Event Information:
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Sat07Dec2024
Our Holy Father Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.
Nativity Fast.
VESPERS ON FRIDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Adorning the seat of government with your virtues,* you likewise received the hierarchal office through divine inspiration.* Having been a faithful steward of grace in both, O Ambrose,* you inherited a twofold crown.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
In abstinence and sorrow, in many vigils and in lengthy prayers,* you cleansed soul and body, O divinely wise one;* henceforth manifest as a chosen vessel of Christ God, equal to the apostles,* you received heavenly gifts.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
As Nathan reproved David,* so you boldly reproved the pious emperor who once had sinned, O most blessed Ambrose,* and you openly cut him off from the Church;* and having chastised him in godly manner with a penance,* you numbered him again among you flock.
Tone 3
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Having endured wounds, fetters and diverse tortures, suffering mightily,* the valiant martyrs were brought to their divine inheritance which is truly devoid of pain,* the heritage of their pangs.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
О holy hierarchs of the Lord, who gave utterance to the divine discourse of piety,* you refuted all the arguments of the heretics* and showed yourselves to be paragons for all the faithful;* wherefore, you are honoured.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
While in your material bodies,* you emulated the ranks of the immaterial and incorporeal beings, О God-bearing fathers,* most gloriously exhibiting their manner of life;* wherefore, you dwell in their habitations.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
O Lady most honourable,* how could we but be rapt in wonder* at your giving birth to the Incarnate God* who, without a mother, was born of a Father before all ages?* You gave Him birth in the flesh without a father,* without a man’s 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 profess in true faith* that you are the Mother of God.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
O God, You are my defender* and Your mercy goes before me.
verse: Deliver me from my enemies, O God; save me from those who rise up against me.
Aposticha
Tone 3
Made steadfast by faith, strengthened by hope,* and spiritually united by the love of Your Cross, О Lord,* Your martyrs put an end to the tyranny of the enemy and have received crowns;* and with the incorporeal ones they pray on behalf of our souls.
Blessed are they whom You have chosen* and have taken to Yourslelf, О Lord,
All things human, which endure not after death, are vain.* Our wealth will not remain, our glory will not go with us upon the way:* for when death comes, all these things will fade away.* Therefore let us cry to Christ the immortal King:* Grant rest to our departed brethren* and grant them to dwell with the joyous.
Their souls shall dwell* amid good things.
O race of mankind, why do you trouble yourself in vain?* The path on which you run is short.* Our life is but smoke, vapour, ashes and dust;* it appears but briefly, and then vanishes.* Therefore let us cry to Christ the immortal King:* Grant rest to our departed brethren* and grant them to dwell with the joyous.
Tone 3, Glory… Now…
O Theotokos, holy among women, O Mother unwedded:* entreat the King and God whom you bore,* that He save us, insofar as He is the Lover of mankind.
Troparia
Tone 4
The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Ambrose.* Intercede with Christ, our God,* for the salvation of our souls.
Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created,* and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: The truth of your deeds made you for your flock a rule of faith* and an image of meekness,* a teacher of continence.* And so you gained the heights through humility,* riches through poverty,* father and bishop, Ambrose.* 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, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: O thunder of justice, spiritual trumpet,* planter of faith and destroyer of heresies,* servant of the Trinity, great hierarch Ambrose,* forever standing in the company of the angels,* pray without ceasing for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart understanding.
verse: Hear these things, all you nations; give ear all you inhabitants of the world. (Psalm 28:4,2)
Epistle
Ephesians 2:11-13
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The mouth of the just man shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment.
verse: The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps will not falter. (Psalm 36:30,31)
Gospel
Luke 13:18-29
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)