Event Information:
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Wed04Dec2024
The Great-Martyr Barbara; Our Venerable Father John of Damascus.
Saint with Six Stichera. Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
VESPERS ON TUESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 2
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
When Julianna saw the blessed martyr Barbara during her terrible trial* suffering from her many wounds,* her body painfully torn in many places,* she cried out with tears of compassion:* Word of God and Lover of mankind* grant this day that I may be her companion in martyrdom!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Saints Barbara and Julianna,* you are of those who alone have a true vocation for righteous living,* for you attacked the enemy and gravely wounded him!* Thus you are worthy of glorification by Christ God* for you trampled underfoot the destroying passions and their evil,* giving the means of healing to all the faithful!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Most pure martyr Barbara,* when you were sentenced to die you faced sweet death with joy!* You swiftly fulfilled the act of martyrdom slain by the hand of your most evil parent.* You were offered up as fruit to God!* Therefore with the wise virgins you truly rejoice* as you behold the light of Christ, your Bridegroom!
Tone 8
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
What shall we call you, holy theologian John?* Another David, for your hymns are as the psalms for us?* You are the temple of the Spirit and the pipe of the Good Shepherd.* You sweeten our ears and gladden our minds.* You cause the ranks of the Church to rejoice!* Your teachings are a river of honey, flowing to the ends of the earth.* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
What shall we call you, Father John, the messenger of God?* Shining star of the Holy Trinity?* You enlighten our eyes with delightful teaching.* You have entered into the cloud of divine knowledge* Like Moses you behold mysteries beyond words or speech.* You proclaim the music of His wisdom.* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
What shall we call you, blessed one?* A shining lampstand? A faithful minister of divine mysteries?* A joyful star for the Church, enlightening those who dwell in darkness?* A well-tuned organ and sweet-sounding harp?* Pray that our souls may be saved!
Tone 6, Glory…
You abandoned your home, your people and earthly riches.* You fled the hatred of an evil father, Barbara;* you were wedded to God in a bond of love,* therefore He took you to Himself rejoicing.* Pray that he may save our souls.
Now…
I lift the eyes of my heart to you, O Lady;* despise not my small sigh,* but in the hour when your Son shall come to judge the earth,* be my helper and deliverer!
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Your mercy, O Lord, shall follow me* all the days of my life.
verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In green pastures He gives me repose.
Aposticha
Tone 8
All-wise father John, you enlighten the Church with song inspired by God.* Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, God our Father made you another David.* Your hymns lead us to the Lord, blessed one.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; who greatly delights in His commandments!
Glorious father John, in the midst of worldly tumult,* you attained the peace of Christ, righteous one.* By godly action and contemplation you were enlightened with His wisdom.* You were made rich in heavenly things,* with which you enlighten the faithful, all-blessed one!
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints!
Come, let us assemble in the temple of God today,* praising the righteous John with joyful song.* He is truly a divine lamp; he enables us to see the true Light.* How great is Your goodness, compassionate Lord!* Through him we have learned to glorify You, only Good One!
In Tone 6, Glory…
The sound of your teachings has gone out into all the earth, venerable father John!* Therefore you have found the reward of your labours in the heavens.* You destroyed the hosts of demons and reached the ranks of angels* whose life you blamelessly followed!* Since you have boldness before Christ our God,* entreat peace for our souls!
Now… Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion:
Theotokos, you are the true vine* who blossomed for us the fruit of life:* implore Him we pray you, Lady,* together with the apostles and all the saints,* that He may have mercy on our souls!
Troparia
Tone 8
Let us honour the holy martyr Barbara,* for as a bird she escaped the snares of the enemy,** and destroyed them through the help and defense of the cross!
Tone 8, Glory…
Champion of orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,* the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of the hierarchs:* all-wise father John, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.** Intercede before Christ our God to save our souls!
Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Saviour of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see Your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Be swayed by the pains that the saints have suffered for You, O Lord,* and heal all our pains,* O Lover of mankind, for this we pray.
Troparion, Tone 8: Guide of orthodoxy, teacher of piety and purity,* luminary of the world, inspired adornment of hierarchs (or: monks), O wise John,* you have enlightened all by your teachings, O spiritual trumpet.* Intercede with Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Appearing as radiant lights, O godly martyrs,* you illumine all creation with the brilliance of your miracles,* healing infirmities, always dispelling deep darkness* and praying unceasingly to Christ our God for all of us.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You took delight in self-control, O wise one,* and you put the desires of the flesh to sleep.* You were seen to have grown in faith;* and, like the Tree of Life in Paradise, you flourished, O holy father, John.
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.
verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)
Epistle
Hebrews 5:11-6:8
Alleluia, Tone 4
verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.
verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)
Gospel
Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24
Communion Hymn
Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)