Event Information:
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Thu12Dec2024
Our Venerable Father Spiridon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Tremithus.
Nativity Fast.
VESPERS ON WEDNESDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 5
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Rejoice, rule of hierarchs,* unshaken confirmation of the Church,* glory of the orthodox, wellspring of miracles,* inexhaustible stream of love,* most radiant beacon, organ of the Spirit,* intellect divine, meek and guileless,* adorned with true simplicity, heavenly man and earthly angel,* labourer in the vineyard, true friend of Christ!* Beseech Him to grant great mercy to them that honour you!
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Rejoice, rule of hierarchs,* unshaken confirmation of the Church,* glory of the orthodox, wellspring of miracles,* inexhaustible stream of love,* most radiant beacon, organ of the Spirit,* intellect divine, meek and guileless,* adorned with true simplicity, heavenly man and earthly angel,* labourer in the vineyard, true friend of Christ!* Beseech Him to grant great mercy to them that honour you!
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Spyridon, glory of the fathers,* you were truly shown to be meek and an heir to the land of the meek.* By the sinews of your wise and simple words* you strangled Arius, the most wicked and demented enemy, by divine grace.* And, having clarified the divine dogma for all,* and extolled by the Spirit that which leads to salvation,* and most manifestly enlightened all the orthodox,* you indicated to all the faithful to glorify the One Word* as truly the Only Begotten of the all-unoriginate Father,* who grants the world great mercy.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Spyridon, glory of the fathers,* you were truly shown to be meek and an heir to the land of the meek.* By the sinews of your wise and simple words* you strangled Arius, the most wicked and demented enemy, by divine grace.* And, having clarified the divine dogma for all,* and extolled by the Spirit that which leads to salvation,* and most manifestly enlightened all the orthodox,* you indicated to all the faithful to glorify the One Word* as truly the Only Begotten of the all-unoriginate Father,* who grants the world great mercy.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having slain the carnal passions,* you raised the dead by the grace of God,* and changed a serpent into gold,* and restrained the raging of the river by thy prayer, O father,* Appearing to the afflicted emperor by night,* you healed him by drawing nigh to his heart when the Lord glorified you most gloriously.* We honour your memory with a mighty voice* and reverence the divine and sacred shrine of your relics,* from where flows forth a divine stream of healings and great mercy.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Having slain the carnal passions,* you raised the dead by the grace of God,* and changed a serpent into gold,* and restrained the raging of the river by thy prayer, O father,* Appearing to the afflicted emperor by night,* you healed him by drawing nigh to his heart when the Lord glorified you most gloriously.* We honour your memory with a mighty voice* and reverence the divine and sacred shrine of your relics,* from where flows forth a divine stream of healings and great mercy.
Tone 1, Glory…
O venerable father Spyridon, blessed and wise,* for the sake of the love of God you questioned the dead woman as though she were alive,* and transformed a serpent into gold for him that was beset by poverty,* and restrained the flow of the river, taking pity on the people,* and stood before the emperor as physician through the providence of God;* and, as His disciple, you raised up the dead,* and among many fathers made clear the Faith.*Enabled to do all things by Christ, who strengthens you,* now entreat Him that our souls be saved!
Now…
Tempest-tossed on the abyss of transgressions,* fleeing to the calm haven of your most pure supplication,* I cry out to you, O Theotokos:* Save me, O all-immaculate one, extending your mighty right hand* to your servant!
Prokeimenon, Tone 5
O Lord, save me by Your name,* and in Your power be a judge for me.
verse: O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth.
Aposticha
Tone 4
You enlightened the choir of the apostles with the Holy Spirit, О Christ God.* By them wash away the defilement of our sin, and have mercy on us.
I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.
Thy Holy Spirit revealed the illiterate disciples to be teachers, О Christ God,* and set at naught the deception of the pagans with their greatly eloquent harmony,* in that He is almighty.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.
O martyrs of the Lord,* you animate sacrifices, noetic whole-burnt offerings, perfect offerings to God,* you lambs who know God and are known of Him,* and to whose fold the wolves have no entry:* Pray that with you we also may be tended by the water of peace.
Tone 2, Glory…
O father Spyridon, venerable and wise,* by your virtues have you been shown to be a divine treasure of hierarchs.* Being an intercessor of the Church, you cast out the chief of the heretics* and, in council, crushed the blasphemy of Arius to the earth.* Therefore, working wonders in word and deed,* beseech Christ that our souls be saved.
Now…
Like a fruitful olive tree,* the Virgin brought You forth as the Fruit of life,* bearing to the world, the fruit of rich and great mercy.
Troparia
Tone 1
You showed yourself a defender of the First Council and a worker of miracles. * You summoned the woman back from the grave and turned the snake into gold. * Angels came to minister beside you, O priestly father, * when you offered your ardent prayers. * Glory to Him who strengthened you! * Glory to Him who chose you! * Glory to Him who heals us through you!
Glory… Now…
You have borne the fire of the Godhead without being burned;* you have given birth to the Lord, the Source life,* O Mother of God and woman full of grace,* save all those who exalt you.
DIVINE LITURGY ON THURSDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: You showed yourself a defender of the First Council and a worker of miracles. * You summoned the woman back from the grave and turned the snake into gold. * Angels came to minister beside you, O priestly father, * when you offered your ardent prayers. * Glory to Him who strengthened you! * Glory to Him who chose you! * Glory to Him who heals us through you!
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 all-holy father, enraptured by the love of Christ, * you soared on the wings of the Spirit to pure contemplation * which inspired your apostolic life, * and you became an altar of sacrifice, * beseeching the Lord that He may enlighten 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
Hebrews 10:35-11:7
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
Mark 9:10-16
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)