Event Information:
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Sat08Feb2025
🕃 The Holy Great-Martyr Theodore the General; The Holy Prophet Zechariah.
Post-feast of the Encounter. Saint with Six Stichera.
VESPERS ON FRIDAY 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.
You were shown to be by the Holy Spirit a courageous athlete, an invincible warrior,* having cast down the adversary with the wisdom of your words, O wise one,* and the enduring testimony of your deeds.* You have received the crown of victory* and have been joined to the choirs on high,* O great martyr Theodore.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
You were shown to be a pillar of godly piety, O you that are most rich;* for, abhorring the temples of the impious,* you were brought as a most perfect lamb and a right acceptable sacrifice,* to Him that was unblameably sacrificed for your sake,* who has glorified your holy memory, and has given you to them that are in the world* as a treasury of miracles, O Theodore.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Lifted up upon a cross, your flesh lacerated, wounded with sharp arrows,* tormented by all the crafty art of torture, and beheaded by the sword,* you were shown to be steadfast and invincible* through the power of Him that was nailed to the Cross,* O Theodore, glory of the martyrs.
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.
Possessed of a life equal to that of the angels,* you plainly conversed with angels, O divinely manifest one,* illumining your mind with things that pass understanding:* the purity of wondrous images, the revelation of great mysteries,* prophetic proclamation, and spiritual renewal.* Pray that our souls be saved.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You were shown to be an earthly angel, having, while on earth, heavenly companions,* for you were a beholder of heavenly visions,* a noetic beacon, and a radiant light, a fruitful olive tree, as the Psalm says, which in godly fashion pours forth oil upon the pious.* Pray that our souls be saved.
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Enjoying the longed-for deification,* clearly partaking of everlasting delight, and beholding ineffable glory,* adorned with crowns of comeliness, as a most true prophet of God* pray in behalf of them that earnestly hymn you, O you that are pleasing to God,* that our souls be saved.
Tone 4, Glory… Now…
O Mother of God, because of You* David the Prophet became an ancestor of God;* he foretold and sang a joyous hymn of praise* and cried out to Him who worked wonders in you:* “The Queen stood at your right hand.”* God revealed you as a life-giving mother,* when He chose to be incarnate of you without a father.* He renewed in man His image* which the passions had corrupted.* He found the lost sheep in the mountains,* carried it on His shoulders,* offered it to the Father,* generously numbered it among the powers of heaven,* and saved the whole world, since He is Christ of great and rich mercy.
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 2
Open wide, O gates of heaven,* for Christ is borne into the temple as a Babe* by the Virgin Mother to God His Father.
Now You may dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word, in peace.
Christ, the coal of fire which appeared to the holy Isaiah,* now rests in the arms of the Theotokos as in a pair of tongs,* and He is given to the elder.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people, Israel.
In fear and joy Symeon held the Master in his arms,* and asked for his release from life,* singing the praises of the Mother of God.
Tone 5, Glory…
Today hath the honoured memory of Christ’s athlete* shone forth more brightly than the morning star,* invisibly illumining the hearts of the faithful and dispelling gloom from their souls* by the activity of the grace of the Holy Spirit.* O you that love the martyrs, to him let us cry out:* Rejoice, O blessed Theodore,* for you have been revealed to the faithful as a God-given grace,* showering a multitude of miracles upon them that flee to you.* And unceasingly entreating Christ,* do not fail to obtain eternal blessings for them* that celebrate your holy memory with faith.
Now…
The Ancient of Days, having become a Babe in the flesh,* was borne into the temple by His Mother the Virgin,* fulfilling the ordinance of His own Law;* and, receiving Him, Symeon said:* Now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;* for my eyes have seen Your salvation, O Holy One!
Troparia
Tone 4
Recruited by the truth, passion-bearer Theodore,* you proved yourself a capable general for heaven’s King.* You equipped yourself wisely with the arms of faith* and conquered the legions of demons!* Because you showed yourself a victorious athlete, we ever bless you in faith!
Tone 2, Glory…
Celebrating the memory of your prophet Zechariah, O Lord,* we beg You to save our souls through his intercession.
Tone 1, Now…
Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.
DIVINE LITURGY ON SATURDAY MORNING
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,* who grants us resurrection.
Troparion, Tone 4: Recruited by the truth, passion-bearer Theodore,* you proved yourself a capable general for heaven’s King.* You equipped yourself wisely with the arms of faith* and conquered the legions of demons!* Because you showed yourself a victorious athlete, we ever bless you in faith!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You put on the whole armour of faith with courage* and took the Word of God as a spear in your hand.* You conquered the enemy, Theodore, great among martyrs!* Together with them, never cease to pray to Christ God for the sake of us all!
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,* are the Lover of mankind.
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, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1:46,48)
Epistle
2 Timothy 2:1-10
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.
verse: For my eyes have seen Your salvation, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people, Israel. (Luke 2:29,32)
Gospel
Matthew 10:16-22
Hymn to the Mother of God
O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.
and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.
Communion Hymn
I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)