GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man…” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 2
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, let us adore God the Word,* who was born of the Father before all ages,* and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary;* for of His own free will He suffered the Cross* and submitted Himself to burial,* and arose from the dead to save me, a sinful one.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Christ our Saviour cancelled the decree that was written against us,* by nailing it to the Cross;* and He abolished the dominion of Death.* Let us glorify His resurrection on the third day.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Let us, together with the archangels, sing of Christ’s resurrection;* for He is the Redeemer and Saviour of our souls.* He will come again in awesome glory and mighty power* to judge the world which He has fashioned.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Although You died and were buried,* the angel yet declared You as Master.* He said to the women: Come and see where the Lord was placed;* for He is risen as He foretold,* because He is almighty.* Therefore, we worship You, the only Immortal One,* and we beseech You to have mercy on us, O Giver of Life.
In Tone 2
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
With unworthy lips we praise the Theotokos* who is more venerable than all creation* and more holy than the Cherubim and all the angels in heaven.* She is the unshakable throne of the King.* She is the house in which the Eternal One made His abode.* She is the salvation of the world and the sanctuary of God.* In her holy memory He richly gives great mercy to the faithful.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O Virgin, what awesome hymns did the apostles of the Word,* standing around your bier, offer up at that time to you?* They cried out in amazement:* The palace of the King is departing.* The holy Tabernacle is being exalted.* Lift up, O you gates, for the Portal of God will enter in joy,* and, without ceasing, she beseeches great mercy for all the world.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
What spiritual hymns shall we offer to you today, O all-holy One?* The whole world has been sanctified by your Dormition.* You have departed into heaven to contemplate the beauty of the Almighty.* As Mother you rejoice together with Him.* The angelic ranks solemnly accompanied you, O pure One.* Together with them, ask for peace and great mercy* for us and for the souls of the just.
In Tone 2
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
With what eyes shall we earth-dwellers gaze upon Your image, O Christ?* The hosts of angels cannot look upon it without fear;* it flashes with rays of divine lightning.* It triumphs over the assaults of godlessness today.* It sojourns among a royal priesthood, a pious people.* Its coming brings joy to all Orthodox Christians,* who fall before it in faith and fear!
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
How shall we creatures of dust look upon Your image, Word?* How shall we, polluted in sin, dare to gaze upon the face of our sinless God?* How shall we, paralyzed in corruption,* come before the unapproachable One?* The cherubim veil their faces, not daring to look upon You;* the seraphim who carry You cannot gaze upon Your glory!* In fear they serve You, Creator!* Do not condemn us, merciful Christ,* for we embrace Your image in faith.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
The praiseworthy day of the Master has come again!* He Who is enthroned on high now looks down upon us,* through the eyes of His most pure image.* He Who is above the cherubim, upon Whom none may gaze,* is made visible, as the scriptures say,* to those with whom He shares His own likeness,* for You wondrously fashioned us in Your image,* by the most pure finger of the Father,* and by worshipping You in faith, we are made pure.
In Tone 8
Glory…
Choirs of virgins mystically stand around the bier of the Virgin Mother,* and the souls of the just surround it.* The former bring the gift of virginity instead of myrrh;* the latter bring spiritual songs with virtue.* It is fitting for the Mother of God as a queen* to be surrounded by those who glow with virtues.* We who have entered upon a chaste life* shall go down together with them* to the burial of the Mother of God,* blessing her with hymns and spiritual songs.
In Tone 2
Now…
O Virgin, the shadow of the Law passed away* with the realization of grace.* For as the bush had burned without being consumed,* so you gave birth while a virgin* and you remained a virgin.* Instead of the pillar of fire there rose the Sun of Justice.* Instead of Moses, Christ God came forth,* the Saviour of our souls.
Aposticha
In Tone 2
Your Resurrection, O Christ our Saviour,* has enlightened the whole universe;* and, through it, You call back to Yourself all Creation.* Almighty God, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
By the wood of Your Cross, O Saviour,* You have abolished the curse of the tree;* by Your burial You have destroyed the power of death;* and by Your resurrection You enlightened the human race.* We, therefore, cry out to You:* O Christ our God, Giver of Life, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O Christ, when You were nailed to the Cross,* the distorted nature of creation was made manifest.* The soldiers showed their inhumanity by piercing Your side with a lance,* and the people showed their ignorance of Your power* by asking that Your tomb be sealed.* But, in Your mercy, You accepted burial* and then arose on the third day.* O Lord, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, Giver of Life,* You freely endured the Passion for the sake of mortals.* In Your power You descended into Hades;* and snatching, as from a mighty monster, the souls of those who awaited Your coming,* You placed them in Paradise.* Therefore, show Your great mercy to us who glorify Your resurrection,* and cleanse our souls.
In Tone 8
Glory… Now…
Jesus, your Son and our God, O Theotokos,* confirming His two natures,* dies as a Man and arises as God!* It was His good pleasure, Mother of God,* that you also die lest unbelievers consider His dispensation a fantasy!* You were translated to the Kingdom of heaven, celestial Bride* taken up from the earth as from your dwelling chamber.* The air was sanctified by your passage* as the earth was illumined by your giving of birth.* The apostles send you forth and the angels bear you up.* As they buried your all-pure body, singing funeral hymns for you* they gazed in awe and spoke with fear:* This change is from the right hand of the Most High,* for He dwelt within you,* and you shall never be shaken!* All-hymned Mother, do not cease to watch over us,* for we are your people and the sheep of your pasture:* We call on your name,* asking salvation and great mercy for your sake.
Troparia
In Tone 2
When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
In Tone 1
Glory… Now…
In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 2: When You went down to death, O Life Immortal,* You struck Hades dead with the blazing light of Your divinity.* When You raised the dead from the nether world,* all the powers of heaven cried out:* “O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory be to You!”
Troparion, Tone 1: In giving birth you retained your virginity,* in falling asleep you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God.* You passed into life, for you are the Mother of Life,* and by your prayers* you deliver our souls from death.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 2: You rose from the tomb, O almighty Saviour;* and Hades, seeing this wonder, was stricken with fear; and the dead arose.* Creation saw and rejoices with You, and Adam exults.* And the world, my Saviour, sings Your praises for ever.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: The tomb and death could not hold the Mother of God,* unceasing in her intercession and 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 2
The Lord is my strength and my song of praise, and He has become my salvation.
verse: The Lord has indeed chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. (Psalm 117:14,18)
Epistle
1 Corinthians 9:2-12
Alleluia, Tone 2
verse: The Lord will hear you in the day of tribulation; the name of the God of Jacob will shield you.
verse: Lord, grant victory to the king and hear us in the day that we shall call upon You. (Psalm 19:2,10)
Gospel
Matthew 18:23-35
Hymn to the Mother of God
Seeing the pure one’s falling asleep, angels marvelled in wonder how the Virgin could ascend from earth to heaven.
And the Irmos: O pure Virgin, in you are conquered the bounds of nature,* for childbirth remains virginal and death is betrothed to life.* Virgin after childbearing and alive after death, O Mother of God,* never cease to save your inheritance.
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)