Lover of mankind, glory to You!

6. In fulfilment of the prophecy of David,
Christ revealed His majesty to His disciples in Sion.
He showed Himself to be worthy of equal praise
with His Father and the Holy Spirit;
for He existed from all eternity as God the Word, without a body;
then, out of love for mankind, He became incarnate,
and for our sake He was put to death as a man;
finally, by His own power He arose from the dead.

5. O Christ, of Your own free will, You descended into Hades;
and, as God the Lord, You destroyed death.
On the third day You arose from the dead and raised up Adam
from the bonds of Hades and corruption.
In joy he cried out and said:
Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!

4. O Lord, You were placed in the tomb as one sleeping,
and on the third day You arose in might and power.
You raised up Adam from the corruption of death,
for You alone are almighty.

In Tone 8

3. Your saints made themselves like the bodiless ones
with prayer and abstinence, Lord.
They dispelled the passions of the flesh
and brilliant with wonderful works
they have enlightened the hearts of all!
Through their supplications grant Your people great mercy.

2. Taking up zeal for the virtues,
Dalmatus and Isaac openly overthrew the heresy of Arius and Nestorius.
They fought on the side of the orthodox
and have gained glory from all!
Through their prayers, Christ, grant Your people great mercy!

1. You appeared plainly as stars in the firmament of ascetic endeavour,
illumining the souls of monastics, venerable fathers,
driving away the darkness of demons.
Therefore, even after your death you are called blessed,
praying that all who celebrate your godly memory may be saved.

In Tone 7, Glory… Now…

Immaculate Mother of God,
you became a mother outside the laws of nature,
remaining a virgin in a way that exceeds all description
and human understanding.
The wonder of your birth-giving could not be told in human language,
for your conception of Christ blinded intelligence,
and your birth-giving exceeded understanding:
for whenever God so desires, the laws of nature are broken.
Wherefore, we all firmly believe that you are the Mother of God,
and we eagerly beseech you to intercede for the salvation of our souls.

 

Aposticha

In Tone 7

O Saviour of the world, You arose from the grave,
and together with Your own flesh You raised up mankind.
O Lord, glory to You!

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Come, let us worship Christ Who arose from the dead
and enlightened all creation.
For by His resurrection on the third day,
He set us free from the oppression of Hades,
granting us life and His great mercy.

For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.

O Christ, Lover of mankind,
You descended into Hades and destroyed death.
Then You arose on the third day;
and, together with Yourself You lifted up all of us
who glorify Your mighty resurrection.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.

O Lord, what a fearful sight it was to see You lying in the tomb as if asleep.
Yet on the third day You arose in great power,
and at the same time You raised up Adam who joyfully cried out:
Glory to Your resurrection, O Lover of mankind!

Glory… Now…

All of us on earth hasten to take refuge in you, O Lady;
and we cry out to you:
O Mother of God, you are the only hope for us;
deliver us from our countless sins, and save our souls.

 

Troparia

In Tone 7
By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.

In Tone 8, Glory…
The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O fathers,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Isaac, Dalmatus, and Faustus,* your spirits rejoices with the angels.

Now…
O gracious Lord, for the sake of mankind You were born of a virgin;* through Your death on the cross You conquered death;* and through Your resurrection You revealed yourself as God.* O merciful Lord, do not disdain those whom You have created with Your own hands,* but show forth Your love for mankind.* Accept the intercession which the Mother, who bore You, makes in our behalf.* O Saviour, save Your despairing people!

 

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DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 7: By Your cross You destroyed death;* You opened Paradise to the thief;* You changed the lamentation of the myrrh-bearers to joy,* and charged the apostles to proclaim* that You are risen, O Christ our God,* offering great mercy to the world.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 7: No longer shall the dominion of death be able to hold humanity,* for Christ went down shattering and destroying it s powers.* Hades is bound.* The prophets exult with one voice.* The Saviour has come for those with faith, saying:* “Come forth, O faithful, to the resurrection!”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 7: O all-praised treasury of our resurrection, we hope in you,* bring us up from the pit and depth of sin,* for you have saved those subject to sin* by giving birth to our Salvation,* O Virgin before childbirth, and Virgin in childbirth,* and still a Virgin after childbirth.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7
The Lord will give strength to His people;* the Lord will bless His people with peace.
verse: Bring to the Lord, O you sons of God; bring to the Lord young rams. (Psalm 28:11,1)

Epistle
1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Alleluia, Tone 7
verse: It is good to give praise to the Lord; and to sing to Your name, O Most High.
verse: To announce Your mercy in the morning, and Your truth every night. (Psalm 91:2,3)

Gospel
Matthew 14:14-22

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)