Event Information:
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Fri27Dec2024
The Holy Apostle, First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen; Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theodore the Branded One, Composer of Canons.
VESPERS ON THURSDAY EVENING
Kathisma Reading
The appointed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 4
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Having enlightened your thought with the grace of the spirit,* you appeared like an angel in countenance, O Stephen,* your body, luminous with inner splendour,* emitting spiritual radiance upon them that beheld your,* for which cause you received a vision of light,* for the heavens were most gloriously opened to you,* first among martyrs and their boast.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
The castings of stones were to you like steps and a ladder leading up to heaven;* for, entering thereupon you beheld the Lord standing at the right hand of the Father,* stretching forth to you the crown for which you were named* with His life-bearing right hand.* Close before Him you stand as a worthy victor, the foremost of athletes.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Radiant with signs and wonders,* you utterly destroyed the assembly of the most iniquitous with your dogmas;* and, slain by them, put to death by stoning,* you prayed for the forgiveness of them that slew you,* emulating thereby the Saviour’s cry,* into whose hands you committed your spirit, O sacred Stephen.
Tone 4
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
To the bitterness of your exile was added the most grievous misery of imprisonment, O venerable one,* when he that iniquitously usurped the lawful throne* grievously perverted the laws of the Faith* and cast down the all-pure image of the Saviour.* But by the grace of God, O favourite of Christ, you put him to shame.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Neither prison, nor confinement, nor lightless gloom,* nor wounds, nor beatings, nor affliction grievous, long and unbearable,* nor lack of food, could separate thee from your love for God,* O divinely eloquent father Theodore;* for you steadfastly endured them,* foreseeing the reward of your labours.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
In place of tribulation has the just Judge of the contest given you liberty;* in place of darkness, radiance.* And for that which was graven on your face, O wondrous one,* you have been written in the Book of Life,* and have been numbered among the firstborn of the Church in the highest,* and have most joyously come to the feast of the angels.
Tone 2, Glory…
A most splendid crown is offered to the King and Master of all,* who was born on earth, fashioned not of rubies,* but resplendent with the drops of your blood, O Stephen.* Come, you that love the martyrs, and, taking up hymns as they were flowers,* let us crown him, and chanting hymns, let us say:* O protomartyr, who illumined your soul with wisdom and grace,* entreat Christ God that He grant us peace and great mercy!
Now…
A great and most glorious wonder is wrought today:* A Virgin gives birth, yet her womb suffers no corruption!* The Word is incarnate, yet is not separated from the Father!* Angels give glory in company with shepherds;* and with them we cry out: Glory to God in the highest,* and on earth peace, good will toward men!
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
My help is from the Lord,* Who made heaven and earth.
verse: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from where my help shall come.
Aposticha
Tone 1
Let us hymn Him who is now worshipped by angels, shepherds, and Magi,* who shone forth from the Father before the ages,* and, as the Son, ever exists in the bosom of the Father,* who in latter times has sat upon His Mother’s arms* as upon a throne.
From the womb before the morning star have I begotten You.
Assembling in Bethlehem, O faithful,* let us behold the Creator of all lying in a manger* and them that bear a choice gift of three substances from the land of Chaldea to the King and God,* who for our sake was to lie three days dead.
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand.
Of the Virgin were you born in the cave,* and, surrounding You, the angelic armies cried out:* Glory to You, O God, in the highest,* who has been born in the guise of a servant,* and has made the world new in the womb of the Virgin,* the Mother that has not known man.
Tone 6, Glory…
First among martyrs and deacons have you been shown to be, O apostle Stephen;* adornment of athletes, confirmation of the faithful, glory of the righteous.* In that you stand before the throne of the King of all,* beg cleansing of transgressions for us that celebrate your honoured memory,* that we be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of heaven.
Now…
Today all the angels hold chorus in heaven,* and men rejoice, and all creation leaps for joy* because of the Lord and Saviour born in Bethlehem,* for all the falsehood of idolatry has ceased,* and Christ reigns forever.
Troparia
Tone 4
O apostle and first martyr for Christ,* you fought the good fight* and exposed your persecutors’ wickedness.* For when you were killed by stoning at the hands of the lawless* you received a crown from on high from God’s right hand,* while crying out to Him:* “O Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Tone 8, Glory…
O guide of the true faith, mirror of piety and commendable behaviour,* bright star of the universe, and adornment of pontiffs,* you enlightened us all by your teachings.* O wise Theodore, inspired by God and lyre of the Holy Spirit,* intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
Tone 4, Now…
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
DIVINE LITURGY ON FRIDAY MORNING
Antiphon 1
I will confess You, Lord, with all my heart,* I will declare all Your wondrous deeds.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
In the council of the just and the congregation,* great are the works of the Lord, conforming to His will in every way.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,* O Saviour, save us.
His work is filled with praise and majesty,* and His righteousness endures forever.
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, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Entrance
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.
Son of God, born of a Virgin, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 4: Your Nativity, O Christ our God,* made the light of knowledge dawn on the world:* through it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star* to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness,* and to know You, the Dawn from on the high.* Glory to You, O Lord.
Troparion, Tone 4: O apostle and first martyr for Christ,* you fought the good fight* and exposed your persecutors’ wickedness.* For when you were killed by stoning at the hands of the lawless* you received a crown from on high from God’s right hand,* while crying out to Him:* “O Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
Glory be to the father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Yesterday the Master came to us incarnate;* but His servant departs today from the flesh.* Yesterday the One who now reigns in the flesh was born;* but His servant today is killed by stoning.* For His sake the first martyr, the divine Stephen, gives up his life.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
verse: The heavens tell the glory of God, and the firmament declares the work of His hands. (Psalm 18:5,2)
Epistle
Acts 6:8-7:5,47-60
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: The heavens shall confess our wonders, O Lord, and Your truth in the church of the saints.
verse: God is glorified in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 88:6,8)
Gospel
Matthew 21:33-42
Hymn to the Mother of God
O my soul, magnify Christ the King born in a manger.
and the Irmos: A strange and glorious mystery do I behold:* the cave is heaven;* the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim;* the manger, a dwelling place* in which is laid Christ, the God Whom nothing can contain.* Singing His praises, we magnify Him.
Communion Hymn
Their utterance has gone forth into all the earth,* and their words unto the ends of the world.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 18:5)
Instead of Blessed is He who comes… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of We have seen the true light… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin.
Instead of May our mouths… and Blessed be the Name… we sing:
All creation is filled with rejoicing today, for Christ is born of a Virgin. (3)