Polyeleos Feast.
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 8
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, during this spiritual service,* we sing to You these evening prayers,* commemorating the mercy You have shown us* by Your resurrection.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;* but in Your kindness have mercy on us* through Your resurrection.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Rejoice, O holy Zion,* the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;* for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins* through the resurrection.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;* yet in these latter times,* He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.* By His death on the cross and His resurrection,* He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.
In Tone 4
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Burning with divine love and radiant with the Spirit,* your soul rose to desire truly infinite love!* You despised flesh and blood, and lived apart from the world,* yet you were united to it by great silence and abstinence.* Therefore you were fulfilled as you desired,* and as a star radiant with blessings, Anthony, you illumine our souls!
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Burning with divine love and radiant with the Spirit,* your soul rose to desire truly infinite love!* You despised flesh and blood, and lived apart from the world,* yet you were united to it by great silence and abstinence.* Therefore you were fulfilled as you desired,* and as a star radiant with blessings, Anthony, you illumine our souls!
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Anthony, you were radiant with divine light* by the grace of the Holy Spirit;* you shattered the flying weapons of the demons;* by your godly teachings you exposed their evil snares.* You were a radiant light for monks: the first to adorn the desert;* a prayerful and skilled physician of the sick,* and the first clear example of the ascetic life.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Anthony, you were radiant with divine light* by the grace of the Holy Spirit;* you shattered the flying weapons of the demons;* by your godly teachings you exposed their evil snares.* You were a radiant light for monks: the first to adorn the desert;* a prayerful and skilled physician of the sick,* and the first clear example of the ascetic life.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Anthony, pure in heart and soul;* an earthly angel, a heavenly man!* A teacher of chastity, a clear measure of abstinence!* Now you live with your Master, blessed saint.* As you offer Him unceasing praise* with the angels, all holy monastics and martyrs,* set free from sin and danger *those who ever keep your holy memory.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
Anthony, pure in heart and soul;* an earthly angel, a heavenly man!* A teacher of chastity, a clear measure of abstinence!* Now you live with your Master, blessed saint.* As you offer Him unceasing praise* with the angels, all holy monastics and martyrs,* set free from sin and danger *those who ever keep your holy memory.
In Tone 6
Glory…
You set your mind as master over the disturbing passions,* keeping the image unharmed through the ascetic life.* Thus you rose into the perfect likeness,* for bravely curbing nature,* you hastened to subject what is lower to that which is above:* you made the body servant to the Spirit.* Therefore you were revealed as the chief of those living the monastic life,* a citizen of the desert,* a master teaching those who hasten to you,* a perfect example of virtue.* Now the image has been broken, Anthony,* and in heaven you behold in purity the holy Trinity,* as you pray with boldness for those who honour you with faith and love!
In Tone 8
Now…
Out of his love for mankind* the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,* for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin* and was seen in the flesh He received from her.* He is the One and only God* having two natures but not two persons.* Wherefore we profess and declare the truth* that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.* O Mother, who knew not carnal union,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) Wisdom 3:1-9; (2) Wisdom 5:15-6:3; (3) Wisdom 4:7-15
Aposticha
In Tone 8
O Jesus, You descended from heaven* so that You might ascend the cross.* O immortal Life, You came to die.* You are the true light to those who live in darkness,* and You are the resurrection of the fallen.* Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty.* Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls* Who arose from the dead.* For He took upon himself a soul and a body,* and during His passion He separated the one from the other.* His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,* while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.
For He has made the world firm.* which shall not be moved.
O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.* For by Your victory over death* You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,* and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord,* for length of days.
O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,* You are above all understanding.* Through Your passion on the cross* You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.* And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;* and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.* O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;* for by Your resurrection on the third day* You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.
In Tone 8
Glory…
We honour you, Anthony our father,* the instructor of a multitude of monks!* We have indeed learned to walk rightly in your footsteps!* You are blest, for having laboured for Christ,* you denounced the power of the enemy!* Conversor with the angels, companion of Paul of Thebes!* Together with them, entreat the Lord that He may grant mercy to our souls!
Now…
O Virgin, You have never known wedlock,* Yet You conceived God in the flesh* in a manner which words can never describe.* You thus became the Mother of God on high.* O Immaculate Lady, receive the supplication of your servants* and grant us the cleansing of our sins.* Accept now our prayers and beseech God to save all of us.
Troparia
In Tone 8
You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
In Tone 4
Glory…
By your life you imitated the zealous Elias* and by following straight paths you emulated the Baptist, John.* O Father Anthony,* you peopled the desert and strengthened the world by your prayers;* intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
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 man,*and saved our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.
Troparion, Tone 4: By your life you imitated the zealous Elias* and by following straight paths you emulated the Baptist, John.* O Father Anthony,* you peopled the desert and strengthened the world by your prayers;* intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You rejected earthly worries* and finished your life in silence imitating the Baptist in every way* and so with him we honour you,* O Anthony, most venerable, first of the Fathers.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and an unfailing hope of patronage,* for as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life* by Him Who had dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.
Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
Epistle
1 Timothy 4:9-15; Hebrews 13: 17-21
Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 94:1,2)
verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments.
verse: His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth. (Psalm 111:1,2)
Gospel
Luke 19:1-10; Luke 6: 17-23
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)