VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
The prescribed psalms are chanted.
At Psalm 140
Tone 1
If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
You stretched your immaculate hands upon the cross, O Christ,* calling those who were afar, and bringing them near.* Although captive to my passions, I entreat You:* Gather me to yourself* and grant me repentance and purification from every stain of sin.
I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
O uncreated and sinless Christ,* You are changeless by nature* and are not subject to suffering in Your divinity.* You were crucified with evildoers for our sakes, O Saviour.* The sun, unable to endure the sight, was darkened;* and the whole earth shook,* acknowledging You to be the Creator of the World.
From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Christ, who loves mankind,* in Your desire to deliver Adam, the work of Your hands,* who was held in the kingdom of Hades through his transgressions,* You lifted Your hands upon the wood* and allowed Your fingers to be soaked with blood;* and so You raised him by Your almighty power.
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.
The glory of your soul shone brilliantly,* for you illumined yourself with faith and almsgiving.* You rejoiced to distribute your wealth to the poor!* Your righteousness abides for ever in the unfading light* which shone out from you, Father.* There you behold your children and her that gave them birth,* dwelling in the heavenly city.
Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
You turned away from corruptible glory* and were counted worthy of the glory that is incorruptible and divine.* Having trampled down all the pleasures of life, God-bearers,* you indeed desired greatly the all-beautiful Christ.* He saved you from the triple waves and tempest of the world* and guided you to the calm and radiant life, most wealthy ones!
Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
You killed the passions of the flesh * and clothed yourselves in the garments of dispassion* woven from the purity of your life.* While yet in the body you manifested a life equal to the angels!* You were great in wisdom* and have been counted worthy of the glory of the angels on high,* where you delight in the radiance of God!
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
With tears in her eyes, the Virgin lamented:* My sweet Child, by being lifted up on the cross,* and by tasting the vinegar and gall,* You sweetened Adam’s bitter food.* Therefore, O Master, as the Just Judge,* sweeten me through Your healing Passion;* for You arose from the dead as the Almighty.
Aposticha
Tone 1
The cross was planted upon the place of the skull;* and from the everlasting spring that flowed from the side of the Saviour,* it brought forth for us the Flower of Immortality.
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.
The precious cross of the Saviour* is our unshakable wall;* for all of us, who have put our hope in it, are saved.
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.
Through the prayers of all the Saints, O Lord,* and of the Mother of God,* grant us Your peace and have mercy on us,* for You alone are the God of tenderness.
Tone 1, Glory… Now…
As she beheld you unjustly slain, O Christ,* the Virgin cried out in sorrow:* O my Child, how is it that You suffer unjustly?* How is it that You are now hanging on the wood?* For once You hung the whole earth upon the waters.* I entreat You as Your mother and handmaiden:* Leave me not alone, O Most Merciful One.
Troparion
Tone 8
The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O fathers,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Xenophon and Maria,** your spirits rejoices with the angels.
Glory… Now…
When the Mother beheld upon the cross* the Lamb, the Shepherd, and the Savior of the world,* she exclaimed tearfully:* The world rejoices at the sight of its redemption,* but my heart is afire as I see your pain on the cross,* which You accept for the sake of all, O my Son and my God!
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 8: The divine image was faithfully preserved in you, O fathers,* for taking up the Cross you followed Christ.* By your deeds you have taught us to see beyond flesh, which passes,* and care for the soul, a thing immortal.* and so, O Venerable Xenophon and Maria,* your spirits rejoices with the angels.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 2: Divinely armed with purity of spirit* and mightily wielding the lance of unceasing prayers,* you overcame the powers of demons,* Venerable Xenophon and Maria, pray without ceasing for all of us.
Prokeimenon, Tone 7
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His venerable ones.
verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things He has rendered to me? (Psalm 115:15,12)
Epistle
1 John 2:7-17
Alleluia, Tone 6
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
Mark 14:3-9
Communion Hymn
The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance;* of evil hearsay he shall have no fear.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 111:6)